The present invention relates to ramps for providing aerial lift for sport jumping with skateboards, inline skates, bicycles and the like and, more particularly, a system for creating ramp assemblies that can be readily assembled to selectively provide obstacle courses of a variety of configurations with different challenge levels and can be readily disassembled for transport or storage.
There are a variety of ramp designs for skateboard, inline skates and bicycle enthusiasts for performing simple aerial jumps or complex aerial acrobatics or other forms of ramp challenges. Such activities are generally performed on straight inclined ramp surfaces or arcuate surfaces some of which may extend as much as a half pipe. In addition there are collapsible and/or modular ramp assemblies some of which are used for the transport of wheeled vehicles such as wheelchairs, carts and the like.
Even with prior modular or collapsible ramp assemblies such structures provide only limited, selective versatility of the final desired configuration and hence use.
In the present invention a system for modular ramp assemblies is provided comprising a plurality of similar ramp modules of at least two different structures which can be selectively assembled together vertically and horizontally to define ramp assemblies having a variety of desired overall configurations. Here one of the modules is an inclined ramp module having an inclined upper support, or riding surface and another module a straight module having a straight, flat upper support or riding surface. These surfaces are adapted to be readily operatively joined together to form configurations with desired contours.
With the versatile system of the present invention the modules can be selectively assembled to provide ramp assemblies of multiple lengths, multiple widths and multiple ramp elevations along with a large variety of overall contours. In addition the modules are provided with unique interfitting structures whereby the modules can be readily manually assembled and disassembled without the need for special tools. In addition each module is of a relatively lightweight structure to facilitate handling.
In the present invention, a unique modular ramp system is provided to permit the user to selectively vary the overall contour of the ramp assembly as finally assembled.
Here a plurality of modules of at least two different configurations are used. A first module is provided with an inclined upper support or riding surface with the inclined surface extending substantially over the entire upper surface. A second module is substantially rectangular having a straight, generally horizontal planar upper support or riding surface extending substantially over the entire upper surface.
In one form the first and second modules are of substantially the same width and length. In addition the upper end of the inclined surface of the inclined ramp module is of substantially the same height as the uniform height of the rectangular module to provide continuity between the support surfaces when operatively connected together in line. This then facilitates assembly of the modules together in a large variety of selected configurations.
In addition, a simple, unique structure is provided for selectively interconnecting the modules together length wise (end-to-end), width wise (side-by-side), width-to-length (end-to-side) and/or stacked one on top of the other. This simple structure facilitates an ease of assembly and disassembly of the modules into a variety of overall structural ramp assemblies.
At the same time the capability of providing a selective variety of configurations of ramp assemblies can be done with the use of modules of only two different structures. This then minimizes the overall cost of manufacture for a reasonable cost to the end user.
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide ramp modules of unique structures for facilitating the formation of ramp assemblies of different overall contours.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a modular ramp system having a plurality of ramp modules which can be connected together horizontally and vertically in a variety of ways to provide ramp assemblies of numerous, selectively desirable overall contours.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a modular ramp system including a plurality of ramp modules of different constructions with a structure facilitating relatively easy assembly and disassembly.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a modular ramp system including a plurality of ramp modules of two different structures to provide ramp assemblies of selectively desirable contours.
It is also an object of the present invention to provide ramp modules of unique structures for forming unique structural ramp assemblies.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a unique modular ramp system.
Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.
The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:
a is an enlarged fragmentary view of a portion of the ramp assembly taken generally in the Circle 1a in
a is a longitudinal sectional view along the length of the inclined ramp module of FIG. 3 and taken generally along the line and in the direction of the Arrows 3a—3a in
a is a longitudinal sectional view along the length of the straight ramp module of FIG. 7 and taken generally along the line and in the direction of the Arrows 7a—7a in
b is a transverse sectional view along the width of the straight ramp module of FIG. 7 and taken generally along the line and in the direction of the Arrows 7b—7b in
c is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional view of a bottom portion of the straight ramp module of
d is an enlarged end elevational view of the foot member of
The following description of the preferred embodiment(s) is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses.
