Abstract:
A trailer hitch ramp assembly has a first ramp member secured to the trailer hitch and a second ramp member pivotally secured to the first. The second ramp member is foldable onto the first member to define a traveling position. When unfolded, the second ramp member can be positioned in an incline attitude along a side of the vehicle providing a ramp bridging the ground surface and the boat trailer so that a boater does not have to wade through water when launching a boat from a trailer. The ramp assembly includes a detachable wheel at the end of the second ramp assembly and a platform mounted to the boat trailer effective for supporting a human.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates generally to boat trailers and hitches and, more particularly, to a trailer hitch ramp assembly useful for bridging the ground surface and the boat trailer. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Boating enthusiasts typically must wade through the water when launching their boats from a trailer. The trailer and boat are usually towed behind a truck or other vehicle. During the launch, the trailer and boat are maneuvered down a ramp or incline and into the water. The water depth may depend upon many factors such as the amount of incline of the ramp, the rainfall for that season, and so on. To launch the boat successfully, however, the boater must submerge the trailer and boat in a sufficient depth of water so that the boat becomes buoyant and floats free of the trailer. The boat is then decoupled from the front of the trailer and hitched to the shoreline or dock, and the vehicle and trailer parked. 
   Intuitively, the boat, trailer, hitch and rear tires of the vehicle often must breach the water&#39;s edge to reach the depth necessary for successfully launching the boat. When this occurs, or in the event that the boater must access his boat for any reason, the boater must walk (or wade) through the water to reach the trailer and release the boat. This presents a problem when, for whatever reason, the boater does not wish to become wet. Hence, there therefore remains a need for a trailer hitch ramp assembly, which device will bridge the ground surface and the boat trailer. The present invention is directed toward meeting this need. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to a trailer hitch ramp assembly that includes a first ramp member effective for providing an above-ground walking surface between a vehicle and a trailer and a second ramp member for providing a walking surface that bridges the ground surface and the first ramp member. In one aspect of the invention, the second ramp member and the first ramp member are secured together by a pivot. 
   In another aspect, the second ramp member includes a hinge for folding the second ramp member. 
   In yet another aspect of the invention, the second ramp member includes at least one detachable wheel for supporting the second ramp member above the ground surface. 
   In still another aspect of the invention, there is a platform mounted to the boat trailer that is effective for supporting a human. 
   In yet another aspect of the invention, the ramp assembly includes means for securing together the first and second ramp members. In that aspect of the invention, the securing means is effective for permitting the second ramp member to move relative to the first ramp member along a first axis and a second axis. 
   One object of the present invention is to provide an improved trailer hitch ramp assembly, which assembly will bridge the ground surface and the boat trailer. Related objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention showing the first and second ramp members attached to a truck and the platform attached to a boat trailer. 
       FIG. 2  is an elevated perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention shown in the extended position. 
       FIG. 3  is an elevated perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention shown in the stowed position. 
       FIG. 4  is an elevational perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention shown disassembled. 
       FIG. 5  is an elevational perspective view showing the underneath of an embodiment of the present invention. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention and presenting its currently understood best mode of operation, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, with such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated device and such further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates. 
   With reference to the figures, the trailer hitch ramp assembly  10  includes a first ramp member  50  mounted between the vehicle  100  and boat trailer  30  and a second ramp member  70  for providing a walking surface that bridges the ground surface and the first ramp member  50 , as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . With reference to  FIGS. 1 and 4 , the first ramp member  50  includes a downwardly extending boss  52  with bores  51  formed in the boss for attaching to the hitch extension  40 , a support arm  54 , a support tab  56  with a pad  57  for resting on the bumper  102 , a locking tab  58 , non-skid surface  90 , a protruding portion  59  and a pivot arm  60  with a cylinder  62  formed at its distal end. 
   In an embodiment of the invention, the female portion of a standard trailer hitch, which is secured to the vehicle  100 , receives the hitch extension  40 . Bores  51  and  41  are aligned to receive the pins  53 , which secure boss  52  to the vehicle. In the preferred embodiment, there is more than one set of bores  51  to adjust the height of the first ramp member  50  relative to the vehicle bumper  102 . Key locks  55  on the ends of pins  53  secure the pins in place. In the most preferred embodiment, the first ramp member  50  is attached in a manner so that it is level, and so that the first ramp member  50  extends a distance from the trailer hitch to a side of the vehicle  100 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the second ramp member  70  includes a movable attachment arm  74  with a hinge  72  at one end and a cutout  73  at its other end. In the preferred embodiment, pivot  71  with a lock  75  joins the second ramp member  70  to the first 50 so that the second ramp member can pivot relative to the first ramp member on axis  200 . In that embodiment, the second ramp member  70  includes a hinge  76 , which permits the second ramp member to move relative to the first ramp member  50  on axis  202 . 
