Ramp
OwnerAlfred W. Morganinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A tailgate ramp extends the tailgate with three hinged panels (13, 14, 15) able to fold out to a co-planar position whereat each hinge (51, 55) is braced by a system of struts (21, 26) and cables (22, 25) against opening past 180.degree.. The cables (22, 25) and struts (21, 26) are arranged to permit the outermost panel (15) to fold into between the other two (13, 14) to collapse into a pack against the inner face of the tailgate. The system of cables (21, 26) at each hinge (51, 55) can be passed around sheaves (29-32, 37-40) at each side of the ramp in a single length to balance loads on the ramp.
Claims13
A collapsible ramp for connection to a vehicle tailgate, which ramp comprises:
- three wings interconnected by hinges so that they can be unfolded to a deployed position to extend the length of the vehicle tailgate substantially four fold;
- one of said wings being hingedly connected to the tailgate so that the wings can be collapsed into a flat pack against the tailgate;
- each pair of wings having one or more struts therebetween, each strut being pivotally mounted on a respective one of the hinges between the wings so as to permit collapse into the flat pack;
- and
- a plurality of cables, each stretched over one of the struts and affixed at either end to the wings, to support the wings, in their deployed position, against loads thereon.
A collapsible ramp for connection to a vehicle tailgate, which ramp comprises:
- a plurality of panel means;
- hinge pins interconnecting adjoining panel means;
- pairs of spaced apart struts mounted one pair to each hinge pin;
- and
- separate cables, one cable passed through each pair of struts;
- each cable being passed over each of its struts via spaced apart sheaves located on the panel means away from their respective hinge pin and strut pair on each side to brace the adjoining panels against angular movement beyond 180.degree..
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.