Container ramp

Abstract

The present invention is a ramp having a front end that can be positioned up to the open end of a shipping container. The ramp is adapted to receive the forks of a forklift for lifting and transport. Generally, the ramp is constructed of an upwardly inclined load-bearing plate having at least one, and preferably two, fork-receiving slots with forward edges parallel to the load-bearing plate back edge, with the load-bearing plate being supported on first and second side support plates having upwardly inclined upper edges attached to the load-bearing plate adjacent load-bearing plate side edges. At least one, and preferably both, of the side support plates may also have at least one, and preferably two, fork-receiving slots with a horizontal upper edge.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A portable container ramp adapted to be transported on the forks of a forklift, said ramp comprising: 
 a) a load-bearing plate having an outer surface, an inner surface, a front edge, a back edge, first and second parallel side edges, and at least one fork-receiving slot with a forward edge parallel to said back edge; and    b) first and second side support plates having upwardly inclined upper edges attached to said load-bearing plate adjacent said side edges, horizontal lower edges, and front edges.    
     
     
         2 . The container ramp of  claim 1 , further including a front plate parallel to said load-bearing plate front edge, said front plate having ends attached to the front edges of said support plates.  
     
     
         3 . The container ramp of  claim 1 , further including at least one inner support plate having a upwardly inclined upper edge attached to the lower surface of said load-bearing plate between said side support plates, and a horizontal lower surface.  
     
     
         4 . The container ramp of  claim 1 , further including a lip with a substantially horizontal lower surface and a downwardly inclined upper surface, said lip extending from the front edge of said load-bearing surface.  
     
     
         5 . The container ramp of  claim 1 , wherein said load-bearing plate includes two longitudinally aligned, fork-receiving slots with forward edges parallel to said load-bearing plate back edge.  
     
     
         6 . A portable container ramp adapted to be transported on the forks of a forklift, said ramp comprising: 
 a) a load-bearing plate having an outer surface, an inner surface, a front edge, a back edge, first and second parallel side edges; and    b) first and second side support plates having upwardly inclined upper edges attached to said load-bearing plate adjacent said side edges, horizontal lower surfaces, and front edges, at least one of said side support plates having at least one fork-receiving slot with a horizontal upper edge.    
     
     
         7 . The container ramp of  claim 6 , further including a front plate parallel to said load-bearing plate front edge, said front plate having ends attached to the front edges of said support plates.  
     
     
         8 . The container of  claim 6 , further including at least one inner support plate having a upwardly inclined upper edge attached to the lower surface of said load-bearing plate between said side support plates, and a horizontal lower surface.  
     
     
         9 . The container of  claim 6 , further including a lip with a substantially horizontal lower surface and a downwardly inclined upper surface, said lip extending from the front edge of said load-bearing surface.  
     
     
         10 . The container ramp of  claim 6 , wherein at least one of said side support plates includes two longitudinally aligned, fork-receiving slots with horizontal upper edges.  
     
     
         11 . The container ramp of  claim 6 , wherein both of said side support plates include at least one fork-receiving slot with a horizontal upper edge.  
     
     
         12 . The container ramp of  claim 6 , wherein both of said side support plates include two longitudinally aligned, fork-receiving slots with horizontal upper edges.  
     
     
         13 . A portable container ramp adapted to be transported on the forks of a forklift, said ramp comprising: 
 a) a load-bearing plate having an outer surface, an inner surface, a front edge, a back edge, first and second parallel side edges, and at least one fork-receiving slot with a forward edge parallel to said back edge; and    b) first and second side support plates having upwardly inclined upper edges attached to said load-bearing plate adjacent said side edges, horizontal lower surfaces, and front edges, at least one of said side support plates having at least one fork-receiving slot with a horizontal upper edge.    
     
     
         14 . The container ramp of  claim 13 , further including a front plate parallel to said load-bearing plate front edge, said front plate having ends attached to the front edges of said support plates.  
     
     
         15 . The container of  claim 13 , further including at least one inner support plate having a upwardly inclined upper edge attached to the lower surface of said load-bearing plate between said side support plates, and a horizontal lower surface.  
     
     
         16 . The container of  claim 13 , further including a lip with a substantially horizontal lower surface and a downwardly inclined upper surface, said lip extending from the front edge of said load-bearing surface.  
     
     
         17 . The container ramp of  claim 1 , wherein said load-bearing plate includes two longitudinally aligned, fork-receiving slots with forward edges parallel to said load-bearing plate back edge.  
     
     
         18 . The container ramp of  claim 13 , wherein at least one of said side support plates includes two longitudinally aligned, fork-receiving slots with horizontal upper edges.  
     
     
         19 . The container ramp of  claim 13 , wherein both of said side support plates include at least one fork-receiving slot with a horizontal upper edge.  
     
     
         20 . The container ramp of  claim 13 , wherein both of said side support plates include two longitudinally aligned, fork-receiving slots with horizontal upper edges.