Patent ID: 7306421
Filing Date: 2007-12-11
Classification: B60P,Y10S

Abstract:
1. An inside vehicle lift for transferring a load through a rear door opening of a vehicle comprising: a load platform for receiving the load, the load platform being horizontally movable between a loading position with the load platform being disposed behind a rear bumper of the vehicle and a transport position inside the vehicle; a base for being attached inside the vehicle to a vehicle floor such that a rear end of the base is located in proximity to the rear door opening; a lift unit comprising a lift support base and a left hand side and a right hand side lift actuator, the lift support base for supporting the load platform when disposed outside the vehicle, the lift support base being mechanically connection at a left hand side and at a right hand side to a left hand side lift actuator and a right hand side lift actuator, respectively, such that the lift support base is oriented substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of each of the left and the right hand side lift actuator, the lift actuators for moving the lift support base with the load platform substantially straight in a substantially vertical direction between a first vertical position with the load platform being in close proximity to ground and a second vertical position suitable for horizontally moving the load platform into the vehicle; a left hand side gear mechanism movably attached to a left hand side of the base and the left hand side lift actuator and a right hand side gear mechanism movably attached to a right hand side of the base and the right hand side lift actuator, respectively, the left hand side gear mechanism and the right hand side gear mechanism for providing translational and rotational movement of the lift unit through the rear door opening of the vehicle between a first position inside the vehicle with the lift support base being disposed in proximity to the rear door opening and oriented substantially vertical and a second position outside the vehicle with the lift support base and the lift actuators being disposed behind the rear bumper and the lift support base oriented substantially horizontal; and, an extension unit being movably attached to the base for substantially straight movement in a substantially horizontal direction between a first position where the extension unit is completely inside the vehicle and a second position where a portion of the extension unit is moved through the rear door opening, wherein the left hand side gear mechanism and the right hand side gear mechanism are connected to a left hand side and a right hand side of the extension unit, respectively, and wherein the left hand side gear mechanism and the right hand side gear mechanism are driven by the movement of the extension unit, and wherein the left hand side gear mechanism and the right hand side gear mechanism each comprise: a first lever pivotally connected to the base; a second lever pivotally connected to the first lever and pivotally connected to a lever support mounted to the extension unit, the second lever for pivotally moving the first lever in dependence upon movement of the extension unit; a third lever pivotally connected to the lever support and pivotally connected to a bottom portion of the lift actuator for providing substantially translational movement to the lift actuator; and, a fourth lever pivotally connected to the first lever and pivotally connected to a top portion of the lift actuator for providing substantially rotational movement to the lift actuator.