Abstract:
A device for assisting in loading heavy objects onto the load platform of a vehicle, such as a pick-up truck, comprising a frame for locating a pulling point near or above a plane established by a ramp between the load platform and the surface on which the motor vehicle is resting. The device may be provided with a roller adjacent a rear end of the load platform for reducing friction between an object being loaded and the junction of the load platform and the ramp. A pulling line capable of being extended between the pulling point and an object being loaded may be provided such that the object may be pulled up the ramp and onto the load platform, with the position of the pulling point pulling the object upwards from the plane of the ramp and load bed, such that friction between the object and the ramp and load bed is reduced.

Description:
PRIORITY INFORMATION 
       [0001]    The present application is a utility application, and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/079,269, filed on Nov. 13, 2014, titled Log Loading Device, in the name of Mark Piacentino, the contents of which are incorporated herein in its entirety by reference thereto. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Choice hardwood lumber has significant value in many industries, including furniture and cabinet making. Such lumber may be milled from choice trees, having sufficient size and features to allow boards of adequate size to be milled from the tree. The type of tree itself is significant, as different types of trees yield differing coloring and grain. Pricing for the wood varies based on the wood type, such that some trees yield wood having significant value. 
         [0003]    Logging operations are able to yield large quantities of wood, however typically require large and extensive machinery in order to harvest large volumes of timber, much of which is other than suitable for milling choice hardwood lumber, such as walnut and cherry boards. Choice hardwood lumber is often obtained on a single log basis, i.e., one particular tree is found which will yield choice hardwood lumber. Accordingly, the use of large and expensive equipment to retrieve single logs is not cost effective, and limit the ability of individual woodworkers and small operations from harvesting logs from which to mill choice hardwood lumber. 
         [0004]    Logs from which choice hardwood lumber can be milled are typically several feet long, and of a large enough diameter that individuals are unable to easily load such logs onto a truck to retrieve the log from where it is found, and move it to a location where it can be milled. Such logs often weigh several hundred pounds, and accordingly, different methods of loading such logs into the bed of a pick up truck, frequently available to individual woodworkers, may use a frame to form an overhead crane to lift the logs, such as that shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,790,712 and allow a truck to be backed under the log, at which point the log may be lowered onto the bed of the truck. Obviously, such structure is inefficient in that it must be transported to a site where a log has been found, removed from the truck and set up for lifting a log, used to load the log into the bed of the truck, then broken down and placed back into the truck, which now also has the loaded log or logs also in the bed. Other methods, such as using a jib crane such as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 8,479,933 have also been used, and which while removing the set up inefficiencies, are limited in load capacities by having to be mounted at a corner of the truck bed to allow clearance for the log being lifted, resulting in high local loads, and imbalancing of the truck onto which the jib crane is mounted. 
