Load carrying frame for vehicles

A load carrying platform for vehicles having a front or rear mounted plow frame including, a rectangular metal frame with connecting ears that mate with the connecting ears of the plow frame in a hinged relation and elevate the frame to approximately bumper level and a pair of chains that attach to the outer edge of the fame and connect to the top of the plow frame for support.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
This invention relates generally to motor vehicles and in particular to 
motor vehicles that are equipped with plow frames and more particularly 
snow plow frames. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
In areas of the country where winter includes cold weather and persistent 
snow fall on a regular basis, an industry has evolved that is formed of 
hundreds of individuals with small trucks equipped with snow plows. 
Operators generally have a plow frame attached to a new pickup truck and 
carry it all year round and only attach the plow blade when a storm is 
predicted or when the first flakes begin to fall. The plow frame is 
usually welded to the frame of the truck and includes a plate extending 
from below the bumper containing ears that accept members from the plow 
blade and the two form a hinged connection with the addition of a simple 
pin. Attached to the frame is the lift mechanism that raises and lowers 
the blade and includes a hydraulic ram and a support for auxiliary 
headlights used when the blade is raised, covering the vehicle headlights. 
The truck front suspension is usually reinforced to carry the additional 
weight. 
Examples of vehicle plow frames are shown in the following U.S. Pat. No. 
3,604,517 issued Sep. 14, 1971 to Clifford shows a garden type tractor 
with a plow frame. U.S. Pat. No. 4,907,357 issued Mar. 13, 1990 to 
Lilienthal discloses a plow system where plow blades are mounted on both 
the front and rear of a small truck. Veilleux, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,081,775 
issued Jan. 21, 1992 presents a plow attaching device but discloses 
clearly the normal and usual means for attaching snow plows to trucks. 
Other snow plow attachment means are shown in the U.S. Pat. No. 5,155,929 
to Vachon issued Oct. 20, 1992 and Reilley U.S. Pat. No. 5,193,296 issued 
Mar. 16, 1993. 
The prior art, as known to the Applicant, fails to show a load carrying 
platform that is specifically adapted to be connected to the plow frame 
for carrying items that maybe of substantial weight and either 
inconvenient or incapable of being lifted into the rear of the vehicle 
under the prevailing circumstances. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The invention is directed to a platform that is connected to and supported 
by a conventional vehicle mounted snow plow frame. The platform is adapted 
to be used anytime the plow blade is unattached and separated from the 
vehicle. A particular feature of the platform is it's height above the 
ground in the sense that it is closer to the ground than the conventional 
tailgate and hence makes it easier to load heavy items that may have to be 
physically manhandled in the event a lifting device is not available. An 
example would be moving a heavy animal out of the woods in a hunting 
situation. The vehicle could drive up a woods road and pick up the animal 
and carry it to a point where help could be garnered to lift it into the 
back of the truck. 
In addition to simply carrying large, heavy items the platform could also 
support a box of tools or fishing tackle as in the case of surf fishing 
where trucks are driven out to waters edge. 
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a new and improved 
load carrying platform for vehicles. 
It is another object of the invention to provide a new and improved load 
carrying platform for vehicles that conveniently attaches to the 
pre-existing connection points of a snow plow frame. 
It is a further object of the invention to provide a new and improved load 
carrying platform that is low in cost. 
It is still another object of the invention to provide a new and improved 
load carrying platform which is of a durable and reliable construction. 
It is still a further object of the invention to provide a new and improved 
load carrying platform which may be easily and efficiently manufactured 
and marketed. 
These and other advantages, features and objects of the invention will 
become more apparent from the following description taken in connection 
with the illustrative embodiment in the accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, the load carrying platform is shown 
generally at 10 connected to a vehicle 11 having inferior plow frame 12 
and superior plow frame 14. The vehicle bumper is shown at 16. Auxiliary 
headlights are attached and mounted on the superior plow frame at 18. The 
platform frame 20 is connected to the inferior plow frame 12 by arms 22 
which are secured by pins 24. Chain 26 is connected to the distal portion 
of the platform frame and is connected to the provided connecting 
apertures 28 and apertures 30 on the superior plow frame 14. 
The connecting arms are attached to the platform frame at an acute angle to 
the horizontal there by raising the height of the platform and allowing 
more ground clearance than would be achieved if the arms were simply 
attached parallel to the ground surface. The pin connection between the 
arms 22 and the plow frame 12 create a hinge relation and as a result the 
platform is capable of swinging down to ground level upon release of the 
chains 26. The advantage of the hinge effect is to allow heavy objects to 
be rolled or dragged on to the platform then the platform raised with the 
use of available hand tools. Another feature of the hinged designed is 
that the platform may be raised and adjusted out of the way when not 
needed and lowered only when actually used. 
Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4 the frame 20 is provided with a plurality of 
apertures 32 adapted to secure the ends of tie-down straps 34 for holding 
the load in place while the vehicle is moving. The figures show the ends 
of the frame to be formed from fiat stock and the sides from angle iron, 
however it should be understood that the particular shape of the members 
is not critical to the structure of the platform so long as it has 
sufficient strength to handle the load. Arms 22 are provided with 
apertures 36 which engage the inferior plow frame pins 24. 
Concerning FIG. 5, the inferior plow frame pusher bar is represented at 38 
without showing the conventional arms that connect it to the vehicle 
frame. Ears 40 extend from the pusher bar and accept arms 22 which are 
engaged and secured by pins 24 which are in turn held in place by cotter 
pins 42. 
FIG. 6 shows an example of a chain link 42 from the support chain 26 and a 
threaded connector link 44 including threads 46 to accept engagement with 
the nut 48. The connector links will connect the chains 26 to the frame 
connector apertures 28 and the superior plow frame apertures 30. 
It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing disclosure relates 
to only a preferred embodiment of the invention and that numerous 
modifications of alterations may be made therein without departing from 
the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.