Patent ID: 8490923

Claim:
A portable vehicular hoist system comprising: a truss assembly, and a hoist assembly connectable to the truss assembly to be supported thereby and capable lifting and dropping loads, wherein the truss assembly includes, (i) a joist member having forward and rearward ends, and a planar forward connection tongue projecting outwardly from the forward end thereof; (ii) a pair of rafter members each having upper and lower ends, wherein the rafter members extend downwardly and outwardly relative to one another such that the upper ends thereof have a lesser separation distance relative to one another as compared to the lower ends thereof, and wherein each of the upper ends thereof include a substantially planar upper connection tongue; and (iii) a forward connection assembly which comprises: (a) a connection yoke positioned substantially transverse to the joist member, (b)outwardly angled slotted support ears formed at each opposed end of the connection yoke for receiving therein a respective planar upper connection tongue of the rafter members so the connection yoke bridges the lesser separation distance between the upper ends of the rafter members, (c) an elongate forward central slot defined by the connection yoke; (d) a planar joist tongue received within the forward central slot of the connection yoke; and (e) a plurality of connection pins for respectively pivotally connecting the planar joist tongue at the forward end of the joist member to the connection yoke and for pivotally connecting each of the planar upper connection tongues of the rafter members to a respective one of the support ears of the connection yoke in which the upper connection tongue is received to thereby allow for relative pivotal articulated movements therebetween so the rafter members may be pivotally moved rearwardly and upwardly from an operative position wherein the rafter members extend downwardly and outwardly from the connection yoke to a stowed condition wherein the rafter members are oriented generally parallel to the joist member.