Retractable ramp system for motorized vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10470950-B2
Application number	US-201715486509-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 13, 2017
Priority date	Nov 20, 2014
Publication date	Nov 12, 2019
Grant date	Nov 12, 2019

Abstract

A retractable ramp system for facilitating mobility-challenged individual's entrance to and exit from a structure, particularly, from a motorized vehicle. The ramp system includes a frame having a front member, a first side member, a second side member, a rear member, and a floor. The rear member is pivotally coupled to the frame between an open position and a closed position. The ramp system includes a first track coupled to the first side member and defining a longitudinal channel therein, and a second track coupled to the second side member and defining a longitudinal channel therein. A ramp is pivotably coupled to the first and second tracks about a pivot axis, and includes a ramp floor, a first side panel, and a second side panel. The system includes a latch to maintain the ramp in a stowed position.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A retractable ramp system, comprising:
a frame including a front member, a first side member, a second side member, a rear member, and a frame floor, the rear member being pivotally coupled to the frame so that the rear member is pivotal between an open position and a closed position;
a first track coupled to the first side member and defining a longitudinal channel therein, the longitudinal channel of the first track including first and second terminating ends, the first terminating end being positioned longitudinally between the second terminating end and the front member of the frame;
a second track coupled to the second side member and defining a longitudinal channel therein, the longitudinal channel of the second track including first and second terminating ends, the first terminating end being positioned longitudinally between the second terminating end and the front member of the frame;
a ramp pivotably coupled to the first and second tracks about a pivot axis, the ramp including a ramp floor, a first side panel, and a second side panel;
a first latch member coupled to the first side panel and a second latch member coupled to the second side panel; and
a pin coupled to one of the first side member and the second side member;
wherein the ramp is movable between (i) a raised position in which a portion of the ramp is aligned longitudinally with the first terminating end of the first longitudinal channel and the first terminating end of the second longitudinal channel, (ii) a lowered position, and (iii) a stowed position,
wherein in the raised position the ramp floor extends across a portion of the frame floor and does not extend across another portion of the frame floor; and
wherein one of the first latch member and the second latch member is coupled to the pin in the stowed position.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the pin comprises a first pin coupled to the first side member and a second pin coupled to the second side member.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the first latch member is coupled to the first pin and the second latch member is coupled to the second pin in the stowed position.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the ramp is slidably coupled to the first track and the second track between the raised position and the stowed position.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the ramp is independent from the rear member.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the ramp is disposable in the lowered position only when the rear member is in the open position.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the each of the first terminating end of the first longitudinal channel and the first terminating end of the second longitudinal channel are spaced from the front member such that the another portion of the frame floor is exposed when the ramp is in the raised position.

8. The system of claim 1 , further comprising one or more pads coupled to the ramp.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the frame floor comprises at least a first portion and a second portion, the first and second portions configured to be coupled to a floor of a vehicle.

10. A retractable ramp system comprising:
a frame including a front member, a first side member, a second side member, a rear member, and a floor, the rear member being pivotally coupled to the frame so that the rear member is pivotal between an open position and a closed position;
a first track coupled to the first side member and defining a longitudinal channel therein;
a second track coupled to the second side member and defining a longitudinal channel therein;
a ramp pivotably coupled to the first and second tracks about a pivot axis, the ramp including a ramp floor, a first side panel, and a second side panel;
a first latch member coupled to the first side panel and a second latch member coupled to the second side panel;
a pin coupled to one of the first side member and the second side member;
a pivot pin;
a cap including an annular body, and a key protruding from the annular body;
wherein, the pivot pin is received within an opening defined in the key such that the ramp is pivotable about the pivot pin and key;
wherein, the ramp is movable between a raised position, a lowered position, and a stowed position; and
further wherein, one of the first latch member and the second latch member is coupled to the pin in the stowed position.

11. The system of claim 10 , further comprising a coupler coupled to one of the first track and second track, the coupler having an open end for receiving the annular body of the cap.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the coupler comprises a first coupler and a second coupler, the first coupler being coupled to one end of the respective track and the second coupler being coupled to an opposite end thereof.

13. The system of claim 11 , wherein a movement of the ramp is restricted to a pivotal movement only when the cap is coupled to the coupler.

14. A retractable ramp system for a vehicle having a conventional floor, the vehicle configured to transport an individual using a mobility vehicle, the retractable ramp system comprising:
a frame including a front member, a first side member, a second side member, a rear member, and a frame floor, the rear member being pivotally coupled to the frame so that the rear member is pivotal between an open position and a closed position, wherein a portion of the frame is aligned with the conventional floor to provide a space to surround the mobility vehicle when disposed inside the vehicle;
a track system coupled to the frame and defining a longitudinal channel including first and second terminating ends, the first terminating end being positioned longitudinally between the second terminating end and the front member of the frame; and,
a ramp pivotably and slidably coupled to the track system, the ramp including a ramp floor, a first side panel, and a second side panel;
wherein the ramp is movable between (i) a raised position in which a portion of the ramp is aligned longitudinally with the first terminating end of the longitudinal channel and the ramp is located in a space lower than the conventional floor, (ii) a lowered position, and (iii) a stowed position; and
wherein the rear member is movable between a closed position and an open position.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the rear member is pivotably coupled to the frame with a first pivot pin, and the ramp is pivotably coupled to the track system with a second pivot pin, wherein the second pivot pin is located between the first side member and the second side member and the first pivot pin is displaced from the location of the second pivot pin.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the lowered position of the ramp blocks movement of the rear member from the open position to the closed position.

17. The system of claim 16 , further comprising a latch member coupled to one of the frame and the ramp and a pin coupled to the other of the frame and the ramp, wherein the latch member is coupled to the pin in the stowed position, and wherein the ramp in the stowed position is located between the rear member and one of the latch member and pin coupled to the frame.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the latch member includes a first latch member coupled to the first side panel and a second latch member coupled to the second side panel.

19. The system of claim 18 , wherein the pin includes a first pin coupled to the first side member and a second pin coupled to the second side member, and wherein the first pin is coupled to the first

Assignees

• Braun Corp

Inventors

• Kiser Aaron
• Stoner James

Classifications

• A61G3/061 Primary

  using ramps · CPC title

• Y10S414/134

  Handicapped person handling · CPC title

• A61G3/067

  with compartment for horizontally storing the ramp or lift · CPC title

• B60P1/433

  the loading floor or a part thereof being movable to form the ramp · CPC title