Patent Publication Number: US-2012027549-A1

Title: Truck bed with tipping platform and lift

Description:
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is generally related to the landscaping and/or construction arts and, in particular, includes the use of a special lift or hoist to allow loading in an efficient manner. 
     Applicant&#39;s prior patents in this particular field are U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,717,662 and 7,713,019 issued in Class 414. 
     It is an object of the invention to demonstrate a particular loading method utilizing the unique structure of a specialized crane or lift. 
     It is a further object of the invention to show a a crane or lift method of use which may eliminate the need for a trailer in the landscaping and construction arts. 
     It is a still further object of the invention to set forth a lifting and loading method which may be practiced with or without a dumpbox of a type used in the art. 
     It is also an object of this disclosure to show a modified crane or lift structure, one which is normally used to load and unload products, which is used in a specialized way to effect the tipping of a platform on the back of a flatbed or pick-up truck. 
     These and other critical and important objects of the invention will be appreciated by those of skill in the trucking, landscaping, construction and load handling arts. 
     PRIOR ART PATENTS AND DESIGNS FROM APPLICANT&#39;S U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,713,019 and 7,717,662 
     Referring to the drawing figures,  FIGS. 1   a  through  1   f  show a lift hoist or crane unit  10 . 
     The various components are numbered in  FIG. 1   c  as follows: 
     a pair of arms  11  and  12  are connected by a cross-arm indicated at numeral  14 ;
 
the lower ends of arms  11  and  12  have angled rocker elements  17  and  18 ;
 
numerals  21  and  22  indicate lower support and drive elements;
 
the ends of the drive elements are shown at numerals  23  and  24  as angled to receive the angled upper rocker elements;
 
a winch unit is shown at numeral  16 .
 
     The winch unit  16  is utilized to pick up a load  29  as indicated in  FIG. 1   f.    
     As indicated in the progression of  FIGS. 1   a  through  1   f , the upper arms  11 , 12  and the cross member  14  are driven through various angles from zero degrees in  FIG. 1   a  to about 135 degrees in  FIG. 1   f.    
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention sets forth a NEW METHOD OF USE for a lift, crane or hoist used in applicant&#39;s prior U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,713,019 and 7,717,662. 
     Angled knuckle or angled rocker portions, shown at numerals  17  and  18  of  FIG. 1   c , are used to raise and lower a platform placed at the rear of a flatbed truck or pick-up truck. 
     The knuckle portions  17  and  18  are part of an overall lift system shown in  FIGS. 1   a  through  1   f.    
     The platform is hinged at the back of the truck bed and moves from a level horizontal position parallel to the ground to a lowered position in contact with the ground allowing the drive-on of a walk-behind or other yard or construction tools. 
     After tipping back to the level position and locking the load, the driver can proceed to the next job. 
     The method allows a single type of lift to perform various valuable functions, namely: 
     raising and lowering of a platform when needed, 
     loading/unloading cargo without using a platform, 
     utilizing a soil dump box when needed. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
         FIG. 1  shows a prior art lift or crane in various positions as utilized in applicant&#39;s prior patents. 
         FIG. 2  shows a side schematic view of the principal invention components and illustrates the critical use of a single lift  10  to perform various functions. 
         FIG. 3  is a side schematic view of lift  10  in a partially elevated position to hold the platform  50  in a horizontal transporting mode. 
         FIG. 4  is a side schematic view showing the platform  50  in a lowered or tipped position by means of the knuckle element  18  of the lift. 
         FIG. 5  is a top schematic view showing the eyelets  50 E of the platform  50  connected to the knuckle eyelets  17 E and  18 E via cables  55 . The open area between arms  11  and  12  and crossbar  14  is illustrated. 
         FIGS. 6 and 7  show a dump box  60  as being loaded onto the top portions of the driven elements, i.e.  11 ,  12  and  14 . 
         FIG. 8  shows a hitch tube or hinge assembly  40  to which the platform  50  is pivotally attached. 
         FIG. 9  shows the various critical functions performed by the single lift  10 , i.e. tipping a rear platform  50 , moving a load  29  and carrying a dump box  60 . 
     
