Patent ID: 7381019

Claim:
An accessory for transporting a motorcycle on a transporting vehicle having a bed and a tailgate mounting mechanism for pivotally mounting a tailgate about a transversely oriented horizontal axis, the accessory comprising: (a) a ramp having a front end and a rear end, the ramp including: (1) a main portion having a main front end and a main rear end, and (2) an extension portion having a extension front end and an extension rear end, wherein the extension portion is releasably securable to the main portion with the extension portion being oriented in an end-to-end relationship with the main portion; (b) a mounting mechanism structured and configured to pivotally mount the ramp to the tailgate mounting mechanism for rotation about the transversely oriented horizontal axis; (c) a sled mechanism slidably mounted to the ramp; (d) a drive mechanism structured to displace the sled mechanism along the ramp, the drive mechanism including a motor mechanism mounted on the sled mechanism; (e) a clamping mechanism structured and configured to releasably and securely clamp the vehicle to be transported to the sled mechanism; and (f) a power source configured to provide electrical energy to the motor mechanism; and (g) wherein the accessory has: (1) a loading configuration wherein the rear end of the ramp is spaced in close proximity to an underlying supporting surface and the front end is elevated above the bed of the transporting vehicle to thereby form an inclined plane between the front end of the ramp and the rear end of the ramp, and (2) a transporting configuration wherein the ramp is oriented substantially parallel to the bed of the transporting vehicle.