GB2355706A - Demountable car ramp for animals - Google Patents

Abstract

A demountable foldable and portable animal ramp 1 for use in conjunction with a rear-opening vehicle 16 for facilitating ingress and egress of small domestic animals, is adjustable between a fully open attitude and a folded up attitude such that in the latter it can be conveniently accommodated in the vehicle body interior transverse to the vehicle axis eg. by means of a spring-clip 18 attached to the rear seat(s) of the vehicle. When in use with a car in the fully open attitude the ramp makes an angle of incidence with level ground of no more than 30{. In the preferred embodiment, the ramp consists of three sections along it's length, the two end pieces being square and the rectangular centre section being twice the area of the two end sections and is provided with means to secure it to the car body when in use to safeguard it from accidental collapse.

Description

2355706 DEMOUNTABLE RAMPS FOR ANIMALS This invention relates to

demountable ramps for animals, and it more particularly concerns a demountable, foldable and portable ramp, provided as a vehicle accessory to enable so-called small domestic animals to board and, above all, to dismount from vehicles with ease, thus without undue physical stress and therefore to the benefit of their long-term health and well-being.

While it is naturally possible that the demountable ramps of this invention may well serve as an useful adjunct for the vehiculartransportation of other small domestic animals, it is envisaged that their main use will be by dog-owning car-drivers, and therefore the invention will below be particularly described in that context.

Larger, domesticated beasts such as horses, cows and other farmyard animals have of course been transported in vehicles from one location to another for very many years, presumably ever since farming began to become mechanised - and for that purpose there have for long been specially-constructed animal-transportation automotive vehicles and trailers, made to include one or more in-built ramp(s), which can be let down to provide animal-ingress and egress between the interior of the vehicle and ground-level. Such vehicles are however purpose-built, with any such ramp permanently incorporated in the vehicular bodywork, and indeed usually so constructed as to form part of the external bodywork shell when the vehicle is travelling and the animals within it are thus confined to its interior. Such purpose-built, ramp-including animal-transportation vehicles though perfectly suited for their intended use are not however able to meet the day-to-day needs of the ordinary man in relation to so-called small domestic animals, above all dogs.

Since cars first became popular, people have of course travelled in them with their pet-dogs. Many modern-style vehicles have a rearopening of one kind or another, thus e.g. the rear-doors on so-called estate wagons, the lifting and/or dropping tail-gate on rough-terrain, four-wheel drive vehicles, and the lifting hatchback on many ordinary ca rs. In such rear-opening vehicles it is conventional for the dog to travel confined to an animal-compartment at the rear end of the vehicle, perhaps behind a dog-grille that keeps it in the animal-compartment separate from the human passengers in the main passengercompartment.

The dog then can enter and escape from such an animal- compartment only through the back of the vehicle, when the rearopening has been opened. The dog therefore has to enter its own compartment and conversely to leave it by respectively either leaping up to the level of the floor of that compartment or leaping down. In the case of rather small dogs the upwards leap may present a considerable or even an insurmountable obstacle, but if it is within the capacity of the dog to surmount that obstacle there is likely to be no damage to the leaping dog. However, that is not the case in relation to a downwardsleap.

In all circumstances, a downwards-leap assisted by gravity will bring the leaping dog's legs into contact with ground-level in a physically stressful way, as the dog tries to break its fall. The higher the floorlevel from which the dog must leap, the greater the physical stress - and the actual floor-level in the vehicle may not even be the worst of the problem, because in some vehicles, e.g. so-called hatchbacks the reardoor opening is above a sill upstanding from floor-level. Hence the dog may have to leap over the sill and then down from a quite considerable height. And this is a dog that may often have.travelled for a long time, even for many hours, cramped up more or less unmoving in a confined space. Its musculature is therefore relaxed and lethargic at the moment when suddenly (and from the dog's viewpoint quite unexpectedly) it is allowed its freedom, and bounds forth to enjoy it - only to land quite stressfully say 60-90 cm below.

It would be an exaggeration to suggest that any dog thus freed from a vehicle when it bounds forth will necessarily suffer immediate and apparent damage to its physique. There must however always be a risk of the dog's pads and claws being damaged when landing on the ground by sudden contact with hard, rough surfaces and/or with debris such as glass, metal, flints and other sharp objects - and the greater the weight of the animal the greater that risk. Moreover, it also has to be recognised that this kind of behaviour pattern, repeated endlessly over a period of years, can have a cumulative, debilitating effect on the dog's ligaments and musculature. There are conditions recognised by veterinary-surgeons that can be attributed to causes such as this. And if even fit, young dogs can suffer in this way, the danger is all the greater with old, unhealthy dogs - and many pet-dogs are grossly overweight, while some with age suffer from arthritic conditions which 5 may well be exacerbated by this kind of behaviour.

Dog-owners have grown so accustomed to the joy and enthusiasm with which their pets leap forth from vehicles that they seem to have failed to recognise the cumulatively detrimental effects of this behaviour pattern. it is however a behaviour forced upon dogs by the way in which they are habitually transported in cramped quarters within the car body, and relatively high off the ground. This invention is fundamentally based upon a recognition that this is a problem, believed to be so far unaddressed, that can be solved by providing a ramp which will assist all dogs, both large and small, to enter their travelling compartment and also, more importantly, to leave it without over-stressing their physique. But that is not enough to meet the need, else a mere plank would serve the ramp must be much more than just that, if it is to be serviceable for its intended purpose.

According to the present invention there is provided a demountable, foldable and portable animal-ramp, for use in conjunction with a rear-opening vehicle, for facilitating ingress and egress of small domestic animals, said ramp being so constructed as to be adjustable between a fully-open attitude and a folded-up attitude, the latter being such that it can be accommodated within the interior of the vehicle body transverse to the vehicle axis but the fully-open attitude being such that its car-proximal end can be mounted at or closely adjacent the rear opening of the vehicle while its other, car-distal end makes an angle of incidence a with level ground that is not greater than a = 300.

In its fully-open position the ramp is suitable for mounting so as to provide access to and from the rear-openings of all currently conventional vehicles e.g. estate cars, where it may be mounted on the rear bumper adjacent to floor-level, or hatchbacks where it may be mounted on the upstanding sill.

The ramp needs to be demountable, so that it can be mounted on the vehicle when needed and thereafter dismounted therefrom before the vehicle moves off. It needs to be foldable so that it can be accommodated within the vehicle when not in use; and it needs to be portable so that it can be lifted in and out of the vehicle relatively easily, even by the somewhat infirm.

The angle of incidence between the bottom of the ramp and ground-level, as well as to some extent the anti-slip characteristics of the upper surface of the ramp, will determine whether or not the ramp in use will be easy and safe for animal ingress and egress - and the maximum which is generally tolerable seems to be about cc = 300.

With any given combination of ramp and vehicle the angle of incidence of course depends not only upon the length of the ramp but also upon the height above ground level of the rear-opening of the vehicle at or near which the ramp is to be mounted. The floor-levels in different cars and other vehicles can and do somewhat vary, but nevertheless in the generality of modern-day saloon-type cars the height of the floor-level tends to be in the range of from 50 cm to 75 cm above ground level. The predominant factor that determines the. angle of incidence a between the ramp and the ground level is therefore the length of the ramp, as appears from the equation:

height of top of ramp sin (x length of the ramp.

The overall length of the ramp therefore is of fundamental importance, because when the ramp is mounted on the vehicle, its overall length largely determines the angle a at which the ramp is incident at ground level. The longer the ramp the lower the angle of incidence, and therefore the easier the access to and from the vehicle.

On the other hand, the greater the length of the ramp the more difficult will it become to accommodate it (when not in use) within the vehicle, and indeed the heavier it will be for handling purposes.

