Abstract: A liftgate/tailgate assembly for a vehicle having a chassis and a cargo area, such cargo area comprising a bed and one or more vertical sidewalls mounted to the vehicle chassis, such liftgate/tailgate assembly comprising a tailgate which, when rotated into an open tailgate position, forms a liftgate/tailgate platform to support a load to be lifted, and one or more linkage assemblies pivotably mounted to the tailgate which permit the liftgate/tailgate platform to be translated both vertically and horizontally relative to the cargo area of the vehicle, while permitting rear impact protection to be mounted on the vehicle and method for lifting a load into a vehicle cargo area.

Abstract: An improved heavy vehicle chassis for recreational vehicles, busses and trucks is provided. According to the invention, the chassis has a front frame chassis subcomponent and a rear chassis subcomponent. The front chassis subcomponent contains appropriate chassis subcomponents such as wheels, axles, a suspension unit, braking and steering apparatus. In the preferred embodiment, the engine is disposed between the front chassis subcomponent axles allowing better handling, turning, and maneuverability, while not significantly reducing overall vehicle ground clearance. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the rear chassis configuration has increased storage capacity to accept items as large as additional recreational vehicles such as a personal water craft, golf cart, dirt bike, and the like. A drop deck can be added to assist in delivering the small recreational vehicle to ground level.

Abstract: The invention is a unitary cantilever liftgate that attaches to the vehicle body instead of the vehicle chassis. The liftgate may be fully assembled and tested prior to installation on the vehicle body. This greatly reduces installation time while improving performance and reliability. Various features such as steps, bumpers and brackets are integrated into the liftgate. Further, the liftgate is preferably configured so that multiple units can be stacked together for shipping and ease of unloading and loading. The stackability of the liftgates simplifies storing as well, by removing the necessity of storing several components separately.

Abstract: A wheelchair carriage in which an upright support post detachably couples to a towing frame of a vehicle. A tubular housing slidably receives an end of the post and is biased against the post. An enclosure for holding a wheelchair includes a base member mounted to the housing, a platform mounted to a lower end of the base member, and a rack attached to an upper end of the base member. A lever has a lever arm pivotally attached to the upright support post, and a lever handle joined to the lever arm at a fulcrum pivotally attached to the housing. The lever handle, being moved in a first direction, bears against the fulcrum to move the enclosure to the first position for wheeling a wheelchair onto the platform. The lever handle, being moved in a second direction opposite to the first direction, raises the enclosure to the second position to a height sufficient to prevent the carriage from impeding the clearance of the vehicle for traveling.

Abstract: In a loading platform system for mounting on a vehicle, comprising a lift mechanism support structure, at least a first support arm having an end pivotally connected to the lift mechanism support structure and pivotally supporting at its other end a loading platform for supporting a load and a lifting actuator connected between the lift mechanism support structure and the other end of the support arm for operating the support arm for lifting and lowering the loading platform, the loading platform is pivotally connected to the second end of the first support arm by way of a spring-loaded guide member, which is movably disposed in an opening formed in a guide element mounted on the support arm at the other end thereof.

Abstract: A lift for lifting heavy items onto the bed of a motor vehicle, whereby the lift is portable and removably attached to the motor vehicle via a receiver hitch. The entire lift hitch is slid into place on the receiver hitch for common towing ball structures that are on some motor vehicles or are readily available on all motor vehicle. The lift hitch does not require removal of the vehicle tailgate or permanent attachments to the vehicle frame or bumper. The lift hitch forks or platform can be lowered to ground level and raised to the tailgate level. The lifting and lowering mechanism can be an electric motor, hydraulic system, or hand turned ratchet mechanism.

Abstract: A lifting attachment is disclosed for use in conjunction with a trailer hitch mounted to a vehicle. The lifting attachment includes a support assembly which is detachably connected to the trailer hitch and this support assembly includes a vertically extending support beam. The attachment includes a platform having a generally planar top and an elongated arm having one end pivotally connected to the platform and a second end pivotally connected to the support beam. A hydraulic piston and cylinder assembly is pivotally connected between the support beam and an intermediate point on the arm so that extension and retraction of the piston within the cylinder selectively raises and lowers the platform.

Abstract: A truck for transporting and/or storing lawn care equipment such as self-propelled lawn mowers, tools, and the like. The truck includes a hydraulically powered ramp which enables such mowers to be driven onto and off of the truck. Optionally, the ramp may also function as a rear door for closing and/or locking the truck bay. In certain embodiments, structure is provided within the truck's bay for allowing hand tools to be vertically stored and supported by bay walls during transport.

