Patent ID: 7090305

Claim:
A vehicle dump body elevation device comprising: at least one hoist having a lower end pivotally attached to a vehicle frame and an upper end pivotally attached to a dump body; at least one hinge assembly for attaching the dump body to the vehicle frame, the hinge assembly having a lowered position wherein the dump body is substantially horizontal and a raised position wherein a front portion of the dump body is elevated higher than a rear portion of the dump body, and wherein the rear portion of the dump body is elevated clear of a rear bumper mounted on the vehicle frame; wherein the hinge assembly moves both the front and the rear portions of the dump body upwardly while pivoting the dump body to the raised position; wherein the hinge assembly comprises: a front link member pivotally mounted to the dump body; a main link member having a first end pivotally attached to the front link member, a second end pivotally mounted to the vehicle frame, and an attachment means disposed therebetween for pivotal attachment to a rear link member; the rear link member having a first end attached to a center linking member, and a second end pivotally mounted to the dump body; and wherein an end of the center linking member comprises a mounting means for attachment to the vehicle frame.