Abstract:
A small vehicle loading and transport deck for pickup trucks which includes a box-like frame which is positioned within the bed of the truck and which has a deck movably mounted thereon which is movable from an inclined and rearwardly extending loading/unloading position to a transport position wherein the deck is positioned on the top of the frame. The box-like frame provides a storage area beneath the deck so that articles or objects may be stored therein. A winch is provided for moving the deck between its loading/unloading position and its transport position and vice versa. The winch may also be used to load a disabled vehicle onto the platform.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    This invention relates to a small vehicle loading and transport deck for pickup trucks and more particularly to a small vehicle loading and transport deck for pickup trucks wherein the loading and transport deck is selectively positioned above the floor of the pickup truck bed so that a storage area is provided beneath the deck when a vehicle is positioned thereon. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    Many different loading and transport devices have been provided to enable the transport of all-terrain vehicles, etc. in the bed of a pickup truck. However, in those devices of which applicant has knowledge, there is no storage space beneath the small vehicle when it is positioned in the bed of the truck. Due to the lack of storage, which farmers and ranchers desperately need, the truck is normally used to pull a horse trailer or the like which has the all-terrain vehicle or other small vehicle mounted therein. When a trailer is used to transport a small vehicle such as an ATV, lawn mower, golf cart, etc., wear and tear on the trailer becomes an issue. Further, the fact that a trailer is pulled by the truck results in additional gas consumption. 
         [0005]    U.S. Pat. No. 3,726,423 discloses a vehicle attachment for transporting snowmobiles but the supporting deck is pivotally secured to the truck intermediate the length thereof which prevents the rearward portion of the truck bed from being used for storage as clearly illustrated in FIG. 1 of U.S. Pat. No. 3,726,423. 
         [0006]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,874,284 discloses a means for supporting one or more ATVs at the upper end of a pickup truck bed but the structure therein requires the use of additional ramps  40 . 
         [0007]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,281,075 discloses an apparatus for transporting recreational type vehicles but the apparatus disclosed therein does not provide adequate storage space beneath the vehicle being transported. 
         [0008]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,829,945 discloses a roll-out tilt deck for a truck but the same does not provide for a storage space beneath the object being transported. 
         [0009]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,879,123 discloses a vehicular transport attachment but the structure disclosed therein does not provide for adequate storage area being provided beneath the vehicle being transported. 
         [0010]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,379,100 discloses an apparatus for loading a truck box but the snowmobile disclosed therein is positioned on the floor of the truck box so that there is no storage space provided beneath the snowmobile being transported. 
         [0011]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,612,635 does disclose that a chamber is provided in the truck bed beneath the ramp but the apparatus disclosed therein requires use of a separate ramp in addition to the deck which supports the vehicle being transported. 
         [0012]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,705,820 discloses a carrier/lift for a truck bed which requires a separate supporting deck and ramps. 
         [0013]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,981,835 discloses a recreational vehicle loading and transport platform for pickup trucks but the structure therein requires ramps and supporting deck. 
         [0014]    U.S. Published Application No. 2006/0237503 discloses a platform for a pickup truck but the same requires the use of separate ramps. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0015]    A device or apparatus is disclosed for loading and carrying a small vehicle at the upper portion of a bed of a pickup truck so that storage space is available in the bed of the truck below the small vehicle being transported. A box-like frame is selectively removably positioned in the bed of the truck with the frame including a first vertically disposed side frame having an upper end, a lower end, a rearward end and a forward end; a second vertically disposed side frame horizontally spaced from the first side frame and which has upper and lower ends and rearward and forward ends; a vertically disposed front frame, having upper and lower ends, extending between the forward ends of the first and second side frames; and a vertically disposed back frame, having upper and lower ends, extending between the rearward ends of the first and second side frames. 
         [0016]    A rectangular deck member is provided which has a forward end, a rearward end, and first and second sides. The deck member is movably mounted on the frame from a first position wherein the deck member is positioned on the upper ends of the first and second side frames, the front frame and the back frame in a generally horizontally disposed position to a second position wherein the forward end of the deck member is positioned on the upper end of the back frame with the deck member extending rearwardly and downwardly therefrom so that the rearward end of the deck member is in ground engagement thereby permitting a small vehicle to be moved upwardly and forwardly on the deck member for subsequent movement with the deck member from its second position to its first position. 
         [0017]    The positioning of the frame results in a storage area being provided in the truck bed below the deck member when the deck member is in its first position. The deck member has wheel stops provided thereon and is preferably comprised of a metal mesh material. The back frame defines an opening to enable cargo to be inserted into and removed from the storage area below the deck member when the deck member is in its first position. The invention further includes a winch which moves the deck member from its second position to its first position and from its first position to its second position. 
