Patent Publication Number: US-2011049447-A1

Title: Safety vehicle ramp and method

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This non-provisional patent application claims the benefit of priority and incorporates herein the contents of U.S. provisional patent application 61/275,329 filed on Aug. 28, 2009, entitled “Sure Strap—Car Ramp.” 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to a ramp apparatus and method for raising and lowering a vehicle, and more particularly to a ramp apparatus locked into an immovable safety position when in use. 
     A typical ramp has an inclined ramp surface leading to a raised horizontal portion upon which the wheel of a vehicle is positioned when raised. Such ramps are typically used in pairs and are used to raise, for example, the front end of a vehicle as the engine of the vehicle is serviced, and are often used by individuals servicing their vehicles at their homes and such. 
     Inconveniences and accidents can arise when a conventional stand moves as a vehicle begins to mount the ramp. As the vehicle wheels contact a pair of positioned stands, one or both ramps may move away from the vehicle instead of raising the wheels. When this occurs, one or both ramps are moved forward from their desired positions. Even if they are placed on a long surface such as a driveway, any movement of either ramp can cause lateral alignment of the two ramps to be lost, and can cause the final position of the raised vehicle to be changed from a desired location. A vehicle may ultimately be raised on only one side, may drive off of one of the ramps, and may be damaged or may cause damage to a garage door or other nearby structures or items. Conversely, when lowering the vehicle the ramps tend to kick out forward when the vehicle wheels interfaces with the concrete floor or driveway. This can cause damage to nearby structures or people. 
     Therefore, there exists a need for improved ramps and methods for raising and lowering vehicles without movement of the ramps. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Therefore it is an object of the present invention to provide ramps for safely raising and lowering a vehicle while the ramps are maintained in fixed positions by the weight of the vehicle. 
     These and other aspects of the invention are achieved by providing a vehicular safety ramp apparatus having a ramp including an inclined ramp surface for progressively elevating a front wheel of a vehicle above a surface on which the ramp is positioned. An elongate web is carried by the ramp and extends outwardly from the ramp in longitudinal alignment with the ramp and having a length at least as long as a distance from a lowermost end of the ramp surface to a rear wheel positioned rearwardly of the front wheel to be elevated. The web is adapted for being placed under the rear wheel whereby the weight of the rear wheel locks the ramp in a fixed position as the front wheel is progressively elevated and lowered along the ramp surface. 
     According to another aspect of the invention, the web is a woven synthetic fabric tape. 
     According to another aspect of the invention, a hinge having a first hinge leaf is mounted to the ramp and a second hinge leaf is pivotally mounted to the first hinge, with the web attached thereto, by a removable pin for removal and storage of the strap/web. 
     According to another aspect of the invention, a reel is mounted to the ramp under the inclined ramp surface, and a hand crank is attached to the reel for rotating the reel and winding the web into a storage position when not in use. 
     According to another aspect of the invention, a vehicular safety ramp apparatus includes first and second ramps, each having a pair of spaced-apart side walls and an inclined ramp surface for progressively elevating and lowering first and second front wheels of a vehicle above a surface on which the ramps are positioned. An elongate web is carried by a lowermost end of each of the ramp surfaces and extendable outwardly from the first and second ramps in longitudinal alignment with the respective first and second ramps. Each web has a length at least as long as a distance from the lowermost ends of the ramp surfaces to respective first and second rear wheels of the vehicle. When the rear wheels are rolled onto the webs, the first and second ramps are locked into a fixed position as the front wheels are progressively elevated and lowered along the ramp surface. 
     According to another aspect of the invention, the webs are preferably woven synthetic fabric tapes. 
     According to another aspect of the invention, first and second reels are mounted under respective ones of the first and second inclined ramp surfaces, and first and second hand cranks attached to respective reels for rotating the reels and winding the webs into a storage position under the respective first and second ramps when not in use. 
     According to another aspect of the invention, a method of locking a pair of vehicle ramps into an immovable safety position when in use includes the steps of providing first and second ramps for being positioned on a supporting surface. Each of the first and second ramps has side walls and an inclined ramp surface for progressively elevating first and second front wheels of a vehicle having a pair of front and aligned rear wheels. First and second elongate webs are carried by a lowermost end of respective ramp surfaces, the webs having a length at least as long as a distance from the lowermost end of the ramp surfaces to the respective aligned rear wheels of the front wheels to be elevated. The method also includes positioning the first and second ramps in laterally spaced-apart position to receive the front wheels of the vehicle, extending the webs outwardly along the supporting surface from the first and second ramps in longitudinal alignment with the ramps, and moving a vehicle whereby the front and rear wheels roll onto the respective first and second webs. The weight of the rear wheels fixes the web in a stationary position and locks the attached first and second ramps in a fixed position as the front wheels are progressively elevated and lowered along the ramp surface. 
     According to another aspect of the invention, a method of locking a pair of vehicle ramps into an immovable safety position when in use, includes the steps of providing first and second ramps for being positioned on a supporting surface. Each of the ramps have an inclined ramp surface for progressively elevating and lowering first and second front wheels of a vehicle having a pair of front and aligned rear wheels. The first and second elongate webs are carried by a lowermost end of respective ramp surfaces, and the webs have a length at least as long as a distance from the lowermost end of the ramp surfaces to the respective aligned rear wheels of the front wheels to be elevated. The method includes the steps of positioning the first and second ramps in laterally spaced-apart position to receive the front wheels of the vehicle, extending the webs outwardly along the supporting surface from the first and second ramps in longitudinal alignment with the ramps, and moving the vehicle whereby as the front and rear wheels roll onto the respective first and second webs of the vehicle, the weight of the rear wheels fixes the web in a stationary position and locks the attached first and second ramps in a fixed position as the front wheels are progressively elevated and lowered along the ramp surface. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The subject matter that is regarded as the invention may be best understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing figures in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a pair of ramps according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 2A-2C  are environmental views of the ramps of  FIG. 1  being approached, positionally fixed, and mounted by a vehicle; and 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of another embodiment of a ramp according to another embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to the drawings wherein identical reference numerals denote the same elements throughout the various views,  FIGS. 1 and 2  illustrate a vehicular safety ramp apparatus  10  according to one embodiment of the present invention. The apparatus includes a pair of ramps  12 , each of which includes an inclined ramp surface  14  and an elongate web  16  attached to the lowest end  18  of the ramp surface  14 . The ramps  12  are substantially similar and so portions of these descriptions refer to a single ramp  12  for brevity. 
     Spaced apart sidewalls  20  extend along the lateral sides of the ramp surface  14  to provide rigidity to the ramp  12  and to guide the wheels of a vehicle. Raised laterally extending ribs  22  are spaced along the ramp surface  14  to facilitate wheel traction and to provide rigidity to the ramp  12 . Generally vertical legs  24  support the ramp  12  at the upper end  28  opposite the lowest end  18 . Generally horizontal members  30  add strength to prevent collapse of the ramp  12  by fixing the legs  24  in their positions relative to the ramp surface  14 . The sidewalls  20  are continuous around the top portion  32  of the ramp  12 , forming an end wall  34  that helps to prevent a vehicle from driving onto and over the ramp  12 . The ramp  12  is constructed of suitably durable and strong material such as steel, aluminum, other metals, compsite plastic/fiberglass, or other structurally sound materials. The ramp  12  may be constructed as one integrally formed piece of material or may be assembled from parts joined together by welding, fasteners such as threaded connectors and rivets, or other joining elements. 
     The web  16  is constructed of woven synthetic fabric tape in one example. The web  16  can be constructed of a variety of materials that have suitable tensile strength and sufficient durability against wear so as to permit many uses during which the webs are driven upon as shown in  FIGS. 2A-2C . As shown in  FIG. 2B , each web  16  is at least as long as the distance between the wheels of the vehicle that the ramp  12  is positioned to raise. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the webs  16  are extended in longitudinal alignment with the ramps  12  in preparation for use in raising an approaching vehicle  100  ( FIG. 2A ). 
     As shown in the enlarged portion of  FIG. 1 , the web  16  is pivotally mounted to the lowest end  18  of the ramp surface  14 . A first hinge leaf  40  is mounted to the ramp  12  and a second hinge leaf  42  is attached to the web  16 . The web  16  is captured between the second hinge leaf  42  and a backing plate  46 , which are connected together on opposite sides of the web  16  by fasteners  48 . The second hinge leaf  42  is pivotally mounted to the first hinge leaf  40 , and the web  16  is thereby pivotally mounted to the lowest end  18  of the ramp surface  14  by way of the first and second hinge leaves  40  and  42 . The first hinge leaf  40  and the ramp  12  are shown in the enlarged portion of  FIG. 1  as joined together by threaded fasteners  50  as an example. They may also be joined together by other types of fasteners such as rivets, welding, or other joining elements. 
       FIGS. 2A-2C  are environmental views of the ramps of  FIG. 1  being approached, positionally fixed as the wheels of the vehicle  100  drive upon the webs  16 , and mounted by the vehicle  100 . In  FIG. 2A , the vehicle  100  approaches the ramp  12  and web  16 . In  FIG. 2B , the vehicle  100  is positioned upon the web  16 . This fixes the position of the ramp  12  as the weight of the vehicle  100  bears upon the web  16 , and the web  16  is thereby trapped between the wheels of the vehicle  10  and the surface upon which the web  16  and ramp  12  are positioned. As the vehicle  100  is forcibly driven forward by its back wheels  102 , the forward end  104  of the vehicle  100  is progressively raised until the front wheels  106  are positioned on the top portion  32  of the ramp  12 . During the raising of the front wheels  106  along the ramp surface  14 , any tendency of the ramp  12  to slip forward and away from the vehicle  10  is prevented by the web  16 , which is held in its position by the back wheels  102  of the vehicle  100  even as the back wheels  102  rotate and force the vehicle  100  forward and the front wheels  106  are forced up the ramps  12 . The vehicle can be safely lowered by reversing the steps shown in  FIGS. 2A-2C . 
     These descriptions refer to “front wheels” and “back wheels” with regard to those wheels of a vehicle that are closest to and furthest from the ramps  12  respectively. Thus, “front wheels” refer to those wheels that mount the ramps  12  when a vehicle approaches the ramps in a fashion appreciated by the driver as driving forward. Similarly, “front wheels” refer to those wheels that mount the ramps when a vehicle approaches the ramps  12  in an opposite fashion appreciated by the driver as reversing. Thus, in any fashion by which a vehicle approaches, the “front wheels” mount the ramps and the “back wheels” bear weight upon the webs  16 . 
     The ramp  112  shown in  FIG. 3  includes an additional feature over the ramp  12  of  FIG. 1 , but is otherwise substantially the same. The ramp  112  includes a reel  114  mounted under the inclined ramp surface  14  for winding the web  16  into a storage position as shown when not in use. A hand crank  116  is attached to the reel  114  for rotating the reel  114  and winding the web  16  into the storage position as shown. 
     While specific embodiments of the present invention have been described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications thereto can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the foregoing description of the preferred embodiment of the invention and the best mode for practicing the invention are provided for the purpose of illustration only and not for the purpose of limitation.