Abstract:
A truck cab and bed lift tool for removing cab and bed bodies from pickup truck frames. The tool includes a horizontal main beam having adjustable and configurable end appendages. Those appendages provide adjustable contact elements that mate with suitable lifting points of a pickup truck bed, cab structure, or other major body element. The main beam includes a heavy-duty hook that enables the truck cab and bed lift tool to be lifted by an engine hoist, overhead winch, or other suitable lifting mechanism.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     There are no current co-pending applications. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The presently disclosed subject matter is for servicing pickup trucks and similar structures. More particularly, the present invention is a truck cab and bed lift tool having a horizontal main beam with adjustable and configurable end appendages that include adjustable contact elements that mate with lifting points of a pickup truck bed, cab structure, or other major body element. The truck cab and bed lift tool and the body component to which it is mated can be lifted by an external lifting mechanism. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     As anyone who performs a lot of mechanical work will attest to the fact that nothing beats having the proper tool for a particular job. The proper tool can save time, save money, produce a higher quality job, reduce damage to equipment, and provide for increased worker safety. The proper tool can convert a difficult, long, and dangerous job to a job that is easily and quickly accomplished. 
     One (1) field of work that uses a multitude of specialty tools is automotive bodywork. During such work it is often necessary to completely remove a body structure. Easily said, often very difficult to do. Pickup trucks often need to have their cab, truck bed, or other body part removed. These items are often very heavy, awkward, unbalanced, rusted, damaged, frozen in place or just unforgivingly difficult to remove from the rest of the vehicle. Making the problem even more difficult is that some body parts must be lifted using a limited number of specific contact points. 
     Lifting is typically performed using any of number of rather special lifts such as overhead cranes; cherry pickers; engine hoists and the like. While generating the power to lift a body part isn&#39;t difficult, lifting the right part using the right lifting points is challenging. This may require up to four people at one (1) time to make sure that the body structure is carefully staged, lifted and removed. This obviously represents a large cost that is not feasible for many smaller body shop operations. 
     In addition, placing new or repaired body parts on a truck is even more challenging in that improper lifting can damage an expensive body part and result in an unhappy customer. 
     Accordingly, there exists a need for a tool by which pickup truck body structures and other such structures can be easily lifted, removed, and replaced by one (1) person. Preferably such a tool would be useful for lifting truck bodies, truck cabs and other motor vehicle body parts with a reduced possibility of damage. Ideally such a tool would support vehicle contact plates that are adjustable in X-Y-Z axes while enabling balanced lifting. Preferably the contact plates would not mar the body finish and would be quickly adjustable. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The principles of the present invention provide for a truck cab and bed lift tool for lifting, removing, and replacing pickup truck body structures by one (1) person. The truck cab and bed lift tool can lift truck bodies, truck cabs and other motor vehicle body parts with little chance of damage. The truck cab and bed lift tool includes vehicle contact plates that are adjustable in X-Y-Z axes while enabling balanced lifting. The contact plates are configured to be non-marring and quickly adjustable. 
     The truck cab and bed lift tool comprises an overall “I”-shaped frame with adjustable end appendages. Those appendages are designed to provide either interior or exterior coupling points that grab onto pickup truck bed bodies, the cab structure of trucks, or other similar attachment areas using contact plates. The truck cab and bed lift tool is provided with a heavy duty hook that allows the truck cab and bed lift tool to be attached to engine hoists, overhead winches, or other suitable lifting mechanisms. In practice the truck cab and bed lift tool is approximately fifty-eight inches (58 in.) across and about twenty-six inches (26 in.) wide. Each adjustable end point is capable of another 12 inches of lateral movement as well as eight inches (8 in.) of downward movement and terminates in flat contact plates. Adjustments are accomplished by a “sliding leg” system with lockable adjustment pins. The truck cab and bed lift tool is useful with fleet side and step side pickup trucks. When not in use the truck cab and bed lift tool is easily stored in a small area. While very useful for trucks the truck cab and bed lift tool can also be used with other motor vehicles, particularly including cars. 
     A truck cab and bed lift tool that is in accord with the present invention includes a main beam having a first end and a second end, a “T”-shaped first upper extension adjustably extends horizontally from the first end, and a “T”-shaped second upper extension adjustably extends horizontally from the second end. An inverted “T”-shaped first lower extension adjustably extends vertically from the first upper extension while an inverted “T”-shaped second lower extension adjustably extends vertically from the second upper extension. A first telescoping outer extension adjustably extends horizontally from a first side of the first lower extension, a second telescoping outer extension adjustably extends horizontally from a second side of the first lower extension, a third telescoping outer extension adjustably extends horizontally from a first side of the second lower extension, and a fourth telescoping outer extension adjustably extends horizontally from a second side of the second lower extension. 
     The truck cab and bed lift tool further includes a first lift plate assembly adjustably extending horizontally from the first telescoping outer extension, a second lift plate assembly adjustably extending horizontally from the second telescoping outer extension, a third lift plate assembly adjustably extending horizontally from the third telescoping outer extension; and a fourth lift plate assembly adjustably extending horizontally from the fourth telescoping outer extension. 
     Beneficially, the main beam includes a central lifting hook and is comprised of open-ended, hollow structural steel tubing. The first upper extension main beam is beneficially also comprised of open-ended, hollow structural steel tubing that slides relative to the main beam and includes a vertically orientated open tube. A plurality of pin apertures is disposed in the first upper extension and a pin aperture passes through the main beam such that the pin apertures in the first upper extension can align with the pin aperture in the main beam. Also beneficially a first pin fastener passes through aligned pin apertures in the main beam and in the first upper extension, and a first rubber pad extends along the bottom of the main beam. Preferably the main beam is approximately fifty-eight inches (58 in.) long. 
     The vertically orientated open tube beneficially includes a pin aperture, while the first lower extension includes a plurality of pin apertures that selectively align with said the pin aperture of the vertically orientated open tube. A second pin fastener passes through the aligned pin apertures in the vertically orientated open tube and upper extension. 
     In practice the first lift plate assembly provides a horizontal, generally rectangular surface that is designed to mate with a lifting point of a pickup truck body. The first lift plate assembly can be adjusted in the X axes, the Y axes, and the Z axes. The first lift plate assembly preferably includes a second rubber pad. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a truck cab and bed lift tool  10  according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention generally configured to remove a step-side pickup truck bed; 
         FIG. 2  is an environmental view of the truck cab and bed lift tool  10  removing a step-side pickup truck bed  105 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the truck cab and bed lift tool  10  generally configured to remove a pickup truck cab; 
         FIG. 4  is an environmental view of the truck cab and bed lift tool  10  removing a pickup truck cab  110 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the truck cab and bed lift tool  10  generally configured to remove a fleet-side pickup truck bed; and, 
         FIG. 6  is an environmental view of the truck cab and bed lift tool  10  removing a fleet-side pickup truck bed  115 . 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTIVE KEY 
     
