DEPLOYABLE PORTABLE RAMP AND METHODS

Abstract

A method of using a ramp for jumping wirelessly controlled vehicles comprising assembling one or more two-dimensional ramp supports into a three-dimensional configuration; coupling a two-dimensional ramp member to the one or more three-dimensional ramp supports to form a ramp with a three-dimensional ramp member; providing the ramp so that it is supported on a surface by the one or more three-dimensional ramp supports.

Claims

1.-20. (canceled)

21. A method of using a ramp for jumping wirelessly controlled vehicles, comprising: assembling one or more two-dimensional ramp supports into a three-dimensional configuration; securing the one or more two-dimensional ramp supports into the three-dimensional configuration via one or more stabilizers; transforming a ramp member from a shipping configuration to a flat configuration; securing the ramp member to the one or more two-dimensional ramp supports to form a ramp with a three-dimensional ramp member; providing the ramp so that it is supported on a surface by the one or more two-dimensional ramp supports; spacing a plurality of different-value scoring targets at different distances from the ramp; wireless controlling a wirelessly controlled vehicle to jump the ramp and land on one of the plurality of different-value scoring targets at different distances from the ramp to score points corresponding to a value of the landed-on scoring target.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein: transforming the ramp member from a shipping configuration to a flat configuration includes rolling the ramp member out from a rolled shipping configuration to an unrolled flat configuration.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein: transforming the ramp member from a shipping configuration to a flat configuration includes unfolding the ramp member out from a folded shipping configuration to an unfolded flat configuration.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein: the one or more two-dimensional ramp supports include cut outs; and securing the one or more two-dimensional ramp supports includes securing the one or more two-dimensional ramp supports into the three-dimensional configuration via the one or more stabilizers through the cut outs in the one or more two-dimensional ramp supports.

25. The method of claim 21, further including one or more connectors and wherein: securing the ramp member includes securing the ramp member to the one or more two-dimensional ramp supports via the one or more connectors to form a ramp with a three-dimensional ramp member.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the one or more connectors include the one or more two-dimensional ramp supports and the ramp member having a tongue and groove connection arrangement and wherein: securing the ramp member includes securing the ramp member to the one or more two-dimensional ramp supports via the tongue and groove connection arrangement to form a ramp with a three-dimensional ramp member.

27. The method of claim 21, further comprising: repeating the wireless controlling a wirelessly controlled vehicle to jump the ramp and land on one of the plurality of different-value scoring targets step until a predetermined score is achieved or a certain number of jumps is achieved.

28. A method of using a ramp for jumping wirelessly controlled vehicles, comprising: assembling one or more two-dimensional ramp supports into a three-dimensional configuration; transforming a ramp member from a shipping configuration to a flat configuration; securing the ramp member to the one or more two-dimensional ramp supports to form a ramp with a three-dimensional ramp member; providing the ramp so that it is supported on a surface by the one or more two-dimensional ramp supports; wireless controlling a wirelessly controlled vehicle to jump the ramp.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein: transforming the ramp member from a shipping configuration to a flat configuration includes rolling the ramp member out from a rolled shipping configuration to an unrolled flat configuration.

30. The method of claim 28, wherein: transforming the ramp member from a shipping configuration to a flat configuration includes unfolding the ramp member out from a folded shipping configuration to an unfolded flat configuration.

31. The method of claim 28, further including one or more stabilizers and the one or more two-dimensional ramp supports include cut outs; and securing the one or more two-dimensional ramp supports includes securing the one or more two-dimensional ramp supports into the three-dimensional configuration via the one or more stabilizers through the cut outs in the one or more two-dimensional ramp supports.

32. The method of claim 28, further including one or more connectors and wherein: securing the ramp member includes securing the ramp member to the one or more two-dimensional ramp supports via the one or more connectors to form a ramp with a three-dimensional ramp member.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the one or more connectors include the one or more two-dimensional ramp supports and the ramp member having a tongue and groove connection arrangement and wherein: securing the ramp member includes securing the ramp member to the one or more two-dimensional ramp supports via the tongue and groove connection arrangement to form a ramp with a three-dimensional ramp member.

