Multi-configuration access ramp

Abstract

An adjustable access ramp assembly includes at least one ramp unit that is adjustable between a plurality of positions relative to a platform. An integrated jack may be provided for adjusting the ramp unit. Two ramp units may be provided alongside each other in a switchback orientation with the platform. The ramp assembly can be configured for loading on a wheeled trailer unit to be hauled, and may include one or more stowed components to facilitate connection to a trailer hitch.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An adjustable access ramp assembly for providing ramped access between two elevations, the assembly comprising: 
 a frame including a raised switchback platform;    a first ramp unit having a first end positioned adjacent the switchback platform and a second end positioned away from the switchback platform, the first end of the first ramp unit mounted for pivotal movement to permit its second end to move between a plurality of heights relative to the switchback platform; and    a second ramp unit, alongside the first ramp unit, and having a first end positioned adjacent the switchback platform and a second end positioned away from the switchback platform, the first end of the second ramp unit mounted for pivotal movement to permit its second end to move between a plurality of heights relative to the switchback platform.    
     
     
         2 . The access ramp assembly of  claim 2 , further comprising: 
 a rail system including at least a first rail unit mountable on the switchback platform in either of first and second locations and a second rail unit mountable on the switchback platform in either of the first and second locations.    
     
     
         3 . The access ramp assembly of  claim 2  wherein: 
 the first rail unit and second rail unit are of different configurations;  
 the first amp unit pivots to position its second end in at least both a lowered position relative to the switchback platform and a raised position relative to the switchback platform;  
 the second ramp unit pivots to position its second end in at least both a lowered position relative to the switchback platform and a raised position relative to the switchback platform;  
 when the access ramp assembly is installed with the first ramp unit second end in its raised position and the second ramp unit second end in its lowered position, the first rail unit is positioned at the first location adjacent the first ramp unit first end and the second rail unit is positioned at the second location adjacent the second ramp unit first end; and  
 when the access ramp assembly is installed with the first ramp unit second end in its lowered position and the second ramp unit second end in its raised position, the second rail unit is positioned at the first location adjacent the first ramp unit first end and the first rail unit is positioned at the second location adjacent the second ramp unit first end.  
 
     
     
         4 . The access ramp assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a first integrated jack for raising and lowering the first ramp unit second end; and    a second integrated jack for raising and lowering the second ramp unit second end.    
     
     
         5 . The access ramp assembly of  claim 4  wherein: 
 the first integrated jack includes a fixed part connected to the frame and a movable part connected to the first ramp unit;  
 the second integrated jack includes a fixed part connected to the frame and a movable part connected to the second ramp unit.  
 
     
     
         6 . The access ramp assembly of  claim 5  wherein: 
 the movable part of the first integrated jack includes a first rod pivotally connected to a first lift frame, the first lift frame pivotally connected to the first ramp unit;  
 the movable part of the second integrated jack includes a second rod pivotally connected to a second lift frame, the second lift frame pivotally connected to the second ramp unit.  
 
     
     
         7 . The access ramp assembly of  claim 4  wherein: 
 the first integrated jack comprises a hydraulic unit; and  
 the second integrated jack comprises a hydraulic unit.  
 
     
     
         8 . The access ramp assembly of  claim 1  wherein: 
 the first ramp unit includes spaced apart side rails with a rampway therebetween; and  
 the second ramp unit includes spaced apart rails with a rampway therebetween.  
 
     
     
         9 . The access ramp assembly of  claim 8  wherein the first end of the first ramp unit rampway maintains a substantially even height with the switchback platform regardless of position of the first ramp unit second end and the first end of the second ramp unit rampway maintains a substantially even height with the switchback platform regardless of position of the second ramp unit second end.  
     
     
         10 . The access ramp assembly of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the first ramp unit pivots to position its second end in at least both a lowered position relative to the switchback platform and a raised position relative to the switchback platform; and    the second ramp unit pivots to position its second end in at least both a lowered position relative to the switchback platform and a raised position relative to the switchback platform.    
     
     
         11 . The access ramp assembly of  claim 1  wherein: 
 the frame includes a plurality of height adjustment mechanisms for leveling the switchback platform on uneven ground.  
 
     
     
         12 . The access ramp assembly of  claim 10  wherein: 
 a multiplicity of the height adjustment mechanisms comprise support feet threaded onto the frame to permit adjustment via rotation.  
 
     
     
         13 . The access ramp assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 at least one means for supporting the first ramp unit in a plurality of orientations relative to the platform;    at least one means for supporting the second ramp unit in a plurality of orientations relative to the platform.    
     
