Patent Publication Number: US-2015086313-A1

Title: Retractable platform for vehicles

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a retractable platform for sport utility vehicles (SUVs) and, more particularly, to such platform that is versatile and permits a user to easily transport different types of loads. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Several designs for retractable platforms have been designed in the past. None of them, however, include a retractable platform that protrudes through the rear bumper of a vehicle. 
     Applicant believes that the closest reference corresponds to U.S. patent application publication No. US2010/0045012A entitled Vehicle Lift filed on behalf of Brad Christian, published on Feb. 25, 2010 for a vehicle lift. However, it differs from the present invention because it does not show a platform that is completely retractable through the rear bumper and selectively stored under the cargo area of an SUV. Nor does it disclose a retractable ramp assembly or the other features of the invention relating to its versatility and capability of extending itself. 
     Other documents describing the closest subject matter provide for a number of more or less complicated features that fail to solve the problem in an efficient and economical way. None of these patents suggest the novel features of the present invention. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is one of the main objects of the present invention to provide a retractable platform that can be selectively stored within a SUV and below its cargo area. 
     It is another object of this invention to provide such a platform that can be readily deployed by moving it out through a cooperating cut-out the SUV&#39;s rear bumper. 
     It is still another object of the present invention to provide a platform that is versatile enough to carry a variety of different loads. 
     Another object of this invention is to provide a versatile platform that includes a retractable ramp. 
     It is yet another object of this invention to provide such a platform that is inexpensive to manufacture and maintain while retaining its effectiveness. 
     Further objects of the invention will be brought out in the following part of the specification, wherein detailed description is for the purpose of fully disclosing the invention without placing limitations thereon. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       With the above and other related objects in view, the invention consists in the details of construction and combination of parts as will be more fully understood from the following description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  represents an isometric view of a vehicle V (in broken lines) provided with an embodiment  10  of the present invention inside vehicle V. 
         FIG. 1B  shows different positions for the latches  46  shown in the previous figure. 
         FIG. 1C  shows the platform illustrated in the previous figure with the bicycle latches raised to secure the bicycles (not shown) in place. 
         FIG. 1D  shows the invention represented in the previous figures with ramp  60  removed to reduce weight. 
         FIG. 2  is an isometric bottom view of the platform  40  with the ramp assembly  60  being partially shown. In this figure, platform assembly  40  is shown moved out to its outermost position using motor  82 . 
         FIG. 2A  is a partial view of worm screw rod  84  and crank handle  85  to manually rotate the former instead of using motor  82  and driver unit  83  (not shown). When handle  85  is actuated, driver unit  83  does not rotate but rather allows screw rod  84  to advance relative thereto. 
         FIG. 3  similar to  FIG. 2  except that motor  82  has been actuated to move (rotate) through drive unit  83  which causes worm screw  84  to advance and platform assembly  40 , to move in the direction of the arrow. 
         FIG. 3A  is an elevational view of a rear bumper  30  with cutout  32 . 
         FIG. 4  is similar to  FIGS. 2 and 3  and shows platform assembly  40  moved further towards the interior ends of structural members  22 ;  22   a  of rail assembly  20 , rigidly mounted to vehicle V&#39;s chassis (not shown). 
         FIG. 5  is similar to the previous figures except that structural guiding channels  27 ;  27   a  of platform assembly  40  now house rail assembly  20  fully corresponding to the retracted position. 
         FIG. 6  is an isometric view of retractable platform mechanism  10  with extension assembly  90 . 
         FIG. 6A  is an elevational view of extension assembly  90  with bicycle B mounted thereon. 
         FIG. 7  represents an elevational view section of platform assembly  40  housing ramp assembly  60  therein. 
         FIG. 7A  is a view similar to  FIG. 7  with assembly  60  pulled out and coplanarly disposed with respect to platform assembly  40 . 
         FIG. 7B  is similar to the previous two views except that outer ramp portion  62  has been dropped to the ground. 
         FIG. 7C  is similar to the previous three figures with outer ramp portion  62  extending at a substantially coplanar relationship with inner ramp portion  64 , both being inclined. 
         FIG. 7D  shows a partial cross section taken along line  7 D- 7 D in  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 7E  is an enlarged partial isometric view of assembly  40  wherein elongated bar is protruding past top wall  45  giving ramp section  64  (not shown) sufficient clearance to be pulled out. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring now to the drawings, where the present invention is generally referred to with numeral  10 , it can be observed that it basically includes a supporting rail assembly  20  inside vehicle V and support platform assembly  40 , as best seen in  FIGS. 1 , and  1 C. Vehicle V includes a rear bumper  30  with a cutout  32  having cooperative dimensions to permit assembly  40  to pass through it, as shown in  FIG. 3A . Bumper end  42  is mounted to the other end of platform  40  (preferably to disguise cutout  32 ). Lighting assembly  34 , compatible with vehicle V&#39;s electrical system, is provided to comply with safety regulations. 
