Abstract:
The present invention is directed to a ramp insert for insertion between rails and/or rungs of a ramp. An embodiment of the present invention includes a body that may have an adjustable length. The body may include a first section that may include a track portion and a second section that may include a groove portion. The groove portion may be capable of fitting together with the track portion. The first or second section may be capable of slidably moving with respect to the other section via the track portion and the groove portion. The ramp insert may be placed between the rails and/or rungs of the ramp whereby the ramp insert may be adjusted to various lengths. Since the ramp insert may be adjusted to various lengths, the ramp insert may fit many different kinds of ramps having various widths.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims benefit from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/130,459, entitled “Ramp Insert,” filed on May 30, 2008, which is hereby incorporated in its entirety by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to ramps, and more particularly, to an apparatus, such as a ramp insert that may be capable of providing a continuous surface between rungs of a ramp. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Numerous types of ramps are often used to assist in the loading and unloading of objects from transportation vehicles. Particularly, trucks, vans, trailers and the like may utilize ramps to assist in the loading of objects such as ATVs, motorcycles, lawnmowers, etc. One common type of ramp may consist of a plurality of rungs whereby each rung is separated from a successive rung by an open space. The rungs are connected at or near the ends by rails. The successive rungs and the rails form a series of frame-like structures surrounding the central openings, similar to a ladder. Such a structure allows for loading and unloading of objects, such as ATVs, motorcycles, lawnmowers and etc., as long as the diameter of the tires of such objects is greater than the gap or distance between the successive rungs. In other words, the tires of the objects to be loaded must be greater in size than the central openings between the successive rungs of the ramp so that the object can be moved along the ramp. 
         [0004]    Users frequently load many different types of objects onto the transporting vehicle. For example, a user may desire to use a single ramp to load a motorcycle and an ATV onto the transporting vehicle. However, the ATV and the motorcycle may have different sized tires so that the single ramp is unable to allow a user to effectively load and unload the ATV and the motorcycle. Accordingly, a user must connect a first type of ramp to the transporting vehicle to load the motorcycle, disconnect the first type of ramp, and connect a second type of ramp to the transporting vehicle to load the ATV. In addition, in such an example, the user must transport both types of ramps in order to be able to unload the ATV and the motorcycle. 
         [0005]    Even if a single ramp is able to accommodate a few different types of objects to be loaded, the central opening between the rungs often causes difficulty in the loading and unloading of those certain objects. For example, even if the object, such as an ATV, has tires with diameters greater than the length of the central opening of the ramp, the tires may be difficult to move from one central opening to another central opening along the length of the ramp. The user must apply sufficient force to move the object from one central opening of the ramp, over the ramp rung and into the next central opening of the ramp. 
         [0006]    Advantageously, the present invention provides an apparatus for insertion between rungs of a ramp to provide a surface for unloading and loading objects. The central opening between the rungs may be partially, substantially or completely filled by the apparatus to ease the loading and unloading of the object for the user. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]      FIG. 1  illustrates a top view of a ramp insert connected to a ramp in an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0008]      FIG. 2A  illustrates an isometric view of a ramp insert in an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2B  illustrates an isometric view of the ramp insert of  FIG. 2A  having extended blocks for connection to a ramp. 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  illustrates a top view of the ramp insert of  FIG. 2A . 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  illustrates a front view of the ramp insert of  FIG. 2A . 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  illustrates a bottom view of the ramp insert of  FIG. 2A . 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  illustrates an isometric top view of a first portion of a ramp insert in an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 7  illustrates a side view of the first portion of the ramp insert of  FIG. 6 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 8  illustrates a bottom view of the first portion of the ramp insert of  FIG. 6 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 9  illustrates an isometric top view of a second portion of a ramp insert in an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 10  illustrates a top view of the second portion of the ramp insert of  FIG. 9 . 
           [0018]      FIG. 11  illustrates a cross-sectional side view of the second portion of the ramp insert taken along line A-A of  FIG. 9 . 
           [0019]      FIG. 12  illustrates a close up view of detail B of  FIG. 11 . 
           [0020]      FIG. 13  illustrates a bottom view of the second portion of the ramp insert of  FIG. 9 . 
