US3700123A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Power lift and gate apparatus for truck
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1971-08-16
•
Granted: 1972-10-24
•
Expires: 1991-08-16
Abstract
Abstract A lift frame for attachment to the truck frame and bed includes a tubular horizontal base having integral transverse brackets for attachment to the truck frame and having upright end posts securely welded to the tubular member. A mounting flange welded along the tubular member is secured along the edge of the truck bed. A hinged lift platform includes a horizontal portion and a folding portion, with the horizontal portion swingably supported by a parallelogram arms on the frame end posts. A torque bar connects lift arms, defining one of the parallel arms at each end; and a hydraulic power cylinder connects one lift arm and one corner post to swing the lift platform between the upper position in the plane of the truck bed and the lower ground position. In the upper limit position, the torque bar is stressed by the power cylinder so that the folding portion may be swung into upright position to define a gate, with co-acting latch mains of the gate and one end post positioned for latching engagement. When the power cylinder is released, the torque bar positively latches the gate in locked position.
Inventors
- 👤 Quentin D Corley Jr
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 18:31
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60P; B60P1/00; B60P1/44; B60P1/4414; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S414/00; Y10S414/13
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
159 words
For use with the vehicle having a load carrying bed supported on a frame, a lift and gate apparatus comprising: a unitary frame including a horizontal base and upright end posts; said horizontal base having means for attachment to the vehicle frame; a lift platform; pairs of parallel arms pivotally attached to each side of said platform and to a respective frame end post, said arm pairs defining swingable parallelogram supports for maintaining said platform in horizontal planes; each pair of arms including a lift arm and a guide arm; a torsion member extending between said lift arms and coupling said lift arms for substantially simultaneous rotation; and extensible power cylinder means pivotally connected between one of said end posts and the associated lift arm, on only one side of said platform to swing said lift arm relative to said end post and, via said torsion member, to swing the other said lift arm relative to its end post.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
159 words
For use with the vehicle having a load carrying bed supported on a frame, a lift and gate apparatus comprising: a unitary frame including a horizontal base and upright end posts; said horizontal base having means for attachment to the vehicle frame; a lift platform; pairs of parallel arms pivotally attached to each side of said platform and to a respective frame end post, said arm pairs defining swingable parallelogram supports for maintaining said platform in horizontal planes; each pair of arms including a lift arm and a guide arm; a torsion member extending between said lift arms and coupling said lift arms for substantially simultaneous rotation; and extensible power cylinder means pivotally connected between one of said end posts and the associated lift arm, on only one side of said platform to swing said lift arm relative to said end post and, via said torsion member, to swing the other said lift arm relative to its end post.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
54 words
The lift and gate apparatus as set forth in claim 1: wherein said horizontal base comprises a lower tubular member having transversely extending brackets for attachment to the vehicle frame, and an upper mounting flange welded to the tubular member and adapted for attachment along its length to an edge of the vehicle bed.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
51 words
A lift and gate apparatus as set forth in claim 1: wherein said horizontal base is a member of substantial depth having means adjacent to its lower edge for attachment to the vehicle frames, and having means adjacent to its upper edge for attachment to an edge of the vehicle bed.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
A lift and gate apparatus as set forth in claim 1: wherein said lift platform includes an iNner horizontal platform portion and an outer foldable platform portion hinged to said horizontal platform; and wherein said lift arms are pivotally attached to said horizontal platform.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
110 words
A lift and gate apparatus as set forth in claim 1: wherein said horizontal base comprises a tubular member having transverse brackets for attachment to the vehicle frame; wherein said end posts each comprise an elongated member having at least two adjacent angled walls, defining a side wall and a wall transverse thereto; wherein said tubular member is secured to said end post side walls by welded joints; and wherein said joints include strengthening plates extending into said tubular member and being welded thereto and extending through openings in the facing side walls of the respective end posts and being welded to the respective transverse walls of said end posts.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
75 words
A lift and gate apparatus as set forth in claim 1: wherein said horizontal platform includes side walls members; said horizontal platform being movable to an upper limiting position wherein the platform floor lies in the plane of the vehicle bed floor, and wherein said platform side walls define, with said end posts, a gate opening; and wherein said foldable platform is dimensioned to be received within said gate opening to define a gate therefor.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
57 words
