Abstract:
An apparatus usable primarily with emergency vehicles wherein a ladder or other large piece of emergency equipment can be maintained in a horizontal orientation stored above the vehicle body and is movable to a lower access position to facilitate removal and replacement thereof. Power is provided by two hydraulic cylinders connected to an arm which drives a driveshaft connected to a lift arm. Once such support assembly is located in the forward portion of the vehicle body and another similar support assembly is located in the rear portion thereof. A longitudinal support extends between the lifting arms and includes a locking device thereon to facilitate securement of ladders or other longitudinal objects thereto. Positioning of the support assemblies at opposite ends of the vehicle body enhances access to the storage compartments located on the lateral sides of the vehicular body such as for fire trucks and the like.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention deals with the field of devices for facilitating the storage of ladders and other elongated objects in a horizontal orientation with respect to vehicles and, in particular, emergency vehicles such as fire trucks, ambulances or other utility vehicles. Such vehicles often utilize a single piston and lifting arm for urging movement of a support bracket between an upper storage position above the vehicle and a lower access position adjacent the vehicle. The present invention provides a unique configuration where two separate support assemblies are included, one at the frontmost portion of the vehicle body and the other at the rearmost portion of the vehicle body which allows full use of compartments laterally along each side of such emergency vehicles. With emergency vehicles today storage of the many different types of equipment is an important aspect of vehicle design and utility and for this reason the present invention provides a means for maximizing use of such laterally located compartments. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     There have been numerous prior art designs to facilitate storage of ladders and other rather large equipment with respect to utility and emergency vehicles such as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,009,350 patented Apr. 23, 1991 to J. M. Schill et al on “Retainer Assemblies For Elongated Objects”; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,048,641 patented Sep. 17, 1991 to J. N. Holcomb et al and assigned to Jack N. Holcomb on a “Van-Mounted Ladder Assembly With Concealed Radio Antennas”; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,058,791 patented Oct. 22, 1991 to K. R. Henriques et al and assigned to Slide-Out, Inc. on a “Vehicular Ladder Rack”; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,104,280 patented Apr. 14, 1992 to M. P. Ziaylek et al and assigned to Michael P. Ziaylek on “Apparatus For Use With An Emergency Vehicle For Storage And Retrieval Of Remotely Located Emergency Devices”; and U.S. Design Pat. No. D331,030 patented Nov. 17, 1992 to M. P. Ziaylek et al and assigned to Michael P. Ziaylek on a “Unit For Use With An Emergency Vehicle For Storage And Retrieval Of Remotely Located Emergency Devices”; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,172,952 patented Dec. 22, 1992 to R. Lasnetski on an “Overhead Storage Rack For Storing Ladders Or The Like”; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,297,912 patented Mar. 29, 1994 to A. Y. Levit and assigned to JAJ Products, Inc. on a “Ladder Rack For Motor Vehicles”; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,398,778 patented Mar. 21, 1995 to R. Sexton on a “Ladder Rack Securing And Release System”; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,469,933 patented Nov. 28, 1995 to J. Thomason on a “Vehicle Mounted Ladder”; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,518,357 patented May 21, 1996 to T. Ziaylek, Jr. et al and assigned to Theodore Ziaylek, Jr. and Michael P. Ziaylek on a “Retaining And Retrieval Apparatus For Storage Of A Ladder Upon A Vehicle Shelf Area”; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,791,857 patented Aug. 11, 1998 to Theodore Ziaylek, Jr. et al and assigned to Theodore Ziaylek, Jr. and Michael Paul Ziaylek on an “Automatic Ladder Lowering And Storage Device For Use With An Emergency Vehicle”; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,850,891 patented Dec. 22, 1998 to J. J. Olms et al and assigned to Trimble Navigation Limited on a “Motorized Rack System”; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,092,972 patented Jul. 25, 2000 to A. Y. Levi on a “Truck Mounted Ladder Rack”; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,105,720 patented Aug. 22, 2000 to D. A. Kumber et al on a “Multi-Position Ladder And Support Therefor”; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,179,543 patented Jan. 30, 2001 to D. Adame et al on a “Rack For Motor Vehicles”; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,257,534 patented Jul. 10, 2001 to A. L. Finley and assigned to Fibre Body Industries INC on a “Ladder Rack Assembly”; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,315,181 patented Nov. 13, 2001 to J. A. Bradley et al and assigned to Adrian Steel Company on a “Ladder Rack Apparatus And Method”; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,321,873 patented Nov. 27, 2001 to R. LaBrash and assigned to Tra-Lor-Mate, Inc. on a “Ladder Mounting System”; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,360,930 patented Mar. 26, 2002 to M. Flickenger and assigned to L &amp; P Property Management Company on a “Vehicle Rack Assembly With Hydraulic Assist”. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides an apparatus for holding elongated objects in a horizontal orientation adjacent to a vehicular body. The apparatus is designed to move the horizontally oriented elongated object such as a ladder or the like between an upper storage position and a lower access position. At the upper storage position the object is stored and provides full access to all compartments on both sides of the vehicle body whereas at the lower access position the object can be removed therefrom for usage or secured thereto for movement to the storage position. 
