Patent ID: 6484344
Filing Date: 2002-11-26
Classification: A61G,B60P,E04F

Abstract:
A retractable ramp being for extending over a plurality of steps to provide wheeled access for a user, the retractable ramp comprising:a housing having a plurality of walls defining an interior space, said housing having an aperture through said housing, said aperture being for providing access to said interior space, said housing being adapted for being coupled to the steps such that a top wall of said housing is flush with a top surface of the steps; a base assembly being coupled in said interior space of said housing, said base assembly being selectively extendable from said housing; a ramp assembly being coupled to said base assembly, said ramp assembly being selectively extendable from said base assembly when said base assembly is extended from said housing, said ramp assembly being adapted for providing a smooth surface over the steps for wheeled vehicles; wherein said ramp assembly has a first ramp portion and a second ramp portion, said first ramp portion being selectively extendable from said base assembly, said second ramp portion being selectively extendable from said first ramp portion, said first ramp portion and said second ramp portion being adapted for extending over the steps when said first ramp portion is extended from said base assembly; wherein said first ramp portion having an arresting bar being coupled to a bottom surface of said first ramp portion, said first ramp portion being for rolling on a roller bar of said base assembly such that said roller bar facilitates extension of said first ramp portion from said base assembly, said arresting bar being for abutting against said roller bar when said first ramp portion is extended from said base assembly for preventing inadvertent removal of said first ramp portion from said base assembly; wherein said first ramp portion has a lower wall and a pair of tracks, each of said tracks upwardly extending from a side edge of said lower wall, a rear face of each of said tracks being angled such that said rear face of each of said tracks permits said first ramp portion to angle downward with respect to said base assembly whereby said rear face of each of said tracks abuts said top wall of said housing; wherein said second ramp portion has a base member and a pair of rails, each of said rails upwardly extending from opposing side edges of said base member, said tracks of said first ramp portion being for receiving said rails of said second ramp portion for maintaining alignment of said second ramp portion with said first ramp portion when said second ramp portion is extended from said first ramp portion; and wherein said second ramp portion has a front plate coupled to a front end of said second ramp portion, said front plate being downwardly angled with respect to said base member of said second ramp portion such that said front plate is adapted for facilitating transition of a wheeled apparatus from a support surface onto said base member of said second ramp portion.