Side door lift gate

A lifting apparatus adapted for use in an associated vehicle having a floor and one upright wall having an opening therein, the lifting apparatus being operable between a stored mode position and a deployed mode position, said lifting apparatus comprising:

• a platform having a generally planar loading surface, said platform adapted for movement between a folded position and an open position;
• elevator means for selectively moving said platform between an upper level and a lower level, said elevator means comprising a telescoping member operable along an axis wherein a lower portion is adapted to telescope within an upper portion;
• first pivot means for pivoting said elevator means and said platform while said platform is in said folded position, said first pivot means including a first pivot member having a first axis, said first pivot member being adapted for substantially vertical alignment relative to said floor of said associated vehicle;
• second pivot means for selectively pivoting said platform between said folded position and said open position about a second axis perpendicular to said first axis, wherein said first axis and said second axis are coplanar;
• a first cross member extending between said first pivot member and said upper portion of said telescoping member, said first cross member being operable to support said elevator means a fixed predetermined distance from said first pivot member;
• first switching means for activating said elevator means, said first switching means being located on said upper portion of said telescoping member, said first switching means maintaining a substantially constant vertical position during operation of said elevator means;
• and,
• second switching means for alternatively activating said elevator means, said second switching -means being selectively vertically moveable with said platform;
• wherein said deployed mode position is rotationally removed approximately 90° from said stored mode position.

A method for utilizing a lifting apparatus being adapted for unloading associated cargo from an associated vehicle having a floor and one upright wall having an opening therein, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing a lifting apparatus initially in a stored mode position, said lifting apparatus comprising:
• a platform having a generally planar loading surface, said platform being adapted for movement between a folded position and an open position;
• elevator means operably associated with said platform for selectively moving said platform between an upper level and a lower level, said elevator means comprising a telescoping member operable along an axis wherein a lower portion is adapted to telescope within an upper portion;
• first pivot means for pivoting said elevator means and said platform while said platform is in said folded position wherein said first pivot means includes a first pivot member defining a first pivot axis and wherein said first pivot member is adapted for substantially vertical alignment relative to said floor of said associated vehicle;
• second pivot means for selectively pivoting said platform between said folded position and said open position, said second pivot means including a second pivot member defining a second pivot axis perpendicular to said first axis, wherein said first pivot axis and said second pivot axis are coplanar;
• a first cross member extending between said first pivot member and said upper portion of said telescoping member, said first cross member being operable to support said elevator means a fixed predetermined distance from said first pivot member;
• first switching means for activating said elevator means, said first switching means being located on said upper portion of said telescoping member, said first switching means maintaining a substantially constant vertical position during operation of said elevator means;
• second switching means for alternatively activating said elevator means, said second switching means being selectively vertically moveable with said platform;
• pivoting said elevator means and said platform while said platform is in said folded position approximately 90° about said first axis to place said lifting apparatus into a deployed mode position;
• pivoting said platform from said folded position to a substantially horizontal position;
• utilizing said first switching means to activate said elevator means and thereby lower said platform to said lower level;
• utilizing said second switching means to activate said elevator means and thereby raise said platform to said upper level;
• positioning said associated cargo onto said platform;
• utilizing said second switching means to activate said elevator means and thereby re-lower said platform to said lower level.