         [0018]    Preferably, the rearward end of the deck member has ground engaging rollers provided thereon. Preferably, the upper ends of the side frames have rollers mounted thereon upon which the deck member may roll. 
         [0019]    It is therefore a principal object of the invention to provide a device for loading and carrying a small vehicle such as an ATV, lawn mower, golf cart, personal watercraft, snowmobile, etc., at the upper portion of the bed of a pickup truck so that storage space is available in the bed of the truck below the vehicle. 
         [0020]    A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the type described wherein the vehicle is supported on a deck positioned at the upper end of the bed of the truck box and wherein the bed also serves as a ramp for loading and unloading the vehicle. 
         [0021]    Still another object of the invention is to provide a device of the type described which is easily removably mounted in the bed of a pickup truck box. 
         [0022]    Still another object of the invention is to provide a device of the type described which is convenient and safe to use. 
         [0023]    These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0024]      FIG. 1  is a side view of a pickup truck having the loading and transport deck of this invention mounted thereon with the deck being shown in a loading position with an ATV moving up the inclined deck; 
           [0025]      FIG. 2  is a view similar to  FIG. 1  except that a mower is shown on the deck with the deck in its transport position; 
           [0026]      FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of the loading and transport deck of this invention; 
           [0027]      FIG. 4  is a rear perspective view illustrating the loading and transport deck of this invention in a loading or unloading position; 
           [0028]      FIG. 5  is a view similar to  FIG. 4  except that the deck is in its transport position; and 
           [0029]      FIG. 6  is a rear view of a pickup truck having the loading and transport deck of this invention mounted therein. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0030]    In the drawings, the numeral  10  refers to a pickup truck which may be a small pickup such as a Ford Ranger or Chevrolet S-10 and which may also be a larger pickup truck such as Ford models  150 ,  250 ,  350  or Chevrolet models  1500 ,  2500  or  3500 . Truck  10  includes a box or bed  12  at its rearward end which is defined by a front wall  14 , side walls  16  and  18 , and an end gate  20 , each of which obviously have upper ends disposed above a floor  21 . 
         [0031]    The instant invention will be referred to as an apparatus  22  for small vehicle loading, transport and unloading. Apparatus  22  includes a support frame means  24  which is box-like and which includes a front frame portion  26 , first and second side frame portions  28  and  30 , and a back frame portion  32 , all of which are substantially vertically disposed and each of which is selectively vertically adjustable to fit into pickup truck boxes having varying heights. As seen in  FIG. 5 , the posts P of the frame portions are selectively vertically adjustable. The side frame portions  28  and will be positioned inwardly of the wheel wells  33  of the pickup truck if the truck has wheel wells as illustrated. In those pickup trucks which do not have wheel wells extending into the box, the side frames  28  and  30  will be positioned adjacent the inside surfaces of the side walls  16  and  18  of the bed  12 , respectively. Preferably, the upper ends of the front frame portion  26 , side frame portions  28  and  30 , and back frame portion  32  will be positioned below the upper ends of the front wall  14 , side walls  16  and  18 , and end gate  20  of the pickup truck box, respectively, as seen in  FIG. 2 . Preferably, the a plurality of spaced-apart rollers  34  are secured to the upper end of side frame portion  28  and a plurality of spaced-apart rollers  36  are secured to the upper end of side frame portion  30 . 
         [0032]    The numeral  38  refers to the deck of the apparatus which has a deck member  39  positioned thereon and is preferably constructed of a metal mesh material. Deck  38  includes a forward end  40 , sides  42  and  44 , and a rearward end  46 . If personal watercrafts are to be carried, spaced-apart, longitudinally extending rails would be provided to support the same, much like a boat trailer. A plurality of spaced-apart rollers  48  are secured to the rearward end of deck  38  for a purpose to be described hereinafter. 
         [0033]    The numeral  50  refers to a selectively reversible electric winch which is positioned at the forward end of the box  12  and which has a winch cable  52  extending therefrom which has a clevis or snap hook  54  at the outer end thereof. A pair of vertically spaced pulleys or sheaves  56  and  58  are rotatably mounted, about a vertical axis, on the upper end of back frame portion  32  adjacent side frame portion  30 , as seen in  FIG. 3 . A pair of vertically spaced pulleys or sheaves  60  and  61  are rotatably mounted, about a vertical axis, on the upper end of back frame portion  32  inwardly of sheaves  56 ,  58 . A pulley or sheave  62  is rotatably mounted on the upper end of front frame portion  26  about a vertical axis. A pair of loops or eyes  64  and  66  are secured to the forward end  40  of deck  38 , as seen in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0034]    Cable  68  is secured to loop  66  on deck  38  and extends around sheave  62  on front frame portion  26  of frame means  24  and thence rearwardly and extends around sheave  61  and then around sheave  58  and terminates in an eye or loop  70 . Cable  72  is secured to loop  64  and extends rearwardly therefrom and passes around Sheave  60 , thence outwardly therefrom and around the rearward side and outer side of sheave  56  and terminates in an eye  74 . Eyes  70  and  74  are adapted to be individually connected to snap hook  54  on winch cable  52 . 
