Patent ID: 7819619

Claim:
A retractable ramp system for use with a cargo-carrying container and for placement on or over a truck chassis of given length having operable hydraulic, electrical, and mechanical system components, said ramp system comprising: lateral rail members being substantially the same length as the truck chassis and container, said rail members being free from any connection or attachment to the container and being vertically moveable as part of the ramp system and independent of the container between a resting position on the truck chassis and an elevated position over the truck chassis; an elongated ramp having two ends and carriage means connected to one of the ends of the ramp for slideably transporting the ramp between the rail members and, when the rail members are in the resting position, for hanging the ramp in position over the truck chassis and for slideably transporting the ramp above the hydraulic, electrical, and mechanical system components of the truck chassis; and guide means located parallel to and between the rail members for slideably suspending the carriage means from the guide means, the guide means being free from any connection or attachment to the container but being fixedly mounted as part of the ramp system, whereby by the slideable movement of the carriage means within the guide means, the ramp is slideably transportable between a horizontal storage mode wherein the ramp is not supported by the container, is located between the rail members, and is supported solely by and within the ramp system, and, when the rail members are in the resting position above the truck chassis system components, to an angled use mode wherein the ramp extends from the container positioned on or above the truck chassis.