The ramp in its folded-up attitude needs to be accommodated transverse to the vehicle axis, and indeed usually between the rearwheel arches. Moreover, while notionally the ramp could be folded up more than once, the most practical construction is one in which the number of folds is kept to a minimum.

Balancing these considerations, and taking account of the need for a simple, sturdy yet economical construction, it has been found that the dog ramp should have an opened-out length in the range of from 165 to 178 cm, and above all a length of substantially 170 -173 cm. It is furthermore preferred that the reduced length of the ramp in its fullyfolded attitude should be substantially half of its fully-open length. Adhering to these dimensional constraints it should be found that the angle of incidence a, when used with currently-conventional domesticmarket rear-opening saloon-type vehicles, should in many cases be of the order of substantially 22' 50, which is to be regarded as about optimum.

The folding of the ramp is achieved by the use of hinges, which may be either standard butt hinges, or more preferably, so-called 'face' hinges which operate via the co-operation of circular discs. Such hinges are similar to those used on e.g. wallpaper-pasting tables.

The width of the dog-ramp (normal to its direction of elongation) is also of some importance, since it should be substantially greater than the width of separation between an average dog's fore-legs and/or its hindlegs, whichever is the greater - and for that and other reasons it is best set within the range of from 38 cm to 54 cm, and preferably at substantially 46 cm, which it is believed will accommodate substantially all breeds and sizes of dogs.

In order that mounting the ramp on the vehicle and subsequently dismounting it shall be uncomplicated operations it is very desirable that the foldable ramp should be so constructed that it is self-supporting (against gravity and animal body-weight) when in fully-open position with its upper animal-bearing surface topmost but not when inverted.

At the car-proximal end of the ramp, at or adjacent the opening to the animal-compartment within the vehicle, the ramp can advantageously be provided with one or more foot/feet-member(s) or flange(s), depending from the underneath surface thereof and adapted to rest on and support that end of the fully open ramp upon the carbumper adjacent the car-floor level while the underneath surface of the ramp is recessed to accommodate the foot/feet-member(s) or flange(s) in its fully-folded attitude. And when the vehicle is of the rear-opening type where a sill is upstanding above normal floor level, the foot/feetmember(s) can be used to hook over the sill.

The foot/feet-member(s) or flange(s) will desirably be provided with flexibly-resilient, friction-promoting shoe(s) to protect the carbumper (or the edge of the sill) and to discourage the end of the ramp from sliding off the bumper.

Similarly, the car-distal end of the ramp, which in use makes contact with the ground, may desirably be provided with protective flanges depending from the underneath surface, and located at the corners thereof. The flanges will preferably be formed from metal or plastics material, and will desirably be provided with a friction-promoting lower surface.

In order still further to safeguard the ramp from accidental collapse during use its upper surface at or near its car-proximal end is provided with an eyelet able to secure one end of a strap, cord or chain whose other end may be affixed within the car body shell.

The upper, animal-supporting surface of the ramp should of course be of such a nature as to permit a dog or other animal either to climb it or descend it without slipping, and for that reason is preferably provided with a non-slip surface, moulded into and/or adhered onto it.

The ramp may in principle be constructed of almost any material having reasonable strength and rigidity, and thus able safely and without undue tremor to support the weight of a dog-sized animal, but obviously it is highly desirable that while adequately strong it should be as lightweight as possible, and for that reason it is preferred, where economic considerations permit, that the ramp should be manufactured from plastics material, e.g. by injection-moulding of a strutted structure, from e.g. ABS or other like plastics materials.

In an alternative low-cost embodiment of the invention it is currently preferred that the ramp should be manufactured from lightweight timber, with a non-slip surface being provided by a layer of canvas adhered to the upper surface of the ramp.

In a still further preferred embodiment, the canvas layer may be provided with thin wooden strips running across the width of the ramp at regular intervals so as to provide extra purchase for the animal's feet.

