Truck bed extender/ramp

• US 6,227,593 B1
• Filed: 03/17/1999
• Issued: 05/08/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Richard K De Valcourt
• Original Assignee: Richard K De Valcourt
• Inventors: De Valcourt, Richard K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pape, Joseph D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PATEL, KIRAN B
• Application Number:
  US09/270,728
• Time in Patent Office: 783 Days
• Field of Search: 296/26.08, 296/37.6, 296/37.1, 296/61, 296/62, 414/537
• US Class Current: 296/26.08
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 1/435 the ramp being attached to or making part of the side- or tailboards of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 3/40 for carrying long loads, e.g. with separate wheeled load supporting elements E04G21/14 takes precedence; signal devices to be attached to overhanging load B60Q7/02
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 69/30 Non-permanently installed loading ramps, e.g. transportable

Abstract

A ramp for motorcycles and lawn mowers folds up into a gate to fit on top of a tailgate of a pickup truck to extend the truck bed onto the open tailgate.

Claims

1. Apparatus for loading a wheeled vehicle into a pickup truck having a bed and a tailgate and for extending the bed onto the tailgate, comprising:

a first folding ramp for loading a wheeled vehicle into a pickup truck, the folding ramp having means for allowing the ramp to be folded into a truck bed extender wherein the first folding ramp is made of three sections, a left section, a central section, and a right section;

the central section has a length approximately equal to the width of the tailgate;

the left and right sections each have a length approximately equal to the length of the tailgate;

the central section is connected to the left section with a first hinge means and a first link assembly;

the central section is connected to the right section with a second hinge means and a second link assembly,

the first link assembly includes four legs, two legs being connected to the left section and two legs being connected to the central section, the two legs connected to the central section themselves being connected with a bearing bar which limits travel of the left section relative to the central section; and

the second link assembly includes four legs, two legs being connected to the central section and two legs being connected to the right section, the two legs connected to the right section themselves being connected with a bearing bar which limits travel of the right section relative to the central section.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a second folding ramp removably attachable to the first folding ramp.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

means for holding the first folding ramp onto the tailgate when the apparatus is functioning as a ramp.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

utility straps for holding the first folding ramp onto the tailgate when the apparatus is functioning as a truck bed extender.

5. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising:

connecting studs for removably attaching the second folding ramp to the first folding ramp.

6. A folding ramp apparatus comprising:

a left section;

a central section connected to the left section with a first hinge means and a first link assembly,

a right section connected to the central section with a second hinge means and a second link assembly, wherein;

the first link assembly includes four legs, two legs being connected to the left section and two legs being connected to the central section, the two legs connected to the central section themselves being connected with a bearing bar which limits travel of the left section relative to the central section; and

the second link assembly includes four legs, two legs being connected to the central section and two legs being connected to the right section, the two legs connected to the right section themselves being connected with a bearing bar which limits travel of the right section relative to the central section.

7. Apparatus for loading a wheeled vehicle into a pickup truck having a bed and a tailgate and for extending the bed onto the tailgate, comprising:

a first folding ramp for loading a wheeled vehicle into a pickup truck, the folding ramp having means for allowing the ramp to be folded into a truck bed extender; and

utility straps for holding the first folding ramp onto the tailgate when the apparatus is functioning as a truck bed extender.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising:

a second folding ramp removably attachable to the first folding ramp.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising:

means for holding the first folding ramp onto the tailgate when the apparatus is functioning as a ramp.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising:

utility straps for holding the second folding ramp onto the tailgate when the apparatus is functioning as a truck bed extender.

11. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein:

the first folding ramp is made of three sections, a left section, a central section, and a right section;

the central section has a length approximately equal to the width of the tailgate; and

the left and right sections each have a length approximately equal to the length of the tailgate.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein:

the central section is connected to the left section with a first hinge means and a first link assembly; and

the central section is connected to the right section with a second hinge means and a second link assembly.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein:

the first link assembly includes four legs, two legs being connected to the left section and two legs being connected to the central section, the two legs connected to the central section themselves being connected with a bearing bar which limits travel of the left section relative to the central section; and

the second link assembly includes four legs, two legs being connected to the central section and two legs being connected to the right section, the two legs connected to the right section themselves being connected with a bearing bar which limits travel of the right section relative to the central section.