FR2590929A1 - Dismantleable pair of steps - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a dismantleable pair of steps capable of being supplied as a kit and packaged in a very small volume. The pair of steps is formed by two lateral supports 1, made preferably from cylindrical tubing, by one or more steps 4, the outer dimensions of which are inscribed in the corresponding inner dimensions of these supports 1 forming a frame, and by fastening means 6. Application: dismantleable pair of steps, in particular for caravans.

Description

REMOVABLE FOOTBOARD
The invention relates to a removable step system, which can be delivered in a "kit" and packed in a small volume.

There are known steps with one or two steps, or more, which can be intended for multiple uses (domestic, warehouses, etc.).

 Another field of use - in full development is that of campingcaravaning where, for access to the doors of caravans, this type of equipment is absolutely necessary. For construction reasons, this access is higher and higher. so that the steps of one step are gradually replaced by steps of two or more steps.

 These can be produced in a fully mechanically welded design, the lateral supports and the steps being removable.

These very simple systems have a major drawback: their external volume is extremely large, of the order of 125 dm3, for a step market with two steps.

Consequently, transportation from the factory to the warehouses is penalized. The packaging required is expensive, the cardboard used having a large external surface and its volume making it difficult to handle. Finally, when you want to return your steps in your caravan, it occupies a considerable volume in a place where the available space is by definition reduced.

To overcome these various drawbacks, we had the idea of making a removable step that can be stored in a reduced extrememert volume.

According to a first characteristic of the invention, this running board is made from two identical lateral supports, forming a frame of substantially rectangular shape, one of the angles of which can be truncated in order to pass from one step to another.

According to another characteristic of the invention, this frame is made of round tube or square section.

According to another characteristic of the invention, one or more uprights of appropriate length are fixed on the part of the frame intended to rest on the support plane so as to support the steps.

According to another characteristic of the invention, these uprights are fixed to the internal face of the tubes forming the frame.

According to another characteristic of the invention, these uprights are rectilinear and formed either in a tube identical to that used for the ronstr, 1ction of the side frames, or of a simple dish.

 According to another characteristic of the invention, the steps have a rectangular shape and have ledges perpendicular to their surface, these ledges having holes allowing their fixing by appropriate means either on the lateral supports, or on the uprights fixed to the lateral frames. .

According to another characteristic of the invention, one or more bars are fixed between the two lateral supports so as to improve the rigidity of the assembly.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the various elements previously described are assembled by screws and nuts.

According to an additional characteristic of the invention, the screws used are countersunk head screws, so that they can be embedded in the holes made in the tubes of the supports, and this more particularly when these are of cylindrical section.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the thickness of the steps is equal to or less than the thickness of the tubes forming the lateral supports.

According to another characteristic of the invention, when the supports are placed one on the other, the steps can be arranged in the volume delimited by the supports, so that the total thickness of the assembly thus presented n 'does not exceed the height of the tubes forming the two supports.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the length of the bars intended to stiffen the assembly is less than that of the largest dimension between two of the opposite sides of the support frame.

The appended drawings, given by way of nonlimiting examples, will make it possible to better understand the characteristics of the running board according to the invention.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the various components of the step according to the invention in their position before assembly.

Figure 2 is a side view of the support frames and steps arranged inside their packaging.

Figure 3 is a top view of the support frames and steps inside their packaging
There is shown in Figure 1 the two side supports 1, forming side frames, made identically. On these frames are respectively fixed, for example, but not necessarily by welding, uprights 2, placed inside the frames 1. A bar 3 of suitable length, intended to stiffen the assembly, is fixed between the two supports 1, preferably inside the volume formed by them.

Steps 4 are arranged between the lateral supports 1 and the uprights 2 so as to complete the step. Holes are provided in the lateral supports 1 and in the uprights 2 corresponding to holes 5a in the steps 4 for their assembly by screws 6. Holes 7 are provided in the supports 1 for fixing the bars 3 by screws 6 The screws 6 cooperate with nuts 8.

FIG. 2 shows a side view of the support frames (1) and of the steps 4 arranged inside their packaging 9.

We corrlstate that the fact that the thickness of the steps 4 does not exceed that of the tubes forming the frames 1, the volume of the assembly is extremely reduced thus making it possible to present the assembly in a packaging 9 of reduced volume.

FIG. 3 shows a top view of the support frames (1) in their packaging (9). The size of the steps 4 is such that they can be arranged between the opposite upright gods of the support frame (1).

The advantages of the device according to the invention are easily deduced from the description and the previous drawings.

The step according to the invention is entirely removable, which makes it possible to sell it as a "kit" and therefore to lower its cost price.

Furthermore, the choice of dimensions is made so that the assembly can be packed in an extremely small volume.

This lowers the cost of transport and facilitates storage in places where the available volume is very low, such as caravans.

Claims (7)

 i. .'the removable footrest, characterized in that it comprises two lateral supports 1) forming a frame connected by one or more steps t4) joined together by removable fixing means (6), the external dimensions of the steps (4) being lower than the corresponding internal dimensions of the lateral supports (I). 2. removable step according to claim 1. characterized in that at least one upright (2) is integral with each lateral support (i) to support the end of a step (4). 3. removable step according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one removable bar (j) connects the two lateral supports (1) to stiffen the assembled assembly. 4. Removable step according to claim i, characterized in that the lateral supports (1) are made of tube. 5. removable step according to any one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the uprights (2) are flat bars fixed inside the support frames (1). 6. removable step according to any one of claims 1 and 4, characterized in that the lateral supports (1) are made of cylindrical tubes. 7. removable step according to any one of claims 1 and 3, characterized in that the fixaticn means (6) are countersunk screws.