Patent US3779406A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3779406A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Vehicle cargo bed loader for elongated articles
Assignee: Motors Liquidation Co
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Filing: 1972-09-28
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Granted: 1973-12-18
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Expires: 1992-09-28
Abstract
Abstract A vehicle includes an elevated cargo bed accessible through a generally rectangular gate opening selectively closed by a generally rectangular gate which supports a loader for elongated articles. The gate is pivotally mounted by support members for movement about a transverse vehicle axis between a vertical position closing the gate opening and an elevated horizontal position generally aligned with the plane of the cargo bed. Fourbar linkages mount the support members so as to move the horizontal gate between the elevated position and a lower position adjacent ground level. The loader includes a first channel-shaped article receiving member with one end pivoted to the upper side of the horizontal gate at a central portion thereof adjacent the pivotal axis of gate movement. A second channel-shaped article receiving member of the loader has a flanged bifurcated end pivoted to the free end of the first article receiving member about an axis normal to the side walls of these members. The loader is movable to an unfolded loading position where the flanges of the second member locate the members in an aligned relationship on the horizontal gate so as to extend outwardly from the gate opening. The four-bar linkages translate the horizontal gate between its elevated and lower positions and thus move the unfolded loader between the ground and the cargo bed so as to facilitate loading and unloading of elongated articles on the cargo bed. The loader is also movable to a folded storage position where the members extend transversely of the gate opening and are stored adjacent the plane of the cargo bed with the gate in its vertical position closing the gate opening. A vehicle mounted flange engages the free end of the second article receiving member to automatically maintain the loader in the storage position during operation of the vehicle.
Inventors
- 👤 C Hermann
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 00:44
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60P; B60P1/00; B60P1/44; B60P1/4414
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
204 words
In a vehicle having an elevated cargo bed accessible through a generally vertically extending gate opening of a generally rectangular configuration, the combination comprising, a generally rectangular gate for selectively closing the gate opening, vertically movable support means pivotally supporting the gate for movement between a generally vertical position and a generally horizontal position, the support means being movable between an elevated position where the vertical gate closes the gate opening and where the horizontal gate is generally aligned with the elevated cargo bed to allow access thereto through the gate opening and a lower position where the horizontal gate is located adjacent to ground level, a loader including a plurality of elongated article receiving members serially connected for movement between a folded storage position and an unfolded loading position, and means mounting the loader on the gate for positioning the folded loader in an orientation extending transversely of the gate opening and for positioning the unfolded loader in an orientation extending outwardly from the gate in its horizontal position, the support means being movable between the elevated and lower positions with the loader in its unfolded loading position so as to facilitate loading and unloading of elongated articles on the elevated cargo bed.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
204 words
In a vehicle having an elevated cargo bed accessible through a generally vertically extending gate opening of a generally rectangular configuration, the combination comprising, a generally rectangular gate for selectively closing the gate opening, vertically movable support means pivotally supporting the gate for movement between a generally vertical position and a generally horizontal position, the support means being movable between an elevated position where the vertical gate closes the gate opening and where the horizontal gate is generally aligned with the elevated cargo bed to allow access thereto through the gate opening and a lower position where the horizontal gate is located adjacent to ground level, a loader including a plurality of elongated article receiving members serially connected for movement between a folded storage position and an unfolded loading position, and means mounting the loader on the gate for positioning the folded loader in an orientation extending transversely of the gate opening and for positioning the unfolded loader in an orientation extending outwardly from the gate in its horizontal position, the support means being movable between the elevated and lower positions with the loader in its unfolded loading position so as to facilitate loading and unloading of elongated articles on the elevated cargo bed.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
231 words
In a vehicle having an elevated cargo bed accessible through a generally vertically extending gate opening of a generally rectangular configuration, the combination comprising, a generally rectangular gate for selectively closing the gate opening, vertically movable support means pivotally supporting the gate for movement between a generally vertical position and a generally horiZontal position, the support means being movable between an elevated position where the vertical gate closes the gate opening and where the horizontal gate is generally aligned with the elevated cargo bed to allow access thereto through the gate opening and a lower position where the horizontal gate is located adjacent to ground level, a loader including a plurality of elongated article receiving members pivotally connected in an end-to-end relationship for movement between a folded storage position and an unfolded loading position, and means pivotally mounting the terminal member at one end of the loader on the gate for movement about an axis located generally normal to the plane of the gate such that the folded loader is movable to an orientation extending transversely of the gate opening and the unfolded loader is movable to an orientation extending outwardly from the gate in its horizontal position, the support means being movable between the elevated and lower positions with the loader in its unfolded loading position so as to facilitate loading and unloading of elongated articles on the cargo bed.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
231 words
