Truck loading and unloading apparatus

Claim 2

In a truck, having a truck bed thereon, and a tailgate section pivotally attached along one edge thereof to one edge of the truck bed, a loading ramp apparatus comprising a ramp section having one edge thereof pivotally secured along the free edge of the tailgate section, said ramp section being foldable against the tailgate section and being free to rotate 180* for extending the length of the tailgate section whereby in its lowest position said tailgate section and ramp section form an inclined ramp structure from the truck bed to the ground; bracket means secured to the outer surface of the tailgate section; movable ramp support means comprising a fluid operated cylinder having one end thereof pivotally secured beneath the truck bed, an elongated piston rod reciprocally disposed within the cylinder and having one end thereof extending outwardly from the opposite end of the cylinder, bracket support means secured to the outer end of the piston rod and said bracket support means being separate from the bracket means and engagable therewith when the tailgate section is between a substantially horizontal position and its lowest position, guide means carried by the truck bed operably connected to the bracket support means, saiD guide means being capable of guiding the bracket support means along a path which coincides with the path of the bracket means when the tailgate section is pivoted with respect to the truck bed.

Claim 3

A loading ramp apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein one surface of the ramp section is provided with a furrow along the free edge thereof for receiving the wheels of loading equipment therein when the said ramp section is extended.

Claim 4

A loading ramp apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein an elongated flat plate is pivotally secured along one edge thereof to the free edge of the ramp section adjacent to the furrow for providing a sub ramp from the ground to the furrow for facilitating moving loading equipment wheels thereacross when the inclined ramp structure is in its lowest most position.

Claim 5

In a truck having a truckbed thereon and a tailgate section pivotally attached along one edge thereof to one edge of the truckbed, a loading ramp apparatus comprising a ramp section having one edge thereof pivotally secured along the free edge of the tailgate section, said ramp section being foldable against the tailgate section and being free to rotate 180* for extending the length of the said tailgate section whereby in its lowest position said tailgate section and ramp section form an inclined ramp structure from the truckbed to the ground; bracket means secured to the outer surface of the tailgate section; movable ramp support means pivotally secured to the truck beneath the truckbed, said support means having a bracket support aperture means which is engagable with the bracket means for supporting said ramp structure between its lowest position and the position wherein the said ramp structure is co-planar with the truck bed and wherein said bracket means extends outwardly from the truck when the tailgate section is in its folded position; and wherein the support means comprises a fluid operated cylinder pivotally secured beneath the truckbed, an elongated piston rod reciprocally disposed within the cylinder having one end thereof extending outwardly therefrom, the aperture means comprising an aperture for engaging and supporting the bracket means, arcuate cam surface disposed adjacent to the aperture, cam follower means secured to the truck and disposed in sliding engagement with the cam surface whereby upon extending and retracting the piston rod, the aperture is guided by the cam surface and cam follower means along a curved path which coincides with the path of the bracket means when the tailgate section having the bracket means attached thereto is pivoted with respect to the truckbed.

Claim 6

In a truck having a truckbed thereon and a tailgate section pivotally attached along one edge thereof to one edge of the truckbed, a loading ramp apparatus comprising a ramp section having one edge thereof pivotally secured along the free edge of the tailgate section, said ramp section being foldable against the tailgate section and being free to rotate 180* for extending the length of the said tailgate section whereby in its lowest position said tailgate section and ramp section form an inclined ramp structure from the truckbed to the ground; bracket means secured to the outer surface of the tailgate section; movable ramp support means pivotally secured to the truck beneath the truckbed, said support means having a bracket support aperture means which is engagable with the bracket means for supporting said ramp structure between its lowest position and the position wherein the said ramp structure is co-planar with the truck bed and wherein said bracket means extends outwardly from the truck when the tailgate section is in its folded position; and wherein the support means comprises a fluid operated cylinder pivotally secured beneath the truckbed, an elongated piston rod reciprocally disposed within the cylinder having one end thereof extending outwardly therefrom, the aperture means comprising an aperture for engaging and supporting the bracket means, arcuate cam surface disposed adjacent to the aperture, cam follower means secured to the truck and disposed in sliding engagement with the cam surface whereby upon extending and retracting the piston rod, the aperture is guided by the cam surface and cam follower means along a curved path which coincides with the path of the bracket means when the tailgate section having the bracket means attached thereto is pivoted with respect to the truckbed.

