Bridges – Gangway – ramp – or dock leveler
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-12
2001-03-13
Will, Thomas B. (Department: 3671)
Bridges
Gangway, ramp, or dock leveler
C254S088000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06199236
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a vehicle service ramp having an automated chocking device that prevents the vehicle wheel from shifting or rolling off the ramp.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
Mechanics often use service ramps to elevate the front or rear end of a vehicle. However, when the vehicle's wheel is resting on the ramp, the wheel can easily shift or roll off resulting in serious bodily injury to those nearby or beneath the vehicle. Accordingly, there is currently a need for a service ramp that includes a means for preventing the vehicle wheel from shifting or rolling. There is also a need for alerting those nearby should the wheel begin shifting or rolling affording them an opportunity to evacuate the area. The present invention satisfies such needs by providing a vehicle service ramp having an automated chocking means to prevent the tire from inadvertently rolling off the ramp. In addition, the ramp includes an alarm for alerting those nearby that the vehicle wheel is moving.
Various service ramps for vehicles exist in the prior art. Most notably is U.S. Pat. No. 5,269,036 issued to Yan et al. which relates to a vehicular ramp including a support surface having forward and rear abutment plates for abutting opposing sides of a vehicle tire. The front abutment plate, when contacted by a vehicle wheel, engages an actuator mechanism that automatically pivots the rear plate upwardly. The mechanism, however, includes a complicated and difficult to manufacture actuator mechanism for pivoting the plates as well as a cumbersome locking means for locking the plates in a vertical position. Furthermore, the device does not include any alarms for alerting those in the vicinity that the vehicle wheel is moving onto or off of the ramp.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a vehicle service ramp that overcomes the disadvantages associated with conventional service ramps as described above. The device comprises a hollow ramp member having opposing side walls, an inclined rear wall, and a horizontal top wall. A chock member is pivotably mounted within the interior of the ramp member and includes front and rear upturned ends. A slot extends along the front and top walls through which the upturned ends of the chock member protrude slightly when the chock member is in a substantially horizontal position so that the ends abut opposing portions of a vehicle tire. A shaft is rotably mounted within the ramp member interior and includes a bent portion that engages a fork on the chock member to pivot the chock member back and forth. When the chock member is in the horizontal position, it may be locked to prevent a vehicle tire from rolling off the ramp member. The ramp member further includes an internal alarm means that is activated whenever the chock member pivots to alert those in the vicinity that the vehicle is moving. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a vehicle service ramp having an automated chocking means thereon.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a vehicle service ramp having an integral alarm means for alerting persons nearby that the vehicle wheel is moving.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a vehicle service ramp having an automated chocking device that may be selectively locked in a raised position. Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment when considered with the attached drawings and the appended claims.
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patent: 5221380 (1993-06-01), Wilson et al.
patent: 5269036 (1993-12-01), Yan et al.
patent: 5279346 (1994-01-01), Summey
patent: 5324004 (1994-06-01), Richardson
patent: 5400846 (1995-03-01), Bowman
patent: 5483715 (1996-01-01), Fogarty et al.
Markovich Kristine M.
Tolar Kenneth L
Will Thomas B.
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