Abstract:
A vehicle ramp stabilizing assembly for holding a vehicle ramp in a stationary position relative to a vehicle driving onto the ramp includes an attachment assembly, a belt portion, and a length adjustment assembly. The attachment assembly attaches to the ramp around a front wheel of the vehicle to permit adjustment and positioning of the ramp even after a rear wheel of the vehicle engages the belt portion.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to stabilized vehicle ramps and more particularly pertains to a new vehicle ramp stabilizing assembly for holding a vehicle ramp in a stationary position relative to a vehicle driving onto the ramp. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     The use of stabilized vehicle ramps is known in the prior art. U.S. Pat. No. 5,863,026 describes a base ramp combined with a ramp extension that attaches to the base ramp to provide a more gradual slope than the base ramp alone. Another type of stabilized vehicle ramp is U.S. Pat. No. 5,118,081 having a flexible web that is extendable outwardly from beneath a leading edge of a ramp to be engaged by the front wheels of a vehicle to hold the ramp in a stable position when the vehicle is driven onto the ramp. U.S. Pat. No. 4,993,685 discloses a vehicle ramp having a first end of a web either fixedly coupled to the ramp or fixedly coupled to an axle rotatably coupled to the ramp, and a second end of the web extending out from beneath a leading edge of the ramp to be engaged by the front wheels of a vehicle to hold the ramp in a stable position when the vehicle is driven onto the ramp. U.S. Pat. No. 5,446,937 discloses interlocking ramp portions for providing a unitary ramp with a gradual slope. U.S. Pat. No. 5,176,361 is exemplary of attempts to solve the problem of ramp slippage in a different manner by enhancing the frictional engagement between the sloped face of a ramp and a wheel of a vehicle driving onto the ramp. U.S. Pat. No. Des. 351,710 shows an ornamental appearance for a single wheel vehicle ramp. 
     While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the need remains for a device that is adjustable in length and engages the rear wheel of a vehicle as opposed to the front wheel, thus permitting manual adjustment of the ramp itself even after the rear wheel has engaged a belt portion of the device. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention is typically utilized in association with a pair of ramps, each ramp being of the type that supports a single wheel of a vehicle. The purpose of such single wheel supporting ramps is to provide a ramping method that is easily used and manipulated by a single person. However, the single wheel supporting ramps sacrifice some stability for lightness to permit easier handling. As a result of the reduced weight and stability, the ramps are subject to being pushed by a vehicle wheel until the wheel and ramp engage each other to permit the wheel to move up onto the ramp. An added problem is that separate wheels may not engage the respective ramps simultaneously resulting in improper support of the vehicle by the ramps. Thus, there is a need for stabilization of the single wheel ramps to enhance safety and facilitate simultaneous movement of wheels onto separate ramps. 
     The present invention meets the needs presented above by providing a belt portion extendably coupled to a ramp attachment assembly by a length adjustment assembly. The ramp attachment assembly is positioned to extend around the front wheel of a vehicle to permit adjustment and positioning of the ramp even after the rear wheel of the vehicle engages the belt portion. The structure described above is duplicated for use on each side of the vehicle as needed. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new vehicle ramp stabilizing assembly that has an adjustable length for use with vehicles having differing wheelbase dimensions. 
     Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a new vehicle ramp stabilizing assembly that has a mechanism for locking a length adjustment assembly into a selectable fixed length during use. 
     To this end, the present invention generally comprises an attachment assembly, a belt portion, and a length adjustment assembly having a locking mechanism for holding the device at a selected length during use. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
     The objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a new vehicle ramp stabilizing assembly according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a side view of the present invention in use. 
     FIG. 3 is a top view of the present invention in use. 
     FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the present invention taken along line  4 — 4  of FIG.  3 . 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the attachment assembly of the present invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 5 thereof, a new vehicle ramp stabilizing assembly embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral  10  will be described. 
     As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 5, the vehicle ramp stabilizing assembly  10  generally comprises an attachment assembly  20  designed for coupling to a ramp  2 , a belt portion  30 , and a length adjustment portion  40  coupling the attachment assembly  20  to the belt portion  30  such that the ramp  2  is positionable in front of a front wheel  4  of a vehicle when the belt portion  30  is positioned beneath a rear wheel  6  of the vehicle. Thus, the weight of the vehicle on the belt portion  30  prevents the ramp  2  from moving away from the front wheel  4  to facilitate driving the vehicle onto the ramp  2 . 
     The attachment assembly  20  includes a line member  22  having opposite ends  24 . Each of the ends  24  is designed for coupling to an associated side of the ramp  2 . A medial portion  26  of the line member  22  is coupled to the length adjustment assembly  40 . The line member  22  has a length such that the line member  22  is designed for extending around the front wheel  4  of the vehicle when the opposite ends  24  are coupled to the ramp  2  and the ramp  2  is positioned in front of the front wheel  4 . 
     The medial portion  26  of the line member is slidable through the length adjustment assembly  40  to facilitate attachment of the opposite ends  24  to the ramp  2 . 
     A pair of hook members  28  are provided. Each of the hook members  28  is designed for coupling to the ramp  2 . As shown, the hook members include threaded attachment portions  29  for screwing into the ramp  2 . The opposite ends  24  of the line member  22  are formed into line loops  23  for engaging the hook members  28  to couple the line member  22  to the ramp  2 . 
     The length adjustment assembly  40  includes a strap member  42  having a first end  43  and a second end  44 . The first end  43  is coupled to the attachment assembly  20 . A clasp  46  is operationally coupled to a medial portion  45  of the strap member  42  to form a strap loop  48 . The strap loop  48  is coupled to the belt portion  30 . 
     The clasp  46  includes a base portion  52  having a conduit  54  for slidably receiving the strap member  42  therethrough when the strap member  42  is folded over to form the strap loop  48 . A locking arm  56  is pivotally coupled to the base portion  52  such that the locking arm  56  is pivotable between a locking position and an adjustment position. The locking arm  56  includes a protrusion  58  extending into the conduit  54  to engage the strap member  42  when the locking arm  56  is in the locking position. Thus, the strap member  42  is prevented from moving relative to the clasp  46 . The protrusion  58  is removed from the conduit  54  when the locking arm  56  is in the adjustment position to permit sliding of the strap member  42  in the conduit  54 . 
     In use, duplicate structures of the invention are used on each side of a vehicle. It is possible to make adjustments for desired length and lay the present invention out along a pathway to the ramp. It is further possible as an alternative to drive the vehicle to position the rear wheels on the respective belt portions. The ramps may then be positioned adjacent to the front wheels. The locking arm may be positioned in the adjustment position to permit adjustment of the length of the respective straps to permit attachment of the line member to the respective ramp. Each strap may then be adjusted to hold the respective ramp in proper position against the respective front wheel. The locking arm is positioned in the locking position to prevent further adjustment of the strap length and the vehicle may be driven safely onto the ramps. 
     With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.