Patent ID: 8708400

Claim:
A translating cargo bed assembly operable for use with a vehicle having a vehicle frame, comprising: (a) a cargo bed sub-frame including a transversely extending hub shaft, (b) a translation mechanism connecting between the vehicle frame and the cargo bed sub-frame, the translation mechanism operable for translating the cargo bed assembly between at least a transport position in which the cargo bed assembly is mounted on the vehicle in a position suitable for transporting the cargo bed assembly and a loading position wherein the cargo bed assembly is in a lowered position behind the vehicle, the translation mechanism arranged such that the cargo bed sub-frame remains in a generally level orientation in relation to the vehicle when the cargo bed assembly moves between the transport and loading positions, (c) a cargo bed slidably mounted to the cargo bed sub-frame, such that the cargo bed may be translated between a first mounted position and a second unmounted position, (d) at least one tilt mechanism including a pivot arm and a linear actuator, the pivot arm having proximal and distal ends, the proximal end of the pivot arm rotatably mounted to the hub shaft of the cargo bed sub-frame, the linear actuator having proximal and distal ends and operable for movement between a retracted position and an extended position and also operable for movement to a partially extended position between the retracted and extended positions, the proximal end of the linear actuator pivotably connected to the sub-frame and the distal end of the linear actuator pivotably connected to the distal end of the pivot arm, (e) a pivot arm receiving structure fixed to the cargo bed operable for receiving the pivot arm of the tilt mechanism when the cargo bed is mounted to the sub-frame, and, (f) a latch mechanism for selectively securing the pivot arm to the pivot arm receiving structure.