The strips will preferably be substantially 2mm in height and substantially 10mm in width.

The invention also extends to a kit of parts, in either assembled or disassembled form, comprising an animal-ramp as herein disclosed in conjunction with detachable securing means for interconnecting the car proximal end of said ramp with car-shell bodywork so as to safeguard against accidental collapse of said ramp during use.

And the invention still further extends also to a kit of parts, in either assembled or disassembled form, which comprises an animal ramp as herein disclosed, with or without the detachable securing means aforesaid, and also means whereby said ramp, when not in use and in its fully-folded attitude, may be detachably mounted transverse to the vehicle axis against the back of the vehicle's rear-seat(s).

In order that this invention may be well understood, preferred embodiments will now be described in more detail, though only by way of illustration, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a top-plan view of a first embodiment of a demountable dog(or other small domestic animal) ramp in accordance with the invention, in its fully opened-out, ramp-forming attitude; Figure 2 is a side-elevational view of the opened-out ramp of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a side-elevational view of an opened-out ramp, similar to Figure 2, but of an alternative embodiment of the invention, featuring an alternative hinge mechanism; Figure 4 is an end-elevational view, taken in the direction of arrow III in Figure 2, of the same dog-ramp still in its opened-out attitude; Figure 5 is a side-elevational view of the same dog-ramp, essentially similar to Figure 2 but here in its folded-up attitude; Figure 6 is an underneath-plan view of the dog-ramp of Figure 1, in its opened-out, ramp-forming attitude; Figure 7 is a somewhat schematic, rear end-on perspective view of an estate-wagon type of vehicle with its tailgate open and the ramp of this invention mounted thereon; Figure 8 is a more side-on perspective view of the same vehicle with the ramp in place; Figure 9 is a rear end-on perspective view of a similar vehicle, with the ramp in its folded-up attitude and retained in place within the dog-compartment when not in use; and Figure 10 is an enlarged view of the alternative hinge mechanism of Figure 3, but with the ramp sections part-way between their opened out and fully folded-up attitudes.

Referring first to Figures 1 to 6, the demountable dog-ramp generally indicated 1 comprises three sections, namely a central section 2, a car-proximal end-section 3 and a car-distal other end-section 4. As appears best from Figure 2 in a first embodiment of the invention, the proximal end-section 3 is hingedly mounted via butt hinge 5 on the opposed, abutting end of central section 2, while the distal end-section 4 is likewise hinged ly-mou nted via butt hinge 6 on the opposed, abutting other end of central section 2. So as to enable the respective end sections 3 and 4 to be folded back flat against the under-surface of central section 2, while being locked (by gravity) in planar alignment with each other when the ramp is in the fully-open position, it is to be noted that (a) butt hinges 5 and 6 are each disposed with their hinge axis in the common plane of the under-surfaces of sections 2, 3 and 4, (b) the combined lengths of end-sections 3 and 4 (in the elongate direction of extension of the ramp when fully-open and in use) are not greater than the length of the central section 2 and preferably (as shown) substantially the same as that length, while (c) in order to impart maximum strength and rigidity to the ramp when it is in its fully-open attitude each of butt hinges 5 and 6 extends substantially the entire width of the ramp.

In the alternative embodiment, as illustrated in Figure 3, the inter relation between the central section 2 and the respective proximal and distal end-sections 3 and 4, remains the same as in the first embodiment. However, in this embodiment the proximal end-section 3 and distal end-section 4 are each hingedly mounted on the central section 2 via face hinges 25 and 26 respectively. In this embodiment the face hinges 25, 26 are mounted on the side faces 22, 23, 24 of the ramp sections rather than the underside, as is described in more detail below with reference to Figure 10.