    
    
     FULL DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to the drawing figures,  FIGS. 1   a - 1   f  show a specialized and patented crane which proceeds from a flat at-rest position through various angles to pick-up or deliver a load  29  shown in  FIG. 1   f.    
       FIG. 1   c  indicates lower hydraulic drive means at  21  and  22  and upper drive means at  11  and  12 . A crossbar and winch are shown at  14  and  16 . 
     The angled driven elements or KNUCKLES are shown at  17  and  18  and play a critical role in this particular invention to tip a loading platform. 
       FIG. 2  shows a truck  30  having a forward cab  31  and a rear bed  32 . 
     The major components of the invention are shown in  FIG. 2  as follows: 
     lift or crane  10  which is to be modified and used in the novel method described herein, 
     hinge  40  and loading platform  50  to be further described, 
     soil dump box  60  which may be used as needed. 
       FIG. 3  is a side schematic view of the combined lift  10  and platform  50 , with the platform being in a transport-position parallel to the ground G. 
     In  FIG. 3 , it is to be understood that the lift  10  is in a slightly elevated position as shown in  FIG. 1   b    
     The lift has an angled knuckle portion  18  with a reinforced eyelet  18 E formed thereon. 
     Arm  12  extends from the angled knuckle  18  and a lower drive element  21  pushes or pulls on the knuckle  18  as needed. 
       FIG. 3  further shows the platform  50  being hingedly mounted to the rear of the truck bed  32  by means hinge element  40 . 
     The rear portion of platform  50  has a reinforced eyelet  50 E formed thereon. 
     As further shown, a cable  55  extends between the eyelets  18 E and  50 E. Such cable enables the platform  50  to move as the knuckle element  18  is pivoted to the left or right at the option of an operator. 
     From the horizontal platform position of  FIG. 3 , the platform  50  is lowered to an angled position in contact with ground G as shown in  FIG. 4 . 
     In  FIG. 4 , the lift  10  has been pivoted to the right under the action of the lower drive system as indicated by arrow  21 A. 
     The position of the lift  10  and angled knuckle element  18  corresponds roughly to that shown in  FIG. 1   d  or  1   e  in this specification. 
     Once the platform  50  has been lowered to the ground position of  FIG. 4 , a construction or landscaping tool T can be driven or pushed onto the truck bed  32 . 
     Subsequently, via the reverse motion of arrow  21 A, the knuckle  18  and attached platform  50  are pivoted until the platform is again in the horizontal position of  FIG. 3 . 
     Once the tool or other load T is locked in place, a driver can proceed to the next job or location. 
       FIG. 5  is a top schematic view of portions of the lift  10  in relation to the platform  50  and cables  55 . 
     As shown, the left angled knuckle element  18  has a reinforced eyelet  18 E formed thereon. The right angled knuckle element  17  has a reinforced eyelet  17 E formed thereon. 
     As also shown in  FIG. 5 , the platform  50  has a pair of reinforced eyelets  50 E located at a rear portion thereof. 
     Cable elements  55  extend between the respective eyelets of knuckles  18  and  17  and the eyelets  50 E formed on the rear of platform  50 . 
     Also shown schematically in  FIG. 5  are the lift arms  11  and  12  extending from the angled knuckle elements  17  and  18  respectively. Such construction is indicated in  FIG. 1   c.    
     The cross-arm  14  and winch  16  are also indicated schematically in  FIG. 5 . 
     As further indicated in the schematic view of  FIG. 5 , there is provided an open area between the arms  11 ,  12  and  14  so that the truck bed  32  can be seen. 
     Such open area can be utilized to support a dump box  60  which is shown schematically in  FIG. 6  as carrying a load of top soil  62 . 
     As indicated by the arrow  64  in  FIG. 6 , the dump box is lowered into the open area and finally rests on the top portions of the lift  10  to be used as part of a landscaping or construction job as needed from the position shown in  FIG. 7 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 8 , an elongated cylindrical hitch tube  40  is shown. The flat pivoting platform  50  is hingedly attached to the hitch tube as indicated schematically by arrow  52 . 
     The hitch tube  40  has a central aperture portion  42  for attachment to a truck hitch indicated generally at numeral  44 H. The hitch tube  40  further has apertures  44 A and  44 B formed therein to provide attachment means with relation to truck frame portions indicated at  44 F. 
     Reference is now made to  FIG. 9 . 
     It is thus to be appreciated that one of the critical features of the invention is that the lift  10  can be utilized in three different ways, namely, 
     to perform a product lifting and loading function as indicated by numeral  29  in  FIG. 1   f,    
     to drive a load platform  50  via the knuckle elements  17  and  18  formed on the lift  10 , 
     to carry and use a dump box  60  when needed for a particular operation. See schematic  FIG. 9 . 
     Such multiple-function capabilities for a single lift, crane or hoist is a breakthrough and highly useful for marketing of lift structures in the art. 
     While a particular method of use and system have been shown and described herein, it is intended in this specification to included all related methods and systems which would reasonably occur to those of skill in the art. 
     The invention is further defined by the claims appended hereto.