Patent Publication Number: US-5026243-A

Title: Portable unloading platform and ramp

Description:
This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 07/168,245, filed Mar. 15, 1988, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,878,800. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     A portable unloading platform and ramp are removably mounted underneath the bottom of a semi-trailer. The platform is withdrawn from under the semi-trailer and attached below a door of the trailer for loading or unloading materials at various stations. The ramp is withdrawn from under the semi-trailer and wheeled to a position adjacent to the platform and mounted thereon. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     When making deliveries from a semi-trailer, it is necessary to provide some type of unloading platform if an operator is to enter the semi-trailer and carry goods therefrom to a receiving station. Power lift tailgates for semi-trailers are known to be permanently provided on a vehicle. The tailgates are power operated and adjustable in height. If a power lift tailgate is unavailable, an operator would climb into the semi-trailer through the side door and move goods to the door, then jump to the ground, and carry goods from the side door of the semi-trailer. An alternate arrangement was to have an unloading platform and ramp located at each receiving station so that an operator could set up the platform adjacent to the semi-trailer after arriving at a receiving station and use the ramp and platform to help unload the semi-trailer. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,599,810 to Wanko discloses a load-carrying vehicle having a supporting frame mounted below a load-carrying bed. A loading platform is provided which includes a slidable frame mounted in the supporting frame for movement between extended and withdrawn positions. Ground support castors support the slidable frame, which extends beyond one side of the load-carrying vehicle. The platform is connected to a mounting assembly, which is fixed to the trailer. The platform only extends from one side of the vehicle and is used only in combination with the vehicle to which it is permanently fixed. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,743,121 to Langer discloses an unloading chute assembly and means for detachably carrying the assembly on a vehicle. A hydraulic loading chute is carried by a semi-trailer so that it is readily available for unloading the trailer at its destination. Support legs and their attached wheels are lowered by a hydraulic cylinder. When fully lowered and locked, the chute will clear the support brackets and be moved by a hydraulic cylinder to a position of use. 
     Other patents related to this field include U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,457,380 to Kelberer; 2,788,137 to Harkness; 4,084,714 to Williams; and 4,131,209 to Manning. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention includes a loading or unloading platform which is located and secured in a frame mounted beneath the bottom of a semi-trailer. The platform is removable from underneath the semi-trailer by releasing a lock and pulling the platform out from under the trailer after extension of the retractable wheels of the platform. The platform is then available for use in a locked position adjacent to any door of the semi-trailer. 
     For return of the platform underneath the semi-trailer, the platform is pushed onto inclined mounting brackets of the frame located underneath the bottom of the semi-trailer. The inclined mounting brackets provide a three tiered gradual lifting of the platform. The tiered inclined brackets cooperate with rollers located underneath the platform and slide bars located along the rear legs of the platform. As the platform is pushed further into the mounting brackets, the wheels of the platform are lifted off the ground. The wheels are then moved to their retracted position and locked in that position for transporting with the semi-trailer. 
     The present invention also includes a ramp used in combination with the platform. The ramp is located underneath the bottom of the semi-trailer in two spaced-apart mounting brackets, one mounting bracket for each end of the ramp. One mounting bracket is fixed in position and includes a lock for locking a bottom end of the ramp underneath the semi-trailer. The other mounting bracket includes a swivel turntable and a pivoting holder for engaging the top end of the ramp. 
     For withdrawing the ramp from underneath the semi-trailer, two interconnected legs of the ramp are unlocked and moved from their retracted to their extended position. At this position, the wheels of the two interconnected legs are located above the ground. The fixed mounting bracket is then unlocked to allow movement of the ramp from the fixed bracket. The top end of the ramp is kept in the swivel mounting bracket, as the operator moves the bottom end of the ramp away from the semi-trailer. After clearing the semi-trailer, the bottom end of the ramp is lowered until the wheels of the ramp engage the ground. The top end of the ramp is then withdrawn from underneath the semi-trailer. The ramp is wheeled over to a position of intended use, including placing the top end of the ramp on top of the platform so as to lift the wheels of the ramp off the ground to avoid any movement of the ramp during use. 
     For storing the ramp underneath the semi-trailer, the pivotable holder of the swivel bracket is angled to contact and guide the top end of the ramp into the turntable bracket. The ramp is then swung towards the fixed bracket so that the bottom end of the ramp is placed into the fixed bracket and locked into position for transporting. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a platform and ramp removably secured underneath the bottom of a semi-trailer. 