     The apparatus preferably includes a forward support assembly which can be secured with respect to the vehicle body such as a truck body or the like. This support assembly preferably includes a forward driveshaft extending through the truck body such as to be rotatably movable. The forward driveshaft preferably includes an inner forward driveshaft section positioned within the vehicle body and an outer forward driveshaft section positioned outside of the vehicle body. Each section of the forward driveshaft is movable simultaneously. 
     The forward support assembly includes a forward drive arm pivotally mounted to the inner forward driveshaft section which extends outwardly therefrom for facilitating the powering of pivotal movement thereof. A forward longitudinally extendable device such as a forward hydraulic cylinder and piston respectively pivotally mounted with respect to the truck body and is pivotally secured with respect to the forward drive arm for the purpose of causing driving movement thereof between the storage and access positions responsive to longitudinal movement of the piston within the cylinder. 
     A forward lifting arm is also included fixedly secured to the outer forward driveshaft section and being rotatably movable therewith. This forward drive arm and the forward longitudinally extendable hydraulic cylinder and piston device are oriented at a position approximately perpendicularly or in any case between 60 and 90 degrees with respect to one another. In this manner whenever the forward lifting arm is adjacent the access position maximum power will be applied through the moment arm of force directed on the forward drive arm thereby. In this manner power will be enhanced for the rotational movement of the forward driveshaft responsive to the forward lifting arm being positioned at a location adjacent the lower access position thereof. 
     A forward support device is also fixedly securable to the forward lifting arm and is adapted to receive an object detachably secured thereto. The forward support arm is preferably movable between an upper storage position and a lower access position. A forward securement device is also included which is capable of securing an object detachably with respect to the forward support device to facilitate movement of the secured object between the upper storage position for storage thereof and the lower access position for providing access thereto. 
     A forward mounting bracket is also included fixedly secured to the vehicular body at a position within the body itself. The inner forward driveshaft section of the forward driveshaft is preferably rotatably mounted within the forward mounting bracket for the purpose of facilitating urging of selective movement of the forward lifting arm between the upper storage position and lower access position. A forward bearing is also included with the forward driveshaft extending therethrough to facilitate rotational movement thereof. 
     A rear support assembly is also included secured with respect to the vehicular body at a position spatially distant from the location of the forward support assembly. This spacing provides additional support for the mounting of elongated objects thereto and secure movement thereof between the upper storage position and the lower access position. The rear support assembly and the forward support assembly both are operative preferably to be connected to opposite ends of elongated objects such as a ladder. 
     The rear support assembly preferably includes a rear driveshaft extending through the truck body such as to be rotatably movable with respect to the body itself. This rear driveshaft preferably includes an inner rear driveshaft section positioned within the vehicular body and an outer rear driveshaft section positioned extending outside of the vehicular body and being simultaneously movable along with the inner rear driveshaft section. A rear drive arm is preferably pivotally mounted with respect to the inner rear driveshaft section such as to extend outwardly therefrom for urging pivotal movement. A rear longitudinally extendable means is pivotally mounted with respect to the vehicular body and pivotally secured with respect to the rear drive arm for the purpose of urging driving movement thereof between the storage position and the access position responsive to longitudinal movement thereof. The rear longitudinal extendable means preferably comprises a rear hydraulic cylinder and piston means. 
     A rear lifting arm is preferably included which is fixedly secured to the outer rear driveshaft section and is rotatable therewith. A rear support device is also preferably included in the rear support assembly and is fixedly secured to the rear lifting arm and adapted to receive an object detachably secured with respect thereto such as a ladder or the like. The rear support mechanism is preferably movable between an upper storage position and a lower access position. Also the rear drive arm and the rear longitudinally extendable hydraulic cylinder and piston device is preferably oriented approximately perpendicularly with respect to one another whenever the rear lifting arm is positioned adjacent the access position for the purpose of maximizing the moment arm of force directed on the rear drive arm for enhancing powering of rotating movement of the rear driveshaft responsive to the rear lifting arm being positioned adjacent the lower access position thereof. 
