Abstract:
A system for transporting and storing a portable combination table/ramp device in a truck bed, including a substantially flat platform supported by a plurality of support members positioned between the platform and the truck bed and defining a plurality of elongated recesses therebetween. Elongated table top portion and elongated bench seat portions with tailgate-engaging portions connected thereto are received in the recesses. A plurality of retractable table leg assemblies are connected to the table top portion. A connector is coupled to each respective table leg assembly for connecting the elongated bench seat portion thereto. Each respective table leg assembly is retractable to a storage position substantially adjacent the elongated table top portion and extendable to a deployed position extending between the table top portion and the ground.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates generally to the field of vehicular transportation, and, more particularly, to a combination loading ramp/extension table/free-standing picnic table concealable under a recessed false truck bed. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Owning an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) occasionally requires one to transport the ATV from time to time. Typically, such transportation is accomplished by loading the ATV into a truck bed and trucking the ATV to the desired location for off-road adventures. Loading and unloading the ATV into the truck is typically accomplished through the employment of one or more ramps extending from the truck bed to the ground, over which the ATV is wheeled into/out of the truck. Known loading ramps tend to be bulky and take up valuable garage and/or truck space when not in use. This problem is especially acute for most ATV owners, since the need for the ramps is occasional at best. Thus, there exists a need for a truck loading ramp system that may be efficiently stored when not in use. The present invention addresses this need. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to a combination truck bed loading ramp/extension table system that may be stored under a false truck bed. One object of the present invention is to provide an improved loading ramp system. Related objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a partial perspective view of a first embodiment combination ramp/table assembly receivable within the recesses of a false truck bed of the present invention with a side ramp deployed. 
       FIG. 2  is a partial exploded view of the assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 3  is a partial perspective view of the assembly of  FIG. 1  with the central elongated member removed from its recess and deployed as a ramp. 
       FIG. 4  is a partial perspective view of the assembly of  FIG. 1  with the central elongated member partially removed from its recess and deployed as a work table. 
       FIG. 5A  is a first bottom perspective view of the central elongated member as removed from its recess and deployed as a table. 
       FIG. 5B  is a second bottom perspective view of the central elongated member as removed from its recess and deployed as a table. 
       FIG. 6A  is a side elevation view of  FIG. 3 . 
       FIG. 6B  is a partial perspective view of  FIG. 1  with the ramp system deployed. 
       FIG. 7  is a partial perspective view of a second embodiment hinged elongated member of the present invention. 
       FIG. 8  is a partial perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 7  with the central elongated member removed from its recess and deployed as a ramp. 
       FIG. 9  is a side elevation view of  FIG. 8 . 
       FIG. 10  is a partial perspective view of a third embodiment elongated member of the present invention. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   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. 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 1-6B , a first embodiment combination loading ramp/table system  10  is illustrated. The system  10  includes false truck bed portion  11  further including a number of support members  12  for positioning on a truck bed  14 . The support members  12  are typically elongated members, such as I-beams, and are typically oriented parallel with the major axis of the truck bed  14 . The false truck bed portion also includes a substantially flat member (i.e., a false truck bed portion)  16  positioned atop the support members  12  and is thus suspended parallel with and above the truck bed  14 . The substantially flat member  16  may be connected to the truck bed  14  by one or more fasteners  15 , such as bolts, pins, clips, adhesives, or the like. Typically, an intermediate flat member  17  is positioned between the flat member  16  and the support members  12 . More typically, a watertight, typically pliable seal member  19  is affixed between the flat members  16 ,  17 . With the flat member  16  in place above the truck bed  14 , the support members  12  further define a number of elongated recesses  18  between the flat member  16  and the truck bed  14 . Typically, one of the recesses  18  is wider and more centrally located (i.e., the central recess  20 ) than the other recesses  18 . More typically, the central recess  20  is flanked on either side by elongated side recesses  22 . The central and side recesses  20 ,  22  typically extend the length of the truck bed  14  and flat portion  16  (usually about 6 feet). Further, auxiliary recesses  24  may be defined that do not extend the length of the truck bed  14 , such as those extending along the sidewall  26  of the truck bed  14  and are that are stopped by the wheel well  28 . These recesses  20 ,  22 ,  24  are all accessible from the tailgate end  30  of the truck bed  14  when the tailgate  32  is extended in the open position. Also, a seal (typically pliable) member  19 A is typically positioned atop the outer edge of the flat member  16 , such that the seal member  19 A engages the sidewalls  26  to form a substantially watertight seal. 
   Additional ‘cabinet style’ recesses  34  may be defined between the truck bed  14  and the flat portion  16  that are accessible via hinged or otherwise openable access panels  36  formed in the flat portion  16 . These recesses  34  may be positioned behind the wheel wells  28 , for example, and are thus not accessible from the tailgate end  30  of the truck bed  14 . Alternately, recess  34  may be distanced sufficiently far from the tailgate end  30  such that access is impractical from the tailgate end  30 , thus making the access panels  36  a more attractive option. Typically, access panels  36  include a watertight seal member affixed thereto. Drawers  38  may thus be inserted into recesses  24  for additional storage. 
   Central elongated member  40  is sized to fit in the central recess  20 . The central elongated member  40  is typically about two feet wide and about six feet long, with the central recess  20  sized to accommodate sliding insertion of the central elongated member thereinto. Likewise, an elongated side member  42  (and more typically, two such members  42 ) is/are sized to fit in the elongated side recess(es)  22 . The elongated side members  42  are typically about eight inches wide and about six feet long. Typically, the elongated recess  20 ,  22  are dimensioned to be slightly wider and longer that the corresponding elongated members  40 ,  42 . Further typically, the elongated members  40 ,  42  are constructed of a structural material, such as steel, aluminum, polymer, composite materials, or the like, and are sufficiently thick so as to have sufficient strength to support an all terrain vehicle, a motorcycle, a lawnmower, or the like. For aluminum elongated members  40 ,  42 , a typical wall thickness is about one-eighth of an inch. 
