Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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VEHICLE MOUNTED LIFT
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to vehicle transportation in general and in
particular to an apparatus for transporting small vehicles within the bed of a
truck.
2. Description of Related Art
The use of recreational type vehicles is a common and enjoyable pastime.
Such recreational type vehicles may comprise all terrain vehicles (ATVs)
snowmobiles and the like. It is well known that the use of such vehicles is
not
permitted in residential neighborhoods where many users live. Therefore it is
frequently necessary to transport such vehicles to a location where they can
be safely used in compliance with local regulations.
ATVs are typically transported with the use of pick-up trucks either in the
bed
of the truck or on a trailer towed therebehind. Such trailers are often not
practical due to the difficulty of towing such a trailer through difficult
terrain or
being required to turn the truck and trailer around in a relatively tight
space.
It is common for users to wish to transport two ATVs at the same time so that
more than one person may participate in this activity at the same time.
Present difficulties exist with current devices for transporting two ATVs on
pick-up trucks. Such devices commonly include ATV carrier racks comprising
a platform supported above the box of the pick-up truck. Such platforms are
commonly designed to carry the ATVs either side by side or one behind the
other therein and are therefore commonly substantially wider than the pick-up
truck itself. This increased width due to the AN carrier makes navigating the
pick-up more difficult. Additionally, having both ATVs supported at an
elevated height above the box of the pick-up truck increases the center of
gravity of the truck.
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Previous attempts to solve the above difficulties have not been adequate. In
particular, some previous solutions have provided an elevated rotatable
platform supported above the bed of a truck which may be angled to load a
top ATV and then raised to permit storage of a second AN thereunder. An
example of such devices is disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Publication
No. 2008/0014068 to Smith. A disadvantage of such rotating platforms is that
the topmost ATV is required to be loaded onto an angled platform. This can
be dangerous and difficult due to the need to stop and stabilize the ATV on
the angled platform before securing it thereto and thereafter raisin the top
platform.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to a first embodiment of the present invention there is disclosed an
apparatus for transporting small vehicles within the bed of a truck. The
apparatus comprises a frame sized to be locatable within the bed of a truck, a
platform slidably supported by the frame movable between a first position
parallel to and proximate to the bed of the truck and a second position
parallel
to and vertically spaced above the first position and an actuator operable to
move the platform between the first and second positions.
The frame may comprise a space frame. The frame may include for comer
columns with the platform located therebetween. The columns at a front
portion of the truck bed may be connected to each other at top portion thereof
by a cross-member. The platform may be slidably located between the
columns.
The platform may be maintained parallel to the bed of the truck by crossed
interlinked pivotable scissor members. The platform may be sized to support
a small vehicle thereon. The small vehicle may be selected from the group
consisting of all terrain vehicles and snowmobiles.
The actuator may comprises a winch located at an upper portion on a front
portion of the frame, the winch has an elongate tension member extending in
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a downward direction to the platform so as to be operable to lift the platform
to
the second position. The winch may include a pair of elongate tension
members each extending to an opposed side of the platform. Each of the pair
of elongate tension members may passe over a roller so as to extend in a
substantially vertical direction between the roller and the platform. The
winch
may comprise an electric winch utilizing an electrical system of the truck as
a
power supply.
The apparatus may further comprise at least one catch for selectively
engaging and supporting the platform at the second position. Each corner
upright may include a catch. The catch may comprise a pivotable body
having a support surface, the pivotable body being rotatable into a first
position such that the platform rests upon the support surface and a second
position out of a path of travel of the platform. The catch may be biased
towards the second position by a release spring. The catch may be
selectably biased towards the first position by a retaining spring. The
retaining spring may be selectably coupleable to the catch so as to selectably
bias the catch to the first position when the retaining spring is connected to
the catch and towards the second position when the retaining spring is
decoupled from the catch.
Other aspects and features of the present invention will become apparent to
those ordinarily skilled in the art upon review of the following description
of
specific embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying
figures.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In drawings which illustrate embodiments of the invention wherein similar
characters of reference denote corresponding parts in each view,
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a pick-up truck having an apparatus for
transporting small vehicles according to a first embodiment of the
present invention in a bed thereof.
