Patent ID: 7526826

Claim:
A folding ramp, comprising: (a) at least first and second ramp sections; (b) a first hinge assembly coupling the first and second ramp sections, the first hinge assembly allowing the first and second ramp sections to be rotatably positionable between ramp folded and ramp extended orientations, the first hinge assembly including adjacent first and second collars, wherein a first portion of a tongue and groove coupling device of the first collar is coupled to a second portion of the tongue and groove coupling device of the first ramp section and a first portion of a tongue and groove coupling device of the second collar is coupled to a second portion of a tongue and groove coupling device of the second ramp section, and a hinge pin, wherein the first and second collars are designed and configured to rotate in opposite directions around the hinge pin, the first collar including a ramp attachment portion having a first ramp section attachment surface, a first transition surface, and a second ramp section contact surface and the second collar including a ramp attachment portion having a second ramp section attachment surface, a second transition surface, and a first ramp section contact surface, wherein the first and second collar ramp attachment portions are aligned in the ramp extended orientation such that the first ramp section attachment surface and the second ramp section contact surface are substantially co-planar, the second ramp section attachment surface and the first ramp section contact surface are substantially co-planar, and the first and second transition surfaces are substantially co-planar, whereby a complete transition section is formed between adjacent first and second ramp sections.