Yoke hoist for use with pickup truck

Claim 1

A hoist assembly for use with a conventional pickup truck or the like having a cargo bed partially enclosed by upstanding sidewalls, the hoist assembly comprising: a generally yoke-shaped frame pivotally attached to the rearward end of the truck to permit the frame to be carried in a plurality of positions including a transport position wherein the frame extends generally forward from its pivotal attachment and at least one working position wherein the frame extends generally rearward from its pivotal attachment, the frame comprising a pair of legs adapted to extend forward from the pivotal attachment around and beyond the outside of the sidewalls whereupon the legs converge above the forward area of the cargo bed so as to permit access from above to at least about the rearward half of the cargo bed when the frame is in the transport position, the frame further including means at the upper end thereof for attaching a pulley and means for bracing the upper ends of the legs; means for suspending the frame in the working position to permit hoisting of the objects at the rear of the truck; and a bumper bar secured to the rearward end of the truck and means for pivotally attaching the frame to the outermost ends of the bumper bar; and wherein: the frame is generally symmetrical about the longitudinal axis of the truck and lies in a plane pivotable about the longitudinal axis of the bumper bar; the pulley attaching means comprises telescoping channels adapted to slidably extend from upper converging portions of the frame legs to permit selective adjustment of the overall length of the frame; and the telescoping channels are secured at their upper ends by a generally U-shaped bracket, the bracket including means for securing the upper ends of the channels at balanced spacings from both sides of a center position of the generally U-shaped bracket, said balanced spacings corresponding to predetermined amounts of telescopic extension.