As appears most clearly from Figures 2, 3 and 4, the car-proximal end of proximal end-section 3 is provided with two depending feet 7 (shown separately as 7a and 7b in Figure 4) which serve to support the car-mounted end of the ramp when in use, as will be further described with reference to Figure 7 subsequently. The feet 7a and 7b are mounted flush with the car-proximal end surface of end-section 3, but slightly inset from the lateral side-faces of end-section 3, and serve to support, stabilise and secure (frictionally and/or otherwise) the carproximal end of the ramp when in use. Similarly, the car-distal end of distal end-section 4 is provided with two depending protective flanges (not shown).

The car-proximal end of proximal end-section 3 is also provided on its upper surface with a plate-mounted, slightly up-standing eyelet 8, which can be used (in a manner to be further described subsequently) to assist in securing the car-proximal end of the ramp in situ at or adjacent the floor-level of the car upon which the ramp is mounted when serving to allow a dog or other animal ingress or egress.

In the embodiment here described and illustrated, as can best be seen from the underneath plan view shown in Figure 6, each of the sections 2, 3 and 4 is individually constructed from a square or rectangular wooden framework comprising parallel, lateral runners 9, 10, 9', 10' and 9", 10", as well as similar spreaders 11, 12, 11', 12' and 11 ", 12" - the runners 9, 10 &c. being mitred at their respective ends to the adjacent ends of spreaders 11, 12 &c. Each of the resultant frameworks 9, 11, 10, 12 &c. is integrated (by nailing, screwing, gluing or in any other appropriate manner) with the underside of a cover panel, respectively 13, 13' and 13", which serves to provide the animal-footing on the ramp and of course imparts rigidity to each of the frameworks. The upper surface of each of panels 13, 13' and 13" is in this embodiment provided with an anti-slip surface 14, diagrammatically part-depicted in Figure 1, which may desirably comprise a canvas layer provided with fine wooden strips (not shown) running across the width of the ramp.

It is envisaged that in production, the dog-ramp of this invention will be made by engineering techniques in themselves well known, that will achieve an optimum balance of strength and rigidity on the one hand with relatively light-weight construction on the other hand. In one embodiment, it is preferable that each of the ramp-sections 2, 3 and 4 should be made of injection-moulded plastics material, e.g. so-called ABS, and the objectives of combined strength, rigidity and light-weight construction should be maximised by moulding lateral and/or longitudinal ribs &c. into the under-surface of each of panels 13, 13' and 13".

At this point it should be noted that when the proximal end-section 3 is folded back to underlie the central section 2 the latter needs to be able to accommodate the previously-mentioned feet 7a and 7b. In the embodiments as herein described nothing special need be done to accommodate feet 7a and 7b, because they are so-located as to fit naturally within the hollow space between framework members 9, 11, 10 and 12. However, if the whole of each of sections 2, 3 and 4 is to be integrally made from injection-moulded plastics material, care will have be taken to ensure that the structure beneath panel 13 is so constructed as to provide a hollow space to accommodate feet 7a and 7b.

Referring now to Figure 7, it will be seen that the ramp 1 is mounted with its car-proximal end section 3 more or less abutting and closely-adjacent the floor level 15 of the tail-opening/hatch-back car/estate wagon generally indicated 16. The car-proximal end of endsection 3 is in fact secured in its operative position by resting the depending feet 7a, 7b either possibly on the floor of the external body- shell of vehicle 16 or preferably (as shown) on its rear-bumper 17. This will often be sufficient to secure the ramp safely in position during animal ingress and egress. However, it is obviously desirable to safeguard the ramp against any possibility of accidental collapse, and therefore so as still better to secure the car-proximal end of the ramp to the vehicle body, the eyelet 8 can be used to secure one end of a possibly-elasticated, short retaining strap or cord, or perhaps a chain or the like (not shown), the other end of which can and should be secured to some fixing point within the vehicle's bodywork, e.g. the floormounted small stub-pillar often associated with the vehicle's tailgate locking mechanism.

