US3768671A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Loading device
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1971-08-20
•
Granted: 1973-10-30
•
Expires: 1991-08-20
Abstract
Abstract An inverted U-shaped frame is pivotally connected to the floor of a trailer having a pair of side walls and an open rear end. A pair of support arms are swingably attached at one end to the cross bar and to a load supporting platform at the other end so that when the frame is rotated in an arc, the platform is movable between a first position wherein it is supported by and recessed in the trailer floor to a second position where it is supported by a surface exterior of the trailer, the platform remaining level at all times due to the rotation of the arms about the cross bar. The platform when supported in the vehicle is flushed with the floor. Means are connected to the frame to provide positive movement of the frame and support platform.
Inventors
- 👤 Vier G La
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 08:10
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60P; B60P1/00; B60P1/44; B60P1/4414; B60P1/4442
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
225 words
An apparatus for unloading articles from a vehicle having a pair of side walls, a floor and an opening in the side or rear end comprising, in combination: a generally inverted U-shaped frame comprising a pair of legs and cross bar, said legs pivotally mounted to said floor adjacent said side walls and rear end, said cross bar being spaced from said floor a distance less than the height of said sides when said legs are in a vertical position; adapter means rotatably mounted to said cross bar, said adapter means being movable longitudinally along said bar to permit adjustment thereof and being comprised of a pair of bearing members spaced longitudinally along said cross bar and having a tubular portion extending downwardly; load support means removably mounted to said adapter means, said tubular portion including means for removably connecting said support means thereto; said frame being pivotable between a first position wherein said support means is supported by said floor to a second position exterior of the vehicle and an intermediate position wherein said legs are generally vertical; said support means remaining level at all times due to the rotation of said adapter means about said cross bar and being generally stable when said frame is in said intermediate position; and power means for moving said frame between the limits of its pivotal movements.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
225 words
An apparatus for unloading articles from a vehicle having a pair of side walls, a floor and an opening in the side or rear end comprising, in combination: a generally inverted U-shaped frame comprising a pair of legs and cross bar, said legs pivotally mounted to said floor adjacent said side walls and rear end, said cross bar being spaced from said floor a distance less than the height of said sides when said legs are in a vertical position; adapter means rotatably mounted to said cross bar, said adapter means being movable longitudinally along said bar to permit adjustment thereof and being comprised of a pair of bearing members spaced longitudinally along said cross bar and having a tubular portion extending downwardly; load support means removably mounted to said adapter means, said tubular portion including means for removably connecting said support means thereto; said frame being pivotable between a first position wherein said support means is supported by said floor to a second position exterior of the vehicle and an intermediate position wherein said legs are generally vertical; said support means remaining level at all times due to the rotation of said adapter means about said cross bar and being generally stable when said frame is in said intermediate position; and power means for moving said frame between the limits of its pivotal movements.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
48 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said support means comprises a pair of generally upstanding arm-like members adapted to detachably connect at their upper end to said adapter means and detachably connected at their lower end to a load supporting platform which is transportated by said frame.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
254 words
An apparatus for unloading articles from a vehicle having a pair of side walls, a floor and an open rear end comprising: a generally inverted U-shaped frame having a pair of legs and cross bar, said legs pivotally mounted to said floor adjacent said side walls and rear end, said crOss bar being spaced from said floor a distance less than the heights of said sides when said legs are in a vertical position; adapter means rotatably mounted to said cross bar; load support means removably mounted to said adapter means, said load support means having a pair of generally upstanding arm-like members adapted to detachably connect at their upper end to said adapter means and at their lower end to a load supporting platform which is transported by said frame, said frame being pivotable between a first position wherein said support means is supported by said floor to a supported position exterior of the vehicle, said support means remaining level at all times due to the rotation of said adapter means about said cross bar; said vehicle floor including a recessed portion for receipt of said platform when said platform is in said first position, said recess conforming to the overall shape and thickness of said platform so that when said platform is positioned therein, the upper surface of said platform is flush with the trailer floor to permit facile movement of loads onto and off from said platform; and power means for moving said frame between the limits of its pivotal movements.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
254 words
An apparatus for unloading articles from a vehicle having a pair of side walls, a floor and an open rear end comprising: a generally inverted U-shaped frame having a pair of legs and cross bar, said legs pivotally mounted to said floor adjacent said side walls and rear end, said crOss bar being spaced from said floor a distance less than the heights of said sides when said legs are in a vertical position; adapter means rotatably mounted to said cross bar; load support means removably mounted to said adapter means, said load support means having a pair of generally upstanding arm-like members adapted to detachably connect at their upper end to said adapter means and at their lower end to a load supporting platform which is transported by said frame, said frame being pivotable between a first position wherein said support means is supported by said floor to a supported position exterior of the vehicle, said support means remaining level at all times due to the rotation of said adapter means about said cross bar; said vehicle floor including a recessed portion for receipt of said platform when said platform is in said first position, said recess conforming to the overall shape and thickness of said platform so that when said platform is positioned therein, the upper surface of said platform is flush with the trailer floor to permit facile movement of loads onto and off from said platform; and power means for moving said frame between the limits of its pivotal movements.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said recess includes an indexing stop means engageable with said platform to position said platform flush with said floor.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
85 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said adapter means further includes a tray-like member detachably connected to said tubular portions of said bearing members, said tray-like member having side portions and an open top, said tray member being adapted to receive and hold a portion of said support means, said support means having a pair of spaced cross members receivable in said tray-like member so that said support means can be lifted by said frame and power means between said first and second positions.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
69 words
An apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said support means is comprised of a cart with upstanding ends, each end including one of said cross members adapted to be positioned in said tray-like member to secure said cart to said frame for loading and unloading said cart, said cart being detachable from said frame and tray-like member and having wheels to permit easy movement about said floor or surface.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
