Automotive maintenance ramp

• US 20010044978A1
• Filed: 03/08/2001
• Published: 11/29/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ressie Lynn Ware
• Original Assignee: Ressie Lynn Ware
• Inventors: Ware, Ressie Lynn
• Granted Patent: US 6,539,572 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 14/69.5
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 7/243 Ramps

Abstract

A portable stair-step automotive maintenance ramp is disclosed 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 disclosed to prevent the vehicle from rolling off of said ramp as the vehicle is driven up upon the ramp.

Claims

1. A portable automotive elevating ramp adapted to rest upon a supporting surface for supporting a vehicle wheel thereon, said ramp comprising a series of stepped courses wherein each course supports said vehicle wheel at a height above said supporting surface greater than that of the preceding course.

2. The vehicle elevating ramp as claimed in

claim 1

wherein said ramp comprises a main body having a topmost course and a middle course included therein and a third low level leading course, said leading course hingedly attached to said main body whereby said leading course may be folded atop said middle course for storage of said ramp.

3. The vehicle ramp as claimed in

claim 2

wherein at least a portion of the top surface of each of said courses includes a friction increasing surface.

4. The vehicle ramp as claimed in

claim 3

wherein at least a portion of the bottom side of said main body includes a friction increasing surface.

5. The vehicle ramp as claimed in

claim 3

wherein at least a portion of the bottom side of leading course includes a friction increasing surface.

6. The vehicle ramp as claimed in

claim 2

wherein said main body includes a wheel barrier comprising a block hingedly attached to said main body whereby said block may be folded 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 the top course of said ramp thereby providing a barrier for preventing said vehicle wheel from rolling off said ramp.

7. A 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 flat upper surface for supporting a vehicle wheel thereon and an inclined surface communicating with said flat upper surface, a leading approach ramp comprising an inclined plane hingedly attached to said inclined surface whereby said vehicle wheel may be driven up upon said approach ramp, and upward upon said inclined surface to said flat upper surface, said approach ramp raotatable about said hinge atop said inclined surface for storage of said ramp when not in use.

8. The vehicle ramp as claimed in

claim 7

wherein said main body includes a wheel barrier comprising a block hingedly attached to said main body whereby said block may be folded 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 flat upper surface of said ramp thereby providing a barrier for preventing said vehicle wheel from rolling off said ramp

9. A method of elevating a vehicle comprising the steps of:

a) providing a stepped vehicle ramp having a foldable leading step. for each wheel of said vehicle to be elevated.

b) unfolding said foldable lading step of each said ramp thereby providing a series of elevating steps,

c) engaging said ramp at said leading step by driving the wheel of said vehicle upon said leading step;

d) traversing each step of said ramp until a desired height of elevation of said vehicle is achieved,

e) stopping said vehicle at the desired elevation.

10. A method of elevating the wheel of a vehicle comprising the steps of:

a) providing a wheel elevating vehicle ramp having a foldable approach ramp for each wheel of said vehicle to be elevated.

b) unfolding said foldable approach ramp of each said vehicle ramp,

c) engaging said vehicle ramp at said approach ramp by driving the wheel of said vehicle upon said approach ramp,

d) traversing said approach ramp and said vehicle ramp until said wheel is at the top of said vehicle ramp,

e) stopping said vehicle.

11. A vehicle ramp adapted to rest on a supporting surface and for supporting a vehicle wheel, said vehicle ramp comprising a plurality of blocks hinged together.

12. A vehicle ramp as claimed in

claim 11

where said blocks extend to form a step design.

13. A method of elevating a vehicle comprising the steps of:

a) allocating an adjustable step vehicle ramp to each wheel to be elevated of said vehicle;

b) adjusting said vehicle ramp to provide adequate work clearance by expanding or folding a plurality of hinged blocks to form steps;

c) engaging said ramp at said lowest step by driving said vehicle upon said lowest step;

d) traversing each step of said ramp until a desired height of elevation is achieved;

e) stopping said vehicle at the desired elevation.