Folding ramp

• US 6,986,633 B2
• Filed: 07/30/2002
• Issued: 01/17/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Overhead Door Corporation (Sanwa Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Overhead Door Corporation (Sanwa Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Brim, Larry Walter, Kellogg, Charles Frederick
• Primary Examiner(s): Underwood, Donald W.
• Application Number:
  US10/209,214
• Publication Number:
  US 20040022612A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,267 Days
• Field of Search: 414/537, 296/61
• US Class Current: 414/537
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 1/43 using a loading ramp mounted on the vehicle loading ramps per se B65G69/28
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 1/431 the ramp being stored under the loading floor when not in use
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 69/30 Non-permanently installed loading ramps, e.g. transportable

Abstract

A folding cargo loading/unloading ramp, particularly adapted for motor trucks, includes first and second ramp sections and an intermediate support leg assembly which is pivotally connected to the first and second ramp sections at a common hinge point. The support leg assembly includes a latch for automatically latching the support leg assembly in a working position when it is rotated from a folded position to its working position, the latch being manually actuatable to unlock the support leg assembly to rotate back to its folded or non-working position. Both ramp sections and the support leg assembly include manipulating handles to facilitate movement of the ramp between a stored position and a working position.

Claims

1. A portable cargo loading/unloading ramp for freight trucks and the like comprising:

a first ramp section;

a second ramp section hingedly connected to said first ramp section;

a support leg assembly hingedly connected to at least one of the ramp sections and adapted to be moved between working and non-working positions of said ramp; and

a latch mechanism disposed on said support leg assembly and including a latch member mounted for pivotal movement about a pivot pin for engagement with a catch mounted on said first ramp section for locking said leg assembly in a working position, said latch member including a hook part disposed on one side of said pivot pin, a handle part mounted on an opposite side of said pivot pin and spring means for biasing said latch member into engagement with said catch, and said latch member is responsive to manipulation by an operator of said ramp to move to a position for unlatching said support leg assembly for rotation to a stored position.

2. The ramp set forth in claim 1 including:

support rollers mounted on said first ramp section adjacent an end of said first ramp section opposite an end which is hingedly connected to said second ramp section.

3. The ramp set forth in claim 1 including:

at least one manipulating handle disposed on said support leg assembly for grasping by an operator of said ramp to move said ramp between a stored position and a working position.

4. The ramp set forth in claim 1 including:

at least one manipulating handle disposed on said second ramp section for grasping by an operator of said ramp for moving said second ramp section between a folded position and a working position with respect to said first ramp section.

5. The ramp set forth in claim 1 including:

at least one manipulating handle supported on said first ramp section adjacent an end of said first ramp section opposite an end which is hingedly connected to said second ramp section for manipulating said first ramp section to move between a stored position and a working position.

6. The ramp set forth in claim 5 wherein:

said first ramp section includes manipulating handles mounted opposite each other on opposite sides of said first ramp section.

7. The ramp set forth in claim 1 wherein:

at least one of said ramp sections is formed by spaced apart, elongated, substantially parallel support rails and a plurality of deck plates disposed between said rails and secured thereto, respectively, to form said at least one ramp section.

8. The ramp set forth in claim 7 wherein:

said rails comprise opposed flanges, a web and a channel formed in said web for receiving opposite sides of said deck plates.

9. The ramp set forth in claim 8 wherein:

said flanges of said rails are formed to have a continuous curved shape to facilitate manipulating said ramp by operating personnel.

10. The ramp set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said support leg assembly includes two spaced apart first support leg members interconnected to each other, second support leg members operably connected to said first support leg members for movement relative thereto and roller means mounted on opposite ends of said second support leg members, said roller means on one end of said second support leg members being engageable with the ground for supporting said ramp and other of said roller means being supported on the opposite end of said second support leg members and engageable with cam means on said second ramp section for causing said second support leg members to move with respect to said first support leg members, respectively, to support said ramp by said roller means.

11. The ramp set forth in claim 1 including:

ramp locating bosses disposed on said first ramp section adjacent one end thereof.

12. A portable cargo loading/unloading ramp for freight trucks and the like comprising:

a first ramp section;

a second ramp section hingedly connected to said first ramp section; and

a support leg assembly hingedly connected to at least one of said ramp sections and adapted to be moved between working and non-working positions of said ramp, said support leg assembly includes two spaced apart first tubular support leg members interconnected to each other, second tubular support leg members slidably disposed in said first support leg members, respectively, for movement relative thereto and first and second rollers mounted on opposite ends of said second support leg members, respectively, said first rollers being engageable with the ground for supporting said ramp and said second rollers being engageable with respective cam means on said second ramp section for causing said second support leg members to move slidably in and with respect to said first support leg members, respectively, to support said ramp by said first rollers.

13. The ramp set forth in claim 12 including:

support pin members mounted on said first support leg members and extending through elongated slots in said second support leg members, respectively, for supporting said second support leg members for limited movement with respect to said first support leg members.