     
         14 . An adjustable access ramp assembly for providing ramped access between two elevations, the assembly comprising: 
 a frame including a raised platform;    a first ramp unit including a rampway having a first end positioned adjacent the platform and a second end positioned away from the platform, the first ramp unit movably mounted to the frame to enable its second end to move between a plurality of heights relative to the platform while the first end of the rampway remains at a height substantially the same as a height of the platform;    a second ramp unit including a rampway having a first end positioned adjacent the platform and a second end positioned away from the platform, the second ramp unit movably mounted to the frame to enable its second end to move between a plurality of heights relative to the platform while the first end of the rampway of the second ramp unit remains at a height substantially the same as the height of the platform.    
     
     
         15 . The access ramp assembly of  claim 14 , further comprising: 
 at least one jack connected for moving the first and second ramp units.    
     
     
         16 . The access ramp assembly of  claim 15  wherein the jack comprises an integrated hydraulic unit.  
     
     
         17 . The access ramp assembly of  claim 15  wherein: 
 the at least one jack comprises a first integrated jack for moving the first ramp unit and a second integrated jack for moving the second ramp unit.  
 
     
     
         18 . The access ramp assembly of  claim 15  wherein: 
 the frame includes a plurality of height adjustment mechanisms for leveling the platform of uneven ground.  
 
     
     
         19 . The access ramp assembly of  claim 14 , further comprising: 
 a platform rail system including at least a first rail unit mountable on the platform in either of first and second locations and a second rail unit mountable on the platform in either of the first and second locations, the first rail unit and second rail unit are of different configurations.    
     
     
         20 . The access ramp assembly of  claim 14  wherein the first ramp unit is positioned alongside the second ramp unit and the platform comprises a switchback platform.  
     
     
         21 . An adjustable access ramp assembly for providing ramped access between two elevations, the assembly comprising: 
 a frame including a platform;    a first ramp unit having a first end adjacent the platform, the first ramp unit movably mounted to the frame to permit a second end of the first ramp unit to be positioned either (i) above the platform such that the first ramp unit leads down to the platform or (ii) below the platform such that that first ramp unit leads up to the platform; and    a second ramp unit having a first end adjacent the platform, the second ramp unit movably mounted to the frame to permit a second end of the second ramp unit to be positioned either (i) above the platform such that the second ramp unit leads down to the platform or (ii) below the platform such that that second ramp unit leads up to the platform.    
     
     
         22 . The access ramp assembly of  claim 21  wherein: 
 a plurality of height adjustment mechanisms are associated with the frame for leveling the platform on uneven ground.  
 
     
     
         23 . The access ramp assembly of  claim 21 , further comprising: 
 a first integrated jack for raising and lowering the first ramp unit second end; and    a second integrated jack for raising and lowering the second ramp unit second end.    
     
     
         24 . The access ramp assembly of  claim 21 , further comprising: 
 at least one means for supporting the first ramp unit in a plurality of orientations relative to the platform;    at least one means for supporting the second ramp unit in a plurality of orientations relative to the platform.    
     
     
         25 . The access ramp assembly of  claim 21 , further comprising: 
 at least one means for connecting the ramp assembly to a wheeled trailer unit.    
     
     
         26 . The access ramp assembly of  claim 21 , further comprising: 
 at least one means stowed on the ramp assembly for connecting the ramp assembly to a trailer hitch.    
     
     
         27 . An adjustable access ramp assembly for providing ramped access between two elevations, the assembly comprising: 
 a platform;    a ramp unit including a rampway surface having a first end positioned adjacent the platform and a second end positioned away from the platform, the ramp unit pivotally mounted adjacent to the platform    
     
     
         28 . The adjustable access ramp assembly of  claim 27 , further comprising: 
 an integrated jack for moving one of the ramp unit and the platform to adjust an incline of the rampway surface relative to the platform.    
     
     
         29 . The access ramp assembly of  claim 28 , wherein the platform comprises a raised part of a frame and the integrated jack is positioned between the frame and the ramp unit to pivot the ramp unit to adjust a height of the second end of the rampway surface relative to the platform.  
     
     
         30 . The access ramp assembly of  claim 28  wherein the first end of the rampway surface remains at a height substantially the same as a height of the platform during pivot of the ramp unit.  
     
     
         31 . The access ramp assembly of  claim 28  wherein: 
 the integrated jack includes a rod pivotally connected to a lift frame, the lift frame pivotally connected to the ramp unit.  
 
