Patent ID: 6241450
Filing Date: 2001-06-05
Classification: B60P

Abstract:
A load supporting assembly, comprising:(a) an elongated frame;(b) a platform subassembly supported by said frame and including(i) a middle fixed platform section mounted to said frame at a fixed orientation and having opposite forward and rearward ends,(ii) a front pivotal platform section having a rear end pivotally mounted adjacent to said forward end of said middle fixed platform section to undergo pivotal movement between raised and lowered positions relative to said middle fixed platform section and said frame, and(iii) a rear pivotal platform section having a front end pivotally mounted adjacent to said rearward end of said middle fixed platform section to undergo movement between raised and lowered positions relative to said middle fixed platform section and said frame; and(c) means for movably interconnecting said front and rear pivotal platform sections such that said front and rear pivotal platform sections can pivot independently of and automatically relative to one another and to said middle fixed platform section and said frame in response to an operator driving a vehicle onto or from said platform assembly wherein the vehicle in being loaded onto said platform subassembly can push said front pivotal platform section down from said respective raised to lower position thereof without any corresponding movement of said rear pivotal platform section and the vehicle in being unloaded from said platform subassembly can push said rear pivotal platform section down from said respective raised to lower position thereof without any corresponding movement of said front pivotal platform section.