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Figure 2 is a side view of the apparatus of Figure 1 at a second or raised
position.
Figure 3 is a side view of the apparatus of Figure 1 at a first or lowered
position.
Figure 4 is a front view of a catch of the apparatus of Figure 1.
Figure 5 is a side view of a catch of the apparatus of Figure 1 at a first or
platform supporting position.
Figure 6 is a side view of a catch of the apparatus of Figure 1 at a second
or release position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring to Figure 1, an apparatus for supporting small vehicles according to
a first embodiment of the invention is shown generally at 10 located in the
bed
6 of a pick-up truck 8. As described herein small vehicles include all terrain
vehicles (ATVs), snowmobiles as well as any other recreational-type vehicle
which may be transported by a pick-up truck. For reference, such vehicles as
utilized herein are referred to as ATVs. Although the present description
refers to supporting ATVs, it will be appreciated that the apparatus 10 may
also be utilized to support and carry a wide variety of objects, such as, by
way
of non-limiting example, equipment and building materials. In the case of
building materials, it will be appreciated that the platform 30 may be located
at
a height sufficient to permit any building materials located thereon to pass
over the top of the cab of the pick-up to facilitate carrying of long
materials
such as lumber and the like. As illustrated the apparatus 10 is secured to the
bed 6 of a pick-up truck 8 within the box 4 thereof although it will be
appreciated that the apparatus may also be secured to the bed of other types
of vehicles such as by way of non-limiting example flat deck trucks. The
apparatus comprises a frame 12 supporting a vertically movable platform 30
supported by the frame and an actuator for moving the platform between first
and second positions.
Turning to Figure 2, a side view of the apparatus 10 is illustrated. The frame
12 comprises a pair of spaced apart front uprights 14 and a pair of spaced
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apart rear uprights 16. The front uprights 14 are located proximate to the
front
of the bed 6 of the truck 8 and the rear uprights 16 are located proximate to
the rear of the bed of the pick-up truck. The front and rear uprights may
further be spaced away from the sides of the bed of the pick-up truck by a
distance sufficient to permit the platform to pass between the wheel arches 7
of the pick-up truck. A base member 22 may span bottom portions 18 and 20,
respectively, of the front and rear uprights 14 and 16. Each of the front and
rear uprights 14 and 16 includes a catch 60 for engaging and supporting the
platform to a raised or second position as illustrated in Figure 3. As will be
further described below, the catches 60 are selectably releasable so as to
permit the platform to be lowered to a bottom or first position as illustrated
in
Figure 3. The front uprights 14 are connected a top portion 24 thereof by a
cross member 26 supporting a winch 50 for raising and lowering the platform
30. The frame 12 may be formed of metal members such as L-channel, c-
channels, rods, bars and the like. The members forming the frame 12 may be
welded bolted or otherwise connected to each other by any known method.
The frame 12 may be secured to the bed 4 of the truck 8 by any know method
such as bolts, buckles, camper tie downs or any other method as are
commonly known in the art. It will also be appreciated that the frame 12 may
be secured to the stake pockets of the truck 8 by commonly known methods.
The platform 30 comprises a rigid planar member having a rectangular outline
defined by a plurality of frame members 32. The platform may be constructed
of a space perimeter frame of metal members such as L-channels, c-channel
or the like. A deck 34 of plywood or any other ridged decking material so as
to provide a surface suitable for supporting an ATV thereon. The platform 30
may be stabilized in an orientation parallel to the bed 4 of the truck 8 by
first
and second scissor arms, 36 and 38, respectively extending between the
platform 30 and the bed 4. The first scissor arm 36 is pivotally connected to
the underside of the platform 30 at pivot 40 and extends towards the rear of
the apparatus to a free end 46. The free end 46 includes a slider or roller
thereon to permit the free end 46 to freely move longitudinally along the bed
4
as the platform 30 is raised and lowered. The second scissor arm 38 is
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pivotally connected to the base member 22 at pivot 42 and extends towards
the rear of the apparatus to a free end 48. The free end 48 includes a slider
or roller thereon to permit the free end 48 to freely move longitudinally
along
the underside of the platform 30 as the platform is raised and lowered. The
first and second scissor arms 36 and 38 have substantially equal length and
are pivotally connected to each other at a middle portion thereof 44. The
first
and second scissor arms 36 and 38 serve to maintain the platform 30 parallel
to the bed 4 of the truck 8 as it is moved up and down.
