Abstract:
There is provided herein a stackable vehicle ramp comprising: an exterior structure comprising a top formed with an inclined surface, a substantially horizontal resting surface, side surfaces and a rear surface; the resting portion further comprising an upwardly extending rigid member, adjacent to the rear portion and extending transversely across a portion of the width of the resting portion; a support plane comprised of a lowermost portion of the side and rear surfaces and adapted to lie against a medium surface; wherein, the stackable vehicle ramp further comprises at least one hollow and tapered support member extending downwardly from at least the resting portion and the inclined top surface to the support plane, and the side surfaces and the rear surface are substantially beveled such that the ramp is nestably stackable within a second vehicle ramp of a same construction.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application No. 60/902,507, filed Feb. 22, 2007, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to portable vehicle ramps that are driven upon to elevate a vehicle and allow access to the underside thereof. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Many vehicle owners perform checkups, routine maintenance and repairs on their vehicles. In order to gain easy access to the underside of the vehicles, they will elevate either the front or- rear portion on which they are working to provide such access. Various portable ramps have been used by amateur auto mechanics and vehicle owners for this purpose. These ramps are usually formed of metal and have various configurations to enable the vehicle wheel to be driven up to the inclined portion of the ramp, after which it settles into a wheel retaining area of the ramp. Such wheel retaining areas can be concave or substantially horizontal. Prior examples of such metal ramps are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,050403, 5,324,004 and AU2004100715. 
         [0004]    Several types of non-metal car ramps are also known in the art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,483,715 describes a vehicle service ramp comprising a unitary ramp having an external structure including a rear wall, a pair of side walls and a front. The front includes a surface sloping upward to a top flat plane. The ramp has an internal structure forming a honeycomb pattern of supporting walls extending between the rear wall, side walls and front. The ramp is formed from a foamed polymer. U.S. Re. 34,889 describes a portable vehicle service ramp capable of being used by aerodynamic vehicles and heavy trucks. The ramp is solid on all sides, with integrated handles on the sides and rear. The base and rear of the structure are covered with a corrosive-and-wear resistant material. The incline and top plane area of the ramp are covered with non-skid material, and a wheel stop is provided. The internal construction is a system of cross members running longitudinally and transversely to provide weight bearing capability. 
         [0005]    Although many of these prior art ramps may be satisfactory for the intended purpose, it is always desirable to be able to manufacture a lightweight, high strength, portable vehicle ramp with reduced cost in order for it to be more easily handled by the user but without sacrificing any safety to the user thereof 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    It is thus the object of the present invention to provide a lightweight yet sturdy, durable, easily stored and transported vehicle ramp, free of moving parts which require extra manipulation by the user thereof and are subject to breakage and maintenance as an integral one piece member. Therefore, the improved vehicle ramp, according to the present invention, enables the user to drive one of the vehicle wheels along the ramp to a safe resting position. 
         [0007]    According to the present invention, there is provided a nestable stackable vehicle ramp, made of molded plastic material and rigidified by one or more integrated reinforcing arrangements, and whereby, at the nestable stackable position, the stack of ramps occupies only a minimal space and remains a steady stack. 
         [0008]    The present invention thus provides a vehicle ramp comprising an exterior structure comprising a top surface formed with an inclined surface and a substantially horizontal resting surface, side surfaces extending from said top and a rear surface extending from the top and intermediate rear ends of the side walls; the resting portion further comprising an upwardly extending rigid member adjacent to the rear portion and extending transversely across a portion of the width of the resting portion; and at least one hollow support member extending downwardly from the top surface, said at least one support member and the side surfaces and the rear surface are substantially beveled and taper downwards such that the ramp is nestably stackable within a vehicle ramp of a same construction. 
