TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The present invention relates to a climbing system, in particular for applications in the field of nautical science. In detail, the present invention relates to a climbing system with a retractable and/or telescopic ramp or ladder, of the kind adapted to be installed and/or implemented into the bridge of a boat or watercraft in general, wherein said telescopic ramp or ladder is adapted to be actuated (switched) between a not operating rest position (wherein it is received in the bridge of the watercraft) and an operating working position (in which it is positioned outside the bridge of the watercraft) so as to allow to users both to easily step down from the boat into water and climb again or re-ascend from water up on the boat.

Still in more detail, the present invention relates to an inventive solution for the assisted switching of the ramp or ladder (for instance by means of electromechanical switching means) between the above mentioned rest and working positions.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

Climbing systems, in particular for boats and watercrafts in general, are known in the field of nautical science and appreciated by the users, said systems being adapted to render it easier both to step down from the boat into water and to step or climb again from water up on the boat. In particular, systems are known which comprise a telescopic ramp or ladder (adapted to be alternatively retracted and extracted or extended), wherein the ladder, in the not operating rest position, is closed and received in a housing (which is in turn received either in the bridge of the boat or in a different, still convenient position), and wherein, in the working configuration and/or position, the ramp or ladder is extracted and extends between the bridge and the water (for instance with its free and at least partially immersed in water), usually in a position substantially vertical and so as to be disposed along the portion of the broadside and/or stern underneath the bridge of the boat or watercraft. The advantages offered by climbing systems of the kind described above relate, by way of example, to the fact that, in its rest position, the ramp or ladder does not hinder the navigation and does not increase either the overall dimensions of the boat or watercraft whilst, in its working position and/or configuration, represents a valid support for both stepping down into water and climbing or stepping again from water up on the boat. Moreover, in its rest position, the ramp or ladder does not affect or change the external, general appearance of the boat and is moreover protected against both the atmospheric agents and the water, in particular the salt water, particularly aggressive and corrosive. Finally, the systems according to the prior art are adapted to be easily assembled and/or manufactured, thus allowing the corresponding assembling and/or manufacturing costs to be contained and/or limited, which renders their installation possible and even convenient even on not so big and expensive boats or watercrafts.

However, in spite of the above, even if the most common systems according to the prior art can be appreciated due to the above summarized reason, same are still affected by drawbacks relating to both their use and the way they are realized and/or installed, in particular on regular boats or watercrafts.

As to the use, it has in fact to be noted that the most common known climbing systems are adapted to be actuated manually, meaning that the commutation or switching of the ramp or ladder between the rest and working positions is obtained manually, wherein however the user, to this end, is often requested or forced to operate under disadvantageous conditions. As an example, the user, for the purpose of switching the ramp or ladder from the rest position or configuration and the working position or configuration, is forced to project or protrude from the watercraft, and therefore running heavy risks, in particular under conditions of heavy sea and/or rain and/or wind. A further drawback to be taken into consideration relates moreover to the impossibility (or at least difficulties) for the user (in both cases in which he is swimming in water or standing on the boat) to close or retract the ramp and put same back inside the bridge and/or into its protecting or receiving housing or case.

In an attempt to overcome at least partially the above summarized drawbacks, servo assisted switching systems or means have been proposed in the past, wherein for instance the commutation is obtained by means of electromechanical and/or hydraulic devices adapted to be actuated, for instance by means of a button or remote controller. However, in this case, the complexity of the coupling linkages and/or leverages, the corresponding costs (really high), along with the overall increased dimensions, have drastically limited their implementation and/or use, in particular on regular and not expensive boats, thus limiting their use and diffusion on a large scale. Moreover, in the servo assisted systems according to the prior art, the coupling linkages of the switching system of the ramp or ladder, allow the ramp or ladder to be switched only in part, wherein the user is still requested, accordingly, to complete the switching operations. For instance, switching systems are known which allow the ramp or ladder to be translated (along an horizontal direction) from inside the receiving housing or bridge to outside the bridge and vice versa, wherein however the operation needed for the purpose of extending and closing (retracting) the ladder and/or for the purpose of rotating the ladder from the horizontal position to the substantially vertical working position e vice versa, have still to be carried out by the user. It appears therefore clearly from the above, which are the risks arising for the users, but even which are the possible effects on the system; in this respect, the possible damages for the ramp can be mentioned, in particular when the ramp is rotated too quickly, for instance from the horizontal position to the vertical position. On the other hand, those servo assisted systems which allow the ramp or ladder to be rotated from the horizontal position to the vertical position and vice versa, do not usually allow a servo assisted extension and/or closure of same, wherein the servo assisted translation of the ladder from inside to outside and vice versa is not possible either, meaning that these switching operations have still to be carried out by the user. Moreover, in this case, for the servo assisted rotation of the ladder from the vertical to the horizontal position, due to the high amount of power needed, the further need arises of using very cumbersome electromechanical means, which very often do not match with the need of limiting and/or containing the overall dimensions of the system. Finally, the complexity of the linkages of the servo assisted switching means according to the prior art results in said systems being exposed to breakdowns and failures, thus rendering same quite unreliable.