         [0005]    Accordingly, there is a need for the ability of small wood harvesting operations, such as those associated with choice hardwood lumber, to be able to load choice logs onto the bed of a truck in a safe and efficient manner. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The present invention is a truck bed mounted loading system which allows an individual to load large objects, such as logs, to be loaded into the bed of a truck. The loading system includes a pulling frame at one end of a load bed of the truck, and a ramp at the opposite end of the bed, such that a winch attached at an upper end of the pulling frame may be used to pull logs up the ramp. The pulling frame may be designed such that the winch is located at a point above a plane defined by the ramp, such that the winch both pulls a log up the ramp, as well as helps lift the nose of the log off the ramp to preclude the nose of the log from catching on transitions between the ramp and the ground and between the ramp and the bed of the truck. The pulling frame may be additionally formed such that support legs forming the frame may be mounted to the truck at opposite sides of the bed of the truck, to avoid interfering with logs being loaded, or the carrying capacity of the bed. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]      FIG. 1  shows a side view of a truck bed to which a pulling frame and ramp according to the present invention have been mounted, as well as a log being lifted by the pulling frame. 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  shows a view of a pulling frame from the front according to the present invention. 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  shows a device for loading heavy objects according to the present invention showing the frame in a perspective view. 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  shows the rear area of a device for loading heavy objects according to the present invention, highlighting potential configurations of the ramp and roller. 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  shows the rear area of a device for loading heavy objects according to the present invention, highlighting potential configurations of the ramp and roller. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0012]    As shown in the Figures, in which like numerals are used to identify like elements, there is shown an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the present invention  100  may be used to pull logs  102 , otherwise too long and too heavy to lift manually, into the bed or load platform of a pickup truck  104  or other motor vehicle. It may include a winch  106 , mounted on a stand or frame  108  that is fastened in the bed of the pickup truck  104 . The winch  106  may be mounted on the frame  108  at a height above the height of the cab  110  of the truck  104 . This position allows for the winch cable  112  to pull upwards as well as forward, so the end of the log  102  does not dig into the ground  114  or ramp  116  as it is being pulled on the ground  114  and up the ramp  116 , into the truck  104 . The ramp  116  may be positioned and connected to the rear of the truck  104  at an angle in relation to the bed of the truck  104 . The stand may have 4 legs  118   a ,  118   b ,  118   c , and  118   d . The front 2 legs  118   a ,  118   b  may support the winch. The rear two legs  118   c ,  118   d  may support the weight of the log  102  and the load of the log  102  pulling against the winch  106 . The legs  118   a ,  118   b ,  18   c ,  118   d  may be positioned so they are spread apart, allowing room for the log(s)  104  that are pulled onto the bed of the truck  104  to be located between the legs  118   a ,  118   b ,  118   c ,  118   d . The stand  108  may be built so that it distributes the weight of the log  102  on the entire length of the truck bed  120 , such as through the inclusion of longitudinal bases or of rails  122  extending along the length of the bed  120 . A roller  124 , located at the end of the truck bed  120  opposite the winch  106  may facilitate the smooth transfer of weight of the log  102 , as the log  102  travels onto the bed  120  of the truck  104  from the ramp  116 . The machine may be assembled using removable pins  126 , so it can be disassembled for ease of handling and for storage. The machine frame (stand)  108  may be adjustable in length, so it can be used in different length trucks. Wheels  128  may be provided at the front of the frame  108  to allow the frame  108  to be rolled onto the load bed of a vehicle more easily. The wheels  128  may be positioned such that when the frame  108  is tipped upwards, the wheels  128  contact the surface of the load bed to allow the frame  108  to be rolled, but also such that when level, the weight of the frame  108  rests on the load bed. 
         [0013]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , the legs  118   a ,  118   b ,  118   c ,  118   d  of the frame  108  may be angled from the outer edges  202   a ,  202   b  of the truck bed in towards the centerline of the truck bed  120 , such that the area under the winch mounting point can remain clear to allow logs or other materials to be pulled under the frame to allow the full length of the truck bed to be used. A lateral stabilizer  204  may also be included, to limit the ability of the frame  108  to tip to either side as a result of a load at the winch mounting point  200 , such as could result from pulling logs or other materials onto the truck bed  120 . The lateral stabilizer  204  may comprise a steel cable  206  with a turnbuckle  208  to allow tightening of the cable  206 , with the cable  206  attached to a point  210  on the frame  108 , such that the frame cannot lift from the bed  120  of the truck  104 , as would be required for the frame to tip. Additionally or alternately, dual cables may be used to additionally preclude lateral displacement of the legs and frame. 
         [0014]    As shown in  FIG. 3 , the frame  108  may have longitudinal bases  302   a ,  302   b  that help distribute loads across a greater area of the bed of the truck. A crossbar  304  may be placed at the rear end of the frame  108  between the longitudinal bases  302   a ,  302   b , to provide a structure for mounting the load assist roller  124 . The crossbar  304  may additionally have engagement features for attaching a ramp at the rear of the truck bed in a proper position with respect to the roller  124 . Alternately, the crossbar may be mounted to a hitch point on the rear of the truck, to utilize the strength inherent in such mounts. Positioning the roller  124  between the ramp and the bed of the truck allows the roller to reduce the force required to pull a log or other item across the edge created by the transition from the ramp to the bed of the truck, as well as limit damage to the log or other item as the log or other item transitions from being parallel to the ramp to parallel to the bed of the truck. 
         [0015]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , the longitudinal bases  122  may be formed to be adjustable in length to allow the frame to be used in trucks having different length beds. The longitudinal rails may be formed by multiple sections of square wall tubing, such that a smaller tube may be sized to slide within a larger cross-section piece of tube, allowing the smaller section to telescope in and out of the larger section, allowing the distance from the front of the frame with respect to the rear end of the frame to be varied. Holes may be drilled through both the inner and outer tube sections, to allow the smaller tube section to be pinned to the larger tube section such that the front to rear length of the frame can be fixed. 
         [0016]    Returning to  FIG. 3 , as the winch  106  is used to pull heavy objects, the frame must have sufficient strength to both hold the winch  106  in position, as well as to support vertical loads resultant from the object being pulled by the winch. Triangulating the front legs allows the load to be efficiently supported. Angling the rear legs from the front of the frame to a rearward position allows them to form columns to react loads resultant from the winch pulling a log, as well as to assist in positioning the winch mounting point. Triangulating the front legs  118   a ,  118   b  inward from the frame, but keeping them substantially vertical, allows vertical loads to be resolved. The engagement of the legs to the longitudinal bases may be formed such that the legs can be releasably engaged to the longitudinal bases, such that the frame can be quickly disassembled for removal from the truck, to allow the truck to be used for other purposes. 
         [0017]    The frame must be retained to the motor vehicle  104  to further resolve the loads resultant from a log or other object being pulled into the bed of the truck. The frame may be pulled to the rear of the bed by a log or other object being loaded, but may also be pulled such that the frame may try to rotate about the rear end of the frame, particularly where the rear of the frame is mechanically retained to the rear of the bed. Accordingly, mounts for the frame may be made to suitable structure on the bed of the truck, such as to frame rails underlying the bed of the truck. 
         [0018]    Although  FIG. 3  shows the use of tongs  306  for grabbing a log being pulled, other devices, such as straps, may be used to grab the log or other object as appropriate. 
         [0019]    Also as shown in  FIG. 3 , the winch  106  may be used via the cable  112  to pull a large log  102  into the bed of the pickup truck  104  by a single person, when the truck  104  is properly positioned with respect to the log  102 . With a log  102  lined up with the ramp  116 , the tongs or other attachment means may be secured to the log, with the tongs  306  attached to the winch  106  via the cable  112 . As the cable  112  is pulled into the winch  106 , the nose of the log  102  is pulled up the ramp  116  towards the winch  106 . As the center of gravity of the log  102  crosses over the roller  124 , the log  102  will tend to tip down onto the bed of the truck  104 . Because of the tension on the log  102  through the cable  112 , the rotation of the log  102  from the ramp  116  into the bed of the truck  102  is restrained, preventing the log from slamming into the bed of the truck as it crosses over the roller  124 . Further, because the winch  106  is above the log  102  as it is pulled into the bed of the truck  104 , the front bottom edge of the log  102  is pulled upwardly while the log  102  is pulled into the bed  120 , reducing the likelihood of the front bottom edge of the log  102  hanging up on any irregularities in the bed of the truck  104  as it is pulled forward. 
         [0020]    While the winch  106  is illustrated as being positioned atop the frame  108 , the winch  106  may alternatively be located elsewhere, with the pulling line from the winch being passed over a pulley located adjacent the top of the frame to maintain a proper pulling direction. 
