Patent ID: 6105840
Filing Date: 2000-08-22
Classification: B60R

Abstract:
A side-loading and discharging apparatus for use with vehicles of the type having top-mounted storage racks, comprising:a plurality of parallel, transversely-disposed, longitudinally spaced-apart base members adapted for substantially permanent attachment to a storage rack that is mounted to the roof of a vehicle;each base member having a fixed position relative to the storage rack to which it is adapted to be mounted so that each base member does not move relative to said storage rack when said apparatus is in use;each base member having an outboard end positioned near a side wall of said vehicle and an inboard end positioned near a longitudinal axis of symmetry of said vehicle;a pivot interface member that is pivotally attached to each said base member at said outboard end thereof;each pivot interface member including a flat top wall and a pair of side walls that depend from said flat top wall and said side walls being apertured to receive therethrough a pivot pin means that provides said pivotal connection between each said pivot interface member and its associated said base member;a transversely-disposed elongate slide member that is slideably attached to its associated said pivot interface meter;each said elongate slide member including a top wall, a side wall depending from opposite sides of said top wall, and a pair of inwardly turned, confronting flanges formed in respective lowermost ends of said side walls;a lock member fixedly secured to an underside of said top wall of said elongate slide member;a stop member formed by said flat top wall of said pivot interface member;a bias means supported by said confronting flanges of said elongate slide member that urges said stop member into movement-blocking relation to said lock member when said bias means is in repose; anda longitudinally-extending handle member secured to an outboard end of each said elongate slide member to facilitate manipulation of said elongate slide members by an individual finding beside said vehicle;whereby a mechanical advantage is supplied by the pivotal and slideable connection between each said elongate slide member and each said base member that is provided by said pivot interface members so that a relatively low amount of force is exerted against said handle to deploy said apparatus into a loading and discharging position and to return said apparatus to a stored configuration.