GB2326394A - Vehicle stabiliser - Google Patents

Abstract

A vehicle stabiliser comprises two wedge-shaped blocks, 2, each having one inclined face with a friction surface 3, 5, the blocks being placed one upon the other with part of the inclined friction surface of one engaging part of the inclined friction surface of the other. The friction surfaces may have teeth and are preferably inclined at the same angle. The first block may have a flat surface 7 parallel to its base 6 and triangular supporting members 9, 10, 11.

Description

HEEf 1 STA /- I SR The present invention relates to a vehicle stabiliser, particularly for road traffic accidents.

Casualties in vehicles which have been involved in an accident may be prone to further injury i the vehicle in which they are contained moves whilst rescue services try to extract the casualties. It is common practice for rescue services to use wooden blocks and other objects to stabilise the vehicle. Such objects are not purpose built for the job and time is wasted adapting them for this purpose. They can also fail in their function.

The invention seeks to provide a vehicle stabiliser to help avoid the above problems.

According to the present invention there is provided a vehicle stabiliser comprising first and second wedge-shaped blocks each having one inclined face which has a friction surface, whereby the blocks can be placed one upon the other with part ofthe inclined friction surface face of one engaging part ofthe inclined fiction surface face of another to create a combined block of variable height.

The fiction surface may be created by teeth.

Preferably the inclined face of each block is at the same angle.

Preferably the first block is mounted on a base. The first block may be larger than the second block.

The second block may be generally a right angled triangular prism in shape.

The first block may be generally a right angled triangular prism in shape but truncated to provide a flat surface generally parallel to its base. The first block may include at least one support member adjacent the wedge shaped block which has an inclined face. Preferably one support member has an inclined face opposing the inclined friction surface face.

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a a perspective view ofthe first and second blocks Figure 2 shows the stabiliser supporting a wheel and the side and underbody of a vehicle, and Figure 3 shows the stabiliser supporting the underbody of a vehicle.

Referring to Figure 1 there is shown a vehicle stabiliser 1. Stabiliser 1 has a first wedged-shaped block 2 generally in the shape ofa right angled triangular prism with an inclined face 3 which has a friction surface in the form of stepped teeth. Stabiliser 1 has a second wedged-shaped block 4 generally in the shape of a right angled triangular prism with an inclined face 5 which is also stepped with teeth. The inclined faces of both blocks 2 and 4 are generally at the same angle. The teeth of both blocks are designed to be of similar size to interlock.

Block 2 is larger than block 4 and has a rectangular base 6. Block 2 is truncated to provide a flat surface 7 generally parallel to its base 6. A first triangular support member 8 is provided at one end of the block 2 with an inclined face 9 opposing, i.e. in the opposite direction to, the block inclined face 3. Block 2 also includes second and third triangular support members 10,11 (11 shown in Figure 2) are provided. Support members 8,10,11 help to brace the block 2 on its base 6. The block 2, base 6, and support members 8,10,11 may be integrally formed, e.g by an integral moulding, or formed as separate components or combinations thereof.

Referring to Figure 2, the blocks 2 and 4 can be placed one upon the other with part ofthe inclined toothed face of one engaging part of the inclined toothed face of another to create a combined block of variable height with the teeth of opposing faces interlocking. In figure 2 the blocks are used to support a sin and underbody of a vehicle 12 and prevent the vehicle from rolling by creating a chock for vehicle wheel 13. In use, the height ofblocks 2 and 4 is first adjusted to the distance ofthe vehicle sill above the ground and the blocks placed under the car with the inclined surface 9 of the first support member 8 resting against the wheel 13. It will be seen that the bottom of block 4 in contact with the vehicle sill is parallel to the base 6 of block 2 regardless ofthe relative positions ofthe blocks 2 and 4, due the inclined laces of both blocks being at the same angle.

Referring to Figure 3, the blocks 2 and 4 may be used solely to support a vehicle sill.

Instead of stepped teeth, the inclined surface of the blocks 2 and 4 could engage by any other suitable friction means, such as pegs on one face engaging with holes in another.

The stabiliser of the invention may be moulded of a high impact plastics such as a polycarbonate.

It is envisaged that a rescue service such as the fire or ambulance service would carry a plurality of stabilisers to take to an accident.

Two of second blocks 4 may be used together to pack gaps.

Further modifications of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope ofthe present invention.

Claims (9)

1. VEHICLE STABILISER 1 A stabiliser including two interlocking toothed blocks which together are adjustable for height and which can be loadbearing, consisting of a rectangular base block integral to a truncated triangular block which has a steep inclined flat surface and a shallow inclined toothed surface which is supported either side by triangular supports which are also integral to the base, and a separate supporting block consisting of a truncated right angled triangular block which is toothed on the inclined surface.
2. 2 The bottom of the base block and the top of the supporting block in as claimed in claim 1 stay parallel when in use under load.
3. 3 The base block and supporting block in as claimed in claim 1 are designed to take vertical loading at right angles to the bottom surface ofthe base block and the top ofthe supporting block.
4. 4 The supporting block as claimed in claim 1, claim 2, and claim 3, is designed to lock into the base block when under loading.
5. 5 The supporting block and base block as claimed in claim 1 are easily adjustable for height when not under loading.
6. 6 A combination of two similar base blocks (one on top of the other) or two supporting blocks (one on top of the other) as claimed in claim 1, can be used on the toothed surfaces together to pack gaps and support weight.
7. 7 The principles of claim 1, claim 2, claim 3, claim 4 and claim 5 can be applied to any two similar blocks.
8. 8 The steep inclined flat surface of the base block as claimed in claim 1 is designed to prevent a wheel from moving in one direction when used in the specific context of the base unit being on the ground and positioned in contact with a wheel.
9. 9 The base block and the supporting block claimed in claim 1, claim 2, claim 3, claim 4, claim 5, and claim 8, have a dual action which are to support the weight of a vehicle replacing the suspension action of a vehicle and to prevent the vehicle from rolling forwards or backwards.