Abstract:
A trailer hitch assembly adapted for use with a foldable liftgate assembly on a truck. The trailer hitch assembly is able to be pivoted out of the way of the liftgate assembly as the liftgate is deployed from a stowed position beneath the truck chassis. The liftgate assembly may include a foldable platform including a main platform member and a platform extension.

Description:
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application, Serial No. 60/115,000, filed on Jan. 6, 1999, in Express Mail Label No. EL297623307US by the same inventor, Wayne L. Krause, entitled PIVOTING TRAILER HITCH. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention is directed to the field of liftgate assemblies and more particularly to liftgate constructions including a pivoting trailer hitch. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     In the art it is known to provide trucks having various designs of liftgates mounted to the rear of the truck or carried under the truck chassis. One problem encountered in the art is that the addition of trailer hitches on the trucks limit the use of liftgates or elevating platforms. The present invention contemplates a new and improved liftgate which is simple in design, effective in use, and overcomes the foregoing difficulties and others while providing better and more advantageous overall results. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with the present invention, a new and improved liftgate is provided which overcomes difficulties associated with liftgates and provides better and move advantageous overall results. 
     According to one aspect of the invention, a combination liftgate assembly and trailer hitch comprises a foldable platform assembly including a main platform having a platform surface, a first pivot member about which the foldable platform assembly selectively pivots from a stowed position to an unstowed position, means for selectively moving said platform assembly from said stowed position to said unstowed position, a hitch assembly including a hitch, a second pivot member about which the hitch assembly pivots from a first position to a second position; and, means for selectively pivoting the hitch assembly about the second pivot member. 
     According to another aspect of the invention, the foldable platform assembly further includes a platform extension and a platform extension hinge. 
     According to another aspect of the invention, the hitch is carried on a first surface which is generally horizontal when the hitch assembly is in the first position and is disposed at an angle when the hitch assembly is in the second position. 
     According to another aspect of the invention, a hydraulic cylinder is utilized to move the hitch assembly from the first position to the second position. 
     According to another aspect of the invention, the combination includes a pair of opposite lift arms which carry the platform assembly. 
     According to another aspect of the invention, the combination includes a support pin that extends between each of the lift arms. 
     According to another aspect of the invention, the hitch assembly rests on the support pin in moveable relationship thereto. 
     One advantage of the present invention is that a truck can be equipped with both a foldable liftgate assembly as well as a trailer hitch because the trailer hitch pivots out of the way when the liftgate assembly is deployed. 
     Still other benefits and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading and understanding of the following detailed specification. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention may take physical form in certain parts and arrangement of parts. A preferred embodiment of these parts will be described in detail in the specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this disclosure and wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a side view of the liftgate and trailer hitch combination of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a side view of the combination of FIG. 1 where the foldable platform is partially deployed; and, 
     FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the combination of the present invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring now to the drawings, which are for purposes of illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention only, and not for purposes of limiting the invention, FIG. 1 shows a side view of the liftgate/trailer hitch combination  10  of the present invention. 
     In the preferred embodiment, a conventional liftgate is redesigned in order to move the hydraulic cylinder out of the way. Therefore, the liftgate  11  shown in the present invention is not a standard-type liftgate within the industry. An additional pivot point is added, which is noted as a hitch pivot  12  as will be explained later in this disclosure. As in a usual folding liftgate, the present invention includes a lift arm pivot  20  that works to move the liftgate  11  from the stowed position to a deployed position. In the preferred embodiment, the hitch pivot  12  is located above the lift arm pivot  20 . The hitch pivot  12  allows the hitch assembly  13  itself to pivot out of the way so that the liftgate can be deployed. The hitch pivot assembly  13  may comprise a hitch  28 , a hydraulic cylinder  14 , a lift cylinder clevis  16 , a mount tube  18 , a lift arm pivot  20 , a lift tube  22 , a lift arm assembly  24 , and support pin  26 . The support pin  26  runs across from lift arm assembly  24  to lift arm assembly  24 . The lift arm assemblies  24  are located on both sides of an associated lift gate, each on one side of a truck. The hitch assembly  13  rests on the pin  26 . As the lift arms  24  pivot downwardly it allows the hitch assembly  13  to pivot in a first direction as well. The hitch  28  will actually slide relative to the support pin  26 . 
     The lift arms  24  are attached to the liftgate platform  41  and attached to the hydraulic cylinder  14  to lift a load (not shown). The lift tube  22  extends from lift arm  24  to the other lift arm  24 , which is directly opposed to it, and is welded to the clevis  16  which is attached to the cylinder  14 . The clevis  16  holds the lift tube  22  and in the preferred embodiment goes around three sides of the lift tube  22 . 
     As shown in FIG. 1, in the stowed position, the liftgate  11  contacts up-stop bars  36 . The platform  41  comprises two pieces that are shown folded. A platform extension hinge  40  connects the two pieces of the platform  41 . The two pieces of the platform  41  are labeled as platform extension  42 , and the main platform  44 . The up-stop bars  36  are generally two rectangular blocks that are substantially the same size, one to about the end of the platform  41  and one to about midway on the platform  41 . By limiting the platform  41  it limits the level of the hitch assembly  13 . The up-stop bars are attached to a frame  50  of the vehicle. 
     The first up-stop bar  37 , located midway on the platform  44 , is actually contacting the bottom surface of the platform  41 . The platform  41  has a diamond plate skin on its top side. The bar  37  butts up against the underside of this skin. The platform  41  additionally has a frame assembly around it. So the first up-stop bar  37  actually reaches down inside of the frame assembly and contacts the bottom surface of the main platform  44 . The other up-stop bar  39  butts up against a cross tube  43  that runs from side to side on the main platform  44 . Latch hooks  34  engages bail  32 . Normally, there is only one latch hook  34 , however, in this case there are two latch hooks located on opposite sides of the truck (not shown) and directly oppose one another. The reason for two latch hooks  34  is to straddle a pull out ramp (not shown) on a typical rental truck. The rental trucks typically have a loading pull out ramp that slides on the frame of the truck. Therefore, the latch hooks are located on either side of the aforementioned ramp. These latch hooks  34  engage on the platform  41  automatically as the platform  41  is folded away such that hooks  34  are spring-loaded and will engage a bail  32 . It should be noted that the hooks  34  could not be located within the center of the truck because it would be in the way of the pull out loading ramp that is on this vehicle. 
     The platform extension  42  rotates 180 degrees to enable one to roll something onto the platform extension  42 . 
     The hitch assembly  13  of the present invention pivots with the lift arms  24  and has to pivot out of the way of the platform  41 . As the platform  41  travels and rotates downwardly, if the hitch assembly  13  were fixed and did not pivot out of the way, the platform  41  would travel downwardly on top of the hitch assembly  28  and stall out. It would not be able to go down any further. This invention is particularly adapted for use on a low bed truck having limitations of room from the bottom of the truck to the road. With this invention, there enables one to have a fixed hitch far apart without causing problems. 
     The mount tube  18  is located below the hydraulic cylinder  14  and there are also brackets (not shown) that mount to the tube  18  and are welded onto the vehicle frame. 
     The invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiment. Obviously, modifications and alterations will occur to others upon a reading and understanding of the specification. It is intended by applicant to include all such modifications and alterations insofar as they come within the scope of equivalents thereof.