Automotive maintenance ramp

• US 6,539,572 B2
• Filed: 03/08/2001
• Issued: 04/01/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ressie Lynn Ware
• Original Assignee: Ressie Lynn Ware
• Inventors: Ware, Ressie Lynn
• Primary Examiner(s): Bagnell, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): Singh, Sunil
• Application Number:
  US09/803,619
• Publication Number:
  US 20010044978A1
• Time in Patent Office: 754 Days
• Field of Search: 14/695, 14/711, 248/352, 254/88, 119/847, 414/530, 414/921, 296/61
• US Class Current: 14/69.5
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 7/243 Ramps

Abstract

A portable stair-step automotive maintenance ramp having a foldable approach ramp which may be folded atop the ramp for compact storage when not in use and unfolded for use. A foldable wheel barrier is also provided to prevent the vehicle from rolling off of the ramp as the vehicle is driven up upon the ramp.

Claims

1. A stepped portable automotive elevating ramp adapted to rest upon a supporting surface for supporting a vehicle wheel thereon, said ramp comprising a main body having a topmost course and a middle course included therein and a third lower level leading course, each of said stepped courses forming a separate horizontal, wheel supporting, surface that supports said vehicle wheel at a height above said supporting surface greater than that of the preceding course, said lower leading course hingedly attached to said main body wherein said lower leading course is foldable atop said middle course wherein said wheel supporting surface of said lower leading course is juxtaposed said wheel supporting surface of said middle course for storage of said ramp.

2. The stepped portable automotive elevating ramp as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the wheel supporting surface of each of said courses includes a friction increasing surface.

3. The stepped portable automotive elevating ramp as claimed in claim 2 wherein at least a portion of the bottom side of said main body includes a friction increasing surface.

4. The stepped portable automotive elevating ramp as claimed in claim 2 wherein at least a portion of the bottom side of said leading course includes a friction increasing surface.

5. The stepped portable automotive elevating ramp as claimed in claim 1 wherein said main body includes a wheel barrier comprising a block hingedly attached to said main body whereby said block is foldable atop said main body for storage of said ramp when not in use and unfolded into its functional position whereby said block extends upward above said top most course of said ramp thereby providing a barrier for preventing said vehicle wheel from rolling off said ramp.

6. The stepped portable automotive elevating ramp as claimed in claim 1 wherein said topmost course is hinged to said main body middle course, whereby said top most course may be positioned as a second lower leading course opposite said other lower leading course thereby permitting said vehicle wheel to be driven upward upon said main body middle course from either end.