It is therefore an object of the present invention that of overcoming or at least partially reducing the above summarized drawbacks affecting the climbing systems according to the prior art.

In particular, a further goal of the present invention is that of providing a solution for the implementation of a servo assisted climbing system, in particular for boats or watercrafts in general, wherein the switching means shall allow all the steps of the commutation between the rest position and the working position and vice versa to be carried out in a servo assisted manner. Moreover, a further object of the present invention is that of providing a solution for the implementation of a climbing system of the kind described above, said solution allowing the use of simple linkages and being adapted to be implemented and realized according to easy and simple procedures.

Still according to the present invention, the power absorbed by the switching means shall be limited and preferably without any power absorption peaks.

Still according to the invention, the climbing system shall be adapted to be realized and installed at reduced costs, shall have reduced or contained (limited) overall dimensions and shall be reliable and adapted to be used even under difficult and/or disadvantageous conditions.

According to the present invention, the climbing system shall comprise a case or housing for housing both the ramp or ladder (at least in the closed or retracted configuration) and the switching means, said case or housing being eventually adapted to be closed and to be installed as well for instance into the bridge of a watercraft so as to guarantee the most adequate protection against for instance atmospheric agents and/or water.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The present invention is based on the general consideration according to which the drawbacks affecting the climbing systems according to the prior art can be overcome or at least reduced by using, for the purpose of switching the ramp or ladder in a servo assisted manner, switching means allowing both to move the ramp or ladder (for instance to translate the ramp or ladder from inside the bridge or housing to outside and vice versa) and/or to rotate the ramp or ladder from the vertical position to the horizontal position and vice versa, said switching means allowing moreover the ramp or ladder to be both extracted (extended) and retracted, independently on the actual position of the ramp or ladder.

A further consideration on the basis of the present invention relates to the fact that both the handling of the ramp or ladder (wherein the handling of the ramp or ladder has to be understood as comprising one or both of the translation of same from inside the bridge or housing to outside and vice versa and/or rotating the ramp or ladder from the vertical to the horizontal position and vice versa) and the switching of same (comprising extending and retracting the ramp or ladder), independently on the actual position of the ramp or ladder can be efficiently obtained by means of switching means comprising a pushing (thrusting) and pulling element structured in such a way (for instance being flexible) so as to be adapted to exert on said telescopic device both a pushing (thrusting) action and a pulling action (traction) even along non parallel directions.

Still according a consideration on the basis of the present invention, it shall be possible to obtain both adequate handling of the ramp or ladder (comprising one or both of translating the ramp or ladder from inside the bridge or housing to outside and vice versa and rotating the ramp from the vertical position to the horizontal position and vice versa) and switching of the ramp or ladder (comprising extending and retracting the ramp or ladder), independently on the actual position of the ramp or ladder (i.e. in each position of the ramp or ladder), by structuring said pushing and pulling element in such a way so as to be adapted to carry out the translation of the ramp or ladder along at least a first direction, the rotation of the ramp on an axis of rotation substantially perpendicular to said at least one first direction of translation, along with the switching (commutation due to one of extension and retraction) of the ramp or ladder along at least a second direction different from said first direction (of translation). In view of the above considerations, a first embodiment of the present invention relates to a climbing system, in particular for boats or watercrafts in general, said system comprising a telescopic device with a plurality of modules reciprocally coupled in a telescopic way, along with switching means for switching said device between a most extended position and a less extended position, said switching means being adapted to act on said device so as to alternatively push and pull said telescopic modules, thus allowing (or even ensuring) said telescopic device to be switched both so as to be extended and so as to be retracted or shorten, wherein said switching means comprise a thrusting and pulling element structured so as to act on said device so as to alternatively push and pull said telescopic modules, even along non parallel directions.

According to a further embodiment, said thrusting and pulling element is structured so as to allow (or even ensure) said device both to be translated along a first direction, and to be switched between said most extended and less extended positions along a second direction different from said first direction.

Preferably, said thrusting and pulling element is coupled to said device in such a way so as to alternatively thrust and pull the most external, end telescopic module of said plurality of telescopic modules.

Still preferably, said thrusting and pulling element is made up by a flexible band or ribbon.

Advantageously, said flexible band or ribbon may comprise a plurality of through holes disposed adjacent to each other along a direction parallel to the direction of extension of said band or ribbon, wherein said switching means may comprise rotating means adapted to engage, during rotation, said flexible band or ribbon so that the rotation of said rotating means in two opposite senses of rotation results in said telescopic device being respectively thrust (pushed) and pulled by said flexible band or ribbon.

According to an eventual further embodiment said switching means may comprise a source of power operatively coupled to said rotating means by means of a transmission.

Preferably, said rotating means may comprise a rotating shaft and said transmission may extend between said source of power and said rotating shaft, said transmission being preferably of the kind comprising a pulley and/or a belt.

Advantageously, said source of power may comprise an electric motor.

According to a preferred and/or advantageous embodiment, the end portion of said flexible band or ribbon opposite to said telescopic device is rolled or wound on a winding pulley so that, during thrusting and pulling of said telescopic device by means of said band or ribbon said end portion of said band or ribbon is respectively unrolled or unwound from and re-wound or re-rolled on said pulley, wherein said winding pulley may be operatively coupled to elastic thrusting means adapted to exert a constant rotating thrust on said pulley in the sense of rotation in which said band or ribbon is re-rolled so that the portion of said band or ribbon between said rotating means and said pulley is subjected to a constant tension.

According to a further embodiment, the system according to the present invention comprises guiding means coupled to said telescopic device and structured so as to allow said telescopic device to be oriented along non parallel directions.

Preferably, the most internal telescopic module of said telescopic device is rotatably coupled to said guiding means so as to allow said telescopic device to be oriented with respect to said guiding means along different and non parallel directions. Advantageously, said guiding means comprise at least one guiding pulley rotatably received in a guiding slide.

According to an eventual preferred embodiment, the system according to the present invention comprises opposing means adapted to oppose said telescopic device to be switched so as to be extended and to support said telescopic device to be switched so as to be shorten or retracted, said opposing means being adapted to exert an opposing force bigger than the thrusting force needed to translate said telescopic device.

Advantageously, the opposing force exerted by said opposing means is less than the resultant force of said thrusting force exerted by said thrusting and pulling element on said telescopic modules once said telescopic device has been translated and the force of gravity acting on said telescopic modules when said telescopic device is oriented along a direction other than said direction of translation of said telescopic device.

Preferably, the opposing force exerted by said opposing means is less than the resultant force of said thrusting force exerted by said thrusting and pulling element on said telescopic modules once said telescopic device has been translated and the force of gravity acting on said telescopic modules when said telescopic device is oriented along a direction substantially vertical.

According to a further embodiment, the system according to the present invention comprises a box shaped housing adapted to be received in a corresponding receiving seat, for instance formed in the bridge of a boat.

The present invention further relates to a climbing system, in particular for boats or watercrafts in general, said system comprising a telescopic device with a plurality of modules reciprocally coupled in a telescopic way, along with switching means for switching said device between a most extended position and a less extended position, said switching means being adapted to act on said device so as to alternatively push and pull said telescopic modules, thus allowing (or even ensuring) said telescopic device to be switched both so as to be extended and so as to be retracted or shorten, wherein said switching means comprise a thrusting and pulling element structured so as to act on said device so as to alternatively push and pull said telescopic modules, said thrusting and pulling element comprising a flexible band or ribbon, the end portion of said flexible band or ribbon opposite to said telescopic device being rolled or wound on a winding pulley, said winding pulley being operatively coupled to elastic thrusting means adapted to exert on said pulley a constant rotating thrust in the rotating sense in which said band or ribbon is wound. Eventual further embodiments of the climbing system according to the present invention are defined by the appended claims.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further advantages and/or goals and/or features or further embodiments of the present invention are defined by the appended claims and will be clarified by means of the following description of the embodiments of the present invention depicted in the drawings; in the drawings, equivalent or corresponding component parts of the present invention are identified by the same reference numerals. In particular, in the drawings:

- figures 1 a e 1 b show the system of the present invention in its rest

position or configuration, wherein the ramp or ladder is completely retracted and received inside the bridge of a watercraft and/or the

corresponding housing;

- figures 2a e 2b show the system according to the present invention in an intermediate position and/or configuration in which the ramp or ladder partially extends or protrudes outside the bridge of a watercraft and/or the corresponding housing or case;

- figures 3a e 3b show the system according to the present invention in a further intermediate position or configuration in which the ramp or ladder protrudes completely outside the bridge of a watercraft and/or the

corresponding case or housing, and wherein the ramp or ladder is however not yet completely extended;

- figures 4a e 4b show the system according to the present invention in its working position or configuration in which the ramp or ladder is positioned outside the bridge of a watercraft and/or the corresponding case or housing and completely extended;

- figure 5 shows substantially the switching means of the system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

- figure 6 shows a part of the guiding means for guiding the ramp or ladder in the system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

- figure 7 shows further details of the system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The examples of embodiments described in the following relate to a climbing system adapted in particular to be used in the field of nautical science, in particular in the case of watercrafts or boats, for instance regular watercrafts or boats.

It has however to be noted that the solution according to the present invention is adapted to be implemented in climbing systems of different kind and/or adapted to be used in different application fields.

In the figures from 1 a to 4a the climbing system 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention depicted therein is depicted as being installed in the bridge of a watercraft 200; to the contrary, for the sake of clarity, in the figures from 1 b to 4b the climbing system is depicted as such, i.e. without any reference to its possible applications or uses.

In the embodiment depicted in the figures from 1 a to 4a and from 1 b to 4b, the system 10 comprises a box shaped housing envelope or case 1 1 , for instance made of metal, rigid plastic or similar materials resistant to water and/or corrosion, along with a climbing ramp or ladder 12 of the telescopic kind which comprises, in turn, a plurality (three in the example depicted) of elements or modules 14 reciprocally coupled to each other in a telescopic way, wherein each of the elements or modules 14 comprises a pair of tubular components substantially parallel to each other and disposed at a predefined reciprocal distance from each other, along with an interconnection and bearing element (defining a step) 15, disposed transversally with respect to the tubular components and provided namely for the purpose of offering support to a user during both stepping down and stepping up along the ramp or ladder 12. The bearing or supporting step 15 of the last telescopic element 14 (the most external one in the drawings) is in particular structured so as to close the front aperture 13 of the box shaped housing 1 1 when the ramp or ladder 12 is completely closed (retracted) and received or housed inside the housing 1 1 , for the purpose of isolating the inside of the housing 1 1 from the outside, thus protecting the components and/or elements received or housed therein.

The telescopic coupling between the elements may be any coupling according to the prior art, this being the reason why, for the sake of conciseness, a detailed description of same is omitted.. It has however to be noted that the present invention is not limited to the use of a telescopic ramp or ladder; to the contrary, within the scope of the present invention other ramps or ladders can be used such as, for instance, extendable and retractable ladders wherein, for instance, the elements or modules are adapted to slide one on the other.

Figures from 1 a to 4a and from 1 b to 4b show the different steps of the switching operations of the ramp or ladder 12 between the rest or not operative position or configuration as depicted in figures 1 a and 1 b, and the working position or configuration as depicted in figures 4a and 4b.

As anticipated above, in the rest or not operating position or configuration, the ramp or ladder 12 is completely retracted (closed) and received inside the housing 1 1 ; it will be appreciated that the ramp or ladder 12, in its rest position or configuration, does not represent any encumber and does not modify either any of the external appearance and the overall dimensions of the watercraft.

To the contrary, in its working position or configuration, the ramp or ladder 12 is completely extended (open) and positioned outside the watercraft 200 and the housing 1 1 , in particular along the broadside of the watercraft and oriented substantially vertically or at least transversally with respect to the direction of longitudinal extension of the box shaped housing 1 1 .

Whilst the switching steps or phases of the ramp or ladder between the rest and working positions and/or configurations will be described in more detail in the following, , it is useful to appreciate, at the present stage of the disclosure, the two intermediate positions taken by the ramp or ladder whilst same is switched and depicted respectively in figures 2a and 2b (first intermediate position) and 3a and 3b (second intermediate position).

In the intermediate position as depicted in figures 2a and 2b, the ramp or ladder 12 is still completely retracted (closed) and protrudes partially outside the watercraft and its housing 1 1 ; moreover, the ramp or ladder 12 is slightly inclined downside (toward the water) with respect to its previous position inside the housing 1 1 .

Finally, in the (still) intermediate position and configuration according to figures 3a and 3b, the ramp or ladder 12 is positioned completely outside the watercraft 200 and the housing 1 1 , and is oriented so as to be substantially vertical (substantially perpendicularly to its previous orientation inside the housing 1 1 ), wherein the ramp or ladder is however still completely retracted (in its shortest configuration).

Off course, the steps or phases for switching back the ramp or ladder, namely for switching again the ramp or ladder 12 from the working position back to the rest position, correspond substantially to the just disclosed steps, wherein however the sequence of the steps will be opposite to that of the above disclosed switching steps so that, when the ramp or ladder is switched from the working position back to the rest position, the ramp or ladder 12 will take first the position and configuration according to figures 3a and 3b, subsequently that depicted in figures 2a and 2b, and finally that according to figures 1 a and 1 b.

In the following, with reference to figure 5, description will be given of further component parts and/or features of the climbing system 10 according to the present invention; in figure 5, those components parts and/or features which have already been described with reference to other figures are identified by the same reference numerals.

As anticipated above, the main feature of the climbing system 10 according to the present invention relates to the fact that the system is of the servo assisted type, meaning that it comprises means (for instance electromechanical and/or hydraulic means) provided for the purpose of allowing a servo assisted switching of the ramp or ladder between the rest and working positions and/or configurations. According to the embodiment as depicted in figure 5, the means for the servo assisted switching comprise in particular an electric motor (or even an hydraulic one or the like) 16 adapted to be rotated by means of a power source (for instance a battery or even an hydraulic pump, respectively, not depicted in the drawings); several are the electric motors adapted to be used according to the present invention and comprise electric single phase motors with low power consumption, step-by-step motors or the like.

On the rotating shaft or pinion 16p which extends or protrudes outside the main body of the motor 16 (on the right side with respect to figure 5) there is engaged a transmission element, in particular a belt (eventually a toothed belt) 17 which extends in turn between the shaft 16p and a further rotating shaft 18 disposed transversally with respect to the transmission belt 17 (and therefore, as it will appear more clearly from the following description, transversally with respect to the direction of translation of the ramp or ladder 12).

On each of the opposite end portions of the rotating shaft 18 there is provided (installed) a toothed wheel (or pinion) 19 comprising a plurality of teeth or engagements each oriented transversally with respect to the direction of extension of the rotating shaft 18, wherein the rotation of the shaft 18 on its own longitudinal axis is obtained or ensured by means of a pair of support elements S equipped with means adapted to ensure or facilitate the rotation of the shaft 18, said means comprising for instance bearings or the like.

Each of the toothed wheels 19 engages in turn a pushing or thrusting and pulling element 20, essentially made up, in the embodiment or example as depicted in the drawings, by a flexible band or ribbon 20 comprising a plurality of through holes 26 disposed one adjacent to the other along a direction parallel to the direction of extension of the band or ribbon 20. The band or ribbon 20 may for instance be made of metal, plastic or similar materials, wherein the band or ribbon 20 shall be such as to be wound, curved or bent (see the following description), and wherein the stretched or not wound portion of the band or ribbon shall allow to exert both a push or thrust action and a pull action on the ladder 12. As an example, the above mentioned performances or actions can be conveniently obtained by means of a metallic band or ribbon with longitudinal ribs and/or with shaped cross section, for instance comprising a main portion substantially flat, along with two end portions oriented with respect to the main portion so as to define an angle.

It arises from figure 5 that each of the teeth or engagement portions of the two toothed wheels 19, during rotation of the wheels 19, engages a through hole 26 of the corresponding band or ribbon 20 so that the rotation of the shaft 18 as obtained through the rotation of the pinion or shaft 16p of the motor 16 and transmitted to the shaft 18 by the transmission 17, results in the two band or ribbons 20 being translated along a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of extension of the rotating shaft 18 (and therefore parallel to the direction of longitudinal extension of the case or box 1 1 , namely from the top to the bottom and vice versa with respect to figure 5).

It arises therefore from the above that, for each of the pushing and pulling elements (bands or ribbons) 20, an end portion of the band or ribbon engages the ramp or ladder 12 (according to solutions to be clarified in more detail in the following), whilst the opposite end portion of the band or ribbon 20 is wound on a pulley 21 . In other words, during rotation of the shaft 18 in a first sense of rotation (for instance clockwise with respect to the longitudinal axis of the shaft 18 according to a right side view with respect to figure 5 and 6), the end portion of the band or ribbon 20 which engages the ramp or ladder is translated in a corresponding first sense of translation (from the top to the bottom with respect to figure 5, and therefore so as to push or thrust the ramp or ladder 12 toward outside the housing or box 1 1 ), whilst in the mean time the opposite end portion of the band or ribbon is unrolled or unwound from the corresponding pulley 21 ; to the contrary, during rotation of the shaft 18 in the (second) opposite sense of rotation (counterclockwise with respect to the longitudinal axis of the shaft 18 from a right side view with respect to figure 5), the end portion of the band or ribbon 20 which is engaged with the ramp or ladder 12 is translated in a corresponding second opposite sense of translation (from the bottom to the top with respect to figure 5, namely so as to pull the ramp or ladder 12 toward the inside of the housing 1 1 , so as to insert again the ramp or ribbon 12 into the housing 1 1 ), whilst the opposite end portion of the band or ribbon 20 is rolled or wound on the corresponding pulley 21 .