Looking now to
As will be seen the T-shaped protrusions and T-shaped grooves provide a unique and simple way of slidably connecting the ramp modules to form assemblies of a variety of horizontal and vertical configurations.
The straight ramp module 14 has a generally horizontal rectangular, straight or planar upper riding or support surface 34 which is supported on opposite sides by generally rectangularly shaped side walls 36a and 36b and at opposite ends by generally rectangularly shaped front and rear end walls 38a and 38b, respectively. The side wall 36a has a pair of longitudinally spaced T-shaped connecting protrusions 40a and 42a and a plurality of longitudinally spaced T-shaped connecting channel grooves 44a and 46a. Again, the connecting protrusions 40a and 42a are alternately spaced relative to the connecting channel grooves 44a and 46a. The opposite side wall 36b has T-shaped connecting protrusions 40b and 42b which are longitudinally offset from the opposite side protrusions 40a and 42a and are substantially in transverse alignment with the T-shaped channel grooves 44a and 46a. Likewise the side wall 36b has T-shaped connecting channel grooves 44b and 46b which are longitudinally offset from the opposite side channel grooves 44a and 46a and are substantially in transverse alignment with the T-shaped protrusions 40a and 42a, respectively.
The front end wall 38a has a T-shaped connecting protrusion 48a and a transversely spaced T-shaped connecting channel groove 50a. The rear end wall 38b has a T-shaped connecting protrusion 48b in longitudinal alignment with the T-shaped channel groove 50a and a transversely spaced T-shaped connecting channel groove 50b in longitudinal alignment with the T-shaped protrusion 48a.
In all of the above, the T-shaped protrusions and T-shaped grooves on the inclined ramp modules 12 and on the straight ramp modules 14 are of similar constructions and equally spaced with the T-shaped protrusions adapted to slidingly fit within the T-shaped channel grooves to connect an inclined module 12 and straight ramp module 14 together end-to-end. In this regard the shortened T-shaped protrusions 22a, b and 24a, b and shortened T shaped channel grooves 26a, b and 28a, b of the inclined ramp modules 12 are of substantially the same contour as the full length T-shaped protrusion 30 and channel groove 32 at their same lower sections.
At the same time, the transverse spacing between the protrusion 30 and channel groove 32 in the end wall 20 of inclined ramp modules 12 and between the end protrusions 48a and 48b and end channel grooves 50a and 50b in end walls 38a and 38b of the straight ramp modules 14 is inversely the same to provide interfitting end-to-end connection. Also the longitudinal spacing between the side protrusions 22a, 24a and side channel grooves 26b, 28b and side protrusions 22b, 24b and side channel grooves 26a, 28a in side walls 18a, 18b of the inclined ramp modules 12 is inversely the same to provide interfitting side-by-side connection between two inclined ramp modules.
Along the same line, the protrusion 48a and channel groove 50a in the end wall 38a of the straight ramp modules 14 are longitudinally in line with the channel groove 50b and protrusion 48b, respectively, in the opposite end wall 38b to provide end-to-end connection. Also the longitudinal spacing between the channel grooves 44a, 46a on side wall 36a and protrusions 40b, 42b on side wall 36b is the same placing them in transverse alignment and the spacing between protrusions 40a, 42a on side wall 36a and channel grooves 44b, 46b is the same also placing these in transverse alignment to provide interfitting side-by-side connection between two straight ramp modules 14.
In this regard, it can be seen from
As can be seen from
In order to secure the different ramp modules together for vertical stacking a separate connecting member is provided. Looking now to
The T-shaped connecting protrusions, such as 22a, 24a, and T-shaped channel grooves, such as 26a, 28a, are uniquely constructed for connecting the inclined ramp modules 12 and straight ramp modules 14 together, side-by-side or end-to-end. At the same time the connectors 52, T-shaped protrusions and T-shaped channel grooves are uniquely constructed for providing connections between the inclined ramp modules 12 and straight ramp modules 14 for vertical stacking.
All of the T-shaped projections and T-shaped channel grooves are of an identical configuration and construction except for the shortened T-shaped protrusions 22a, b and 24a, b and shortened T-shaped channel grooves 26a, b and 28a, b on the side walls 18a, 18b of the inclined ramp modules 12. However, the configuration of the shortened T-shaped projections and T-shaped grooves are the same as the corresponding lower portions of the full length T-shaped projections and T-shaped grooves.
A representative example of the structure of the full length T-shaped protrusions and T-shaped channel grooves can be seen in
Looking now to
Looking now to
Looking now to
The noted clearances facilitate assembly of the ramp modules together for horizontal in-line connection, i.e. end-to-end, side-to-side or end-to-side. The clearance also facilitates assembly of the ramp modules in a variety of vertically stacked relationships. In addition while the tapers and inclinations of the T-shaped protrusions 48a and T-shaped channel grooves 50a facilitate assembly they also facilitate manufacture by assisting in ejection of the modules from the molds in the molding process.
As noted in order to securely stack one ramp module upon another, the connectors 52 are used. This can be seen in
Where the vertical stacking is an inclined ramp module 12 on a straight ramp module 14, connectors 52 will be applied to the T-shaped protrusions on both side walls 36a, 36b and the front end wall 38a. Where a straight ramp module 14 is stacked on top of another straight ramp module 14, then connectors 52 will be applied to each of the T-shaped protrusions on both side walls 36a, 36b and both end walls 38a, 38b.
In the event, it is desired to double the width of the ramp assembly 10, a second straight ramp module 14 will first be secured side-by-side to the first straight ramp module 14 with the opposite side wall 36b located next to the side wall 36a. Here the T-shaped protrusions 40a, 42a will be connected with the T-shaped grooves 44b, 46b and the T-shaped grooves 44a and 46a will be connected with the T-shaped protrusions 40b, 42b. Now the connectors 52 will be located over the T-shaped protrusions 40a, 42a and in a generally clearance fit in the related T-shaped grooves 44b, 46b. The clearance between the upper end of a T-shaped protrusion 48b and the upper end of a T-shaped groove 32 can be readily seen in
As can be seen from
Now a second inclined ramp module 12 is placed on the upper riding or support surface 34 on the first straight ramp module 14. These stacked ramp modules 12 and 14 are then connected together by use of the connectors 52. Looking now to
Now to extend the height of the ramp assembly 10 as shown a third straight ramp module 14 is located on the planar upper support surface 34 of the second straight ramp module 14. As this is done the T-shaped channel groove 50b and T-shaped protrusion 48b on the rear end wall 38b of the second straight module 14 are interconnected with the T-shaped protrusion 30 and T-shaped channel groove 32 on the front end wall 20 of the second inclined module 12. At the same time connectors 52 have already been located on the upper ends of the T-shaped protrusions 40a, b and 42a, b of the second straight module 14 and are moved into the lower ends of the aligned T-shaped protrusions 40a, b and 42a, b on the third straight module 14. This is done by moving the lower or bottom end of the T-shaped protrusions 40a, b and 42a, b over the upper section 62 of the connectors 52 against the outer stop ridge 66.
Now the assembly 10 is completed by locating a third inclined ramp module 12 on the planar upper support surface 34 of the third straight ramp module 14. Again the connectors 52 are first located over the upper ends of the T-shaped protrusions 40a, b and 42a, b and the T-shaped protrusions 22a, b and 24a, b are located over the upper section 62 of the connectors 52 to secure the modules together.
The outer edge of the riding or support surface 16 at the end wall 20 of the inclined ramp modules 12 and the outer edges of the riding or support surface 34 at the end walls 38a, b of the straight ramp modules 14 are arcuately formed to avoid stress. Such arcuate outer edges 86 and 88 are shown in
Both the inclined upper riding or support surface 16 on the inclined ramp module 12 and the straight planar upper riding or support surface 34 on the straight ramp module 14 can be roughened to enhance gripping of the engaging rolling member such as bike tires, skate rollers, etc. and to assist in traction and to inhibit slippage especially if wet. In one form, the roughened surfaces were formed in molding. However, it should be understood that such roughened surfaces could be created after molding. In this regard, it can be seen in
As noted, both the inclined ramp modules 12 and straight ramp modules 14 are of a hollow construction and as such are designed to be molded from a plastic material. In one form of the invention the plastic material was a high density polyethylene (HDPE). In this regard, the connectors 52 can be molded from the same material.