           [0021]      FIG. 14  illustrates the ramp insert of  FIG. 2B  connected to a portion of a ramp in an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 15  illustrates close up perspective view of the ramp insert secured to a rail of a ramp in an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0023]      FIG. 16  illustrates a close up side view of the ramp insert secured to a rail of a ramp in an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0024]      FIG. 17  illustrates a close up side view of the first portion of the ramp insert connected to the second portion of the ramp insert in an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0025]      FIG. 18  illustrates an isometric view of a block member that may be used to connect a ramp insert to a rail of a ramp in an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0026]      FIG. 19  illustrates a top view of the block member of  FIG. 18 . 
       
    
    
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
       [0027]    The present invention is directed to a ramp insert for insertion between rails and/or rungs of a ramp. An embodiment of the present invention includes a body that may have an adjustable length. The body may include a first section that may include a track portion and a second section that may include a groove portion. The groove portion may be capable of fitting together with the track portion. The first or second section may be capable of slidably moving with respect to the other section via the track portion and the groove portion. The ramp insert may be placed between the rails and/or rungs of the ramp whereby the ramp insert may be adjusted to various lengths. Since the ramp insert may be adjusted to various lengths, the ramp insert may fit many different kinds of ramps having various widths. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0028]    While the present invention is described with reference to embodiments described herein, it should be clear that the present invention is not limited to such embodiments. Therefore, the description of the embodiments herein is merely illustrative of the present invention and will not limit the scope of the invention as claimed. 
         [0029]    With reference to  FIGS. 1-2B , a ramp insert  10  is shown. The ramp insert  10  may be capable of being connected to the rails  102  of a ramp  100  by any appropriate means, such as being connected between successive rungs  104  of the ramp  100 , for example. The ramp insert  10  may provide a surface between the rungs  104  of the ramp  100 . This surface may ease in the loading and unloading of items, such as, motorcycles, dirt bikes, bicycles, mopeds, ATVs, and the like. 
         [0030]    The ramp insert  10  may include a first section  12  and a second section  14 , as shown in  FIGS. 2A-5 . The first section  12  may be of any appropriate shape or size, such as of a generally rectangular shape, for example. The second section  14  may be of any appropriate shape or size, such as of a generally rectangular shape, for example. The first section  12  and the second section  14  may be of generally similar shapes and sizes or they may be of different shapes and sizes, and should not be limited to those examples shown and described herein. The first section  12  and the second section  14  may be connected and movable with respect to one another. The overall length of the ramp insert  10  may be changed by moving the first section  12  and/or the second section  14  with respect to one another. To this end, the ramp insert  10  may be used in many types of ramps  100  having various distances between the rails  102 . 
         [0031]    In an embodiment, the second section  14  may retract into and extend from the first section  12 . In such an embodiment, the length of the ramp insert  10  may change depending upon the amount of the second section  14  that may be extended from or inserted into the first section  12 . To this end, the ramp insert  10  may have a minimum length where the second section  14  is at a retracted position within, below, or above the first section  12 . The ramp insert  10  may have a maximum length where the second section  14  is at an extended position from the first section  12 . It may be preferable to have at least a portion of one of the sections  12 ,  14  overlapping the other section  12 ,  14  to provide strength to the structure of the ramp insert  10 . While shown and described where the second section  14  may retract into or extend out of the first section  12 , the present invention should not be limited to such an embodiment, and it is clearly contemplated and will be appreciated that the first section  12  may retract into or extend out of the second section  14 . 
         [0032]    The first section  12 , for example, may have a track portion  30  for slidably moving the first section  12  with respect to the second section  14 , as best shown in  FIGS. 5-8 . In such an embodiment, the second section  14  may have a groove portion  34  for engaging and slidably connecting to the track portion  30 , as best shown in  FIGS. 2A ,  2 B,  9  and  10 . While shown and described as utilizing a track and groove portion  30 ,  34 , the present invention should not be limited to such an embodiment, and it is clearly contemplated and will be appreciated that the first section  12  and the second section  14  of the ramp insert  10  may engage in any other appropriate manner. 
         [0033]    In an embodiment, the track portion  30  may include ribs  32 . The ribs  32  may extend from the top surface  20  of the first section  12 . The ribs  32  may be of any appropriate shape or size. The ribs  32  may be integrally formed with the first section  12  which along with the geometric shape of the ribs  32  may allow the ribs  32  to transmit the load from the center of the ramp insert  10  to the ends of the ramp  100  and, in turn, to the ground or vehicle in which the ramp  100  may be attached. 
