Abstract:
A motor vehicle mounted ramp for loading and unloading a personal mobility vehicle such as a wheelchair or a three-wheel scooter. A storage platform is removably attached to a floor of the motor vehicle, e.g., a van, and provides both a support surface for the personal mobility vehicle and a storage area for a ramp used during loading and unloading. The ramp is pulled from its storage area and pivots along an axis formed by its connection with the storage platform, such that the leading edge of the ramp rests against a ground surface. A winch attached to the storage platform is then used to move the personal mobility vehicle up or down the ramp.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application, Ser. No. 60/257,810, filed Dec. 23, 2000. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to ramps, and more particularly, to ramps mounted within a vehicle. More specifically, the present invention relates to ramp carriers for transporting wheelchairs and other personal mobility vehicles. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Of the approximately thirty million disabled people in the United States, many are seniors disabled by age. For years, the only option in assistive technology for persons having mobility problems was the manual wheelchair. The next step up was the powered wheelchair, with the type of chair determined by the severity of that person&#39;s disability. As the disabled began to be recognized as separate individuals that together comprise a worthwhile commercial market, manufacturers began offering choices of upholstered fabrics, colors, and improved frames that were lighter, stronger, and available in a variety of finishes and colors. 
     Yet even with these changes, wheelchairs remained wheelchairs. Only with the development of the powered scooter did an alternative become available. Early scooters were small, front-wheel drive models designed for indoor use, with limited power and range. Improvements in both batteries and motors now provides scooters with an extended, outdoors range over a variety of terrain. 
     Scooter users typically have some ability to walk, but are limited in terms of distance or stamina. Often lacking upper arm strength, they have difficulty propelling manual wheelchairs; yet do not require the sophisticated electronic controls and seating offered by powered wheelchairs. Included, as potential scooter owners are those people having milder forms of cerebral palsy or muscular dystrophy, arthritis, and cardiac conditions. 
     While wheelchairs can be collapsed and fit into backseats and car trunks, scooters typically weigh as much as the rider, and it is recognizably out of the question for a physically impaired rider to attempt such similar stowage techniques. Thus, one strategy has been to develop specially modified vans to permit the rider to remain on the scooter while entering, leaving, and driving. In one case, such modifications included lowering the floor and providing a lightweight aluminum wheelchair ramp. Unfortunately, the average conversion price is $13,000 to $16,000, which, when combined with an initial vehicle cost of $20,000 to $30,000, places this option out of the financial reach of many. 
     For those not looking for such extensive vehicle modifications, there are other options to assist the driver when entering and leaving a van. There are two types of ramps available, one having a central panel and side rails, the other consist of individual “tracks”. In the case of the latter, when three-wheel scooters are in use, three sets of tracks are required. One issue raised by this less expensive option is whether the deployment and storage of these ramps is within the capability of person or is a personal care attendant required to accompany the person of challenged mobility. 
     Alternatively, the wheelchair or scooter user can make use of semi-automatic and automatic lift devices. Such devices can be installed in side or rear doors, with some requiring bumper and/or roof modifications. For those scooter users that can walk from the rear of the van to a side door, there is a lift system that will pick up an assembled scooter and stow it in the back of the van. These devices also can be prohibitively expensive in terms of installation and purchasing costs. 
     The stowage and retrieval of scooters from within personal vehicles requires either an expensive system professionally installed or the attempted assembly and installation of lesser systems that themselves are also mechanically complex. These lesser systems also require substantial user strength for proper positioning of the scooter and then some driving skill to maneuver the scooter into the transport vehicle. Finally, such complex systems also permanently alter the structure of the vehicle, and with their removal difficult, can also reduce the carrying capacity of the vehicle on an essentially permanent basis. A need exists for inexpensively providing a mechanical device that assists in the placement of a scooter or like device into and out of a personal motor vehicle, and that is easily installed and removed from that vehicle during extended periods of non-use. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     The device according to the present invention provides a support platform within the motor vehicle that attaches to the floor using either existing hardware or restraining members that utilize previously existing structures to enable the easy installation and removal of the platform. In addition to providing a support surface for the personal mobility vehicle, the support platform also provides an out-of-the-way storage area for the ramp used to raise and lower the personal mobility vehicle to and from the support platform. 