34. A method of using a ramp for jumping remote controlled vehicles, comprising: providing a ramp including one or more ramp supports and a ramp member; spacing a plurality of different-value scoring targets at different distances from the ramp; remotely controlling the remote controlled vehicle to jump the ramp and land on one of the plurality of different-value scoring targets at different distances from the ramp to score points corresponding to a value of the landed-on scoring target.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] FIG. 1 is a front side perspective view of an embodiment of an assembled ramp for jumping wirelessly controlled vehicles;

[0011] FIG. 2 is an exploded disassembled view of the ramp of FIG. 1 shown in a flat configuration;

[0012] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a ramp support of the ramp of FIG. 1 being assembled;

[0013] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a second ramp support of the ramp of FIG. 1 being assembled;

[0014] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an inverted ramp support of the ramp of FIG. 1 being attached to a ramp member of the ramp;

[0015] FIG. 6 is an enlarged partial perspective view of the inverted ramp support of FIG. 5 being attached to the ramp member of the ramp of FIG. 1;

[0016] FIG. 7 is another enlarged partial perspective view of the inverted ramp support of FIG. 5 being attached to the ramp member of the ramp of FIG. 1;

[0017] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the second of two inverted ramp supports of FIG. 4 being attached to the ramp member of the ramp of FIG. 1;

[0018] FIG. 9 is a partial perspective view of the second of two inverted ramp supports of FIG. 4 being attached to the ramp member of the ramp of FIG. 1;

[0019] FIG. 10 is another partial perspective view of the second of two inverted ramp supports of FIG. 4 being attached to the ramp member of the ramp of FIG. 1;

[0020] FIG. 11 is a further partial perspective view of the second of two inverted ramp supports of FIG. 4 being attached to the ramp member of the ramp of FIG. 1;

[0021] FIG. 12 is a bottom perspective view of the two inverted ramp supports of FIG. 4 shown attached to the ramp member of the ramp of FIG. 1;

[0022] FIG. 13 is a rear perspective view of the assembled ramp of FIG. 1;

[0023] FIG. 14 is a side rear perspective view of the assembled ramp of FIG. 1;

[0024] FIG. 15 is an exploded perspective view of another embodiment of a ramp for jumping wirelessly controlled vehicles;

[0025] FIG. 16 is a perspective view of one of the ramp supports of the ramp of FIG. 15 and shows the ramp support in a folded, flat or two-dimensional configuration;

[0026] FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a ramp member of the ramp of FIG. 15 and shows the ramp member in a folded, flat or two-dimensional configuration;

[0027] FIG. 18 is a perspective view of the assembled ramp and shows the ramp used in conjunction with a scoring game;

[0028] FIG. 19 is a flow chart of an exemplary method of using the ramp.

[0029] FIG. 20 is a front side perspective view of another embodiment of an assembled ramp for jumping wirelessly controlled vehicles;

[0030] FIG. 21 is an exploded disassembled view of the ramp of FIG. 20.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] With reference to FIGS. 1-14, an embodiment of a ramp 100 for jumping wirelessly controlled vehicles (and method of assembly, and method of using) will be described. The ramp 100 is a light-weight portable plastic ramp that can be quickly and easily assembled and disassembled. The ramp 100 is wider, steeper, and much lighter than jumping ramps used with wirelessly controlled vehicles in the past.

[0032] With reference initially to FIGS. 1-2, the ramp 100 includes a light-weight flexible plastic ramp member 110 and one or more (e.g., two) light-weight plastic ramp supports 120 that support the ramp member 110. The ramp member 110 and the ramp supports 120 are in the flat, two-dimensional configuration shown in FIG. 2 and the ramp member 110 and the ramp supports 120 stacked in a low-profile/flat configuration during shipping and transport.

[0033] The ramp member 110 is rectangular and includes an upper surface 130 that wheels of wirelessly controlled vehicles ride over and an undersurface 140 that the ramp supports 120 directly contact and support. The undersurface 140 includes a first pair/set 150 of longitudinally arranged fasteners (e.g., hook and loop fastener strips) 160, and a second pair/set 170 of longitudinally arranged fasteners 160. The ramp member 110 includes a lower end 180 and an upper portion 190 including a fold line 200 and an upper end. Laterally arranged fasteners 220 for each set 150, 170 of longitudinally arranged fasteners 160 are disposed in the upper portion 190.

