Abstract:
An apparatus for loading and unloading a motorcycle into the bed of a conventional pick-up truck which only requires a single operator. The device includes a support frame mountable to the bed of a pick-up truck which supports at least one telescoping, pivotal ramp assembly. The ramp assembly includes first and second ramp members which are telescoped together so as to extend and form an elongated ramp. The first ramp section is pivotally secured at its rear end to the rear end of the support frame by a hinge. The hinge allows the first and second ramp members to pivot together and also functions to guide the second ramp member as it slides along a channel in the length of the first ramp member. A sled is coupled to the second ramp member for support the motorcycle loaded on the apparatus. In operation the motorcycle is secured to the sled and pulled up the second ramp member. The second ramp member then travels along the first ramp member while the weight of the motorcycle causes the ramp assembly to pivot downward until it lies in a horizontal plane.

Description:
This Appln claims the benefit of Provisional No. 60/094,967 filed Jul. 31, 1998. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a telescoping, pivotal frame structure for loading, unloading and transporting a motorcycle in the bed of a pick-up truck, or onto a variety of transporting means. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     It is often desirable, and sometimes necessary, for motorcycle owners to transport their motorcycles from location to location. This is often accomplished by securing the motorcycle within the bed of a pick-up truck and driving the motorcycle to a desired location. 
     However, motorcycles are very heavy and it&#39;s often difficult to load and unload a motorcycle from the bed of a pick-up truck. As such, a need exists for a device facilitating the convenient, reliable and secure transport of a motorcycle within the bed of a conventional pick-up truck. The present invention provides such a device. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a device for loading and unloading an object. The device includes a support frame having a front end and a rear end. The device further includes a ramp having a first ramp member with a rear end pivotally attached to the support frame and extending forward toward the front end of the support frame. The device also includes a second ramp member telescopically secured to the first ramp member permitting the second ramp member to travel the length of the first ramp member and to pivot therewith. A sled is mounted to the second ramp member for free movement along the length of the second ramp member. The sled is shaped and dimensioned for receiving the object thereon and moving the object along the length of the second ramp member. A winch system is mounted proximate the front end of the support frame. The winch system includes a cable for attachment to the sled. The winch system, with the first and second ramp members separated such that only a front end of the second ramp member overlies the rear end of the first ramp member with the first and second ramp members pivoted downwardly to facilitate loading of the object, pulls the sled forward up the second ramp member, the second slide member forward within the first ramp member, and the sled, the second slide member and the first slide member ultimately toward the front end of the support frame. 
     It is also an object of the present invention to provide a device wherein the sled includes a sled frame and a wheel well shaped and dimensioned for receiving the front wheel of a motorcycle. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a device wherein the wheel well is pivotally coupled to the sled frame for movement between a pivot loading position and a retained position. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a device wherein the sled further includes means for selectively locking the wheel well in the retained position. 
     It is also an object of the present invention to provide a device wherein the sled further includes retaining straps for securing the front wheel of a motorcycle within the wheel well. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a device wherein the support frame is shaped and dimensioned to be received within a vehicle to permit transport of the object. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a device wherein the vehicle is a pick-up truck. 
     It is also an object of the present invention to provide a device wherein the second ramp member includes a wheel support for supporting the rear wheel of a motorcycle. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a device wherein the first ramp member includes a channel and the second ramp member includes a guide means secured within the channel. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a device wherein the guide means includes a pair of spaced wheels. 
     Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description when viewed in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which set forth certain embodiments of the invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention with the motorcycle partially loaded on the truck. 
     FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the present invention with the motorcycle partially loaded on the truck. 
     FIG. 3 is a detailed view of the front end of the present invention with the motorcycle loaded in the wheel well. 
     FIG. 4 is a rear view of the present invention with the motorcycle fully loaded on the truck. 
     FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of the first and second ramp members. 
     FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view of the second ramp member and the sled. 
     FIG. 7 is a side view of the sled with the wheel well in its retained position. 
     FIG. 8 is a side view of the sled with the wheel well in its pivoted loading position. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The detailed embodiment of the present invention is disclosed herein. It should be understood, however, that the disclosed embodiment is merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, the details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limited, but merely as the basis for the claims and as a basis for teaching one skilled in the art how to make and/or use the invention. 
     With reference to FIGS. 1 through 8, the preferred embodiment of the present lift and transport apparatus  10  for a motorcycle  11  is disclosed. The apparatus  10  includes a support frame  14  and a ramp assembly  16 . The support frame  14  and ramp assembly  16  may be made from various materials such as steel, metal alloys or other materials used in the construction of heavy duty equipment. 
     The support frame  14  is generally rectangular and dimensioned to fit within the bed of a pick-up truck  12 . The support frame  14  includes first and second longitudinal support beams  18 ,  20  connected by cross beams  22 ,  24  adjacent the rear end  26  of the support frame  14  and the front end  28  of the support frame  14 . While the preferred embodiment is disclosed for mounting within a pick-up truck  12 , the present apparatus  10  may be varied for use in a variety of locations. 
