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US 12,617,328 B2Granted
Loading ramp for utility vans
AssigneeNational Fleet Products, Inc.
InventorsSteven Peterson, Samuel Johnson, Gilbert Daniel Bodimer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A loading ramp assembly for utility vans can include a main deck with side rails fastened to the longitudinal sides of the main deck. A raised loading floor of the utility van is disposed atop a pair of guide rails. Guide wheels on the side rails move through guide rails secured to the van's original floor as the ramp is retracted and deployed. The ramp can be fully retracted and stored inside of the van such that the rear doors of the van can be closed normally without the need to remove the loading ramp assembly from the van.
Claims20
A loading ramp assembly for a utility van, comprising:
- a main deck, wherein the main deck comprises a longitudinally elongated surface having a distal end, an opposing proximal end, and a pair of opposing longitudinal sides spanning between the proximal end and the distal end;
- a pair of side rails oriented parallel to one another, each of the side rails coupled to a respective one of the pair of opposing longitudinal sides of the main deck, each side rail having a proximal longitudinal end and a distal longitudinal end;
- a pair of guide wheels, each of the guide wheels is coupled to a respective one of the pair or side rails adjacent to the proximal end thereof, and each of the guide wheels extends laterally outwardly from the respective one of the pair or side rails to which each of the pair of guide wheels is coupled;
- a pair of guide rails oriented parallel to one another and parallel to the pair of side rails, each of the pair of guide rails defining a channel with an opening in one longitudinal side of the guide rail, the channel spanning between a proximal end thereof and an opposite distal end thereof, each of the pair of guide rails disposed adjacent to a respective one of the pair of side rails such that the channel faces towards the respective side rail, wherein each of the pair of guide wheels is shaped and sized to be disposed within the channel and travel proximally and distally within the respective guide rail;
- a first bracket fastened to one of the pair of guide rails adjacent to the opposite distal end thereof;
- and
- a second bracket fastened to the other one of the pair of guide rails adjacent to the opposite distal end thereof,
- wherein the first bracket and the second bracket each comprise a longitudinally inward extending portion that includes a sliding pad positioned to allow a bottom surface of a respective one of the pair of side rails to slide atop a respective one of the sliding pads when the pair of guide wheels move proximally and distally within the channels of the pair of guide rails.
5 more elements
A loading ramp assembly for a utility van, comprising:
- a main deck, wherein the main deck comprises a longitudinally elongated surface having a distal end, an opposing proximal end, and a pair of opposing longitudinal sides spanning between the proximal end and the distal end;
- a pair of side rails oriented parallel to one another, each of the side rails coupled to a respective one of the pair of opposing longitudinal sides of the main deck, each of the side rails having a proximal longitudinal end and a distal longitudinal end;
- a pair of guide wheels, each of the guide wheels is coupled to a respective one of the pair of side rails adjacent to the proximal end thereof, and each of the guide wheels extends laterally outwardly from the respective one of the pair or side rails to which each of the pair of guide wheels is coupled;
- a pair of guide rails oriented parallel to one another and parallel to the pair of side rails, each of the pair of guide rails defining a channel with an opening in one longitudinal side of the guide rail, the channel spanning between a proximal end thereof and an opposite distal end thereof, each of the pair of guide rails disposed adjacent to a respective one of the pair of side rails such that the channel faces towards the respective side rail, wherein each of the pair of guide wheels is shaped and sized to be disposed within the channel and travel proximally and distally within the respective guide rail;
- and
- an elevated loading floor disposed atop the pair of guide rails, the elevated loading floor spanning longitudinally from the opposite distal end of the pair of guide rails to the proximal end of the guide rails, and laterally between the pair of guide rails.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.