     As the need arises, the ramp is pulled from its storage position within the support platform and its front edge is lowered to the ground. A winch attached to the support platform is used to raise and lower the personal mobility vehicle up and down the ramp. The winch attachment also provides additional stability to the personal mobility vehicle while it rests upon the support platform during its transport within the motor vehicle. 
     Some further objects and advantages of the present invention shall become apparent from the ensuing description and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a scooter as positioned for loading into a van in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a hoist and ramp assembly in a partially disassembled arrangement in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 2A is a partial perspective view showing an alternative hoist harness connector in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 3 is a schematic representation in side elevation of a scooter as partially received upon a storage platform during use of the power ramp mechanism in accordance with the present invention; and 
     FIG. 4 is a schematic representation in side elevation of a scooter as fully received upon the storage platform of FIG. 3 in accordance with the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Reference is now made to the drawings wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout. A power ramp system  10  is shown as installed in a passenger motor vehicle of the type termed a “van” 14 . A ramp  18  is shown extending from a side door  22 . Alternatively, a rear ramp  24  may be positioned instead to extend from a rear door  26  (also shown in FIG.  1 ). 
     A winch line  28  extends from a winch  32  located within the van  14 , and is attached to a steering column  34  of a personal mobility vehicle, such as a powered scooter  36  shown in FIG. 1, using a rope or fabric harness  37 . Operation of the winch  32 , and hence movement of the scooter  36 , is governed by a control unit  38 , shown held by a person  42  in FIG.  1 . As is shown in FIG. 1A, a presently preferred manner of attaching the winch line  28  to the powered scooter  36  utilizes a metal ring  44  that is attached to a safety clasp  46 . The fabric or rope harness  37  can then be easily attached to the metal ring  44 , and then looped around the steering column  34  of the powered scooter  36  (not shown in FIG. 1A) during loading and off-loading operations. Preferably, the winch line  28  remains attached to the powered scooter  36  while it is parked on the storage platform  48  to provide additional stability. 
     Further details of the powered ramp and winch system are shown in FIG. 2, where the ramp  18  has been separated from a storage platform or ramp base  48 . A pair of ramp platform rollers  52  are each positioned adjacent opposite ones of both lateral edges of a leading edge  53  of the ramp  18 . The platform rollers  52  are received by a corresponding pair of receiving notch extensions  54  located at opposite lateral edges at a terminus  56  of the storage platform  48 . 
     Upon being received by the pair of notch extensions  54 , the platform rollers retain the ramp  18  in position to accept the scooter  36  (not shown in FIG. 2) or, alternatively, be lifted by an attached ramp handle  58 , and when positioned substantially co-planar with the storage platform  48 , then retracted into the storage platform  48 , assuming a stored position located under a support surface  62  of the storage platform  48 . The manner of such storage retraction and subsequent deployment will be subsequently discussed in further detail in context with FIGS. 3 and 4. 
     Returning again to FIG. 2, a pair of support rollers  64  are located along the leading edge  53  of the ramp  18 . In a similar manner, a loading assist roller  66  is centrally located along the terminus  56  of the storage platform  48 . In both instances these rollers are intended to assist the scooter  36  (not shown in FIG. 2) in making the transition between the ramp  18  and the storage platform  48 . 
     A support frame  72  provides a stable foundation for the storage platform  48  as it rests upon the floor of the van  14  (not shown in FIG.  2 ). A retention hook  76  is designed to engage with metal retention bars that are typically provided as part of the seat mounting mechanism in most vans. Upon removal of the passenger seat from the cargo area of the van, the seat mounting mechanism can then be used to retain the storage platform  48  in position within the cargo area. Where no such seat mechanisms are present, a hole can be drilled into the floor to receive a mounting bolt that extends into the cargo area (not shown in the Figures). In either case, the bolt or the retention hook  76  then attaches to the storage platform  48  to retain it in position within the van  14 . This manner of retention enables quick installation and removal of the storage platform  48  as required by the user. 