The winch 50 may comprise an electric winch as are commonly known in
automotive, and recreational vehicles, such as, by way of non-limiting
example an ATV winch. Although the winch 50 is illustrated as being located
on the cross member 26 at a position above the platform 30, it will be
appreciated that it may also be located at other locations such as beside, on
or below the platform wherein the elongate tension members 52 extend
between the winch 50 and either the platform 30 or the framel2 so as to
provide a lifting force to the platform 30. Accordingly, the winch includes
power wires from the electrical system of the truck 8 as well as an on/off
switch and up and down controls (not shown) as are commonly known. The
winch includes a pair of elongate tensions members 52, such as by way of
non-limiting example, a cable, rope or chain extending therefrom to opposed
sides of the apparatus 10. Each elongate tension member 52 extends over at
least one pulley 54 supported by the cross member 26 and downwardly to the
platform 30. Through the use of the pair of elongate tension members 52 and
pulleys 54, the winch is therefore able to apply a consistently upwards lift
force to the platform for movement between the first and second positions. It
will be appreciated that utilizing more than one pulley on the cross member 26
and the platform 30 will enable the winch to lift a greater weight of platform
and ATV through the mechanical advantage of the pulleys.
In operation, the platform 30 may be lowered to a first position as
illustrated in
Figure 2 proximate to the bed 4 of the truck 8 to have a first AN placed
thereon. Thereafter the winch 50 may then be utilized to raise the platform 30
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and first ATV to a raised or second position as illustrated in Figure 3
position
whereby a second ATV may be loaded under the platform 30. It will be
appreciated that the present design does not include any components located
within the space under the platform 30 where the second ATV is to be
located.
Turning now to Figures 4 through 6, each upright 14 and 16 may have a catch
60 for supporting the platform 30 extending through a slot 61 therein. The
catch 60 may be a pivoting member 62 having a notch 64 therein to receive a
frame member 32 of the platform 30. The notch 64 may be defined by a
finger 66 extending towards the frame member 32. The pivoting member 62
may be rotatable about a bolt 67 or other suitable means suspended between
a pair of support plates 68 extending from the upright to either side of the
slot
61. The pivoting member 62 may have a hook 70 extending from a top
portion thereof to receive a retaining spring 72 therein so as to retain the
pivoting member 62 in locked position such that the finger 66 is on the same
side of the upright as the frame member 32 so as to catch and support the
platform 30. A bridging plate 74 may be connected to the notch 64
perpendicularly to the slot 61 so as to prevent the pivoting member 62 from
rotating completely through the slot 61. A release spring 76 at a bottom of
the
pivoting member 62 biases the pivoting member 62 in a direction opposed to
the retaining spring 72 so as to remove the finger 66 from the same side of
the upright as the platform 30 and thereby to release the platform from the
catch 60. Optionally, the uprights 14 and 16 may other ratcheting or
selectable support means for selectably supporting the platform 30 at a
desired height. It will also be appreciated that winch 50 or other means may
include a gear reducer such that the winch 50 is operable to retain the
platform 30 at the desired height due to the internal mechanical and
electrical
resistance of the motor to rotation.
In operation, the platform 30 may be raised above the catch 60 and the
retaining spring 72 engaged on the hook 70. Thereafter the platform 30 may
be lowered into the second position illustrated in Figure 3 to be supported by
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the finger 66. To lower the platform 30, it may be raised to disengage the
platform 30 from the finger 66 and the retaining spring 72 removed from the
hook 70. Thereafter the release spring 76 will retract the finger 66 so as to
permit the platform to be lowered to its bottom or first position as
illustrated in
Figure 2. Additionally, the platform 30 may be located and maintained at a
height to be substantially aligned with the top of the box of the pick-up
truck
by the winch 50. At such a height, a region below the platform in conjunction
with a locking tailgate of the pick up truck may form a storage compartment
which is secure from theft.
While specific embodiments of the invention have been described and
illustrated, such embodiments should be considered illustrative of the
invention only and not as limiting the invention as construed in accordance
with the accompanying claims.