115 words
In an improved hoisting apparatus for transferring articles into and out of a vehicle through an opening in the side or rear thereof, said apparatus having an inverted generally U-shaped frame pivotally secured at its lower end to said vehicle; load support means depending from the top of said frame and pivotally secured thereto whereby it can maintain a vertical position in all pivotal positions of said frame; the improvement comprising: a load supporting platform detachably secured to the lower ends of said load supporting means, a recess in the floor of said vehicle for receiving said platform, and means in said recess for supporting said platform generally flush with the floor of said vehicle.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
115 words
In an improved hoisting apparatus for transferring articles into and out of a vehicle through an opening in the side or rear thereof, said apparatus having an inverted generally U-shaped frame pivotally secured at its lower end to said vehicle; load support means depending from the top of said frame and pivotally secured thereto whereby it can maintain a vertical position in all pivotal positions of said frame; the improvement comprising: a load supporting platform detachably secured to the lower ends of said load supporting means, a recess in the floor of said vehicle for receiving said platform, and means in said recess for supporting said platform generally flush with the floor of said vehicle.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
49 words
The improved hoisting apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said load supporting means includes a stabilizing portion projecting fore and aft from the lower portion of said means, said each of said stabilizing portions including at least two interconnect means for detachably connecting said platform to said support means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
49 words
An improved apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said platform includes one or more key-hole shaped openings cooperable with projection portions on said stabilizing portions which projection portions are insertable through and into said key-hole openings to detachably lock said platform to said support means or permit removal therefrom.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
164 words
In an improved hoisting apparatus for transferring articles into and out of a vehicle through an opening in the side or rear thereof, said apparatus having an inverted generally U-shaped frame pivotally secured at its lower end to said vehicle; load support means depending from the top of said frame and pivotally secured thereto wherebY it can maintain a vertical position in all pivotal positions of said frame; the improvement comprising: power means interconnected between said frame and vehicle to move said frame and load support means between a first position wherein said support means is supported by the floor of said vehicle to a second position exterior of the vehicle, and an intermediate position between said first and second positions wherein said generally U-shaped frame is vertically oriented so that loads supported thereon is generally stable, said power means including a stop means which prevents said frame and load support means from moving through said intermediate position without further intervention by the operator.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
164 words
In an improved hoisting apparatus for transferring articles into and out of a vehicle through an opening in the side or rear thereof, said apparatus having an inverted generally U-shaped frame pivotally secured at its lower end to said vehicle; load support means depending from the top of said frame and pivotally secured thereto wherebY it can maintain a vertical position in all pivotal positions of said frame; the improvement comprising: power means interconnected between said frame and vehicle to move said frame and load support means between a first position wherein said support means is supported by the floor of said vehicle to a second position exterior of the vehicle, and an intermediate position between said first and second positions wherein said generally U-shaped frame is vertically oriented so that loads supported thereon is generally stable, said power means including a stop means which prevents said frame and load support means from moving through said intermediate position without further intervention by the operator.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
49 words
An improved hoisting apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said power means is electromotive and said stop means is an electric switch operated by a cam follower which is actuated by cam means on said frame which engages said follower when said frame is brought into said intermediate positions.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
111 words
An improved hoisting apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said power means includes a rotatable drum mounted to said vehicle adjacent the top of said opening, said drum being chain driven; a cable anchored at one end to said vehicle adjacent the top of said opening in close proximity to said drum, said cable being threaded through a pulley means mounted on the upper end of one side of said generally U-shaped frame, said cable being wound through said rotating drum so that when said drum is rotated, said frame is positively moved toward and away from said intermediate position toward or away from each of said first of second position.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
198 words
An apparatus for unloading articles from a vehicle having a pair of side walls, a floor and an open rear end comprising: a generally inverted U-shaped frame comprising a pair of legs and cross bars, said legs being mounted to said floor adjacent said side walls in rear end, said cross bar being spaced from said floor a distance less than the heights of said sides when said legs are in a vertical position; adapter means rotatably mounted to said cross bar; load supports removably mounted to said adapter means, said frame being pivotable between a first position wherein said support means is supported by said floor to a second position exterior of the vehicle and a position intermediate said first and second positions wherein said legs are in a vertical orientation, said support means remaining level at all times due to the rotation of said adapter means about said cross bar; and power means for moving said frame between the limits of its pivotal movements, said power means including a stop means which prevents said frame and support means from moving past said intermediate position after once reaching said intermediate position without further intervention by the operator.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
198 words
An apparatus for unloading articles from a vehicle having a pair of side walls, a floor and an open rear end comprising: a generally inverted U-shaped frame comprising a pair of legs and cross bars, said legs being mounted to said floor adjacent said side walls in rear end, said cross bar being spaced from said floor a distance less than the heights of said sides when said legs are in a vertical position; adapter means rotatably mounted to said cross bar; load supports removably mounted to said adapter means, said frame being pivotable between a first position wherein said support means is supported by said floor to a second position exterior of the vehicle and a position intermediate said first and second positions wherein said legs are in a vertical orientation, said support means remaining level at all times due to the rotation of said adapter means about said cross bar; and power means for moving said frame between the limits of its pivotal movements, said power means including a stop means which prevents said frame and support means from moving past said intermediate position after once reaching said intermediate position without further intervention by the operator.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
47 words
An apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said power means is electromotive and said stop means is an electric switch operated by a cam follower which is actuated by cam means on said frame which engages said follower when said frame is brought into said intermediate position.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-10-29 | 1977-04-30 | 1977-10-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-10-29 | 1981-04-30 | 1981-10-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-10-29 | 1985-04-30 | 1985-10-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |