Abstract:
A double-deck support suited for supporting and transporting multiple caskets, cots, stretchers, cremation trays or the like in a vehicle such as a van. A lower deck is secured to the floor of the vane and an upper deck is pivotally mounted above the lower deck and which may be moved between upper and lower positions with respect to the lower deck by means of a parallelogram-type connection controlled by electric actuators.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to a deathcare apparatus for transporting multiple caskets, cots, stretchers, cremation trays or the like in a van or other vehicle. More particularly, the instant invention relates to a double-deck apparatus including upper and lower decks with the upper deck being pivotally movable between upper and lower positions with respect to the lower deck so that both the upper and lower decks may support caskets, cots, stretchers, cremation trays or the like thereon. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Link Mgf., Ltd. (“Link”) of Sioux Center, Iowa, the assignee of this invention, has manufactured Double Deck deathcare apparatuses or systems which have been installed in full-size Chevrolet, Ford and Dodge vans with the Double Deck systems comprising a lower deck positioned on the floor of the van with an upper deck pivotally mounted thereon and which is movable between upper and lower positions with respect to the lower deck. The upper and lower decks are used to support and transport multiple caskets, cots, stretchers, cremation trays or the like. In the DD200 Double Deck system of Link, the upper deck is raised and lowered utilizing an electric actuator with that actuator moving a front torsion bar which lifts the front of the upper deck. In the DD200 Double Deck system of Link, there is a tie rod on each side, running from the front torsion bar to the rear swing arms with the rear swing arms lifting the rear of the upper deck. 
     Although the DD200 Double Deck system of Link has met with considerable success, the DD200 Double Deck system cannot be installed in certain vans which are smaller than the full-size vans described above. To satisfy that need, the instant invention is described which also includes an improved lifting system for the upper deck. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A deathcare apparatus for transporting multiple caskets, cots, stretchers, cremation trays or the like thereon is described for use in the cargo area of a van having a cargo floor. The apparatus of this invention comprises a lower deck which is secured to the vehicle cargo floor and which has a forward end, a rearward end, and opposite sides. A first support is secured to the lower deck at the forward end thereof adjacent one side thereof. A second support is secured to the lower deck at the forward end thereof adjacent the other side thereof. The apparatus also includes an upper deck which is positioned above the lower deck and which is movable between upper and lower positions with respect to the lower deck. A third support is secured to one side of the upper deck intermediate the forward and rearward ends thereof and a fourth support is secured to the other side of the upper deck intermediate the forward and rearward ends thereof. First and second lower lift arms are pivotally secured at their forward ends to the first and second supports and extend rearwardly therefrom. The forward ends of the lower lift arms and pivotally secured to the third and fourth supports adjacent the lower ends thereof. First and second lift arms are pivotally connected at their rearward ends to the upper ends of the first and second supports and are pivotally connected at their forward ends to the upper ends of the third and fourth supports, respectively. First and second actuators are pivotally connected to the first and second lower lift arms for raising and lowering the upper deck between its upper and lower positions. A torsion bar or member is secured to and extends between the forward ends of the first and second lift arms to stabilize the lifting operation. 
     A principal object of the invention is to provide an improved deathcare apparatus for transporting multiple caskets, cots, stretchers, cremation trays or the like in a vehicle such as a van. 
     A further object of the invention is to provide an improved apparatus of the type described above which is compact and which includes a minimum of moving parts. 
     Still another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the type described above which includes a torsion bar or member which extends between a pair of lower lift arms to stabilize the lifting operation. 
     Still another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the type described above including a pair of lower lift arms, each of which has an electric actuator secured thereto for raising and lower the lower lift arms. 
     These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1A is a side view of a vehicle having the apparatus of this invention mounted therein which is shown in broken lines; 
     FIG. 1B is a rear view of the vehicle and the apparatus of this invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the apparatus of this invention; 
     FIG. 3 is a top view of the apparatus of this invention; 
     FIG. 4 is a side view of the apparatus of this invention with the upper deck positioned in its lowermost position; 
     FIG. 5 is a rear view of the apparatus of this invention; 
     FIG. 6 is a rear perspective view of the apparatus of this invention with the upper deck raised to its upper position; 
     FIG. 7 is a top view of the apparatus of this invention with the upper deck in its raised position; 
     FIG. 8 is a side view of the apparatus of this invention with the upper deck in its upper position; and 
     FIG. 9 is a rear view of the apparatus of this invention with the upper deck in its raised position. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The apparatus of this invention is referred to generally by the reference numeral  10  which is adapted to be installed in the cargo area of a vehicle  12  including a cargo floor  14 . 
     Apparatus  10  includes a lower deck  16  having a forward end  18 , rearward end  20 , and opposite sides  22 ,  24 . As seen in FIGS. 2 and 6, the rearward end  20  of deck  16  extends downwardly and rearwardly to define a ramp  25  for facilitating the placement of deathcare items such as caskets, cots, stretchers, cremation trays or the like on deck  16 . Mounting brackets  26  and  28  secure the rearward end of deck  16  to the cargo floor  14 . Mounting brackets  30  and  32  are secured to the forward end of the deck  16  for further securing the deck  16  to the cargo floor  14 . Elongated supports  34  and  36  are secured to brackets  30  and  32 , respectively, and extend horizontally rearwardly therefrom laterally of sides  22  and  24  of deck  16 , respectively. Mounting brackets  38  and  40  are secured to the forward ends of supports  34  and  36 , respectively. Mounting brackets  38  and  40  are secured to the cargo floor  14  and to sides  22  and  24  of deck  16 , respectively. 
     Actuator mounts  42  and  44  are mounted on supports  34  and  36 , respectively, which have the lower ends of electric screw actuators  46  and  48  pivotally secured thereto, respectively. Posts  50  and  52  are secured to mounting brackets  30  and  32  and extend upwardly therefrom. Lower lift arms  54  and  56  are pivotally secured at their rearward ends to posts  50  and  52  above mounting brackets  30  and  32  and extend rearwardly therefrom. Torsion tube or member  58  is secured to the rearward ends of lower lift arms  54  and  56  and extends therebetween. Lower lift arms  54  and  56  are provided with generally inverted V-shaped pockets  60  and  62  which receive the upper ends of electric actuators  46  and  48  and which are pivotally connected thereto. 
     The numeral  64  refers to an upper deck having a forward end  66 , rearward end  68  and opposite sides  70  and  72 . The rearward end  20  of deck  64  extends downwardly and rearwardly to define a ramp  65  for facilitating the placement of deathcare items on deck  64  such as caskets, cots, stretchers, cremation trays or the like. Stabilizer or upper lift arms  74  and  76  have their forward ends pivotally connected at the upper ends of posts  50  and  52  and extend rearwardly therefrom. Upstanding supports  78  and  80  are secured to and extend upwardly from sides  70  and  72  of deck  64 , respectively. As seen, supports  78  and  80  include gussets  79  and  81 , respectively. The rearward ends of lower lift arms  54  and  56  are pivotally connected to supports  78  and  80  adjacent the lower ends thereof. The rearward ends of stabilizer arms  74  and  76  are pivotally connected to the upper ends of supports  78  and  80 , as seen in the drawings. The pivotal connection of the lower lift arms  54  and  56  and the stabilizer arms  74  and  76  with the posts  50  and  52  and the pivotal connection of the lower lift arms  54  and  56  and the stabilizer arms  74  and  76  with the supports  78  and  80  forms a parallelogram-type lifting mechanism for the upper deck. 
     FIG. 2 illustrates the upper deck  64  in its lowered position with respect to lower deck  16 . If the apparatus of this invention is not going to be used to support a large number of items thereon, the deck  64  may be left in its lowermost position with the deathcare items being positioned thereon. If the deathcare items cannot fit on the upper deck  64  in its lower position, as seen in FIG. 2, the electric actuators  46  and  48  are extended which causes the lower lift arms  54  and  56  to be pivotally moved upwardly from the position of FIG. 2 to the position of FIG.  6 . The stabilizer arms  74  and  76 , through their pivotal connection with the supports  78 ,  80  and the supports  50  and  52 , respectively, causes the deck  64  to be raised to the upper position, as seen in FIG. 6, with the parallelogram structure causing the deck  64  to remain horizontal at all times during the lifting and lowering movements. The torsion bar  78  interconnects the forward ends of the lower lift arms  54  and  56  to assist in a smooth coordinated operation of the actuators  46  and  48 . 
     When the apparatus  10  is in the position of FIG. 6, the deathcare items such as caskets, cots, stretchers, cremation trays, etc., may be positioned on both the lower deck  16  and the upper deck  64 . The apparatus of this invention is extremely compact and has a minimum of moving parts. 
     Thus it can be seen that the invention accomplishes at least all of its stated objectives.