       
         
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
                  10 
                 truck cab and bed lift tool 
               
               
                   
                  20 
                 main beam 
               
               
                   
                  22 
                 lifting ring 
               
               
                   
                  24 
                 first pad 
               
               
                   
                  30a 
                 first upper extension member 
               
               
                   
                  30b 
                 second upper extension member 
               
               
                   
                  40a 
                 first lower extension member 
               
               
                   
                  40b 
                 second lower extension member 
               
               
                   
                  50a 
                 first outer extension member 
               
               
                   
                  50b 
                 second outer extension member 
               
               
                   
                  50c 
                 third outer extension member 
               
               
                   
                  50d 
                 fourth outer extension member 
               
               
                   
                  60 
                 lift plate assembly 
               
               
                   
                  62 
                 extension bar 
               
               
                   
                  64 
                 lifting plate 
               
               
                   
                  66 
                 second pad 
               
               
                   
                  80 
                 pin aperture 
               
               
                   
                  82 
                 pin fastener 
               
               
                   
                  95 
                 boom hoist 
               
               
                   
                  97 
                 tripod-type hoist 
               
               
                   
                 100 
                 pickup truck 
               
               
                   
                 105 
                 step-side bed 
               
               
                   
                 110 
                 cab 
               
               
                   
                 115 
                 fleet-side bed 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in terms of its preferred embodiment, herein depicted within  FIGS. 1 through 6 . However, the invention is not limited to the described embodiment, and a person skilled in the art will appreciate that many other embodiments of the invention are possible without deviating from the basic concept of the invention and that any such work around will also fall under scope of this invention. It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only one particular configuration shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
     The terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced items. 
     The present invention describes a truck cab and bed lift tool  10  for assisting removal of major body portions of pickup trucks  100  such as truck cab  110 , a step-side bed  105 , a fleet-side bed  115 , and the like, from a frame. The truck cab and bed lift tool  10  includes a main beam  20  with joined telescoping members that are designed to support either interior or exterior lifting using suitable lifting points. 
     Refer now to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , respectively, perspective and environmental views of the truck cab and bed lift tool  10  when configured to remove a step-side pickup truck bed  105 . The truck cab and bed lift tool  10  enables lifting the step-side pickup truck bed  105  by attaching to particular lifting points along a step-side bed  105 . Those points are determined by the manufacturer or by the constraints of the step-side pickup truck bed  105 . Once connected along with the step-side bed  105  the truck cab and bed lift tool  10  subsequently lifts off a frame member using a boom hoist  95 , or other suitable lifting methods. 
     The various components of the truck cab and bed lift tool  10  are shown in  FIG. 1  outwardly extending for supporting and lifting the outer top edges of a step-side bed  105 . The truck cab and bed lift tool  10  includes a main beam  20  which supports telescoping attachments that enable adjustment of lift plate assemblies  60 . The lift plate assemblies  60  can be adjusted in the length (X), width (Y), and height (Z) axes to position the lift plate assemblies  60  below the lifting points of the step-side bed  105 . 
