Patent Abstract:
A ramp member is provided for attachment with an edge of a floor mat to facilitate transportation of an object from a floor to an upper surface of the mat. A tab is provided which extends from the ramp member and defines a plane. Two projections extend from the plane of the tab out of alignment with the plane. Additionally, two cavities are formed in the ramp member adapted for receiving at least one of the two projections therein. A method of connecting ramp members is also included.

Full Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates to a ramp for abutment with an edge of a floor mat to facilitate transportation of an object from a floor to an upper surface of the mat. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of ramp members of the present invention coupled to a mat; 
       FIG. 2  is a front elevational view of a ramp member of the present invention; 
       FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the ramp members and mat shown assembled in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 4  is a partial top plan view of a first end of a ramp member of the present invention showing a tab formed on the ramp member end; 
       FIG. 5  is a partial top plan view of the ramp member end shown in  FIG. 4  showing the tab detached from the ramp member end; 
       FIG. 6  is a partial top plan view of the ramp member end shown in  FIG. 5  showing a first portion of the tab detached from a second portion of the tab; 
       FIG. 7  is a partial bottom plan view of the bottom surface of a first end of a ramp member of the present invention; 
       FIG. 8  is a partial bottom plan view of the bottom surface of a second end of a ramp member of the present invention; 
       FIG. 9  is a partial bottom plan view of the first and second ends of separate ramp members of the present invention showing detachment of portions of the ramp members for forming an extended straight section comprising two adjacent ramp members; 
       FIG. 9A  is a partial bottom plan view of the first and second ends of separate ramp members of  FIG. 9  abutting one another, and a tab portion for connecting the first and second ends together; 
       FIG. 10  is a partial bottom plan view of the first and second ends of separate ramp members of the present invention showing detachment of portions of the ramp members for forming an inside corner; 
       FIG. 10A  is a partial bottom plan view of first and second ends of  FIG. 10  abutting one another, and a tab portion for connecting the first and second ends of  FIG. 10  together; and 
       FIG. 11  is a plan view of the first and second ends of separate ramp members of the present invention showing connection of the ramp members ends to form an outside corner. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   Referring now to the drawings,  FIGS. 1-3  show ramp members  20  and  22  adapted for attachment to an edge of a floor mat  24 . Ramp members  20  and  22  are utilized to provide a gradual inclination from a floor surface to an upper surface of floor mat  24 , thereby removing abrupt changes in elevation between the surfaces. 
   Referring to ramp member  22  of  FIGS. 2 and 3 , ramp member  22  has a mat attachment edge  26 , a floor edge  28 , a top surface  30  into which the ramp is incorporated and a bottom surface  32  which makes contact with a floor or other surface on which the mat and ramp members are to be placed. 
   As seen in  FIG. 3 , a series of upwardly-extending bosses  34  may be formed in mat attachment edge of ramp member  22 . Bosses  34  are configured to project and secure into corresponding cavities (not shown) in bottom side  36  of mat  24 . Alternatively, the attachment edge ramp member  20  incorporate a series of cavities (not shown) formed on the bottom side of ramp member  20  for receiving therein corresponding ones of a series of bosses  38  formed in mat  24 . 
   For simplicity, the features of ramp member  22  will be discussed in detail. It is understood that the features discussed in the following description may be common to either of ramp members  20  or  22 , and that the main difference between ramp members  20  and  22  shown in  FIG. 3  is the provision of bosses  34  in mat attachment edge  26  of ramp member  22 , and the provision of cavities (not shown) in mat attachment edge  46  of ramp member  20  for receiving mat bosses  38  therein. In  FIG. 3 , ramp member  22  includes bosses  34  for projecting into cavities in bottom side of mat  24 , and ramp member  20  has cavities incorporated into its bottom surface for receiving therein bosses  38  formed in mat  24 . 
