Claims
- 1. A lifting apparatus adapted for use in an associated vehicle having a floor and one upright wall having an opening therein, the lifting apparatus being operable between a stored mode and a deployed mode, said lifting apparatus comprising:
a platform having a generally planar loading surface, said platform adapted for movement between a folded position and an open position; elevator means for selectively moving said platform between an upper level and a lower level; first pivot means for pivoting said elevator means and said platform while said platform is in said folded position from an interior side of said opening to an exterior side of said opening about a first pivot member having a first axis generally normal to said floor; and, second pivot means for selectively pivoting said platform between said folded position and said open position about a second pivot member having a second axis perpendicular to said first axis.
- 2. The lifting apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first pivot member comprises:
a post adapted for mounting to said floor of said vehicle at a position displaced from said opening.
- 3. The lifting apparatus of claim 1 wherein said elevator means comprises:
a telescoping member operable along an axis parallel to said first axis wherein a lower portion is adapted to telescope within an upper portion, said telescoping member being spaced from said first pivot member.
- 4. The lifting apparatus of claim 3 further comprising:
a first cross member extending between said first pivot member and said first portion of said telescoping member.
- 5. The lifting apparatus of claim 4 further comprising:
a second cross member being spaced from said first cross member and extending between said first pivot member and said first portion of said telescoping member.
- 6. The lifting apparatus of claim 1 wherein said platform is formed of aluminum.
- 7. The lifting apparatus of claim 1 wherein said elevator means further comprises:
hydraulic means for selectively moving said platform between said upper level and said lower level.
- 8. The lifting apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:
first switching means for activating said elevator means, said first switching means being located on said elevator means.
- 9. The lifting apparatus of claim 8 further comprising:
second switching means for activating said elevator means, said second switching means being selectively moveable with said platform.
- 10. A lifting apparatus adapted for use in an associated vehicle having a floor and one upright wall having an opening therein, the lifting apparatus being operable between a stored mode and a deployed mode, said lifting apparatus comprising:
a platform having a generally planar loading surface, said platform adapted for movement between a folded position and an open position; elevator means for selectively moving said platform between an upper level and a lower level, said elevator means comprising a telescoping member operable along an axis wherein a lower portion is adapted to telescope within an upper portion; first pivot means for pivoting said platform while in said folded position from an interior side of said opening to an exterior side of said opening about a first axis generally normal to said floor, said first pivot means including a post adapted for mounting to said floor of said vehicle at a position displaced from said opening; second pivot means for selectively pivoting said platform between said folded position and said open position about a second axis perpendicular to said first axis; a first cross member extending between said first pivot member and said upper portion of said telescoping member; first switching means for activating said elevator means located on said upper portion of said telescoping member; and, second switching means for alternatively activating said elevator means, said second switching means being selectively moveable with said platform.
- 11. A method for utilizing a lift gate apparatus adapted for unloading cargo from an associated vehicle having a side door opening, wherein said lift gate apparatus comprises:
a platform having a generally planar loading surface, said platform adapted for movement between a folded position and an open position; elevator means for selectively moving said platform between an upper level and a lower level; first pivot means for pivoting said elevator means and said platform while said platform is in said folded position from an interior side of said opening to an exterior side of said opening about a first pivot member having a first axis generally normal to said floor; and, second pivot means for selectively pivoting said platform between said folded position and said open position about a second pivot member having a second axis perpendicular to said first axis, the method comprising the steps of: pivoting said elevator means and said platform while said platform is in said folded position from said interior side of said opening to said exterior side of said opening about said first pivot member; pivoting said platform from said folded position to said open position about said second pivot member; and, utilizing said elevator means to lower said platform to said lower level.
- 12. The method of claim 11 wherein said step of pivoting said elevator means and said platform about said first pivot member is accomplished manually.
- 13. The method of claim 11 wherein said step of pivoting said platform about said second pivot member is accomplished manually.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application, Ser. No. 60/156,789, filed on Sep. 30, 1999, in Express Mail Label No. EL359134972US by the same inventors, Ken Rock and Andy Grow, entitled SIDE DOOR LIFT GATE.
Provisional Applications (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60156789 |
Sep 1999 |
US |
Continuations (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09491887 |
Jan 2000 |
US |
Child |
09910570 |
Jul 2001 |
US |