Abstract:
A compact ramp and tailgate system for a vehicle tailgate includes a tailgate having an interior hollow cavity for collapsible storage therein of a pair of ramps that are also telescopically extendable therefrom for loading and unloading heavy equipment into and off the bed of the vehicle such as a pickup truck with each ramp mounted to a locking hinge that allows the ramps to pivot up to ninety degrees and each ramp composed of at least three ramp members of decreasing size starting from the largest ramp members that are pivotally interconnected to the locking hinges. The ramps are independently pivotable and slidably adjustable left and right relative to the tailgate and the longitudinal extension of the vehicle for properly aligning the ramps with respect to the wheels, rollers, casters, etc., of the equipment to be on loaded and off loaded.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention pertains to loading and off loading ramps for automotive vehicles, and more particularly pertains to a ramp assembly integral with the tailgate of the automotive vehicle. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The moving, hauling, and transporting of heavy equipment, items and recreational vehicles is a common occurrence in today&#39;s society. Such equipment, items, and recreational vehicles can include wheelchairs, furniture with casters, ATVs, roto tillers, lawn tractors, heavy duty mowers, motorcycles, dirt bikes, skidoos, etc. Furthermore, such heavy equipment is most often loaded onto the beds of pickup trucks and, less often, into the storage compartments of SUVs and minivans. 
   Typically, the loading and unloading of the equipment is accomplished in one of two ways: either one or more individuals manually lifts up the piece of equipment, for example, and with difficulty maneuvers the piece of equipment into the storage compartment or onto the bed of the vehicle; or makeshift ramps, such as a pair of two by eights or a pair of two by tens are propped against the rear ledge or open tailgate of the vehicle. The piece of equipment is then pushed up the ramp and pushed into the rear storage compartment or on the bed of the vehicle. 
   The dangers and difficulties of loading and unloading such equipment are obvious. Lifting an ATV or a lawn tractor on and off the bed of a vehicle is hard, dangerous, and unsafe. Serious injury could result to all members of a party involved in lifting the equipment should even one member of the party lose his grip on the equipment. In addition, the above-mentioned types of equipment are bulky, awkward, and not even designed to be lifted, loaded, and unloaded from one surface to another surface having a different elevation from the first surface. 
   The dangers and difficulties are not avoided by using makeshift planks as ramps. The individuals still must push with great exertion the piece of equipment up the planks all the while maintaining the alignment of the wheels, rollers, casters, or skids with the planks so that the piece of equipment doesn&#39;t roll off the planks. In addition, in order to unload the piece of equipment, the moving parting must first align the piece of equipment with the planks, and then simultaneously restrain and allow the downward sliding or rolling motion of the piece of equipment Again, should the piece of equipment roll off the planks or get away from the moving party, serious damage to the equipment and serious injury to the members of the moving party could occur. In view of the above, there is a definite need for a more secure, convenient, safe, and solid system or assembly for loading and unloading all types of heavy, awkward equipment on and off of transport and hauling vehicles. 
   Thus, the prior art discloses a variety of ramp assemblies for pickup trucks, trucks, and vehicles in general. 
   For example, the Wren patent (U.S. Pat. No. 4,020,957) discloses a detachable truck bed extension and loading ramp that includes a base plate and foldable upper and lower sections that provide a truck bed extension. 
   The Uher patent (U.S. Pat. No. 4,624,619) discloses a retractable ramp assembly for pickup trucks that includes a built-in enclosure for a ramp with the ramp including front and rear sections hinged together with the front section resting upon the open tailgate and the rear section pivoted downward to the ground. 
   The Meek patent (U.S. Pat. No. 5,597,195) discloses a rampable tailgate that includes foldable members that nest within each other when the tailgate is in the closed disposition and extend one from another when the tailgate is pivoted downward for use. 
   The Walkden patent (U.S. Pat. No. 5,795,125) discloses a ramp assembly that includes a hollow platform assembly secured to the bed of a pickup truck with a sliding platform disposed within the platform assembly and which can be pulled out for use as a ramp. 
   The Lance patent (U.S. Pat. No. 5,907,276) discloses a vehicle ramp system that includes a ramp that is movable between a tailgate position and a ramp position with the ramp being constructed as a single piece or in sections. 
   The Young Sr. patent (U.S. Pat. No. 6,447,040 B1) discloses a combination tailgate/ramp wherein the tailgate is configured in the form of ramp members hingedly attached to each other and which are unfolded from each other thereby creating a ramp. 
