When it is confirmed that a user exists based on an image of the situation outside a vehicle which is captured using a camera and a proximity sensor detects a fact that the user is approaching based on, for example, a putting of a hand of the user over the proximity sensor, a control device causes a ramp to be extended. As such, a user sitting in a wheelchair can cause the ramp to be extended by approaching the proximity sensor, such as the putting of the user's hand over the proximity sensor such that the user sitting in the wheelchair does not have to press an extension/storage button provided on the vehicle to cause the ramp to be extended.

A vehicle includes: a floor where an occupant is located during a ride in the vehicle; a high voltage unit located below the floor; a ramp configured to move between an in-use position and a storage position; and an actuator that moves the ramp between the in-use position and the storage position. The ramp includes a distal end that contacts the ground when the ramp is in the in-use position, and a base end located on the opposite side of the ramp from the distal end. When the ramp is in the storage position, the base end of the ramp is adjacent to the actuator in a horizontal direction. A tilted surface tilted upward from the base end of the ramp toward the actuator is located between the base end of the ramp and the actuator.

A ramp assembly to accommodate a wheel-chaired passenger to enter or exit a motorized vehicle having a conventional floor includes a frame, a ramp, and a side rail assembly. The ramp is slidably coupled to the frame for movement between a stowed position and an extended position. Once extended, the rear end of the ramp is movable between a raised position and a lowered position. The side rail assembly is moveable from a collapsed position to a lifted position as the ramp moves from the lowered position to the raised position.

A ramp-equipped vehicle includes a ramp that is provided so as to be deployable from a side portion of a vehicle body to the outside of the vehicle body, a controller that controls the operation of deploying the ramp, and a sensor that senses moving bodies present in a certain area that is away from a ramp deployment area. The controller detects the moving bodies approaching the ramp deployment area and determines the moving velocities of the moving bodies based on the results of sensing by the sensor. The controller stops the operation of deploying the ramp when, after the start of the operation of deploying the ramp, it detects the approaching moving body having a moving velocity higher than or equal to a predetermined reference velocity with which the approaching moving bodies may reach the ramp deployment area during the operation of deploying the ramp.

A loading ramp assembly for utility vans can include a main deck with side rails fastened to the longitudinal sides of the main deck. A raised loading floor of the utility van is disposed atop a pair of guide rails. Guide wheels on the side rails move through guide rails secured to the van's original floor as the ramp is retracted and deployed. The ramp can be fully retracted and stored inside of the van such that the rear doors of the van can be closed normally without the need to remove the loading ramp assembly from the van.

An apparatus for conveniently loading or unloading objects to and from a cargo bed of a vehicle. The system includes at least one ramp, a bumper, and a tailgate. The ramp includes a retaining member extending therefrom. The bumper has a configuration capable of receiving therethrough at least a portion of the ramp, to store the ramp under the vehicle in a stored position. The tailgate includes a plurality of retaining openings defined therein. The retaining openings have a configuration capable of receiving at least a portion of the retaining member of the ramp, to place the ramp in an in-use position. The ramp can be retained in the stored position by way of engaging ledges, which can be easily disengaged by a user to withdraw the ramp for use in loading or unloading objects from the cargo bed.

A modular utility vehicle construct that is light weight yet robust is provided. The construct is formed with a composite open area core sandwich structure capable of withstanding typical wear and tear and environmental elements experienced by utility vehicle compartments. The use of the composite sandwich structure allows for replacement of traditional materials such as steel or aluminum, without a loss of strength, in a vehicle's containment construct while also reducing the overall weight of the vehicle and increasing the ability to customize the vehicle's utility features to suit the specific needs of the purchaser.

A ramp assembly to accommodate a wheel-chaired passenger to enter or exit a motorized vehicle includes a frame, a ramp movable relative to the frame, a drive block configured to move the ramp relative to the frame, a linkage arm having a first end pivotably coupled to the drive block, a linkage panel pivotably coupled to the linkage arm and a rear end of the ramp, and an upper roller pivotably coupled to the linkage panel for rotation about a pivot axis of the linkage panel to facilitate rotation of the ramp relative to the frame.

A mechanism for deploying and aligning a ramp relative to a platform includes a main bearing operatively associated with the platform and rotatable about a main pivot axis; a drive member disposed on the main bearing, the drive member being adapted to drive the main bearing to rotate about the main pivot axis; a rotating member disposed on the main bearing and rotatable about the main pivot axis with the main bearing; and a ramp member rotatably connected to the rotating member at a pivot point eccentric to the main pivot axis. Rotation of the rotating member causes the ramp member to move between a stowed position and a deployed position in an arcuate path about the main pivot axis.

A vehicle lowering system having a cargo surface with an adjacent pivoting arm is connected to a vehicle at a pivot point. The pivoting arm moves between a raised and a lowered position by an actuator that is affixed to a frame and the pivoting arm. The frame has an upper portion and a lower portion that provides structure for the portion of the frame that is beyond the pivot point and actuator. The pivot arm has a spindle that holds and allows a wheel to rotate. The spindle has an axis that is always located above the cargo surface. The actuator is movable between an extended position and a retracted position. When the actuator moves between the extended and retracted position, the pivoting arm moves the vehicle between a raised and a lowered position.