Pet ramp for trucks

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] This invention relates to the field of pet ramps and more particularly to a ramp for enabling a pet to climb into a cab of a tractor trailer.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] Truck drivers are often on the road for days or weeks, sometimes living in their truck cab. To combat loneliness, truck drivers often travel with their pets. Unfortunately, truck cabs are at a high elevation and the steps used for the truck driver are not often suitable for many pets with differing sizes and physical abilities. Furthermore, it may not always be feasible for the truck driver to lift the pet into the truck cab due to pet weight and the physical condition of the truck driver.

[0005] Ramps are well known and have been used for loading/unloading trucks, train cars, etc. Many of such ramps consist of a simple inclined plane adapted between an elevated surface and a destination surface. Some ramps, as in rental trucks, pull out from beneath the truck bed where they are stored and lock in place between the truck bed and pavement to assist in loading and unloading. These ramps don't address access to the truck cab.

[0006] When not in use, there is a need to compactly and safely stow the ramp. Often, the truck cab is driven without a trailer. Therefore, the ramp must be stowed inside or outside of the truck cab.

[0007] Solutions to problems of a similar nature have been described in prior patents. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,267,082 to Naragon describes a portable dog ramp for attaching to the tailgate of a pickup truck. This ramp could be adapted for use on a tractor trailer cab but would extend outwardly, away from the cab, interfering with nearby objects such as other parked trucks or subjecting the pet to roadway dangers.

[0008] Another solution is presented in U.S. Pat. Application No. 2005/0160539 to Schomaker, et al, which is hereby incorporated by reference. This application describes a folding ramp for attaching to the tailgate of a pickup truck. This ramp could also be adapted for use on a tractor trailer cab but would likewise extend outwardly, away from the cab, interfering with nearby objects such as other parked trucks or subjecting the pet to roadway dangers.

[0009] What is needed is a ramp system that will extend predominately forward or backward from the top step of a truck cab enabling a living being to access the cab from the ground level, even when the truck cab is parked near a blocking object. The ramp needs to fold up for easy storage and transportation in or on the truck cab.

[0010] In one embodiment, a ramp for accessing a truck cab is disclosed. The truck cab has at least a top step and a lower step and an axis of movement. A planar platform extends outwardly from the top step of the truck cab and has a straight edge that is substantially perpendicular to the axis of movement of the truck cab. A support member extends between the underside of the planar platform and the lower step. An inclined ramp is affixed to the edge of the planar platform and extends between the planar platform and the ground outwardly at an angle of less than 45 degrees from the axis of movement.

[0011] In another embodiment, a ramp for accessing a truck cab is disclosed. The truck cab has at least a top step and a lower step and an axis of movement. A planar platform is affixed to the top step of the truck cab by hinges. The planar platform has a front edge that is substantially straight and perpendicular to the axis of movement of the truck cab. A support member extends between the underside of the planar platform and the lower step, thereby supporting the planar platform. An upper inclined ramp has a first edge affixed at to the front edge of the planar platform by hinges and extends forward with respect to the truck cab outwardly at an angle of less than 45 degrees from the axis of movement. A lower inclined ramp has a first edge affixed by hinges to a second edge of the upper inclined ramp distal from the first edge of the upper inclined ramp. The lower inclined ramp and upper inclined ramp are capable of extending between the planar platform and a ground surface.

[0012] In another embodiment, a ramp for accessing a truck cab is disclosed. The truck cab has at least a top step and a lower step and an axis of movement. The ramp includes a planar platform that extend outwardly from and is substantially level to the top surface of the top step of the truck cab. The planar platform has a front edge that is substantially straight and perpendicular to the axis of movement of the truck cab. A support member extends between an underside of the planar platform and the lower step, providing support to the planar platform. An inclined ramp is affixed to the front edge of the planar platform by hinges and can extend between the planar platform and the ground outwardly at an angle of from zero to 45 degrees with respect to the axis of movement.

[0023] Reference will now be made in detail to the presently preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Throughout the following detailed description, the same reference numerals refer to the same elements in all figures.

[0024] Referring to FIG. 1, a perspective view of a pet ramp of the present invention installed on a truck cab will be described. Many truck cabs 10 have steps 20/22 that are difficult for small pets to climb. For example, a small or medium sized dog might easily get hurt trying to jump up these steps 20/22. The present invention provides a pet ramp that extends the surface area of the upper step 22 with a planar platform 12 while providing an inclined ramp 14/16 for the pet to walk from the surface level up to the top step 22. The truck cab 10 has an axis of movement 9 which is an imaginary straight line drawn in the normal direction of the truck cab 10. As can be seen, the inclined ramp 14/16 extends on a slight outward angle to the axis of movement 9, toward the front of the truck cab instead of outwardly at 90 degrees as in the prior art, providing easy and safer operation when used near roadways or in tight places when the truck cab 10 is parked near another truck or obstruction. The ramp can be angled outwardly at any angle from zero degrees to 45 degrees with respect to the axis of movement. It should be noted that, although the inclined ramp 14/16 is preferred to extend forward, it could be configured to extend backward at a similar angle. Details of the pet ramp, including the support member 18, will be shown in subsequent figures.