         [0034]    In such an embodiment, the groove portion  34  may include grooves  36 . The grooves  36  may be of any appropriate shape or size, such as being substantially similar in size and shape to the ribs  32 , such that the sections  12 ,  14  may be extended and/or retracted. As a result, the groove portion  34  may have a similar rib-like structure  38  located between the grooves  36 . The ribs  38  of the second portion  14  may be integrally formed with the second portion  14 . 
         [0035]    The track portion  30  and the groove portion  34  may provide structural support, when the ramp insert  10  is in use, such as standing on, walking on, or loading vehicles, ATVs, etc. As a result of the track portion  30  and the groove portion  34 , the load bearing on the ramp may be transferred in a perpendicular direction to the top surface  20  of the ramp insert  10  and may be dispersed or otherwise absorbed by the ramp  100 , including the rails  102  and the rungs  104 . 
         [0036]    As best shown in  FIGS. 2A ,  3 ,  5 ,  8 - 12  and  16 - 17 , the first section  12  and the second section  14  may include serrated portions  40 ,  42 . The serrated portions  40 ,  42  may move with respect to each other. In a preferred embodiment, the first section  12  may have a serrated portion  40  that may mate or otherwise engage with the serrated portion  42  of the second section  14 . The serrated portions  40 ,  42  may engage to provide support as the sections  12 ,  14  may be moved. The serrated portions  40 ,  42  may also prevent rapid expansion or contraction of the sections  12 ,  14  to the fully extended and fully retracted positions of the ramp insert  10 . 
         [0037]      FIG. 17  illustrates a magnified view of the first and second sections  12 ,  14  engaging via the serrated portions  40 ,  42  in an embodiment. The first portion  12  may include an indentation portion  48  and a toothed portion  52 . The second portion  14  may include an indentation portion  50  and a toothed portion  54 . In such an embodiment, the indentation portion  50  and the toothed portion  54  of the second section  14  may engage the corresponding indentation  48  and tooth portion  52  of the first portion  12 . The first section  12  and the second section  14  may also include respective stopping portions  56  and  58 . The stopping portions  56 ,  58  may prevent further movement of the first section  12  and the second section  14  away from each other such as to a position in which the first section  12  may be separated from the second section  14 . 
         [0038]    The ramp insert  10  may further include a locking mechanism  24 . The locking mechanism  24  may secure the first section  12  to the second section  14  to prevent movement and to permit movement of the sections  12 ,  14  with respect to each other. The locking mechanism  24  may be of any appropriate type of device capable of securing and locking the first section  12  and the second section  14  so that the length of the ramp insert  10  may be maintained. In an embodiment, the locking mechanism  24  may include use of fasteners, such as a screw  26  and a nut  28 , for example. 
         [0039]    The screw  26  may be keyed and threaded into the nut  28 , as best shown in  FIGS. 3-5 . The nut  28  may be keyed to the screw  26  such that the nut  28  may not thread out of or otherwise separate from the screw  26 . As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the first section  12  may also include a recess  66 . The recess  66  may be of any appropriate shape or size. The recess  66  may be utilized for insertion and rotation of the screw  26  in one embodiment. The recess  66  may include an aperture  68 , as shown in  FIG. 8 . The aperture  68  may be of any appropriate shape or size. The aperture  68  may have a size and shape substantially similar to the screw  26 . 
         [0040]    Rotation of the screw  26  in a first direction may permit movement of the first section  12  and/or the second section  14  to change the overall length of the ramp insert  10 . At a predetermined length, the screw  26  may be rotated in a second direction, such as the opposite of the first direction, for example, to secure the first section  12  and the second section  14  and thereby prevent relative movement of the first section  12  and the second section  14 . 
         [0041]    The ramp insert  10  may include a recessed portion  60 . The recessed portion  60  may be of any appropriate shape or size. The recessed portion  60  may include a first wall  62  and a second wall  64 . The recessed portion  60  may provide access to the locking mechanism  24 . The first wall  62  and the second wall  64  may be positioned at a distance from one another that may be substantially similar to the diameter of the nut  28 . Accordingly, rotation of the nut  28  may be prevented by contact with the first wall  62  and the second wall  64 . To this end, the user may engage and disengage the locking mechanism  24  without holding the nut  28 . 
