US 4,325,666 A · Materials handling device

Abstract

A materials handling device suitable for mounting on a structure, such as a pickup truck, so that heavy materials, such as cylindrical bales of hay, can be selectively loaded and unloaded onto the pickup truck for transportation from one location to another. The materials handling device comprises a housing assembly pivotally connected to the support structure so that the housing assembly is substantially vertically disposed adjacent an edge of the support structure; a frame slideably positioned within the housing assembly; a material engaging assembly mounted on the lower end portion of the frame so as to extend in a direction away from the support structure; and a frame and housing actuator assembly disposed between and interconnecting the support structure and the upper end portion of the frame. The actuator assembly, which is pivotally connected to the frame and the support structure, selectively moves the frame between a vertically lowered position and the vertically raised position. When the frame is in the vertically raised position the actuator assembly selectively moves the housing assembly between the vertically disposed position and a horizontally disposed position wherein the housing assembly, and thus the frame, are disposed on the support structure. The materials handling device further includes a cradle assembly pivotally connected to the support structure so as to be substantially aligned with the housing and the frame, and a cradle actuator assembly disposed between and pivotally connected to the support structure and the cradle assembly.

Claims51

Dependent claims

A materials handling device for selectively loading and unloading material on a support structure, the materials handling device adapted for mounting on the support structure and comprising:

a housing assembly pivotally connected to the support structure and disposed substantially adjacent one edge portion of the support structure, the housing assembly movable between a first position wherein the housing assembly is substantially vertically disposed and a second position wherein the housing assembly is substantially horizontally disposed on the support structure;
a frame having a first end portion and a second end portion, the frame slidably positioned within the housing assembly and movable between a vertically lowered position and a vertically raised position;
material engaging means mounted on the first end portion of the frame for engaging and supporting the material as same is selectively loaded and unloaded from the support structure, the material engaging means mounted on the first end portion of the frame so as to extend in a direction away from the support structure;
and
frame and housing actuator means for selectively moving the frame between the vertically lowered position and the vertically raised position and for selectively moving the housing assembly between the vertically disposed first position and the horizontally disposed second position, the actuator means disposed between and pivotally connected to the support structure and to the second end portion of the frame such that upon activation of the actuator means, when the frame is in the vertically lowered position and the housing assembly is in the first position the frame is movable between the vertically lowered position and the vertically raised position and continued activation of the actuator means selectively moves the housing assembly between the first position and the second position.

2 more elements

An implement for selectively loading and unloading cylindrical bales of hay on to a load supporting bed of a vehicle, the vehicle having a rearward end portion and a forward end portion, the implement comprising:

a support frame mounted on the load supporting bed of the vehicle on the support frame having a first end portion and an opposed second end portion, the opposed second end portion of the frame support being disposed substantially adjacent the rearward end portion of the vehicle;
a housing assembly pivotally connected to the opposed second end portion support frame and disposed substantially adjacent the rearward end portion of the vehicle, the housing assembly movable between a first position wherein the housing assembly is substantially vertically disposed and a second position wherein the housing assembly is substantially horizontally disposed on the load supporting bed of the vehicle;
a frame having a first end portion and a second end portion, the frame slidably positioned within the housing assembly and movable between a vertically lowered position and a vertically raised position;
material engaging means mounted on the first end portion of the frame for engaging and supporting the material as same is selectively loaded and unloaded from the load supporting bed of the vehicle, the material engaging means mounted on the first end portion of the frame so as to extend in a direction away from the rearward end portion of the vehicle;
and
frame and housing actuator means for selectively moving the frame between the vertically lowered position for selectively moving the housing assembly between the vertically disposed first position and the horizontally disposed second position, the actuator means disposed between and pivotally connected to the support frame and to the second end portion of the frame such that upon activation of the actuator means, when the frame is in the vertically lowered position and the housing assembly is in the first position, the frame is movable between the vertically lowered position and the vertically raised position and continued activation of the actuator means selectively moves the housing assembly between the first position and the second position.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Materials handling device

Life of this patent

Materials handling device

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims51