Abstract:
A vehicle lift barrier is adapted to be mounted to vehicle lifts and the like that assist in loading and unloading cargo and provide a storage environment in which cargo is less likely to migrate from a cargo area into a passenger seating area or compartment. A barrier composed of a barricade is mounted to a vehicle lift, in some cases example by mounting the barrier to a generally vertical post, mast or the like or mounting the barrier to a lift platform, allowing the lift to operate normally while the barricade obstructs all or a substantial portion of the passage between the motor vehicle storage/cargo area and the passenger area. Where the barrier is mounted to a vertical post or the like on a vehicle lift, cut-out bracketing can be used to mate with the outer cross-sectional shape of the post to inhibit pivoting of the barrier about the post. Other bracket profiles can be used to enhance the barrier&#39;s protective advantages. A wrap-around sheet metal bracket configuration creates two flanges per bracket to reinforce bracing and to provide securing belt mounting points for a given vehicle lift. Such barriers can be used in motor vehicles with rear and/or side access-ways where vehicle lifts typically are provided and do not require special tie-downs or other cargo securing means, making such devices especially useful in vehicles that might serve a number of different users and/or that might transport a variety of types of cargo and/or mobility devices.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) and any other United States or other law of the following: U.S. Ser. No. 61/090,309 filed 20 Aug. 2008, entitled VEHICLE LIFT BARRIER, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes. 
    
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not applicable. 
     REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISK APPENDIX 
     Not applicable. 
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present invention relates generally to lifts used in various types of motor vehicles and the like. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     It often is desirable to assist a user in lifting cargo into and out of motor vehicles, such as minivans, hatchback motor vehicles, etc. In particular, many people use motor vehicles to transport mobility devices such as scooters, power chairs and the like. A number of earlier lifts and accompanying systems are mountable in the cargo and/or storage area(s) of such motor vehicles. 
     Current vehicle lifts provide two types of securement. “Active” securement systems typically require manual attachment of belts or straps to the mobility device or other cargo. In such active securement systems, additional hardware must be installed on the mobility device to provide attachment points on the cargo itself. “Passive” securement systems, such as docking-type tie-down arrangements, are actuated when the mobility device rolls into the proper position on the platform. These passive systems require special hardware adapted to the particular mobility device or cargo. 
     Apparatus, systems, methods and techniques that provide improved passive protection for occupants in a motor vehicle passenger area from shifting cargo in the motor vehicle&#39;s storage area, without requiring adaptation hardware, would represent a significant advancement in the art. 
     SUMMARY 
     Embodiments of the present invention include apparatus adapted to assist in loading and unloading cargo (for example, mobility devices and the like in some cases), and to provide a storage environment in which the cargo is less likely to migrate from a storage area (for example, the cargo area of a minivan or SUV) into a passenger seating area such as the first or second row of seats in a motor vehicle. In some embodiments, a barrier composed of a barricade that is mounted to a vehicle lift, for example by being mounted to a generally vertical post, mast or the like, being mounted to a lift platform, or in any other suitable fashion that allows the lift to operate normally, while the barricade obstructs all or a substantial portion of the passage between the motor vehicle storage/cargo area and the passenger area. Where the barrier is mounted to a vertical post or the like on a vehicle lift, cut-out bracketing can be used to mate with the outer cross-sectional shape of the post, thus inhibiting pivoting of the barrier about the post. Such embodiments provide a simple, relatively inexpensive apparatus for better protecting passengers, property, etc. in the passenger compartment or area and can be retrofitted easily into many motor vehicles. Embodiments of the present invention can be deployed in motor vehicles with rear and/or side access-ways where vehicle lifts typically are provided and do not require special tie-downs or other cargo securing means, making such embodiments especially useful in vehicles that might serve a number of different passengers and/or types of cargo, mobility devices, etc. (for example, taxis, limousines and the like). 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention will be readily understood by the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate like structural elements, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is an isometric view of one or more embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of one or more embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of one or more embodiments of the present invention taken along the line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a top view of one or more embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a front view of one or more embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is an exploded isometric view of one or more embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a top view of one or more embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  is a side view of one or more embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  is an isometric view of one or more embodiments of the present invention with the vehicle lift in a fully retracted position. 