         [0042]    The locking mechanism  24  may permit the user to change or adjust the overall length of the ramp insert  10  to correspond to the distance between the rails  102  of a ramp, such as the rails  102  of the ramp  100  shown in  FIG. 1 , for example. The locking mechanism  24  may permit the ramp insert  10  to be secured into various different types of ramps  100 , such as ramps having differently or varyingly spaced rungs  104  and differently or varyingly spaced rails  102 . The locking mechanism  24  may also incorporate a security feature (not shown), such as a key lock to prevent removal by unauthorized use. 
         [0043]    The first section  12  and the second section  14  may include cutout portions  70 ,  72 , as shown in  FIGS. 2B ,  6  and  9 . The ramp insert  10  may include a support member  22 . The ramp insert  10  may include any appropriate number of support members  22 . The support members  22  may be of any appropriate shape or size. The cutout portions  70 ,  72  may be of any appropriate shape or size, such as a recess aligned for insertion of the support member  22 , as best shown in  FIGS. 2B and 4 , for example. 
         [0044]    In an embodiment, each side of the ramp insert  10  may include the cutout portions  70 ,  72  such that there may be two support members  22  in the ramp insert  10 . Due to movement of the first section  12  and the second section  14  to create different lengths of the ramp insert  10 , support along the length of the ramp insert  10  and between the first section  12  and the second section  14  may improve the strength of the ramp insert  10 . The support member  22  may be a tubular member, a solid-bodied member, an I-Beam member, or any other appropriate type of member capable of providing support for the first section  12  and the second section  14 . 
         [0045]    The support member  22  may be attached to the first section  12  or the second section  14  by any appropriate means, such as being fastened via fasteners, such as screws, rivets, adhesives or the like, fore example. In a preferred embodiment, the support member  22  may be attached to the first section  12  via fasteners  76  through the fastener holes  74 , as best shown in  FIG. 4 . The support member  22  may also engage frictionally on the surfaces of the cutout  72  of the second section  14 . 
         [0046]    In an embodiment, the support member  22  may be positioned on a distal end  16  and a proximate end  18  of the ramp insert  10 . One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the support member  22  may be positioned at any appropriate location on the ramp insert  10  as well as be constructed in numerous other appropriate manners. The present invention should not be deemed as limited to any specific type of support member  22 , any number of support members  22 , or any location of the support member  22 . 
         [0047]    As shown in  FIGS. 2A ,  2 B,  3 ,  5 ,  14 ,  18  and  19 , the ramp insert  10  may include blocks  80 . The blocks  80  may be of any appropriate shape or size. In a preferred embodiment, one of the blocks  80  may be attached at each of the four corners of the ramp insert  10 . The blocks  80  may frictionally engage or otherwise connect to protrusions  84  of the ramp insert  10 , as shown in  FIG. 2A . The blocks  80  may be positioned at a first position as shown in  FIG. 2A . At the first position, the blocks  80  may protrude or extend a distance D 1  from the distal end  16  and the proximate end  18  of the ramp insert  10 , as shown in  FIG. 2A . The blocks  80  may be positioned at a second position, as shown in  FIG. 14 . At the second position, the blocks  80  extend or protrude a distance D 2  from the proximate end  18  and the distal end  16  of the ramp insert  10 . The distance D 2  may be greater than the distance D 1 . 
         [0048]    The blocks  80  at the first position or at the second position may be secured to the rails  102  and/or the rungs  104  of the ramp  100 , as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 14 . In an embodiment, the blocks  80  may frictionally engage or otherwise be secured to the rails  102  and/or the rungs  104 . To this end, the ramp insert  10  may have a first width (or length) at the first position of the blocks  80  and a second width (at length) at the second position of the blocks  80 . The second width may be greater than the first width. In addition, the ramp insert  10  may have a third width where the blocks  80  may be removed from the ramp insert  10 . The third width may be less than the first width and the second width. The blocks  80  may be interchangeable with other blocks  80  having different lengths so that the width of the ramp insert  10  can correspond to the open space between the rungs  104  of any type of ramp  100 . 
