Patent Publication Number: US-2023150413-A1

Title: Loading ramp for utility vans

Description:
PRIORITY 
     This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to, and hereby incorporates by reference in its entirety, U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/279,008, filed Nov. 12, 2021. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     The present invention relates to vehicle accessories, and more particularly, to a loading ramp system for vans. 
     BACKGROUND 
     It is increasingly popular to employ utility vans, such as the Ford Transit, Ram Promaster, Mercedes Benz Sprinter and others, for cargo, utility, passenger and recreational vehicle purposes. However, it is inconvenient and sometimes difficult for persons to load machinery into these types of vans due to their relatively high step-in/out height. For example, a commercial lawn-mowing device would be difficult to load into these types of vans. 
     It is known to mount detachable ramps or runners to facilitate loading. However, such ramps or runners need to be stored separately and are often inconvenient to use. Moreover, the width of such ramps does not span the entire distance between the rear loading doors of the van. Thus, there is a continuing need to provide an improved, easy-to-use loading ramp system for utility vans. 
     SUMMARY 
     Provided is a loading ramp assembly for utility vans. The loading ramp assembly can include a main deck with side rails fastened to the longitudinal sides of the main deck. A raised loading floor of the utility van is disposed atop a pair of guide rails. Guide wheels on the side rails move through guide rails secured to the van&#39;s original floor as the ramp is retracted and deployed. The ramp can be fully retracted and stored inside of the van such that the rear doors of the van can be closed normally without the need to remove the loading ramp assembly from the van. 
     In one example disclosed herein a loading ramp assembly for a utility van includes a main deck, a pair of side rails and a pair of guide rails. The main deck comprises a longitudinally elongated surface having a distal end, an opposing proximal end, and a pair of opposing longitudinal sides spanning between the proximal end and the distal end. The pair of side rails are oriented parallel to one another and each is coupled to a respective one of the pair of opposing longitudinal sides of the main deck. Each side rail has a proximal longitudinal end and a distal longitudinal end. A pair of guide wheels can be coupled to a respective one of the pair or side rails adjacent to the proximal end thereof. Each guide wheel extends laterally outwardly from the respective one of the pair or side rails to which each of the pair of guide wheels is coupled. Each of the pair of guide rails is oriented parallel to one another and parallel to the pair of side rails. Each of the pair of guide rails defines a channel with an opening in one longitudinal side of the guide rail. The channel spans between a proximal end thereof and a distal end of each guide rail. Each of the pair of guide rails is disposed adjacent to a respective one of the pair of side rails such that the channel faces towards the respective side rail. The channel is shaped and sized to be disposed within the channel and travel proximally and distally within the respective guide rail. 
     A first bracket can be fastened to one of the pair of guide rails adjacent to a distal end thereof. A second bracket can be fastened to the other one of the pair of guide rails adjacent to the distal end thereof. Each of the first bracket and the second bracket can include a longitudinally inward extending portion that includes a sliding pad positioned to allow a bottom surface of a respective one of the pair of side rails to slide atop the sliding pad when the pair of guide wheels move proximally and distally within the channels of the pair of guide rails. 
     The first bracket and the second bracket can each include a laterally outwardly extending flange that defines a first plurality of apertures therethrough. Each of the first plurality of apertures can define an arcuate channel. The first bracket and the second bracket can each further comprise a laterally outwardly extending mounting portion with a second plurality of apertures defined therethrough such that a mechanical fastener can be inserted simultaneously through one of the first plurality of apertures and one of the second plurality of apertures. 
     The main deck can be planar and define a plurality of raised ribs that are oriented perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the main deck. The main deck can include an aperture through the main deck that is located adjacent to the distal end thereof to facilitate grasping with a hand of a user. The main deck can be a solid surface or the main deck can be formed from a plurality of separate segments that are joined together to define a continuous upper top deck surface. The main deck can include a plurality of reinforcement ribs extending downward from a lower surface thereof. 
     An elevated loading floor can be disposed atop the pair of guide rails. The elevated loading floor can span longitudinally from the distal end of the pair of guide rails to the proximal end of the guide rails, and laterally between the pair of guide rails. 
