STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

1. Field of the Invention

This disclosure relates generally to an apparatus connectable to a vehicular hitch receiver for use as a ramp and as a cargo carrier.

2. Background Art

Portable ramps for loading and unloading wheeled vehicles such as ATVs and motorcycles in and out of pickup truck beds are known. However, commercially available pickup truck ramps are typically configured for operation with one or more particular pickup trucks, e.g., according to the location of a hitch receiver of a pickup truck and/or according to the location of the outer edge of the tailgate of a pickup truck when the tailgate is lowered to a horizontal position and/or according to the location of a bumper of a pickup truck. As such, pickup truck ramps are not configured for use with other cargo vehicles such as cargo vans. For example, pickup truck ramps do not typically safely connect to cargo vans and/or do not provide a safe surface transition between a bed of a cargo van and a ramp surface when wheeling ATVs and motorcycles on and off of a cargo van. Pickup truck ramps also do not necessarily provide a safe ramp angle for loading and unloading ATVs and motorcycles on and off of cargo vans.

In addition, commercially available pickup truck ramps are limited in use as they are configured to connect to pickup trucks in a manner suitable for providing a ramp surface between a bed of a pickup truck and the ground.

Overcoming the above shortcomings is desired.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure is directed to an apparatus for use with a vehicle having a flatbed support surface and a hitch receiver, the apparatus comprising (1) a first support surface configured as a ramp surface for wheeled vehicles; (2) a second support surface configured as a cargo carrier surface; (3) a first mating member for mating the apparatus with the hitch receiver for use of the apparatus as a ramp for wheeled vehicles; and (4) a second mating member for mating the apparatus with the hitch receiver for use of the apparatus as a cargo carrier; wherein the second mating member comprises a third support surface operationally configured as a foot step when the first connector is mated with the hitch receiver.

The present disclosure is also directed to an apparatus for use with a vehicle having a flatbed support surface and a female hitch receiver, the apparatus comprising (1) a first ramp surface; (2) a second cargo surface; (3) a first mating member for securing the apparatus to the female hitch receiver; and (4) a second mating member for securing the apparatus to the female hitch receiver; wherein mating of the first mating member to the hitch receiver orients the apparatus for use as a ramp and wherein mating of the second mating member orients the apparatus for use as a cargo holder.

The present disclosure is also directed to a hitchable apparatus for use with a hitch receiver of a vehicle comprising (1) a main body including a first support surface operationally configured as a ramp surface for one or more wheeled vehicles; and a second support surface operationally configured as a cargo carrier surface; (2) a first mating member extending out from the main body in a first direction for releasably securing the apparatus to the hitch receiver; and (3) a second mating member extending out from the main body in a second direction for releasably securing the apparatus to the hitch receiver.