     The ramp assembly  16  is pivotally coupled to the rear end  26  of the support frame  14  such that the ramp assembly  16  may be extended from the bed of the pick-up truck  12  without any interference from the pick-up truck. The ramp assembly  16  includes a first ramp member  30  which functions together with a second ramp member  32  and a sled  34  to form the telescoping, pivotal ramp assembly  16 . 
     The first ramp member  30  includes first and second longitudinal support beams  36 ,  38 . The first and second longitudinal beams  36 ,  38  of the first ramp member  30  respectively include upwardly facing C-shaped channels  48  (see FIG. 5) shaped to receive portions of the second ramp member  32  in a manner that will be discussed in greater detail below. 
     A pair of hinge assemblies  50   a,    50   b  secure the rear end  46  of the first ramp member  30  to the cross beam  24  positioned at the rear end  26  of the support frame  14 . The hinge assemblies  50   a,    50   b  secure the rear end  46  of first ramp member  30  to the rear cross beam  24  creating an extremely durable pivotal connection. Each hinge assembly  50   a,    50   b  includes an upwardly extending side wall  52  which guides the second ramp member  32  along the length of the first ramp member  30  associated therewith. In other words, the side walls  52  of the hinge assemblies  50   a,    50   b  prevent sideward movement of the second ramp member  32  as it slides along the length of the first ramp member  30 . 
     The second ramp member  32  is constructed from first and second longitudinal support beams  54 ,  56  connected by two cross beams  60 ,  62  respectively located adjacent the rear end  66  of the second ramp member  32  and a central portion  68  of the second ramp member  32 . The second ramp member  32  includes downward projecting wheels  70  which guide the second ramp member  32  relative to the first ramp member  30 . The wheels  70 , secured to the front end  64  of the second ramp member  32 , are received within the C-shaped channels of the first ramp member  30 . The wheels  70  allow the second ramp member  32  to freely travel along the length of the first ramp member  30  while remaining connected thereto. The C-shaped channels  48  of the first ramp member  30  include stop members (not shown) therein which limit the movement of the second ramp member  32  relative to the first ramp member  30 . 
     As with the first ramp member  30 , the longitudinal beams  54 ,  56  of the second ramp member  32  respectively include upwardly facing C-shaped channels  72  shaped to receive portions of the sled  34  in a manner that will be discussed in greater detail below. The second ramp member  32  also includes a motorcycle wheel support  74  mounted between the cross beam  60  at the rear end  66  of the second ramp member  32  and the cross beam  62  at the central portion  68  of the second ramp member  32 . The wheel support  74  is shaped and dimensioned to support the rear wheel  76  of a motorcycle  11  when it is drawn onto the present apparatus  10 . 
     A sled  34  for receiving the front wheel  78  of the motorcycle  11  is mounted on the upper surface of the second ramp member  32 . Specifically, the sled frame  80  is composed of two longitudinal support beams  82  (only one shown) connected by two cross beams  86 ,  88  positioned adjacent the rear end  90  of the sled  34  and the front end  92  of the sled  34 . The sled frame  80  includes downwardly extending wheels  94  received and retained within the C-shaped channels  72  of the second ramp member  32  (see FIG.  6 ). The wheels  94  allow the sled  34  to freely travel along the length of the second ramp member  32  while remaining coupled thereto. However, the C-shaped channels  72  of the second ramp member  32  are closed at their respective ends to prevent the wheels  94  of the sled  34  from moving beyond the length of the second ramp member  32 . 
     The sled  34  further includes a wheel well  96 . The wheel well  96  is shaped to receive and retain the front wheel  78  of a motorcycle  11  and is pivotally secured to the sled frame  80 . Specifically, a hinge  98  pivotally connects a rear portion  100  of the wheel well  96  to the cross beam  88  adjacent the rear end  90  of the sled frame  80 . The front portion  102  of the wheel well  96  includes a support bracket  104  laterally secured thereto. The support bracket  104  limits the downward movement of the wheel well  96  as the wheel well  96  moves from its pivoted loading position (see FIG. 8) to its retained position (see FIG.  7 ). Movement of the wheel well  96  is further controlled by the provision of a pivoting lock member  106  engaging the support bracket  104 . The pivoting lock member  106  engages the support bracket  104  as shown in FIG. 7 to prevent movement of the wheel well  96  from the retained position to the pivoted loading position. 
     In use, pivoting lock member is released and the wheel well  96  is pivoted forward to its loading position to receive the front wheel  78  of the motorcycle  11 . Once the front wheel  78  is positioned with the wheel well  96 , the motorcycle  11  is pushed forward (using the winch system as discussed below) until the wheel well  96  rotates back to its retained position. At that time, the pivoting lock member  106  engages the support bracket  104  to securely hold the wheel well  96  in the desired position for further loading. 
     The wheel well  96  is centrally positioned on the sled  34  such that a loaded motorcycle  11  is properly positioned on the present apparatus  10 . The sled  34  further includes retaining straps  108  coupled to the support bracket  104 . The retaining straps  108  are adjustable straps and are adapted for attachment to the front end of the motorcycle  11  to ensure secure attachment of the front end of the motorcycle  11  to the sled  34 . The sled  34  also includes a pulley arrangement  110  designed to guide a winch cable  112 , which is secured to the front portion  102  of the wheel well  96 , in a manner discussed in greater detail below. 
     A winch system  114  is mounted to the cross beam  22  located adjacent the front end  28  of the support frame  14 . The winch system  114  is preferably powered via the electrical system of the vehicle, although other powering arrangements may be employed without departing from the spirit of the present invention. The winch system  114  includes a winch cable  112  which is coupled to the sled  34  of the ramp assembly  16 . The winch cable  112  is guided to the ramp assembly  16  by a pulley  116  located on the cross beam  24  adjacent the rear end  26  of the support frame  14  and the pulley arrangement  110  located on the front end  92  of the sled  34 . 
     In operation, the apparatus  10 , once bolted to the bed of a pick-up truck  12 , is fully extended as shown in FIG.  1 . That is, the first and second ramp members  30 ,  32  are separated such that only the front end  64  of the second ramp member  32  overlies the rear end  46  of the first ramp member  30  and the two members are pivoted to an angle no greater than 45 degrees from the horizontal surface of the support frame  14 . The orientation of the ramp assembly  16  is controlled by cables  118  secured between the front end  44  of the first ramp member  30  and the support frame  14 . The sled  34  is also moved to its most rearward position such that it lies adjacent the ground and the rear end  66  of the second ramp member  32  as shown in FIG.  3 . 
     The motorcycle  11  is then moved to the apparatus  10 , and the front wheel  78  of the motorcycle  11  is placed within the wheel well  96 . As discussed above, the pivoting lock member  106  is released and the wheel well  96  is pivoted forward to its loading position to easily receive the front wheel  78  of the motorcycle  11 . Once the front wheel  78  is positioned with the wheel well  96 , the front end  78  of the motorcycle  11  is then secured to the sled  34  by the various retaining straps  108  coupled to the sled  34 . The motorcycle  11  is pulled forward using the winch system until the wheel well  96  rotates back to its retained position. At that time, the pivoting lock member  106  engages the support bracket  104  to securely hold the wheel well  96  in the desired position for further loading. 
     Once the front end of the motorcycle  11  is properly secured to the sled  34 , the winch system  114  is actuated and begins to pull the motorcycle  11 , the sled  34  and second ramp member  32  along the length of the first ramp member  30 . Specifically, the winch cable  112  begins pulling the sled  34  up the second ramp member  32 . As the motorcycle  11  is pulled up the second ramp member  32 , the rear wheel  76  of the motorcycle  11  moves onto the wheel support  74  provided at the rear end  66  of the second ramp member  32 . 
     At this time, the sled  34  should be reaching the front end  64  of the second ramp member  32  where its forward motion is stopped. The second slide member  32  then slides within the first ramp member  30 . A greater portion of the weight of the motorcycle  11  will eventually cross a pivot point and will cause the first and second ramp members  30 ,  32  to automatically pivot until they are parallel with the upper horizontal surface of support frame  14 . The motorcycle  11  is pulled toward the front of the support frame  14  until the second ramp member  32  reaches the front ends  28 ,  44  of the first ramp member  30  and the support frame  14 . 
     The apparatus may then be locked in position by a safety lock  120  secured to the second ramp member  32 . The safety lock engages the sled  34  and prevents relative movement between the second ramp member  32  and the sled  34 . The apparatus  10  may further be provided with straps for attachment to the rear end of the motorcycle  11 . 
     The motorcycle  11  may be removed from the apparatus  10  by simply reversing the loading process. Specifically, the winch system  114  is reversed and the second ramp member  32  is manually pulled rearwardly. Once the second ramp member  32  reaches a point where the majority of the weight crosses the pivot point, the ramp assembly  16  will begin to move downwardly on its own. At the time when the first and second ramp members  30 ,  32  are fully extended, the safety lock  120  is released and the sled  34  is permitted to move downwardly under the control of the winch system  114 . When the sled  34  reaches its most rearward position, the pivoting lock member  106  is released, the wheel well  96  rotates for unloading and the retaining straps  108  are removed. 
     While the disclosed embodiment includes a ramp assembly designed to accommodate a single motorcycle, the ramp assembly may be varied to accommodate additional motorcycles without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, the ramp assembly could be provided with a pair of first ramp members cooperating with a pair of second ramp members to form a rigid ramp assembly designed to accommodate two motorcycles. 
     While various preferred embodiments have been shown and described, it will be understood that there is no intent to limit the invention by such disclosure, but rather, is intended to cover all modifications and alternate constructions falling within the spirit and scope of the invention.