         [0035]    Assuming that the deck  38  is in the transport position of  FIG. 5  and it is desired to move the deck  38  to its loading/unloading position of  FIG. 4 , the eye  74  on cable  72  will be connected to snap hook  54 . Retraction of cable  52 , as indicated by the broken arrow in  FIG. 5 , will cause cable  72  to be pulled rearwardly, as indicated by the broken arrow, which causes cable  72  to pull the deck  38  rearwardly with respect to frame means  24  and roll upon the rollers  34  and  36 . At some point, the weight of the deck  38  and the weight of the vehicle thereon, if there is a vehicle thereon, will cause the rearward end of deck  38  to move downwardly into ground engagement with the rollers  48  engaging the ground and with the forward end of deck  38  being supported on the upper end of back frame portion  32 . 
         [0036]    When it is desired to move the deck  38  from its loading/unloading position of  FIG. 5  to the transport position of  FIG. 5 , eye  74  is disconnected from snap hook  54  and winch cable  52  is extended so that eye  70  may be connected thereto. Retraction of the winch cable  52  will cause cable  68  to move in the direction of the arrows in  FIG. 4  so that cable  68  pulls deck  38  upwardly and forwardly onto frame means  24  and roll upon the rollers  34  and  36  until the forward end of deck  38  is positioned at the forward end of frame means  24 . 
         [0037]    Thus, a unique small vehicle loading and transport deck for pickup trucks has been provided which fits inside of the beds or boxes of pickup trucks of various sizes regardless of whether the beds or boxes have protruding wheel wells. The deck assembly of this invention is inserted into the box or bed of the pickup truck with the sizes of the deck being varied depending upon the size of the pickup truck. If the deck  38  is in the transport position of  FIGS. 2 and 5  and it is desired to load a vehicle thereon such as an ATV, as illustrated in  FIG. 1 , or a mower, as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the end gate of the truck is lowered and the winch  50  is actuated as described above to pull the deck  38  rearwardly and downwardly from the transport position of  FIG. 2  to the position of  FIG. 1  with the rearward end of the deck  38  being in ground engagement by means of the rollers  48 . The ATV, as illustrated in  FIG. 1 , or the mower of  FIG. 2  may be driven upwardly onto the inclined deck  38  until the front wheels thereof reach the adjustable wheel stops WS which are secured to the deck  38 , as illustrated in  FIG. 4 . At that time, the vehicle would normally be tied down to the deck  38 , but the same is not necessary at this time. The winch  50  then actuated, as previously described, to pull the deck  38  and the vehicle thereon from the inclined loading/unloading position of  FIG. 1  to the loading position of  FIG. 2 . The rollers  34  and  36  receive and support the deck  38  therebetween with the upturned edges of the rollers  34  and  36  preventing the lateral movement of the deck  38  with respect to the frame means  24 . When the deck  38  has been moved to the position of  FIG. 2 , the winch  50  is deactivated and the vehicle is tied down to the deck  38 , if not already tied down, and it is suggested that the vehicle also be tied down to the pickup box by means of the conventional attachments normally found on pickup boxes. 
         [0038]    When the deck  38  is in its transport position of  FIGS. 2 ,  5  and  6 , a large storage compartment SC is provided between the deck  38  and the floor of the bed or box since the rearward end of rear frame  32  is open to permit the stowage of objects therein. Once the objects or articles have been stowed in the storage compartment SC, the end gate  20  will be normally closed. 
         [0039]    When it is desired to unload the small vehicle from the apparatus of this invention, the end gate  20  will be opened and the vehicle will be freed from any of its tie downs. The winch  50  will then be actuated as previously described which will cause the deck  38  to be pulled rearwardly with respect to the frame means  24 . As the deck  38  and the vehicle thereon moves rearwardly, eventually the weight of the deck  38  and the vehicle will cause the rearward end of the deck  38  to lower downwardly into ground engagement with the rollers  48  permitting the deck  38  to move with respect to the ground or supporting surface. The winch  50  may also be used to load disabled vehicles onto the deck  38 . 
         [0040]    Thus it can be seen that the invention accomplishes at least all of its stated objectives.