Ramp extension for truck frames

Claim 2

A detachable ramp extension for the side rail of a truck frame comprising: a generally quadrilateral wall having, in operative position, a front vertical edge, top and bottom generally parallel edges of which the bottom edge is substantially longer than the top edge, and a rear edge sloping rearwardly from the rear end of the top edge to the rear end of the bottom edge; a flange joining continuously with said top and rear edges, and extending in its transverse direction perpendicularly to the general plane of the wall; a front end portion of said extension formed by said wall and flange having a length substantially that of said top edge, and being of a right-angle configuration adapting said end portion to conform in longitudinal overlapping relation with top and side webs of the rear end portion of a truck frame side rail.

Claim 3

A frame rail extension as defined in claim 1 comprising: stiffening means integral with the lower portion of said wall for resisting vertical or lateral loading of said extension.

Claim 4

A frame rail extension as defined in claim 1 comprising: means on said front end portion for connecting with the rear end portion of a side rail.

Claim 5

The combination comprising a truck frame having a pair of longitudinal side rails each comprising side, top, and bottom webs; and a pair of detachable ramp extensions for said side rails attached, at installed position, to the side rails with each rear end portion of a side rail in longitudinally overlapping relation with the front end portion of the corresponding attached extension; each of said extensions comprising: a generally quadrilateral wall having, in operating position, a front vertical edge, top and bottom generally parallel edges of which the bottom edge is substantially longer than the top edge, and a rear edge sloping, to a major extent, rearwardly from the rear end of the top edge to the rear end of the bottom edge; a flange joining continuously with said top and rear edges and extending in its transverse direction perpendicularly to the general plane of the wall; a front end portion of said extension formed by said wall and flange having a length substantially that of said top edge, and being of a right-angle configuration fitting in generally conforming relationship with at least top and side webs of a rear end portion of the respective associated side rail; and means for securing said extension portions and said side rail portions together.

Claim 6

The combination comprising a truck frame having a pair of longitudinal side rails each comprising side, top, and bottom webs; and a pair of detachable ramp extensions for said side rails attached, at installed position, to the side rails with each rear end portion of a side rail in longitudinally overlapping relation with the front end portion of the corresponding attached extension; each of said extensions comprising: a generally quadrilateral wall having, in operating position, a front vertical edge, top and bottom generally parallel edges of which the bottom edge is substantially longer than the top edge, and a rear edge sloping, to a major extent, rearwardly from the rear end of the top edge to the rear end of the bottom edge; a flange joining continuously with said top and rear edges and extending in its transverse direction perpendicularly to the general plane of the wall; a front end portion of said extension formed by said wall and flange having a length substantially that of said top edge, and being of a right-angle configuration fitting in generally conforming relationship with at least top and side webs of a rear end portion of the respective associated side rail; and means for securing said extension portions and said side rail portions together.

Claim 7

The combination of claim 4 wherein: said extensions comprise lower flanges contiguous and substantially coextensive with said bottom edges of rEspective extensions with forward portions of said lower flanges in conforming relation with adjacent respective lower side rail webs.

Claim 8

The combination of claim 5 wherein: said extension front end portions conform to the inner web surfaces of side rail portions.

Claim 9

The combination of claim 4 wherein: said front extension portions conform to the inner surfaces of side and top webs of respective rear side rail portions; and said flange and said wall are shaped to define a hump in said flange immediately rearward of the rear end of said top web.

Claim 10

The combination of claim 4 comprising: stiffening means in each extension integral with the lower portion for resisting vertical and lateral loading of the respective extension.

Claim 11

The combination of claim 8 wherein: said stiffening means comprises a horizontally elongate bulged area of said wall.

Claim 12

The combination of claim 8 wherein: said stiffening means comprises a lower flange substantially coextensive with said bottom edge and perpendicular to said wall.