IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,414,883
Granted Patent B2
US 12,414,883 · App. 17/970,088 · Granted Sep 16, 2025

Manually foldable wheelchair ramp

Inventor: Stanton David Saucier (Tarzana, CA)
Assignee: MPOWER MOBILITY, INC.
A61G3/061B60P1/43B60P1/438F16M13/022Y10S414/134
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,414,883
App. No.
17/970,088
Granted
Sep 16, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A ramp assembly comprises a support defining a vertical and horizontal pivot axes and a ramp with a first ramp portion coupled at one side thereof to the support, a second ramp portion, and a hinge connecting the second ramp portion to the first ramp portion. The second ramp section is manually movable between a generally folded stowed position being disposed in a surface-to-surface facing arrangement with the first ramp section and an unfolded deployed position being disposed in an end-to-end facing arrangement with the first ramp section. The ramp is manually pivotable on the support, about the vertical and horizontal pivot axes, between a folded stowed position, an unfolded deployed position defining an inclined ramp surface, and a folded intermediate position. The ramp can be installed on a vehicle for use by non-ambulatory passengers and be disposed in a position allowing unhindered use of the vehicle by ambulatory passengers.

Claims (44)

1. A device, comprising:

an inclined curved surface;

a generally planar surface terminating the inclined curved surface at one end of the device; and

a roller having an exterior surface thereof configured to roll on the generally planar surface and on the inclined curved surface;

the device designed to lift a vehicle ramp attachable to a support in a response to the vehicle ramp rotating about the support.

2. The device of claim 1 , further comprising:

a first member including at least elongated slots spaced apart from each other and being oriented in a first direction;

a second member, the second member at least including elongated slots spaced apart from each other and being oriented in a second direction, the second direction being generally perpendicular to the first direction, each of the elongated slots in the second member is oriented to overlap a respective elongated slot in the first member; and

a third member positionable between surfaces of the first and second members, the third member comprising threaded studs, each threaded stud being passed through a respective elongated slot in the first member and in the second member.

3. A ramp support assembly, comprising:

a ramp support including at least a first pivot and a second pivot; and

a device connected to the ramp support, the device including:

a first member at least including elongated slots spaced apart from each other and being oriented in a first direction,

a second member, the second member at least including elongated slots spaced apart from each other and being oriented in a second direction, the second direction being generally perpendicular to the first direction, each of the elongated slots in the second member is oriented to overlap a respective elongated slot in the first member, and

a third member positionable between surfaces of the first and second members, the third member comprising threaded studs, each threaded stud being passed through a respective elongated slot in the first member and in the second member;

the device designed to account for a deflection of a ramp connectable to one of the first and second pivots.

4. The ramp support assembly of claim 3 , wherein the device is designed to preload an end of one of the first and second pivots.

5. The ramp support assembly of claim 3 , wherein the device is designed to offset an end of one of the first and second pivots.

6. The ramp support assembly of claim 3 , wherein the device further comprises:

an inclined curved surface;

a generally planar surface terminating the inclined curved surface at one end of the device; and

a roller rotationally supported by the ramp support, the roller having an exterior surface thereof configured to roll on the generally planar surface and on the inclined curved surface.

7. The ramp support assembly of claim 3 , further including the ramp.

8. A device, comprising:

a first member at least including first elongated slots spaced apart from each other and being oriented in a first direction;

a second member, the second member at least including second elongated slots spaced apart from each other and being oriented in a second direction, the second direction being generally perpendicular to the first direction, each second elongated slot from the second elongated slots in the second member is oriented to overlap a respective first elongated slot in the first member; and

a third member positionable between surfaces of the first and second members, the third member comprising threaded studs, each threaded stud being passed through a respective first elongated slot in the first member and a respective second elongated slot in the second member;

the device configured to account for a deflection of a rotating ramp in a vehicle.

9. The device of claim 8 , further comprising:

an inclined curved surface;

a generally planar surface terminating the inclined curved surface at one end of the device; and

a roller having an exterior surface thereof configured to roll on the generally planar surface and on the inclined curved surface.

10. A ramp support assembly, comprising:

a support at least including a first pivot and a second pivot; and

a device connected to the support, the device including:

an inclined curved surface,

a generally planar surface terminating the inclined curved surface at one end of the device, and

a roller having an exterior surface thereof configured to roll on the generally planar surface and on the inclined curved surface.

11. The ramp support assembly of claim 10 , wherein the device further comprises:

a first member at least including elongated slots spaced apart from each other and being oriented in a first direction;

a second member, the second member at least including elongated slots spaced apart from each other and being oriented in a second direction, the second direction being generally perpendicular to the first direction, each of the elongated slots in the second member is oriented to overlap a respective elongated slot in the first member; and

a third member positionable between surfaces of the first and second members, the third member comprising threaded studs, each threaded stud being passed through a respective elongated slot in the first member and in the second member.

12. The ramp support assembly of claim 10 , further including a bracket rigidly connected to a flange on the support and wherein the roller is rotationally supported by the bracket.

13. The ramp support assembly of claim 10 , further including a ramp connected to the support for a rotation thereabout, the device configured to lift the ramp in a response to a rotational movement of the ramp about the support.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 2, 2025
From: SAUCIER, STANTON DAVID
To: MPOWER MOBILITY, INC.
Reel/Frame 071009/0057 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation 17049639
Provisional Application 62662310 · Apr 25, 2018
Related Publication 20230181393A1 · Jun 15, 2023
References Cited (24)
US 963918A · Miller · 1910 [cited by examiner]
US 4966516A · Vartanian · 1990 [cited by applicant]
US 5259081A · Henderson · 1993 [cited by applicant]
US 5795125A · Walkden · 1998 [cited by examiner]
US 5871329A · Tidrick et al. · 1999 [cited by applicant]
US 5897285A · Wanderscheid · 1999 [cited by examiner]
US 6179545B1 · Peterson, Jr. et al. · 2001 [cited by applicant]
US 6343908B1 · Oudsten et al. · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 6536064B1 · Swink · 2003 [cited by examiner]
US 8832890B2 · Loftis · 2014 [cited by examiner]
US 9126522B1 · Perez · 2015 [cited by examiner]
US 10422150B2 · Roy · 2019 [cited by examiner]
US 20010048870A1 · Lewis et al. · 2001 [cited by applicant]
US 20030007851A1 · Heigl et al. · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 20080271266A1 · Johnson · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20090085370A1 · Bartel et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20160243990A1 · Portney et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
Ricon Corp, Oct. 7, 1999 Ricon Innovation in Mobility, Activan Accessibility With Style, Service Owner Manual. [cited by applicant]
Ricon Corp, Dec. 3, 2001 Ricon Innovation, FR 2000 Series Fold Over Ramp Low-Floor Vehicle Access Ramp for Neoplan. [cited by applicant]
BraunAbility, Life is a Moving Experience, Anywhere is possible. [cited by applicant]
Diversified Golf Cars, Ramp Wheelchair Shuttle. [cited by applicant]
Ricon Corp, Clearway Lift. [cited by applicant]
Ricon Activan, Illistrated Index of Non-Eom Vehicle Equipment Including Electrical and Pneumatic Circuit Diagrams Plus Diagnostic Flow Charts, May 10, 1999. [cited by applicant]
VME Fold Out Ramp. [cited by applicant]