In order to facilitate molding of the inclined ramp modules 12 and straight ramp modules 14 and to provide modules that are relatively light weight, a hollow structure is provided with numerous internal ribs.
Such a structure for the inclined ramp module 12 can be seen in the longitudinal section of
The internal structure for the straight ramp module 14 can be seen in
In one form of the invention the inclined module 12 and straight module 14, generally of the construction noted, each has five generally equally spaced longitudinal main ribs 92 and 96, respectively, and five generally equally spaced transverse main ribs 94,98, respectively. As noted the longitudinal main ribs 92 and 96 extend for substantially the full length of the ramp modules 12 and 14 while the transverse main ribs 94 and 98 extend for substantially the full width of the ramp modules 12 and 14. In addition, the inclined module 12 has four longitudinal rib segments 93 in between the five longitudinal main ribs 92 and four transverse rib segments 95 in between the five transverse main ribs 94. The rib segments 93 and 95 are also connected to the support surface 16 but do not extend for the full length or full width of the inclined ramp module 12. Similarly, each of the straight ramp modules 14 has four longitudinal rib segments 97 In between the five longitudinal main ribs 96 and four transverse rib segments 99 in between the five transverse main ribs 98. The rib segments 97 and 99 are also connected to the planar support surface 34 but which do not extend for the full length or full width of the straight ramp module 14.
As can be seen the overall strength and rigidity of the riding or support surfaces 16 and 34 are thereby substantially enhanced. Also it can be seen that the outer lower ends of the main ribs 92 and 94 of the inclined ramp module 12 and the main ribs 96 and 98 of the straight ramp module 14 extend to the bottom of the respective ramp modules 12 and 14. These then provide a distributed support surface against the ground or when engaged with the riding or support surfaces 34 when in a stacked condition.
In this regard, in one form of the invention the inclined modules 12 and straight modules 14 where made with side walls 18a, b and 36a, b of the same longitudinal length (Li, Ls), and end walls 20 and 38a, b of the same transverse width (Wi, Ws), and of the same vertical height (Hi, Hs). As such in one form, the longitudinal length (Li, Ls), was around 36 inches, the transverse width (WI, Ws) was around 25.5 inches and the vertical height (Hi, Hs) was around 12inches. In this regard, the tapered lip 90 extends longitudinally slightly past the length Li of side walls 18a, b at the lower end to provide the desired coverage of the gap between the confronting edges 86 and 88 of the adjacent end walls 20 and 38b. Also in this form the angle of inclination AI of the riding or support surface 16 of the inclined module 12 was selected to be around 19°. With such a structure the support surfaces 16 and 34 and main ribs 92, 94, 96 and 98 could be made of a relatively small gauge or thickness. As such the support surfaces 16 and 34 could be made around 0.140 inches thick; the side walls 18a, b and 36a, b and end walls 20 and 38a, b could be made around 0.100 inches thick; and the main ribs 92, 94, 96 and 98 could be made around 0.060 inches thick. The rib segments 93, 95,97 and 99 could be of the same thickness as the main ribs 92, 94, 96 and 98. Some of the above structures would be somewhat slightly tapered to facilitate molding. Such hollow, relatively thin wall constructions can produce generally lightweight ramp modules, i.e. around 17 pounds for the straight module 14 and around 11 pounds for the inclined module 12. Yet it is believed that the constructions as noted can safely handle loads at least up to 300 pounds.
In order to provide resistance to slippage on the ground level a foot member can be provided to be selectively placed on portions of the bottom ends of the side walls 18a, b and 36a, b and the end walls 20 and 38a, b. Such a foot member 100 can be seen in
Looking now to
Thus it can be seen that the ramp assemblies of various configurations can be readily assembled and disassembled by vertical sliding movement to engage or disengage the T-shaped protrusions from the T-shaped channel grooves and a simple type of action for stacking or unstacking the ramp modules.
The description of the invention is merely exemplary in nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of the invention are intended to be within the scope of the invention. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention.
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