Patent ID: 8870517
Filing Date: 2014-10-28
Classification: B60P

Abstract:
1. An apparatus mounted to a substantially upwardly-facing bed for loading and unloading a container onto and off of the bed, the container having a floor with first and second openings that face substantially downwardly when the container is in an operable orientation, the first and second openings formed in at least respective first and second corners on a front of the container, the apparatus comprising: a. a first flexible member movably mounted adjacent a first lateral edge of the bed and a second flexible member movably mounted adjacent a second lateral edge of the bed substantially parallel to the first flexible member; b. a first lift spike extending from the first flexible member and a second lift spike extending from the second flexible member; c. a first drive mechanism operatively coupled to the first and second flexible members for driving the lift spikes between an unloaded position, wherein the first and second lift spikes are adjacent a rear of the bed, and a container-loaded position, wherein the first and second lift spikes are located adjacent a front of the bed; d. at least one lift wedge moveably mounted to a rear edge of the bed; and e. a second drive mechanism operatively coupled to said at least one lift wedge for raising said at least one lift wedge between a stowed position and a deployed position in which said at least one lift wedge raises the front of the container and the first and second lift spikes extend substantially upwardly from the bed into the first and second, substantially downwardly-facing, openings.