   Typically, the elongated members  40 ,  42  terminate at one end in a tailgate-engaging portion  44 , such as a shallow hook or angled member. Further, a flexible member of variable length  45 , such as a ratchetable rope, cord or chain, may be provided for connection between the elongated members  40 ,  42  (typically near the tailgate engaging portions  44 ) and a rear portion of the truck (such as the bumper or tailgate) for securing the elongated members  40 ,  42  to the truck. 
   The central elongated member  40  also typically includes legs or leg assemblies  50  connected thereto and extendable therefrom. Typically, each leg assembly  50  includes a pair of parallel leg members  52  connected by a cross member  54  that is positioned near the end of and pivotably or retractably attached to the central elongated member  40 . The leg members  52  are typically of variable length. Further, each leg assembly  50  typically includes a side support member  56  hingedly, pivotably or otherwise retractably connected to each leg member  52 . Typically, the side support member  56  is an L-shaped member, but may alternately have any other convenient shape. More typically, the side support member  56  is hinged, such that the side support member  56  takes on it L-shape (or the like) when deployed but may be straightened for movement into a storage position substantially adjacent the central elongated member  40 . Alternately, a plurality of leg members  52  may be directly extendably connected to the elongated member  40 ; typically, some or all of the leg members  52  include side support members  56  extending therefrom for engagedly supporting side elongated members  42 . 
   Each leg assembly  50  may thus be deployed by movement (such as pivoting or extending) away from the elongated member  40  and may then be locked into position so as to extend between the elongated member  40  and the ground. The L-shaped side support member  56  is likewise pivoted or extended away from the leg member  52  to provide support structure for the side elongated members  42 . Upon deployment of opposing leg assemblies  50 , a pair of side support members are positioned on either side of the elongated member  40  such that the side support members  56  may support an elongated side member  42  positioned to rest thereatop. More typically, the side support member  42  is fastened to the side support members  56  so as to provide a stable bench seat. 
   In operation, the elongated members  40 ,  42  are stored in the respective recesses  20 ,  22  until such time as they are needed. To form a loading ramp assembly  60  (as shown in  FIG. 6B ) extending between the truck bed  14  and the ground, the elongated central and side members  40 ,  42  are removed from the respective recesses  20 ,  22 . The elongated members  40 ,  42  are respectively positioned with the tailgate engaging portions  44  resting on the tailgate  32  (or truck bed  14 ). More typically, the elongated members  40 ,  42  are positioned with the central elongated member  40  positioned between two side elongated members  42 , although other configurations are of course possible and may be selected as desired. A flexible member  45  is typically connected between each elongated member  40 ,  42  and the truck and tensioned (such as by decreasing the length of the flexible member  45 ) to fixedly couple the elongated members  40 ,  42  to the truck. 
   To form a worktable  66  (as illustrated in  FIG. 4 ), the central elongated member  40  may be partially removed from its recess  20 , such as by partially sliding the elongated member  40  free of the recess  20 . With a portion of the elongated member  40  still within the recess  20 , the leg assembly  50  (or individual legs  52 ) connected to the opposite end is/are moved into the deployed position, i.e., are extended toward the ground. The elongated member  40  is thus supported at one end by the recess  20  and at the other end by the legs  52 . 
   To form a picnic table  68  (as shown in  FIGS. 5A and 5B ), the elongated central and side members  40 ,  42  are removed from the respective recesses  20 ,  22 . The leg members  52  of the central elongated member  40  are moved into the deployed position, i.e., are extended toward the ground to define a picnic table top. The side support members  56  are supportingly connected to the elongated side members  42  to define picnic table bench seats. 
   One alternate embodiment system  10 A of the present invention is illustrated in  FIGS. 7-9 . This embodiment is substantially as described above regarding  FIGS. 1-6 , except that for forming worktable  66 A, the central elongated member  40 ′ is hinged to define a first portion  40 ′A and a second portion  40 ′B. The first portion  40 ′A may define a leg assembly  50 A, with side support members  56 A operationally connected thereto. Likewise, each side elongated member  42 ′is hinged to define a first portion  42 ′A and a second portion  42 ′B. Typically, the first portion  40 ′A,  42 ′A and  42 ′A may pivot through a substantially ninety degree arc, with the first and second portions  40 ′ A,  42 ′A and  40 ′B,  42 ′B each respectively defining a substantially planar elongated member  40 ′,  42 ′ at one end of the arc and the first  40 ′A,  42 ′A and second  40 ′B,  42 ′B portions intersecting at a substantially right angle at the other end of the arc. 
   Yet another alternate embodiment system  10 B of the present invention is illustrated in  FIG. 10 . This embodiment is substantially as described above regarding  FIGS. 1-6 , except that the elongated members  40 ″,  42 ″ are telescoped, with an first hollow portion  40 ″A,  42 ″A defining a recess  41 ,  43  sized to receive second portion  40 ″B,  42 ″B. The second portion  40 ″B,  42 ″B is typically stored within the respective first portion  40 ″A,  42 ″A until needed. In use, the inner portion  40 ″B,  42 ″B is almost completely extended from within the respective outer portion  40 ″A,  42 ″A, such that the inner and outer portions  40 ″A-B,  42 ″A-B remain connected. 
   While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as 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 nigh-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.