Ramp kit

Abstract

A ramp kit formed of brackets assembles a plurality of board sections into an assembled ramp structure in which the board sections are mounted to one another in an end to end configuration with adjacent board sections being supported at an obtuse angle relative to one another. By forming a ramp of plural board sections mounted in an end to end configuration, a gradual steepness to an assembled ramp is provided to reduce the relative angle between the end of the ramp and a truck box floor so that the ramps may be considerably shorter than straight long boards normally used with trucks without concern of vehicles to be loaded into the box being hung up on the end of the truck box floor. The arrangement of the brackets of the kit provides a small lightweight package for store shelves which is inexpensive to purchase, while providing the consumer with the benefit of a ramp with graduated steepness when suitable boards are provided.

1 . A ramp kit for assembling a plurality of board sections into an assembled ramp structure, the kit comprising: 
 a mounting mechanism arranged to mount the board sections to one another in an end to end configuration with adjacent board sections being supported at an obtuse angle relative to one another.    
     
     
         2 . The kit according to  claim 1  wherein the mounting mechanism includes a continuous member for securement across respective top sides of the adjacent board sections and at least one strap member for spanning between board sections at opposing ends of the assembled ramp structure.  
     
     
         3 . The kit according to  claim 2  wherein there is provided a spacer for mounting between said at least one strap member and one of the board sections.  
     
     
         4 . The kit according to  claim 1  wherein the mounting mechanism comprises a pair of opposed channels for receiving opposing side edges of the board sections and for supporting the board sections at the obtuse angle relative to one another.  
     
     
         5 . The kit according to  claim 1  wherein the channels have an interior dimension approximately equal to a dimension of depth of standard dimensional lumber.  
     
     
         6 . The kit according to  claim 3  wherein each channel is generally U-shaped in cross section and includes at least one relief formed in a bottom side edge of the channel, dividing the channel into a pair of adjacent channel sections bendable relative to one another.  
     
     
         7 . The kit according to  claim 1  wherein the mounting mechanism includes a first mounting portion for receiving one board section at a first end of the assembled ramp structure and a second mounting portion for receiving one board section at a second end of the assembled ramp structure, spaced from the board section at the first end of the ramp structure and at an obtuse angle therebetween.  
     
     
         8 . The kit according to  claim 7  wherein the mounting mechanism includes a third mounting portion for mounting one board section spanning between the board sections of the first and second ends of the assembled ramp structure.  
     
     
         9 . The kit according to  claim 1  wherein there is provided an abutment member including an abutment plate and a mounting plate supported substantially perpendicularly to one another, the mounting plate being configured for securement to one of the board sections.  
     
     
         10 . A ramp structure comprising: 
 a plurality of wooden board sections; and    a mounting mechanism mounting the board sections to one another in an end to end configuration with adjacent board sections being supported at an obtuse angle relative to one another.    
     
     
         11 . The ramp structure according to  claim 10  wherein the mounting mechanism includes a first mounting portion receiving one board section at a first end of the ramp structure and a second mounting portion receiving one board section at a second end of the ramp structure, spaced from the board section at the first end of the ramp structure and at an obtuse angle therebetween.  
     
     
         12 . The ramp structure according to  claim 11  wherein the mounting mechanism includes a third mounting portion mounting one board section spanning between the respective board sections of the first and second ends of the ramp structure.  
     
     
         13 . The ramp structure according to  claim 10  wherein there is provided at least one strap member spanning between board sections at opposing ends of the ramp structure.  
     
     
         14 . The ramp structure according to  claim 13  wherein there is provided a spacer mounted between said at least one strap member and a bottom side of a respective one of the board sections.  
     
     
         15 . A method of constructing a ramp structure, the method comprising: 
 providing a plurality of board sections; and    mounting the board sections to one another in an end to end configuration with adjacent board sections being supported at an obtuse angle relative to one another.    
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15  including providing a continuous member secured across respective top sides of the adjacent board sections and providing at least one strap member spanning between board sections at opposing ends of the ramp structure.  
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 15  including providing a pair of opposed channels and receiving opposing side edges of the board sections in the opposed channels to support the board sections at the obtuse angle relative to one another.  
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17  wherein each channel is generally U-shaped in cross section and includes at least one relief formed in a bottom side edge of the channel, dividing the channel into a pair of adjacent channel sections, the method including receiving a board section within each channel section and bending the channel sections relative to one another as the ramp structure is constructed.  
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 15  including providing a mounting mechanism with a first mounting portion receiving one board section at a first end of the ramp structure and a second mounting portion receiving one board section at a second end of the ramp structure spaced from the board section at the first end of the ramp structure and at an obtuse angle therebetween.  
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 15  including providing a third mounting portion on the mounting mechanism and mounting one board section on the third mounting portion spanning between the board sections of the first and second ends of the assembled ramp structure.