Bridges – Gangway – ramp – or dock leveler
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-02
2001-11-13
Will, Thomas B. (Department: 3673)
Bridges
Gangway, ramp, or dock leveler
C254S088000, C238S014000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06314602
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to vehicle ramps used for raising a vehicle and thereby allowing access to the underside of said vehicle.
BACKGROUND
Portable vehicle ramps allowing access to undercarriages are already known in prior art and are largely used when repairs are required underneath a vehicle. These ramps allow a user to raise either the front end or the back end of the vehicle. The ramps known in prior art are likely made of steel and comprise an elongated sloped portion connected to a tire platform portion. U.S. Pat. No. 5,781,954 issued to Mayer (hereinafter “Mayer '954”) depicts a modification of a portable prior art car ramp.
One problem with encountered with prior art car ramps is the difficulty or danger encountered during the positioning of the vehicle on top of said prior art ramp. Generally, said prior art ramps are constructed of steel while the garage floor is smooth cement to facilitate the easy cleaning of spilled fluids. As a result, the union of the steel ramp and the cement floor will usually present insufficient friction to stop the ramp from skidding across the garage floor when one attempts to maneuver said vehicle onto said ramp. Accordingly, it would be desirable to have a non skidding vehicle ramp suitable for raising a wide variety of vehicles that is portable, easy to handle, safe for the user and low in cost.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates more particularly to portable non skidding vehicle ramps used for raising a vehicle and thereby allowing access to the underside of said vehicle.
As can be appreciated, the portable non-skidding vehicle ramp according to the present invention provides a ramp suitable for lifting a wide variety of vehicles in manner that is safer than that afforded by traditional portable car ramps, but without the expense or inconvenience of permanently anchored vehicle ramps.
The novel features that are considered characteristic of the invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its structure and its operation together with the additional object and advantages thereof will best be understood from the following description of the preferred embodiment of the present invention when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Unless specifically noted, it is intended that the words and phrases in the specification and claims be given the ordinary and accustomed meaning to those of ordinary skill in the applicable art or arts. If any other meaning is intended, the specification will specifically state that a special meaning is being applied to a word or phrase. Likewise, the use of the words “function” or “means” in the Description of Preferred Embodiments is not intended to indicate a desire to invoke the special provision of 35 U.S.C. §112, paragraph 6 to define the invention. To the contrary, if the provisions of 35 U.S.C. §112, paragraph 6, are sought to be invoked to define the invention(s), the claims will specifically state the phrases “means for” or “step for” and a function, without also reciting in such phrases any structure, material, or act in support of the function. Even when the claims recite a “means for” or “step for” performing a function, if they also recite any structure, material or acts in support of that means of step, then the intention is not to invoke the provisions of 35 U.S.C. §112, paragraph 6. Moreover, even if the provisions of 35 U.S.C. §112, paragraph 6, are invoked to define the inventions, it is intended that the inventions not be limited only to the specific structure, material or acts that are described in the preferred embodiments, but in addition, include any and all structures, materials or acts that perform the claimed function, along with any and all known or later-developed equivalent structures, materials or acts for performing the claimed function.
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patent: 5503368 (1996-04-01), Torres
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patent: 5947448 (1999-09-01), Lewis et al.
patent: 6045122 (2000-04-01), Torres
Ellis Venable & Busam L.L.P.
Hartmann Gary S.
Will Thomas B.
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