Power ramp for personal mobility vehicles and method of use

#1. Field of the Invention

#The present invention relates to ramps, and more particularly, to ramps mounted within a vehicle. More specifically, the present invention relates to ramp carriers for transporting wheelchairs and other personal mobility vehicles.

#2. Description of the Prior Art

#FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a scooter as positioned for loading into a van in accordance with the present invention;

#FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a hoist and ramp assembly in a partially disassembled arrangement in accordance with the present invention;

#FIG. 2A is a partial perspective view showing an alternative hoist harness connector in accordance with the present invention;

#Reference is now made to the drawings wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout. A power ramp system 10 is shown as installed in a passenger motor vehicle of the type termed a “van”14. A ramp 18 is shown extending from a side door 22. Alternatively, a rear ramp 24 may be positioned instead to extend from a rear door 26 (also shown in FIG. 1).

#A winch line 28 extends from a winch 32 located within the van 14, and is attached to a steering column 34 of a personal mobility vehicle, such as a powered scooter 36 shown in FIG. 1, using a rope or fabric harness 37. Operation of the winch 32, and hence movement of the scooter 36, is governed by a control unit 38, shown held by a person 42 in FIG. 1. As is shown in FIG. 1A, a presently preferred manner of attaching the winch line 28 to the powered scooter 36 utilizes a metal ring 44 that is attached to a safety clasp 46. The fabric or rope harness 37 can then be easily attached to the metal ring 44, and then looped around the steering column 34 of the powered scooter 36 (not shown in FIG. 1A) during loading and off-loading operations. Preferably, the winch line 28 remains attached to the powered scooter 36 while it is parked on the storage platform 48 to provide additional stability.

#Further details of the powered ramp and winch system are shown in FIG. 2, where the ramp 18 has been separated from a storage platform or ramp base 48. A pair of ramp platform rollers 52 are each positioned adjacent opposite ones of both lateral edges of a leading edge 53 of the ramp 18. The platform rollers 52 are received by a corresponding pair of receiving notch extensions 54 located at opposite lateral edges at a terminus 56 of the storage platform 48.