         [0009]    The vehicle, according to the present invention, may be further designed in accordance with any one or more of the following features:
       the structure is a made of a high strength plastic molded compound;   an anti-skid member is articulated at a proximal end of the inclined portion;   a bottom most edge of the side walls and the rear wall define a ground-engaging surface on which the ramp rests over the ground;   a rail extends along opposite side edges of the resting portion and/or the inclined portion; said rail being continuous or interrupted;   the inclined portion comprises an aperture adjacent the proximal end;   the rear wall comprises an opening useful as a handle;   a bottom surface of at least the inclined surface and the resting surface comprises an array of reinforcing ribs;   said reinforcing ribs, adjacent the sides are formed with an indentation corresponding with the rail on the top surface, for at least partially accommodating the side rail of-a nested rack to thereby minimize the height off stack of ramps;   the side walls are formed with reinforcing elements for load bearing and improved surface contact;   the at least one support member extending from the top surface extends to the ground engaging surface and is substantially vertical with respect thereto; said at least one support member may be apertured at its bottom for drainage of liquids therefrom; optionally, a bottom of the at least one support member is formed with or comprises an anti-skid member;   at least a portion of the top surface is integrally formed with or applied with an anti-skid surface.       
 
         [0021]    While the present invention will be fully described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which particular embodiments are shown, it is to be understood at the outset that persons skilled in the art may modify the embodiments disclosed herein while still achieving the desired results. Accordingly, the description that follows is to be understood as a broad informative disclosure directed to persons skilled in the appropriate art and not as limitations of the present disclosure. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0022]    In order to understand the invention and to see how it may be carried out in practice, several embodiments will now be described, by way of non-limiting examples only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0023]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of the ramp in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0024]      FIG. 2  is a rear perspective view of the ramp illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; with a modification of the top surface thereof; 
           [0025]      FIG. 3  is a bottom perspective view of a ramp according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0026]      FIG. 4 . is a top view of the ramp of fig,  1 ; 
           [0027]      FIG. 5  is a rear perspective view of the ramp, sectioned along line V-V in  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0028]      FIG. 6  is a front view of nestably stacked ramps in accordance, with the embodiment-illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0029]      FIG. 7 . is a side view of the ramp-stack of  FIG. 6 ; 
           [0030]      FIG. 8  is a longitudinal section of the ramp-stack of  FIG. 6 ; 
           [0031]      FIG. 9  is a side view illustrating a multiple-story stack of ramps according to the present invention; and 
           [0032]      FIGS. 10 to 13  illustrate variations of ramps according to the present invention; wherein  FIGS. 10A ,  11 A,  12 A, and  13 A are top isometric views thereof and  FIGS. 10B ,  11 B,  12 B, and  13 B are bottom isometric views thereof, respectively. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
       [0033]    In the Figures, like reference numerals indicate the same elements throughout. 
         [0034]    A ramp, according to one embodiment of the present invention, is illustrated in the accompanying drawings and is generally designated  100 . 
         [0035]    Ramp  100  can be made of a variety of materials. Ideally, ramp  100  is injection molded from a durable plastic material so as to have a unitary structure. These plastics can be used with a variety of resins and additives to meet particular needs or desires for ramp  100  and the environment in which ramp  100  will be used. For example, the material can be reinforced by introduction of nylon fibers; the surface of the ramp can be, for example, given a roughened, coarse or grained texture. Ramp  100  may also be molded or coated with agents such as UV retardants, protective coating (for example, against corrosive liquids, and so forth). 
         [0036]    Ramp  100  according to the present invention is a solid, unitary ramp. Unitary ramp  100  has a proximal portion  110  and a distal portion  112 . 
         [0037]    Unitary ramp  100  is composed of several walls constituting together an external surface generally designated E. External surface E is composed of a top T which in turn is composed of an inclined portion  102  and a substantially horizontal parking portion  104 . Inclined surface  102  serves as an ascending/descending surface and has a proximal end  102   a  and a distal end  102   b.  Proximal end  102   a  blends with proximal portion  110  of ramp  100  and parking portion  104  has a proximal end  104   a  end integrated with distal end  102   b  of inclined surface  102  and a distal end  104   b  integrated with distal portion  112  of the ramp  100  whereby inclined portion  102  and parking portion  104  continuously and uniformly extend. 
         [0038]    External surface E further comprises continuous side surfaces  106  extending from proximal end  110  to distal end  112 , and a rear surface  108  [best seen in  FIGS. 2 and 3 ) connecting two side surfaces  106  and extending downwardly from distal end  112  to a ground surface. 
         [0039]    Side walls  106  may have a continuous bottom perimeter for bearing on the ground surface, though according to some embodiments, said side walls may be formed with cutouts  139  ( FIG. 7 ). 