   In the preferred embodiment, the second ramp member includes hinge  82  located at its middle and effective for folding the second ramp member. In that embodiment, locking tab  88  and handles  77  are provided for lifting, folding and securing the second ramp member into the traveling position, as shown in  FIG. 3 . Second ramp member includes tabs  78  with bores  79  formed therein and a pin  80  effective for securing hinge  82  in the extended position, as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . In the preferred embodiment, except where theft is a concern, such as the boss  52  coupling to the vehicle  100  and the pivot  71  joining the first and second ramp members, for example, the pins are secured in their corresponding bores by cotter pins (not shown). 
   Referring to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , at least one detachable wheel  130  is removably mounted at the end of the second ramp member  70  for supporting the second ramp member above the ground surface  20 . In the preferred embodiment, the wheel  130  includes a pair of wheels connected for rotation by an axle  124 . In that embodiment, a receiver  122  formed on the under surface of the second ramp member  70  receives a shaft  120  joined to the wheel  130  so that the shaft and thus, the wheel is free to rotate 360 degrees (360°). 
   In an embodiment, the ramp assembly  10  includes a platform  140  mounted to the boat trailer  30  effective for supporting a human. In the preferred embodiment, the platform includes a downwardly extending support  142 , and the platform  140  may be mounted to the trailer  30  with bolts  143 . 
   In a preferred embodiment, the first and second ramp members  50 ,  70  and the platform  140  are formed from aluminum. In a more preferred embodiment, the ramp members  50 ,  70  and the platform  140  include non-skid surfaces  90 ,  110 ,  145  and are formed from 20-24-gauge steel. In the most preferred embodiment, the ramp members  50 ,  70  and the platform  140  include non-skid surfaces  90 ,  110 ,  145  and are formed from a rigid material effective for supporting a human. 
   In the traveling position, as shown in  FIG. 3 , the second ramp member  70  is folded in half and made to rest in alignment upon the first ramp member  50 . The bores in locking tabs  88 ,  58  receive pin  80  (with cotter pin) to hold the assembly in the collapsed traveling position. The wheel  130  shown atop the assembly in  FIG. 3  is simply placed within the bed or trunk of the vehicle  100  during travel. In the preferred embodiment, a magnetic strip holds the attachment arm  74  against the side of the folded second ramp member  70  so that it does not move freely during travel. 
   Upon launching a boat, the operator removes pin  80  from locking tabs  58 ,  88 , grasps handles  77  and unfolds the second ramp member  70 . The second ramp member  70 : (i) unfolds from itself at hinge  82 ; (ii) then unfolds from the first ramp member  50  at hinge  76  (movement relative to the first ramp member  50  on axis  202 ); and finally, (iii) pivots at a right angle relative to the first ramp member at pivot  71  (movement relative to the first ramp member  50  on axis  200 ) so that the second ramp member extends along the side of a vehicle, as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
   The first and second ramp members are joined together by the attachment arm  74 . The cutout  73  in the attachment arm receives a sidewall of the protruding portion  59 , and the bores  79  in tabs  78  receive the pin  80  and thus, the ramp members  50 ,  70  are secured together. The operator may then back the vehicle, boat and trailer into the water and launch the boat. Once the boat is in the desired position, the operator can step upon the end of the second ramp member  70  and walk upon the surface  110  to the first ramp member  50 . The operator may then step onto the platform  140  where the trailer and boat rig are easily accessible. Since the assembly  10  and platform  140  are above ground, the operator avoids wading through the water  108 . Once the boat is decoupled from the spindle  32 , the operator may retrace his steps and return to the vehicle. The rotatable wheel  130  permits the ramp assembly  10  to stay in the extended position when the operator parks the vehicle and trailer. After loading a boat onto the trailer  30 , the trailer hitch ramp assembly  10  may be returned to the folded traveling position (See  FIG. 3 ) and the wheel  130  placed in the bed or trunk of the vehicle  100 . 
   While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered illustrative and not restrictive in character. It is understood that the embodiments have been shown and described in the foregoing specification in satisfaction of the best mode and enablement requirements. It is understood that one of ordinary skill in the art could readily make a nearly infinite number of insubstantial changes and modifications to the above-described embodiments and that it would be impractical to attempt to describe all such embodiment variations in the present specification. Accordingly, it is understood that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the invention are desired to be protected.