Land vehicles: bodies and tops – Bodies – End gates
Reexamination Certificate
2002-06-06
2004-04-20
Morrow, Jason (Department: 3612)
Land vehicles: bodies and tops
Bodies
End gates
C414S557000, C014S071100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06722721
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to pickup truck tail gates and ramps and in particular to a foldable ramp for a pickup truck which folds up into a pickup truck tailgate having the same dimensions and pivoting and latching means as a standard tailgate and folds out into a smooth ramp from the back of the truck to the ground for loading and unloading objects onto and off of the bed of the pickup truck.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Commonly pickup trucks and other trucks of various dimensions and configurations are used to transport equipment and people. While these vehicles are designed to transport equipment, it is often difficult to load and unload equipment onto and from these vehicles. In particular, it is very difficult to load vehicles such as motorcycles, all terrain vehicles, mowers, jet skis and the like into the bed of common pickup trucks.
Heretofore, various vehicles were loaded into pickup trucks by lifting, which often requires more than one person and requires unnecessary use of energy and risk of injury. Additionally, it has been common in the past to use wood planks to form a ramp from the ground to the back of the truck. Obviously, the use of wood planks carries the risk of the plank(s) slipping or breaking under the load, thus increasing the probability of injury and damage to the equipment. Placing ramps on existing standard tailgates may damage the tailgates.
The prior art also includes various foldable, and extendable ramp assemblies which are connectable to the tailgate of a truck. Some of these prior art devices require that the ramp be connected to the truck for loading and unloading then stored elsewhere when not in use. Then the ramp is subject to loss or theft and the ramp is not always on the pickup truck when it is needed for loading and unloading.
Prior art attempts to solve the ramp problem by using a foldable ramp which either attaches to or substitutes for a tailgate often are thicker or taller than the standard tailgate and take up extra space in the truck or block the loading and unloading of objects over the top of the tailgate. Many prior art ramps do not provide a smooth sturdy and safe ramp forming a strong even support surface over the entire ramp.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,988,725, issued Nov. 23, 1999 to Cole, shows a foldable ramp having a first, second and third rectangular sections contiguous with each other and defining a ramp path having longitudinal and transversal axes. A first hinge group is affixed to both the first and second sections and a second hinge group is affixed to both the second and third sections. The first hinge group has a first axis of rotation on the upper side of the ramp path and extending across the longitudinal axis, and a first rotational range of slightly more than 180 degree. The second hinge group has a second axis of rotation on the under side of the ramp path and extending in a parallel alignment with the first axis of rotation, and a second rotational range of slightly less than 180 degrees. The first and second hinge groups each have a central hinge and outside hinges, and stoppers on the central hinges to limit the rotation of the central hinges a few degrees less than the rotational range of the outside hinges. This configuration causes the ramp to arc longitudinally and transversely upwardly when deployed for increasing the moments of inertia of the ramp.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,342,105, issued Aug. 30, 1994 to Miles, discloses a convertible endgate for a pickup truck which endgate has an elevated endgate forming position and a lowered ramp forming position. The endgate includes front and rear sections pivotally connected together and to the box of the pickup truck. The rear section is more steeply inclined, and the front section is shallower, when the sections are placed in their lowered ramp forming position. Vertically adjustable latches are carried on one of the sections for latching the sections in place in their elevated endgate forming position. The latches are vertically adjustable on slide members and the slide members are vertically adjustable on the frame members of the section. The terminal end of the rear section, i.e. the end which engages a horizontal planar surface when the endgate is disposed in its lowered ramp forming position, includes an L-shaped support member having a horizontal support surface for resting flat against the ground and having a free edge for digging into a bed of a flatbed trailer.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,597,195, issued Jan. 28, 1997 to Meek, illustrates a tailgate comprising a plurality of foldable members configured to nest one with the others in an upright closed position and to extend longitudinally from the rear of the truck when in an extended position. A notched section is positioned at a top side of the plurality of foldable members when in an upright position for accommodating a goose neck trailer.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,907,276, issued May 25, 1999 to Lance, concerns a vehicle ramp system of the type connected to a vehicle and moveable from an extended ramp position to a retracted tailgate position. The vehicle ramp system includes a ramp movably connected to said vehicle, wherein said ramp may be moved from a ramp position, extending between the ground and said vehicle, and a tailgate position in which said ramp is retracted and connected to said vehicle; and an alarm system positioned and connected to said truck in a manner such that when said ramp is retracted and in the tailgate position said alarm is disengaged, and when said ramp is extended said alarm system is activated alerting an operator that said ramp is in the extended position. The ramp may be constructed as a single piece or preferable in sections. The ramp is to be constructed of a material such as carbon steel or stainless steel with dimensions capable of supporting equipment which may be loaded onto the vehicle on which the ramp is connected.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,944,546, issued Jul. 31, 1990 to Keller, puts forth a three-section folding ramp that can also serve as an endgate for a truck bed. The ramp has mechanically folding and unfolding legs, so that the user doesn't have to pull the legs open one by one. A special latch allows all three sections to be held together while the folded ramp is being used as an endgate. A special channel allows the folded up ramp to rest when in the open endgate position without damaging the vehicle body.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,133,584, issued Jul. 28, 1992 to McCleary, indicates a folding ramp which replaces the tailgate of a pickup truck. The ramp has two congruent rectangular panels joined by knockdown hinges. The inner panel is pivotally attached to the truck just as the tailgate was. The two panels relatively rotate between an extended planar disposition for use as a ramp and a folded or sandwiched position for use as a replacement gate. The inner panel includes hardware for pivotal attachment to the bed, for latching to the ends of the sidewalls of the truck bed, and for clamping the two panels together when in the gate position. The hinges have removable pins, so that the two panels can be separated; the inner panel can then be used alone as a gate. For trucks with step bumpers, the inner panel may include an extension, comprising a cross bar pivotally attached to the truck, and two parallel telescoping arms slidingly inserted into the side members of the inner panel. The arms bridge the width of the step bumper and remain horizontal; the two panels slope down to the ground from the ends of the arms.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,425,564, issued Jun. 20, 1995 to Thayer, is for a combined tailgate and ramp for a pickup truck. The tailgate can be removed from the truck and used as a loading ramp. As a ramp, one end of the tailgate is placed on the bumper or bed of the truck. The tailgate is laterally adjustable to form a ramp which accommodates the loading of vehicles having different track sizes or different wheel bases.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,791,717, issued Aug. 11, 1998 to Reich et al., claims a folding ramp for attachment to a pickup truck tai
Doherty Patrick T.
Sherrer Earl W.
Meeker Donald W.
Morrow Jason
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