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Cargo lifting platform

a lifting platform and cargo technology, applied in the direction of transportation items, loading/unloading vehicles, chairs, etc., can solve the problems of difficult to raise these very heavy and/or bulky items into the beds of trucks, and the mechanism is often highly complex

Inactive Publication Date: 2006-11-02
WELLS JOHN
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008] According to a primary aspect of the present invention, a lifting mechanism is provided which is releasably attachable to a support, such as a trailer hitch extending rearwardly from a vehicle, e.g., a pickup truck. The mechanism includes an operating mechanism including rotatable members disposed within a housing for the mechanism that is releasably secured to the support. The rotatable members are rotated within the housing using any number of suitable motive systems positioned at least partially within the housing and engaged with the rotatable members. Further, a pair of elongated arms is releasably secured to the rotatable members, such that the arms can rotate in conjunction with the rotatable members. In one mode of operation, the particular motive system used rotates the rotatable members and the arms in opposite directions in order to vertically move or raise the ends of the arms spaced from the housing. Theses end of the arms can releasably support a platform disposed on the ends of each arm that is raised along with the ends of the arms when the motive system is operated. The size and configuration of the arms allows the arms to vertically move the platform or other item secured to one or both of the arms from a lowered position spaced slightly above or on the ground to any of a number of elevated positions, such as a raised position approximately level with the bed of the vehicle.

Problems solved by technology

With regard to the size of certain items to be transported in smaller vehicles, such as pickup trucks, it is often times difficult to raise these very heavy and / or bulky items into the beds of the trucks.
However, these mechanisms are often highly complex, involving many moving parts or hydraulic mechanisms which must be constantly maintained in order for the mechanism to function properly.
Further, the majority of these mechanisms when utilized remain attached to the hitch, as the size of the mechanism does not allow for easy removal and / or storage of the mechanism.

Method used

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third embodiment

[0038] In a third embodiment for the mechanism 10, best shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the configuration of the lift arms 30 can be varied to include a number of extensions 64 in the central section 34 and the support section 36 of each lift arm 30. In this embodiment, when the item(s) are loaded into the vehicle 12, the lift arms 30 can be rotated by the mechanism 18 to position the support sections 36 over the bed of the vehicle 12, thereby assisting in securing the items within the bed of the vehicle 12. The support sections 36 can also have a padding material 66 positioned around each supporting section 36 to attempt to prevent any damage from being done to the items as a result of contact with the support sections 36. Also, with the extensions 64 in the central section 34, the lift arms 30 can be rotated downwardly into engagement with the ground in order to lift the rear end of the vehicle 12 off of the ground, allowing the vehicle 12 to be extricated from muddy ground or the like, o...

fourth embodiment

[0040] Looking now at FIG. 10, the lifting mechanism 10 is illustrated in which the mechanism 10 can be used to lift heavy or oversize items into a vehicle 12. The mechanism 10 includes a support box 76 that is formed similarly to the operating mechanism 18, and includes a housing 78, a hitch attachment portion 80 connected to the housing 78 and engageable with a hitch 14, and a pair of rotatable members 82 disposed in the housing 80. However, the support box 76 does not include any operating mechanism 18, such that the box 76 only serves to support one end of the lift arms 30′. Also, the lift arms 30′ are formed of two pairs of arms 82 shaped similarly to the arms 30 utilized in the previous embodiments, with the support sections of the arms 82 connected to one another to form the arms 30′. Each of the arms 30′ connected at one end to the support box 76, and at the opposite end to the operating mechanism 18. In this embodiment the operating mechanism 18 is spaced from the vehicle 1...

fifth embodiment

[0041] Referring now to FIG. 11, the lifting mechanism 10 of the present invention is illustrated in which the platform 46 supports a truck bed cap-supporting member 84 thereon. The member 84 is releasably securable to a truck bed cap 86, and includes a base 88 including a number of wheels or roller 90, and an upper section 92 that can be rotated or swiveled with respect to the base 86. Thus, to place the cap 86 over the bed 16 of the truck 12, initially the cap 86 is secured to the upper section 92 in any suitable manner. The cap 86 is then lifted by activating the operating mechanism 18 to raise the arms 30 and platform 46, thereby raising the cap-supporting member 84 and the cap 86. Once the cap 86 is disposed above the level of the bed 16 of the vehicle 12, the upper portion 92 is rotated with respect to the base 88, and the base 88 is rolled along the platform 46 towards the vehicle 12. When the cap 86 is directly over the bed 16, the operating mechanism 18 is operated to lower...

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PUM

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Abstract

The present invention is a lifting mechanism designed to be releasably attachable to a support, such as a hitch on the rear of a vehicle. The mechanism includes a housing that is securable to the hitch and encloses an operating mechanism having a pair of openings in which lift arms can be connected to be rotated by the operating mechanism. Each lift arm is movably and releasably connected to a platform which can be raised from a lowered position to a raised position by the operating mechanism and the lift arms in order to enable an item placed on the platform to be elevated from a position adjacent the ground to a position generally level with the cargo space of a vehicle, such as the bed of a pickup truck. The components of the mechanism are detachable from one another in order to easily store the mechanism when not in use.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent application Ser. No. 60 / 658,821 that was filed on Mar. 4, 2005, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates to lifting mechanisms, and more specifically to lifting mechanisms adapted to be connected to a support for lifting such items, such as into the rear of a vehicle. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] In order to transport a number of different types of goods, vehicles are often utilized. Vehicles which have been designed for specific use in transporting goods include beds or other supporting surfaces which may be open or enclosed, and that are usually disposed adjacent the rear of the vehicle. These beds are elevated over the ground on which the vehicle is traveling such that the goods must be elevated to place the items into the bed prior to transport. [0004] With regard to the size of certain ite...

Claims

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Application Information

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IPC IPC(8): A47C7/14
CPCB60P1/4414B60R9/06B60P1/5476
Inventor WELLS, JOHN
Owner WELLS JOHN