Patent ID: 8911195
Filing Date: 2014-12-16
Classification: B60P,B60R

Abstract:
1. A hauling assembly comprising an elongated, vertically extending frame including a pair of rail members having a front portion and a rear portion, the front portion having opposing side surfaces each including a vertically and inwardly extending groove, the rear portion having a hollow interior portion extending upwardly from a bottom thereof for at least a predetermined distance, each rail member being provided with its own drive mechanism, and an upper section interconnecting an upper portion of each of the rail members and each drive mechanism; a pair of carriages each having an elongated, hollow interior defined by front wall interconnected with spaced apart side walls, each side wall having a rear edge formed with an inwardly directed flange that define an open gap there between, and being movably mounted to the frame such that the inwardly directed flanges of each respective side wall slidingly engage one of the inwardly extending grooves in the opposing side surfaces of one of the pair of rail members so that the front portion of each of the pair or rail members fits within the gap; a drive system including a drive mechanism mounted to the frame and to each of the pair of carriages to move the carriages along the frame between lowered and raised positions, the drive mechanism including a drive rod rotatably mounted onto the frame and operatively engaged within a block member retained by each of the pair of carriages, and a drive motor mounted on the upper section, and wherein the drive system further includes a pair of rotatably mounted drive rods, one for each of the carriages, a drive member rotationally mounted to the upper section and operatively connected between the drive motor and each of the rotatably mounted drive rods to rotate the pair of drive rods together; a deck operatively attached to the carriage to support a load and so as to be pivotally movable between a lowered transport and a raised stored position; and further including a vehicle mounting assembly having a rear vehicle attaching portion and a front mounting portion including a pair of spaced apart upwardly extending mounting post assemblies over which the hollow interior of each of the pair of rail members will be slidingly received.