Recreational vehicle ramp and storage lift

• US 8,092,142 B2
• Filed: 02/19/2009
• Issued: 01/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Richard D. Collins Jr
• Original Assignee: Richard D. Collins Jr
• Inventors: Collins, Richard D Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lowe, Scott
• Application Number:
  US12/389,219
• Publication Number:
  US 20100209222A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,055 Days
• Field of Search: 414/462, 414/494, 414/538, 414/540, 414/571, 414/592, 414/785, 414/537, 224/488, 224/534, 211/18
• US Class Current: 414/462
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 3/07 for carrying road vehicles

Abstract

Improvements in a vertical recreational vehicle ramp and lift that allows a recreational vehicle to be stored and transported in a vertical orientation. A cable from the lift mechanism connects to a recreational vehicle. The cable in then retracted to lift the recreational vehicle into a vertical orientation. This method of storage reduces the amount of space that is required to store a recreational vehicle. The storage method can be used in a garage, on the back or within a mobile transportation vehicle. The lifting device can be a powered or manual crank device that lifts the recreational vehicle. The ramp can be used to transport other vehicles into the truck and also provides protection of the wheels of the recreational vehicle against here the vehicle is stored.

Claims

1. A recreational vehicle ramp and lift comprising:

a vertically mounted and vertically secured track primarily secured to a vertical vehicle wall;

a lifting mechanism;

a cable connecting to said lifting mechanism;

a connection mechanism for a recreational vehicle;

wherein said lifting mechanism lifts said recreational vehicle such that tires of said recreational vehicle are in contact and role upon said vertically mounted track while said recreational vehicle is being lifted;

said storage lift further includes a sensor that determines the presence of a recreational vehicle secured to said lift, and

said sensor transmits a wired or wireless signal to a distal receiver and an indicating device.

2. The recreational vehicle ramp and lift according to claim 1 wherein said lifting mechanism is located at the bottom of said vertically mounted track.

3. The recreational vehicle ramp and lift according to claim 2 that further includes a pulley mounted on a top of said vertically mounted track.

4. The recreational vehicle ramp and lift according to claim 3 wherein said lifting mechanism pulls down on said cable over said pulley.

5. The recreational vehicle ramp and lift according to claim 1 wherein said connection mechanism is a strap.

6. The recreational vehicle ramp and lift according to claim 1 wherein said strap wraps onto or through a frame member of said recreational vehicle.

7. The recreational vehicle ramp and lift according to claim 1 wherein said vertically mounted track is removable for use as an angular ramp.

8. The recreational vehicle ramp and lift according to claim 1 wherein said vertically mounted track can be detached from said vertical vehicle wall and mount onto a different wall.

9. The recreational vehicle ramp and lift according to claim 1 wherein said vertically mounted track mounts to the back of a vehicle.

10. The recreational vehicle ramp and lift according to claim 1 wherein said lifting mechanism is an electrically powered winch.

11. The recreational vehicle ramp and lift according to claim 10 wherein said lift lifting mechanism further includes a control pendant that is extendable from said lifting mechanism.

12. The recreational vehicle ramp and lift according to claim 10 wherein said lift lifting mechanism further includes a wireless remote control for operation of said lifting mechanism.

13. The recreational vehicle ramp and lift according to claim 10 wherein said electrically powered winch is powered from an automobile electrical system.

14. The recreational vehicle ramp and lift according to claim 10 wherein said electrically powered winch is powered from a household electrical system.

15. The recreational vehicle ramp and lift according to claim 10 wherein said electrically powered winch is powered from a battery that is integrated into the lift.

16. The recreational vehicle ramp and lift according to claim 1 wherein said lifting mechanism is a manual winch.

17. The recreational vehicle ramp and lift according to claim 1 that further includes tie-downs that are mountable through, around or over at least one wheels of said recreational vehicle.

18. The recreational vehicle ramp and lift according to claim 1 wherein said lifting mechanism and said cable exist within the height of said vertically mounted ramp.