Moreover, for the purpose of avoiding the band or ribbon 20 to bent or accumulate between the toothed wheel 19 and the pulley 21 , the climbing system 10, according to the embodiment as depicted in figure 5, comprises a further rotating shaft 23 which extends between the two pulleys 21 and engages a friction element 22 disposed at an intermediate position between the two pulleys 21 . In particular, the friction element 21 comprises an helicoidal spring, with a fixed end portion (fixed, for instance, to any static portion of the system), whilst the opposite portion is rigidly fixed to the rotating shaft 23. In this way, the rotation of the pulleys 21 in the sense of rotation in which the band or ribbon 20 is unrolled or unwound takes place against the resistance as exerted by the spring, whilst the rotation of the pulleys 21 in the sense of rotation in which the band or ribbon 20 is rerolled or rewound (rolled or wound again), will be supported or rendered easier by the action exerted by the spring . Accordingly, during rotation of the pulleys 21 in the two opposite senses of rotation, the portion of the band or ribbon comprised between the pulley 21 and the toothed wheel 19 is maintained under a constant 19 tension.

In the following, with reference to figures 5 to 7, description will be given of further features and/or component parts of the climbing system 10 as depicted therein, wherein in figures 5 to 7, component parts and/or features of the system already described above with reference to other figures are identified by the same reference numerals.

With reference in particular to figure 5, it arises that the case or housing 1 1 is laterally delimited by two longitudinal guides 24 opposite to each other, which delimit or define in turn an internal receiving space for the component parts of the system. In particular, each of the guides 24 is shaped as a (see also figure 1 b) and defines therefore an internal space wherein there are received (engaged) tow pulleys 30 and 31 (depicted with continuous lines and dashed lines in figures 6 to 7 and 5, respectively), the pulley 31 having a diameter shorter than that of the pulley 30. Each of the guides 24 comprises moreover a stopping element 32 (see figures 6 e 1 b) which closes at least partially the guide 24 in correspondence of its external end portion (opposite to the pulleys 21 ). The dimensions of the stopping element 32 are however such as to allow the wheel 31 with shorter diameter to pass the stopping element 32 during the translation of the ramp or ladder 12 (see figure 7), thus allowing to the wheel 31 to be positioned alternatively outside and inside the guide 24.

Still with reference to figures 5 to 7, it arises that the tubular elements of the first telescopic module 14 of the ramp or ladder 12 are each rotatably linked to the corresponding wheel or pulley 31 by means of a rotating pin 33 which extends through the end portion of the tubular element. Moreover, the wheel or pulley 30 is free to be rotated with respect to a further rotation pin 35, the two rotation pins 33 and 35 respectively of the wheels 31 and 32 being reciprocally linked or connected by means of a pair of connection brackets 36. In practice, each of the wheels 31 and 30 can be freely rotated with respect to the corresponding rotation pin 33 and 35, wherein the wheels 31 and 30 are rotated during the translation of the ramp or ladder 12 (obtained by means of the pushing and pulling element or ribbon 20). Moreover, the end portion of the telescopic element 14 can be rotated as well with respect to the rotation pin 33, wherein finally the connection brackets 36 can be rotated with respect to the rotation pin 35, so that the connection brackets 36, during their own rotation with respect to the pin 35, bring as well to rotate both the end portion of the module 14 and the wheel 31 (see figure 2b), both the end portion of the module 14 and the wheel 31 being rotatably fixed with respect to the brackets 36 by means of the rotation pin 33.

It arises moreover from figures 5 to 7 that the pushing and pulling element or ribbon 20 extends from the pulley 31 , underneath the rotation pin 35 of the wheel or pulley 30, and therefore inside the telescopic elements 14, in particular inside the tubular elements of the telescopic elements or modules 14, wherein therefore, as anticipated above, the end portion of the pushing and pulling element or ribbon 20 engages the last telescopic element or module 14, namely the most external telescopic element or module 14 of the ramp or ladder 12.

Along the translation path of the ramp or ladder 12, inside of the case or housing 1 1 , and on the side of the guides 24, there are disposed rotatable rollers 37 (the number of which may be selected according to the exigencies and/or circumstances), for the purpose of facilitating or rendering easier the translation of the ramp or ladder 12 inside the case or housing 1 1 .

Finally, the ramp or ladder 12 comprises a plurality of bucking (opposing) means (not depicted in the drawings) adapted to tackle the aperture or extension of the ramp or ladder (to exert a resistance against the aperture or extension of the ramp or ladder 12), and to facilitate (render easier) or support the closure or retraction of the ramp or ladder 12; to this end, within the scope of the present invention, it is possible to provide, by way of example, a plurality of springs, each of said springs being disposed between two adjacent telescopic elements or modules 14, or even pairs of magnetic means (for instance magnets), each pair comprising magnets with opposite polarities and being disposed on a corresponding telescopic element or module 14, in particular on the corresponding step.

Still with reference to figure 5, it arises that the rotating shaft 23 (the one brought to rotate by the transmission 17) comprises a threaded portion 40 on which there is engaged a threaded slider or cursor 41 , which comprises a fin 42, the free end portion of which is received or housed inside the internal space defined by the two opposite walls 43 rigidly fixed to the case or housing 1 1 . In practice, the slider or cursor 41 comprises a through hole with an internal thread which is engaged with the thread of the threaded portion 40 of the shaft 23 so that, during rotation of the shaft 23 in the two opposite senses of rotation (clockwise and counterclockwise with respect to the longitudinal axis of the shaft 23), the cursor 41 , which cannot be rotated due to the fin 42 engaged into the internal space defined by two opposite walls 43, is translated along the shaft 23 in two opposite senses of translation, respectively, and therefore from left to right and from right to left with respect to figure 5. In the space defined by the walls 43, there are moreover provided two sensors or microswitches (not to be seen in figure 5), in particular in correspondence respectively of the end portions reached by the fin 42 during its translation. The interaction between the fin and the two sensors o microswitches (adequately connected to an electric case not depicted either in the drawings) results in the electric motor 16 being stopped or switched off, thus avoiding the motor to get overloaded once the ramp or ladder 12 reaches its end or final positions, namely the rest and working position, respectively.

In view of the above description of the most important features and/or component parts of the climbing system 10 according to the embodiments of the present invention as depicted in the drawings, description will be given in the following of the operation of the system 10, in particular of the switching or commutation steps by means of which the ramp or ladder 12 is switched first between the rest and working positions and subsequently between the working and rest positions.

Starting from the rest position and/or configuration as depicted in figures 1 a and 1 b, the switching process is started first by actuating the electric motor 16, for instance by means of an electric switch or even a remote controller or the like, thus bringing the rotating shaft 18 and the toothed wheels 19 to rotate by means of the transmission 17. The rotation of the toothed wheels 19 results in the bands or ribbons 20 being translated toward the outside of the case or housing so that the bands or ribbons 20 are unrolled or unwound from the respective pulleys 21 . Accordingly, since, as explained above, the most external element or module 14 of the ramp or ladder 12 is engaged by the end portions of the bands or ribbons, the bands or ribbons 20 exert a thrust or push on the ramp 12 which is therefore translated along the case or housing 1 1 toward the outside of the case or housing 1 1 , wherein the translation of the ramp is facilitated or rendered easier by both the rotatable rollers 37 which support the ramp, and by the pairs of wheels or pulleys 30 and 31 , each of the wheels or pulleys 30 and 31 being brought to rotate inside the corresponding guides. It has to be noted that, during this phase or step, the thrust exerted by the ribbons 20 on the (most) external telescopic element or module 14 of the ramp 12, does not result in the ramp or ladder 12 being opened or elongated or extracted, wherein to the contrary the ramp or ladder 12 is simply translated whilst keeping retracted or closed, the aperture or extraction of the ramp or ladder 12 being contrasted and therefore not allowed by the contrasting elements as described above.

During the translation of the ramp or ladder 12 toward the outside of the case or housing 1 1 , the ramp or ladder start to get inclined down as depicted in figures 2a and 2b meaning that, in other words, the ramp or ladder 12 starts to rotate on the rotation pins 33, from the substantially horizontal position or orientation it had inside the case or housing 1 1 , thus assuming progressively transversal positions and orientations more and more inclined down with respect to its starting position and/or orientation, the rotation of the ramp or ladder 12 being allowed and/or rendered easier by the rotation of the brackets 36, along with that of the wheels 31 , accordingly, with respect to the pins 35, as depicted in figures 2a and 2b. It is however important to note that, during both translation and rotation of the ramp 12 (which keeps closed or retracted), the thrust exerted by the ribbons 20 on the external telescopic element 14 does not cease or stop, regardless of the orientation of the ramp 12 with respect to the case or housing 1 1 , the continuous or constant thrust action being ensured by the flexibility of the ribbons 20.

The above described step of translation and simultaneous rotation of the ramp or ladder 12 comes to its end once (as soon as) the ramp or ladder 12 (which is still closed or retracted) reaches the position or orientation depicted in particular in figures 3a, 3b and 7 (final orientation substantially vertical and perpendicular to the direction of longitudinal extension of the case or housing 1 1 ), wherein once the ramp 12 has reached this orientation the two wheels or pulleys 31 are positioned each outside the corresponding guide 24, and therefore each beyond the corresponding stopper 32, wherein each of the wheels or pulleys 30 is engaged by the stopper 32 (so that the ramp or ladder 12 does get disconnected from the guides 24 of the case or housing 1 1 ).

Once the intermediate positions and/or orientations as depicted in figures 3a and 3b are reached by the ramp or ladder 12, the last step of the switching operation or procedure is started, namely the step during which the ramp or ladder 12 is opened or extracted or extended. In fact, in this moment, two forces act on the most external module or element 14 of the ramp or ladder 12, namely the thrust exerted by the ribbons 20 along with the force of gravity (the maximum force of gravity since the ramp or ladder is substantially vertical). Since the contrasting elements (magnets, springs or the like) are set so as to exert a resistance or contrast force which is less that the resultant force resulting from the thrusting force exerted by the ribbons 20 and the force of gravity, the most external element or module 14 starts sliding with respect to the second-last element, wherein once the most external element or module 14 reaches its end most extended position (with respect to the second-last module) the second-last element or module is pulled by the most external or last module 14 and starts sliding with respect to the third-last module or element and so on. The switching operation or procedure comes therefore top its end once the ramp or ladder 12 reaches its most extended configuration or condition and the electric motor is turned or switched off by the slider 41 , or even before, for instance in case in which the motor is turned off by a user. At this point, the ramp or ladder is oriented, positioned and configured so as to allow a user both to step down along the ramp (for instance to get into water) and to step or climb up along the ramp (so as to get back, for instance, on a boat or watercraft).

The opposite (back) switching (from the working position and orientation of figures 4a and 4b back to the rest position and configuration of figures 1 a and 1 b) takes place thanks to the pulling action exerted by the ribbons 20 on the ramp or ladder 12, in particular on the most external element or module 14, and can be summarized as follows.

During a first step, which is started by turning on or actuating the electric motor 16, the ramp or ladder is first closed or retracted, meaning that each of the telescopic elements or modules 14 is pulled so as to be retracted and slide into the adjacent one (the most external into the second-last, the second-last into the third-last one and so on), wherein to this end both the pulling action exerted by the ribbons 20 and the action exerted by the contrasting elements are used, the resultant force thereof being enough to win the force of gravity; during this step, the ramp or ladder 12 keeps oriented substantially vertically or perpendicularly to the case or housing 1 1 , wherein this step ends once the situation as depicted in figures 3a, 3b and 7 is reached (wherein the ramp or ladder 12 is completely closed or retracted, oriented substantially vertically and positioned outside the watercraft 200 and the case or housing 1 1 ). During the next step the ramp or ladder starts first to get back into the case or housing 1 1 , and therefore to rotate, thus assuming subsequent orientations less and less inclined down with respect to the case or housing 1 1 , wherein the insertion of the ramp 12 into the case 1 1 starts once the wheels or pulleys 31 have passed the corresponding stoppers 32. During further insertion of the ramp or ladder 12 into the case 1 1 (still due to the continuous and constant pulling action exerted by the ribbons 20), the orientation of ramp or ladder 12 becomes more and more close or similar to its final orientation (substantially horizontal and parallel to the direction of longitudinal extension of the case or housing 1 1 ) until the ramp or ladder 12 reaches the final rest position of figures 1 a and 1 b, where the electric motor 16 is turned off either automatically or manually by a user.

It has therefore demonstrated by means of the above detailed description of the climbing system according to the embodiments of the present invention as depicted in the drawings and its functions, that the system according to the present invention allows the predefined goals to be reached, thus overcoming the drawbacks affecting climbing systems according to the prior art.

In particular, the climbing system according to the present invention allows the ramp or ladder to be both conveniently operated (translated from inside the case to outside the case and vice versa as well as rotated from the horizontal position or orientation to a substantially vertical position or orientation and vice versa) and switched by being extracted and retracted, independently on the actual position or orientation of the ramp or ladder.

Moreover, in the system according to the present invention, the linkages are simple and easy to be realized, the power consumed by the switching means is contained and does not comprises too high consumption peaks and, finally, the climbing system can be realized and installed at reduced costs, is characterized by a low overall dimensions and is reliable and adapted to be used even under difficult or disadvantageous conditions.

Although the climbing system according to the present invention has been clarified by means of the above detailed description of those embodiments thereof which are depicted in the drawings, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments as depicted in the drawings and described above.

The scope of the present invention is therefore defined by the appended claims.