In a vehicle having an elevated cargo bed accessible through a generally vertically extending gate opening of a generally rectangular configuration, the combination comprising, a generally rectangular gate for selectively closing the gate opening, vertically movable support means pivotally supporting the gate for movement between a generally vertical position and a generally horiZontal position, the support means being movable between an elevated position where the vertical gate closes the gate opening and where the horizontal gate is generally aligned with the elevated cargo bed to allow access thereto through the gate opening and a lower position where the horizontal gate is located adjacent to ground level, a loader including a plurality of elongated article receiving members pivotally connected in an end-to-end relationship for movement between a folded storage position and an unfolded loading position, and means pivotally mounting the terminal member at one end of the loader on the gate for movement about an axis located generally normal to the plane of the gate such that the folded loader is movable to an orientation extending transversely of the gate opening and the unfolded loader is movable to an orientation extending outwardly from the gate in its horizontal position, the support means being movable between the elevated and lower positions with the loader in its unfolded loading position so as to facilitate loading and unloading of elongated articles on the cargo bed.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
50 words
The combination of claim 2 wherein the article receiving members have channel-shaped cross sections that open upwardly when the loader is in loading position with the gate in horizontal position, and wherein each pivotal connection between adjacent ends of the members extends normal to the side walls of the members.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
54 words
The combination of claim 2 wherein the terminal article receiving member at the free end of the loader includes a stop member movable between a position closing the channel-shaped cross section of this member and a position opening the same so as to facilitate loading and unloading of a motorcycle on the cargo bed.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
63 words
The combination of claim 2 wherein the terminal article receiving member at the free end of the loader is engaged by a portion of the vehicle as the gate is pivoted upwardly to close the gate opening with the loader in its folded storage position to thus maintain the loader in this storage position during operation of the vehicle with the gate closed.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
253 words
In a vehicle having an elevated cargo bed accessible through a generally vertically extending gate opening of a generally rectangular configuration, the combination comprising, a generally rectangular gate for selectively closing the gate opening, vertically movable support means pivotally supporting the gate for movement between a generally vertical position and a generally horizontal position, the support means being movable between an elevated position where the vertical gate closes the gate opening and where the horizontal gate is generally aligned with the elevated cargo bed to allow access thereto through the gate opening and a lower position where the horizontal gate is located adjacent to ground level, a loader including a pair of elongated article receiving members having channel-shaped cross sections, these members being pivoted to each other end-to-end about an axis normal to the side walls of the members for movement between a folded storage position and an unfolded loading position, and means pivoting one of the article receiving members to the gate on the side thereof that faces upwardly while the gate is horizontal and with this axis of pivoting normal to the plane of the gate such that the folded loader is movable to an orientation extending transversely of the gate opening and the unfolded loader is movable to an orientation extending outwardly from the gate in its horizontal position, the support means being movable between the elevated and lower positions with the loader in loading position so as to facilitate loading and unloading of elongated articles on the cargo bed.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
253 words
In a vehicle having an elevated cargo bed accessible through a generally vertically extending gate opening of a generally rectangular configuration, the combination comprising, a generally rectangular gate for selectively closing the gate opening, vertically movable support means pivotally supporting the gate for movement between a generally vertical position and a generally horizontal position, the support means being movable between an elevated position where the vertical gate closes the gate opening and where the horizontal gate is generally aligned with the elevated cargo bed to allow access thereto through the gate opening and a lower position where the horizontal gate is located adjacent to ground level, a loader including a pair of elongated article receiving members having channel-shaped cross sections, these members being pivoted to each other end-to-end about an axis normal to the side walls of the members for movement between a folded storage position and an unfolded loading position, and means pivoting one of the article receiving members to the gate on the side thereof that faces upwardly while the gate is horizontal and with this axis of pivoting normal to the plane of the gate such that the folded loader is movable to an orientation extending transversely of the gate opening and the unfolded loader is movable to an orientation extending outwardly from the gate in its horizontal position, the support means being movable between the elevated and lower positions with the loader in loading position so as to facilitate loading and unloading of elongated articles on the cargo bed.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
51 words
The combination of claim 6 wherein the pivotal axis between the loader and the gate is located at a central portion of the gate adjacent the axis about which the gate pivots such that the loader is stored adjacent the plane of the cargo bed with the gate in closed position.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
38 words
The combinaTion of claim 7 wherein the vehicle includes a body mounted member for engaging the free end of the other article receiving member so as to maintain the stored loader in position during operation of the vehicle.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
36 words
The combination of claim 6 wherein one of the channel-shaped article receiving members includes flange portions for engaging the other article receiving member to maintain these members in the loading position in alignment with each other.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
49 words
The combination of claim 6 wherein one of the channel-shaped article receiving members includes a flanged bifurcated end at which the members are pivoted to each other and whose flanges engage the other article receiving member to locate these members in alignment with each other in the loading position.
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) | 1976-12-17 | 1977-06-18 | 1977-12-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-12-17 | 1981-06-18 | 1981-12-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-12-17 | 1985-06-18 | 1985-12-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |