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US 6,186,733 B1Granted
Low floor vehicle ramp assembly
AssigneeLift-U, Division of Hogan Mfg., Inc.
InventorsCleatus A. Lewis, Alan R. Cohn
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A ramp assembly (20) for mounting in a low floor bus (22) or other vehicle. The ramp assembly (20) includes a rectangular enclosure (24) that fits underneath the chassis of the low floor bus (22). The ramp assembly (20) includes a reciprocating mechanism (26) for moving a ramp platform (28) between a fully deployed position and a fully stowed position. During this movement, the reciprocating mechanism (26) raises the trailing end of the ramp platform (28) in one translational movement with the extension of the ramp platform, such that the trailing end of the ramp platform, when deployed, is raised to the floor level of the low floor bus (22).
Claims25
A ramp assembly for mounting on a vehicle, comprising:
- a frame for mounting below a floor of a vehicle;
- a ramp platform mounted in the frame and defining trailing and forward ends;
- a reciprocating mechanism for extending and retracting the ramp platform along a length of the frame between stowed and deployed positions, the ramp platform being stowed substantially along a plane, and being arranged when deployed such that the forward end extends down toward the ground;
- and
- means connected to the reciprocating mechanism for raising the trailing end of the ramp platform in one translational movement with the extension of the ramp platform, such that the trailing end of the ramp platform, when deployed, is raised above the plane, wherein the means for raising comprises a lever having a distal end attached to the trailing end of the ramp platform and a second end rotatably attached to the reciprocating mechanism, the lever configured to rotate about the second end as the reciprocating mechanism is extended, thereby lifting the trailing end of the ramp platform upward, wherein the frame comprises an abutment surface that is engaged by the lever when the ramp platform is extended, the engagement of the abutment surface by the lever causing the lever to rotate.
2 more elements
A ramp assembly for mounting on a vehicle, comprising:
- a frame for mounting below a floor of a vehicle, wherein the frame comprises a cam slot;
- a ramp platform mounted in the frame and defining trailing and forward ends;
- a reciprocating mechanism for extending and retracting the ramp platform along a length of the frame between stowed and deployed positions, the ramp platform being stowed substantially along a plane, and being arranged when deployed such that the forward end extends down toward the ground;
- and
- a lever having a distal end attached to the trailing end of the ramp platform and a second end rotatably attached to the reciprocating mechanism, the lever configured to rotate about the second end as the reciprocating mechanism is extended, thereby lifting the trailing end upward, wherein the lever comprises a cam follower, the cam slot and the cam follower being configured such that during extension of the ramp platform, the cam follower follows the cam slot during at least part of the extension.
2 more elements
A ramp assembly comprising:
- a frame for mounting below a floor of a vehicle and a defining front, bottom cantilevering surface;
- a ramp platform mounted in the frame and defining trailing and forward ends;
- a cam follower fixed to the trailing end of the ramp platform;
- a reciprocating mechanism for extending and retracting the ramp platform along a length of the frame between stowed and deployed positions, the ramp platform being stowed substantially along a plane, and being arranged when deployed such that the forward end extends down toward the ground;
- a cam slot extending along the frame and having top and bottom guiding surfaces, the cam slot and the cam follower being configured such that during extension of the ramp platform, the cam follower follows the cam slot and the cam follower presses against the top guiding surface at a section that corresponds with the weight of the forward end of the ramp platform extending beyond the cantilevering surface a sufficient amount to cantilever the trailing end of the ramp platform upward relative to the frame;
- the top guiding surface being spaced from the bottom guiding surface such that the cam follower is permitted free movement between the top and bottom guiding surfaces when the cam follower is within the section;
- a lever having a distal end attached to the trailing end of the ramp platform and a second end rotatably attached to the reciprocating mechanism, the lever configured to rotate about the second end as the reciprocating mechanism is extended, thereby lifting the trailing end upward;
- and
- an abutment surface that is engaged by the lever when the ramp platform is extended, the engagement of the abutment surface by the lever causing the lever to rotate.
6 more elements
A ramp assembly comprising:
- a frame for mounting below a floor of a vehicle and defining a front, bottom cantilevering surface;
- a ramp platform mounted in the frame and defining trailing and forward ends;
- a reciprocating mechanism for extending and retracting the ramp platform along a length of the frame between stowed and deployed positions, the ramp platform being stowed substantially along a plane, and being arranged when deployed such that the forward end extends down toward the ground;
- a lever having a distal end attached to the trailing end of the ramp platform and a second end rotatably attached to the reciprocating mechanism, the lever comprising a cam follower;
- and
- a cam slot extending along the frame and having top and bottom guiding surfaces, the cam slot and the cam follower being configured such that during extension of the ramp platform, the cam follower follows the cam slot and the cam follower presses against the top guiding surface at a section that corresponds with the weight of the forward end of the ramp platform extending beyond the cantilevering surface a sufficient amount to cantilever the trailing end of the ramp platform upward relative to the frame;
- the top guiding surface being spaced from the bottom guiding surface such that the cam follower is permitted free movement between the top and bottom guiding surfaces when the cam follower is within the section.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.