Patent Publication Number: US-2023150781-A1

Title: Reversible ramp

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present disclosure relates to ramps used to load and unload cargo from a vehicle or trailer. Ramps have been around for many years, with a wide variety of designs implemented. Many of the patents found in this area involve innovative ways to collapse and store the ramps when not in use, with others involving integration into a vehicle or trailer. Many of the mechanisms that are used to store a ramp or integrate it into a vehicle involve some level of compromise. As an example, folding and collapsing ramps can involve complex mechanisms that can add weight, increase the possibility of failure, and/or reduce weight capacity. Integrated ramps can lack portability or be tailored to a specific use, rendering it useless for other tasks. Some users use a trailer for some towing while using a standard pickup truck. Trailers frequently have an integral “C” channel affixed to the rear edge for use with ramps, while a pickup truck lacks a channel. Using a ramp designed to fit into a “C” channel on a vehicle that lacks one could result in the ramp becoming disconnected during use. An improved and all-inclusive device is needed. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present disclosure describes a reversible ramp that works equally well with ledges (such as pickup truck beds and tailgates) and a channel (such as what is on the edge of a trailer). While other ramps would have one end that is always resting on the vehicle or trailer and the other end always resting on the ground, the present invention uses one end to attach to trailers and the opposite end to attach to higher surfaces, such as pickup truck beds. One of the problems to be solved is to not damage the lip or truck end of the ramp that is on the ground when using the ramp for trailer loading. The converse is also true. In normal operation, the user should not damage the end of the ramp that is on the ground when using the ramp. Other ramps have one end designed to rest on the ground without any contemplation of features necessary for any other purpose. By understanding the relative heights of trucks and trailers and forming constructive planes at different angles for each end, an improved ramp can be used for both purposes. 
     The improved ramp has a hook on one end and a lip on the opposite end with a rigid structure affixed between the ends. The lip end has a receiving channel portion formed from a bottom wall connected to a top wall portion by a spanning wall. The bottom wall has a lower tube surface and the top wall portion has an upper tube surface facing the lower tube surface. The top wall portion has a textured surface on the opposite side of the upper tube surface to assist with grip and traction. The textured surface extends from the top wall portion to an arcuate portion. The arcuate portion terminates at an end surface. The lip end has a corner where the bottom wall meets the spanning wall. A lip plane intersects the end surface and the corner, which is obliquely angled with respect to the upper and lower tube surfaces. 
     The hook end has a receiving channel portion formed from a bottom wall connected to a top wall portion by a spanning wall. The bottom wall has a lower tube surface and the top wall portion has an upper tube surface facing the lower tube surface. Similar to the lip end, the top wall portion has a textured surface opposite the upper tube surface that extends from the top wall portion to an overhanging wall. The overhanging wall terminates at a hook wall that is orthogonally angled with respect to the overhanging wall. The hook wall terminates at a terminal edge. The hook end has a corner where the bottom wall meets the spanning wall. A hook plane intersects the terminal edge and the corner, which is obliquely angled with respect to the upper and lower tube surface. 
     As previously described, the hook and lip ends are affixed to an elongate rigid structure, which can be formed from a first tube affixed to a second tube. As shown herein, the first and second tubes have a top surface parallel to a bottom surface. The top surfaces have at least one tread affixed thereto to assist with grip and traction. The elongate rigid structure has a ramp plane parallel to and located between the top and bottom surfaces. The lip plane intersects the ramp plane at a first distance from the spanning wall of the lip end while the hook plane intersects the ramp plane at a second distance from the spanning wall of the hook end. Because of the different angles of the lip plane and hook plane, the first distance is greater than the second distance. To affix the ends, the receiving channel portion of the lip end is affixed to a first end of the elongate rigid structure with the upper tube surface of the lip end overlaying a portion of the top surfaces and the lower tube surface of the lip end overlaying a portion of the bottom surfaces. Similarly, the receiving channel portion of the hook end is affixed to a second end of the elongate rigid structure with the upper tube surface overlaying a portion of the top surfaces and the lower tube surface overlaying a portion of the bottom surfaces. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a side view of a reversible ramp being used in conjunction with a pickup truck; 
         FIG.  2    is a side view of the reversible ramp in  FIG.  1    being used with a trailer; 
         FIG.  3    is an isometric view of the reversible ramp; 
         FIG.  4    is an exploded isometric view of the reversible ramp in  FIG.  3   ; 
         FIG.  5 A  is a side view with a section of the middle removed to show the ends in greater detail; 
         FIG.  5 B  is a side view of the device in  FIG.  5 A  showing intersecting planes; 
         FIG.  6    is a partial view of the reversible ramp in  FIG.  1    showing the angle of the ramp in use with a truck; and 
         FIG.  7    is a partial view of the reversible ramp in  FIG.  2    showing the angle of the ramp in use with a trailer. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     A reversible ramp  10  is shown in  FIGS.  1 - 7    and is designed to work equally well with a truck  14  as shown in  FIGS.  1  and  6    or trailer  16  as shown in  FIGS.  2  and  7   . The trailer  16  has a deck surface  18  and a channel  20  affixed at the edge, shown in  FIG.  2   . The channel  20  is commonly a “C” channel welded to the trailer frame and is designed to be used to hang ramps, shown in further detail in  FIG.  7   . The channel  20  is commonly slightly lower than the deck surface  18  to provide a smooth transition from the ramp to the deck, but the channel  20  could be located at other positions. The truck  14  has a bed  22  with a bed surface  24 . A tailgate  26  is movable between a down position as shown in  FIG.  1    and an up position (not shown). 
