EXTENDING VEHICLE PLATFORM HAVING A BUILT-IN RAMP

EXTENSION DE PLATEFORME DE VEHICULE COMPORTANT UNE RAMPE INTEGREE

English Abstract

An extendible device for a pick up truck where a rolling platform is mounted
on
the device,. When the rolling platform is pulled from the extendible device it
will
be found that a ramp is housed in a cavity in a pair of formed slots in the
pull out
device. The ramp consists of two similar elongated members in a spaced apart
parallel relationship, joined at one end to form a foot". When the ramp is
slid to its
ramped position, it may be lowered in this position the extendible device may
be
loaded or driven upon in the absence of a "jump" at the interface of the ramp
and
the extendible device. The ramp now can be reinserted in the extendible device
by raising it and sliding it in the tracks formed in the device.

French Abstract

Un dispositif déployable est destiné à un camion à plateforme dans lequel la plateforme roulante est installée sur le dispositif. Lorsque la plateforme roulante est tirée du dispositif déployable, une rampe est découverte logée dans une cavité, dans une paire de fentes formées dans le dispositif de déploiement. La rampe est faite de deux éléments similaires allongés dans une relation parallèle espacée, joints à une extrémité pour former un pied. Lorsque la rampe est déployée dans sa position de rampe, elle peut être abaissée dans cette position et le dispositif déployable peut être chargé ou entraîné sans la présence d'un « saut » à l'interface entre la rampe et le dispositif déployable. La rampe peut alors être réinsérée dans le dispositif déployable en la soulevant et en la coulissant dans les rails formés dans le dispositif.

Claims

CLAIMS
1. A sliding platform assembly for a pick up truck wherein said loading and
unloading is accomplished without a surface discontinuity existing between
connecting surfaces of said assembly, said assembly comprising:
a first stationary flat member of rectangular shape mounted to a floor in a
freight carrying section of said pick up truck, said first member having a
pair of
spaced apart parallel rails formed thereon for mating with a second member,
the second member having a flat upper surface of about the same size as
the first stationary member and co-operatively mounted on said first
stationary
member for rectilinear movement thereon on the rails provided on said first
member,
said second member being of rectangular shape having a cavity formed
therein, said second member having a pair of spaced apart parallel channel
members extending the length of said second member for captivating a third and
a fourth member for sliding motion therein, said third member being pivotably
attached to the fourth member,
co-operating locking means on said channel members to lock said third
member into said means when said third member has reached a predetermined
position, said third member held in rigid position for loading or unloading of
freight on said fourth member,
said third and fourth members forming a ramp assembly which is storable
in said cavity of said second member and movable therewith,
wherein said fourth member comprises a sliding platform which has two
ladder-like sections joined together at a first end thereof for engaging the
ground
during loading and unloading operations and pivotable at a second end, so that
said ramp may be pivoted downwardly when said third member is clear of said
second member and said locking means has locked said third member into a

locked position,
said third member being slidable between said channels formed in said
second member, said third member being of irregular shape having at least two
legs extending in a specific direction,
said third and fourth members having bore holes aligned at suitable
matched predetermined locations and suitable bolt means attached such that
said fourth member may pivot from said third member only when said third
member indicates that an unloading point has been reached and said third
member is in the locked position as determined by the locking means mounted
on said second and third members.
2. The sliding platform assembly as claimed in claim 1 which said locking
means includes a special shape of said third member which holds the fourth
member and prevents any additional movement of said fourth member when a
predetermined point is reached and where said fourth member is held in a
suitable position for loading and unloading by said locking means.
3. The sliding platform assembly as claimed in claim 2 which includes the
elimination of a discontinuity of surfaces between said ramp member and said
surface of said second member so that when said ramp member is swung down
from its normally stowed position the end of the ramp engages the ground, the
pivotal end of said ramp member swings up a distance sufficient to align
itself
with surface of said second member.
4. A method for eliminating a discontinuity between joining surfaces of a
sliding platform assembly comprising:
providing a first stationary member of the sliding platform assembly
mounted in the cargo carrying section of a pick up truck,
providing a third member which functions as a ramp, having a first end
and a second end which is mounted for sliding motion in a second member
12

