Vehicle load-carrying apparatus

Adjustable load-carrying apparatus for mounting on the load-carrying bed of a vehicle, comprising

• a base frame assembly for fixing rigidly to the vehicle bed and including
• laterally spaced parallel left and right track-forming means, each comprising a path formed by inwardly facing rollers spaced in longitudinal alignment along lateral frame members of the base frame assembly,
• a lock guide rail in proximately spaced relationship to one of said track-forming means and aligned therewith, said rail including a plurality of spaced recesses therealong for receiving a lock pin,
• a releaseable rearward stop member in the path of one of said track-forming means, and
• a fixed forward stop member in the path of said one track-forming means,
• a slidable frame assembly mounted on said base frame assembly and including
• a rectangular platform frame
• left and right lateral edge trackway members fixed on the lateral edges of said platform frame and slidably mated with said track-forming means of said base frame assembly,
• fixed lug means for abutting against the rearward and forward stop members of said base frame assembly, to thereby limit longitudinal movement of said slidable frame assembly with respect to said track-forming means of said base frame assembly,
• a lock guide assembly mounted to the underside of said platform frame and including opposing guide rollers mounted for rolling movement on opposite sides of said lock guide rail of said base frame assembly, a spring-biased lock pin at a forward location perpendicular to said lock guide rail for a normally locking relationship therewith, bracket means for slidably holding and guiding longitudinal movement of said lock pin, a pull handle at a rearward end location on said platform assembly, and cable means entrained over pulleys and extending between said lock pin and handle, whereby pulling on said handle effects withdrawal of said lock pin from a locking relationship with said lock guide rail, thereby to permit sliding movement of said slidable frame assembly along said track-forming means of said base frame assembly, and
• laterally spaced left and right ramp slideways mounted to the underside of said platform frame and including a ramp stop member and a ramp lock member, and
• a ramp assembly mounted for sliding movement in said ramp slideways of said slidable assembly and including
• a rectangular ramp deck carrying a latching means cooperative with said ramp lock member to fix said ramp assembly against sliding movement in said ramp slideways,
• a forward guide section including abutting means for striking said ramp stop member to thereby limit rearward sliding movement of the ramp assembly so as to retain a foundation portion of said guide section in said ramp slideways when said ramp deck is withdrawn from said slideways for ramp use,
• a hinge connection between said ramp deck and said forward guide section, whereby said ramp deck may be pivotally lowered for ramp use while a foundation portion of the guide section is retained in the ramp slideways of the slidable frame assembly, and
• a ramp deck extension projecting forwardly of said ramp deck and in alignment with said ramp deck and lying over said hinge connection between said ramp deck and said forward guide section.

Adjustable load-carrying apparatus for mounting on the load-carrying bed of a vehicle, comprising

• a base frame assembly for fixing rigidly to the vehicle bed and including
• laterally spaced parallel left and right track-forming means, each comprising inwardly facing rollers spaced in longitudinal alignment along lateral frame members of the base frame assembly, and
• a lock guide rail in proximately spaced relationship to one of said track-forming means and aligned therewith, and
• a slidable platform frame assembly mounted on said base frame assembly and including
• a rectangular platform frame,
• left and right lateral edge trackway members fixed on the lateral edges of said platform frame and slidably mated with said track-forming means of said base frame assembly, and
• a lock guide assembly mounted to the underside of said platform frame and including opposing guide rollers mounted for rolling movement on opposite side of said lock guide rail of said base frame assembly, and releaseable locking means biased for a normally locking relationship with said lock guide rail,
• wherein said locking means comprises
• a lock pin at a forward location perpendicular to said lock guide rail and biased for a normally locking relationship therewith
• bracket means for slidably holding and guiding longitudinal movement of said lock pin,
• a pull handle at a rearward end location on said platform assembly, and
• cable means entrained over pulleys and extending between said lock pin and handle, whereby pulling on said handle effects withdrawal of said lock pin from a locking relationship with said lock guide rail, thereby to permit slide movement of said slidable frame assembly along said track-forming means of said base frame assembly.