     The winch  32  is attached to the support surface  62  of the storage platform  48  in a convention manner, such as by bolts (not shown), and is located towards mid-platform (fore-aft), at the far end from the van door. Electrical power to the winch  32  is provided through a power box  82 , and an electrical line  84 . The control unit is attached to the power box  82  through a protective cable  86 , with user activation signals regulating the direction and duration of winch and winch line activation. Additionally, to further enhance the stability of the scooter  36  while on the ramp  18  and the support surface  62  of the storage platform  48 , a non-slip surface  88  is formed on each surface. 
     Such activation and scooter movement is schematically displayed in FIGS. 3 and 4. Upon a “retractive” activation of the winch  32  by a user, the winch line  28  is wound about the take-up reel of the winch, pulling the scooter  36  up the ramp  18 . As is shown in FIG. 3, the scooter is halfway through this process, and is located about half on the ramp  18  and half on the support surface  62 . 
     Since there are practical limits as to how far the ramp  18  can extend from the van, the loading assist roller  66  eases the loading and removal of the scooter  36  when the ramp length and wheelbase interact to cause a “bottoming” of the scooter partway through the loading and removal process. The support rollers  64  (not shown in FIGS. 3 and 4) serve to space the ramp  18  from the loading assist roller  66  to prevent any binding thereof during the loading or unloading process due to movement of the ramp  18 . Additionally, should the support rollers  64  be forced into contact with the loading assist roller  66 , their ability to turn enables the loading assist roller  66  to continue functioning. 
     To prevent an “over-retraction”of the scooter  36  when loading, a limit switch  92  is provided the winch  32 . An adjustable limit tag  94  is attached to the winch line  28  at a location that results in activation of the limit switch  92  when the scooter  36  reaches an appropriate location on the support surface  62  (see FIG.  4 ). The limit switch  92  considerably lessens the timing skills required of the operator during the loading of the scooter  36 . 
     In addition to illustrating the operation of the limit switch  92 , FIG. 4 also shows storage of the ramp  18  within the storage platform  48 . As discussed earlier in the context of the pair of ramp platform rollers  52 , after use of the ramp  18 , it can be raised from its inclined position and then moved into a position inside the storage platform located beneath the support surface  62 . The ramp platform rollers  52  assist the user in performing this sliding motion, as well as help when removing the ramp  18  from its stored position when ready for a further use of the power ramp system  10 . 
     In a preferred embodiment, the majority of the power ramp system is fabricated out of steel or aluminum, although other materials, such as plastic would also be appropriate. For such a system as is received within a 1992 Plymouth Van, the storage platform measures 58″ long by 32″ wide, and is 3½″ in height. A ramp for such a storage platform would measure 46″ long by 28″ wide, with a thickness of ⅝ inch. Plywood is an appropriate material for the ramp, and a non-slip surface such as indoor-outdoor carpeting, or other known non-slip paintable or sprayable surfaces is recommended for use on the ramp as well as on the support surface. The ramp platform rollers are preferably ¾″ in diameter with an outer surface of plastic or rubber. The ramp handles is preferably fabricated out of metal or a woven rope strap and measures 18″ in length. A “foot” section is formed at the base of the ramp handle to provide further support to the ramp, this foot section is preferably 6″ in length. 
     A winch such as Model T1500 manufactured by Super Winch, Inc., of Putnam, Conn., provides sufficient power for the majority of applications, with a power demand that is appropriate for a car battery. It is presently preferred that access to the car=s power supply be obtained by connection to the car battery. This connection is preferably by a direct connection with a circuit breaker or fuse intermediately positioned. However, an easier and quicker power source can be obtained by a connection using a cigarette lighter adapter. A control unit may be used for regulating operation of the winch, and the winch line is preferably woven nylon strap of ⅛ inch thickness. It has been observed that a simple rope harness attached to the end of the winch line provides for virtually universal engagement, with the harness received over the steering column. 
     My invention has been disclosed in terms of-a preferred embodiment thereof, which provides an improved power ramp system for use with powered scooters and wheelchairs that is of great novelty and utility. Various changes, modifications, and alterations in the teachings of the present invention may be contemplated by those skilled in the art without departing from the intended spirit and scope thereof. It is intended that the present invention encompass such changes and modifications.