         [0040]    Distal end  112  of ramp  100  further comprises a stopping member  120  upwardly extending from the parking portion  104  and transversely extending across the width of parking portion  104 . 
         [0041]    The lower most portions of side surfaces  106 , tear wall  108  and proximal end  110  of ramp  100  define a support plane generally designated  130  which lays against the ground when in use. 
         [0042]    The underside of proximal portion  110  of ramp  100  is provided in the illustrated embodiment with an anti skid member  124  ( FIG. 3 ) in the form of a rubber friction pad articulated to the proximal end of ramp  100 . 
         [0043]    Anti skid member  124  can be formed of a compressible durable material, such as rubber, and be sized to optionally project outwardly along a minor portion of proximal end  102   a  of inclined portion  102 . 
         [0044]    In use, anti skid member  124  is pressed firmly against the ground surface under the weight of a vehicle wheel advancing and ascending along inclined portion  102  of ramp  100 , adding drag effect between ramp  100  and the ground (not shown), thereby reducing the kickback tendency, such that ramp  100  is less prone to move when driven upon, or descended from. 
         [0045]    According to a particular embodiment of the invention, adjacent the proximal end  110  of the ramp  100  there is an aperture  126  (seen in  FIGS. 1 ,  3 ). Aperture  126  is adapted for receiving fasteners, for example, a bolt, therethrough for confining ramp  100 , for example to the ground surface. Aperture  126  can also be utilized for hanging ramp  100  or for connecting several ramps  100  of the same construction, for instance, when nestably stacked (as illustrated in  FIGS. 6-9 ) by passing a wire or a rope through the corresponding apertures  126  and tying them together. 
         [0046]    Rear wall  108  of ramp  100  has a carrying portion in a form of a centered and cut-out area ( FIGS. 2 and 3 ) designated  208 . Cut-out area  208  has rounded edges and can be used as a handle to ease positioning and handling of ramp  100 . 
         [0047]    A side rail  134  extends along opposite sides of parking portion  104  and inclined portion  102 . Rail  134  in this embodiment is continuous, however, according to the present invention, rail  134  can be segmented. Such side rail  134  is useful for guiding the wheel along ramp  100  and preventing running off of the wheel. 
         [0048]    Side surfaces  106  are slightly inclined with respect to a vertical so that they taper towards each other over a height of ramp  100 . This enables two or more ramps of similar design to be nested together to form a stack generally designated  600  as illustrated in  FIGS. 6-9 . 
         [0049]    The structure of ramp  100  is subjected to forces by the weight of the vehicle as it drives up over inclined portion  102  and further onto the substantial horizontal parking portion  104 . Thus, although durable and high strength plastic materials are used, in order to increase load bearing capacity, several support means are introduced. 
         [0050]    According to one embodiment, as illustrated, for example, in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , side surfaces  106  and rear wall  108  comprise a plurality of inwardly extending depressions  136   a,    136   b,    136   c,    136   e  and  136   d,  varying in size depending on their location along the side wall or rear wall, respectively, which provide for a better surface contact with the ground (not shown) and, in particular, impart ramp  100  rigidity. It is appreciated that the configuration of depressions  136  is such that at the nested position ( FIGS. 6-9 ) said depressions are nested within each other. For this purpose, it is required that depressions  136  be equally tapering. In the bottom view of  FIG. 3  it is seen that depressions  136  are formed at their bottom end with a reinforced double walled portion (a hollow core structure)  138 . However, such depressions are not shown in the embodiments of  FIGS. 7-10 . 
         [0051]    Ramp  100 , according to the present invention, further comprises at least one hollow support member extending downwardly from the top T surface towards support plane  130 . According to one specific embodiment of the present invention as illustrated in  FIGS. 1-3 , ramp  100  comprises a total of five support members, namely two integrated support members  144  extending downwardly from the horizontal portion  104  to the support plane, two members  142  extending downwardly from the inclined surface  102 , and a central support member  146  extending downwardly towards support plane  130  from the interconnecting zone between horizontal portion  104  and inclined portion  102 , Support members  142 ,  144 ,  146  are hollow, and tapered such that they are nestable at the nesting position ( FIGS. 6-9 ). This can best be seen, in  FIG. 5  of the drawings. 
