Locking arm system for a retention ramp of a lift gate
AssigneeMaxon Industries, Inc.
InventorLevon Hambardzumyan
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention provides a locking assembly for a ramp of a lift gate. The locking assembly comprises an elongated locking arm and a spring for spring loading the locking arm. The locking arm is pivotably disposed on a pivot point relative to the ramp. A biasing tension in the spring urges a proximal end of the locking arm to engage with a cam portion of the ramp to maintain the ramp in a selected position. The cam portion has multiple engagement surfaces for individually engaging with the locking arm, wherein selectively engaging the locking arm with each engagement surface of the cam portion maintains the ramp in a corresponding selected position.
Claims32
A locking assembly for a ramp of a lift gate, the locking assembly comprising:
- an elongated adjustable locking arm, wherein the locking arm is pivotably disposed on a pivot point relative to the ramp, the locking arm including an adjustment mechanism for adjusting a length of the locking arm disposed on a proximal end of the locking arm for engaging a cam portion of the ramp;
- and
- a spring for spring loading the locking arm, wherein a biasing tension in the spring urges the proximal end of the locking arm to pivotably engage with the cam portion of the ramp to maintain the ramp in a selected position;
- wherein the cam portion has multiple engagement surfaces for individually engaging with the locking arm, such that selective engagement of the locking arm with each engagement surface of the cam portion maintains the ramp in the selected position;
- wherein the length of the locking arm can be increased or decreased by adjusting the adjustment mechanism at the proximal end of the locking arm.
A lift gate system, comprising:
- a lift platform section;
- a ramp, wherein the ramp is rotatably coupled to the lift platform section;
- a lifting mechanism for supporting and moving the lift platform section;
- and
- a locking assembly for maintaining the ramp in a selected position relative to the lift platform section, wherein the locking assembly comprises:
- an elongated adjustable locking arm, wherein the locking arm is pivotably disposed on a pivot point relative to the ramp, wherein the locking arm includes an adjustment mechanism for adjusting a length of the locking arm disposed on a proximal end of the locking arm for engaging a cam portion of the ramp;
- and
- a spring for spring loading the locking arm, wherein a biasing tension in the spring urges the proximal end of the locking arm to pivotably engage with the cam portion of the ramp to maintain the ramp in a selected position;
- wherein the cam portion has multiple engagement surfaces for individually engaging with the locking arm, such that selective engagement of the locking arm with each engagement surface of the cam portion maintains the ramp in a selected position;
- wherein the length of the locking arm can be increased or decreased by adjusting the adjustment mechanism at the proximal end of the locking arm.
A method, comprising:
- maintaining a ramp of a lift gate in a selected position by engaging an elongated adjustable locking arm with a cam portion of the ramp, the locking arm including an adjustment mechanism for adjusting a length of the locking arm disposed on a proximal end of the locking arm for engaging a cam portion of the ramp;
- increasing or decreasing the length of the locking arm by adjusting the adjustment mechanism at the proximal end of the locking arm;
- wherein the locking arm is spring loaded by a spring having a biasing tension that urges a proximal end of the locking arm to pivotably engage with the cam portion to maintain the ramp in a selected position;
- and
- wherein the cam portion has multiple engagement surfaces for individually engaging with the locking arm, such that selective engagement of the locking arm with each engagement surface of the cam portion maintains the ramp in a selected position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.