US 6,135,532 AGranted

Recreational vehicle and specialized tail gate and loading ramp

AssigneeThor Tech, Inc.

InventorLarry Martin

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a recreational vehicle is provided including a loading ramp assembly. The loading ramp assembly comprises first and second loading ramp panels, first, second, third, and fourth pairs of cable supports, a cable drive assembly, a load cable, and a cable linkage assembly. The first loading ramp panel is secured proximate the bottom portion of the access opening so as to pivot relative thereto. The second loading ramp panel is secured proximate the second transverse edge of the first panel so as to permit the second panel to pivot relative to the first panel. The cable drive assembly includes a drive cable and a cable translation mechanism. The load cable is secured between the respective ones of a pair of cable supports secured to the second panel. The cable linkage assembly is arranged to couple movement of the drive cable with movement of the load cable, wherein the linkage assembly and the cable supports are arranged to distribute a uniform load over the load cable. The loading ramp assembly may be arranged to permit the first and second loading ramp panels to pivot in opposite directions between an extended position and a retracted position where the retracted position is characterized by substantially vertical alignment of the first and second panels and the extended position is characterized by a decreasing degree of inclination from the first panel to the second panel.

Claims36

Dependent claims

A recreational vehicle comprising:

a chassis including a cab;
a body mounted on said chassis and including a living area and a storage area defined within said body;
a substantially vertical access opening defined in said storage area, said access opening defining substantially horizontal top and bottom portions and a pair of substantially vertical side portions extending between said top and bottom portions;
a loading ramp assembly, said loading ramp assembly comprising
a first loading ramp panel defining upper and lower panel surfaces, first and second transverse edges, and first and second side edges, wherein said first transverse edge is secured proximate said bottom portion of said access opening so as to permit said first panel to pivot relative to said bottom portion of said access opening;
a second loading ramp panel defining upper and lower panel surfaces, third and fourth transverse edges, and third and fourth side edges, wherein said third transverse edge is secured proximate said second transverse edge of said first panel so as to permit said second panel to pivot relative to said first panel;
a first pair of cable supports, one of which is arranged along one of said pair of substantially vertical side portions of said access opening and the other of which is arranged along the other of said pair of substantially vertical side portions of said access opening;
a second pair of cable supports, one of which is arranged along said first side edge of said first panel and the other of which is arranged along said second side edge of said first panel;
a third pair of cable supports, one of said third pair of cable supports being aligned with one of said second pair of cable supports and the other of said third pair of cable supports being aligned with the other of said second pair of cable supports;
a fourth pair of cable supports, one of said fourth pair of cable supports arranged proximate said third side edge of said second panel and the other of said fourth pair of cable supports arranged proximate said fourth side edge of said second panel;
a cable drive assembly including a drive cable and a cable translation mechanism;
a load cable secured between said respective ones of said fourth pair of cable supports and extending there between through the remaining cable supports;
a cable linkage assembly arranged to couple movement of said drive cable with movement of said load cable.

10 more elements

A vehicle comprising a substantially vertical access opening defining substantially horizontal top and bottom portions, a pair of substantially vertical side portions extending between said top and bottom portions, and a loading ramp assembly, said loading ramp assembly comprising:

a first loading ramp panel defining upper and lower panel surfaces, first and second transverse edges, and first and second side edges, wherein said first transverse edge is secured proximate said bottom portion of said access opening so as to permit said first panel to pivot relative to said bottom portion of said access opening;
a second loading ramp panel defining upper and lower panel surfaces, third and fourth transverse edges, and third and fourth side edges, wherein said third transverse edge is secured proximate said second transverse edge of said first panel so as to permit said second panel to pivot relative to said first panel;
a first pair of cable supports, one of which is arranged along one of said pair of substantially vertical side portions of said access opening and the other of which is arranged along the other of said pair of substantially vertical side portions of said access opening;
a second pair of cable supports, one of which is arranged along said first side edge of said first panel and the other of which is arranged along said second side edge of said first panel;
a third pair of cable supports, one of said third pair of cable supports being aligned with one of said second pair of cable supports and the other of said third pair of cable supports being aligned with the other of said second pair of cable supports;
a fourth pair of cable supports, one of said fourth pair of cable supports arranged proximate said third side edge of said second panel and the other of said fourth pair of cable supports arranged proximate said fourth side edge of said second panel;
a cable drive assembly including a drive cable and a cable translation mechanism;
a load cable secured between said respective ones of said fourth pair of cable supports and extending there between through the remaining cable supports;
a cable linkage assembly arranged to couple movement of said drive cable with movement of said load cable.

6 more elements

A loading ramp assembly comprising:

a first loading ramp panel defining upper and lower panel surfaces, first and second transverse edges, and first and second side edges, wherein said first transverse edge defines a loading platform height and is arranged to be secured proximate a loading platform so as to permit said first panel to pivot relative to said loading platform;
a second loading ramp panel defining upper and lower panel surfaces, third and fourth transverse edges, and third and fourth side edges, wherein said third transverse edge is secured proximate said second transverse edge of said first panel so as to permit said second panel to pivot relative to said first panel;
a first pair of cable supports, one of which is arranged to be secured a first vertical distance above one side of said loading platform and the other of which is arranged to be secured said first vertical distance above an opposite side of said loading platform;
a second pair of cable supports, one of which is arranged along said first side edge of said first panel and the other of which is arranged along said second side edge of said first panel;
a third pair of cable supports, one of said third pair of cable supports being aligned with one of said second pair of cable supports and the other of said third pair of cable supports being aligned with the other of said second pair of cable supports;
a fourth pair of cable supports, one of said fourth pair of cable supports arranged proximate said third side edge of said second panel and the other of said fourth pair of cable supports arranged proximate said fourth side edge of said second panel;
a cable drive assembly including a drive cable and a cable translation mechanism;
a load cable secured between said respective ones of said fourth pair of cable supports and extending there between through the remaining cable supports;
a cable linkage assembly arranged to couple movement of said drive cable with movement of said load cable.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.