Patent ID: 7241100

Claim:
A device adapted to be operably engaged with a transport vehicle having a vehicle frame so as to be capable of loading a container onto the vehicle from a surface, unloading the container from the vehicle frame to the surface, and cooperating with the vehicle to transport the container, and the vehicle frame having a forward end and a rearward end, said device comprising: a pair of horizontal lifting members laterally separated by at least a width of the container, each lifting member having a forward and a rearward end and being configured to be vertically movable with respect to the vehicle; a tether capable of being operably engaged between each lifting member and the container so as to secure the container thereto; a vertical post member operably engaged with each end of each lifting member such that each lifting member is capable of moving vertically therebetween, each post member having an upper end; and a pair of horizontal frame members configured to operably engage the vehicle so as to be longitudinally slidable with respect thereto, the slidable frame members being laterally separated by at least the width of the container and corresponding to the respective lifting members, each slidable frame member having a forward and a rearward end and being configured to support the post members associated with each respective lifting member, the slidable frame members being further configured to unload the container, after the container is raised above the vehicle by the lifting members, by longitudinally sliding along the vehicle until the container is past a vertical plane defined by the rearward end of the vehicle, whereafter the container is lowered to the surface by the lifting members, the slidable frame members also being configured to load the container onto the vehicle, after the container is raised from the surface by the lifting members past a horizontal plane defined by the vehicle frame, by longitudinally sliding along the vehicle and retracting toward the forward end thereof.