US 6,447,239 B2 · Independent wheel-lift having a chassis mounted pivot point

Abstract

A combination tilting bed carrier and attached wheel-lift apparatus mounted on a chassis of a towing vehicle. The bed carrier includes a first pivot connected to the chassis and a first motive element extending between the chassis and the bed carrier for actuating tilting of the bed carrier about the first pivot. A wheel-lift is positioned below the bed carrier and includes a second pivot for pivotally connecting the wheel-lift to the chassis, with the first pivot and the second pivot concentrically, or substantially concentrically, aligned with each other. A second motive element extends between the wheel-lift and the bed carrier for actuating tilting of the wheel-lift about the second pivot. The second pivot may include a third motive element which may adjust the second pivot point, and which in conjunction with the second motive element, allows the wheel-lift to conform with either a positive or negative ground surface. The second motive element has a control element to maintain the wheel-lift in a predetermined position in the event of a failure of a second motive element. A third pivot is positioned on the chassis for pivotally connecting a stabilizer strut arm between the wheel-lift and the bed carrier.

Drawings

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Drawings

Claims11

Dependent claims

A combination tilting bed carrier and attached wheel-lift apparatus for mounting on a chassis of a towing vehicle comprising:

a bed carrier for supporting a vehicle in tow;
a pair of first pivots positioned on said bed carrier for pivotally connecting said bed carrier to the chassis;
a first motive element extending between the chassis and said bed carrier for actuating tilting of said bed carrier about said first pivots relative to the chassis;
a wheel-lift positioned below said bed carrier and extending rearwardly thereof;
a second pivot positioned on the chassis for pivotally connecting said wheel-lift to said chassis to enable said bed carrier to tilt without causing wheel-lift misalignment in regard to said second motive element;
a second motive element extending between said wheel-lift and said bed carrier for actuating tilting of said wheel-lift about said second pivot relative to said bed carrier and the chassis and;
a third motive element extending between said wheel-lift and said chassis for actuating vertical movement of a forward end of said wheel-lift relative to said chassis.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Description4,391 words

Summary1,939 words

#The present invention relates to a combination tilting bed carrier and attached wheel-lift apparatus mounted on a chassis of a towing vehicle.

#Transporting and towing vehicles such as damaged automobiles and the like, show cars, antique vehicles of various types and other similar types of vehicles has become quite popular in recent years and the development of transport trucks to convey such vehicles has been undertaken.

#Transport vehicles having rollback decks are well known as a means for transporting vehicles. One type of transport vehicle having a rollback deck includes a vehicle support surface or the rollback deck movably mounted on a truck bed frame. Specifically, the vehicle support surface is pivotable relative to the truck bed frame between a transport position and a loading position. In the transport position, the support surface is parallel to the bed frame. In the loading position, the support surface is at an angle relative to the bed frame such that it contacts the ground so as allow a disabled vehicle to be rolled thereon.

Brief description of the drawings7 figures

#FIG. 1 is a side view of an embodiment of the wheel-lift apparatus attached below the rollback truck subframe, wherein the wheel-lift is in a nearly horizontal position.

#FIG. 2 is a top plan view of an embodiment of the wheel-lift apparatus of the present invention including the wheel-supporting cradle.

#FIG. 3 is a side view of an embodiment of the wheel-lift apparatus attached below the rollback truck subframe, wherein the wheel-lift is in a loading position such that it is aligned at an angle below horizontal and adjacent with ground surface having a negative incline.

Detailed description2,262 words

#FIGS. 1 though 7 are presented by way of illustration and not limitation to depict the preferred embodiments of the present invention. Embodiments including the various aspects of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

#Turning now to the drawings, wherein like or corresponding reference numerals are used for like or corresponding parts throughout the figures, as depicted in FIGS. 1-3, a rollback assembly 20 includes a chassis (or truck bed frame or bed frame) 22 which mounts to a deck support surface assembly 24 at a first pivot point 25. A cylinder or first motive element 81 is connected between a pair of points 26 and 27 for driving the deck support surface assembly 24 to pivot relative to the chassis 22 and move the deck from the transport position, illustrated in FIG. 1, to a tilted loading position (not shown). The deck support surface assembly 24 includes a subframe or bed carrier 28 pivotally connected at the pivot point 25 of the truck chassis 22, and a deck portion 30 which is slidable relative to the subframe 28.

#Further, merely by way of example, a deck portion 30 is depicted that defines a surface 31 that supports a vehicle to be transported. A vertical forward end (not shown) of the deck portion 30 is defined at one longitudinal end of the rollback assembly 20. When it is desired to move the rollback assembly to the loading position, the deck portion 30 is first driven rearwardly relative to the subframe 28 using a conventional means, typically hydraulic cylinders or screw actuators driven by a screw motor are utilized. The rearward movement of the deck portion 30 from the transport (rollback) position continues until the members arrive at an intermediate position. In the loading position a bottom face 35 contacts the ground.

Facts

Application

09/740,836Filed 21 Dec 2000 · continuation

Priority

13 Mar 1998

Published

US 2001/0005479 A128 Jun 2001

Granted

10 Sep 2002

Term ended

19 May 2019

Estimated · how

20 years from earliest known nonprovisional domestic filing plus recorded patent term adjustment, including 68 days of adjustment. Maintenance-fee lapses, terminal disclaimers and statutory extensions have not been checked. The continuity chain may be incomplete; this is not an enforceability determination.

Classification2 codes

B60P 3/125
For salvaging damaged vehicles: by supporting only part of the vehicle, e.g. front- or rear-axle
B60P
Vehicles adapted for load transportation or to transport, to carry, or to

Family

Application60/077,943Us provisional application · filed 13 Mar 1998

Application60/081,937Us provisional application · filed 16 Apr 1998

Application09/266,742Parent of this continuation · filed 12 Mar 1999

US 6,231,294 B1Parent of this continuation

US 2001/0005479 A1Published application

US 6,447,239 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

Timeline

13 Mar 1998Priority claimedParent application 60/077,943
21 Dec 2000Application filedUS 09/740,836
28 Jun 2001PublishedUS 2001/0005479 A1
10 Sep 2002GrantedUS 6,447,239 B2
19 May 2019Term endedEstimated, includes 68 days of adjustment

USPTO file history isn’t available for this patent, so only indexed dates are shown.

Independent wheel-lift having a chassis mounted pivot point

Life of this patent

Independent wheel-lift having a chassis mounted pivot point

Life of this patent

Life of this patent

Abstract

Drawings

Drawings

Claims11

Description4,391 words

Drawings

Classification2 codes

Life of this patent

Description4,391 words