Claim 7

A loading ramp apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein the fluid operated cylinder is a hydraulic cylinder and also comprises hydraulic operator controls secured to the truck adjacent to the ramp structure, said controls being hand operable and operably connected to the fluid cylinder.

Claim 8

A loading ramp apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein guide means is secured to the truck and disposed in engagement with the aperture means for preventing said aperture means from rotating about the reciprocating axis of the piston rod and to prevent lateral movement thereof.

Claim 9

A loading ramp apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein the truck is provided with a bumper and the cam follower and guide means comprises a rectangular shaped opening in the truck bumper, the sidewalls of the opening serving as the guide means and the bottom surface thereof serving as the cam follower.

Claim 10

In a pickup type truck having a bed and original equipment sidewalls surrounding said bed, a first tailgate section pivotal along one edge of said bed from a first position forming all or a portion of one of said sidewalls and of height substantially the same as said sidewalls to a second position extending downwardly and outwardly of said bed, the improvement being an apparatus for loading and unloading articles carried by a two-wheeled dolly from the ground onto said Bed comprising: a second planar section pivotally attached to the other edge of said tailgate section and of length no greater than the height of said tailgate section, to fold, in said first position of said tailgate section, downwardly and inwardly of said bed, and to form in said second position of said tailgate section a rigid extension thereof to the ground, said second section further having adjacent its outer edge a horizontal furrow whereby when in said second position to receive and retain the wheels of said dolly when in said second position; said second planar section including: a first subsection having a forward end hinged to said first planar section and further having a rearwardly extending portion; a second subsection having a forward edge possessing an elongated groove slot in which is longitudinally slidably disposed between selective positions said rearwardly extending portion whereby the length of said second planar section can be adjusted; said second subsection having a pair of apertures and said first subsection having a plurality of paired spaced apart apertures, one pair of which is in registered alignment with said apertures on said second subsection in each of said selective positions, and fastening means insertable in said aligned apertures for retaining said subsection in a selected position; and means operable against the underside of said first tailgate section to pivot said first tailgate section and said second section through an arc from between said second position to a horizontal position coplanar with said bed.

Claim 11

In a pickup type truck having a bed and original equipment sidewalls surrounding said bed, a first tailgate section pivotal along one edge of said bed from a first position forming all or a portion of one of said sidewalls and of height substantially the same as said sidewalls to a second position extending downwardly and outwardly of said bed, the improvement being an apparatus for loading and unloading articles carried by a two-wheeled dolly from the ground onto said Bed comprising: a second planar section pivotally attached to the other edge of said tailgate section and of length no greater than the height of said tailgate section, to fold, in said first position of said tailgate section, downwardly and inwardly of said bed, and to form in said second position of said tailgate section a rigid extension thereof to the ground, said second section further having adjacent its outer edge a horizontal furrow whereby when in said second position to receive and retain the wheels of said dolly when in said second position; said second planar section including: a first subsection having a forward end hinged to said first planar section and further having a rearwardly extending portion; a second subsection having a forward edge possessing an elongated groove slot in which is longitudinally slidably disposed between selective positions said rearwardly extending portion whereby the length of said second planar section can be adjusted; said second subsection having a pair of apertures and said first subsection having a plurality of paired spaced apart apertures, one pair of which is in registered alignment with said apertures on said second subsection in each of said selective positions, and fastening means insertable in said aligned apertures for retaining said subsection in a selected position; and means operable against the underside of said first tailgate section to pivot said first tailgate section and said second section through an arc from between said second position to a horizontal position coplanar with said bed.