         [0021]    As shown in  FIG. 4 , both the roller  124  and the ramp  116  may be selectively engaged to the frame  108 , such that they may be removed once a log or other heavy object has been loaded onto the bed of the truck. Because of the weight of the loaded object, it may not be feasible to lift the object to remove the roller  124  or ramp  116 . To address this issue, the roller  124  may be mounted on an axle  402  which extends a distance greater than the width of the roller  124 , such that the axle  124  rests in axle apertures  404  on either side of the roller  124 . The axle apertures  404  may be formed such that the axle  402  may be removed from the apertures, such as by sliding the axle  402  to one side or the other, to allow the roller  124  to be disengaged from the crossbar  304 , such that the roller  124  may be removed from the frame  108  to avoid any safety issues associated with the roller  124  being present. The ramp  116  may additionally be provided with hooks  406  on opposing sides of the top of the ramp  116 , such that the ramp  116  may be engaged to a crosstube  408  at the rear of the frame  108  during loading operations, but removed to allow movement of the motor vehicle  104 . The use of the hooks  406  may allow the ramp  116  to be removed if the loaded object is overhanging the ramp  116 . Alternately, the crosstube  408  may be engaged in the crossbar  304  through crosstube apertures  410 , such that the crosstube  408  may be withdrawn from the frame  108  by sliding it in one direction or the other, allowing the ramp  116  to be removed from the motor vehicle  104 . By allowing removal of the crosstube  408 , the ramp may be allowed to drop downward for removal, such as when a log or other object overhangs the end of the ramp, precluding sufficient upward movement of the top of the ramp in an upward direction a sufficient amount to clear the hooks. By removing the crosstube  408 , the hooks no longer need to move upward to clear the crosstube  408 , allowing removal of the ramp when loaded. Also as shown in  FIG. 4 , the ramp  116  may be formed with a channel  412  to assist in centering an object to be loaded on the ramp  116  during loading. 
         [0022]    As shown in  FIG. 4 , the ramp may be provided with a central trough  412  which implements centering of an object being pulled up the ramp  116 . The trough  412  may be in the form of an arcuate depression along the centerline of the ramp, extending from the bottom end of the ramp which rests on the ground, to the top of the ramp, where it is attached to the rear end of the truck or motor vehicle. The bottom end of the trough may be used to establish the force line of the pulling line, as the bottom of the trough defines the level above or below which the pulling line would pull the object against the ramp or upward from the ramp. While alignment of the pulling line above this force line is preferable, alignment slightly below the force line may not preclude the utility of the present invention. 
         [0023]    As shown in  FIG. 5 , the axle  502  for the roller may be formed by short axle sections or stub axles  504  extending from each side of the roller  124 . One side of the roller  124  may be provided with a slot  506  for engaging with the crossbar  304 , with a latch  508  extending over the top of the slot to retain an axle stub  504  in the slot  506 . With the latch  508  raised, the stub axle  504  may be raised at the slot end, such that the opposing axle stub  502  can be withdrawn from an aperture (not visible, but similar to as shown in  FIG. 4 ) to allow removal of the roller  124 . 
         [0024]    The crosstube  408  for the ramp may additionally be provided with a retainer  510  at one end, such as a hitch clevis, such that the crosstube will remain engaged in the crosstube apertures until the retainer  510  is removed. 
         [0025]    Additionally, the trough  412  may be formed by the use of a pair of guide plates  512 , which extend upward from a planar surface  514  of the ramp  116 , such that an object being pulled up the ramp  116  will be urged to remain along the centerline of the ramp  116  by the guide plates  512 . Finally, the frame  108  may further be retained to the motor vehicle through the use of retaining straps  516  which hold the frame  108  to the motor vehicle  104  at the rear of the frame  108 , to restrain the frame  108  from sliding rearwards when an object is being loaded. 
         [0026]    The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes of the invention. Accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims, rather than the foregoing specification, as indicating the scope of the invention.