Patent ID: 7857573
Filing Date: 2010-12-28
Classification: B65G,B66F,Y10T

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for carrying a load to and from a vehicle bed, the apparatus comprising: a lift platform defining a channel; a cart stop member at least partially located in the channel, the cart stop member being rotatably coupled to the lift platform, the cart stop member having an open position and a closed position relative to the lift platform, the cart stop member being substantially level with an upper surface of the lift platform when the cart stop member is in the closed position; the cart stop member having a first substantially flat surface corresponding to the open position, and a second substantially flat surface corresponding to the closed position; and a spring device biased against the first substantially flat surface when the cart stop member is in the open position, the spring device biased against the second substantially flat surface when the cart stop member is in the closed position; wherein the spring device comprises an elongate spring having a substantially wave-like profile along a lengthwise axis thereof that extends along the channel, the spring exerting an essentially linear biasing force against said substantially flat surfaces of the cart stop member, wherein the direction of the linear biasing force is substantially orthogonal to said lengthwise axis along the wave-like profile of the spring.