     The reversible ramp  10  is an elongate structural device with a hook end  30  and a lip end  32 . The ends  30 ,  32  are affixed to terminal ends of an elongate rigid structure  34 . The elongate rigid structure  34  has a tread side  36  which is formed from a series of individual components that are affixed together, typically through welding. The elongate rigid structure  34  has a first end  38  with a first terminal end  39  and a second end  48  with a second terminal end  49  opposite the first terminal end. Hollow rectangular tubes  40 ,  42  are the main structural component. In the embodiment shown herein, the tubes  40 ,  42  are an extrusion with a consistent cross-section profile along their length, but other methods of manufacturing are contemplated, such as forming, welding, or casting. It is further contemplated that the tubes  40 ,  42  are a non-tubular component, such as an I-beam, C-channel, or other shape that can carry weight between its ends. The tubes  40 ,  42  have several functions. First, they provide a structural element to support weight, as the ramp  10  is typically only supported at the ends  30 ,  32  when in use. Second, they provide a top surface  44  where treads  50  can be attached. The treads  50  are on the tread side  36  of the elongate rigid structure  34 . Third, the tubes  40 ,  42  mate with the ends  30 ,  32  to allow them to be affixed. The tubes  40 ,  42  also have a bottom surface  46  spaced from and parallel to the top surface  44 . Located between the top surface  44  and the bottom surface  46  is a ramp plane  58  which is parallel to the surfaces  44 ,  46 . In the event that other non-tubular shapes are used, the other shapes would have a constructive top surface  44  and constructive bottom surface  46  that would interface, mate with, or be affixed to the components and features described herein. In the embodiment shown herein, the ramp plane  58  is located at a midpoint between the surfaces  44 ,  46 . The tubes  40 ,  42  are tied together at the ends  30 ,  32  and also at supports  52 . The supports  52  are affixed to the tubes  40 ,  42  to provide further structural reinforcement. As shown, the supports  52  are affixed between the tubes  40 ,  42  with welding, but other attachment methods are contemplated. The elongate rigid structure  34  has been described as rigid, but it is contemplated that a hinge or other feature is included to allow the ramp  10  to be folded or compressed for storage. 
     The lip end  32  has a receiving channel portion  60  having a bottom wall  62  connected to a top wall portion  64  by a spanning wall  66 . The top wall portion  64  and bottom wall  62  are spaced to allow the end of the tubes  40 ,  42  to fit as shown in the  FIGS.  4  and  5 A , where they can be secured through welding or other attachment means such as bolts, rivets, or adhesive. An upper tube surface  54  on the top wall portion  64  faces a lower tube surface  56  on the bottom wall  62 . The top wall portion  64  is adjacent to the top surface  44 . A grooved or textured surface  68  extends from the top wall portion  64  to an arcuate portion  70 . The arcuate portion  70 , as shown, is thicker than the top wall portion  64  and terminates at an end surface  72  which is located at a position between the top wall portion  64  and bottom wall  62 . The end surface  72  is obliquely angled with respect to the tube surfaces  54 ,  56 . As shown, the end surface  72  is parallel to and located on a lip plane  74  that intersects a corner  76  where the bottom wall  62  meets the spanning wall  66 . It is contemplated that corner  76  is where the bottom surface  46  meets the first terminal end  39 . 
     The hook end  30  has a receiving channel portion  80  that mates to the tubes  40 ,  42  using a bottom wall  82  connected to a top wall portion  84  by a spanning wall  86 . The top wall portion  84  and bottom wall  82  are spaced to allow the end of the tubes  40 ,  42  to fit as shown in the  FIGS.  4  and  5 A , where they can be secured through welding or other attachment means such as bolts, rivets, or adhesive. An upper tube surface  94  on the top wall portion  84  faces a lower tube surface  96  on the bottom wall  82 . A grooved or textured surface  88  extends from the top wall portion  84  to an overhanging wall  90 . The overhanging wall  90  is adjacent to the top surface  44  and terminates at a hook wall  92  that is perpendicular to the overhanging wall  90 . The hook wall  92  has a terminal edge  98  that is located between the upper and lower tube surfaces  94 ,  96 . A hook plane  104  connects the terminal edge  98  to a corner  106 , as shown in  FIG.  5 B . It is contemplated that corner  106  is where the bottom surface  46  meets the second terminal end  49 . As can be seen in the  FIG.  5 B , the end surface  72  is spaced from the spanning wall  66  by a greater distance than the terminal edge  98  is spaced from spanning wall  86 . The lip plane  74  intersects the ramp plane  58  at a first intersection  114  which is spaced from the spanning wall  66  by a first distance  116 . The first distance  116  could be measured from the first terminal end  39  instead of the spanning wall  66 . The hook plane  104  intersects the ramp plane  58  at a second intersection  108  which is close to the terminal edge  98  and spaced from the spanning wall  86  by a second distance  110 . It is contemplated that the second distance  110  is measured from the second terminal end  49  instead of spanning wall  86 . The first distance  116  is greater than the second distance  110  because of the angles of the respective planes  74 ,  104 . 
     As previously described, the hook end  30  and lip end  32  are affixed to the elongate rigid structure  34 . The receiving channel portion  60  receives the first end  38  with the first terminal end  39  abutting the spanning wall  66 . The top wall portion  64  overlays a portion of the top surface  44  while the bottom wall  62  overlays a portion of the bottom surface  46 . Similarly, the receiving channel portion  80  receives the second end  48  with the second terminal end  49  abutting the spanning wall  86 . The top wall portion  84  overlays a portion of the top surface  44  while the bottom wall  82  overlays a portion of the bottom surface  46 . 
       FIGS.  1  and  2    show common uses of the reversible ramp  10 , with a pickup truck  14  shown in  FIGS.  1  and  6    and a trailer  16  shown in  FIGS.  2  and  7   . In  FIGS.  6  and  7   , a middle portion of the elongate rigid structure  34  is removed to show the ends  30 ,  32  in greater detail. Removal of this portion gives the appearance of the truck  14  and trailer  16  at a lower vertical position with respect to the ground  28  than what would occur in normal operation. Their relative difference in height and the different angles of the ramp still apply for  FIGS.  6  and  7   . When used with a pickup truck  14  or other vehicle without a channel  20 , the hook end  30  is on the ground  28  and the lip end  32  rests on the vehicle. As assembled and shown in  FIG.  5 B , the ramp plane  58  is fixed with respect to the lip plane  74  and hook plane  104 . The lip plane  74  represents an optimum angle for the ramp  10  to contact the ground  28  when the hook end  30  is supported by a trailer  16 . The hook plane  104  represents the optimum angle for the ramp  10  to contact the ground  28  when the lip end  32  is supported by a tailgate  26  or bed surface  24 . The lip plane  74  intersects the ramp plane  58  at a shallow angle compared to the angle that the hook plane  104  intersects the ramp plane  58 . This is due to the typical height difference between a tailgate  26  or deck surface  18  of a trailer  16 . Tailgates  26  or bed surfaces  24  are commonly much higher from the ground  28  compared to deck surfaces  18  of trailers  16 . 
     It is understood that while certain aspects of the disclosed subject matter have been shown and described, the disclosed subject matter is not limited thereto and encompasses various other embodiments and aspects. No specific limitation with respect to the specific embodiments disclosed herein is intended or should be inferred. Modifications may be made to the disclosed subject matter as set forth in the following claims.