Vehicle display ramps

Abstract

A motor vehicle display ramp assembly (10, 110) has ramp sections (40, 140) pivotally mounted on base stands (20, 120) being connected by a cross-beam (30) within a range of spacings. Ramp operating means, such as turnbuckles (50) or hydraulic rams (150), enable the ramp sections (40, 140) to be selectively inclined, in unison or separately, to provide a wide range of display orientations for a vehicle on the assembly (10). A control system, such as a computer (170) enables the display orientation to be dynamic or static.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

THIS INVENTION relates to vehicle display ramps.

The invention particularly relates, but is not limited to, motor vehicle display ramps where the respective ramps are selectively adjustable relative to a support structure and/or, each other.

2. Prior Art

The use of motor vehicle display ramps for the display (and sometimes maintenance/repair) of motor vehicles in motor vehicle dealerships and sales yards is well-known.

The known display ramps have a number of limitations, including the following:

(i) the spacing between the ramps is fixed, limiting the range of vehicle tracks (and thereby vehicles) which can be displayed on the ramps;

(ii) the ramps require the vehicle's weight to move from the (inclined) ramp entry position to the (usually substantially horizontal) display position; and

(iii) the display ramps can only statically display the vehicle in two possible positions.

Limitation (i) means that an operator may require a range of display ramps to display a full range of vehicles from small passenger cars to large sport utility vehicles/light trucks.

Limitation (ii) is a workplace health and safety problem as a person driving a vehicle onto the display ramps must do so carefully as the ramps move from the (inclined) ramp position to the (substantially horizontal) display position. In particular, a small longitudinal movement of the vehicle along the ramps, relative to the hinge points of the ramps, may cause the ramps to rapidly change their angular inclination to the support structure and quickly swing to either position. This can also result in damage to, eg., the suspension of the vehicle being displayed.

Limitation (iii) prevents either dynamic display of the vehicles or display of the vehicles in a range of different orientations, eg., “nose-down” to a perimeter fence or “replicating” typical terrain for a 4-wheel-drive vehicle.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a motor vehicle display ramp assembly where the respective ramps are separately operable (or tiltable) relative to the support structure.

It is a preferred object of the present invention to provide such an assembly where the spacing between the ramps is easily adjustable to accommodate a wide range of vehicle tracks.

It is a further preferred object to provide such an assembly where the ramps can display the vehicles in a wide range of display orientations, including orientations where the angular inclination of the respective ramps (e.g., to the horizontal) is unequal.

It is a still further preferred object of the present invention to provide an assembly where the ramps can be selectively moved to provide a “dynamic” display of the vehicle thereon.

Other preferred objects of the present invention will become apparent from the following description.

In a broad aspect, the present invention resides in a motor vehicle display ramp assembly including:

a pair of base stands spaced apart;

a respective ramp section pivotally mounted at, or adjacent, an upper end of each base stand; and

respective ramp operating means interconnecting a ramp section to the base stand on which it is pivotally mounted, wherein:

each ramp operating means being selectively operable to enable selective adjustment of the angular inclination of the ramp section relative to the respective base stand.

Preferably, each base stand is of substantially inverted T-shape, with a substantially vertical post (or posts) supported by substantially horizontally-extending feet; and

each ramp section is pivotally mounted on its respective base stand by a pivot pin selectively vertically adjustable on the post(s).

Preferably, the base stands are interconnected by a cross-beam, received in respective sockets in the base stands, to enable the spacing between the base stands to be selectively adjusted.

Preferably, each ramp section has an entry end to enable a vehicle to be driven onto the ramp section, and stop means at the other end to limit the travel of the vehicle along the ramp section.

Preferably, a ramp frame is provided beneath each ramp section and is connected to, or journalled about, the pivot pin, where the distance of the pivot pin to the entry end is preferably greater than the distance between the pivot pin to the other end of the ramp section.

Preferably, the ramp operating means is a telescopically-extensible unit including a mechanical turnbuckle, hydraulic or pneumatic ram, electrical solenoid or the like.

Alternatively, a mechanical or electrical drive mounted on the post(s), may be operably connected to the ramp section, or vice versa, to selectively tilt the ramp section relative to the post(s).

The ramp operating means may be connected to, and controlled by, a computer (or other control mechanism) to enable the ramp operating means to be operated in unison, or independently, to enable dynamic or selective tilting of the ramp sections relative to the base stand(s) and/or each other.

Preferably, where the display is to be static, optional safety means interconnect each base stand to the ramp section in opposition to the interconnection by the operating means.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To enable the invention to be fully understood, preferred embodiments will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the motor vehicle display ramp assembly in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view thereof;

FIG. 3 is a part front elevation thereof;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of a second embodiment thereof;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of a third embodiment thereof; and

FIG. 6 is an end elevational view of a fourth embodiment thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The ramp assembly 10 has a pair of base stands 20—each of substantially inverted T-shape in side view.

Each base stand 20 has a pair of spaced, substantially parallel, substantially vertical posts 21, 22 which extend above a transverse RHS socket 23. A first (longer) pair of feet 24 extend substantially horizontal from the outer post 21 and a second (shorter) pair of feet 25 extend substantially horizontally from the inner post 22.

As shown in FIG. 3, a pivot pin 26 is selectively engaged in horizontally aligned, vertically spaced pairs of holes 27 in the posts 21, 22.

Braces 28 interconnect the outer posts 21 to the first pair of feet 24 to provide stability to the former.

A cross-beam 30, also of RHS configuration, is slidably received in the aligned sockets 23 to enable the base stands 20 to be interconnected at selective spacings so that the ramp sections 40, to be hereinafter described, can be selectively spaced to enable vehicles with a wide range of tracks (eg., small passenger cars, large station wagons, sport utility vehicles (SUV) and light trucks) to be displayed on the ramp assembly 10. Pins, not shown, can engage aligned holes in the sockets 23 and cross-beam 30 to enable the spacing of the base stands 20 to be selectively adjusted. Alternatively, lock bolts, screw-threadably engaged in the sockets 23 can releasably engage the cross-beam 30.

Each ramp section 40 has a ramp plate 41, preferably with a non-slip surface, supported by an elongate RHS spine member 42. A pair of (spaced) pivot plates 43 extend down from the ramp plate 41, being connected thereto, and the spine member 42 by transverse brackets 44. The pivot plates 43 are journalled on the pivot pin 26 and are braced by angled braces 45, 46.

It will be noted that the pivot plates 43 are offset from the longitudinal mid-point of the ramp sections 40, with the entry end 47 of the ramp section 40 being spaced a greater distance from the pivot pin 26 than the other end 48 (provided with a wheel stop member 49). When unconstrained, the ramp sections 40 tend to tilt until the entry ends 47 engage the ground on supporting surface (eg., to the orientation shown on FIG. 2).

It will be noted in FIG. 1 that the ramp sections 40 are shown at alternative heights relative to the base stands 20, with the ramp section 40 in the background being higher than the ramp section 40 in the foreground.

A mechanical turnbuckle 50, as the ramp operating means, interconnects the spine member 42 of each ramp section 40 to an anchor 29 on the associated base stand 20.

By selectively extending the turnbuckle 50 from the configuration shown in FIG. 2, the associated ramp section 40 is controllably tilted to raise the entry end 47 (after a vehicle has been driven onto the ramp assembly 10). NB: The ramp sections 40 will remain in the orientation shown in FIG. 2, even if the centre-of-gravity (C.G.) of the vehicle/ramp section combination moves to the right of the pivot pin 26, until tilted by the turnbuckles 50. This prevents uncontrolled tilting of the ramp section(s) 40.

The operator can selectively extend, or retract, the turnbuckles 50 until the desired orientation of the ramp sections 40 (and display orientation for the vehicle) is achieved.

It is possible for the vehicle to be driven onto the assembly 10 and be, eg., displayed “nose-down” adjacent a saleyard perimeter fence.

As shown in FIG. 1, the ramp sections 40 may be tilted unequally (eg., one “nose-up”/one “nose-down”) to replicate rough terrain to display a 4WD vehicle.

When the display orientation has been established, it is preferred to provide a safety mechanism 60, comprising a second turnbuckle 61 and chain 62, to interconnect the other end portion of each ramp section 40 to its base stand 20.

The embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 3 is suitable for “static” display of the vehicles.

By substituting hydraulic or pneumatic rams 150 (interconnecting the base stands 120 and ramp sections 140) for the turnbuckles 50, the assembly 110 can provide a “dynamic” display.

The rams 150 are connected via hydraulic or pneumatic hoses 151 to a hydraulic or pneumatic pump unit 152, which may be controlled by a computer 170. The computer 170 can be programmed to selectively extend or retract the two hydraulic or pneumatic rams 150, and thereby tilt the ramp sections 140, either in unison or separately, in a programmed sequence or randomly, to provide a truly “dynamic” display of the vehicle on the assembly 110.

It will be readily apparent to the skilled addressee that the mechanical turnbuckles 50 and hydraulic or pneumatic rams 150 can be substituted by electrical equivalents.

In an alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 5, a motor or engine 250 is mounted on the base stand 220 (or foot 224) or post 221, and has a crank 251 connected to its respective ramp section 240 via a connecting rod 252 to provide a mechanical drive for the ramp section 240.

In an alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 6, an electric or hydraulic motor 350 may be mounted on each base stand 320 at post 321 and selectively rotate the pivot pins 326 fixed to the pivot brackets 343 of the respective ramp section 340. Such rotation could be via direct drive or reduction means 352 (e.g., a reduction gearbox or sprockets 353, 354 and chains 355). The speed and direction of the motors could be controlled by the computer 170 as hereinbefore described.

For vehicles with little ground clearance, e.g., sports cars, the entry ends 47 could rest on small start ramps to reduce the initial inclination of the ramp sections 40, 140, 240, 340 to the ground.

Preferably, the length of the ramp sections 40, 140, 240, 340 will be selected to enable vehicles with a wide range of wheel bases to be displayed.

As the base stands 20, 120, 220, 320 can be released from the cross-beam 30, the assembly 10, 110, 210, 310 can be made very compact for transport.

In addition, the selection of suitable (high strength) steel aluminium can also made the assembly 10, 110, 210, 310 relatively light.

The independent adjustment of the ramp sections 40, 140, 240, 340 and the ability to both statically and dynamically display the vehicles, gives an operator almost infinite selection of display orientations for a vehicle.

Various changes and modifications may be made to the embodiments described and illustrated without departing from the present invention.

Claims

1. A motor vehicle display ramp assembly including:

a pair of base stands spaced apart;

a respective ramp section pivotally mounted at, or adjacent, an upper end of each base stand; and

respective ramp operating means interconnecting a ramp section to the base stand on which it is pivotally mounted, wherein:

each ramp operating means being selectively operable to enable selective adjustment of the angular inclination of the ramp section relative to the respective base stand.

2. An assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein:

each base stand is of substantially inverted T-shape, with a substantially vertical post, or posts supported by substantially horizontally-extending feet;

each ramp section is pivotally mounted on its respective base stand by a pivot pin selectively vertically adjustable on the post(s); and

the base stands are interconnected by a cross-beam, received in respective sockets in the base stands, to enable the spacing between the base stands to be selectively adjusted.

3. An assembly as claimed in claim 2 wherein:

each ramp section has an entry end to enable a vehicle to be driven onto the ramp section, and stop means at the other end to limit the travel of the vehicle along the ramp section; and

a ramp frame is provided beneath each ramp section and is connected to, or journalled about, the pivot pin, where the distance of the pivot pin to the entry end is greater than the distance between the pivot pin to the other end of the ramp section.

4. An assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein:

the ramp operating means is a telescopically-extensible unit including a mechanical turnbuckle, hydraulic or pneumatic ram, or electrical solenoid operably connected to the ramp section to selectively tilt the ramp section relative to the post, or posts.

5. An assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein:

the ramp operating means is a mechanical or electrical device mounted on the post, or posts, and operably connected to the ramp section, or vice versa, to selectively tilt the ramp section to the post, or posts.

6. An assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein:

the ramp operating means are connected to, and controlled by, a computer or other control mechanism to enable the ramp operating means to be operated in unison, or independently, to enable dynamic or selective tilting of the ramp sections relative to the base stand or base stands and/or each other.