Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080271266 | LATCH FOR A FOLD OUT RAMP - A latch assembly is suitable for a ramp assembly, the ramp assembly having a ramp portion coupled to a fixed portion so that the ramp portion reciprocates between a stowed position and a deployed position. The latch assembly includes a latch pin attached to the ramp portion. The latch assembly further includes a latch fitting coupled to the fixed portion of the ramp assembly. The latch fitting has a hook portion and a tang. The latch fitting selectively reciprocates between a first position, a second position, and a third position. In the first position, the hook engages the latch pin to retain the ramp portion in the stowed position. In the second position, the hook portion is disengaged from the latch pin. In the third position, the tang applies a lifting force to the ramp portion. | 11-06-2008 |
20080271267 | FOLD OUT RAMP - A ramp assembly for a vehicle having a floor includes a movable floor at least partially disposed within the vehicle. A ramp support element is rotatably coupled within the vehicle. A ramp portion is coupled at a first end to the ramp support element so that the ramp portion reciprocates between a stowed position a deployed position when the ramp support element rotates. A reciprocating mechanism reciprocates the second end of the movable floor between a lowered position when the ramp is in the stowed position, and a raised position when the ramp is in the deployed position. | 11-06-2008 |
20080271268 | ARTICULATING CLOSE OUT ASSEMBLY FOR A FOLD OUT RAMP - A closeout assembly is suitable for use with a ramp assembly disposed within a vehicle having a floor. The ramp assembly includes a ramp portion rotatably coupled at a first end for reciprocating movement between a stowed position and a deployed position. A panel assembly is hingedly coupled to the first end of the ramp portion. The close out assembly includes an end cap hingedly coupled at a first end to the first end of the ramp portion. A link is hingedly coupled at a first end to a second end of the end cap. A second end of the link is hingedly coupled to the panel assembly. When the ramp portion reciprocates between the stowed position and the deployed position, the hinged coupling of the end cap to the ramp portion moves along an arcuate path . | 11-06-2008 |
20080271269 | FOLD OUT RAMP - A ramp assembly includes a ramp disposed within a vehicle. The ramp assembly further includes a movable floor hingedly coupled at a first end to the ramp. A reciprocating mechanism reciprocates a second end of the movable floor between a lowered position when the ramp is in the stowed position, and a raised position when the ramp is in the deployed position. | 11-06-2008 |
20080273956 | COUNTERBALANCE ASSEMBLY FOR A FOLD OUT RAMP - A counterbalance for a ramp assembly includes a chain assembly and a spring assembly. The spring assembly includes a spring and first and second spring fittings. The first spring fitting restrains a first end of the spring when the ramp portion is between a neutral position and the stowed position and moves the first end of the spring toward a second end of the spring when the ramp portion moves from the neutral position toward the deployed position. The second spring fitting is spaced from the first spring fitting and restrains the second end of the spring when the ramp portion is between the neutral position and the deployed position. The second spring fitting moves the second end of the spring toward the first end of the spring when the ramp portion moves from the neutral position toward the stowed position. | 11-06-2008 |
20090035111 | COUNTERBALANCE ASSEMBLY FOR A FOLD OUT RAMP - A counterbalance for a ramp assembly includes a chain assembly and a spring assembly. The spring assembly includes a spring and first and second spring fittings. The first spring fitting restrains a first end of the spring when the ramp portion is between a neutral position and the stowed position and moves the first end of the spring toward a second end of the spring when the ramp portion moves from the neutral position toward the deployed position. The second spring fitting is spaced from the first spring fitting and restrains the second end of the spring when the ramp portion is between the neutral position and the deployed position. The second spring fitting moves the second end of the spring toward the first end of the spring when the ramp portion moves from the neutral position toward the stowed position. | 02-05-2009 |
20090035112 | COUNTERBALANCE ASSEMBLY FOR A FOLD OUT RAMP - A counterbalance for a ramp assembly includes a chain assembly and a spring assembly. The spring assembly includes a spring and first and second spring fittings. The first spring fitting restrains a first end of the spring when the ramp portion is between a neutral position and the stowed position and moves the first end of the spring toward a second end of the spring when the ramp portion moves from the neutral position toward the deployed position. The second spring fitting is spaced from the first spring fitting and restrains the second end of the spring when the ramp portion is between the neutral position and the deployed position. The second spring fitting moves the second end of the spring toward the first end of the spring when the ramp portion moves from the neutral position toward the stowed position. | 02-05-2009 |
20090035113 | COUNTERBALANCE ASSEMBLY FOR A FOLD OUT RAMP - A counterbalance for a ramp assembly includes a chain assembly and a spring assembly. The spring assembly includes a spring and first and second spring fittings. The first spring fitting restrains a first end of the spring when the ramp portion is between a neutral position and the stowed position and moves the first end of the spring toward a second end of the spring when the ramp portion moves from the neutral position toward the deployed position. The second spring fitting is spaced from the first spring fitting and restrains the second end of the spring when the ramp portion is between the neutral position and the deployed position. The second spring fitting moves the second end of the spring toward the first end of the spring when the ramp portion moves from the neutral position toward the stowed position. | 02-05-2009 |