     A transition deck portion can be coupled to the proximal end of the main deck, the transition deck portion extending proximally from the main deck sufficiently to bridge a gap between the proximal end of the main deck and a distal end of the elevated loading floor when the main deck is in a deployed state. The transition deck portion can be curved. 
     Each sliding pad can be formed of a plastic material. 
     A distal travel stop bracket can be disposed over each of the distal ends of each of the pair of guide rails. Each distal travel stop bracket can be configured to prevent a respective one of the pair of guide wheels from exiting the channel of the respective guide rail from a distal end thereof. 
     A third bracket can be fastened to one of the pair of guide rails and located adjacent to a proximal end thereof. The third bracket can include a first L-shaped portion that is fastened to the guide rail and a second L-shaped portion that extends laterally outward from the first L-shaped portion. The second L-shaped portion presents a securing surface that is oriented parallel to a longitudinal axis of the guide rail to which the third bracket is fastened. Other additional brackets can also be provided as explained herein below. 
     The above summary is not intended to limit the scope of the invention, or describe each embodiment, aspect, implementation, feature or advantage of the invention. The detailed technology and preferred embodiments for the subject invention are described in the following paragraphs and the accompanying appended drawings for people skilled in this field to well appreciate the features of the claimed invention. It is understood that the features mentioned hereinbefore and those to be commented on hereinafter may be used not only in the specified combinations, but also in other combinations or in isolation, without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a perspective view of a loading ramp for a van in a stowed state in accordance with certain aspects of the invention. 
         FIG.  2    is another perspective view of a loading ramp for a van in a stowed state in accordance with certain aspects of the invention. 
         FIG.  3    is a top view of a loading ramp for a van in a stowed state in accordance with certain aspects of the invention. 
         FIG.  4    is a bottom view of a loading ramp for a van in a stowed state in accordance with certain aspects of the invention. 
         FIG.  5    is a side view of a loading ramp for a van in a stowed state in accordance with certain aspects of the invention. 
         FIG.  6    is a second side view, opposite that of  FIG.  5   , of a loading ramp for a van in a stowed state in accordance with certain aspects of the invention. 
         FIG.  7    is an end view of a loading ramp for a van in a stowed state in accordance with certain aspects of the invention. 
         FIG.  8    is a second end view, opposite that of  FIG.  7   , of a loading ramp for a van in a stowed state in accordance with certain aspects of the invention. 
         FIG.  9    is a close-up partial perspective view of a loading ramp for a van in a stowed state in accordance with certain aspects of the invention. 
         FIG.  10    is another close-up partial perspective view of a loading ramp for a van in a stowed state in accordance with certain aspects of the invention. 
         FIG.  11    is a perspective view of a loading ramp for a van in a deployed state in accordance with certain aspects of the invention. 
         FIG.  12    is another perspective view of a loading ramp for a van in a deployed state in accordance with certain aspects of the invention. 
         FIG.  13    is a close-up partial perspective view of a loading ramp for a van in a deployed state in accordance with certain aspects of the invention. 
         FIG.  14    is a top view of a loading ramp for a van in a deployed state in accordance with certain aspects of the invention. 
         FIG.  15    is a side view of a loading ramp for a van in a deployed state in accordance with certain aspects of the invention. 
         FIG.  16    is an end view of a loading ramp for a van in a deployed state in accordance with certain aspects of the invention. 
         FIG.  17    is a close-up partial perspective view of a portion of a loading ramp for a van in accordance with certain aspects of the invention. 
         FIG.  18    is a partial end cross-sectional view of a portion of a loading ramp for a van in accordance with certain aspects of the invention. 
         FIG.  19    is another close-up partial perspective view of a portion of a loading ramp for a van in accordance with certain aspects of the invention. 
         FIG.  20    is a close-up partial perspective view of a portion of a loading ramp for a van in accordance with certain aspects of the invention. 
         FIG.  21    is a perspective view of a loading ramp installed in a van in accordance with certain aspects of the invention. 
         FIG.  22    is a perspective view of a loading ramp installed in a van in accordance with certain aspects of the invention. 
         FIG.  23    is a perspective view of a loading ramp installed in a van in accordance with certain aspects of the invention. 
         FIG.  24    is a partial perspective view of a loading ramp installed in a van in accordance with certain aspects of the invention. 
         FIG.  25    is a partial perspective view of a loading ramp installed in a van in accordance with certain aspects of the invention. 