[0025] The planar platform 12 and inclined ramp 14/16 are made of a stiff, light-weight material such as aluminum or heavy-duty plastic. In some embodiments, the material is steel. In some embodiments, the material is steel which is honeycombed to provide support while reducing overall weight. It is preferred that the upper surface of the planar platform 12 and inclined ramp 14/16 be non-skid. In some embodiments, the top surfaces of the planar platform 12 and inclined ramp 14/16 are made non-skid by texturing or molding. In some embodiments, a commercially available, adhesive backed, non-skid material is applied to the upper surfaces of the planar platform 12 and inclined ramp 14/16. The non-skid surface provides traction for pets with wet feet.

[0026] Referring to FIG. 2, a second perspective view of a pet ramp of the present invention will be described. The upper 14 and lower 16 inclined ramps are connected by hinges (not visible in FIG. 2). The lower inclined ramp section 16 rests on the ground surface when extended. The upper inclined ramp section 14 is connected to the ramp platform 12 by hinges 32/36 at a forward facing edge or a backward facing edge that is substantially straight and substantially perpendicular to the axis of movement 9. The outer hinge 32 is pivotally interfaced to the ramp platform 12 while the inner hinge 36 is interfaced to the ramp platform 12 through a slot mechanism 34, allowing the inclined ramp 14/16 to be adjusted outwardly at an angle away from the truck wheel 6 and wheel well 8. The inclined ramp 14/16 can be adjusted to be parallel to the top step 22 or at an outward angle so that it clears the front tire 6 and wheel well 8. Details of this part of the pet ramp are shown in FIG. 3.

[0027] The planar ramp platform 12 is affixed to the top step 22 by hinges 30 so that it can be folded and rest against the step riser 24 when not in uses (shown in later figures). A support member 18 wedges between the planar ramp platform 12 and the bottom step 20, providing support when the pet is located on the ramp platform 12. Details of the connection between the support member 18 and the ramp platform 12 will be shown in subsequent figures.

[0028] Referring to FIG. 3, an exploded view of the hinge area 3 of the present invention will be described. The upper inclined ramp section 14 is connected to the ramp platform 12 by hinges 32/36. The inner and outer hinges 32/36 permit the inclined ramps 14/16 to be folded against the ramp platform 12 when not in use. The outer hinge 32 is pivotally interfaced to the ramp platform 12 by a fastener 31 while the inner hinge 36 is interfaced to the ramp platform 12 through a second fastener 33 and slot mechanism 34. The second fastener 33 moves freely in the slot 34, allowing the inclined ramp 14/16 to be adjusted outwardly from the truck cab 10. The inclined ramp 14/16 can be adjusted to be parallel to the top step 22 or at an outward angle so that it clears the front tire 6 or wheel well 8. It is preferred that the ramp be adjustable from zero to 45 degrees with respect to the axis of movement 9. The ramp platform is affixed to the top step 22 by hinges 30 so that it can be folded and rest against the step riser 24 when not in uses (shown in later figures).

[0029] Referring to FIG. 4, a side view of the present invention will be described. The hinge interface between the ramp planar platform 12 and the support 18 is shown. This hinge interface includes a bracket 17 and a hinge pin 19, allowing an approximately 90 degree rotation of the support 18, so it can be folded against the ramp platform 12 during storage. This is an exemplary hinge and any hinge capable of providing such swing to the support 18 is equally anticipated. Furthermore, in alternate embodiments, the support is removable instead of hinged.

[0030] Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, partial folded views of the ramp will be described. In these views, the support 18 is folded tightly against the ramp platform 12 and the upper inclined ramp 14 is partially folded towards the ramp platform 12 while the lower inclined ramp 16 is partially folded towards the upper inclined ramp 14. It can be seen that the lower inclined ramp 16 overlaps the upper inclined ramp 14, providing extra strength when the inclined ramp 14/16 is extended. The hinges 25 connecting the upper inclined ramp 14 to the lower inclined ramp 16 are visible in FIG. 5. In FIG. 7, the inclined ramps 14/16 are folded tightly against the ramp platform 12 and the entire assembly is folded along hinges 30 to rest against the step riser 24 between the lower step 20 and upper step 22. A strap 11 holds the pet ramp against the riser 24 while the truck cab 10 is being driven. Any type of strap or belt is envisioned. In alternate embodiments, snap clips or other types of clips are affixed to the riser 24 and interface with the pet ramp to hold the pet ramp securely and release it when needed.

[0031] FIGS. 8 and 9 show an alternate embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the pet ramp is removable and, when not in use, disengages from the truck step 22 through the use of support rods 45 with hooks 47 that secure the pet ramp into holes in the top step 22. This embodiment is useful for truck drivers who often change truck cabs. In FIG. 9, the removable embodiment is shown installed with the hooks 47 secured within the holes of the top step 22. It is preferred that, when installed, the support rods 45 lay as close to the surface of the top step 22 as possible.

[0032] Equivalent elements can be substituted for the ones set forth above such that they perform in substantially the same manner in substantially the same way for achieving substantially the same result.

[0033] It is believed that the system and method of the present invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood by the foregoing description. It is also believed that it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the components thereof without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention or without sacrificing all of its material advantages. The form herein before described being merely exemplary and explanatory embodiment thereof. It is the intention of the following claims to encompass and include such changes.