[0034] The ramp supports 120 include a main panel 230 and two side panels 240 that are hinged to the main panel 230 at fold lines 250. The main panel 230 is rectangular and the two side panels 240 are substantially triangular. The main panel 230 includes a lower end 260 and an upper end 270 with laterally arranged fastener(s) 280. The two side panels 240 include a lower end 290 and an upper end 300. The lower end 290 of one of the side panels 240 of each ramp support includes ground securement devices 310. The upper end 300 of the side panels 240 includes a curved segment 320 with fastener(s) 330 for most of the upper end 300 and a straight segment 340 with fastener(s) 350 adjacent to the upper end 270 of the main panel 230.

[0035] FIG. 15 illustrates another embodiment of a ramp 360 for jumping wirelessly controlled vehicles. Similar features of the ramp 360 compared to those of the ramp 100 will be shown with the same reference number, but an a suffix. The description of the ramp 100 is incorporated herein. The ramp 360 is similar to the ramp 100, except that fasteners 160, 220 are replaced with spaced fastener segments 362 on the undersurface 140a of the ramp member 110a and the fasteners 280, 350 are replaced with spaced fastener tabs 364 on the ramp supports 120a. The fastener tabs 364 and the fastener segments 362 may include, for example, but not by way of limitation, hook and loop fasteners, to attach the ramp member 110a to the ramp supports 120a.

[0036] As illustrated in FIGS. 16 and 17, the ramp member 110a and the ramp supports 120a also include fold lines 366, 368 to fold the ramp member 110a and the ramp supports 120a into and out of the folded, flat or two-dimensional configurations shown in FIGS. 16, 17 for flat, compact storage or shipping of the ramp member 110a and the ramp supports 120a.

[0037] When folded up, the ramp member 110, 110a and ramp supports 120, 120a combined form a dimension of 1 ft2 ft.

[0038] FIGS. 20 and 21 illustrate a further embodiment of a ramp 370 for jumping wirelessly controlled vehicles. The ramp 370 includes a light-weight flexible ramp member 372 that may be rolled out from a rolled cylindrical/tube configuration to the flat configuration shown and one or more (e.g., three) light-weight flat substantially triangular ramp supports 374 that secured together via one or more stabilizers/stabilizer bars 376 through cut outs 378 in the ramp supports 374 for supporting the ramp member 372. The ramp member 372 is a rolled tube configuration during shipping and transport and the ramp supports 374 are in a flat, two-dimensional configuration shown in FIG. 20 and stacked in a low-profile/flat configuration during shipping and transport along with the stabilizer(s)/stabilizer bar(s) 376. The ramp support(s) 374 and/or the ramp member 372 (in an alternative embodiment where ramp member 372 folds into flat compact configuration) may include fold lines to fold the ramp support(s) 374 and/or the ramp member 372 into and out of a more compact folded, flat or two-dimensional configuration for flat, compact storage or shipping of the ramp support(s) 374 and/or the ramp member 372 with the stabilizer(s)/stabilizer bar(s) 376.

[0039] The ramp member 372 includes an upper surface 380 that wheels of wirelessly controlled vehicles ride over and an undersurface 382 that the ramp supports 374 directly contact and support. The undersurface 382 includes connectors (e.g., grooves or tongues of a tongue and groove connection arrangement) 384 that lower end 386, upper end 388 (or tongues/grooves thereon) of the ramp supports 374 mate with to secure the ramp member 372 to the ramp supports 374. The undersurface 382 of the ramp member 372 is supported along curved segment 390 of the ramp supports 374. A lower end 392 of the ramp supports 374 may include ground securement devices 394.

