Pickup truck loading ramp

Claim 2

In a vehicle having a horizontal load carrying bed including mounting means disposed in predetermined spaced relationship along at least one side of the bed for ordinarily mounting a conventional substantially vertical side barrier, and at least one substantially planar loading ramp for disposition against a loading point associated with said bed when in an operative loading position, the improvement wherein said loading ramp has a longitudinal extent approximately equal to the predetermined spaced relationship of the mounting means, and ramp storage means comprising a pair of rack elements engageable with said mounting means and having means for removably retaining said loading ramp in a vertical plane with its longitudinal extent bridging the space between said rack elements when said ramp is in an inoperative storage position whereby said ramp functions as a side barrier in lieu of said ordinarily employed side barrier.

Claim 3

The ramp storage means set forth in claim 1 wherein at least one of said means for removably retaining said loading ramp comprises clamping means.

Claim 4

The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said mounting means are stake pockets, said rack elements each include a vertical channel alignable with said stake pocket and engageable therewith by insertion of a stake through said channel and into said pocket.

Claim 5

The combination set forth in claim 2 wherein said loading ramp comprises end portions thinner than the main body portion for reception in said clamping means.

Claim 6

The combination set forth in claim 4 wherein said rack elements each include a vertical channel and said clamping means is comprised of slits formed in said channel, said slits being dimensioned for firm clamping engagements with said thin end portions of said ramp.

Claim 7

The combination set forth in claim 5 and including a guide means extending from an edge of said slit toward the other rack element of said pair to guide an end of the rack during insertion into said slit.

Claim 8

The combination set forth in claim 4 and including coupling means for coupling said ramp to a tailgate of said load carrying bed, said coupling means comprising a load distributing plate affixed to said tailgate, said load distributing plate including a stepped surface defining a depressed portion along the edge proximate to the free edge of the tailgate, a holddown plate including a lip portion extending over and in spaced relationship above said depressed surface to define a recess under said lip portion, and a keeper strip mounted on said stepped surface and spaced from said lip portion and wherein one said thinner end portions comprises a coupling tongue extending from one end of said ramp and insertable in the recess under said lip portion, and said tongue including a locking lug registerable between the recess and said keeper strip to retain said ramp and said tailgate in coupled relationship when in coplanar alignment.

Claim 9

The combination set forth in claim 7 wherein the other said thinner end portion comprises a portion tapered to register with the ground.

Claim 10

The combination set forth in claim 7 wherein said locking lug of said ramp tongue registers within said clamping means when said ramp is in stored position.

Claim 11

In a combination of a loading ramp and a tailgate mounted coupling means for coupling said ramp to a vehicle, the improvement wherein said coupling means comprises a load distributing plate affixed to the tailgate, said load distributing plate including a stepped surface defining a depressed portion along the edge proximate to the free edge of the tailgate, a holddown plate including a lip portion extending over and in spaced relationship above said depressed surface to define a recess under said lip portion, and a keeper mounted on said stepped surface and spaced from said lip portion, said ramp including a coupling tongue extending from one end thereof and insertable in the recess under said lip portion, said ramp further including a locking lug registerable between the recess and said keeper to retain said ramp and said tailgate in coupled relationship when in coplanar alignment.

Claim 12

In a combination of a loading ramp and a tailgate mounted coupling means for coupling said ramp to a vehicle, the improvement wherein said coupling means comprises a load distributing plate affixed to the tailgate, said load distributing plate including a stepped surface defining a depressed portion along the edge proximate to the free edge of the tailgate, a holddown plate including a lip portion extending over and in spaced relationship above said depressed surface to define a recess under said lip portion, and a keeper mounted on said stepped surface and spaced from said lip portion, said ramp including a coupling tongue extending from one end thereof and insertable in the recess under said lip portion, said ramp further including a locking lug registerable between the recess and said keeper to retain said ramp and said tailgate in coupled relationship when in coplanar alignment.

Claim 13

The combination of claim 10 including supplemental support means comprising at least one telescopically adjustable assembly operatively connected to the free edge of the tailgate and having a foot portion engageable with the ground.

Claim 14

The combination of claim 11 wherein said telescopically adjustable support means are pivotally mounted to the free edge of the tailgate.

Claim 15

The combination of claim 12 wherein said pivotal mounting comprises a transversely extending support rod affixed to said load distributing plate and disposed proximate to the free edge of the tail gate and having projecting end portions at each side of the vehicle, and said support means comprise two telescopic supports each of which includes a head having a journal for engagement over said projecting end portions.

Claim 16

The combination of claim 12 wherein said load distributing plate has a tapered edge facing the hinge of the tailgate and wherein the upper surfaces of said load distributing plate, said holddown plate and said ramp are in coplanar relationship when in fully coupled relationship.

Claim 17

The combination of claim 10 wherein an abutment is affixed to said depressed surface between said keeper and said lip portion, and said locking lug is registerable between said abutment and said keeper.