         FIG.  26    is a partial perspective view of a loading ramp installed in a van in accordance with certain aspects of the invention. 
         FIG.  27    is a partial perspective view of a loading ramp installed in a van in accordance with certain aspects of the invention. 
         FIG.  28    is a partial perspective view of a loading ramp installed in a van in accordance with certain aspects of the invention. 
         FIG.  29    is a partial perspective view of a loading ramp installed in a van in accordance with certain aspects of the invention. 
         FIG.  30    is a partial perspective view of a loading ramp installed in a van in accordance with certain aspects of the invention. 
         FIG.  31    is a partial perspective view of a bearing guide for a loading ramp for a van in accordance with certain aspects of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the following descriptions, the present invention will be explained with reference to various example embodiments; nevertheless, these embodiments are not intended to limit the present invention to any specific example, environment, application, or particular implementation described herein. Therefore, descriptions of these example embodiments are only provided for purpose of illustration rather than to limit the present invention. The invention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. 
     The various features or aspects discussed herein can also be combined in additional combinations and embodiments, whether or not explicitly discussed herein, without departing from the scope of the invention. 
     Referring generally to  FIGS.  1 - 10   , the loading ramp  100  is shown in a retracted state.  FIGS.  11 - 16    depict the loading ramp  100  in a deployed state. Additional details of certain embodiments, including mounting in a utility van, are depicted in  FIGS.  17 - 31   . The loading ramp  100  is configured to be mounted inside of a utility van in a retracted state such that the rear doors of the van can be closed normally. Then, when the doors are opened, the ramp can be moved to the deployed position by the user pulling the ramp in a distal direction (away from the van) and tilted down so that the distal end rests on the ground. The user can then easily enter and exit the van, including loading and unloading machinery via the ramp. The ramp can then be tilted or pivoted up and slid back proximally (towards the van) to the stowed position and the doors closed. 
     The loading ramp assembly  100  generally comprises a main deck  102 , side rails  104 , a transition deck  106 , guide rails  108  and a plurality of mounting brackets. 
     The main deck  102  is an elongated rectangular planar surface. A pair of apertures  110  are defined therein for hand grabs  110  and located adjacent to the distal end. The hand grabs facilitate the user grasping the distal end of the main deck  102  to deploy and stow the main deck  102 . The main deck also includes a plurality of perpendicularly-oriented ribs  112  raised above the top surface of the main deck. The ribs  112  are slightly raised and oriented perpendicular to the direction of travel in order to provide traction for the user and machinery when ascending or descending the main deck  102 . 
     Referring in particular to  FIG.  20   , a plurality of reinforcement ribs  114  are provided to the bottom surface of the main deck  102  to increase the bending resistance and torsion resistance of the main deck  102 . 
     The main deck  102  can be formed as a singular monolithic part or it can be formed from a plurality of planks or segments that are fastened together, such as by welding or mechanical fasteners. 
     The ramp main deck  102  can have a solid upper surface as shown, or the surface can be a mesh or can include a plurality of small apertures. Traction aides, such as traction tape or rubber patches can be added atop the ramp deck  102  if desired. 
     A side rail  104  is fastened to each longitudinal side of the main deck  102 . Referring in particular to  FIGS.  17  and  19   , each side rail  104  defines one or more channels  116  facing the main deck  102  in order to mate with the longitudinal sides of the main deck  102 . The side rails  104  provide additional strength to the main deck  102  to resist bending and torsional forces. The side rails  104  can be secured to the main deck  102  via a plurality of mechanical fasteners, or via other joining means such as welding. 
     Each side rail  104  can include an upper channel  116 A and a lower channel  116 B. The choice of which side rail  104  to use can be based upon the desired step up height of the front edge of the ramp  102  at the floor in the deployed position. The side rails  104  can also have a single channel, they can be flat without channels and be fastened to the longitudinal sides of the ramp. 
     A pair of spaced-apart guide rails  108  are disposed within the van and secured in place with brackets. The guide rails extend parallel to the side rails  104  and are placed adjacent to and just laterally outside of each respective of each respective side rail  104 . The guide rails  108  guide the ramp  102  as it transitions between the retracted and deployed positions. The guide rails  108  also define mounting points for securing the loading ramp assembly  100  to the van&#39;s loading floor  118  via brackets. 