     
     
         32 . The access ramp assembly of  claim 27  wherein the ramp unit comprises a first ramp unit and the access ramp assembly further includes: 
 a second ramp unit including a rampway surface having a first end positioned adjacent the platform and a second end positioned away from the platform, the second ramp unit pivotally mounted adjacent to the platform.  
 
     
     
         33 . The access ramp assembly of  claim 27  wherein: 
 a plurality of height adjustment mechanisms are associated with the platform for leveling the platform on uneven ground.  
 
     
     
         34 . The access ramp assembly of  claim 27 , further comprising: 
 at least one means stowed on the ramp assembly for connecting the ramp assembly to a trailer hitch.    
     
     
         35 . The access ramp assembly of  claim 27 , further comprising: 
 at least one means for connecting the ramp assembly to a wheeled trailer unit.    
     
     
         36 . The access ramp assembly of  claim 27 , further comprising: 
 a rail system including at least two removable rail units connectable at sides of the platform.    
     
     
         37 . A method of providing ramped access between first and second different elevations, the method comprising the steps of: 
 providing an adjustable access ramp assembly including a frame having a raised platform, a first ramp having first and second ends, the first ramp movably mounted to the frame with its first end adjacent the platform, and a second ramp having first and second ends, the second ramp movably mounted to the frame with its first end adjacent the ramp platform;    positioning the adjustable access ramp assembly at a site of the first and second different elevations;    adjusting the frame such that the raised platform is substantially level;    positioning the first ramp such that its second end is positioned lower than the platform, at the first elevation, and the first ramp leads up to the platform; and    positioning the second ramp such that its second end is positioned higher than the platform, at the second elevation, and the second ramp leads down to the platform.    
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37 , comprising the further steps of: 
 the access ramp assembly positioning step involves: 
 connecting the adjustable access ramp assembly to a wheeled trailer;  
 hauling the adjustable access ramp assembly to the site using the wheeled trailer;  
 disconnecting the adjustable access ramp assembly from the wheeled trailer at the site.  
   
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38  wherein the connecting step involves the use of stowed stabilizer bars within the frame, the stabilizer bars movable to a position extending from the frame.  
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 38  wherein the connecting and disconnecting steps involve the use of a chain unit on the wheeled trailer.  
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 38  wherein during the hauling step the second end of the first ramp is positioned higher than the platform and the second end of the second ramp is positioned higher than the platform.  
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 37  wherein the step of positioning the first ramp involves utilization of a first integrated jack provided on the adjustable access ramp assembly and the step of positioning the second ramp involves utilization of a second integrated jack provided on the adjustable access ramp assembly.  
     
     
         43 . A method of providing ramped access between first and second different elevations, the method comprising the steps of: 
 providing an adjustable access ramp assembly including a frame having a raised platform, and a ramp having first and second ends, the ramp movably mounted to the frame with its first end adjacent the platform;    connecting the adjustable access ramp assembly to a wheeled trailer;    hauling the adjustable access ramp assembly to the site using the wheeled trailer;    disconnecting the adjustable access ramp assembly from the wheeled trailer at a site of the first and second different elevations;    adjusting the frame such that the raised platform is substantially level.    
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 43  wherein the connecting step involves the use of stowed stabilizer bars within the frame, the stabilizer bars movable to a position extending from the frame.  
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 43  wherein the connecting step involves aligning at least one frame support member with a correspondingly shaped receiving structure on the wheeled trailer and engaging the frame support member with the receiving structure.  
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 43  wherein the connecting step involves connecting a chain on the wheeled trailer to a portion of the adjustable access ramp assembly and operating a chain crank to move the chain and pull the wheeled trailer underneath the adjustable access ramp assembly.  
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 43  wherein the adjusting step involves the use of a plurality of height adjustment mechanisms incorporated on the frame.  
     
     
         48 . A trailer unit adapted for hauling an access ramp assembly, the trailer unit comprising: 
 a frame including central part including a slot for receiving a lower part of an access ramp assembly I-beam;    a chain system with associated hand crank for use in engaging the pulling the trailer unit and an access ramp assembly together;    spaced apart wheels connected with the frame for allowing the trailer unit to roll.    
     
     
         49 . The trailer unit of  claim 48  including spaced apart rollers on the frame for engaging respective access ramp assembly bottom surfaces.  
     
     
         50 . The trailer unit of  claim 48  wherein the slot is formed between rollers and wear strips.