         [0049]    To ensure proper installation of the ramp insert  10  on the ramp  100 , the ramp insert  10  may include an indicator  90 . The ramp insert  10  may include an indicator  90  on the first section  12  and/or the second section  14 , as shown in  FIGS. 2A-3 . The indicator  90  may be a line, marking, a groove, an indentation or any other appropriate type of distinguishing feature located at a predetermined distance from an end of the first section  12  and/or the second section  14 . The predetermined distance may be substantially similar to the distance of a recess in the rungs  104  in which the ramp insert  10  may be used. Accordingly, the indicator  90  may be aligned with an edge of the rung  104  when the first section  12  and/or the second section  14  may be sufficiently within the rung  104 . Therefore, the indicator  90  may provide the user with confidence that the ramp insert  10  is properly installed. 
         [0050]      FIGS. 18 and 19  illustrate perspective view of the blocks  80  in an embodiment of the invention. The blocks  80  may include apertures  82 . The apertures  82  may be of any appropriate shape or size. The ramp insert  10  may include protrusions  84 . The protrusions  84  may be of any appropriate shape or size. The apertures  82  may engage the protrusions  84  of the ramp insert  10 , as best shown in  FIGS. 2B and 5 . 
         [0051]    In a preferred embodiment, the shape and size of the apertures  82  may be capable of frictionally engaging the protrusions  84  of the ramp insert  10 . In a preferred embodiment, the blocks  80  may be separable from the ramp insert  10 . In use, the blocks  80  may be engaged on opposing sides by the rails  102 , the ramp insert  10  and/or the rungs  104 . For example,  FIG. 15  illustrates the blocks  80  at the first position and maintained between the rails  102  and the second section  14  of the ramp insert  10 . Although the blocks  80  may be shown as being separable from the ramp insert  10 , one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the blocks  80  may be temporarily or permanently affixed to the ramp insert  10 , such as by connection to the protrusions  84 . 
         [0052]    The ramp insert  10  may be made of any appropriate type of material as will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art. In an embodiment, the ramp insert  10  may be manufactured from polypropylene plastic, or other suitable thermoplastic material such as by injection molding, for example. In such an embodiment, the ramp insert  10  may include impressions  92 , as best shown in  FIGS. 5 ,  8 ,  10  and  13 . The impressions  92  may reduce the amount of material needed to manufacture the ramp insert  10  and to assist in removing the ramp insert  10  from a mold. The impressions  92  may be of any appropriate shape, size or type, such as, grooves, indentations, openings and/or apertures, for example. The impressions  92  may also aid in dispersing the load on the ramp insert  10  and provide structural support. 
         [0053]    In use, the ramp insert  10  may provide a structurally supportive surface at least partially filling an opening between successive rungs  104  of a ramp  100 . As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 14 , the ramp insert  10  may be positioned between the rungs  104  of the ramp  100 . The blocks  80  may be removed, moved to the first position or moved to the second position so that the ramp insert  10  has a width corresponding to the width of the ramp  100 . In  FIGS. 1 and 14 , for example, the blocks  80  may be pivoted or otherwise moved to the second position. The ramp insert  10  may be inserted into one of the rails  102 . The locking mechanism  24  may be unlocked, loosened, or otherwise disengaged from securement with the first section  12  and the second section  14 . 
         [0054]    The width of the ramp insert  10  may be adjusted by moving the first section  12  and/or the second section  14 . When the width of the ramp insert  10  is extended to the distance between the rails  102  and positioned on or in the rails  102  and/or the rungs  104 , the locking mechanism  24  may lock the first section  12  and the second section  14  and secure the ramp insert  10  to the ramp  100 . Before locking the first section  12  to the second section  14 , the user may ensure that the first section  12  and the second section  14  are sufficiently within the rails  102  (or the rungs  104 ) by ensuring that the indicator  90  is adjacent to, aligned with, or within the edges of the rails  102 . 
         [0055]    As a result, the ramp insert  10  may fill the gap between the successive rungs  104  of the ramp  100  for walking, standing and moving a vehicle or other object along the ramp  100 . The description in this and the preceding paragraphs should not be deemed as limited to a required order for securing the ramp insert  10  to the ramp  100 . The preceding steps to securing the ramp insert  10  may be accomplished in various orders within the spirit of the present invention. 
         [0056]    The invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiment. Obviously, modifications and alternations will occur to others upon a reading and understanding of this specification. The claim as follows is intended to include all modifications and alterations insofar as they come within the scope of the claim or an equivalent thereof.