     A guide wheel  120  is provided to each side rail  104  and located adjacent to the upper (proximal) end thereof so that the guide wheel  120  extends laterally outwardly away from the main deck  102 . Each guide wheel  120  is mounted on an axle and oriented so that the wheel  120  rolls proximally and distally within the guide rails  108  as the ramp  100  is deployed and retracted. The guide wheels can be provided via a guide wheel bracket  150 , such as shown in  FIG.  31   , that is fastened to the proximal end of each respective side rail  104 . 
     Referring in particular to  FIG.  18   , each guide rail  108  defines a channel  122  in which a guide wheel(s)  120  can be confined to travel. The channel  122  is open toward the longitudinal edges of the main ramp  102  so that a wheel&#39;s axle can move through the channel  122 . 
     A distal travel stop bracket  124  is fastened to a distal end of each guide rail  108 . The travel stop bracket  124  prevents the guide wheels  120  from extending distally out of the channel  122  of the guide rails  108 . The bracket in alternative embodiments can be in the form of a bolt placed through an end of the guide rail to limit travel of the wheel  120 . Stop brackets  124  can also be placed over the proximal ends of the guide rails to prevent the ramp deck  102  from moving too far forward such that the wheels  120  exit proximally from the guide rails  108 . 
     The guide rails  108  are fastened to the van with a plurality of brackets. These brackets can be secured to the van with common mechanical fasteners, or the brackets can be of a “no drill” variety that utilize existing fastening points of the van so that the loading ramp assembly  100  can be fastened to the van or vehicle without requiring any drilling through the van floor or walls. In particular, on the driver&#39;s side (typically the left side of the van in the United States), a driver&#39;s proximal mount bracket  124  is provided. 
     The driver&#39;s proximal mount bracket  125  comprises an inner L-shaped portion  126  fastened to the outer side of the guide rail  108  and an outer L-shaped portion  128  that fastens to the inner L-shaped portion  126 . A plurality of fastener slots  130  are defined in each respective L-shaped portion  126 ,  128  where the portions overlap so that the lateral reach of the driver&#39;s proximal mount bracket  124  is adjustable. The slots  130  in one of the L-shaped portions  126 ,  128  can be arcuate so that the angle of said bracket can be adjusted to accommodate angled mounting surfaces such as the van walls. Mechanical fasteners, such as bolts and nuts, are used to secure the respective bracket portions  126 ,  128  together. 
     Additional brackets can be provided at the driver&#39;s midpoint  132 , adjacent the driver&#39;s distal end  134 , adjacent the passenger&#39;s distal end  136  and at the passenger&#39;s midpoint  138 . 
     The outer L-shaped portion  128  presents a planar surface that can abut flat against the van wall or other structure parallel to the guide rail  108  such as shown in  FIGS.  28  and  29   . 
     However, if the mounting surface is oriented perpendicular to the frame rails, then the outer portion of the bracket can be in the form of a planar portion  140 . This configuration, such as shown in  FIG.  30   , presents a flat surface that can abut a door frame surface or other surface that is oriented perpendicular to the guide rails  108 . 
     In the embodiment depicted in  FIGS.  1 - 16   , the driver&#39;s proximal bracket  124 , the driver&#39;s midpoint bracket  132  and the passenger&#39;s midpoint bracket  138  each utilize an outer L-shaped bracket portion  128 . The driver distal end bracket  134  and the passenger distal end bracket  136  each utilize the flat bracket portion  140 . Of course, the particular arrangement of brackets used to secure the ramp assembly  100  to the van can be varied to suit the internal configuration of a given van. 
     An additional bracket can be provided in the step well of the van adjacent to the side sliding door. This step well bracket  142  is a planar body that spans between the passenger side guide rail  108  and the inner vertical surface of the step well of the van. As shown in the detail of  FIG.  27   , fasteners can be used to secure the step well bracket  142  to the respective guide rail  108  and step well structures. A similar bracket can be provided on the driver&#39;s side for vans that have driver-side sliding doors and step wells. 