Abstract: A lift-type loading platform system, which system can be mounted on a motor vehicle, particularly a truck, the system including a lifting and closing mechanism which has an essentially parallelogram configuration, which mechanism includes two supporting frames which are generally mutually parallel and spaced a distance apart, an essentially plate-like loading platform, intended for raising and lowering a load and for closing off a cargo compartment or backdraft space of the vehicle, a "lifting" cylinder mechanism for raising and lowering the platform, and a "closing" cylinder mechanism for swinging the loading platform back and forth from the horizontal to the vertical position.

Abstract: Mounting device for a hydraulically actuated tailgate of a truck having a transverse support mountable to the rear of the vehicle frame and provided with support flanges (4) spaced from each other symmetrically relative to the longitudinal center plane of the vehicle and provided with through-channels (5', 5", 5"') for support bolts of lift and pivot devices of the tailgate, the transverse support on the vehicle being formed of an extruded hollow box profile (1) made of aluminum of essentially tetragonal cross-section which at its upper surface (1') and its lower surface (1") is provided with continuous grooves (3', 3") extending over the length of the profile for positively and frictionally snap-receiving the ends of cantilever arms (4", 4"') of the support flanges, the support flanges being formed of sections of an extruded aluminum hollow profile and that at the front surface of the tailgate there are also provided support flanges formed from sections of an extruded hollow profile of aluminum which are pro

Abstract: The invention relates to a loading platform for mounting on a transport vehicle, having a loading flap pivotable between a substantially vertical position lying against the vehicle and a lowered, practically horizontal position, and at least one actuating member which engages on the supporting side of the loading flap for pivoting around a hinge point and which is provided with a drive assembly for controlling the orientation thereof, wherein in the lowered position the distance between the point of the actuating member located furthest from the supporting side and the supporting side of the loading flap can be reduced by the drive assembly.

Abstract: A lift attached to a truck has a tail gate supported by at least one hydraulic lift and at least one tilt cylinder for respectively lifting the tail gate as a whole and rotating it for opening and closing. A control system for moving such a tail gate up and down as a whole and rotating it to open and close it is provided with a power unit including a hydraulic pump, an electric motor for the hydraulic pump, and a plurality of valves for selectably allowing or not allowing transport of a hydraulic liquid by the hydraulic pump into the hydraulic cylinders, a sensor for measuring the slope angle of the tail gate, external switches, and a controller which serves to transmit output signals to the motor and to the valves in response to input signals from the sensor and the external switches and is capable of stopping rotary motion of the tail gate at a horizontal position irrespective of the slope of the vehicle and starting and stopping the rotary motion of the tail gate gradually.

Abstract: A trailer chassis for receiving and transporting shipping containers having a platform extension fixedly attached to the rear end and with a liftgate that can be moved between a position level with the platform extension and ground level. The platform extension and the liftgate are each large enough for a loaded pallet handler to maneuver. This construction allows a forklift, pallet jack or other pallet handler to unload palletized cargo directly from the shipping container at various retail locations without the need for an elevated loading dock.

Abstract: A safety guard uses a strip switch to prevent injury at pinch points on either lift gates or pedestrian-operated industrial trucks. A strip switch is provided at the pinch point between the lift gate and the truck bed or vehicle body to stop or reverse operation of the lift gate when contacted by body parts or items improperly loaded on the lift gate. A strip switch may also be located adjacent the portions of a pedestrian-operated lift truck. The strip switch is disposed located about a portion of the perimeter of the pedestrian-operated lift truck adjacent the operator. Upon contacting the strip switch, the pedestrian-operated lift truck may be stopped or reversed to permit the operator to free his foot from the potential pinch point where injury can occur.

Abstract: This invention relates to hydraulic lift apparatus in general and to a hydraulically operated vehicular tailgate lift apparatus in particular.

Abstract: An elevator mechanism is disposed in the rear portion for rotating the rear panel of the vehicle and includes two pairs of links pivotally coupled in parallel between two couplers and a support of the vehicle so as to stably support the coupler. An actuator is coupled between the support and the coupler for moving the coupler upward and downward. A panel is pivotally coupled to the upper portion of the coupler and an actuator is coupled between the bottom of the panel and the middle portion of the coupler for rotating the panel about the upper portion of the coupler.

Abstract: An elevating tailgate mechanism including an elongated mounting structure to be mounted on the vehicle, a lift frame having one end coupled to a pivoting mechanism on the vehicle mounting structure which rotates the lift frame relative to the mounting frame and a platform pivotally mounted to the other end of the lift frame to be extended therefrom and folded back over the lift frame, and a member for moving the pivoting mechanism along the length of the mounting structure to extend and retract the lift frame and the platform mounted thereto relative to the mounting structure.