   In one embodiment, ramp member  22  is longitudinal and has a first end  40 , a second end  42  opposite first end  40  and a longitudinal axis A. First end  40  may include an edge  44  formed at an acute angle with respect to longitudinal axis A. Edge  44  is configured for positioning adjacent and/or in abutment with an edge of an end portion of another ramp member, in a manner to be described in detail later. One example is demonstrated in FIG.  1 . Angled edge  44  may form a 45 degree angle with longitudinal axis A. As seen in  FIG. 2 , top surface  30  slopes upward from a floor or other resting surface toward mat attachment edge  26 . Ramp member  22  may be formed from any moldable material having properties suitable for a desired application of the ramp. For example, a plastic or rubber compound possessing sufficient mechanical toughness and chemical resistance may be used to handle domestic, commercial or even industrial applications. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , a tab, generally designated  48 , projects in a first direction from ramp member first end  40 . Generally, tab  48  is formed unitarily with ramp member  22  and may extend from first end angled edge  44 . As seen in  FIGS. 4-6  and  9 - 10 A, tab  48  comprises a first tab portion  50  from which first and second projections  52   a ,  52   b  extend and a second tab portion  54  connecting first tab portion  50  with ramp member first end  40 . Projections  52   a ,  52   b  may extend from a plane defined by tab  48  in a direction out of alignment with the plane and generally transverse to the plane in this embodiment. In one embodiment, first tab portion  50  with projections  52   a ,  52   b  extending therefrom forms a connector for coupling together a pair of ramp members  20 ,  22 , in a manner to be described in detail later. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , first projection  52   a  and second projection  52   b  are generally longitudinal in configuration. However, projections  52   a ,  52   b  may be formed in any desired configuration. In one embodiment, first and second projections  52   a ,  52   b  also extend generally perpendicular to ramp member longitudinal axis and are spaced a predetermined distance B apart. A third projection  56  may be incorporated into second tab portion  54 . Third projection  56  may extend from the plane defined by tab  48  in a direction out of alignment with the plane and this embodiment is generally perpendicular to the plane and may form an acute angle with ramp member longitudinal axis A. 
   Referring to  FIG. 7 , a pair of cavities  58 ,  60  are formed in bottom surface  32  proximate first end  40  of ramp member  22 . Cavities  58 ,  60  are configured to receive either one of projections  52   a  or  52   b  extending from tab  48  of ramp member  20 , in a manner to be described in detail later. It should be understood that cavities formed in bottom surface  32  of ramp member  22  generally extend into bottom surface  32  to a pre-determined depth to form a blind hole. However, any of the cavities formed in bottom surface  32  may extend completely through a body of ramp member  22  to form a through hole if desired. As cavities  58 ,  60  shown in  FIG. 7  are adapted to receive either one of projections  52   a  or  52   b , these cavities are correspondingly generally longitudinal. However, cavities  58 ,  60  may be formed in any shape suitable for receiving projections extending from tab  48 . 
   As seen in  FIG. 7 , grooves  62 ,  64  may be formed in bottom side  32  of ramp member  22  proximate respective ones of cavities  58 ,  60  at ramp member first end  40 . Grooves  62 ,  64  act as a guides for aligning a cutting tool for cutting off a portion of ramp member first end  40  along either of grooves  62 ,  64 , for purposes to be described in detail later. Each of grooves  62 ,  64  is spaced apart from a respective cavity  58 ,  60  approximately one half of the predetermined distance B ( FIG. 4 ) separating projections  52   a ,  52   b  on first tab portion  50 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 8 , a series of cavities  78 ,  80 ,  82 ,  84  are formed in bottom surface  32  proximate ramp member second end  42 . Cavities  80 ,  82 ,  84  are configured to receive therein either one of projections  52   a  or  52   b  extending from first tab portion  50  of tab  48 . Cavity  78  is configured to receive therein projection  56  extending from tab  48 . As cavities  80 ,  82 ,  84  shown in  FIG. 8  are adapted to receive either one of projections  52   a  or  52   b , these cavities are correspondingly generally longitudinal. However, cavities  78 ,  80 ,  82 ,  84  may be formed in any shape suitable for receiving projections extending from tab  48 . 
   As seen in  FIG. 8 , grooves  86 ,  88  may be formed in bottom side  32  of ramp member  22  proximate respective ones of cavities  82 ,  84  at ramp member second end  42 . Grooves  86 ,  88  act as a guides for aligning a cutting tool for cutting off a portion of ramp member second end  42  along either of grooves  86 ,  88 , for purposes to be described in detail later. Each of grooves  86 ,  88  is spaced apart from a respective cavity  82 ,  84  approximately one half of the predetermined distance B separating projections  52   a ,  52   b  on first tab portion  50 . 
   Methods of connecting multiple ramp members together to form a border extending around one or more outer edges of a mat will now be discussed. 
   A pair of ramp members  20 ,  22  as described above may be connected to form an extended straight section ( FIGS. 9 ,  9 A). Alternatively, as seen in  FIGS. 1 ,  10 ,  10 A and  11 , a second ramp member  22  may be connected to a first ramp member  20  such that longitudinal axis A of second ramp member  22  forms an angle with respect to longitudinal axis C of first ramp member  22 , thereby forming a corner. This enables a border to be formed around mats having any one of a variety of shapes. 
   Generally, in order to ensure that ramp member edges positioned so as to abut each other have substantially the same length, ramp member edges which are to abut each other will be formed such that the angles that the abutting edges make with respective longitudinal axes of the ramp members are approximately the same. Alternatively, it may be desired, for purposes of forming an intersection defining a predetermined angle between two ramp members, to form adjacent ramp member abutting edges oriented at different angles with respect to their respective longitudinal axes. 
