Tri-fold liftgate

A liftgate for use with a vehicle, the liftgate comprising:

• a lift mechanism coupled to the vehicle;
• and
• a moveable load platform coupled to the lift mechanism for movement between a lowered position and a raised position, the load platform including:
• a proximal deck section coupled to the lift mechanism;
• a distal deck section;
• a center deck section positioned between the proximal deck section and the distal deck section;
• and
• a foldable ramp pivotally coupled to the distal deck section,
• wherein the proximal deck section, center deck section, and distal deck section are pivotally coupled to one another such that the load platform is selectively moveable between an extended-operational position where the proximal, center, and distal deck sections are located substantially coplanar with one another for supporting a load and a retracted-stored position where the proximal, center, and distal deck sections are folded with respect to one another and are located substantially parallel and adjacent to one another,
• wherein the distal deck section is cantilevered from and fully supported by the center deck section without any other external support when the proximal, center, and distal deck sections are in the extended-operational position and the load platform in the raised position,
• wherein the foldable ramp is movable between a use position where the foldable ramp extends away from the distal deck section and a storage position where the foldable ramp extends along the distal deck section,
• wherein the load platform is configured to provide a first load carrying capacity with a center of mass of the load arranged at a center of the load platform, wherein the load platform is configured to provide a second load carrying capacity with a center of mass of the load arranged at a center of the distal deck section, and wherein the second load carrying capacity is at least 25 percent of the first load carrying capacity,
• wherein the center deck section is pivotable in a first direction about a first axis relative to the proximal deck section with movement of the load platform from the retracted-stored position to the extended-operational position and the distal deck section is pivotable in a second direction about a second axis relative to the center deck section with movement of the load platform from the retracted-stored position to the extended-operational position, and wherein the first direction is opposite of the second direction, and
• wherein the load platform defines an upper load-support surface in the extended-operational position, wherein the first axis is below the load-support surface in the extended-operational position, and wherein the second axis is above the load-support surface in the extended-operational position.

A liftgate for use with a vehicle, the liftgate comprising:

• a lift mechanism coupled to the vehicle;
• and
• a moveable load platform coupled to the lift mechanism for movement between a lowered position and a raised position, the load platform including:
• a proximal deck section coupled to the lift mechanism;
• a distal deck section;
• a center deck section positioned between the proximal deck section and the distal deck section;
• and
• a lock mechanism,
• wherein the proximal deck section, center deck section, and distal deck section are pivotally coupled to one another such that the load platform is selectively moveable between an extended-operational position where the proximal, center, and distal deck sections are located substantially coplanar with one another for supporting a load and a retracted-stored position where the proximal, center, and distal deck sections are folded with respect to one another and are located substantially parallel and adjacent to one another,
• wherein the distal deck section is cantilevered from and fully supported by extends away from the center deck section without any other external support when the proximal, center, and distal deck sections are in the extended-operational position and the load platform in the raised position,
• wherein the load platform is configured to provide a first load carrying capacity with a center of mass of the load arranged at a center of the load platform, the load platform is configured to provide a second load carrying capacity with a center of mass of the load arranged at a center of the distal deck section, and the second load carrying capacity is at least 25 percent of the first load carrying capacity,
• wherein the lock mechanism is movable between a locked position and a retention position, the lock mechanism, in the locked position, is configured to engage with the center deck section and the proximal deck section to block pivoting of the center deck section relative to the proximal deck section in the extended-operational position, and the lock mechanism, in the retention position, is configured to engage with the distal deck section and the center deck section to block pivoting of the distal deck section relative to the center deck section in the retracted-stored position,
• wherein the center deck section is pivotable in a first direction about a first axis relative to the proximal deck section with movement of the load platform from the retracted-stored position to the extended-operational position and the distal deck section is pivotable in a second direction about a second axis relative to the center deck section with movement of the load platform from the retracted-stored position to the extended-operational position, and wherein the first direction is opposite of the second direction, and
• wherein the load platform defines an upper load-support surface in the extended-operational position, wherein the first axis is below the load-support surface in the extended-operational position, and wherein the second axis is above the load-support surface in the extended-operational position.