AU2011100357A4 - Floating Aquatic Wheelchair Ramp - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION INNOVATION PATENT FLOATING AQUATIC WHEELCHAIR RAMP The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me.

There exist wheelchair users who participate in aquatic activities. These activities may include swimming, aquatic exercise, sport or therapy. A fixed ramp starting from land and going into the water, is a common way to provide wheelchair access for them. The users travel down the ramp, then transfer themselves into the water, at a point where there is 5 adequate water depth. If the body of water is tidal, such as an ocean, harbour, or coastal river, the tides can make the ramp more difficult to use. At low tide the water is lower than normal, so users must travel much further down the ramp before they reach an adequate water depth. At high 10 tide, water is higher than normal and will cover up the lower part of the ramp. The submerged part of the ramp is harder to see and can be a hazard for swimmers, especially if the water is rough and there are waves. The invention has been devised to provide a better controlled environment for transfer of 15 wheelchair users into and out of tidal bodies of water. It also avoids creating the hazard of a long, submerged ramp at high tide. The floating wheelchair ramp, in accordance with this invention, has the following features: a device that combines a ramp with a buoyancy device 20 with the ability to rise and fall with the tide with the bottom end of the ramp submerged at an adequate depth to facilitate transfer of wheelchair users into and out of the water 25 with access from land to the floating aquatic ramp provided by a gangway, or other delivery system. If desired, the device may also incorporate the following: 30 a landing at the bottom of the ramp to give users a flat submerged floor on which to steady themselves; a tethering system to prevent the device from drifting, twisting or pitching; handrails, slip resistant flooring and other such components common to the art of making wheelchair ramps; 35 buoyancy tanks and other such components common to the art of making buoyancy devices. The size, shape and arrangement of the device may vary. The ramp may have landings at the top and bottom, as well as mid-landings. 40 The ramp may have a change in direction at the mid-landing. The device may incorporate other uses such as a deck. It is made from durable materials such as plastic, fibreglass, timber, metal or concrete, or combination of such materials. 45 Applications for the device include facilities which require a method of transferring persons in and out of a tidal body of water. The invention may be better understood with reference to the illustrations of embodiments 50 of the invention in which: Figure 1 is a plan that represents an example of a floating aquatic ramp comprising: a method of tethering, in this case provided by piles 1 running through the device; a buoyancy device, in this case provided by a pontoon with buoyancy compartments 2; a submerged bottom landing 3; a wheelchair ramp 4; a top landing 5; 55 a method of transfer to and from land, in this case a provided by gangway ramp 6 hinged to the land. Figure 2 is a section that represents the floating aquatic ramp at high tide whilst Figure 3 is a section that represents the floating aquatic ramp at low tide. The bottom landing 3 shown in both Figure 2 and Figure 3, remains submerged at the

Claims (2)

1. A floating aquatic wheelchair ramp, comprising a ramp together with a buoyancy device, allowing rise and fall with the tide, with the bottom end of the ramp submerged at an 5 adequate depth below surface to facilitate transfer of wheelchair users in and out of the water; with access from land to the floating aquatic wheelchair ramp, provided by a gangway or other delivery system.

2. A floating aquatic wheelchair ramp as herein before described with reference to figures 10 1-3 of the accompanying drawings. Victor Young 04 April 2011