Tilt system for telescoping mast
AssigneeThe Will-Burt Company
InventorsAndrew Paul Wasson, Brian Scott Wetrich, Wendel Mark Niles
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A tilting and telescoping mast assembly having a compact device footprint that can be mounted in close proximity to, for example, a front wall of a truck bed (e.g., adjacent the cab) thereby reducing dead space within the truck bed and maximizing cargo space within the bed. The mast of the present disclosure is configured to be supported by its base in a first position when in the horizontal orientation and supported in a second position when in the vertical orientation, with the first and second positions being spaced apart horizontally and/or vertically.
Claims13
A tilting and telescoping mast assembly comprising:
- a mast having a longitudinal axis;
- a tilt mechanism supporting the mast assembly configured for p about a tilt rotation axis between a first position and a second position;
- wherein the tilt rotation axis is perpendicular to and spaced from the longitudinal axis of the mast;
- whereby the mast is displaced in a horizontal direction as the tilt mechanism rotates the mast assembly between the first and second positions;
- wherein the tilt mechanism includes a base mountable to a surface, first and second side walls extending from the base, and a tilt frame supported between the first and second side walls for movement between a horizontal orientation and a vertical orientation, and wherein the mast is supported by the tilt frame;
- and
- the tilting and telescoping mast assembly further comprises a locking mechanism configured to secure the tilt frame in at least one of the first position or the second position,
- wherein the locking mechanism includes a lock wedge supported on a rod of the tilt frame and configured to engage an adjustable height lock block supported on an outside of one of the side walls to restrict movement of the tilt frame relative to the side wall, the lock wedge being rotatable between a release position and an engaged position.
A tilt mechanism for supporting an associated mast for pivoting between a first position and a second position about a tilt rotation axis, the tilt mechanism comprising a tilt frame supported for rotation about the tilt rotation axis, wherein the tilt rotation axis is perpendicular to and spaced from a longitudinal axis of the associated mast;
- whereby the associated mast is displaced in a horizontal direction and drives the tilt motion as the tilt mechanism rotates the associated mast between the first and second positions,
- wherein the tilt mechanism includes a base mountable to a surface, first and second side walls extending from the base, and a tilt frame supported between the first and second side walls for movement between a horizontal orientation and a vertical orientation, and wherein the mast is supported by the tilt frame;
- and
- the tilt mechanism further comprises a locking mechanism configured to secure the tilt frame in at least one of the first position or the second position,
- wherein the locking mechanism includes a lock wedge supported on a rod of the tilt frame and configured to engage an adjustable height lock block supported on an outside of one of the side walls to restrict movement of the tilt frame relative to the side wall, the lock wedge being rotatable between a release position and an engaged position.
A tilt mechanism for supporting an associated mast for pivoting between a first position and a second position about a tilt rotation axis, the tilt mechanism comprising a tilt frame supported for rotation about the tilt rotation axis, wherein the tilt rotation axis is perpendicular to and spaced from a longitudinal axis of the associated mast;
- whereby the associated mast is displaced in a horizontal direction as the tilt mechanism rotates the associated mast between the first and second positions;
- the tilt mechanism further comprising:
- a base mountable to a surface, and first and second side walls extending from the base, wherein the tilt frame is supported between the first and second side walls for movement between a horizontal orientation and a vertical orientation, and wherein the associated mast is supported by the tilt frame;
- and
- a locking mechanism configured for securing the tilt frame in at least one of the first position or the second position,
- wherein the locking mechanism includes a lock wedge supported on a rod of the tilt frame and configured to engage a lock block supported on an outside of one of the side walls to restrict movement of the tilt frame relative to the side wall, the lock wedge being rotatable between a release position and an engaged position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.