     It is another object of the present invention to remove a platform from underneath the bottom of a semi-trailer and locate it adjacent the side of the semi-trailer, where it is locked in position below any door of the trailer and having a ramp removed from underneath the semi-trailer and positioned on the platform for loading or unloading of the semi-trailer. 
     It is still yet another object of the present invention to remove a platform from underneath the bottom of a semi-trailer and locate it adjacent the side or rear end of the semi-trailer, where it is locked in position below a door and having a ramp removed from underneath the semi-trailer and positioned on the platform for loading or unloading of the semi-trailer through the side door and the platform and ramp being loadable back underneath the semi-trailer for storage. 
     These and other objects of the invention, as well as many of the intended advantages thereof, will become more readily apparent when reference is made to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a platform and ramp in an extended position located adjacent to a semi-trailer. 
     FIG. 2 is a side view of the platform and ramp of FIG. 1, shown in a retracted position located in their respective carriers underneath the bottom of the semi-trailer. 
     FIG. 3 is an exploded view, partly in section, of the platform and mounting bracket which is normally located underneath the bottom of a semi-trailer for mounting the platform underneath a semi-trailer. 
     FIG. 4 is an exploded view, partly in section, of the ramp and mounting bracket which is normally located underneath the bottom of a semi-trailer for mounting the ramp underneath a semi-trailer. 
     FIG. 5 is an enlarged, full perspective view of the mounting bracket shown in FIG. 3. 
     FIG. 6A is an exploded view of an alternate lock box from the one shown in FIGS. 1 to 3. 
     FIG. 6B is an assembled view of the lock box shown in FIG. 6A. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     In describing the preferred embodiments of the invention illustrated in the drawings, specific terminology will be resorted to for the sake of clarity. However, the invention is not intended to be limited to the specific terms so selected, and it is to be understood that each specific term includes all technical equivalents which operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar purpose. 
     With reference to the drawings in general, and to FIGS. 1 through 4 in particular, a platform 10 and an unloading ramp 12 embodying the teachings of the subject invention are shown in FIG. 1. In FIG. 1, the platform 10 and ramp 12 are shown in their position of intended use adjacent to a semi-trailer 14 having a loading and unloading side door 16. It is intended that the platform can be located below any door of a semi-trailer to assist in loading or unloading of the semi-trailer. 
     A plate 200 pivotable along a hinge 202 at an edge 204 connects the plate 200 and the top surface 206 of the platform 10. The plate, shown in its position of intended use bridges, at an incline, the space between the bottom of door 16 and the top surface 206 of the platform. This facilitates smooth unloading of cargo from the semi-trailer by the wheeling of a dolly from the semi-trailer, down plate 200, onto platform 10 and along ramp 12. After unloading, plate 200 is folded along hinge 202 to lay flat and parallel with the top of the platform. 
     In FIG. 2, the platform 10 and ramp 12 are shown in their positions of storage beneath the semi-trailer 14. The securing of the platform 10 and ramp 12 beneath the semi-trailer and the release of the platform and ramp from their storage positions to a position adjacent to the semi-trailer will be explained in greater detail with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. 
     In FIG. 3, the platform 10 is shown at its top surface 206 as including a corrugated aluminum deck plate 18. Two forward pivotably mounted platform legs 20 and two rear pivotably mounted legs 21 are shown in an extended position, locked to support the platform 10. The length of each leg 20, 21 is adjusted by an adjustment assembly 22, which includes a locking nut 24 located on a threaded shaft 26. At one end of the threaded shaft 26 is a castor wheel 28. The opposite end of the shaft 26 is threaded into the bottom of the leg 20. 
     A leg-folding guide 30 initially guides the positioning of the legs 21 beneath the platform 10 when moved to a retracted position, secured underneath the bottom of the semi-trailer. Only the rear legs 21 include guides 30. The forward legs 20 are spaced apart a distance less than a distance between the rear legs 21. This is important for the loading of the platform under the semi-trailer, as will be explained in greater detail later. 
     Projection tabs 32 extend from side 34 of the platform. Each tab 32 includes an opening 34, which is placed between the tiers 36 of trailer lock box 38. Lock boxes 38 are secured to the side of a semi-trailer below the side door 16, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Lock boxes 38 are secured below other doors of the semi-trailer to locate and lock the platform 10 at any desired door for loading or unloading of the trailer. 
     A locking pin 40 passes through an opening in each of the tiers 36 of the box 38 and also through the opening 34 of the tabs 32 of the platform so as to lock the platform in position below the side door 16 and adjacent to the semi-trailer 14. A chain 42 attaches the pins 40 to the lock box 38. 
     A transporting lock shaft 44 for the platform 10 is slidably mounted in cross-braces 46. The lock shaft 44 terminates in a U-shaped handle 47. As shown in FIG. 3, the left-hand leg of handle 47 is a continuation of the shaft extending through the brackets 46. The right-hand leg of the U-shaped handle 47 does not extend through the side of the platform 10 and is used to engage a carrier lock 82 with the platform, which will be described later. The shaft 44 is movable in the direction indicated by arrow 48 as biased by spring 50 Adjustment set collars 52 determine the extent of movement of the shaft 44 in the direction of arrow 48. The shaft 44 is shown in its normal biased position. 
     Cross-braces 54 are removable and interconnect the rear legs 21, which are interconnected by pivot shaft 56 mounted in bearings 55, and the front legs 20 interconnected by a pivot shaft (not show). The cross-braces 54 include an opening in each of their ends, which fit over L-shaped hooks 58, which project upwardly from each of the legs 20 and 21. 
     When leg braces 54 are removed and the rear legs 21 are folded upwardly underneath the platform 10 in the direction of arrows 59, clearance is provided around the lock shaft 44 assembly by U-shaped interconnecting leg brace 60. The forward legs 20 connected to straight leg brace 62 are then folded under the platform in the direction of arrows 61 and under the rear legs. A safety leg-locking chain 64 is then looped around and secured to leg brace 62 to secure all four legs 20 under the platform 10. 
     A guard rail 66 is positionable in any one of the sets of openings 68, 70 or 72, which are positioned about three sides of the platform. The platform also includes three ball bearing transfer guides 74 located on two sides of the bottom edge of the platform for aiding and guiding the platform into a platform carrier 76. 
     The platform carrier 76 is mounted on the bottom of a semi-trailer. Cross-braces 78 extend across the bottom of the semi-trailer. Pivotably mounted on L-shaped support bracket 80 is carrier lock 82, which is pivotably mounted about pin 84 for movement in the direction of arrow 86. The carrier lock is normally horizontally positioned as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5 and, when locking the platform 10 on the carrier 76, is located in a vertical position, as shown in FIG. 2. 
     The leading portion 88 of the two spaced apart L-shaped guide rails 90 which form part of the carrier are angled downwardly to guide a leading edge of a platform of any height into the platform carrier 76. As the side 34 of the platform engages leading portions 88, the platform, as moved by application of pushing force on handles 92, engages the portions 88 at the side 34. The leg braces 54 are then removed and placed on support hooks 94, which are spaced longitudinally along the carrier for transporting the leg braces 54. Continued pushing of the platform into the carrier causes the guides 30 of the rear legs 21 to engage inclined guide surfaces 210. Surfaces 210 are inwardly laterally spaced from portions 88 and are spaced the same distance as the spacing between rear legs 21. The rear set of legs 21 are thereby moved upward to a retracted position in the direction of arrows 59 and folded under the platform. U-shaped leg brace 6 allows the rear legs 21 to be folded upward in the direction of arrow 59 to at least a horizontal position. The guides 30 ultimately rest on surfaces 212 which extends from inclined guide surfaces 210. 
     When the guides 30 are initially positioned on surfaces 212, the front legs 20 are manually lifted to a retracted position in the direction of arrows 61 so that their wheels engage inclined surfaces 214. Surfaces 214 are inwardly laterally spaced from surfaces 210, 212 and are spaced the same distance as the spacing between front legs 20. 
     Continued pushing of the platform causes the front legs 20 to be positioned against leg brace 62 to hold the rear legs 21 above the front legs 20. The safety leg lock is then secured to the leg brace 62 to lock the front and rear sets of legs underneath the platform for transport. 
     The carrier lock 82 is then rotated about its pivot axis 84 in the direction of arrow 86 to a position in front of the platform. Handle 47 is then pulled from the platform against the bias of spring 50, and the right-hand end of the handle is moved to engage opening 83 in the lock 82 for securing the platform underneath the semi-trailer by the biased force of the spring 50. 
