Patent ID: 8418814

Claim:
A lifting and closure system, comprising: a platform assembly comprising (1) a lifting platform having a width and a length, (2) a closure platform having a width and a length and positioned below and facing the lifting platform, wherein the width and length of the closure platform exceed the width and length, respectively, of the lifting platform, (3) a platform frame connected to and extending above the lifting platform, and (4) a biasing mechanism attached to the closure platform for urging the closure platform toward the lifting platform; and a support and drive assembly positioned on a support structure, the support structure having an upper surface, an opposing lower surface and a portal which interconnects the upper and lower surfaces, the support and drive assembly positioned above the platform assembly and operatively connected to the platform assembly for raising the platform assembly into the portal, the portal having an upper entrance extending through the upper surface of the support structure, and a lower entrance extending through the lower surface of the support structure in a position below the upper entrance, and wherein the portal has a width, a length, and a depth, wherein the depth comprises a distance between the upper surface and the lower surface of the support structure, and wherein the width and length of the portal are less than the width and length, respectively, of the closure platform, and wherein when the platform assembly is raised into the portal, the closure platform engages and is urged against the lower surface of the support structure by the biasing mechanism causing the closure platform to cover the lower entrance of the portal, and wherein the biasing mechanism is self-adjustable to enable the lifting platform to be raised through the portal to rest at a final elevation substantially equal to an elevation of the upper surface of the support structure to facilitate sliding transfer of cargo from the lifting platform to the upper surface.