     In order to prevent wear on the floor of the van and the bottom of the side rails  104  resulting from deploying and stowing the ramp deck  102 , a slider pad  144  can be provided adjacent to the distal end of each guide rail  108  on an inner side thereof. This slider pad  144  can be seen, for example, in  FIG.  13   . Each inner L-shaped bracket portion  126  of the driver and passenger distal brackets  134 ,  136  has a slider extension portion  146  that extends horizontally inward from the guide rail  108  such that the slider pad  144  can be disposed atop the extension portion  146  at a location below the side rail  104  adjacent to the guide rail  108 . Thus, the side rails  104  will slide across the slider pads  144  as the main deck  102  is moved distally and proximally relative to the guide rails  108 . Additional slider pads can be provided at other points along the guide rails  108  as well. 
     The slider pads  144  can be formed of a smooth plastic material. The slider pads also serve to minimize metal-metal contact that can cause rattling while the van is in motion. 
     An elevated loading floor  152  can be provided vertically atop the guide rails  108 , such as shown in  FIGS.  21 - 27   . The main deck  102  then retracts into a pocket or enclosure defined by the van&#39;s original load floor, the elevated loading floor  152  and the opposing guide rails  108 . 
     The elevated loading floor  152  or deck can be formed of one or more rigid panels that are fastened to the guide rails  108 . The elevated loading floor  152  can be a solid panel or it can be diamond treaded or have other aperture patterns defined therethrough. In another embodiment, a plurality of cross members can span between the opposing guide trails  108  and a less rigid elevated loading floor  152 , such as plywood, can be fastened atop the cross members. 
     The transition deck portion  106  can be provided at a proximal end of the main deck  102  such as shown in  FIGS.  24 - 25   . The transition deck portion  106  provides a covered transition between the proximal edge of the main deck  102  (when deployed) and the elevated loading floor  152  inside of the van. The transition portion  106  on a distal edge is secured to the proximal edge of the main deck  102 . The opposing proximal edge of the transition portion  106  is unattached so that it can either abut the distal edge of the elevated loading floor  152  or ride atop the distal end of the elevated loading floor  152 . The transition portion  106  is angled or curved to accomplish this purpose. The transition portion  106  allows wheeled items being loaded into the van to smoothly transition from the main deck  102  to the elevated loading floor  152  without the risk of becoming stuck in a gap between the main deck  102  and the elevated loading floor  152 . 
     The transition portion  106  is curved sufficient that when the main deck&#39;s  102  distal end is raised for retraction into the van, the transition portion  106  clears under the elevated loading floor  152  so that it need not be removed before retracting the main deck into the stowed position in the van. 
     One or more storage compartments can be defined in the elevated loading floor  152  in portions where clearance is not needed for retraction of the main deck  102 . Access doors in the elevated loading floor  152  can be defined for accessing the storage compartments. Locks can be provided to the access doors if desired. 
     In use, starting from the retracted position, the user grasps the distal end of the main deck  102 , such as via the hand grabs  110 , and pulls away from the van (distal direction). The wheels  120  move through the guide rails  108  and the side rails  104  slide atop the slider pads  144  as the user pulls until the wheels  120  contact the distal stop brackets  124 . The user then pivots the main deck  102  downward until the distal end rests atop the ground. Then the user can load/unload the van as desired. 
     To retract the main deck  102  into the stowed position, the user lifts the distal end of the main deck so that it is approximately horizontally oriented and pushes toward the van (proximal direction). As the user does this, the main deck  102  slides proximally into the ramp storage pocket cavity inside of the van. The user keeps pushing until the wheels  120  contact the forward stop brackets  124 . The retraction of the ramp  102  is sufficient that the rear doors of the van can be fully closed in the normal manner without modifications. 
     The main deck  102 , side rails  104 , a transition deck  106 , guide rails  108  and guide wheels  120  can each be formed from a metal alloy (e.g., steel or aluminum alloy). However, other suitable materials can be selected for one or more of the components if desired. 
     While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred example embodiments, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed example embodiments. It will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that many modifications and equivalent arrangements can be made thereof without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure, such scope to be accorded the broadest interpretation of the appended claims so as to encompass all equivalent structures and products. 
     For purposes of interpreting the claims for the present invention, it is expressly intended that the provisions of Section 112, sixth paragraph of 35 U.S.C. are not to be invoked unless the specific terms “means for” or “step for” are recited in a claim.