Foldable ramp having rung hinge
View Patent ↗A foldable ramp having an improved hinge construction to increase load capacity. The foldable ramp overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art by providing a ramp having a first ramp section and a second ramp section, pivotable relative to each other between a folded storage position and an open working position wherein the ramp sections are prevented from pivoting to a coplanar position relative to each other in the working position so as to increase load capacity.
1. A foldable ramp comprising:
a first ramp section;
a first end member connected at one end to said first ramp section and having an inclined surface at the opposite end;
a second ramp section hingedly connected to said first ramp section between a folded, storage position and an unfolded, working position;
a second end member connected at one end to said second ramp section and having an inclined surface at the opposite end; and
wherein during pivoting said second ramp section to said unfold, working position, said inclined surface of said second end member contacts said inclined surface of said first end member so as to prevent said second ramp section from pivoting to a coplanar position relative to said first ramp section.
2. The foldable ramp of claim 1 , wherein said first ramp section comprises a plurality of interconnected elongated members.
3. The foldable ramp of claim 2 , wherein said second ramp section comprises a plurality of interconnected elongated members.
4. The foldable ramp of claim 3 , wherein said first and second ramps sections are hingedly connected longitudinally between a working position and a storage position.
5. The foldable ramp of claim 4 , wherein said second ramp section is hingedly connected to said first ramp by at least one A-shaped hinge bracket.
6. The foldable ramp of claim 5 , wherein said A-shaped hinge bracket includes mutually opposed, first and second inclined surfaces, wherein said first ramp section is fixed to said bracket along said first inclined surface and said second ramp section is pivotally connected to said bracket substantially along said second inclined surface, wherein during pivoting of said second ramp section to said working position, said second ramp section is further prevented from pivoting to a coplanar position relative to said first ramp section by engagement with said second inclined surface of said bracket.
7. The foldable ramp of claim 6 , wherein said first and second ramp sections are made from aluminum.
8. A foldable ramp comprising:
a first ramp section;
a second ramp section;
at least one hinge bracket, wherein one end of said hinge bracket is fixed said first ramp section and the other end of said hinge bracket is pivotally connected to said second ramp section so that said second ramp section is pivotally movable relative to said first ramp section between a folded, storage position and an unfolded, working position; and
wherein said bracket prevents said second ramp section in said unfolded, working position from pivoting to a coplanar position relative to said first ramp section.
9. The foldable ramp of claim 8 , wherein said hinge bracket comprises an A-shaped, hinge bracket.
10. The foldable ramp of claim 9 , wherein said A-shaped hinge bracket includes mutually opposed, first and second inclined surfaces, wherein said first ramp section is fixed to said bracket along said first inclined surface and said second ramp section is pivotally connected to said bracket substantially along said second inclined surface, wherein during pivoting of said second ramp section to said working position, said second ramp section is prevented from pivoting to a coplanar position relative to said first ramp section by engagement with said second inclined surface of said bracket.
11. The foldable ramp of claim 10 , wherein during pivoting of said second ramp section to said working position, said second ramp section is further prevented from pivoting to a coplanar position relative to said first ramp section by engagement with said first ramp section.
12. The foldable ramp of claim 11 , further comprising:
a first end member connected at one end to said first ramp section and having an inclined surface at the opposite end;
a second end member connected at one end to said second ramp section and having an inclined surface at the opposite end;
wherein during pivoting of said second ramp section to said unfold, working position, said inclined surface of said second end member confronts said inclined surface of said first end member so as to assist in preventing said second ramp section from pivoting to a coplanar position relative to said first ramp section.
13. A foldable ramp comprising:
a first ramp section having an outwardly facing, inclined surface at one end thereof;
a second ramp section having an outwardly facing, inclined surface at one end thereof;
at least one hinge bracket fixed at one end to said first ramp section and pivotally connected at the other end to said second ramp section so that said second ramp section is pivotally movable relative to said first ramp section between a folded, storage position and an unfolded, working position; and
wherein said inclined surfaces contact each other when said ramp is in said working position so as to prevent said second ramp section from pivoting to a coplanar position relative to said first ramp section.
14. The foldable ramp of claim 13 , wherein said bracket comprises an A-shaped bracket.
15. The foldable ramp of claim 14 , wherein said A-shaped hinge bracket includes mutually opposed, first and second inclined surfaces, wherein said first ramp section is fixed to said bracket along said first inclined surface and said second ramp section is pivotally connected to said bracket substantially along said second inclined surface, wherein during pivoting of said second ramp section to said working position, said second ramp section is prevented from pivoting to a coplanar position relative to said first ramp section by engagement with said second inclined surface of said bracket.
16. The foldable ramp of claim 15 , wherein during pivoting of said second ramp section to said working position, said second ramp section is further prevented from pivoting to a coplanar position relative to said first ramp section by engagement with said first ramp section.
17. A foldable ramp comprising:
a first ramp section comprising:
a pair of elongated side members;
a plurality of cross members mounted between said pair of side members;
an end member mounted transversely across one end of said pair of elongated side members, said end member having an inclined surface facing outwardly therefrom;
a second ramp section comprising:
a pair of elongated side members;
a plurality of cross members mounted between said pair of side members;
an end member mounted transversely across one end of said pair of elongated side members, said end member having an inclined surface facing outwardly therefrom;
at least one A-shaped hinge bracket having mutually opposed, first and second inclined surfaces, said A-shaped hinge fixed to said first ramp section substantially along said first inclined surface, said second ramp section pivotally connected to said A-shaped hinge bracket substantially along said second inclined surface so that said second ramp section is movable relative to said first ramp section between an extended position and a folded position, wherein during rotation of said second ramp section to said extended position, the second ramp section is prevented from pivoting to a coplanar position relative to said first ramp section by confronting engagement between the inclined surfaces of said side members and engagement with the second inclined surface of said A-shaped hinge bracket.