     To remove the platform 10 from underneath the bottom of the semi-trailer, the platform is pulled from carrier 76 and the rear and front legs are pivoted in the direction of arrows 59 and 62. The legs are then interconnected with leg braces 54. When the castors 28 are positioned spaced from the ground, as supported by surface 216 after having been withdrawn from surface 210, the castors can be adjusted for an approximate height required for loading or unloading of the semi-trailer. To reach this position, handle 46 has been withdrawn to release its locking engagement with carrier lock 82, and the platform is pulled by handles 92 from the platform carrier. As the platform slides down portions of 88 of the guide rails 90, the castors engage the ground to support the platform. The platform is then positioned such that the tabs 32 are positioned within box 38, and pins 40 pass through the box 38 and the openings 34 of the tabs 32 to secure the platform adjacent the side of a semi-trailer. 
     In FIG. 4, the loading ramp and its carrier frames are shown. The ramp 12 includes a longitudinally extending flat base portion 100, having two perpendicularly extending side rails 102. At a leading end of the base 100 is an angled portion 104. The portion 104 is for placement upon the top surface 206 of platform 10 and to anchor the ramp on the platform. 
     Secured to the underside of the ramp 12 on brackets 107 are two legs 106. At the bottom of each leg is a castor 108. The castors 108 are mounted on an adjustable shaft 110, which includes holes through which a cotter pin may be placed for adjusting the height of the legs. A brace 114 interconnects the two legs 106 at an intermediate portion thereof. A shaft 116 extends through bearings 118 located on opposite sides of the ramp. The shaft 116 interconnects a top end of each leg for pivotable movement of the two legs. 
     A leg support and stop 120 provides support for the legs after the legs have been moved to an extended position along the direction shown by arrow 122, as shown in FIG. 4. After the legs have been pivoted to their extended positions, a leg lock 124 secures the legs in the extended position. Leg lock 124 includes a screw pin 125, which is unscrewed to allow insertion of each leg 106 in an extended position and rescrewed to lock the leg between the leg support stop 120 and the screw pin 125. To retract the legs, the screw pin 125 is withdrawn, and the legs moved in the direction of arrows 122 until aligned parallel with the ramp 12. At this position, leg lock 123 is secured around bracket 127 to hold the legs in the retracted position. 
     The carrier for the ramp includes two portions: a stationary carrier 130 and a swivel turntable 132. 
     The swivel turntable 132 is mounted on two rails 134, which are secured to the bottom of the semi-trailer and extend along the length of the trailer. Interconnected between the two rails 134 is swivel plate 136. Extending through the swivel plate is a swivel bearing 138, which interconnects the plate 136 and a U-shaped bracket 140. The bracket is rotatable 360°, as indicated by arrow 142, about the swivel bearing 138. In addition, a ramp carrier frame 144 is pivotably mounted on the bracket 140 for pivoting about shaft 146 in bearing 147 in the direction of arrow 148. The degree of tilt about shaft 146 is adjustable by tilt adjustor 150, which stops the tilting of the frame 144 beyond a predetermined position. 
     Stationary carrier 130 includes flat, horizontally extending base rails 151, from which attachment brackets 152 extend vertically and which are secured to the bottom of a semi-trailer at a predetermined height, according to the position of bolts extending through holes 154 of each bracket 152. At one side of the carrier 130, there are no projections so as to allow the swinging out of the bottom end of the ramp from the carrier. 
     A carrier lock 156 is pivotably mounted about pin 158 to pivot in the direction of arrow 160 for locking or releasing the ramp from the carrier 130. A hook 162 is secured to the carrier lock 156, as shown in FIG. 2, to lock the carrier lock in a vertical position projecting above the base rails 150, for locking the ramp in the carrier 130 for transporting underneath the semi-trailer. 
     To remove the ramp 12 from underneath the semi-trailer the leg lock 123 is released and the legs 106 swung to an extended position towards the ground in the direction of arrow 122. The screw pin 125 is removed and the legs moved up against the leg support stop 120. The screw pin is reinserted to lock the legs in their extended position. At this point, the wheels 108 are located above the ground to provide a clearance for swinging of the ramp from underneath the semi-trailer. 
     The carrier lock 156 is then disconnected from underneath the semi-trailer and allowed to swing 180° from the position shown in FIG. 2 to the position shown in FIG. 4. The bottom end of the ramp is pulled out from the carrier 130 and from underneath the semi-trailer. While maintaining a substantially horizontal position for the ramp, the operator walks with the ramp to extend the ramp at an angle of approximately 90° with respect to the semi-trailer. 