[0040] In alternative embodiments, the ramp member 110, 110a and ramp supports 120, 120a do not have flat upper portion 190/fold line 200 nor a straight segment at an upper end such as that shown in FIG. 1 nor the flat upper portion shown in FIGS. 15, 18. Instead, the ramp member 110, 110A has the appearance of the ramp member 372, without a flat upper portion/straight segment at an upper end, as shown in FIG. 20.

[0041] With reference to FIGS. 3-17, 19-21, a method 400 of using the ramp 100, 360, 370 will be described. To assemble the ramp 100, 360, in box 410, the two-dimensional ramp supports 120, 120a are assembled into a three-dimensional configuration. For ramp 370, the ramp support(s) 374 are set up as shown in FIG. 21 and the stabilizer(s) 376 is/are inserted into/through the cut outs 378 in the ramp supports 374 for supporting the ramp member 372. In box 420, the two-dimensional ramp member 110, 110a is coupled to the assembled three-dimensional ramp supports 120, 120a to form the ramp 100, 360 with the three-dimensional ramp member 110, 110a. For ramp 370, the ramp member 384 is rolled out onto or laid on/along curved segment 390 of the ramp supports 374, and the connectors (e.g., tongues/grooves) 384 mate with the lower end 386, upper end 388 (or tongues/grooves thereon) of the ramp supports 374 to secure the ramp member 372 to the ramp supports 374. In box 430, the ramp 100, 360 is provided so that it is supported on a surface by the one or more three-dimensional ramp supports 120, 120a. For ramp 370, the ramp 370 is provided so that it is supported on a surface by the one or more ramp supports 374.

[0042] In other embodiments, one or more operations shown in blocks 440-540 may be performed. In box 440, the two-dimensional ramp supports 120, 120a are assembled by folding the side panels 240 about the vertical fold lines 250 relative to the main panel 230 so that the side panels 240 are 90 degrees and facing in the same direction relative to the main panel 230. In box 450, the two-dimensional ramp member 110, 110a is coupled to the curved segment(s) 320 of the assembled three-dimensional ramp support(s) 120, and, in box 460, the two-dimensional ramp member 110, 110a is coupled to the straight segment(s) 340 of the upper end 270 of the assembled three-dimensional ramp support(s) 120, 120a to form a ramp with a curved, three-dimensional ramp member having a flat upper portion 190. The fasteners 160, 362 of the ramp member 110, 110a are fastened to the fasteners 330, 364 of the curved segment 320 and the fasteners 350, 364 of the straight segment 340 of the ramp supports 120, 120a. Further, the fasteners 220, 362 of the ramp member 110, 360 are fastened to the fasteners 280, 364 of the ramp supports 120, 120a. In FIGS. 5-12 and 19, in box 470, the coupling step(s) are facilitated with the ramp member 110, 360 upside down (i.e., ramp member 110, 110a on the ground with the undersurface 140 of two-dimensional ramp member 110, 110a facing upward) and the ramp supports 120, 120a inverted (i.e., curved segments 320, straight segments 340 facing downward). With the ramp 100, 360 assembled, in box 480, the ramp 100, 360 is inverted so that the upper surface 130 of the ramp member 110, 110a is facing upward, as shown in FIGS. 1, 13, 14. If the ramp 100 is being used on grass or turf, in box 480, ground securement devices 310 may be used to secure the ramp 100, 360 to the ground. To disassemble the ramp 100, 360 in box 490, the various fasteners are unfastened/detached, and the ramp member 110, 110a and the ramp supports 120, 120a are put in the flat configuration shown in FIGS. 2, 16, 17 and stacked in a low-profile/flat configuration for convenient flat storage to facilitate transportation and storage.

[0043] The ramp 100, 360, 370 (or multiple ramp members) is placed near objects/areas to be jumped and wirelessly controlled vehicles are wireless controlled to jump using the ramp 100, 360, 370. The curved segment 320 is steeper than ramps in the past, enabling wirelessly controlled vehicles to get more vertical distance than was available with ramps in the past. Also, the ramp member 110, 110a, 372 is wider than ramps in the past, making it easier to control wirelessly controlled vehicles to engage the ramp 100, 360, 370 for jumping.