Obviously the demountable dog-ramp of this invention must when not in use be conveniently accommodated within the vehicle as it travels from one place to another. This is already to a large extent achieved by the fact that car-proximal end-section 3 and car-distal end-section 4 can both be folded back and arranged to lie flat along the under-surface of central section 2, thus enabling the folded-up ramp to be comfortably stowed away within the vehicle interior and transverse to its length. That in itself may be enough - but it is greatly preferred that the folded- up ramp should where possible be temporarily accommodated by detachably mounting it on the back of the rear passenger seat in the vehicle, so that when thus mounted it does not significantly diminish the space available in the dog-compartment.

In the case of some vehicles with a high roofline, e.g. of the so- called "people carrier" kind, it may be possible for the transverse accommodation of the folded-up ramp within the vehicle interior to be achieved in a vertical posture behind one passenger seat, but with the generality of passenger vehicles the ramp will be best accommodated in an horizontal posture, stretching horizontally across the back of all the rear-passenger seats.

Means for temporarily mounting the folded-up ramp within the dogcompartment are illustrated in Figure 9, where an omega-shaped spring clip 18 (i.e. one shaped like the Greek letter Q) is so constructed and dimensioned as to pass over the top of the rear passenger seat 19 so that (as shown) it will simultaneously embrace both the seat and the upper side of the demounted ramp 1.

Referring now to Figure 10, this shows an enlarged view of the face hinge 25 by means of which, in the same alternative embodiment as illustrated in Figure 3, the car-proximal section 3 is hinged ly-mounted on the central section 2 (although it will be appreciated that the second face hinge 26 by means of which the car-distal section 4 is hingedly mounted on the central section 2, will be of identical construction). The face hinge, generally indicated 25, comprises first and second plates 20, 21 mounted on the sides 22, 23, of the central section 2 and the car proximal section 3, respectively, by fixing means 27 which may be rivets, screws or the like.

The adjoining ends of first and second plates 20, 21 form circular discs 28 and 29 respectively, which co-operate such that the second disc 29 overlaps the first disc 28, with the two being rotatable about a pivot point 30, located at the lowest point on the abutting edges of the central section 2 and the car-proximal section 3.

Further possible and perhaps desirable modifications of the dog ramp of the present invention should be apparent to those involved in 1 ig ht-eng inee ring, and are within the scope of the present invention.

Claims (31)

1 A demountable, foldable and portable animal-ramp, for use in conjunction with a rear-opening vehicle, for facilitating ingress and egress of small domestic animals, said ramp being adjustable between a fully-open attitude and a folded-up attitude such that in the latter it can be conveniently accommodated within the vehicle body interior transverse to the vehicle-axis but in its fully-open position when its carproximal end is mounted at or closely adjacent the vehicle floor level its other, car-distal end makes an angle of incidence oc with level ground that is not greater than (x = 30'.

2. An animal-ramp as claimed in claim 1, so constructed that it is selfsupporting (against gravity and animal body-weight) when in fullyopen position with its upper animal-bearing surface topmost but not when inverted.

3. An animal-ramp as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, in which the reduced length of the ramp in fully-folded attitude is substantially half of its fully-open length, and the angle of incidence a when used with currentlyconventional domestic-market hatch-back vehicles is substantially 220 50.

4. A dog-ramp as claimed in any of the preceding claims, in which its carproximal end is suitable for mounting on the bumper of an estate car or the upstanding sill of a hatchback.

5. A dog-ramp as claimed in any of the preceding claims, having an openedout length in the range of from 165 to 178 cm.

6. A dog-ramp as claimed in claim 5, having an opened-out length of substantially 170-173 cm.

7. A dog-ramp as claimed in any of the preceding claims, in which the ramp comprises a rectangular-outline central section and hingedly 5 attached at the respective opposite ends thereof a car-proximal section and a car-distal section both of substantially square peripheral outline.

8. A dog-ramp as claimed in claim 7, in which the central section is substantially twice the length of the respective end-sections.