     The top end of the ram is pivoted with the swivel turntable 132 until the operator has reached the position of extending the ramp at approximately 90° with respect to the semi-trailer. The ramp is then lowered until the wheels contact the ground, and then the ramp is pulled out from the swivel turntable 132 until the ramp is clear of the bottom of the semi-trailer. The ramp is then available for use or may be positioned adjacent to the semi-trailer until the unloading platform 10 is set up below the side door of the semi-trailer, and then the ramp may be placed, with portion 104, on top of the platform 10. Holes 218 extend through an end of the ramp which is placed on top of the platform. These holes 218 align with holes 220 located along the edges of the top surface 206 of the platform. A securing device such as a bolt passes between the holes in the ramp and the holes in the platform to secure the ramp to the platform to prevent accidental sliding of the ramp off of the platform. 
     The two legs with castors 108 provide for ease of movement of the ramp by balancing of the ramp on the castors and having an operator move the ramp by holding the ramp at one end. The ramp is moved to a position adjacent to an unloading platform. Portion 104 is then lifted and placed on top of the platform to elevate the castors above the ground. A securing device extends through the holes 218 of the ramp of holes 220 of the platform so as to thereby fix the ramp in position. The castors of the ramp are only used to move the ramp from place to place. 
     For storing the ramp underneath the trailer, the ramp front end can be of any height because bracket 140 is tiltable to accept the angle at which the front end of the ramp is fed into the swivel turntable. After the front end of the ramp is loaded into the swivel turntable, the turntable and ramp are swiveled to place the bottom end of the ramp into the fixed carrier 130. This raises the legs of the ramp off the ground. The bottom end of the ramp is then locked in position in the fixed carrier, and the legs are retracted to the position extending parallel to the ramp and locked in place for transporting. 
     In FIGS. 6A and 6B, an alternate lock box from the lock box 38 shown in FIGS. 1 through 3 is shown. The lock box, in its assembled condition shown in FIG. 6B, is designated by reference numeral 220. The lock box includes a fixed C-shaped portion 222 having wall 224, which is secured to the side of the semi-trailer 14 on opposite sides of all doors of the semi-trailer. The frame 222 includes two walls 226 and 228 extending perpendicular from rear wall 224. Each of the walls 226 and 228 include an elongated slot 230. 
     A second C-shaped frame 232 includes a rear wall 234 and two side walls 236 and 238 extending perpendicular from rear wall 234. Towards an upper end of side walls 236 and 238 are laterally outward projecting pins 240, and at a lower end of each of the side walls 236, 238 is an opening 242. Extending perpendicular to rear wall 234 and side walls 236 and 238 are two shelves 244 and 246 having a central opening 248. 
     In the assembled form, frame 232 fits within frame 222 so that the pins 240 slide within the grooves 230. A locking pin 250, similar to the pin shown and described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, passes through the groove 230 in side plate 228, the opening 242 in side plate 238, the opening 242 in side plate 236 and then through the groove 230 in side plate 226 to hold the frame 232 in the position shown in FIG. 6B relative to the frame 222. Upon withdrawal of the pin 250, the frame 232 slides downwardly in the direction of arrow 252 until the pins 240 are stopped at the bottom of grooves 230. 
     The relative positioning of frames 232 and 222 shown in FIG. 6B, with the rear wall 224 of the frame 222 secured to semi-trailer 14, is the position when the lock box is not in use. In this position the lowermost edge 254 of frame 222 is aligned with the lowermost edge 256 of the semi-trailer 14. In this position, for lock boxes 220 mounted on trailers having doors over tandem wheels, the lock boxes are prevented from being knocked off during transit of the semi-trailer, which can occur when the tandem wheels are turned in maneuvering around sharp corners. By this embodiment, the height of the lock box is adjustable when the semi-trailer is stationary and the platform is connected to the lock box by the pin 250 passing through tabs 32 and shelves 244 and 246 of the frame 232 as is done in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 through 3. Of course, the lowermost edge 254 of the frame 222 need not be aligned with the lowermost edge 256 of the semi-trailer 14, it is only important that the lowermost edge 254 of the frame 222 extend above the turning position of the wheels of the semi-trailer so as to avoid being knocked off the semi-trailer by contact with the wheels. 
     Having described the invention, many modifications thereto will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which it pertains, without deviating from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the scope of the appended claims.