Abstract:
A handle for a ramp includes a grip, a bridge spanning the two ends of the grip, and two legs extending from the bridge parallel to each other. The bridge runs at an angle with respect to the legs. The handle is comprised of a short section of an aluminum extrusion. A side rail has an end face angled to mate with the bridge, and also includes channels which slidably engage the legs of the handle. The side rail is an aluminum extrusion.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The field of the present invention is ramps and handles for ramps. 
     Ramps, such as walk ramps are often provided for loading and unloading vehicles, e.g., trucks, boats and aircraft. In addition, ramps may be used in fixed locations, such as in a warehouse. In many applications, and especially in vehicles, the ramp is withdrawn from a stored position by hand for loading and unloading. Consequently, the lower end of the ramp may be dropped to the ground as the ramp is withdrawn. Accordingly, the end of the ramp, and especially handles provided thereon to facilitate handling of the ramp, are subject to damage by high impact forces. 
     Previously, such ramp handles have typically been aluminum castings. While these cast handles may have performed satisfactorily, the cast aluminum material can be relatively brittle and vulnerable to cracking when the ramps are dropped. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to an impact-resistant handle for a ramp. To this end, the handle includes a grip having its ends spanned by a bridge with first and second legs extending from the bridge parallel to each other. The handle comprises an integral section from an aluminum extrusion. Preferably, the handle is joined to a ramp rail having channels dimensioned to slidably engage the legs of the handle. 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a ramp handle which is readily able to better withstand high impact forces without cracking or excessive deformation. 
     It is also an object of the invention to provide a handle-ramp rail assembly which is relatively inexpensive, aesthetically attractive, durable and tough. 
     Other objects and features of the present invention will appear hereinafter. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In the drawings, wherein similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a ramp having the ramp handle and rail of the present invention, with the ramp partially extended from a vehicle body; 
     FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of the handle of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a exploded perspective fragment view of the handle and ramp rail of the ramp of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4 is a fragmentary side elevation view of the ramp of FIG. 1; and 
     FIG. 5 is a section view taken along line 5--5 of FIG. 4. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring now in detail to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates a ramp 10 partially projecting from an opening 14 within a vehicle body 12, such as truck, in a conventional manner. The ramp 10 includes side rails 60 and handles 20. 
     Referring to FIG. 2, the handle 20, which preferably is an integral, one-piece extruded aluminum section, includes a grip 22 having an upper grip end 24 leading into an extension 26, an extension radius 28, and an upright 30. The extension 26 and upright 30 are generally perpendicular to each other. A bridge radius 32 extends from the upright 30 to a lower grip end 36 having a base edge 34. A bridge 38 runs from the lower grip end 36 to the upper grip end 24, such that the grip 22 defines a closed somewhat triangular opening 46. 
     The bridge 38 includes upper, center, and lower butting surfaces, 40, 42, and 44, respectively. Extending from the bridge, between the upper butting surface 40 and the center butting center 42 is a first upper leg 48. Similarly,a lower leg 50 extends from the portion of the bridge 38 between the center butting surface 42 and the lower butting surface 44. The lower leg 50 is substantially parallel to the upper leg 48, with both legs 48 and 50 also being generally parallel to the extension 26, and correspondingly, perpendicular to the upright 30. A fastener opening 52 is provided in the upper leg 48, while two fastener openings, 54 and 56 are provided on opposite sides of the lower leg 50. The fastening openings 52, 54 and 56 may be formed as key-hole-type slots, such that they can be an extruded feature, obviating the need for drilling operations on the handle subsequent to its extrusion. 
     As shown on FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, the handle 20 is dimensioned to engage a extruded side rail 60. The side rail 60 includes a lower section 67 having a base lip 62 extending upright from a base 64. A base wall 66 extends generally perpendicularly to the base 64, and parallel to the base lip 62, to a joggle 68 disposed towards the center of the side rail 60. The joggle 68 includes a joggle lower wall 70, a joggle wall 72, and a joggle upper wall 74, which together form a channel-like structure. 
     An upper section 69 of the rail 60 extends from the joggle 68 and includes an upper wall 76, a cover 78, and a cover lip 80 in a configuration similar to the lip 62, the base 64, and the base wall 66 of the lower section 67. However, as best shown in FIG. 5, the base wall 66 may be longer in the vertical direction than the upper wall 76. Holes 82 are provided in the rail 60 to accommodate fasteners 86, 88 and 90. The holes 82 may be threaded, or they may be through holes with nuts provided on the outside of the rail 60 to engage the fasteners 86, 88, and 90. 
     The handle 20 is dimensioned to closely fit into the side rail 60. The precise engagement of the handle 20 and rail 60 is facilitated by the extrusion process, which is able to produce these components to very tight tolerances. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the upper leg 48 of the handle 20 engages the channel or rail opening formed by the joggle upper wall 74, the upper wall 76, the cover 78, and the cover lip 80. In a similar manner, the lower leg 50 of the handle 20 closely fits into the rail opening formed by the joggle lower wall 70, the base wall 66, the base 64, and the base lip 62. 
     Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the rail 60 has an end face 84 cut at the angle which is the compliment of the angle formed between the upper and lower legs 48 and 50, and the bridge 38 of the handle 20. As a result, when the handle 20 is engaged into the rail 60, not only do the legs 48 and 50 closely engage the rail, but also, the butting surfaces 40, 42, and 44 of the bridge 38 on the handle 20 butt against the end face 84 of the rail 60. In addition, the base edge 34 of the handle 20 aligns with the outside surface of the base 64 of the rail 60. Correspondingly, the upper grip end 24 aligns with the upper surface of the cover 78 of the rail 60. The fasteners 86, 88, and 90 secure the handle 20 to the rail 60 to form a handle-rail assembly 92. 
     This handle-rail assembly 92 includes several advantages. By providing the entire handle 20 as an extrusion, the handle can be cut to any desired thickness, and little subsequent machining or finishing operations are required. In addition, the handle material may be a ductile, as opposed to a brittle alloy, such that the handle can readily absorb the shock impact of striking the ground if the ramp is dropped. Moreover, due to the engagement of the handle and extrusion, and the precise fit therebetween, load forces are primarily transferred via the legs and butting surfaces directly from the handle to the rail or from the rail to the handle, with the fasteners carrying a relatively small load. This advantage reduces the likelihood of pivoting about or overstressing the fasteners, thereby providing a highly durable handle-rail assembly. Furthermore, the handle and rail may be produced quickly and easily at low cost. The handle-rail assembly also has an aesthetic appearance. 
     Thus, a handle and rail are disclosed which provide a durable, attractive, and low cost ramp. While embodiments and applications of this invention have been shown and described, it would be apparent to those skilled in the art that many more modifications are possible without departing from the inventive concepts herein. The invention, therefore, it not to be restricted except in the spirit of the appended claims.