Patent ID: 8043040

Claim:
A cargo truck having an underride, a cargo floor, and a lift assembly, the underride comprising: a generally horizontally disposed underride member; a pair of vertically disposed upright frame members, one frame member extending upwards from each of two outer ends of the underride member; a pair of underride vertical support channels secured to one of the lift assembly and the cargo truck; and a spring biased coupling member; wherein: the underride member is positioned proximate and parallel to a peripheral edge of the cargo truck and vertically positioned between a lower edge of the cargo truck and a ground providing a barrier from other vehicles encroaching under the cargo truck; the vertically disposed upright frame members are in vertical communication with the underride vertical support channels, allowing for vertical motion; and a first end of the spring biased coupling member being affixed to the vertically disposed upright frame member and a second end of the spring biased coupling member being affixed to the underride vertical support channel, the spring biased coupling member controlling the vertical motion of the underride member; and the lift assembly further comprising a movable cargo platform such that when the movable cargo platform is lowered, the underride member moves downward when engaged by a lower surface of the movable cargo platform, wherein the spring biasing coupling member is coupled between the vertically disposed upright frame member and the underride vertical support channel such that when the cargo platform is raised, the underride member is raised by the biasing mechanism.