[0044] With reference additionally to FIGS. 18 and 19, a method of using the ramp 100, 360, 370 as part of a game will be described. The game may be part of or separate from the method 400 described herein. A plurality of different-value scoring targets 500 are, in box 510, spaced at different distances from the ramp 100, 360, 370. The scoring targets 500 are impact mats/landing pads with different numeric values (e.g., 25 points, 50 points, 100 points). The scoring targets 500 may be made of a gel material or a foam material, and approximately 3 ft by 3 ft in length/width. The scoring targets 500 provide impact absorption from the jump and as a way to collect points. In box 520, a wirelessly controlled vehicle 530 is wirelessly controlled by a wireless controller 532 controlled by a participant 534 to jump the ramp 100, 360, 370 and land on one of the plurality of different-value scoring targets 500 at different distances from the ramp 100, 360, 370 to score points corresponding to a value of the landed-on scoring target 500. One attempts to jump one's wirelessly controlled vehicle 530 with the ramp 100, 360, 370 and land on one of the different-value scoring targets 500. Multiple participants 534 may compete, jump their wirelessly controlled vehicle 530, and add the numbers shown on the landed-on, different-value scoring targets 500 to arrive at a score. The step in box 520 may, in box 540, be repeated, and the winner, for example, may be the participant 534 that has the highest score after a predetermined number (e.g., 3) jumps or may be the participant 534 that is first to reach a minimum score, regardless of the number of jumps. In one or more implementations of the game, each participant is given three jumps to accumulate the most points; the game may be a single-player game or a multiplayer game; if the participant 534 is unable to launch off the ramp 100, 360, 370, going off the sides or missing the ramp 100, 360, 370, the participant 534 forfeits the turn; no more than three runs are allowed per participant 534; in the event of a tie after three runs, each tied participant 534 gets one extra run until high score winner is determined.

[0045] One or more of the ramp 100, 360, 370, members of the ramp 100, 360, 370, one or more wirelessly controlled vehicles 530 and wireless controller(s), and/or different-value scoring targets 500 may be part of a game kit.

[0046] Although the ramp 100, 360, 370 has been discussed as being used for jumping one or more wirelessly controlled vehicles 530, in alternative embodiments, the ramp 100, 360, 370 may be used for jumping other types of vehicles, such as, but not limited to, bicycles.

[0047] While various embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only, and not of limitation. Likewise, the various diagrams may depict an example architectural or other configuration for the disclosure, which is done to aid in understanding the features and functionality that can be included in the disclosure. The invention is not restricted to the illustrated example architectures or configurations, but the desired features can be implemented using a variety of alternative architectures and configurations. Indeed, it will be apparent to one of skill in the art how alternative functional, logical or physical partitioning and configurations can be implemented to implement the desired features of the present disclosure.

[0048] Although the disclosure is described above in terms of various exemplary embodiments and implementations, it should be understood that the various features, aspects and functionality described in one or more of the individual embodiments are not limited in their applicability to the particular embodiment with which they are described, but instead can be applied, alone or in various combinations, to one or more of the other embodiments of the disclosure, whether or not such embodiments are described and whether or not such features are presented as being a part of a described embodiment. Thus, the breadth and scope of the present disclosure should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments.

[0049] Terms and phrases used in this document, and variations thereof, unless otherwise expressly stated, should be construed as open ended as opposed to limiting. As examples of the foregoing: the term including should be read as meaning including, without limitation or the like; the term example is used to provide exemplary instances of the item in discussion, not an exhaustive or limiting list thereof; the terms a or an should be read as meaning at least one, one or more or the like; and adjectives such as conventional, traditional, normal, standard, known and terms of similar meaning should not be construed as limiting the item described to a given time period or to an item available as of a given time, but instead should be read to encompass conventional, traditional, normal, or standard technologies that may be available or known now or at any time in the future. Likewise, where this document refers to technologies that would be apparent or known to one of ordinary skill in the art, such technologies encompass those apparent or known to the skilled artisan now or at any time in the future.

[0050] The presence of broadening words and phrases such as one or more, at least, but not limited to or other like phrases in some instances shall not be read to mean that the narrower case is intended or required in instances where such broadening phrases may be absent.