Pickup truck loading system
OwnerDavid Douglas Diezigerinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus for loading a camper-insert, or other large-volume load, onto the bed of a pickup truck comprises a stiff-leg frame for supporting the load from the ground, the frame preventing the load from applying weight to the tail end of the bed with damaging consequences while the load is being cantilevered into position over the frame by the draw of a winch and cable system. The apparatus uses at least one telescoping leg to lift the rear of the load as part of a novel hoist assembly, which dynamically braces the telescoping leg on a foot while providing minimal interference to nesting the camper-insert closely to the host surfaces.
Claims18
An apparatus for loading a camper-insert onto a truck having a bed with an open end, comprising:
- a stiff-leg frame for lifting and supporting the camper-insert from a ground surface immediately adjacent the open end, the stiff-leg frame comprised of at least two vertical members joined substantially at the proximal ends thereof by a crossbar member, the distal ends thereof resting on the ground surface, the crossbar member positioned at substantially the elevation of the bed, the stiff-leg frame horizontally stabilized by at least one connector hinge attached between the stiff-leg frame and the open end;
- a foot resting on the ground surface medially beneath the camper-insert when the camper-insert is in position for loading, said foot braced against the stiff-leg frame;
- at least one telescoping beam pivotally connected at its distal end to the rear of the camper-insert and pivotally connected at its proximal end to the foot, said telescoping beam swinging in a vertical arc about its proximal end and collapsing to a minimum radius of curvature equal to the height of the bed, the minimum radius of curvature coinciding with the center of gravity of the load shifting forward of the stiff-leg frame;
- and
- a means for drawing the camper-insert over the stiff-leg frame and into the bed;
- whereas, the front and rear of the camper-insert are sequentially lifted up and over the stiff-leg frame by the means for drawing and the at least one telescoping beam braced against the stiff-leg frame, the weight of the camper-insert is substantially supported by the stiff-leg frame and not by the open end, the horizontal thrust from cantilevering the camper-insert over the frame is transferred to the truck through the at least one connector hinge, and the camper-insert settles onto the truck bed with minimal offset to mating surfaces.
An apparatus for loading a large-volume load onto a truck having a bed with an open end, comprising:
- a stiff-leg frame for lifting and supporting the large-volume load from a ground surface immediately adjacent the open end, the stiff-leg frame comprised of at least two vertical members joined substantially at the proximal ends thereof by a crossbar member, the distal ends thereof resting on the ground surface, the crossbar member positioned at substantially the elevation of the bed, the stiff-leg frame horizontally stabilized by at least one connector hinge attached between the stiff-leg frame and the open end;
- a foot resting on the ground surface medially beneath the large-volume load when the large-volume load is in position for loading, said foot braced against the stiff-leg frame;
- at least one telescoping beam pivotally connected at its distal end to the rear of the large-volume load and pivotally connected at its proximal end to the foot, said telescoping beam swinging in a vertical arc about its proximal end and collapsing to a minimum radius of curvature equal to the height of the bed, the minimum radius of curvature coinciding with the center of gravity of the load shifting forward of the stiff-leg frame;
- and
- a means for drawing the large-volume load over the frame and into the bed;
- whereas, the front and rear of the large-volume load are sequentially lifted up and over the stiff-leg frame by the means for drawing and the at least one telescoping beam braced against the stiff-leg frame, the weight of the large-volume load is substantially supported by the stiff-leg frame and not by the open end, the horizontal thrust from cantilevering the large-volume load over the frame is transferred to the truck through the at least one connector hinge, and the large-volume load settles onto the truck bed with minimal offset to mating surfaces.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.