     The main beam  20  is envisioned as being made of an open-ended section of hollow structural tubing approximately fifty-eight inches (58 in.) in length and two inches (2 in.) square. These are useful dimensions which support work with standard pickup truck beds. The main beam  20  includes a top, centrally welded lifting ring  22  for attachment of the truck cab and bed lift tool  10  to a hook of an existing hoist  95 ,  97  (see  FIG. 95 ). The bottom of the main beam  20  is covered with a rubber first pad  24  that is bonded to the main beam  20  using industrial adhesives. This provides protection for the finished surfaces of the pickup truck  100 . The main beam  20  enables a first upper extension  30   a  into a first end, and a second upper extension  30   b  into an opposing second end. This supports horizontal length adjustments for the truck cab and bed lift tool  10 . 
     The upper extensions  30   a ,  30   b  each comprise “T”-shaped steel weldments made using square structural tubing and sized to fit snugly within the ends of the main beam  20 . The top bar of each “T”-shaped upper extension  30   a ,  30   b  is vertically oriented to provide insertion of a first lower extension  40   a  and a second lower extension  40   b  into respective bottom open ends of each upper extension  30   a ,  30   b . This provides for vertical adjustments to the truck cab and bed lift tool  10 . 
     The first  40   a  and second  40   b  lower extensions include “T”-shaped weldments made of hollow structural tubing sized to fit snugly within open ends of the upper extension  30   a ,  30   b . The lower extensions  40   a ,  40   b  include top bars which extend horizontally and perpendicularly outward relative to the main beam  20 . Opposing open ends of lower extension  40   a  receives a first outer extension  50   a  and a second outer extension  50   b , while opposing open ends of the lower extension  40   b  receives a third outer extension  50   c  and a fourth outer extension  50   d . The outer extensions  50   a ,  50   b ,  50   c , and  50   d  enables width adjustments for the truck cab and bed lift tool  10 . 
     Each outer extension  50   a ,  50   b ,  50   c ,  50   d  comprises a “T”-shaped structural tube weldment that is oriented along a horizontal plane. The outer extension  50   a ,  50   b ,  50   c ,  50   d  have opposing inwardly directed and outwardly directed open ends that are generally parallel to the main beam  20 . The open end of each outer extension member  50   a ,  50   b ,  50   c , and  50   d  is sized to receive a respective telescoping lift plate assembly  60 . 
     The truck cab and bed lift tool  10  includes four (4) lift plate assemblies  60 . Each lift plate assembly  60  provides a horizontal, generally rectangular surface that is designed to mate with a lifting point of the pickup truck body  105  (also the pickup truck bodies  110 ,  115  shown in  FIGS. 4 and 6 ) during lifting. Each lift plate assembly  60  includes a unitary steel assembly having an extension bar  62  and a steel lifting plate  64  that is approximately four inches by three inches (4×3 in.). Each lifting plate  64  is partially covered with an adhesively bonded rubber second pad  66  which provides protection to the truck body  105  (and pickup truck bodies  110 ,  115 ) during lifting. 
     The truck cab and bed lift tool  10  is highly adjustable in the X-Y-Z axes. The main beam  20  supports “X” axes adjustments using telescoping upper extensions  30   a ,  30   b . The upper extensions  30   a ,  30   b  support “Z” axes adjustments using telescoping lower extensions  40   a ,  40   b . The lower extensions  40   a ,  40   b  support “Y” axes adjustments using telescoping outer extensions  50   a ,  50   b ,  50   c , and  50   d . The outer extensions  50   a ,  50   b ,  50   c ,  50   d  support “X” axes adjustments using telescoping extension bars  62 . Once the various telescoping members are properly adjusted they are locked into place via rows of equally-spaced pin apertures  80  that are drilled or otherwise formed through respective tubular member and the insertion of locking pins  82  into those pin apertures. The locking pins  82  are preferably standard commercially-available quick-connect pin fasteners. 
     The adjustability of the truck cab and bed lift tool  10  allows a user to position each lift plate assembly  60  in three (3) axes. The upper extensions  30   a ,  30   b  are envisioned as providing approximately eight inches (8 in.) of vertical adjustability. The outer extensions  50   a ,  50   b ,  50   c , and  50   d  are envisioned as providing approximately twelve inches (12 in.) of lateral adjustability. The inward or outward attachment of the lift plate assemblies  60  to each outer extension  50   a ,  50   b ,  50   c , and  50   d  may provide 12 inches of adjustability. 
     The truck cab and bed lift tool  10  can be easily reconfigured to support and lifting a truck cab  110  as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4  or a fleet-side bed  115  as shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . 
