Patent ID: 7121782

Claim:
A hoist for transfer of cargo containers to and from beds of vehicles, comprising: a loadspreader having hooks for securing a cargo container thereto; a supporting structure for supporting said loadspreader with respect to a truck bed such that the container, supported on the truck bed, can be driven under and aligned parallel to said loadspreader; a plurality of links of equal pivot length, connecting said loadspreader to said supporting structure to form a parallelogram linkage to allow said loadspreader to swing through an arc while remaining parallel to the truck bed; a cable and a winch connected to prevent said loadspreader from dropping and for lowering said loadspreader when the weight of said loadspreader is lifted off of said winch; biasing means to reel up slack cable on said winch to hold the load up with the winch; said hooks being operable to engage or disengage the container when the container is supported on the truck; the forward end of the container when aligned with the truck bed being engageable by a tab on the front of the truck bed to swing up said links to lift the container; said hooks adapted to connect the container to said loadspreader when aligned therewith for swinging said loadspreader up to lift and hold the container to clear the truck bed so the truck can leave the container on the loadspreader held lifted by said winch; and means for releasing said hooks when the weight of said container is relieved therefrom as when the truck bed is supporting the container on the loadspreader.