Patent Document

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates to mechanisms for stowing and deploying various loads including personal mobility devices such as “scooters” and wheelchairs, in and from the cargo areas of utility, sport utility and other types of vehicles. 
   BACKGROUND 
   Electrically-powered personal mobility vehicles such as “scooters” and wheelchairs are used by many persons to move from place to place in the home as well as in hospitals, grocery stores, malls and other venues with pedestrian traffic. Persons who own such vehicles often wish to transport them by way of a utility or sport utility vehicle. 
   The typical scooter weights approximately 300 pounds, too much for an ordinary person to lift into or out of a vehicle cargo area without mechanical assistance. 
   It is known to install a lift mechanism in a vehicle cargo area by means of an assembly which stands on the floor of the cargo area and deploys a lifting strap by way of a powered spool or reel. When mounted in a rear cargo area, this mechanism interferes with the use of floor-based features such as foldaway seats and stowage compartment hatches. 
   SUMMARY 
   In accordance with the present invention, a lift mechanism for various loads including scooters is adapted to be mounted within the cargo area of a primary transport vehicle. Such vehicles include SUV&#39;s, minivans, crossover vehicles, wagons and even pick-up trucks. In general, the invention comprises a side-mounted, swingable boom pivotally attachable to a mast and provided with a linear actuator which raises and lowers the boom by changing its angle relative to the mast. The side-mount arrangement frees up the cargo area floor for other uses even when the lift mechanism is in service. 
   The lift mechanism of the present invention is advantageously adapted for installation in vehicles having vertical structural components such as “D” pillars immediately inside the cargo area opening, but may be used with other vehicles through suitable modification; i.e., an existing vertical pillar may be reinforced or an entirely new base structure may be built and installed in the cargo area. The attachment structure includes a first component called a “mast” which receives the lifting boom and one end of a linear actuator, and a second component called a “pintle” which is securely bolted to the vehicle body either directly or via a reinforcing structure. The mast and pintle are removably and pivotally attachable to one another by, for example, pins and brackets so as to allow the boom to be selectively swung into and out of the cargo area over a sill or other threshold structure. In the preferred form, a multi-position lock is provided for holding the mast in the desired angular relationship to the pintle. Thus, the lift mechanism of the present invention leaves the floor of the cargo area available for normal use of such features as fold away seats and cargo stowage hatches. 
   In accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the invention, the lift mechanism comprises a substantially L-shaped rigid boom preferably having a box section or partial box section defined by spaced-apart parallel side members. The lower end of the boom is attached to the rear side pillar of the transport vehicle, just inside the rear deck opening. The opposite end of the boom is equipped with a depending structure which can collect the scooter for hoisting or lowering. In addition, the lift mechanism includes an actuator, such as an electrically driven ball-screw linear actuator, for varying the angle between the boom and the vehicle. The attachment between the boom and the side pillar is such as to allow the boom and the suspended load to swing into and out of the SUV cargo area. 
   In the preferred form, the present invention requires no winding or reeling mechanisms to lift or deploy the scooter or other load. Instead, the boom angles downwardly or upwardly in accordance with the selected operation of the power actuator to lift or deploy the scooter or other load. Because the boom is pivotally mounted to the side pillar of the vehicle by means of a mounting structure, which affords pivoting, the boom can readily swing into the area of the cargo area where the scooter or other load is lowered to the floor. In the preferred form, the attachment mechanism is designed with pins and brackets so as to permit the boom structure to be lifted and detached from the pillar and either removed entirely from the vehicle or placed on the floor of the cargo area as desired. 
   As an optional feature, a second powered actuator mechanism can be provided to vary the position of the attachment point between the upper end of the boom and the load collector. In addition, means are provided for adjusting the configuration of the boom and the relationship between the boom and the actuator mechanism to fit in various shapes and sizes of vehicles. 
   Another aspect of my invention is an improved suspension system connected between the boom and the load. This system comprises top and bottom blocks with spherical bearing cavities, and a linkage with a metal ball attached to the opposite ends to be removably placed into respective bearing cavities. The top block is attached to the boom and the bottom block is releasably attached to the load. 