   Nonetheless, despite the ingenuity of the above devices, there remains a need for an easy-to-use, easy to access ramp assembly of collapsible design that is integrally disposed within the vehicle tailgate when not in use and which is extended therefrom for use. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention comprehends a compact ramp and tailgate system for an automotive vehicle such as a trailer truck, moving truck, pickup truck, and even SUVs and minivans that include a tailgate. The compact ramp and tailgate system can be included with the vehicle as a standard option or can be retrofitted to the vehicle or included as an after-market item. The compact ramp and tailgate system eliminates heavy lifting, improves safety, saves space on the vehicle, and provides an added convenience for vehicle owners, especially for the owners of pickup trucks. 
   The present invention comprehends a compact ramp and tailgate system that includes a tailgate for a vehicle with the tailgate being modified to include and form therein a hollow interior cavity substantially equal in size to the tailgate. The hollow interior cavity includes a rectangular opening located adjacent what would be the outer and upper end of the tailgate when the tailgate is in the closed disposition. Disposed within the hollow interior cavity, and secured to the inner surface of the rear sidewall of the tailgate that faces outward when the tailgate is closed, is a transverse guide channel that extends along the length of the inner surface of the rear sidewall. In addition, one pair of spaced-apart longitudinal guide channels is disposed within the interior hollow cavity and is aligned with the longitudinal extension of the vehicle (rear to front) when the tailgate is in the open disposition. The longitudinal guide channels connect to the transverse guide channel creating, in effect, a unitary track enclosed within the interior hollow cavity of the tailgate. 
   One pair of connection plates are mounted to the transverse guide channel with the connection plates being capable of slidable independent movement with respect to each other within the transverse guide channel. Moreover, the connection plates are also capable of slidable independent movement along the longitudinal guide channels. Thus, the connection plates are capable of independent slidable movement in two angular orientations or at right angles within the interior hollow cavity. 
   Attached to each connection plate is a hinge and each hinge is pivotally mounted to the respective connection plate. When the connection plates are slid along the longitudinal guide channels and withdrawn within the interior hollow cavity, the hinges slightly protrude from the rectangular opening formed at the upper end of the tailgate. Attached to each hinge is a ramp, and each ramp includes telescoping ramp members with each ramp preferably composed of three ramp members that telescope out from each other and nest within each other. The extension and retraction of each ramp can occur independent of the other ramp, and the ramp members can be more specifically denoted a first largest ramp member, a second ramp member of intermediate size, and a third smallest ramp member. The lengths or extensions of the ramps are adjustable to accommodate the terrain and the equipment being loaded or off-loaded, and both ramps are slidably adjustable left and right transverse to the tailgate and the longitudinal extension (rear to front) of the vehicle. Moreover, the hinges allow the ramps to pivot at least ninety degrees so that the ramps can be appropriately oriented relative to the ground surface. 
   It is an objective of the present invention to provide a compact ramp assembly for a vehicle tailgate wherein the ramp assembly is of a collapsible design and is safe, convenient, and versatile. 
   It is another objective of the present invention to provide a compact ramp assembly for a vehicle tailgate that replaces the use of unsteady planks that are leaned against the tailgate with a solid support ramp assembly available for use as desired. 
   It is still another objective of the present invention to provide a compact ramp assembly for a vehicle tailgate that ensures a safe and stable ascension into the bed and descension from the bed when loading or unloading heavy equipment thereby eliminating any chance of the equipment shifting or falling off the ramp assembly and causing injury or damage to the equipment or the individuals maneuvering the equipment. 
   It is yet another objective of the present invention to provide a compact ramp assembly for a vehicle tailgate that eliminates the need for manual lifting of heavy equipment on and off the bed of the vehicle or for calling upon others for assistance. 
   It is still yet a further objective of the present invention to provide a compact ramp assembly for a vehicle tailgate that allows one person to load and unload material and equipment on the vehicle bed for enhancing convenience and independence. 
   Yet another objective of the present invention is to provide a compact ramp assembly for a vehicle tailgate wherein the portable ramp assembly doesn&#39;t consume valuable storage space and doesn&#39;t shift and move around when stored and during vehicle movement. 
   Yet a further objective of the present invention is to provide a compact ramp assembly for a vehicle tailgate that enables heavy equipment such as lawn tractors, wheelchairs, loaded dollies, and four-wheel ATVs to be easily, safely, and conveniently moved off and on the bed of the vehicle. 