A lift and gate apparatus as set forth in claim 6: including coacting latch means disposed adjacent to the upper end of one of said posts and adjacent to the outer edge of said foldable platform; and said foldable platform being swingable inwardly at an acute angle relative to said horizontal platform to engage said latch means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
214 words
A lift and gate apparatus as set forth in claim 6: including stop means mounted on the end post opposite from the power cylinder and engageable by the side of the horizontal platform remote from the power cylinder for limiting the upward movement of the remote side of the platform prior to attainment of the travel limit of the power cylinder; said horizontal platform being supported by said lift arms and interconnected torsion member in a manner that the remote side reaches the plane of the vehicle bed slightly ahead of the side proximate to said power cylinder; and said power cylinder continuing to lift said proximate side a limited predetermined distance to place a torsional stress in said torque bar; coacting latch means for said foldable platform comprising a dog extending laterally from the distal edge thereof and an upward opening recess in the power cylinder end post engageable by said dog; said foldable platform being swingable to the gate closing position with said dog being movable into said latch recess, when the proximate side of the horizontal platform is lifted to stress said torsion member; and said dog being drawn downwardly into locking relation with said latch recess by said torsion member when the lifting force of said power cylinder is released.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
90 words
A lift and gate apparatus as set forth in claim 4; wherein said horizontal platform includes opposed laterally projecting hinge pins adjacent to its rearward edge defining a hinge axis, and wherein said foldable platform includes forwardly projecting hinge brackets for coacting pivotal engagement with respective hinge pins; stop means mounted on said horizontal platform in position to be engaged by said hinge brackets to define load bearing points spaced from the hinge axis to limit downward swinging movement of the foldable platform to the plane of said horizontal platform.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
35 words
A lift and gate apparatus as set forth in claim 9: wherein said horizontal platform rearward edge and said foldable platform forward edge have coacting means defining a support axis adjacent to said hinge axis.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
87 words
A lift and gate apparatus as set forth in claim 9: including coacting bearing means acting between said horizontal and foldable platforms defining load bearing points along a line parallel to and spaced from the hinge axis, said load bearing means being operative at the limit of downward swinging movement of the foldable platform; and said second named load bearing points and said first named load bearing points being spaced from the hinge axis on opposite sides to define a torque couple operative about the hinge axis.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
201 words
In combination: a truck having a load carrying bed, supported on longitudinal frame members, and side walls means defining a rear gate opening for the bed; a lift and gate apparatus for the truck including a unitary frame comprising a horizontal base and upright end posts; said horizontal base including an elongated member having spaced bracket means for rigidly anchoring said frame to said vehicle longitudinal frame members, and having elongated flange means for rigidly anchoring said frame to the rearward edge of said vehicle bed; means connecting said frame end posts to said vehicle side walls to define therewith a gate opening for the vehicle bed; a lift platform; pairs of parallel arms pivotally attached to each end of said platform and to a respective frame end post, said arm pairs defining swingable parallelogram supports for maintaining said lift platform in horizontal planes; each pair of arms including a lift arm and guide arm; a torsion member extending between said lift arms and coupling said lift arms for substantially simultaneous rotation; and extensible power cylinder means pivotally connected between only one of said end posts and the associated lift arm to swing both said lift arms relative to said frame.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
201 words
In combination: a truck having a load carrying bed, supported on longitudinal frame members, and side walls means defining a rear gate opening for the bed; a lift and gate apparatus for the truck including a unitary frame comprising a horizontal base and upright end posts; said horizontal base including an elongated member having spaced bracket means for rigidly anchoring said frame to said vehicle longitudinal frame members, and having elongated flange means for rigidly anchoring said frame to the rearward edge of said vehicle bed; means connecting said frame end posts to said vehicle side walls to define therewith a gate opening for the vehicle bed; a lift platform; pairs of parallel arms pivotally attached to each end of said platform and to a respective frame end post, said arm pairs defining swingable parallelogram supports for maintaining said lift platform in horizontal planes; each pair of arms including a lift arm and guide arm; a torsion member extending between said lift arms and coupling said lift arms for substantially simultaneous rotation; and extensible power cylinder means pivotally connected between only one of said end posts and the associated lift arm to swing both said lift arms relative to said frame.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-10-24 | 1976-04-24 | 1976-10-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-10-24 | 1980-04-24 | 1980-10-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-10-24 | 1984-04-24 | 1984-10-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |