Dump bed connection apparatus and vehicles including same
AssigneeHonda Motor Co., Ltd.
InventorsDarin D. King, Scott T. Blanford
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus connects a dump bed to a frame structure of a vehicle and facilitates tipping of the dump bed in a selected one of a plurality of directions from a load carrying position. The apparatus includes a ball joint assembly. The ball joint assembly is configured to selectively facilitate tipping of the dump bed as directed by an actuator. Vehicles including a ball joint assembly are also provided.
Claims19
A vehicle comprising:
- a frame structure;
- a dump bed;
- a ball joint assembly coupling the dump bed to the frame structure, the ball joint assembly comprising a ball and a receiver, the ball defining first and second grooves and comprising an external surface, the receiver comprising an internal surface, a portion of the internal surface of the receiver engaging a portion of the external surface of the ball, one of the ball and the receiver being attached to the frame structure, and the other of the ball and the receiver being attached to the dump bed;
- a first retaining element moveably coupled with the receiver and configured to selectively engage the first groove in the ball;
- a second retaining element moveably coupled with the receiver and configured to selectively engage the second groove in the ball;
- and
- an actuator coupled with each of the first and second retaining elements and configured to facilitate selective engagement of the first groove by the first retaining element and the second groove by the second retaining element.
An apparatus for connecting a dump bed to a frame structure of a vehicle and facilitating tipping of the dump bed in a selected one of a plurality of directions from a load carrying position, the apparatus comprising:
- a ball joint assembly comprising a ball and a receiver, the ball defining first and second grooves and comprising an external surface, the receiver comprising an internal surface, a portion of the internal surface of the receiver engaging a portion of the external surface of the ball, one of the ball and the receiver being adapted to attach to a frame structure of a vehicle, and the other of the ball and the receiver being adapted to attach to a dump bed;
- a first retaining element moveably coupled with the receiver and configured to selectively engage the first groove in the ball;
- a second retaining element moveably coupled with the receiver and configured to selectively engage the second groove in the ball;
- and
- an actuator coupled with each of the first and second retaining elements and configured to facilitate selective engagement of the first groove by the first retaining element and the second groove by the second retaining element.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.