   These and other objects, features, and advantages will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a perusal of the following detailed description read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing figures and appended claims. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the compact ramp assembly for a vehicle tailgate illustrating the ramp assembly contained within the tailgate when the tailgate is in the non-use and closed position; 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the compact ramp assembly for a vehicle tailgate illustrating the tailgate in the open position so that the ramp assembly can be accessed and extended for use; 
       FIG. 3  is a side elevational view of the compact ramp assembly for a vehicle tailgate illustrating the tailgate in the open position and the various angular orientations to which the ramp assembly can be pivoted for use; 
       FIG. 4  is a top plan view of the compact ramp assembly for a vehicle tailgate illustrating each ramp member of the ramp assembly in their respective fully extended dispositions; and 
       FIG. 5  is a top plan view of the compact ramp assembly for a vehicle tailgate illustrating the ramp members in their fully extended dispositions and also illustrating the slidable adjustable transverse movement of the ramp members to specifically align the ramp members with the equipment to be moved on and off the bed of the vehicle. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Illustrated in  FIGS. 1-5  is a compact telescoping ramp assembly  10  for a tailgate of an automotive vehicle that can include delivery trucks, flatbed hauling trucks, pickup trucks, SUVs, and minivans, with the telescoping ramp assembly especially adapted and suitable for pickup trucks, such as the representative pickup truck shown in  FIGS. 1-5 . The ramp assembly  10  is designed to facilitate the easy, safe, quick, and convenient loading and off loading of heavy equipment, such as lawn mowers, lawn tractors, furniture, wheelchairs, loaded dollies, and recreational equipment such as ATVs, motorbikes, skidoos, and jet skis from the bed or rear storage compartment of the automotive vehicle. 
   The pickup truck  12  of  FIGS. 1-5  includes a pair of sidewalls  14 , wheel wells  16  for each sidewall  14  that contain the rear wheels  18 , a flat pickup truck bed  20 , a pivotally openable and closable tailgate  22 , and an exterior handle  24  for manually grasping to facilitate tailgate  22  opening and closure. The pickup truck  12  defines a transverse dimension or orientation that extends across the truck  12  from one sidewall  14  to the opposite sidewall  14 , and a longitudinal extension that extends from the rear  26 —the tailgate  22  and bed  20  area—to the front of the pickup truck  12 . The tailgate  22  is pivotable between a fully closed position, as shown in  FIG. 1 , and a fully opened position as shown in  FIGS. 2-5 . The tailgate  22  is further defined by having an outer and upper end  28  and an exterior rear wall  30  and an interior rear wall  32 . 
   As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the tailgate  22  is modified to create an interior hollow cavity  34  substantially equal in size to the rectangular-shaped tailgate  22 . Disposed within the interior hollow cavity  34 , and specifically mounted to the interior surface  36  of the exterior rear wall  30  is a unitary guide track  38 . The unitary guide track  38  includes a transverse guide channel  40  that extends across the width of the tailgate  22  and a pair of longitudinal guide channels  42  that extend longitudinally within the tailgate  22 , and which are connected to the transverse guide channel  40  to form the continuous unitary guide track  38 . Mounted to the guide track  38  for slidable movement in both the transverse and longitudinal guide channels  40  and  42  is a pair of connection plates  44 . The connection plates  44  are sized so that they fit within the interior hollow cavity  34  of the tailgate  22  with sufficient clearance for slidable movement along the guide channels  40  and  42 . As indicated in  FIG. 5 , the connection plates  44  are independently slidable in both the transverse direction (sidewall  14  to sidewall  14 ) and the longitudinal direction (rear to front) relative to the pickup truck  12  for properly extending, aligning, and withdrawing or retracting structural elements hereinafter further described. 
   As illustrated in  FIGS. 1-5 , a pair of locking hinges  46  are mounted to the respective connection plates  44  with one locking hinge  46  mounted to each connection plate  44 . The locking hinges  46  are mounted to the connection plates  44  in any conventional manner and are capable of independent pivotal adjustable motion up to at least 90 degrees when the locking hinges  46  are disposed in the positions shown in  FIGS. 2 and 5 . 