9. A dog-ramp as claimed in claim 7 or claim 8, in which the car10 proximal and car-distal ramp-sections are each hinged ly-attached to the respective ends of the rectangular central section thereof via a hinge having its hinge-axis substantially in the plane of the underneath surface of the dog-ramp.

10. A dog-ramp as claimed in claim 9, in which each hinge is a butt hinge extending substantially the full width of the underside of the ramp.

11. A dog-ramp as claimed in claim 9, in which each hinge is a face hinge mounted on the side faces of the ramp.

12. A dog-ramp as claimed in any of claims 7 to 11, in which at least one end of the ramp is provided with one or more foot/feet-member(s) or 20 flange(s) depending from the underneath surface thereof and adapted to rest on and support that end of the fully-open ramp, while the underneath surface of said ramp is recessed to accommodate said foot/feet-member(s) or flange(s) when in its fully-folded attitude.

13. A dog-ramp as claimed in claim 12, in which said foot/feet member(s) or flange(s) is/are provided with flexibly-resilient, frictionpromoting shoe(s).

14. A dog-ramp as claimed in any of the preceding claims, having a width in the range of from 38 to 54 cm.

15. A dog-ramp as claimed in claim 14, having a width of substantially 46 cm.

16. A dog-ramp as claimed in any of the preceding claims, in which the upper surface of the ramp is provided at or near its car-proximal end with an eyelet able to secure one end of a strap, cord or chain whose other end may be affixed within the car body shell to safeguard the ramp from accidental collapse.

17. A dog-ramp as claimed in any of the preceding claims, in which its upper, animal-bearing side is provided with a relatively non-slip surface moulded into and/or adhered thereon.

18. A dog-ramp as claimed in claim 17 in which the adhered non-slip surface comprises canvas material.

19. A dog-ramp as claimed in claim 18, which further comprises fine wooden strips running across the width of said canvas material at regular intervals.

20. A dog-ramp as claimed in any of the preceding claims, manufactured from lightweight timber.

21. A dog-ramp as claimed in any of claims 1 to 17, manufactured as a relatively light-weight strutted structure by moulding from plastics material.

22. An animal ramp as claimed in any of the preceding claims and substantially as herein described.

23. A dog-ramp substantially as herein described with reference to and/or as shown in any of Figures 1 to 10 of the accompanying 5 drawings.

24. A kit of parts, in either assembled or disassembled form, which comprises an animal-ramp as claimed in any of claims 1 to 23 in conjunction with detachable securing means for interconnecting the carproximal end of said ramp with car-shell bodywork so as to safeguard against accidental collapse of said ramp during use.

25. A kit as claimed in claim 24, in which the detachable securing means comprise a strap, cord or chain having means at one end thereof for attachment to a fixing point within the car bodywork shell and further means at the other end thereof for attachment to an eyelet provided at or adjacent the car-proximal end of said ramp.

26. A kit as claimed in claim 24 or claim 25 and substantially as herein described with reference to Figure 8 of the accompanying drawings.

27. A kit of parts, in either assembled or disassembled form, comprising an animal-ramp as claimed in any of claims 1 to 23, with or without the detachable securing means according to any of claims 24 to 26, which also comprises means whereby said animal-ramp, when not in use and in its fully-folded attitude, may be mounted transverse to the vehicle axis against the back of the vehicle's rear-seat(s).

28. A kit of parts as claimed in claim 27, in which the mounting means take the form of a spring-clip capable of embracing both the rear seat(s) of said vehicle and the fully-folded dog-ramp.

29. A kit of parts as claimed in claim 28, in which the mounting means 5 takes the form of a substantially omega-shaped spring clip.

30. A kit of parts as claimed in any of claims 27 to 29 and substantially as herein described.

31. A kit of parts comprising a dog-ramp as claimed in any of claims 1 to 23, with or without the kit of claims 24 to 26, in conjunction with 10 mounting means substantially as herein described and/or as shown in Figure 9 of the accompanying drawings.