# US 12,110,702 B2 · Tilt system for telescoping mast > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,110,702 B2 - Document ID: US12110702B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/886,007 - Filed: 2022-08-11 - Published: 2023-02-16 - Granted: 2024-10-08 - Earliest claimed: 2021-08-13 - Assignees: The Will-Burt Company - Applicants: The Will-Burt Company - Inventors: Andrew Paul Wasson; Brian Scott Wetrich; Wendel Mark Niles - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12110702B2 ## CPC - E04H 12/345: {Arrangements for tilting up whole structures or sections thereof (E04H12/347 takes precedence)} - E04H 12/182: {telescopic (locking of telescopic systems in general F16B7/10)} - E04H 12/2284: {Means for adjusting the orientation of the post or pole} - E04H: BUILDINGS OR LIKE STRUCTURES FOR PARTICULAR PURPOSES; SWIMMING OR SPLASH BATHS OR POOLS; MASTS; FENCING; TENTS OR CANOPIES, IN GENERAL (foundations E02D) ## 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The tilting and telescoping mast assembly of claim 1, wherein at least one of the side walls includes an opening through which the rod extends, the rod configured to move within the opening as the tilt frame pivots between the first and second positions. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The tilting and telescoping mast assembly of claim 2, further comprising an actuator operatively coupled to the lock wedge to rotate the lock wedge between the release position and the engaged position. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The tilting and telescoping mast assembly of claim 3, further comprising a tilt actuator operatively coupled to the tilt frame rotate the tilt frame. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The tilting and telescoping mast assembly of claim 4, wherein the tilt actuator includes a leadscrew coupled to the tilt frame, the leadscrew operative to rotate the tilt frame from the horizontal orientation to the vertical orientation when turned in a first direction. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The tilting and telescoping mast assembly of claim 5, wherein the leadscrew includes a threaded shaft and a carriage threadedly engaged with the threaded shaft such that rotation of the leadscrew in a first direction advances the carriage along the shaft and rotation of the leadscrew in a second direction opposite the first direction retracts the carriage along the shaft, and wherein the carriage is coupled to the tilt frame by a cable. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The tilting and telescoping mast assembly of claim 6, further comprising a horizontal lock block, a vertical lock block and an intermediate lock block, wherein each of the lock blocks are mounted to a common sidewall adjacent the opening in the sidewall, and wherein the lock wedge is separately engageable with any one of the lock blocks when the lock block is in a first orientation to secure the tilt frame against rotation, and wherein the lock wedge, in a second orientation, passes freely by the intermediate lock block as the tilt frame moves between the horizontal and vertical orientations, whereby the lock wedge and the intermediate lock block function as a silent ratchet mechanism. ### Claim 8 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. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The tilt mechanism of claim 8, further comprising bearings received in each side wall for supporting the tilt frame for pivoting. ### Claim 10 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. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The tilt mechanism of claim 10, wherein at least one of the side walls includes an opening through which the rod extends, the rod configured to move within the opening as the tilt frame pivots between the first and second positions. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The tilt mechanism of claim 11, further comprising an actuator operatively coupled to the lock wedge to rotate the lock wedge between the release position and the engaged position. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The tilt mechanism of claim 12, further comprising a tilt actuator operatively coupled to the tilt frame rotate the tilt frame, wherein the tilt actuator includes a leadscrew coupled to the tilt frame, the leadscrew operative to rotate the tilt frame from the horizontal orientation to the vertical orientation when turned in a first direction, and wherein the leadscrew includes a threaded shaft and a carriage threadedly engaged with the threaded shaft such that rotation of the leadscrew in a first direction advances the carriage along the shaft and rotation of the leadscrew in a second direction opposite the first direction retracts the carriage along the shaft, and wherein the carriage is coupled to the tilt frame by a cable.