   Secured to each locking hinge  46  is a telescoping ramp  48 , and each ramp  48  telescopes (extends for use and retracts or withdraws during non-use and storage) independently of the other ramp  48 . Each ramp  48  is further comprised of several ramp members  50  that are nestable within each other and extensible from each other. The ramp members  50  for each ramp  48  can be further delineated by designating the ramp members  50  as a first largest ramp member which is the ramp member  50  immediately and pivotally secured to the respective locking hinge  46 , a second intermediate size ramp member, and a third smallest size ramp member. The third ramp member is the ramp member  50  that actually contacts the ground surface  52 , as shown in  FIG. 3 , when the ramps  48  are disposed for loading and off-loading of equipment on and off the bed  20  of the vehicle  12 . Each ramp member  50  includes a flat track support  54  and a pair of opposed hollow tubular receivers  56  with the tubular receivers  56  sized so that the receivers  56  of the ramp member  50  denoted the third smallest ramp member are slidably insertable into the receivers  56  of the ramp member  50  denoted the second ramp member, and the receivers  56  of the ramp member  50  denoted the second ramp member are slidably insertable into the receivers  56  of the ramp member  50  denoted the first largest ramp member thereby permitting the telescoping extension and retraction of the ramp members  50  to and from each other. The tubular receivers  56  of the ramp members  50  denoted the second and third ramp members include interior catches of any conventional design that delimit the extent of the extension from the adjacent ramp member  50  and which prevent the ramp members  50  denoted the second and third ramp members from completely disconnecting from the ramp members  50  denoted the first and second ramp members. 
   As shown in  FIG. 5 , each ramp  48  is adjoined to each respective connection plate  44  through the respective locking hinge  46 . Thus, the ramps  48  are adjustable in the transverse direction or orientation as well as in the longitudinal orientation as shown by the transverse arrow  58  and the longitudinal arrow  60 . When the ramps  48  are adjusted in the transverse direction the connection plates  44  concomitantly slide within the transverse guide channel  40  to allow such transverse (side to side) adjustable movement of the ramps  48 ; and when the ramps  48  are slid in the longitudinal direction the connection plates  44  are first aligned with and then slid within the respective longitudinal guide channels  42  resulting in the concomitant longitudinal adjustable movement of the ramps  48  to allow such longitudinal adjustable movement of one or both ramps  48 . 
   In operation the individual or moving party would first position the pickup truck  12  adjacent to the piece of aforementioned equipment or item to be loaded thereon. Next, the tailgate  22  would be opened thereby disposing the tailgate  22  parallel and flush with the bed  20  of the pickup truck  12 . The ramps  48  would be adjusted in the transverse direction to accommodate the width of the equipment and to properly align the flat track supports  54  of the ramp members  50  with the wheels, rollers, casters, etc. of the equipment. Then the ramp members  50  would be telescopically extended or withdrawn from each other commencing with the extension of the ramp members  50  denoted the third smallest ramp members from the ramp members  50  denoted the second intermediate ramp members, and then the ramp members  50  denoted the second intermediate ramp members from the ramp members  50  denoted the first largest ramp members. The ramp members  50  for each ramp  48  would be adjusted and extended to the appropriate length, and thus would not necessarily be fully extended for every use as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . In addition, to accommodate the particular ground surface, such as ground surface  52 , the ramps  48  would be pivoted by the locking hinges  46  to meet and contact the ground surface  52  at the desired and best angle or inclination. Some of the various pivotal angles and inclinations that the ramps  48  could be positioned at are shown in  FIG. 3 . The equipment would then be pushed or rolled up the ramp members  50  of each ramp  48  for placement on the bed  20  of the pickup truck  12 . After securing the piece of equipment, the ramp members  50  would be slidably retracted one within another commencing with the ramp members  50  denoted the third ramp members being telescopically retracted within the ramp members  50  denoted the second ramp members, and then the ramp members  50  denoted the second ramp members being telescopically retracted within the ramp members  50  denoted the first ramp members. The ramps  48  and the corresponding connection plates  44  would be aligned with the respective longitudinal guide channels  42 , and then the ramps  48 , with the several ramp members  50  fully retracted and nested within each other, would be pushed back and withdrawn into the interior hollow cavity  34  of the tailgate  22 , as shown in  FIG. 1 , to the non-use position for storage until needed for unloading the piece of equipment. When the ramps  48  are fully retracted within the tailgate  22  only the ends of the ramp members  50  denoted the third smallest ramp members of each ramp  48  would be externally visible. Unloading the piece of equipment from the bed  20  of the pickup truck  12  would comprise the same aforedescribed steps. 
   A preferred embodiment of the invention has been disclosed herein, and it should be understood that numerous modifications, alterations, and various are possible and practicable to those skilled in the art while still coming within the ambit and spirit of the invention and the scope of the invention as set forth by the appended claims.