Portable ramp and load support assembly
First Claim
1. A ramp assembly comprising:
- a first molded ramp component including an elongated generally planar first tread portion having its lateral extremities folded up, out and then down to form upstanding side rails and downwardly extending lateral side walls, a first end portion at one end of said first tread portion being configured to engage a first support surface at a first elevation, a second end portion at an opposite end of said first tread portion having a first plurality of apertured flanges extending therefrom to form a first hinge set, and means forming at least one integrally molded box-beam disposed beneath and extending along substantially the entire length of said first tread portion;
a second molded ramp component including an elongated generally planar second tread portion having its lateral extremities folded up, out and then down to form upstanding side rails and downwardly extending lateral side walls, a first end portion at one end of said second tread portion having a second plurality of apertured flanges extending therefrom to form a second hinge set, a second end portion at an opposite end of said second tread portion being configured to engage a second support surface at a second elevation higher than said first elevation, and means forming at least one integrally molded box-beam disposed beneath and extending along substantially the entire length of said second tread portion; and
at least one pivot pin adapted to extend through the apertures in said first and second hinge sets so as to pivotally join said first molded ramp component to said second molded ramp component, wherein said first and second molded ramp components may be rotated about said pivot pin between a folded configuration with said first and second molded ramp components lying in parallel side-by-side relationship, and an extended configuration wherein said first and second molded ramp components lie within a common plane such that upon placement of said first end portion on a first surface and placement of said second end portion on a second surface, said assembly forms a ramp along which a pet can walk.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A portable ramp and load support assembly including a pair of rigid, elongated, first and second ramp components hinged together at adjoining ends by a simple pivot pin. The apparatus is made of light-weight, injection molded plastic material, and is provided with a resilient, non-slip surface on its upper side. The ground-engaging end and vehicle-engaging end are also specially configured to prevent slippage and dislodgment during use. The assembly also includes a plurality of accessory parts including disconnectable legs for allowing the ramp apparatus to be used as a grooming table, examination table, game-cleaning table, etc., and floats, wheels, pull handles and other accessories that can be attached to extend the utility of the apparatus.
38 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A ramp assembly comprising:
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a first molded ramp component including an elongated generally planar first tread portion having its lateral extremities folded up, out and then down to form upstanding side rails and downwardly extending lateral side walls, a first end portion at one end of said first tread portion being configured to engage a first support surface at a first elevation, a second end portion at an opposite end of said first tread portion having a first plurality of apertured flanges extending therefrom to form a first hinge set, and means forming at least one integrally molded box-beam disposed beneath and extending along substantially the entire length of said first tread portion;
a second molded ramp component including an elongated generally planar second tread portion having its lateral extremities folded up, out and then down to form upstanding side rails and downwardly extending lateral side walls, a first end portion at one end of said second tread portion having a second plurality of apertured flanges extending therefrom to form a second hinge set, a second end portion at an opposite end of said second tread portion being configured to engage a second support surface at a second elevation higher than said first elevation, and means forming at least one integrally molded box-beam disposed beneath and extending along substantially the entire length of said second tread portion; and
at least one pivot pin adapted to extend through the apertures in said first and second hinge sets so as to pivotally join said first molded ramp component to said second molded ramp component, wherein said first and second molded ramp components may be rotated about said pivot pin between a folded configuration with said first and second molded ramp components lying in parallel side-by-side relationship, and an extended configuration wherein said first and second molded ramp components lie within a common plane such that upon placement of said first end portion on a first surface and placement of said second end portion on a second surface, said assembly forms a ramp along which a pet can walk. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
a ramp carrier including a support bracket adapted for attachment to a vehicle at a position thereon such that said ramp assembly can be used for ingress/egress, and carriage means pivotally affixed to said support bracket and having engagement means adapted to engage at least some of said standoffs such that said ramp assembly may be carried by the vehicle, said engagement means being adapted to allow said ramp assembly to be retracted to its folded configuration and deployed at will to its extended configuration.
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20. A ramp assembly as recited in claim 19 wherein said support bracket includes an L-shaped means having a horizontally extending leg adapted to engage a trailer hitch tube and a vertically extending leg;
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wherein said carriage means includes an a downwardly opening tube for telescopically engaging said vertically extending leg, and a horizontally extending arm affixed to said downwardly opening tube, and wherein said engagement means is pivotally connected to said horizontally extending arm and allows said ramp assembly to rotate about a horizontal axis.
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21. A ramp assembly as recited in claim 19 wherein said horizontally extending arm is rotatable relative to said downwardly opening tube so that said ramp assembly may be rotated between a position substantially parallel to an adjacent vehicle side and a position substantially normal to the vehicle side.
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22. An assembly comprising:
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a first molded component including an elongated generally rectangular and planar first support portion having its lateral extremities folded up, out and then down to form upstanding side rails and downwardly extending lateral side walls, a first end portion at one end of said first support portion, a second end portion at an opposite end of said first support portion having a first plurality of apertured flanges extending therefrom to form a first hinge set, and means forming at least one integrally molded box-beam disposed beneath and extending along substantially the entire length of said first support portion;
a second molded component including an elongated generally rectangular and planar second support portion having its lateral extremities folded up, out and then down to form upstanding side rails and downwardly extending lateral side walls, a first end portion at one end of said second support portion having a second plurality of apertured flanges extending therefrom to form a second hinge set, a second end portion at an opposite end of said second support portion, and means forming at least one integrally molded box-beam disposed beneath and extending along substantially the entire length of said second support portion; and
at least one pivot pin adapted to extend through the apertures in said first and second hinge sets so as to pivotally join said first molded component to said second molded component, wherein said first and second molded components may be rotated about said pivot pin between a folded configuration with said first and second molded components lying in parallel side-by-side relationship, and an extended configuration wherein said first and second molded components lie within a common plane and said assembly forms a load bearing structure that can be used in a horizontal or inclined disposition. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
a carrier including a support bracket adapted for attachment to a vehicle at a position thereon such that said assembly can be used for ingress/egress, and carriage means pivotally affixed to said support bracket and having engagement means adapted to engage standoffs molded to the bottom surfaces of said first and second tread portions such that said assembly may be carried by the vehicle, said engagement means being adapted to allow said assembly to be retracted to its folded configuration and deployed at will to its extended configuration.
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26. An assembly as recited in claim 25 wherein said support bracket includes an L-shaped means having a horizontally extending leg adapted to engage a trailer hitch tube and a vertically extending leg;
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wherein said carriage means includes an a downwardly opening tube for telescopically engaging said vertically extending leg, and a horizontally extending arm affixed to said downwardly opening tube, and wherein said engagement means is pivotally connected to said horizontally extending arm and allows said assembly to rotate about a horizontal axis.
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27. An assembly as recited in claim 26 wherein said horizontally extending arm is rotatable relative to said downwardly opening tube so that said assembly may be rotated between a position substantially parallel to an adjacent vehicle side and a position substantially normal to the vehicle side.
Specification