         FIGS. 10A ,  10 B and  10 C are side, top and front views, respectively, of one or more embodiments of the present invention with a vehicle lift in a fully retracted position. 
         FIG. 11  is an isometric view of one or more embodiments of the present invention with the vehicle lift in a fully deployed position. 
         FIGS. 12A ,  12 B and  12 C are top, side and front views, respectively, of one or more embodiments of the present invention with a vehicle lift in a fully deployed position. 
         FIG. 13  illustrates one or more embodiments of a vehicle lift barrier mounted in a motor vehicle  140  (e.g., a minivan, SUV or hatchback having a rear door  149 ) having a motor vehicle passenger seating area  145  (e.g., first and second rows of seating) forward of a motor vehicle cargo area  147  (also referred to as a storage area) in which a vehicle lift  100  having a vehicle lift barrier  200  is mounted, wherein the vehicle lift  100  includes a vehicle lift platform  170 , and further wherein the vehicle lift barrier  200  includes a barricade  205  (e.g., the vehicle lift device and vehicle lift barrier with barricade shown in  FIGS. 2 and 12B ). 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The following detailed description of the invention will refer to one or more embodiments of the invention, but is not limited to such embodiments. Rather, the detailed description is intended only to be illustrative. Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the detailed description given herein with respect to the Figures is provided for explanatory purposes and that the invention extends beyond these limited embodiments. 
     Certain terms are used throughout the description and claims to refer to particular components. As one skilled in the art will appreciate, like components may be referred to using different names, but this disclosure does not intend to distinguish between components that differ in name but not function. In the following discussion and in the claims, the terms “including” and “comprising” are used in an open-ended fashion, and thus should be interpreted to mean “including, but not limited to . . . ” Phrases such as “coupled to” and “connected to” and the like are used herein to describe a connection between two devices, elements and/or components and are intended (unless otherwise restricted specifically) to mean physically and/or electrically either coupled directly together, or coupled indirectly together, for example via one or more intervening elements, components or connections, where appropriate. 
     One or more embodiments of the present invention include a cargo barrier that is configured to be or is affixed to a vehicle platform lift or the like in the cargo area of a motor vehicle. The vehicle lift has a generally laterally-centered vertical post (that is, an upright post centered in a “side-to-side” sense inside the motor vehicle) to which a barricade is secured in some embodiments. In other embodiments the barricade is secured to another component of the lift, for example the lift platform. The barricade may be attached in a manner that not only physically blocks cargo from moving out of the cargo area and into the passenger area, but also is fixed to the vehicle lift in a manner that resists twisting from torque forces applied to the barricade during use. The vehicle lift barrier is especially useful in motor vehicles like minivans, sport utility vehicles (SUVs), and other settings where there is little or no structure between occupants in the passenger area of the motor vehicle and cargo stored in the cargo area of the motor vehicle. Various embodiments of the vehicle lift barrier are appropriate for use in vehicles having rear entry doors/hatches and side entry doors/hatches. 
     Many motor vehicles currently come equipped with or are retrofitted to include one or more lifts or hoists that include a platform that can be used to assist in lifting cargo into and out of the motor vehicle. Typically these lifts are mounted in vans, minivans, hatchback motor vehicles and the like due to the layout and dimensions of the vehicles&#39; cargo storage areas, as well as their larger access-ways, such as rear hatches, side entry doors, and the like. Such motor vehicles typically have a passage provided between the cargo area and the passenger area, for example space above the backs of one of the rows of seating in the motor vehicle, or space above folded down second row seats. Any such space permitting movement of objects between the cargo area and the passenger area is referred to herein as the “passage” between such areas. 
     One or more embodiments of the present invention are illustrated in  FIG. 1  and other Figures, which show a lift  100  using a generally vertical post  160  (or “mast” or other vertical structure) typically mounted approximately in the lateral (that is, vehicle side-to-side) center of the cargo area. As is well known to those skilled in the art, lateral/central mounting assists in maintaining a laterally balanced load on a lift platform or the like. See, for example, figures in United States Publication No. 2001/0026756 and United States Publication No. 2005/0105995 (both of which are incorporated herein by reference for all purposes). It is interesting to note that  FIGS. 1 and 3  of the 2005/0105995 document illustrate the exposure of the passenger area to shifting cargo through a passage from the cargo area when embodiments of a vehicle lift barrier according to the present invention are not used. 
     Operation of lift  100  basically includes horizontal movement of a reciprocating horizontal slide mechanism  110  and vertical movement of a platform  170  controlled by a vertical linkage mechanism  120  (further details regarding operation of such a lift can be found in the 2001/0026756 document). In other lift configurations, the reciprocating horizontal slide mechanism is coupled with a telescoping vertical lift platform, as seen in the 2005/0105995 document and in U.S. Pat. No. 6,726,435 (which is incorporated herein by reference for all purposes). A variety of other lift configurations usable in and with embodiments of the present invention are well known to those skilled in the art. 
     When a vehicle lift (mounted adjacent either a rear or side entryway) is in its fully deployed position, as shown in  FIGS. 12A ,  12 B and  12 C, the vertical lifting mechanism is lowered so that the lift platform is on the ground or other support surface and any horizontal mechanism is typically fully extended toward the outside of the vehicle. When the lift is partially deployed, the horizontal slide is fully extended, but the vertical lifting mechanism is in a raised position. Finally, when a lift is in a fully retracted position, as shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  10 A,  10 B and  10 C, the horizontal slide is completely retracted inside the motor vehicle cargo area and the vertical lifting mechanism is fully raised. (In configurations using a combined horizontal/vertical mechanism or the like, a fully deployed platform is as far “out” and “down” as normal travel path permits) 
     In  FIG. 11  the vertical linkage  120  of lift  100  includes generally vertical post  160 . In some lifts, this type of post  160  or other vertical structure (also sometimes referred to as a “column,” “arm,” “mast” or the like) may be stationary (that is, immovably mounted to the interior structure of the cargo area of a motor vehicle  140 , the motor vehicle&#39;s frame or other appropriate mounting point(s)). In other situations, post  160  moves during use to assist in transferring a platform  170  or the like into and out of the storage space of a motor vehicle  140  for loading and unloading cargo. In these lifts, however, the vertical post  160  maintains a generally vertical orientation throughout operation of the lift, from a fully retracted position (whether loaded or empty) in the motor vehicle cargo area to a fully deployed position where the lift is in a loading orientation outside the motor vehicle. 
     In the example of  FIGS. 9 ,  10 A,  10 B and  10 C, a scooter, power chair  180  or other cargo is loaded on platform  170  (a scooter or power chair is a type of personal mobility vehicle used by an individual who is physically challenged). Moreover, the vertical post  160  might also be a formed plate that pivots during operation, thus potentially having 3 sides, such as the plate shown in the 2001/0026756 document. Any of these vertical structures (for example, a unitary vertical structure, a generally vertical assembly such as that shown in the aforementioned patent publication, or a single or multi-stage telescoping mast structure, as shown in the 2005/0105995 and 6,726,435 documents) are deemed to be “vertical posts” and/or equivalents thereto for mounting a barricade or the like according to one or more embodiments disclosed and/or claimed herein. Platforms in these types of lifts are typically strong, rigid metal sheets or assemblies that are configured to hold up to several hundred pounds and to maintain cargo in a generally horizontal orientation during extension/lowering, retraction/raising and transportation of the cargo in the motor vehicle. 
     In earlier lift devices and systems, once a scooter or other cargo  180  was loaded on platform  170  inside the cargo area of the motor vehicle  140 , post  160  typically was the only structure (if any) interposed between the cargo in the cargo area and someone or something in the passenger area. Cargo might be tied down and/or otherwise secured to platform  170  and/or some other structure. However, restraints, tie-downs, etc. can fail or not be used at all, thus allowing the cargo to move about freely in the motor vehicle interior, especially when the motor vehicle decelerates quickly or turns suddenly. Where the cargo area is openly connected to a passenger area or the like, freely moving cargo (for example, a scooter or power chair) represents a potentially serious hazard to motor vehicle occupants. The center post  160  often is not tall enough or wide enough to prevent cargo from migrating from the cargo area to the passenger area. 
     One or more embodiments of a vehicle lift barrier  200  are illustrated in Figure and other Figures. Barrier  200  is mounted to the motor vehicle lift  100  to interpose and maintain barrier  200  between the passenger area of the motor vehicle  140  and any cargo on the lift platform  170  or otherwise stowed in the cargo area of the motor vehicle  140 . In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the barrier  200  is mounted to the lift post  160 . 
     In some embodiments the barrier  200  uses one or more brackets  230  to both secure the barrier  200  to post  160  of lift  100  and to reinforce the barrier  200  against rotation when a force is applied to the barrier  200  (for example, a torque applied when cargo pushes against an off-center component of the barrier  200 ). As seen in  FIG. 6 , for example, barrier  200  includes a barricade  205  (also referred to as a “blocking means”) that is physically interposed between cargo and the post  160 . In some embodiments of the present invention, the barricade  205  includes a frame  210  that is made of tubular steel and defines the perimeter of the barricade. The cross-section of the steel tube of frame  210  is square, though solid (non-hollow) frame members, other cross-sectional configurations and other materials can be used, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art. Frame  210  is shaped as a planar hexagon in the embodiment of  FIG. 6 , though again other configurations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. One or more cross-members  225  extend laterally across frame  210  in the embodiment of  FIG. 6 , supplementing the upper and lower horizontal cross-members of the frame  210 . One or more of such cross-members can be used as part of the barricade and can extend in any appropriate orientation(s) within and outside the frame  210 . Each bracket  230  is welded to its cross-member to provide rigidity, which is further enhanced when each horizontal cross-member is bolted to the vehicle lift vertical post using bolts passing through both the frame cross-member and the associated/welded bracket  230 . As can be seen in the embodiment(s) of  FIGS. 4 and 9B , the bolts in such cases are spaced apart so that they do not interfere with an actuator  280  used to move the four bar linkage that controls extension and retraction of the vehicle lift platform  170 . As a result of being wrapped around its associated cross-member, each bracket  230  has two generally planar flanges upper flange  230   a  and lower flange  230   b —that provide mounting points for securing belts and the like and enhance the rigidity of each bracket  230  against rotation by reinforcing the cut-out profile in each bracket  230 . The two-flange construction also improves rigidity against rotation when the cut-outs of each bracket  230  engage the vehicle lift post  160 . 
     As seen in  FIGS. 1 and 6 , brackets  230  rigidly secure the barricade  205  to the post  160  and reinforce the barricade  205  against rotation about the post  160  (for example, as opposed to having a plurality of bolts or the like bear all such torque/twisting forces). In the embodiment(s) shown in  FIGS. 1-6 , a bracket  230  secures the barricade  205  (frame  210  and any cross-member  225 ) to post  160  using bolts  231  that pass through the bracket  230 , the frame  210  or cross-member  225 . As seen most clearly in the exploded view of  FIG. 6 , each securing bracket  230  has a square cut-out  233  that substantially mates with the external cross-sectional shape of post  160 . The combination of the bracing of cut-outs  233  and the way each bracket  230  wraps around the frame  210  or a cross-member  225  in an almost C shape adds strength, rigidity and stability to the vehicle lift barrier&#39;s ability to prevent cargo from breaching the barricade  205 . As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, other cross-sectional shapes and mating bracket cut-outs can be used, though the square configuration shown in  FIG. 1  and other Figures is both simple to fabricate and assemble, as well as being highly effective in withstanding torque forces applied to the barricade  205  during use. 
     The vehicle lift barrier also can be attached directly to the lift platform of a given lift. In  FIGS. 7 and 8 , barricade  305  is rigidly secured to the lift platform  370 . A C-shaped bracket  330  on barricade  305  engages the platform  370  either removably or permanently. A “removably” secured bracket (that is, one using “removable securing means” that includes bracket  330 ) is a bracket that can be put on or removed without tools or with common, simple tools (for example, manual clamps, simple nut and bolt configurations and screws are examples of such removable securing means). A “permanently” secured bracket (that is, one using “permanent securing means”) is one that is not intended to be put on or removed during normal operation and use (for example, rivets, welding and locked bolts are examples of such permanent securing means). Permanent securing means for attaching barricade  305  to platform  370  are rivets  332  in  FIG. 8 . Removable securing means for attaching barricade  305  to platform  370  are clamps  331  that can be secured or removed manually or using a wrench or the like. 
