Cargo lifting apparatus for a vehicle
AssigneePower Platforms, Inc.
InventorRobert Heynssens
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus for loading and unloading a vehicle with cargo includes tracks mounted to the vehicle and a plurality of hangers attached to travel along the tracks. A platform, for supporting the cargo, is suspended on ties from the hangers and has an elevator mechanism that winds and unwinds the ties on reels to raise and lower the platform. At least one stabilizer engages and inhibits the platform from swinging while being raised and lowered by the ties. Several moveable track assemblies also are disclosed.
Claims24
An apparatus for loading and unloading a vehicle with cargo, said apparatus comprising:
- a pair of tracks mounted on the vehicle in a spaced apart relationship;
- a plurality of hangers each engaging one of the tracks and capable of traveling there along;
- a platform having a frame for supporting the cargo, and having an elevator mechanism mounted to the frame and connected to the plurality of hangers for raising and lowering the platform with respect to the tracks;
- and
- at least one stabilizer engaging the platform and inhibiting the platform from swinging while raising and lowering.
An apparatus for loading and unloading a vehicle with cargo, said apparatus comprising:
- a pair of tracks mounted on the vehicle in a spaced apart relationship;
- wherein each track entirely being moveable with respect to the vehicle;
- a plurality of hangers, each engaging one of the tracks and capable of traveling along that one of the tracks;
- and
- a platform having a frame for supporting the cargo, and having an elevator mechanism mounted on the frame and having a plurality of ties connected to the plurality of hangers for raising and lowering the platform with respect to the tracks.
The apparatus as recited in claim 111 wherein each of the pair of tracks is mounted in a tiltable manner to the vehicle.
The apparatus as recited in claim 111 further comprising, for each of the pair of tracks a separate set of a first support and a second support, wherein the first support has a device for raising and lowering the respective track, and wherein the second support is pivotally attached to the respective track.
An apparatus for loading and unloading a vehicle with cargo, said apparatus comprising:
- a pair of tracks mounted to the vehicle in a spaced apart relationship;
- a plurality of hangers each one engaging one of the tracks and capable of traveling along that one of the tracks;
- a platform having a frame for supporting the cargo, and having an elevator mechanism mounted on the frame and having a plurality of ties connected to the plurality of hangers for raising and lowering the platform with respect to the tracks;
- and
- a stabilizer attached to the vehicle;
- and
- a member which engages the platform and the stabilizer thereby inhibiting the platform from swinging while raising and lowering.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.