mounted in said sliding platform, a fourth member also mounted for sliding
motion in said second member pivotably joined to said third or ramp member at
said first end, said fourth member having at least a pair of arms mounted
thereon
projecting outwardly, and a set of bore holes suitably positioned at a
specific
location in the arms,
said third member being pivotably mounted on said pair of arms on said
fourth member.
5. A first member of an extendible loading platform of a pick up truck
comprising:
an irregularly shaped bar having four arms extending at a predetermined
angle therefrom for sliding in slots formed in said first member, the ends of
said
bar being suitably shaped for sliding in the slots of said first member,
another
member forming a ramp and suitably shaped to pivotably engage all four of the
arms and co-operating locking means located at suitable locations in said
first
member.
6. The first member as claimed in claim 5 wherein another member slides in
said first member in channels and the co-operating locking means is located on
said channel slots.
7. The first member as claimed in claims 5 or 6 and wherein the bar is
metallic.
8. The first member as claimed in claims 5 or 6 wherein the arms are
mounted on said bar in spaced parallel intervals and the member forming a ramp
is pivotably connected by suitable bolt means to said first member having an
irregular shape.
9. The first member as claimed in claim 8 wherein holes are positioned at
specific points on said arms of said irregularly shaped bar.
13

Description

cpA0 (CA 02755410 2011-10-17
.1/
Extending Vehicle Platform having a Built-In Ramp (EHO 11206)
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Sliding platforms for vehicles, such as pickup trucks are not new. These
devices have been around for quite some time. See U.S. Patents 7,712,812;
7,121,603; 5,820,190 and 4,830,242.
U.S. Patent 7,712,812 describes a Sliding Platform that extends the flat
platform of the vehicle so that access may be gained to the load on the
vehicle to
make loading and unloading easier.
U.S. Patent 7,121,603 describes a sliding platform which rides on a frame
mounted in a vehicle which provides easier access to the cargo carried by such
vehicle.
U.S. Patent 5,820,190 describes a sliding member that is foldable into a
table when extended.
U.S. Patent 4,830,242 describes a sliding member that slides out of a
framework in a pickup truck etc. to make it easier to gain access to a tool
carrier
mounted in a frame on the vehicle.
It is believed that the sliding member in each of the above patents serves to
make the flat area of the vehicle body (behind the driver's compartment) much
more amenable to loading and unloading freight than would have been possible
1

. CA 02755410 2011-10-17
had the sliding member not been present.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention of this application relates to the sliding member featured in
each of the Patents above. The invention relates to the addition of a ramp to
be
used in association with the sliding member. The invention relates to the ease
of
loading equipment onto the vehicle which would otherwise present an impossible
task in the absence of such a ramp. In a day when the desires of the operator
of the
vehicle is to "get away from it all" it will be found that the ramp of this
invention
makes it possible to drive an All Terrain Vehicle (ATV) onto the ramp and
subsequently onto the sliding member of the vehicle. This is virtually
impossible
without the ramp of this invention. Tying the ATV to the enclosure is a simple
matter.
The use of the ramp system of this invention is not limited to the loading of
ATV's; articles such as landscaping equipment may be loaded on to the sliding
platform simply by pushing or driving the equipment up the ramp. It will
generally
be found that the equipment is too heavy or bulky to lift by hand.
The ramp system is supported by the stationary frame installed in the
vehicle thus the bending of the tail gate is avoided when loading heavy
equipment
as with other prior art ramp systems.
2

CA 02755410 2011-10-17
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a perspective drawing showing a pickup truck in which the ramp is
mounted and the associated sliding platform is also shown.
Figure 2 is a perspective view of sliding platform and the associated ramp in
an
intermediate stored position.
Figure 2 (a) shows the enlargement of the circled area of Figure 2.
Figure 3 is a perspective view of the sliding platform and the associated ramp
in a
working position.
Figure 3 (a) shows the enlargement of the circled area of Figure 3.
Figure 4 is a perspective view of the sliding hanger of this invention.
Figure 4 (a) is a side elevational view the sliding hanger of Figure 4.
Figure 4 (b) is a partial front elevational view of the corner construction of
the
sliding hanger of Figure 4.
Figure 5 is a perspective view of the stationary member in which the sliding
member and ramp are installed.
Figure 5 (a) is an enlargement of the corner of the sliding member shown in
Figure
(5).
3

CA 02755410 2013-12-13
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to Figure 1 now, there is illustrated a truck 10 to which this
invention
has been applied. It will be noted that a stationary frame member 12 has been
installed in the cargo carrying space 14 of truck 10 by any suitable means.
The
stationary frame member 12 is shown having cross members 16 formed or
installed at intervals along the length thereof for strength The stationary
flame
member 12 may be of any rectangular configuration but it must have sufficient
strength and depth to accommodate the sliding platform 18 (which slides
thereon). Sliding platform 18 is covered with a sheet of flat material 20
(plywood
or other suitable material)and is arranged to slide out of cargo carrying
space 14
on rollers (not shown) on stationary frame member 12. Sliding platform 18 is
shown having a ramp 22 attached thereto which is captivated on the lower side
of the sliding platform 18 and may be slid out from under the sliding platform
18.The sliding platform 18 when combined with an intermediate member 50,
forms a joined relationship with sliding platform 18 when ramp 22 reaches the
end of its travel the ramp 22 is allowed to hinge at intermediate member 50 so
that it may be swung down with end 28 resting on the ground.
A better illustration of this arrangement will be seen by referring to Figure
2
which shows the sliding platform 18 and the ramp 22 in the absence of the
truck
10.
4
=

CA 02755410 2011-10-17
Here the sliding platform 18 and the ramp 22 are shown with ramp 22 being
in an extended intermediate position. End 28 of the ramp 22 is about to be
swung
down to its working position. The opposite end of ramp 22 is hingedly coupled
to an
intermediate member 50 (not shown in Figure 2) of which much will be said
later.
It is noted that the ramp 22 is shown having a pair of ladder-like members
24-28 and 26-30 which are slidingly captivated below the sliding platform 18.
The
members 24-28 and 26-30 are captured directly below sliding platform 18 so
that
they are confined to motion parallel to sliding platform 18 and are limited to
movement in this direction only.
The unique method of attachment of the ramp 22 to the sliding platform 18
(in working condition) when ramp 22 has reached the end of its sliding travel
makes
this invention possible. At the ground contacting end of the ramp 22, the
ladder like
elements 24 and 26 are connected together so that the structural rigidity of
the ramp
22 is improved and both of the elements 24 and 26 are raised and lowered
together.
Referring now to Figure 3, it will be noted that the ramp 22 is swung
downwardly so that the ramp 22 may be used to load equipment on the sliding
platform 18. It will be noted that the ramp 22 is hingedly attached to guides
52, 54,
56, and 58 of an intermediate member 50 so that a special spaced relationship
will
be established between the ramp 22 and the sliding platform 18 when the ramp
22

CA 02755410 2013-12-13
has been slid to its swung down operating position. It is noted that ramp 22
consisting of two ladder-like elements 24 and 28 and 26 and 30 is connected to
element 50 in such a manner that guides 52 and 54 are attached on the inside
surfaces of the extending elements 24 and 30 and .26 and 28.
Ramp 22 is attached to member 50 by means of bolt 38 which is arranged to
pass through holes59 and 61 of guides 52 and 54 connected to ladder-like
members 26 and 28 of ramp 22. It is noted that members 24 and 30 are hingedly
attached to the member 50 in the same manner.
This special method of attachment of the lamp 22 by means of the connection
to member 50, will allow the equipment which is rolled up the ramp 22 onto the
sliding platform 18 without facing a surface discontinuity at the junction of
ramp
22 and the sliding platform 18. It is noted that the ramp 22 is pivotally
joined to
the sliding element 50 by means of bolt 38 passing through holes 59-65 of
ladder-like elements 24-30 and 26-28. Holes 59, 61, 63 and 65 are situated at
a
predetermined distance from the ends of members 24-30 and 26-28. This allows
the ends of ladder-like members 26 and 28 of the ramp 22 to project upwardly
to
match the surface of the sliding platform 18.
The guide members 52,54,56 and 58 which are arranged to slide in the slats
provided under the sliding platform 18 (and to which ramp 22 is hingedly
attached)
6