   Generally, for attachment to a first ramp member  20 , a second ramp member  22  will be positioned such that a longitudinal axis A of second ramp member  22  forms a predetermined angle with a longitudinal axis C of first ramp member  20 . One example is shown in FIG.  3 . 
   A method for attaching two ramp members  20 ,  22  together to form an extended straight section will now be discussed. In this embodiment, the predetermined angle between the longitudinal axes of ramp members  20  and  22  is approximately 180 degrees. It is contemplated that the following description of cuts of the ramp members and corresponding portions can be done in a number of ways and order of cuts to obtain the desired result. The following is merely one way of accomplishing the desired result. Referring to  FIGS. 3 ,  9 ,  9 A, to form an extended straight section, tab  48  is cut from first end  66  of first ramp member  20 . First tab portion  50  is separated from second tab portion  54  to form a connector. A portion of first ramp member first end  66  is cut off along groove  62  (see  FIG. 7 ) to form a mating edge  68 . Also, a portion of second ramp member second end  42  is cut off along groove  86  (see  FIG. 8 ) to form a mating edge  70 . First ramp member first end mating edge  68  and second ramp member second end mating edge  70  are then positioned adjacent each other. In the embodiment shown, mating edges  68  and  70  are positioned so as to actually abut each other (FIG.  9 A). When mating edge  68  and mating edge  70  abut each other, cavity  58  formed in the bottom surface of first ramp member  20  (see  FIG. 7 ) and cavity  82  formed in the bottom surface of second ramp member  22  (see  FIG. 8 ) will reside adjacent each other. One of projections  52   a ,  52   b  of first tab portion/connector  50  is then inserted into cavity  58 , and the remaining one of projections  52   a ,  52   b  is inserted into cavity  82 , thereby coupling first member  20  and second member  22  together via first tab portion/connector  50 . 
   A method for attaching two ramp members  20 ,  22  together to form an outside corner bordering the mat will now be discussed and shown in FIG.  11 . In this embodiment, tab  48  remains connected to first ramp member  20  and the predetermined angle between the longitudinal axes C and A of ramp members  20  and  22  respectively is approximately 90 degrees. Referring to  FIGS. 3 ,  7 ,  8  and  11 , to form an outside corner bordering the mat, projections  52   a ,  52   b  and  56  of tab  48  are inserted into cavities  82 ,  80  and  78 , respectively, to join first ramp member  20  first end  66  and second ramp member  22  second end  42  together. 
   A method for attaching two ramp members  20 ,  22  together to form an inside corner will now be discussed and shown in  FIGS. 10 and 10A . In this embodiment, the predetermined angle between the longitudinal axes of ramp members  20  and  22  is also approximately 90 degrees. 
   Again it is contemplated that the following description of cuts of the ramp members and corresponding portions can be done in a number of ways and order of cuts to obtain the desired result. The following is merely one way of accomplishing the desired result. Referring to  FIGS. 3 ,  7 ,  8 ,  10  and  10 A, to form an inside corner, tab  48  is cut from first ramp member first end  66 . First tab portion  50  is then separated from second tab portion  54  to form a connector. A portion of first ramp member first end  66  is then cut off along groove  64  ( FIG. 7 ) to form a mating edge  72 . Also, a portion of second ramp member  22  second end  42  is cut off along groove  88  to form a mating edge  74 . First member mating edge  72  and second member mating edge  74  are then positioned adjacent each other. In the embodiment shown, mating edges  72  and  74  are positioned so as to actually abut each other (FIG.  10 A). When mating edge  72  and mating edge  74  abut each other, cavity  60  formed in the bottom surface of first ramp member  20  and cavity  84  formed in the bottom surface of second ramp member  22  will reside adjacent each other. One of projections  52   a ,  52   b  of first tab portion/connector  50  is then inserted into cavity  60 , and the remaining one of projections  52   a ,  52   b  is inserted into cavity  84 , thereby coupling first member  20  and second member  22  together via first tab portion/connector  50 . 
   Thus, it may be seen from the methods described above that by appropriate trimming of a single, standardized ramp member piece, a variety of ramp configurations may be achieved. If it is desired to position first member first end  66  adjacent, but separated from, second member second end  42  when forming any of the ramp member configurations described above, the predetermined distance separating projections  52   a  and  52   b  of first tab portion  50  may be adjusted prior to fabrication of the ramp member to increase the predetermined separation distance between projections  52   a  and  52   b  in correspondence with the desired separation distance of the ramp member ends. First tab portion  50  is then used to connect second member  22  with first member  20  as previously described. 
   It should be understood that the preceding is merely a detailed description of one embodiment of this invention and that numerous changes to the disclosed embodiment can be made in accordance with the disclosure herein without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. The preceding description, therefore, is not meant to limit the scope of the invention. Rather, the scope of the invention is to be determined only by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Technology Classification (CPC): 4