Abstract: A vehicle chassis is disclosed that includes a frame, front suspension, rear suspension and vertically adjustable bed. The frame includes two mirrored image side rails connected to each other by a bumper, torque box and at least one cross member. The frame structure forms an enclosed frontal section and a U-shaped back section. The front section is adapted to receive a motor, transmission, cab, and the front suspension. A roll bar support assembly is disposed above the torque box to support the U-shaped section of the frame. The back U-shaped section is adapted to receive the adjustable bed and rear suspension. The adjustable bed maintains a constant horizontal orientation when moving from a grounded loading position to a raised transporting position. The rear suspension includes two separate independently acting assemblies with one disposed on each side of the back U-shaped section.

Abstract: A bale transporter and feeder is used for loading, transporting and feeding large bales of hay. This transporter and feeder includes a frame which is adapted to be connected to a prime mover and which forms a horizontal support bed, which will at least partially support a hay bale on end during transport and feeding. A lift is pivotally supported on the frame and rotatable substantially 90.degree. about a horizontal axis at approximately the same height as the horizontal support bed. This lift is adapted to engage a hay bale on the ground in a lowered position and is rotatable to a raised position. In the raised position the bale is supported on end of the support bed and the lift, and can be left in place for feeding cattle after the frame has been moved to a feeding area. An actuator is supported on the frame to move the lift between the lowered and raised positions.

Abstract: A platform lift mountable to a vehicle, which includes a platform that can remain horizontal while lifting and can tilt to faciltate loading and unloading of the platform. The lift includes a linkage pivotally mounted to the base frame, and the linkage includes a base leg, a platform leg, a lift arm, and a reference arm. In a lift/lower mode the legs and the arms form a parallelogram system that will maintain the platform in a level horizontal arrangement. In a tilt mode, the upper arm is extensible in order to change the geometry from a parallelogram to a quadrilateral with equal legs and unequal arms.

Abstract: A lifting truck tailgate is attached to an angled, swiveling arm which is attached to a lifting arm by a pivot and supported on a structural member of the lifting arm. The lifting arm is actuated by a pressure cylinder. A spring activated catch on the lifting arm mates with a matching projection on the swiveling arm thereby preventing liftoff of the swiveling arm from the lifting arm when a heavy load is placed on the trailing edge of the tailgate. An adjustable screw disengages the latch when the pressure cylinder is fully retracted enabling the tailgate to form a ramp when it rests on the ground.

Abstract: A main frame pivotally supports the forward ends of a laterally spaced apart pair of parallelogram linkage systems. Each linkage system comprises an upper link and a two section lower link, rear ends of which are pivotally interconnected to a rear shackle, the lower end of which has a ground engageable roller. A load platform is pivotally connected along its forward edge to the rear ends of the upper links. The rear sections of the lower links are rigidly interconnected by a lift frame that is fitted at its opposite ends with upstanding crank members. A hydraulic piston cylinder mechanism is mounted adjacent each linkage system with its butt end pivotally connected to the main frame and the piston rod of each cylinder is pivotally connected to one of the upstanding crank members. The forward and rear sections of each lower link are pivotally interconnected by a knuckle pin and each lower link includes stops to bidirectionally limit relative angular displacement of the two sections.

Abstract: Tailgate apparatus for a pick-up truck comprising a frame assembly adapted to be mounted around the preexisting bumper of a vehicle after removal of the conventional tail gate. The assembly does not require removal of the truck bumper and maintains the visibility of the license plate. Lifting and raising of the tail gate is provided by spool wound flexible straps on each side powered by a geared motor. A drive shaft under the platform interconnecting the side housings is driven by the motor rotating a first spool in one of the housings so that the spools rotate together. The apparatus is light weight and reliable in operation.

Abstract: A lift gate assembly including a U-shaped base having horizontal central section flanked by parallel upstanding legs, a gate, and a pair of upstanding legs secured to the gate in alignment with the legs and the base. Links extending between the legs define two parallelogram linkages and a torsion bar extends between and is rigidly attached to a corresponding link in each of the parallelogram linkages. Preferably, the torsion bar defines the lower pivot of the parallelogram linkage and extends between the legs of the base and the lowermost links in each parallelogram linkage, being rigidly attached thereto. Hydraulic cylinders are provided for each parallelogram linkage to raise and lower the gate.

Abstract: The invention is for a device for controlling a loading platform for transport vehicles, such as goods lorries, which loading platform can close off the loading opening of the transport vehicle and can move a load in horizontal plane between the loading area of the transport vehicle and the surface of the ground. The device consists primarily of a cross-member, a platform adjustable in height, supporting beams, bearing rods installed in parallel and swivel-mounted between the loading platform and the supporting beams, tilting arms which swivel on spindles installed in the cross-member, which tilting arms bear a support on which the loading platform freely rests and which arms are coupled to a tipping cylinder which at one end is connected to the transport vehicle like the guide rods and at least one lifting cylinder which is connected at the other end to the said spindles.

