US 12,145,492 B2
Load ramp for a vehicle
John Robert Van Wiemeersch, Novi, MI (US); Stuart C. Salter, White Lake, MI (US); David Brian Glickman, Southfield, MI (US); Peter Phung, Windsor (CA); Paul Kenneth Dellock, Northville, MI (US); and Pietro Buttolo, Dearborn Heights, MI (US)
Assigned to Ford Global Technologies, LLC, Dearborn, MI (US)
Filed by Ford Global Technologies, LLC, Dearborn, MI (US)
Filed on Sep. 1, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/901,030.
Prior Publication US 2024/0075864 A1, Mar. 7, 2024
Int. Cl. B60P 1/43 (2006.01); B60J 5/10 (2006.01); E05F 15/60 (2015.01); G06V 20/56 (2022.01); H04R 1/08 (2006.01); H04R 3/00 (2006.01)
CPC B60P 1/435 (2013.01) [B60J 5/102 (2013.01); E05F 15/60 (2015.01); G06V 20/56 (2022.01); H04R 1/08 (2013.01); H04R 3/00 (2013.01); E05Y 2201/434 (2013.01); E05Y 2400/40 (2013.01); E05Y 2400/44 (2013.01); E05Y 2400/512 (2013.01); E05Y 2800/122 (2013.01); E05Y 2800/242 (2013.01); E05Y 2900/546 (2013.01); H04R 2499/13 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A vehicle, comprising:
a body;
an access aperture that is defined by the body, wherein the access aperture provides access to an interior of the vehicle;
a closure panel that selectively covers at least a portion of the access aperture, wherein the closure panel is movable between an open position and a closed position relative to the access aperture;
a load ramp that is deployably coupled to the closure panel, wherein the load ramp comprises a coupled end and a free end, and wherein the load ramp is movable between a retracted position and an extended position;
a moisture sensor positioned proximate to the free end of the load ramp to sense moisture;
a heating element positioned proximate to the free end of the load ramp; and
a controller configured to process an input from the moisture sensor and to activate the heating element to heat the load ramp based on the sensed moisture.