Patent Abstract:
A portable ramp and tool container for use in the bed of a pickup truck where the container includes interchangeable retractable and extendable ramps and tool trays which pull out from the container. Portions of the ramps can pivot downward to contact the ground while the tool tray may have a leg attached for support.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   It is desirable in the setting of vehicle transportation equipment to provide the ability for a pickup truck to carry all-terrain vehicles, lawn and garden tractors or other heavy power equipment in the back of a pickup truck. It has been well known to use ramps to attach to the tailgate to facilitate loading and unloading of objects into the bed of the pickup truck. 
   One example of prior art ramp systems is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,870,170 issued to Noble et al. 
   One problem with such ramp systems is their limited versatility. 
   Consequently, there exists a need for improved methods and apparatuses for loading heavy object into a pickup truck. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   It is an object of the present invention to provide a pickup truck ramp and equipment storage system with improved flexibility of functionality. 
   It is a feature of the present invention to include interchangeable equipment storage boxes and ramp inserts. 
   It is an advantage of the present invention to permit rapid reconfiguration of ramp and equipment storage box configurations. 
   It is another object of the present invention to provide a durable and light-weight ramp and storage system. 
   It is another feature of the present invention to include a box end that forms a sturdy miniature ramp. 
   It is another feature of the present invention to include low friction skid plates inside the box to facilitate sliding of the ramps. 
   It is another advantage of the present invention to reduce the weight associated with a ramp system. 
   It is another object to provide flexibility in ramp lengths. 
   It is another feature to include nested ramps which can be pulled from a stowed position to a deployed position. 
   It is another advantage to provide for rapid reconfiguration of ramp length. 
   The present invention is an improved method and apparatus for transporting objects in a pickup box, which is designed to satisfy the aforementioned needs, provide the previously stated objects, include the above-listed features, and achieve the already articulated advantages. 
   Accordingly, the present invention is a method and apparatus for storing and deploying extendable ramps and equipment storage boxes in a container in the box of a pickup truck which uses multiple interchangeable ramp and storage slots. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention may be more fully understood by reading the following description of preferred embodiments of the invention, in conjunction with the appended drawings wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a truck of the present invention having a ramp system installed therein. 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the ramp system of  FIG. 1 , where the equipment storage box is extended and the ramps retracted. 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective close-up view of the box end/mini-ramp in combination with an underlying retractable ramp. 
       FIG. 4  is perspective view of the distal ramp being pulled from the intermediate ramp. 
       FIG. 5  is a close-up depiction of a hinge between the proximal ramp and the intermediate ramp. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   Now referring to the drawings, wherein like numerals refer to like matter throughout, and more particularly to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a rear end of pickup truck  100 , or this could be a truck with a box, a flatbed, dump box, or other cargo area. Pickup truck  100  is shown having a pickup truck bed  102  and a tailgate  104 . Ramp and equipment storage system box  106  is disposed in the pickup truck bed  102  and is shown having distal ramps  112  disposed inside of intermediate ramps  108  which are disposed next to proximal ramps  110  which may be detachably coupled to the ramp and equipment storage system box  106  via a flange or other structural member which if pulled out straight would engage an end of the ramp and equipment storage system box  106 , but if tipped or tilted, can be made to be removed. 
   All of the ramps, including proximal ramps  110  which lay upon the tailgate  104  and are hinged along a bottom edge to a bottom edge of intermediate ramps  108  which have nested therein distal ramps  112 , are configured to be stored inside of ramp and equipment storage system box  106 , coupled to ramp and equipment storage system box  106  and deployed for use in loading and unloading objects from the pickup truck  100  or detached and removed from ramp and equipment storage system box  106 . Ramp and equipment storage system box  106  may be made of steel, aluminum, plastic or other suitable material. The ramp and equipment storage system box  106  may be made to be 3 or 4 inches high, more or less. A 4-inch or higher depth of ramp and equipment storage system box  106  readily permits the ramps to be slightly thicker and, therefore, stronger and also permits the equipment storage box  202  ( FIG. 2 .) to be deep enough to handle fishing reels attached to fishing poles and certain other hand tools, such as shovels etc. The intermediate ramps  108 , proximal ramps  110 , and distal ramps  112  may be steel, aluminum, plastic, or other suitable materials. The material choice may depend upon the types of objects that will be used on the ramps and the environments and other circumstances typically involved in their use.  FIG. 1  shows two ramps separated by a central region with no ramps or other structure extending from the ramp and equipment storage system box  106 . 
   Distal ramps  112  are shown retracted or nested within intermediate ramps  108 . If the desire were to have longer ramps, then distal ramps  112  could be merely pulled or extracted from the interior cavity in intermediate ramps  108 . 
   Now referring to  FIG. 2 , there is shown the ramp and equipment storage system box  106  of the present invention. Equipment storage tray  202  is shown in a more close-up view after having been extracted from central bay  204  of ramp and equipment storage system box  106 . The intermediate ramps  108  are shown in a retracted configuration in driver&#39;s side bay  206  and passenger&#39;s side bay  208 . It should be understood that equipment storage tray  202  is completely removable from central bay  204 , and it can be replaced by another ramp assembly. This would provide for a nearly continuous ramp and would be ideal for 3-wheelers, snowmobiles and other objects. In another embodiment, the central bay  204  might be the only ramp (e.g. for a motorcycle) and the driver&#39;s side bay  206  and passenger&#39;s side bay  208  could be filled with equipment storage trays  202  or left empty if weight is a serious concern. In still another configuration, central bay  204  and passenger&#39;s side bay  208  might be filled with ramps, while driver&#39;s side bay  206  is used for equipment storage tray  202 . This could permit storage and at the same time, provide a unified ramp which might be used for snowmobiles, etc. Central bay  204  may be defined by a longitudinal support  209  on each side which could be an I-beam, solid member or other structural support. Additional support members may be added, depending upon the weight of the objects which are to be moved up the ramps and stored atop the ramp and equipment storage system box  106 . 
   Now referring to  FIG. 3 , there is shown a close-up perspective view of the ramp and equipment storage system box  106  with proximal ramps  110  extending out from under the box end/mini-ramp  302 . Box end/mini-ramp  302  is coupled to box top  310  via end-to-box top hinge  304 . Box end/mini-ramp  302  forms the end of ramp and equipment storage system box  106  when the ramps and trays are stowed and forms a mini-ramp extending from the proximal ramps  110  when they are positioned over the tailgate  104 . Ramp and equipment storage system box  106  is shown having a box bottom side  312 . End to box latch member  306  may be provided to aid in latching box end/mini-ramp  302  shut when the ramps and trays are stowed. 
   Now referring to  FIG. 4 , there is shown the distal ramps  112  being pulled from the intermediate ramps  108 . Also shown is distal ramp-retaining pin-receiving hole  402  which have the pin removed to allow distal ramps  112  to slide from within intermediate ramps  108 . Depending upon the type of equipment to be loaded on the ramp and equipment storage system box  106 , the ramps may need to be extended by deploying the distal ramps  112 . 
   Now referring to  FIG. 5 , there is shown the proximal ramp to intermediate ramp hinge  502  which connects the bottom rear edge of proximal ramps  110  to the front bottom edge of intermediate ramps  108 . It may be desired in operation to have the proximal ramp to intermediate ramp hinge  502  be disposed further toward the ramp and equipment storage system box  106  so as to be supported from underneath by the tailgate  104 . 
   The present invention is shown as being a self-contained ramp and equipment storage system box  106  which is bolted to the bed of the pickup truck  100 . It should be understood that the system of the present invention could be manufactured with the truck and incorporated into the bed of the truck. 
   It is thought that the method and apparatus of the present invention will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction, steps and arrangement of the parts and steps thereof without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of the material advantages, the form herein described being merely a preferred or exemplary embodiment thereof.

Technology Classification (CPC): 1