Ramp weight-reducing assembly

Abstract

A ramp weight-reducing assembly which reduces the weight of a ramp manually lifted up to the working surface of a vehicle bed by an operator to then couple the ramp with the bed to maintain the ramp in load-bearing position. The assembly is simple in design, easy to manufacture and low in cost which will allow the manufacturer to offer the assembly to the majority of ramp users at a minimal price. The ramp weight-reducing assembly includes a ramp and a ramp connector, modified to accept a weight-reducing spring assembly between the ramp and ramp connector legs. The spring assembly includes a piston rod coupled to the ramp having a stop, inserted into a main compression spring which is then inserted into a hole in a support bar that spans the two connector legs running parallel to each other. The spring assembly also includes two supplemental springs attached to plates between the ramp and ramp connector. The springs cooperate to reduce the weight lifted by an operator raising or lowering the ramp.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.