     The rear support assembly further includes a rear securement device for securing of an object detachably with respect to the rear support mechanism in order to facilitate movement of the secured object between the upper storage position for storage thereof and a lower access position for providing access thereto. Also included is a rear mounting bracket fixedly secured to the vehicular body at a position within the body. In this position the inner rear driveshaft section of the rear driveshaft will be rotatably mounted within the rear mounting bracket to facilitate urging movement of the rear lifting arm between the upper storage position and the lower access position as needed. A rear bearing may be included positioned within the rear mounting bracket with said rear driveshaft means extending therethrough to facilitate rotational movement thereof. 
     The present invention further includes a longitudinal support which can be fixedly secured to the forward support mechanism and the rear support mechanism simultaneously to facilitate securement of an object with respect thereto and to facilitate coordinated movement of the first support assembly and the rear support assembly between the upper storage position and the lower access position. A locking device may also be securable with respect to the longitudinal support means and adapted to detachably secure an elongated object such as a ladder with respect thereto as desired. 
     A forward safety clamping mechanism may be mounted on the vehicular body at a position adjacent the location of the forward lifting arm when in the upper storage position. This forward clamping mechanism will be operative to detachably clamp the forward lifting arm to prevent movement thereof when moved into the upper storage position. Furthermore, the forward safety clamping device will be operative to release the forward lifting arm prior to movement thereof away from the upper storage position. 
     A similarly configured rear safety clamping device will be mounted on the vehicular body at a position adjacent the location of the rear lifting arm when in the upper storage position. This rear clamping device will be operative to detachably clamp the rear lifting arm to prevent movement thereof when moved into the upper storage position for storage. The rear safety clamp is operative to release the rear lifting arm prior to movement thereof away from the upper storage position for facilitating safety of storage. 
     It is an object to provide an apparatus for holding elongated objects horizontally adjacent to a vehicular body movable between an upper storage position and a lower access position wherein elongated safety objects such as ladders and the like can be maintained horizontally at all points during movement between the storage position and the access position. 
     It is an object to provide an apparatus for holding elongated objects horizontally adjacent to a vehicular body movable between an upper storage position and a lower access position wherein the number of article containment compartments in the lateral areas of the truck body can be maximized when used with an emergency or other similar vehicle body configuration. 
     It is an object to provide an apparatus for holding elongated objects horizontally adjacent to a vehicular body movable between an upper storage position and a lower access position wherein power is applied more greatly for movement between the upper storage position and the lower access position responsive to the apparatus being positioned closer to the lower access position to overcome the additional forces needed because of the greater moment arm when positioned in this orientation. 
     It is an object to provide an apparatus for holding elongated objects horizontally adjacent to a vehicular body movable between an upper storage position and a lower access position wherein a number of moving parts is minimized. 
     It is an object to provide an apparatus for holding elongated objects horizontally adjacent to a vehicular body movable between an upper storage position and a lower access position wherein conventional hydraulic power can be utilized. 
     It is an object to provide an apparatus for holding elongated objects horizontally adjacent to a vehicular body movable between an upper storage position and a lower access position wherein manual movement of elongated objects such as ladders from high storage positions is made no longer necessary. 
     It is an object to provide an apparatus for holding elongated objects horizontally adjacent to a vehicular body movable between an upper storage position and a lower access position wherein the amount of internal compartment area within the truck body which is made unavailable due to the apparatus for storing a ladder above a truck body is significantly minimized. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     While the invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portions herein, a preferred embodiment is set forth in the following detailed description which may be best understood when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a side plan view of an embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention shown in the upper storage position in relation to a vehicular body; 
     FIG. 2 is an illustration of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 however with the apparatus located in the lower access position; 
     FIG. 3 is an end plan illustration of an embodiment of the forward support assembly of the present invention; 
     FIG. 4 is an end plan view of an embodiment of the rear support assembly of the present invention; 
     FIG. 5 is a top plan view of an embodiment of the forward safety clamping apparatus of the present invention; 
     FIG. 6 is a top plan view of an embodiment of the rear safety clamping mechanism of the present invention; and 
     FIG. 7 is a side plan view of an embodiment of the forward support assembly of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The present invention provides a unique design for a system for automatically storing an elongated object such as a ladder  10  upon an emergency vehicle  12 . It is important that such elongated objects or otherwise large objects such as ladder  10  be stored at an upper location with respect to a vehicle body  14  in a remote location to minimize any obstruction which might be caused by positioning it at a lower location. Normally such a vehicle body includes multiple compartments on the sides and access to these compartments is an important consideration. Access certainly is limited to these compartments when the elongated object  10  is moved to the lower access position  20 . However, once the automated mechanism is returned to the upper storage position  18 , full access to the side compartments  16  is provided. 