     Refer now to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , respectively perspective and environmental views of the truck cab and bed lift tool  10  configured to remove a pickup truck cab  110 . The truck cab and bed lift tool  10  is reconfigured by adjusting the positions of the upper extensions  30   a ,  30   b , lower extensions  40   a ,  40   b , outer extensions  50   a ,  50   b ,  50   c ,  50   d , and the lift plate assemblies  60  to mate with particular lifting points along a doorframe of a pickup truck  100 . This enables lifting the cab  110  from the frame. The truck cab and bed lift tool  10 , along with the cab  110 , may then be lifted using a tripod-type hoist  97  as shown, or any other suitable methods of lifting the truck cab and bed lift tool  10  as well as its attached load. 
     The truck cab and bed lift tool  10  is also suitable for supporting and lifting not only the pickup truck cab  110  but also the edges of door or window frames of a pickup truck  100 . The actual positioning of the lift plate assemblies  60  would be based upon the particular model and design of the pickup truck  100  and what is being lifted. 
     Refer now to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , respectively perspective and environmental views of the truck cab and bed lift tool  10  removing a fleet-side pickup truck bed  115 . The truck cab and bed lift tool  10  is configured with its lift plate assemblies  60  directed outward. This is accomplished by inserting the extension bars  62  into outward-facing open ends of respective outer extension  50   a ,  50   b ,  50   c , and  50   d . This configuration allows the lift plate assemblies  60  to contact lift points located along inner top edges of a fleet-side bed  115  to lift the bed  115  off of the frame. 
     It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only one particular configuration shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
     The preferred embodiment of the present invention can be utilized by the common user in a simple and effortless manner with little or no training. After initial purchase or acquisition of the truck cab and bed lift tool  10 , it would be configured as indicated in  FIG. 1 ,  3 , or  5  and used as indicated in  FIGS. 2 ,  4 , and  6 . Of course other configurations can also be used. 
     The method of installing and utilizing the truck cab and bed lift tool  10  may be achieved by performing the following steps: procuring the truck cab and bed lift tool  10 ; pre-assembling the truck cab and bed lift tool  10  by inserting the upper extensions  30   a ,  30   b  into ends of the main beam  20 ; securing the upper extensions  30   a ,  30   b  into a desired position by inserting respective pin fasteners  82  into the pin apertures  80 ; inserting the lower extensions  40   a ,  40   b  into respective upper extensions  30   a ,  30   b ; securing the lower extensions  40   a ,  40   b  into a desired position by inserting respective pin fasteners  82  into the pin apertures  80 ; inserting the outer extensions  50   a ,  50   b ,  50   c ,  50   d  into ends of the lower extensions  40   a ,  40   b ; securing the outer extensions  50   a ,  50   b ,  50   c ,  50   d  into a desired position by inserting respective pin fasteners  82  into the pin apertures  80 ; inserting the extension bars  62  of the lift plate assemblies  60  into respective outer extensions  50   a ,  50   b ,  50   c ,  50   d ; securing the lift plate assemblies  60  into a desired position by inserting respective pin fasteners  82  into the pin apertures  80 ; positioning the truck cab and bed lift tool  10  above a major body member  105 ,  10 ,  115  of the pickup truck  100  by engaging a hook of an existing hoist  95 ,  97  or other suitable methods of lifting the truck cab and bed lift tool  10  to the lifting ring  22 ; adjusting the upper extensions  30   a ,  30   b  horizontally, lower extensions  40   a ,  40   b  vertically, outer extensions  50   a ,  50   b ,  50   c ,  50   d  laterally, and the lift plate assemblies  60  inward or outward until the lift plate assemblies  60  are properly positioned below lift point of the body member  105 ,  110 ,  115  to be lifted; lifting the body member  105 ,  110 ,  115  off the frame of the pickup truck  100  using the hoist  95 ,  97 ; and, benefiting from a fully adjustable lift tool truck cab and bed lift tool  10  capable of removing various pickup truck body elements  105 ,  110 ,  115  afforded a user of the present invention. 
     The aforementioned steps are utilized to configure the truck cab and bed lift tool  10  into a desired utility as illustrated in  FIGS. 2 ,  4 , and  6 . When not in use, the pin fastener portions  82  may be removed from the pin apertures  80  allowing the major elements of the truck cab and bed lift tool  10  to be disassembled and stored in a small area. While intended specifically for use with pickup trucks  100 , the truck cab and bed lift tool  10  may be used in like manner on various motor vehicles including automobiles. 
     The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.