Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
TEC~NICAL FIE~D
The present invention relates to a vehicle loading ramp
and more particularly, to a loading ramp adapted to serve as a
tailgate in the folded position.
BACRGROUND O~ T~E INVE~TIQN
The loading and unloading of bulky, heavy objects from a
vehicle such as a truck has presented a problem for some time. For
example, the weight of the object may be such that it renders
manual loading almost impossible. Alternative solutions have been
developed to address this problem. One such solution involves the
use of ramps. These however are bulky, rendering their handling at
the loading site difficult. Further, such ramps take up
considerable storage space when not in use. Recently vehicle
tailgates that are capable o~ also being used as loading ramps have
become available.
One example of such a convertible tailgate is disclosed
in Canadian Patent No. lr238,156 of Hanson issued June 2~, 1988.
That patent discloses a vehicle tailgate ramp including two
separate foldable flow-through ramps. Each ramp after use, is
removed and folded for storage in a movabIe tailgate frame at the
rear of a vehicle. This device still requires a lot of
manipulation before loadiny and/or unloading can he achieved.
Canadian Patent No. 847,002 issued July 21, 1970 to Hall
illustrates a flow-through vehicle loading ramp which may be
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attached to ~he tailgate of a vehicle. Unit~d States Patent No.
4,761,847 issued August 9, l988 to Savage relates to a portable
folding ramp and is of general background interest.
It is an object o~ the present invention to provide an
improved vehicle tailgate ramp assembly wherein the vehicle
tailgate functions as a ramp when unfolded.
8UM~RY OF ~HE INV~TION
In accordance with the present invention a foldable
vehicle tailgate ramp assembly is provided. The ramp comprises a
~0 plurality of rectangular ramp panels, each having top and bottom
surfaces and longitudinal and lateral sides. The first of these
ramp panels is pivotably mountable to a vehicle to form a tailgate.
The tailgate is adapted when in position on the vehicle to swing
about an axis adjacent a lower longitudinal side of the first panel
between a closed, vertical first position to a second open, ramp
position. Means are provided to pivotably connect the ramp panels
along adjacent longitudinal aides so as to unfold into an operable
ramp position with the panels held in coplanar relationship when
the first of the xamp panels is in open position, and fold into a
storage position with the first of the ramp panels in closed
position. Means are provided to releasably secure the ramp panels
in first position.
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BiRIEF lDB~3CRIP~l!ION 0F 'l'HE DRAWI~G13
These and other objects and advantages of the invention
will become apparent upon reading the following detailed
dessription and upon referring to the drawings in which:
FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the folded tailgate
ramp assembly in accordance with the present invention on the rear
of a pick up truck;
FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the tail~ate ramp
assembly of FIGURE 1, unfolded as a ramp;
FI~URE 3 is a side view of the ramp of FIGURE 2~ The
folding of the ramp is shown in phantom lines;
FIGURE 4 is a side view o~ the tailgata ramp assembly of
FIGURE l;
FIGURE 5 is a rear view of the vehicle tailgate ramp
assembly of FIGURES 1 and 4 in a folded posikion;
FIGURE 6 is a broken exploded view of the hinge assembly
: joinin~ panels making up the ~ailgate ramp assembly o~ the present
; invention;
~ FIGURE 7 is a broken exploded view of a latching device
~or the panels of the present invention; and
FIGURE 8 is a side view of the latching device of FIGURE
7.
While the invention will be described in conjunction~with
an example embodiment it will be understood that it is not intended
25~ to limit the invention to such embodiment~ On the contrary, i~ is
intended to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents
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as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as
defined by the appended claims.
DETAILED DE~CRIPTIgN OF T~ INV~N~ION
In the drawings, similar features have been given similar
reference numerals.
FIGURES 1 and 2 illustrate respectively a vehicle
tailgate ramp assembly 2 of the preferred embodiment of the present
invention in ~olded and unfolded positions mounted on the rear of
a pick-up truck 3.
10As shown in FIGURE 2 the vehicle tailgate ramp assembly
2 of the preferred embodiment comprise~s a plurality of panels 4,
each panel pivotably ~ecured to its adjacent panel or panels, each
of the panels having a top surface 6, a bottom surface 8,
longitudinal si~es 10 and lateral sides 12.