     The present invention provides a unique configuration for the positioning of the forward support assembly  22 . With this positioning of the forward support assembly  22  adjacent the front vehicle body wall  58  and within the vehicle body and the positioning of the rear support assembly  62  adjacent the rear vehicle body wall  60  and within the vehicle body  14  itself a wide expanse will be available on both lateral sides of the vehicle body  14  for the positioning of the compartment  16  therein. In prior art designs the size of such compartments  16  and the access thereto has been limited by ladder storage systems. The present invention provides a ladder storage system which eliminates these difficulties. 
     It is important that coordinated movement between the forward support assembly  22  and the rear support assembly  62  is achieved. This is made possible by a longitudinal support means  96  which extends therebetween and coordinates the movement caused by powering thereof. Also a locking means  98  is included which is secured to the longitudinal support means  96  and is used for detachably securing of a ladder  10  with respect to the longitudinal support system  96  to facilitate movement of the ladder with support  96  as it moves between the upper storage position and the lower storage position. 
     The forward support assembly  22  comprises a forward driveshaft means  24  which extends through the forward vehicle body wall  58 . The forward driveshaft  24  will preferably include an inner forward driveshaft section  26  positioned within the vehicle body  14  and an outer forward driveshaft section  28  located outside or to the rear outside of the vehicle body  14  behind the front vehicle body wall  58 . A forward drive arm  30  is preferably secured to the forward driveshaft  24  and extends outwardly thereof to provide a moment arm for facilitating power driving thereof. A forward longitudinally extendable means  32  which preferably comprises a forward hydraulic cylinder and piston means  50  is pivotally secured with respect to the vehicle body  14 . It is also pivotally secured with respect to the forward drive arm  30 . In this manner extending and retracting of the forward longitudinal extendable means  32  will urge movement of the forward drive arm  30  and result in rotational movement of the forward driveshaft means  24 . A forward lifting arm means  34  is secured to the outer forward driveshaft section  28  to be movable therewith. This forward lifting arm  34  is movable between the upper storage position  18  and the lower access position  20 . A forward support means  36  is secured to the forward lifting arm  34  which can have attached thereto a ladder or other elongated object  10 . A forward securement means  38  provides this means of attachment for the elongated object or ladder  10  with respect to the forward support  36 . Powering of movement of the forward driveshaft  24  can be better achieved by the defining of a forward angle  40  between the forward drive arm and the forward longitudinally extendable means to be approximately 90 degrees or at least between 60 and 120 degrees as the forward lifting arm  34  is in or close to the lower access position  20 . While in the lower access position  20  the force required for moving of the ladder  10  and the forward support  36  to which it is attached is greater than at other times during movement and the larger moment arm provided by this particular angular relationship between the forward drive arm and the forward longitudinally extendable member or hydraulic piston provides the additional power needed. 
     The configuration of the forward support assembly  22  is enhanced by the inclusion of a forward mounting bracket  44 . This bracket is preferably fixedly secured within the vehicle body  14  on the inner surface of the forward vehicle body wall  58 . The forward hydraulic cylinder and piston  50  are preferably pivotally secured with respect to the forward mounting bracket  44 . Also a forward bearing  46  is preferably included within the forward mounting bracket  44  through which the forward driveshaft  24  extends to facilitate rotational movement thereof. 
     A forward safety clamping mechanism  48  may also be included in the present invention for the purpose of clamping of the forward lifting arm  34  in the upper storage position  18  for safety reasons such that it is held in that position without falling downwardly which could possibly cause damage or injury. It is important to hold the forward lifting arm  34  in this position because normally it is this position in which the ladder  10  is held while the vehicle is driven. Driving of the vehicle can cause substantial vibrations which could cause the forward lifting arm  34  to move downwardly which could possibly damage property or injure personnel. As such, the forward safety clamping mechanism  48  is designed to hold the forward lifting arm  34  in the uppermost storage position  18 . This forward safety clamping mechanism  48  is adapted to disengage from the forward lifting arm  34  prior to the initiation of movement thereof toward the lower access position  20 . 
     The configuration of the rear support assembly  62  is quite similar to the configuration of the forward support assembly  22  however it is located adjacent the rear vehicle body wall  60 . Rear support assembly  62  is located within the vehicle body  14  and is preferably secured with respect to the rear body wall  60  to be spaced distant from the location of the forward support assembly  22 . In this manner two points of securement and driving are provided for the ladder or other elongated equipment  10  and therefore stability in retaining and deploying thereof is significantly enhanced while at the same time providing full access to multiple side compartments  16  of the emergency vehicle  12 . 
     The rear support assembly  62  preferably includes a rear driveshaft  64  which includes an inner rear driveshaft section  66  located within the vehicle body  14  and an outer rear driveshaft section  68  rotatable therewith and located outside of the vehicle body  14 . 
     A rear drive arm  70  is preferably secured to the inner rear driveshaft section  66  of rear driveshaft  64  such that it extends outwardly therefrom. A rear longitudinally extendable means  72  such as a rear hydraulic cylinder and piston mechanism  90  is pivotally secured with respect to the inner portion of the rear vehicle body wall  60  and also secured to the rear drive arm  70 . In this manner extension or retraction of the rear hydraulic cylinder and piston  90  will cause powered movement of the rear drive arm  70  and resulting movement of the rear driveshaft  64 . A rear lifting arm  74  is preferably fixedly secured to the outer rear driveshaft section  68  and thus is powered for movement therewith. This movement will cause the rear lifting arm  74  to move between the upper storage position  18  and the lower access position  20 . A rear support means  76  will preferably be secured to the rear lifting arm  74  and will be adapted to have the elongated object such as a ladder  10  or other similar means detachably secured thereto by a rear securement means  78 . Rear securement means  78  is preferably allows detachable securement of the ladder  10  or other similar object relative to the rear support  76 . Thus, when a ladder is positioned secured thereto, the ladder  10  can also be secured with respect to the forward support means  36  by the forward securement means  38  and in this manner firmly secure both ends of the elongated object relative to the apparatus of the present invention. In the preferred embodiment a longitudinal support  96  will be secured with respect to both the forward support  36  and the rear support  76  and can include a locking means  98  for securement of the ladder  10  in position relative to the longitudinal support  96 . 
     To facilitate powering of rotational driving of the rear driveshaft  64  the orientation between the rear drive arm  70  and the rear hydraulic cylinder and piston  90  will preferably be oriented at a rear angle  80  of approximately 90 degrees when the rear lifting arm  74  is in or adjacent to the lower access position  20 . Most preferably the rear angle  80  will be between 60 and 120 degrees whenever the rear lifting arm  74  is in or near the lower access position  20  to facilitate powering thereof which is required to a greater extent when the ladder or other object  10  is positioned near or adjacent to this lower access position  20  due to the lateral moment arm created relative to the vehicle body  14 . 
     In the preferred configuration of the present invention a rear mounting bracket  84  will also be included fixedly secured with respect to the rear vehicle body wall  60  within the vehicle body  14  itself. This rear mounting bracket  84  will include mounted therein a rear bearing means  86  through which the rear driveshaft  64  will extend to enhance rotatable movability thereof. The rear bearing  86  provides this capability of rotational movement for enhancing powered rotation of the rear driveshaft  64  for urging movement of the ladder  10  between the upper storage position  18  and the lower access position  20  thereof. A rear safety clamping means  88  can also be included which is capable of abutment with respect to the rear lifting arm  74  when it is positioned in the upper storage position  18 . This provides safety in helping to retain the rear lifting arm  74  and the rear support  76  in the upper storage position  18  to prevent accidental movement thereof and injuring adjacent personnel or causing damage. The rear safety clamping mechanism  88  is also adapted to release the rear lifting arm  74  immediately prior to initiation of movement thereof away from the upper storage position  18  and toward the lower access position  20 . 
     As such, the apparatus of the present invention provides a unique configuration for safely and carefully storing and providing access to rather large or elongated emergency equipment such as ladders  10  such that they can be stored above an emergency vehicle while providing access adjacent thereto while at the same time provide a maximum amount of area for the positioning of compartments  16  in the side areas of such emergency vehicles. 
     While particular embodiments of this invention have been shown in the drawings and described above, it will be apparent, that many changes may be made in the form, arrangement and positioning of the various elements of the combination. In consideration thereof it should be understood that preferred embodiments of this invention disclosed herein are intended to be illustrative only and not intended to limit the scope of the invention.