     As best seen in  FIG. 1C , supporting rail assembly  20  includes, in one of the embodiments, structural members  22  and  22   a  that are rigidly mounted to the chassis of vehicle V (not shown). Platform assembly  40  is also shown with sliding members  24  and  24   a.  Sliding members  24  and  24   a  travel longitudinally adjacent to members  22 ;  22   a  selectively causing platform assembly  40  to be deployed or retracted inside vehicle V. Brackets  26 ;  26   a  mount members  22 ;  22   a  to the chassis of vehicle V, as best seen in  FIG. 2 . Actuating assembly  80  imparts the necessary longitudinal movement to assembly  40 . In the embodiment shown here assembly  40  can be manually moved with crank  85  if electrical motor  82  is not used or breaks down. Another embodiment would have no electrical or mechanical means and assembly  40  can be merely pulled manually and pushed inside vehicle V through cutout  32 . 
     Platform assembly  40  includes bicycle latches  46  cooperatively positioned, as best seen in  FIG. 1C . Latches  46  are collapsible to selectively permit a user to have a flat cargo area when needed.  FIG. 1B  shows the sequential movements of latches  46 . Motorcycle latch  28  is shown in the collapsed position in  FIG. 1C  and it is preferably centrally located, as seen in  FIG. 1C . In  1 D motorcycle latch  28  is shown in the raised position. 
     Platform  40  can be manually moved between the two extreme positions. However, actuating mechanisms of different types can be used to facilitate the task. As it can be seen from  FIGS. 2 through 5 , platform  40  can be moved with respect to rail assembly  20  with actuating mechanism  80  that may include motor  82 , driver unit  83 , and worm screw rod  84 . One way for implementing actuating mechanism  80  includes the use of electric motor  82  and making rod  84  rigid (not allowed to rotate). Motor  82  is mounted to a fixed location relative to vehicle V′s chassis so that when it actuated it causes driver unit  83  to internally rotate causing worm screw rod  84  to advance thereby moving platform assembly  40  in either direction. Another way of implementing mechanism  80  is to use crank handle  85  allowing rod  84  to rotate and providing a fixed mating threaded element. In the present embodiment, driver unit  83  is used to provide this fixed mating threaded element when not used with motor  82 . Driver unit  83  can be implemented with part number 4RK25GN-CWM, manufactured by Oriental Motor Co., LTD. When crank handle  85  is used, screw rod  84  is allowed to rotate and driver unit  83  is locked so that platform assembly  40  moves in and out when crank  85  is actuated. 
     As seen in  FIG. 1C , ramp assembly  60  can be deployed from inside assembly  40  to permit a user to load and unload bicycles and/or a motorcycle that are difficult to lift. Ramp assembly  60  includes, in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1C , outer and inner ramp sections  62 ;  64  that are hingedly mounted to each other. Sections  62 ;  64  can be folded and brought in abutting relationship with respect to each other. Their dimensions cooperate to be selectively housed within platform assembly  40 , as best seen in  FIGS. 7 ,  7 A;  7 B, and  7 C. Guiding assembly  41  includes upper channel  41   a  to slidably receive ramp section  62  and lower channel  41   b  to receive ramp section  64 , as seen in  FIG. 2 . 
     Elongated c-bars  43 ;  43   a  are slidably mounted within upper channels  41   a  as best seen in  FIG. 7D . As seen in  FIGS. 1C and 2 , bars  43 ;  43   a  partially protrude outwardly to permit section  64  to pivot clearing top wall  45  of platform  40 . See  FIG. 7B  showing the protrusion extending a distance “D” to clear platform  40 . Stopper headed screw or pin  43   b  is removably mounted to a predetermined location that cooperates with slots  43   c.  Pins  43   b  coact with slots  43   c  to prevent c-bar  43  from sliding completely out of channel  41   a.  End walls  43   d  of bars  43 ;  43 ′, showing in  FIG. 7E , coact with rollers  48 ;  48 ′, preventing bars  43 ;  43 ′ from sliding completely out. 
       FIGS. 6 and 6A  show extension assembly  90  that can be removably mounted to platform assembly  40  to increase the load that can be transported. Typically, extension assembly  90  can recline bicycle racks (not shown) and other accessories. 
       FIG. 7D  is a partial cross section of assembly  40  wherein elongated bars  43 ;  43   a  house upper and lower channels  41   a ;  41   b.  These channels allow ramp sections  64 ;  62  to slide from one end of assembly  40  to the other. Ramp sections  64 ;  62  are attached to rollers  48 ;  49  which allow said ramp sections to slide in and out of assembly  40  with reduced friction. As seen in  FIG. 7E , elongated bar  43  protrudes out of top wall  45  to allow ramp section  64  (not shown) to clear top wall  45 . 
     The foregoing description conveys the best understanding of the objectives and advantages of the present invention. Different embodiments may be made of the inventive concept of this invention. It is to be understood that all matter disclosed herein is to be interpreted merely as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense.