Foldable Truck Bed Ramp with Concealed Carabiner Attachment

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Loading and unloading wheeled vehicles, such as motorcycles, into truck beds is difficult due to weight and balance issues, especially when performed by a single person, and existing truck bed ramps do not effectively accommodate vehicles with the tailgate closed.

Innovation Solution

A combination truck bed ramp and gate with a hinge design that folds flat for easy transport and storage, featuring a three-point adjustable attachment system with concealed carabiner clips, made of lightweight non-rusting aluminum, and a design that reduces the loading angle by pivoting sections to be coplanar when closed, with polymer-coated prongs and rubber padding for enhanced stability and resistance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If traditional truck bed ramps are used, then loading and unloading wheeled vehicles becomes easier, but the ramps are difficult to transport and store due to their size and shape

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveloading and unloading wheeled vehiclesVSAvoidtransport and storage convenience

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The ramp is divided into multiple sections that can be folded relative to each other, allowing the ramp to be collapsed into a compact form for transport and storage while maintaining its full extended length for loading operations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The ramp sections are designed to nest within each other when folded, with each section containing or overlapping the previous section, creating a compact bundled configuration that is easy to transport and store

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Length of moving object

If the truck bed length is extended to accommodate wheeled vehicles, then vehicle accommodation improves, but the tailgate closure capability is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetruck bed lengthVSAvoidtailgate closure capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Length of moving objectVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The ramp system serves multiple functions: it extends the truck bed length to accommodate wheeled vehicles, can be configured to work with the tailgate closed, and provides structural support for loading operations, making it adaptable to different truck bed configurations and usage scenarios

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Strength

If heavy-duty materials are used to construct the ramp, then the ramp strength increases, but the ramp weight increases making it difficult for single-person operation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveramp strengthVSAvoidramp weight

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The ramp is constructed using composite material structures, likely combining aluminum alloy with reinforced geometric patterns or integrated support elements, achieving high strength-to-weight ratio that allows single-person handling while maintaining load-bearing capacity for wheeled vehicles

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

4Ease of operation

If the ramp length is increased to reduce loading angle, then vehicle loading becomes easier, but the ramp becomes more difficult to transport and store

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevehicle loading easeVSAvoidtransport and storage convenience

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The ramp transitions from a static long structure to a dynamic folded configuration, allowing it to adapt between its operational extended state (providing gentle loading angle) and its storage compact state (easy to transport)

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS8764088B1Combination truck bed ramp and gate

Publication Date: 2014.07.01 JOBE TRACY HUTCH

AI summary

The invention relates to a combination ramp and gate that is releasably securable to a truck bed using a three point adjustable attachment system with carabineers, with two of the three carabineers being partially concealed. The combination ramp and gate is lightweight and when collapsed into a closed position, the sections of the combination ramp and gate are coplanar for easy storage and portability.