Molded plastic ramp

Abstract

A molded plastic ramp is made in a one-step molding process. The ramp includes reinforced side and rear walls and a smooth radiused ramp surface. The ramp includes laterally extending side and rear supports that engage a ground surface and the forward portion of the ramp surface extends forward of the forward extent of the side supports.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to a molded plastic ramp. In the prior art, ramps are known, however. Applicant is unaware of any ramp structure including all of the features and aspects of the present invention.The following prior art is known to Applicant: U.S. Pat. No. 3,023,343 to Freeberg U.S. Pat. No. 3,663,015 to Bynder et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,129,916 to Schlesinger et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,285,514 to Romero U.S. Pat. No. 5,033,146 to Fogarty et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,267,367 to Wegmann, Jr. U.S. Pat. No. 5,483,715 to Fogarty et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,524,310 to Farnen U.S. Design Pat. No. 246,638 to Hegedus U.S. Design Pat. No. 257,874 to Sheehan et al. U.S. Design Pat. No. 346,256 to Thomas, III et al. U.S. Design Pat. No. 353,930 to Johnson.In Freeberg, the ramp surface is convex as compared to the concave radiused ramp surface of Applicant's invention. Furthermore, Freeberg lacks the side and rear reinforcements disclosed herein.Bynder et al. teach a bike ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

1. In a first aspect, the present invention is made in a onestep molding process. In the preferred mode of construction, the technique of vacuum forming is employed due to its relative economy as compared to injection molding. Due to the relatively large size of the inventive ramp as compared to small plastic parts that are commonly injection molded, the use of vacuum forming can result in large financial savings. The present invention is specifically designed to more than withstand anticipated forces when made in a vacuum forming process.

4. A support structure is provided for the present invention including laterally extending supports that extend rearward of the rear wall and laterally of the side walls. The undersides of these supports may be coated with a ground gripping material such as, for example, a roughened rubber material. The forward edge of the ramp surface extends forwardly of the forward extent of the lateral supports extending laterally from the side walls. In this way, the forward lip of the ramp surface provides direct transition from the adjacent ground surface to the ramp surface without a "bump".

5. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the inventive ramp is made of a hard, strong plastic material such as, for example, Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene, otherwise known as "ABS" plastic. Other hard, strong plastic materials may be substituted such as, for example, thermal plastics or polycarbonates, however, "ABS" plastic was chosen for its combination of strength, aesthetics and economy.

Problems solved by technology

Furthermore, Freeberg lacks the side and rear reinforcements disclosed herein.

Furthermore, the ramp surface extends almost vertically and no side reinforcements are provided.

Such ramps are heavy and cumbersome and, when exposed to adverse weather conditions, quickly deteriorate.

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