20090271934 | FOLD OUT RAMP - A ramp assembly is suitable for use with a vehicle having a floor. The ramp assembly includes a ramp rotatably coupled within the vehicle, and a moving floor having an inboard panel and an outboard panel. The outboard panel has an outboard end hingedly coupled to the inboard end of the ramp to define an outboard hinge line that moves between a raised position when the ramp is in a stowed position and a lowered position when the ramp is in a deployed position. An outboard end of the inboard panel is hingedly coupled to an inboard end of the outboard panel. A reciprocating mechanism reciprocates an inboard end of the inboard panel between a lowered position and a raised position. | 11-05-2009 |
20110072598 | COUNTERBALANCE ASSEMBLY FOR A FOLD OUT RAMP - A counterbalanced ramp assembly includes a ramp portion coupled for reciprocating motion between a stowed position, a deployed position, and a neutral position. A first biasing element is coupled to a first endless loop and compresses a first spring when the ramp portion moves from the neutral position toward the deployed position. The first biasing element is disengaged from the first spring when the ramp portion is located between the neutral position and the stowed position. A second biasing element is coupled to the second endless loop and compresses a second spring when the ramp portion moves from the neutral position toward the stowed position. The second biasing element is disengaged from the second spring when the ramp portion is located between the neutral position and the deployed position. | 03-31-2011 |
20110088177 | COUNTERBALANCE MECHANISM FOR FOLD OUT RAMP - A ramp assembly includes a ramp portion configured for reciprocating motion between a stowed position, a deployed position, and a neutral position. The ramp assembly further includes a counterbalance that provides a force to bias the ramp portion toward the stowed position when the ramp portion is between the deployed position and the neutral position, and toward the deployed position when the ramp portion is between the stowed position and the neutral position. A shaft rotates in a first direction when the ramp portion moves toward the stowed position, and in a second direction opposite the first direction when the ramp portion moves toward the deployed position. A crank is fixedly coupled to the shaft. A rod is rotatably coupled at a first end to the crank about a first axis and at a second end to a cylinder. The cylinder is coupled for rotational movement about a second axis. | 04-21-2011 |
20120087716 | LATCH FOR A FOLD OUT RAMP - A latch assembly is suitable for a ramp assembly, the ramp assembly having a ramp portion coupled to a fixed portion so that the ramp portion reciprocates between a stowed position and a deployed position. The latch assembly includes a latch pin attached to the ramp portion. The latch assembly further includes a latch fitting coupled to the fixed portion of the ramp assembly. The latch fitting has a hook portion and a tang. The latch fitting selectively reciprocates between a first position, a second position, and a third position. In the first position, the hook engages the latch pin to retain the ramp portion in the stowed position. In the second position, the hook portion is disengaged from the latch pin. In the third position, the tang applies a lifting force to the ramp portion. | 04-12-2012 |
20130174359 | LATCH FOR A FOLD OUT RAMP - A latch assembly is suitable for a ramp assembly, the ramp assembly having a ramp portion coupled to a fixed portion so that the ramp portion reciprocates between a stowed position and a deployed position. The latch assembly includes a pin associated with the ramp portion. The latch assembly further includes a latch fitting rotatably coupled to the fixed portion of the ramp assembly. The latch fitting has a hook portion and a tang. The hook portion selectively engages the pin when the ramp assembly is in the stowed position. The tang selectively provides a lifting force to the ramp portion. | 07-11-2013 |
20140245548 | RAMP ASSEMBLY WITH TILT SENSOR - A ramp assembly for providing a transition surface between a vehicle floor and an alighting surface is disclosed. The ramp assembly includes a ramp portion that is rotatable between a stowed position and a deployed position. A sensor senses an angle of the ramp portion relative to a horizontal plane and provides a sensor output that corresponds to the angle of the ramp portion relative to the horizontal plane. The ramp assembly further includes a controller that receives the sensor output and an alert device. The controller controls the alert device to provide an alert when the angle of the ramp portion relative to the horizontal plane reaches a predetermined value. | 09-04-2014 |
20140248109 | RAMP ASSEMBLY WITH TILT SENSOR - A ramp assembly for providing a transition surface between a vehicle floor and an alighting surface is disclosed. The ramp assembly includes a ramp portion that is rotatable between a stowed position and a deployed position. A target operably associated with the ramp portion so that the target reciprocates along a predetermined path when the ramp portion reciprocates between the stowed position and the deployed position. A sensor fitting maintains a fixed orientation relative to a horizontal plane. A sensor is mounted to the sensor fitting such that the sensor senses the target when the ramp portion is in a predetermined position. | 09-04-2014 |