US20020096670A1

US20020096670A1 - Portable ramp jack

Info

Publication number: US20020096670A1
Application number: US09/768,142
Authority: US
Inventors: Lewis Eslick
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-01-24
Filing date: 2001-01-24
Publication date: 2002-07-25

Abstract

A lightweight portable ramp jack is made of a solid alloy base. The Portable Ramp Jack is designed to rapidly lift the outside tandem wheel of a multi-wheeled trailer. The portable ramp jack is to be placed in front of, or behind, the inside tandem wheel of a trailer for raising the outside tandem wheel off the ground when the vehicle is moved onto the ramp. The jack is designed primarily to lift the outside tandem wheel to allow for an easier method to attach ice and snow chains to the trailer outside tandem wheels or any other work where a slight elevation off the ground is required. Each side of the portable tandem wheel ramp jack is equipped with two permanently mounted handles to allow ease of positioning from either side. Gripping cleats are mounted to the underside of the ramp to prevent it from skidding in snow or icy conditions. The lateral shape of the ice and snow cleats is that of an open vee. The base of the Vee is aligned toward the center of the portable ramp jack for better gripping ability. These gripping cleats, triangular in shape, are mounted laterally to the underside of the portable ramp jack. Mounted laterally on the top of the ramp jack are two positioning bumps which alert the driver when the inside wheel is in a locked and safe position.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention is a lightweight portable ramp jack is made of a solid alloy base. The Portable Ramp Jack is designed to rapidly lift the outside tandem wheel of a multi-wheeled trailer. The portable ramp jack is to be placed in front of, or behind, the inside tandem wheel of a trailer for raising the outside tandem wheel off the ground when the vehicle is moved onto the ramp. The jack is designed primarily to lift the outside tandem wheel to allow for an easier method to attach ice and snow chains to the trailer outside tandem wheels or any other work where a slight elevation off the ground is required. Each side of the portable tandem wheel ramp jack is equipped with two permanently mounted handles to allow ease of positioning from either side. Gripping cleats are mounted to the underside of the ramp to prevent it from skidding in snow or icy conditions. The lateral shape of the ice and snow cleats is that of an open vee. The base of the Vee is aligned toward the center of the portable ramp jack for better gripping ability. These gripping cleats, triangular in shape, are mounted laterally to the underside of the portable ramp jack. Mounted laterally on the top of the ramp jack are two positioning bumps which alert the driver when the inside wheel is in a locked and safe position.

REVIEW OF THE RELATED TECHNOLOGY

This jack is designed to allow a vehicle operator easier access to the outside tandem wheel of any vehicle and particularly for tandem wheel trailers for mounting ice and snow chains on the outside wheel. There is a clear necessity for a jack of this type to be as light in weight as possible yet be able to support several tons of weight. Within the trucking industry a jack of this type will allow a rapid installation of ice and snow chains on the outside tandem trailer wheel.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One feature of this invention is that it is a lightweight portable ramp jack eight inches in height, eight inches in width and two feet six inches in length. It is to be manufactured, as a solid piece from lightweight alloy metal. The gripping cleats, the handles and the positioning bumps are to be manufactured from solid materials and are to be welded in position to the body of the portable ramp jack. Components attached in this manner cause no loss of strength to the portable ramp jack.

Another feature of this invention is that it is a lightweight jack which will allow for better control of positioning this device giving a quick and positive lift to any outside tandem wheel.

A second feature of this invention is that the jack has gripping cleats on its underside to prevent it from slipping or skidding particularly on ice and snow.

A third feature of this invention is that it has no working parts, thus eliminating the possibility of a breakdown within its structure.

A fourth feature of this invention is that it requires no maintenance.

Finally, the invention is that it compact and light weight allowing it to be carried in a vehicle with no concern for additional cargo weight.

In order to meet these objectives the invention is presented as a lightweight portable ramp jack with a floor base two feet six inches in length, eight inches in width and eight inches in height featuring gripping cleats facing downwards from the underside of the base to make contact with the ground. There are also two positioning bumps facing upwards from the topside of the base to make the operator aware when the wheel is positioned between the two bumps. Two handles are placed on each side of the invention to allow for rapid and easy positioning either in front of or behind the wheel to be placed upon the invention.

The eight gripping cleats, two inches in height, mounted to the underside of the ramp are to prevent it from skidding especially in snow or icy conditions. The body of the gripping cleats is triangular in shape and is mounted laterally to the underside of the portable ramp jack. The gripping cleats are formed in an open vee shape and are mounted so that four cleats are facing each end of the portable ramp jack.

The invention features two laterally mounted positioning bumps mounted on the topside of the invention. These are positioned to allow the inside tandem tire to rest between them when it is moved upon the portable ramp jack. These positioning bumps will alert the operator when the tire is seated in place between them.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

By way of a guide, the drawings attached shall include all details concerning the invention and show the following: [0012]
FIG. 1 A side elevation of the Portable Ramp Jack describing its overall length. Additionally included are the details of this invention, with the two aligning bumps on the topside, the eight snow and ice cleats on the underside and the two positioning handles. [0013]
FIG. 2 The view from the end of the portable ramp jack showing the dimensions as to the width, height, size and location of the ice and snow cleats. [0014]
FIG. 3 The underside of the portable ramp jack with the placement of the ice and snow cleats. [0015]
FIG. 4 The side view of the details of the depth and the shape from directly below the ice and snow cleats. [0016]
FIG. 5 A drawing of the positioning handle. There are two handles on each side of the portable ramp jack. [0017]
FIG. 6. The view of the body of the jack as indicating where the alignment bumps are to be located. [0018]

Claims

We claim:

1. A lightweight portable ramp jack is made of a solid alloy base. The Portable Ramp Jack is designed to rapidly lift the outside tandem wheel of a multi-wheeled trailer. The portable ramp jack is to be placed in front of, or behind, the inside tandem wheel of a trailer for raising the outside tandem wheel off the ground when the vehicle is moved onto the ramp. The jack is designed primarily to lift the outside tandem wheel to allow for an easier method to attach ice and snow chains to the trailer outside tandem wheels or any other work where a slight elevation off the ground is required. Each side of the portable tandem wheel ramp jack is equipped with two permanently mounted handles to allow ease of positioning from either side. Gripping cleats are mounted to the underside of the ramp to prevent it from skidding in snow or icy conditions. The lateral shape of the ice and snow cleats is that of an open vee. The base of the Vee is aligned toward the center of the portable ramp jack for better gripping ability. These gripping cleats, triangular in shape, are mounted laterally to the underside of the portable ramp jack. Mounted laterally on the top of the ramp jack are two positioning bumps which alert the driver when the inside wheel is in a locked and safe position.

The ramp jack body is manufactured of a lightweight solid alloy forming the base support of the portable ramp jack as it sits the ground.

There are two permanently mounted handles which will allow easy positioning from either side of the portable ramp jack;

There are gripping cleats mounted to the underside of the ramp preventing the ramp jack from skidding, especially in snow or icy conditions. These gripping cleats, triangular in shape, are mounted laterally to the underside of the ramp jack;

There are two aligning bumps permanently mounted laterally on the top portion of the ramp jack. These bumps to alert the driver when the inside tandem wheel is in position.