Abstract: The movement of the lift gate between ground and cargo bed positions is controlled by an attitude control mechanism which effects a change in attitude from horizontal at the bed position to slightly downwardly and rearwardly inclined at the ground position. The platform is raised by lift arms which are coupled to the platform by longitudinally movable pivots which enable the attitude change. The attitude control mechanism includes generally parallel arms pivotally connected to platform uprights; and the platform is pivotally connected about a horizontal axis to the platform uprights. Support arms between the platform and the platform uprights maintain the generally horizontal attitude of the platform. Latch means associated with the platform uprights, latch the uprights and the platform to the cargo bed in the bed position. The platform is swingable upwardly and downwardly relative to its pivot axis for ramping with a loading dock.

Abstract: An elevating platform (1) is attached to the tailgate elevator (2) of an automotive truck by means of a support member (7). The support member is accommodated in a recess (1a) provided in the thick end of the platform and is connected thereto by the horizontal pivot shaft (6) of the platform, against which shaft a lifting arm (4) co-acting with a lifting cylinder (3) engages. The elevating platform (1) may optionally be freely pivotable relative to the support member (7), in which case the platform can be manually swung to a vertical position. This upward swinging of the platform can alternatively be effected by a rocker cylinder device (5, 5a), in which case the platform and support member are joined together by a screw (10). The platform (1) may comprise extruded profiled sections, in which the support member accommodating recess (1a) can be formed by milling.

Abstract: A log lifter for a log splitting machine enables logs to be fed to the splitting station without having to manually lift the log head. The log lifter comprises a frame pivotally connected to a conventional log splitting machine. The frame is raised by a hydraulic cylinder until the log rolls to the splitting station. A valve allows the log lifter to be raised and lowered in synchronization with the splitting cycle, thereby enabling a log to be automatically fed to the splitting station after a previous log has been split and while the splitting cylinder is retracting.

Abstract: An elevator platform is mounted by means of lift arms and parallel arms to a frame mounted under the truck bed. On the frame, the normal pivot axis for the parallel arms is aligned vertically above the pivot axis for the lift arms; and the pivot axes on the platform are similarly vertically aligned when the platform is in the horizontal load position. One of the parallel arms is articulated having an elbow intermediate its ends; and a control strut is mounted on the truck to be swung into engagement with the articulated arm adjacent to its elbow while the platform is being raised from the ground position. When so engaged, the proximal link of the articulated arm is locked against further upward movement, so that further upward movement of the lift arms will cause the gate to rotate upward 90.degree. to a vertical storage position behind the truck bed. The frame pivot for the other parallel arm is mounted on an oscillating bracket, allowing that pivot to move to permit the rotation of the platform.

Abstract: Hoist mechanism for a truck vehicle of the type having a pivotally movable load support frame. Opposed piston hydraulic cylinders are carried by the load support frame. Each of the hydraulic cylinders has a piston rod to which is attached a rotatable sheave. Another sheave is rotatably attched to the load support frame. A cable has one end thereof attached to the load support frame. The cable has portions in engagement with the sheaves and has a free end adapted to be attached to a load. A load is thus drawn upon the load support frame as the hydraulic cylinders are operated.

Abstract: A cargo elevator, designed particularly for attachment to the rear end of a truck or trailer having a cargo bed, includes a mounting frame secured at the rear end of the cargo bed and disposed downwardly and forwardly with the forward end secured to the vehicle frame. The mounting frame includes aligned and axially spaced bearing sleeves for rotatably supporting a torque shaft and the mounting frame supports an hydraulic power cylinder, acting on a radial arm of the torque shaft between the sleeves to oscillate the torque shaft. Elevator platform lift arms are nonrotatably fixed to the ends of the torque shaft, and parallel arms are pivotally mounted on the mounting frame; and these are pivotally attached to a base platform of the elevator platform, to maintain it generally horizontal.

Abstract: Actuator and control circuits for tailgate lifts of the type which lift and lower loads in a lifting mode and which fold in a folding (closing) mode. Control circuitry is provided which minimizes the risk of inadvertent folding of the gate when loaded. The circuitry can also be adapted to limit the lifting capacity of the actuator to the lifting of a safe load.

Abstract: A loading device for a goods vehicle comprises a lifting platform which can be raised to the height of the loading surface and then pivoted into a vertical position to form a tail gate. The rear end of the lifting platform can also be tilted downwardly when the lifting platform is at road level or a loading surface height. The lifting platform is supported and operated by two hydraulic rams in conjunction with two lifting arms and two guiding arms. The rams are hingedly connected with the lifting platform differently so that both serve to raise the platform and one serves to pivot the platform to vertical position after the platform has reached loading surface height.