Vehicle load lifting and lowering apparatus

A vehicle load lifting and lowering apparatus comprising in combination:

• a pair of parallel spaced apart guide columns,
• a plurality of runners slidably mounted in equal numbers on each of said columns,
• a load carrying platform supported between said runners,
• means between the columns and the runners for effecting powered up and down sliding movement of the runners along the columns to raise and lower the platform,
• a deformable articulated linkage,
• means pivotally connecting one end of said linkage to the guide columns,
• means pivotally connecting the opposite end of said linkage to the rear of a vehicle to locate the guide columns in a substantially upright position across the vehicle,
• and, further means responsive to powered sliding movement of the runners in one direction along a predetermined length of the guide columns, to deform the linkage and swing the platform, the columns and the power operated means towards the vehicle for storing thereagainst, and responsive to powered sliding movement of the runners along a predetermined length of the guide columns in the opposite direction, to articulate the linkage in the opposite sense and swing the platform, the columns and the power operated means away from the vehicle towards the ground on which the vehicle stands for load lifting purposes,
• wherein said further means comprise an arm, with means securing said arm to one link of the articulated linkage so as to be movable from a first, inoperative, position, in which movement of the runners along the columns effects only raising or lowering of the load carrying platform, to a second position, in which the arm projects into the path of movement of a part of one of said runners and constitutes a rigid extension of the said link, whereby powered sliding movement of the runners along the guide columns iss transmitted, via interengagement of the said runner and the projecting arm, to the said link to articulate the linkage in either sense.