         [0052]    According to the illustrated embodiment in  FIGS. 1-5  and  7 - 10  support members  142 ,  144 ,  146  each have a closed bottom end. However, the support members according to the present invention can have an open bottom end. The support members as illustrated in  FIGS. 1-3  further comprise draining openings  147  in the close end adapted to prevent water/moisture from accumulating therein. 
         [0053]    In an embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 3 , it can be seen that base  149  of the support members is slightly above a bottom rim  151  of each of the respective support members in order to allow ventilation and drainage. However, according to another embodiment, the rim can be an added rubber sole member to prevent displacement of the support member when a vehicle drives up thereon. According to yet another embodiment, an anti skid member  153  can be further added to the bottom of one or more of the support members, that is, central support member  146  as in  FIG. 5 . 
         [0054]    Also noted in the drawings, substantially horizontal parking portion  104  is slightly concave (best seen in  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  5 ) so as to better arrest the vehicle&#39;s wheel (not shown) once positioned thereon. Even more so, according to some particular embodiments, between parking portion  104  and inclined portion  102 , there is a ridge  103  ( FIGS. 2 and 5 ) to increase the vehicle&#39;s arresting over parking portion  104 . 
         [0055]    The support members of the present invention can be of any shape, size, combination and pattern. According to a specific embodiment of the present invention, the hollow tapered support member extends downwardly from horizontal portion  104  and the inclined portion  102  and are each formed with conical side walls and a top circular/elliptical upper opening on the exterior/top surface of ramp  100 . Such hollow and tapered structure of the support members enables two or more ramps of the same structure to be nested to form a stack as illustrated in the drawings. 
         [0056]    As can further be noted in  FIG. 3 , the bottom face of the ramp is formed with an array of warp and weft reinforcing ribs  153  and  155 , respectively. These ribs serve to rigidify ramp  100  and render it suitable for bearing the load of a vehicle. The density of the ribs, their thickness and their shape may vary, depending on the load the ramp is intended to bear. 
         [0057]    The height of support ribs  153  and  155  is such as to reduce the height of a-stack of ramps. It is further noted that transversally extending ribs  153  are each formed adjacent their respective side ends with a cutout  157 , where all said cutouts are aligned so as to correspond with side rail  134  of a ramp  100  nested below, thus reducing the overall height of a stack of ramps, as illustrated, for example, in  FIG. 8 . 
         [0058]    An advantage of the present invention is illustrated in  FIG. 9  depicting a stack  900  of fourteen nestingly stacked ramps  100   a  to  100   n  of similar construction, in accordance with the present invention. As can be seen, even with such a high number of ramps  100  no skewing/bending effect occurs to any of the ramps  100  or the stack  900  thereof, often caused by presence of gaps between stacked vehicle ramps. It is clearly noticed that stack  900  including top ramp  100   n  retain parallel relationship to bottom ramp  100   a,  whilst requiring substantially low storage space and being compact in size and weight. 
         [0059]    The embodiments of  FIGS. 10 to 14  are modifications of the ramp according to the present invention, each having a general shape as disclosed hereinabove, however differing in the shape of the downwardly extending support members. In  FIGS. 10A and 10B  ramp  210  is formed with cylindrical support elements  212 ; in the embodiment of  FIGS. 11A and 11B  ramp  218  is formed with triangular support elements  220 ; in the embodiment of  FIGS. 12A and 12B  ramp  222  is formed with rectangle support elements  224  extending at angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of the ramp; and in the embodiment of  FIGS. 13A and 13B  ramp  226  is formed with rectangle support elements  228  extending substantially parallel to one another, interlacing from opposite sides of ramp  226 . 
         [0060]    It is, however, noted that all said support members extend from the respective top surface T and extend to the plane defined by the perimeter of the respective ramp, such that when the ramp is positioned on a substantially flat surface, all said support members bear against the ground surface and serve as load bearing elements. Even more so, it is apparent that all said support members are of tapering design so as to facilitate nesting stacking, as discussed hereinabove with reference to the previous drawings, whilst maintaining a minimal height of the stack of ramps, Still, all the support members of the ramps, according to the present invention, have a longitudinal axis extending substantially vertical from the support, plane of the ramp. 
         [0061]    Those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains will readily appreciate that numerous changes, variations, and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention, mutatis mutandis.