CA 02755410 2013-12-13
will now be described in some detail with respect to Figure 4.
Member 50 is supplied with guides 52,54,56 and 58 with guides 52-58 being
provided with holes 59, 61, 63 and 65 bored therein at a predetermined
distance
"D" from the end of eachguide. (see Figure 4a). The guides 52-58 have an
irregular shape so that they will slide under platform 18 (in the slots
provided)
and hingedly support members 24 and 30 and members 26 and 28 of ramp 22
and in their extended position.
It will be noted that the upper surface of member 50 is slightly chamfered to
assist in sliding of the member 50 under the sliding platform 18. It is noted
that in
this instance member 50 is hollow, as shown at 62 in Figure 4a.
Lastly member 50 is provided with a projection 80 on the lower surface
thereof.
This provides a necessary stop for ramp 16 at the end of its travel under
platform 14. More will be said about projection 80 later in the discussion of
Figure
5.
Figure 5 and 5a shows a rectangular movable framework 70 which is situated
in the cargo area of the vehicle in which freight is to be hauled. The
framework
70 has some depth as can be seen from Figures 5 and Figure 5a. This depth is
required to accommodate the ramp assembly 22 of this invention. The flat piece
of plywood (or other suitable material) covering the framework 70 has been
omitted from this
7
=

CA 02755410 2013-12-13
figure for reasons of clarity. A pair of slots 76 and 78 (not shown) are
formed into
the side members 72 and 74 of rectangular movable framework 70. Slots 76 and
78 are made to accommodate the ramp assembly 22 in which it might slide
which is hingedly coupled to member 50 as shown in Figure 4 to also slide in
the
slotted framework.
Framework member 70 rolls on wheels (not shown) on stationary mounted
member 12 and ramp 22 moves with it. It is only when member 70 reaches the
end of its travel on member 12 that guides 52-58 perform their function. It is
at
this position that ramp 22 is slid out of the slots 76 and 78 in member 70 to
provide a ramp for the system.
Guides 52-56 are allowed to slide in the slots provided in member 70 until
the projections such as the one shown as 80 (in Figure 4) contact the cross
member 82 as shown in Figure 5. At this point member 50 is restrained from
further movement and ramp 22 maybe swung down to is ramp position as
shown in Figure 3. It is to be noted that ramp 22 will be somewhat shorter
than
the sliding member 70, due to the fact that member 50 takes up some space in
slots 76 and 78 of member 70 and a lock similar to that shown in applicant's
prior patent (US No.7,445,263) must be accommodated in this construction in
order for the ramp 22 to function in the best mode.
Ramp 22 functions as follows; First let us assume that the ramp 22 is in its
8

CA 02755410 2011-10-17
stored position in cavity 67 beneath the flat surface 18 of sliding member 70,
and
that the tail gate is in the "up' travelling position on truck 10.
The vehicle 10 is stopped at the desired location and the tail gate is lowered
to its (load-unload) position. It is at this point that sliding platform may
be
unlatched from its travelling position and rolled to its unloading position as
shown
in Figure (3) At some point the wheels (not shown) of the travelling body 70
prevent any further movement of body 70. At this point the member 70 is locked
in
place and the ramp 22 is pulled out to the position (as defined by tangs 80 on
member 50 and projection 82) as shown in Figure 3. Ramp 22 is rotated
downwardly until the end 28 rests on the ground and the ramp 22 is ready to be
used.
When the equipment is loaded on the sliding member 70 (actually on flat
surface 18) the process is reversed ,i.e. the ramp 22 is lifted up and pushed
into the
cavity in sliding member 70 and when the ramp 22 is in its stored position the
latch
is unlatched to allow member 70 to slide to its travelling position where it
is
securely latched (by means of a latch similar to the one shown in applicant's
prior
patent) and the equipment is tied down in the cargo space of the vehicle where
the
ramp equipment is installed and the vehicle is driven away to its destination.
Many modifications and other embodiments of the invention will come
9

CA 02755410 2011-10-17
to mind of one skilled in the art, having the benefit of the teachings
presented in
the foregoing description and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is to be
understood that the invention is not to be limited to the specific embodiments
disclosed, and that the modifications and embodiments are intended to be
included
within the scope of the dependent claims.

Representative Drawing