US 5,449,267 A · Liftgate platform with latchable retention ramp

Abstract

A lift platform has a retention ramp whose forward edge is pivotally connected to a rear edge of the platform by a hinge that permits inversion of the retention ramp to a stowed position overlying the platform. A latch member is mounted on a lateral edge of the retention ramp in operative alignment with a detent block secured to the rear edge of the platform, the detent block having a center on the axis of the hinge. The latch member is pivotally mounted and torsionally biased to press the nose portion into engagement with the periphery of the detent block, the latter having detent notches angularly spaced apart relative to its center for defining intermediate and stowed positions of the retention ramp. During movement of the retention ramp between extended and intermediate positions the nose of the latch engages a convex portion of the detent block periphery of a radius to depress the latch against the biasing force of the torsion spring. The detent notches have surface orientations for unidirectionally latching the retention ramp against movement out of the stowed and intermediate positions towards the extended position.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A lift platform comprising:

a load platform and a retention ramp having adjacent edges;
a hinge means for pivotally connecting said platform and said retention ramp together adjacent said edges along a pivot axis that is offset from a load bearing surface of said platform whereby said retention ramp can be rotated around said axis between stowed and ramping positions of said retention ramp relative to said platform,
said retention ramp overlying said platform in said stowed position and comprising an extension of said platform in said ramping position;
and
a latch means interconnected between said platform and said retention ramp for selectively and releasably retaining said retention ramp in said stowed position and, alternatively, in an intermediate position in which said retention ramp is retained in an upstanding position relative to said platform,
said latch means comprising selectively latchable parts for defining said stowed and intermediate positions in which said retention ramp is unidirectionally latched against rotation out of said stowed position towards said intermediate position and, alternatively, unidirectionally latched against movement out of said intermediate position towards said ramping position.

3 more elements

A latch set for a truck liftgate of the type comprising a load platform having a retention ramp whose forward edge is pivotally connected to a rear edge of the load platform by a hinge means that permits inversion of the retention ramp to a stowed position overlying the platform, said latch set comprising:

a latch member;
a support means for mounting said latch member on and adjacent to the forward edge of the retention ramp;
a block for mounting on the load bearing surface of the platform adjacent to the rear edge of the platform in operative alignment with said latch member;
said latch member and said block having latchable parts for selectively and releasably retaining the retention ramp in the stowed position and, alternatively, in an intermediate position in which the retention ramp is retained in an upstanding position relative to the platform,
said latchable parts having complementary configurations for unidirectionally latching the retention ramp against rotation out of the stowed position towards the intermediate position and, alternatively, unidirectionally latching the retention ramp against movement out of the intermediate position towards a ramping position of the platform.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Liftgate platform with latchable retention ramp

Life of this patent

Liftgate platform with latchable retention ramp

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20