Bridges – Gangway – ramp – or dock leveler
Patent
1996-10-17
1998-08-18
Lisehora, James
Bridges
Gangway, ramp, or dock leveler
414537, D34 32, 280 8, 280 32, B60P 124, B62B 110
Patent
active
057942919
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention is a ramp for loading objects like vehicles, and especially snowmobiles, on and off trailers and transport-vehicles carrier. All currently known methods for this have major drawbacks. Pulling the snowmobile down from the trailer directly to the ground does not work because the steering runners will get stuck, especially as snowmobile runners slide very poorly on all trailer surfaces. Thus this method only works with a high degree of exertion--totalling the strength of three men as a snowmobile weighs from 190-320 kilos.
Another not very successful method is the use of short skid ramps permanently mounted on rear of the trailer. This method requires two men to push or drag and lift the load. This is not a good technical solution as the mounted ramps are made as short as possible due to wind resistance requirements, weight restrictions and requirements for mounting fixtures. Therefore the angle is extremely steep and the driver must use quite a run up and speed when driving the vehicle up onto the trailer. This has proven to cause material damage and injury and the major problem of the steering runners getting stuck still remains unresolved by this method.
Because there are so many inherent problems with the above-mentioned methods many people prefer to back the trailer up to a snow drift and then pull the vehicle off. This means that a snow bank has to be found with an adequate height, and often when people stop to unload there is a sure recipe for traffic problems. Some people even build platforms in the mountains which are left standing in and out of season marring the natural beauty of the countryside. Using platforms also fails to solve the problem with the steering runners.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a ramp for loading and unloading objects, such as vehicles, and especially snowmobiles on a load bed such as a transport vehicle or trailer.
In one embodiment, the present invention provides a ramp for loading and unloading a snowmobile from an elevated load bed, the snowmobile having a drive belt and a pair of skis, the ramp comprising a pair of elongate tracks, having front and rear ends, extending along the length of the ramp on opposite sides thereof and adapted to receive the snowmobile skis; a central portion, adapted to receive the snowmobile drive belt, extending between and joining the elongate tracks; each of the tracks including a wheel located at the center of mass of the ramp when supporting the snowmobile, the wheels being coaxial with each other, the wheels permitting the ramp to be rolled along the load bed from a first, snowmobile carrying position, wherein the front and rear ends of the ramp are supported on the bed, and a second, snowmobile loading or unloading position.
The invention also provides for a ramp for loading and unloading a snowmobile from an elevated load bed, the snowmobile having a drive belt and a pair of skis, the ramp comprising a pair of elongate tracks, having front and rear ends, extending along the length of the ramp on opposite sides thereof and adapted to receive the snowmobile skis; a central portion, adapted to receive the snowmobile drive belt, extending between and joining the elongate tracks; a means for moving the ramp on the load bed; the tracks being angled upwards at their front ends.
In a general embodiment, the invention provides a ramp for loading and unloading a vehicle or object from an elevated load bed, said rump comprising a pair of elongate tracks, having front and rear ends, extending along the length of the ramp on opposite sides thereof; a central portion extending between and joining the elongate tracks; each of the tracks including a wheel located at the center of mass of the ramp when supporting the vehicle, the wheels being coaxial with each other; the wheels permitting said ramp to be rolled along the load bed from a first vehicle carrying position, wherein the front and rear ends of the ramp are supported on the bed, and a second, vehicle loading or unloading pos
REFERENCES:
patent: 3704794 (1972-12-01), Flamm
patent: 3757972 (1973-09-01), Martin
patent: 3837663 (1974-09-01), Ness
patent: 4107932 (1978-08-01), Cantrell
patent: 4329752 (1982-05-01), Forrest
patent: 4845792 (1989-07-01), Bakula et al.
patent: 4979867 (1990-12-01), Best
patent: 5325558 (1994-07-01), Labreche
patent: 5517708 (1996-05-01), Baranowski
Nylund Erling
Olaussen Johan
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