   Other applications of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art when the following description of the best mode contemplated for practicing the invention is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The description herein makes reference to the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views, and wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a lift mechanism according to the present invention attached to a scooter to be lifted into the cargo area of an SUV; 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the lift mechanism raised to lift the load off of the ground; 
       FIG. 3  shows the lift mechanism swung into the cargo area of the SUV; 
       FIG. 4  is an exploded view of the lift mechanism of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 5  is a detail of the optional power adjustment mechanism in the upper end of the boom; 
       FIG. 6  is a schematic side view of a preferred suspension system for attaching the lift mechanism to a scooter; 
       FIG. 7  is an exploded view in perspective of the mast and pintle components, as well as the lock mechanism for releasably locking them in each of several angular relationships; 
       FIGS. 8 and 9  are plan views of the lock mechanism in released and locked conditions, respectively; and 
       FIG. 10  shows a mechanism for attaching the boom to a scooter by way of suspension components of  FIG. 6  and a C-arm. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   Referring to the drawings, a lift mechanism  10  is shown attached to the body structure  12  of a sport utility vehicle (SUV)  14  just inside of the rear cargo opening  16 . The vehicle  14  is equipped with a horizontally hinged lift gate  18  which fits over and closes the opening  16 . The SUV  14  is equipped with a bumper  20  which is separated from the floor  22  of the cargo area by way of plastic sill trim  24 . The floor  22  may be equipped with storage compartment hatches  25  and/or foldaway seat mechanisms (not shown), all of which are conventional and known in the SUV design art. 
   The lift mechanism  10  is shown here lifting and stowing a conventional 4-wheel, electric “scooter”  82  of the type having handlebar steering. Such scooters are frequently used by people with limited ambulatory capability to move from place to place. Of course, the lift mechanism  10  can be used to hoist, stow and/or deploy many different types of loads which fit wholly or partially into the cargo area of an SUV or other transport vehicle. 
   A typical scooter  82  is of such size to be stowable fully within the cargo compartment of the conventional full-sized SUV  14  on the floor  22  and with the lift gate  18  fully closed. The weight of a typical scooter is on the order of 300 pounds. The lift mechanism  10  comprises a substantially L-shaped rigid steel boom  26  having a three-sided, partial box section defining an interior channel. The lower end of boom  26  is pivotally attached to an elongate channel bracket hereinafter referred to as a “mast”  28 . The mast  28  is also a three-sided, partial box-section element and, like boom  26 , made of 1020 or 1040 steel. It&#39;s opposite parallel sides are far enough apart to allow the boom  26  to fit between them and be pinned in place, as shown in  FIG. 4 . The pivotal connection between boom  26  and mast  28  is provided by pin  30 , which fits into any of several holes  32  provided in the mast  28 , so that the lifting mechanism can be adjusted in size for any of several different vehicle designs. As best shown in  FIG. 4 , the mast  28  is provided with pivot pin brackets  34  and  36  which are welded to the back surface of the mast. 
   The attachment structure further comprises a rigid, metal pintle plate  42  which is bolted to the D pillar  13  by way of a reinforcing plate  52 . It is to be understood that the reinforcing plate  52  may be customized to the particular vehicle. Typically it is an elongate plate or beam having a substantially vertical orientation relative to the body of the vehicle  14 . While shown here attached to a D pillar, it may be attached to any body structure or to a custom crafted structure mounted within the vehicle. Pintle  42  has vertical pins  38  and  40  which fit into the holes in brackets  34  and  36 . The pin and bracket arrangement  38 ,  40 ,  34 ,  36  allows the boom  26  and mast  28  to pivot or swing relative to the side of the transport vehicle  14  to stow or deploy scooter  82 . A lock shown in  FIG. 7  can hold the mast in any of several angular positions as hereinafter described. 
   To summarize, the lift mechanism comprises the rigid boom  26 , a mounting structure  42 ,  52  attached to the vehicle body, and a mast structure  28  for pivotally attaching the boom  26  to the mounting structure  42 ,  52 . 
   The lift mechanism  10  further comprises a linear actuator  54 , here an electric ball-screw devise having an electric drive motor, which is connected into the electrical system of the transport vehicle  14  by way of a cable  60 . A suitable switch (not shown) is preferably provided. The extension shaft  62  of the actuator  54  is connected to a flange  65  at a midpoint on the rigid boom  26  by way of a block  64  and a pin which allows pivotal movement. 
   The free end of the boom  26  is provided with parallel slots  69  and receives a slide block  70  which can be adjusted and locked at any desired point along the length of the slots  69  by suitable threaded fasteners. A release mechanism  72  depends from the slide block  70  as hereinafter described with reference to  FIG. 6  to collect and lift the scooter  82  at an attachment point which is at or near the load&#39;s center of gravity. The length of the upper arm  68  of the boom  26  is such as to permit the mechanism  10  to be pivoted downwardly to either deploy or collect the scooter  82 . Assuming the scooter  82  is being collected for stowage, the electric ball-screw actuator  54  is thereafter operated to raise the boom  26  to the position shown in  FIG. 2  so that the scooter  82  is lifted up off of the ground to a point which places the wheels just above the level of the bumper  20  and the sill  24 . Thereafter, the lifting mechanism with the scooter depending therefrom is swung into the cargo area of the SUV  14  as shown in  FIG. 3 . At this point, the lifting mechanism  26  is preferably locked in place and the lift gate  18  is closed. 
   Looking now to  FIG. 5 , an optional and/or alternative mechanism to provide a power assist for adjustment of the position of the slide block  70  along the upper arm  68  is shown. The mechanism includes another electric ball-screw linear actuator  76  having a drive motor  78  receiving DC power through a cable  80 . The actuator  76  has an extension rod  77  which is attached to the slide block  70  to push it out or pull it back along the slots  69  in the upper arm  68 . 
     FIGS. 6 and 10  illustrate a preferred mechanism  12 , including a modified slide block  70 ′ for attaching the boom  26  to a tubular steel C-arm  84  which is removably attached by way of a mechanism  85  to the frame of the scooter  82 . The attachment mechanism  85  is a conventional socket with a conventional spring-loaded detent to allow the C-arm  84  to be removably attached in preparation for stowage. It is at or near the center of gravity of the scooter  82  for balance purposes as will be apparent to those skilled in the art. 
   The attachment mechanism is shown to comprise the modified slide block  70 ′, the primary difference between the modified block  70 ′ and the standard block shown in  FIG. 5  being the presence of the conical cavity  84  opening to a side slot  86 . The cavity  84  receives the upper ball  88  of a two-part linkage comprising an upper eye  90  and a lower eye  92 , the lower eye  92  being threaded into a steel swivel ball  94  which provides a spherical bearing as hereinafter described. 
   The ball  94  fits into a spherical cavity  96  in an aluminum block  98 , the interior cavity opening to both the top and side as shown for purposes of admitting the ball  94  to the side opening. A latch pin  100  prevents the ball  94  from exiting through the slide of the block  98  until such time as a release lever  104  is pushed to the left as shown in  FIG. 6  against the action of a bias spring  106  to move a plate  102  movably mounted on the back of a block  98 . This action pulls the pin  100  out of the cavity and permits the ball  94  to be released. 
   It will be apparent from the foregoing that the lower block  98  is permanently attached to the C-arm  84  which in turn is temporarily and removably attached to the scooter  82  by means of the spring-loaded detent type attachment mechanism  85 . Thereafter, the linear actuator associated with the arm  26  is operated to lower the arm until the length of the linkage  90 ,  92  is sufficient to collect and attach the scooter  82  to the slide block  70 ′. At this point, the lift mechanism  10  is operated as described above to lift the scooter  82  above the bumper so that it may be swung into the cargo area of the SUV as described. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 7 ,  8  and  9 , the mechanism for releasably locking the mast  28  in any of several angular positions about a vertical axis and relative to the pintle plate  42  will be described. The mechanism comprises a steel catch plate  102  having a semicircular end surface with tooth-like vertical slots  105  formed therein. The catch plate  102  is proposed between the brackets holding the pins  38 - 40  and is securely welded to the face of the pintle plate  42 . 
   The mechanism further comprises a latch, including a hollow cylindrical metal tube attached to a key  108  which fits into the slots  104  in the catch plate  102 , as best shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 . A T-shaped anchor pin  110  fits between holes  112  and the sides of the mast  28  and extends into the hollow interior of the cylindrical element  106 . A spring  114  urges the cylinder  106  and the blade-like key  108  toward the catch plate  102 . A latch pin  116 , having cam lobes  118  formed thereon is pivotally mounted between slots  120  in the sides of the mast  28  so that rotation of the latch pin  116 , between the two positions shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , causes the cam lobes  118  to engage the inside surface of the mast  28 , to slide the cylindrical element  106  and blade-type key  108  back along the axis of the T-shaped anchor pin  110 , between the released position shown in  FIG. 8  and the locked position shown in  FIG. 9 . It is apparent from these figures that, once the blade key  108  is withdrawn as shown in  FIG. 8 , the mast  28  can be swung about the vertical axis through the pins  38  to  40  in the desired position. The locking element  106  and blade key  108  can then be released in such a manner that the spring  114  urges them firmly into one of the slots  104  in the desired position. It is highly desirable to lock the mast  28  relative to the pintle plate  42  in either the stowed or deployed positions to prevent inadvertent rotation thereof while the linear actuators are being used and/or the transport vehicle  14  is being driven. 
   While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments but, on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims, which scope is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures as is permitted under the law.

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