     When bracket  330  engages platform  370 , the barricade  305  is held in place not only by the securing means  331  and/or  332 , but also is held against undesirable rotation or torque by the mating of bracket  330  and platform  370 . Bracket  330  and cut-outs  233  can each (or collectively) be referred to as “bracing means” in connection with embodiments of the present invention, being structures that help brace the barricade against undesirable rotation due to torque forces applied to the barricade during use. 
     As can be seen in  FIG. 7 , platform-mounted barrier embodiments can be configured for or used in rear door or side door entryways. If a side door entry is used in a motor vehicle, then a mast  160 S is laterally opposed across the cargo area from the side doorway  141 . In this setting with mast  160 S, mounting the barricade to the mast or other vertical support would be generally ineffective in protecting occupants in the passenger area because the post is not between the cargo area and passenger area (demarcated by line  390  in  FIGS. 7 and 8 ). Therefore, in these embodiments, the barricade is instead mounted to the lift platform on an edge perpendicular to the platform edge adjacent to the mast. The barricade  305  is still maintained in a position between the motor vehicle cargo area and passenger area, despite the side offset of mast  1605 . Where a side door lift uses a mast mounted to the side of the horizontal direction of movement of the horizontal slide mechanism, that mast occupies a position between the passenger area and cargo area and would therefore be a suitable mounting location for a barrier. If used in a rear door entryway of a motor vehicle, then mast  160 R can be used opposite the rear entryway. Again, the platform-mounted barricade  305  is still maintained between the motor vehicle&#39;s cargo area and passenger area. 
     In all platform-mounted barrier embodiments, the platform&#39;s rigid structure can be used with removable or permanent securing brackets or other securing means to brace the barrier against rotation, again protecting occupants in the passenger area more effectively than if no barrier were present. Moreover, these configurations, like the above-described configurations, also provide this more effective protection without having to modify the cargo&#39;s structure (for example, adding a post or other connector onto a scooter or the like) and/or the platform&#39;s structure (again, for example, by adding a post or other connector). These configurations thus provide effective protection for all scooters, power chairs, general cargo, etc. that might by transported as cargo in the motor vehicle. This is especially helpful in motor vehicles that are used to transport a variety of personal mobility devices—for example, taxicabs, limousines and other vehicles might encounter a variety of scooters, power chairs, etc. and embodiments of the present invention permit safer transportation of such devices without requiring individualized lift equipment for each such device. 
     When a scooter, power chair or other cargo is on platform  170 , one or more belts  185  can be used to help secure the cargo to the platform  170 . Each belt  185  uses a hook  187  to secure the free end of a belt  185  to an appropriate anchoring point, for example on a mobility device, on the barrier, and/or at any other appropriate location. In the embodiment of the vehicle lift barrier  200  shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , belt anchoring points  188  are provided in the vehicle lift barrier  200  at a number of locations. These include holes  188  in one or more of the brackets  230 , including holes adjacent the post  160  as well as holes  188  located on a flange  192  or the like on one or more of the brackets  230 . Other belt anchoring points can be provided and are not restricted only to holes. 
     In motor vehicles using embodiments of the vehicle lift barrier, occupants are better protected against cargo movement toward and/or into the passenger area or compartment, even if cargo-securing belts are not available or used. The vehicle lift barrier provides a simple, inexpensive and effective barrier (whether as original equipment or as a retrofitted component) between cargo in a motor vehicle cargo area and occupants in the passenger compartment. 
     The many features and advantages of the present invention are apparent from the written description, and thus, the appended claims are intended to cover all such features and advantages of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, the present invention is not limited to the exact construction and operation as illustrated and described. Therefore, the described embodiments should be taken as illustrative and not restrictive, and the invention should not be limited to the details given herein but should be defined by the following claims and their full scope of equivalents, whether foreseeable or unforeseeable now or in the future.