15Referring to FIGURES 1 and 2, it can be se.en that an
innermost panel 13 is of such width that when folded it functions
as a tailgate to completely enclose the rear of pick-up truck 3.
The other panel~ 4 are generally of smaller width. The panels 4
are connected to each other by a hinge assembly 14, to be described
in more detail hereinafter, and are maintained in a folde.d
position, when not used as a ramp, by a paix of spring-loaded
: latches 16 and a spider latch 18. A pair of conventional la~ches
19 at the top of the lateral sides of panel ~3 releasably engage
: corresponding portions of the rear o~ pick-up truck 3 to enclose it
like a conventional tailgate and secure it in vertical position.
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With reference $o FIGURE 3 the longitudinal side 10 of
each panel 4 is pi~otally joined to a corresponding side 10 of an
adjacent panel ~ by hinge means 14, details of which will be set
out subsequently. Panel 13 is pivotably mount~d at its bottom to
vehicle 3 by hinge 22 to swing about an axis through that hinge
from a first, closed position as shown in phantom to a second
opened position as shown in full line. As shown in FIGURES 2 and
3 the top surfaces 6 of the panels 4 are substantially coplanar
with respect to one another when the tailgate ramp assembly is
completely unfolded. As shown in FI~URE 6, the construction of the
hinge assembly 14 is such that when the panels 4 are unfolded to
the extent that their top surfaces are coplanar, a stop block 24
limits any further relative pivotal movement of the panels in that
same direction. When folded, the top ~surfaces 6 of consecutive
panels 4 opposedly face one another.
As can be seen in FIGURE 2 each of the panels is, for
example, reinforced by a plurality of longitudinal bracing members
26 affixed to expanded metal sheeting 28. To further reinforce and
support the vehicle tailgate ramp assembly when in the unfolded
~ position, a telescopic leg 30 is pivotally connected to
longitudinal sides 12 of a panal 4 as illustrated. The precise
location of the leg 30 will depend upon the. length of the tailgate
ramp assembly. The height of the leg 30 can be telescopically
longitudinally adjusted so as to adapt to different height
requirements. To give further strength to the tailgate ramp
assembly in the unfolded position the first panel 13 when unfolded
may or may not rest on bumper 32 of the vehicle 3.
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FIGURES 4 and 5 illustrate the tailgate ramp assembly in
folded position with the latches 16 and lg retaining the ramp
panels 4 in such position.
As can be seen in FI~URE 6, to enable the panels 4 to
5pivot with respect to each other, aligned hinge sleeves 34 are
secured to different ones o~ the adjacent longitudinal sides 10 of
adjacent panels 4 so as to receive hinge rod 36. Stop block 24 is
welded to longitudinal side 10 o~ one ramp panel 4 while a surface
bearing bar 38 is welded in confronting fashion to the
10corresponding longitudinal side 10 of adjacent ramp panel 4. In
operation as the panels are unfolded, hing~ sleeves 34 of each
adjacent pair of panels for rotate around hinge rod 36 until stop
block 24 rests against surface bearing bar 38. Stop block 24 is of
such a construction that, when panels 4 are completely unfolded and
15coplanar, it prevents any further rotat:ion of hinge rod 36 while
abutting against surface bearing bar 38.
Spring-loaded latches 16, slecured as illustrated to
opposite lateral sides 12 of the panel 4 adjacent panel 13, are
~used to releasably secure the ramp panels 4 to the first panel 13
20(FIGURES 7 and 8~. Each latch 16 comprises a casing 40 encasing a
spring 42 biased against a square ~pring stop 44 ~ixed within
casing 40. A pos~ 46, with flange cap 47, passes through the
aligned holes 48 of casing 40 and is weldeA to one of the lateral
sides 12 of lowermost panel ~ so that casing 40 can rotate on pos~
2546. In operation a ~inger 50 activated by handle 51, acting
against the bias of spring 42 secured thereto, is pulled until the
finger grips lateral sides 12 of the other folded ramp panels 4 and
r~tains ramp panels 4 in folded position.
Thus it is apparent that there has been provided in
accordance with the inventi4n a vehicle tailgate ramp assembly that
fully satisfies the objects, aims and advantagas set forth above.
While the invention has been described in conjunction with a
specific embodiment thereof/ ik is evident that many alternatives,
modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in
the art in light of the foregoing description~ Accordingly, it is
intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and
variations as fall within the spirit and broad scope of the
invention.
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