CA1301811C - Pullout platform for truck floor - Google Patents
Pullout platform for truck floorInfo
- Publication number
- CA1301811C CA1301811C CA000562998A CA562998A CA1301811C CA 1301811 C CA1301811 C CA 1301811C CA 000562998 A CA000562998 A CA 000562998A CA 562998 A CA562998 A CA 562998A CA 1301811 C CA1301811 C CA 1301811C
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- panel
- platform
- floor
- platform according
- leg
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
Links
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60P—VEHICLES ADAPTED FOR LOAD TRANSPORTATION OR TO TRANSPORT, TO CARRY, OR TO COMPRISE SPECIAL LOADS OR OBJECTS
- B60P1/00—Vehicles predominantly for transporting loads and modified to facilitate loading, consolidating the load, or unloading
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Transportation (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Handcart (AREA)
Abstract
PULLOUT PLATFORM FOR TRUCK FLOOR
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A pullout platform for a truck box includes a rectangular panel with a peripheral rectangular frame surrounding an expanded metal mesh. Along the longitudi-nal sides of the panel are downwardly opening channels that accommodate rollers supporting the platform on the floor of a truck box. The rollers also engage in the conventional stiffening channels in the floor box to guide the platform as it is being drawn from the truck box. Two legs, one on either side of the panel at its outermost end, pivot between a stored condition lying alongside the panel and a support position extending vertically downwards from the panel. The legs are auto-matically latched in the vertical position.
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A pullout platform for a truck box includes a rectangular panel with a peripheral rectangular frame surrounding an expanded metal mesh. Along the longitudi-nal sides of the panel are downwardly opening channels that accommodate rollers supporting the platform on the floor of a truck box. The rollers also engage in the conventional stiffening channels in the floor box to guide the platform as it is being drawn from the truck box. Two legs, one on either side of the panel at its outermost end, pivot between a stored condition lying alongside the panel and a support position extending vertically downwards from the panel. The legs are auto-matically latched in the vertical position.
Description
~301811 PULLOUT PLATFORM FOR TRUCK FLOORS
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a pullout platform for a pickup truck box.
BACKGROUND
It is common to equip a pickup truck box with a cap, to protect the box contents from the environment.
However, with a cap in place it is difficult to remove equipment and supplies from anywhere in the box other than near the tailgate. The present invention proposes a solution to this problem.
SUMMARY
According to the present invention there is provided a pull out platform for use in an unmodified truck box of the type having a generally flat floor formed with integral, longitudinal, upwardly open, shallow stiffening channels, said platform comprising:
a rectangular panel dimensioned to lie flat on the floor of the truck box;
a plurality of rollers mounted on the panel to support the panel on the truck box floor, the rollers being arranged in at least two laterally spaced rows to engage respective stiffening channels on the floor;
a pair of legs pivotally connected to the panel ~ L~
~30~8~
adjacent an outer end thereof for free pivotal movement about a horizontal axis;
latch means for latching the legs in substan-tially vertical supporting positions depending from the platform.
The platform can be drawn out of the truck box and supported at its outer end on the legs, thus provid-ing access to all of the contents of the box which are supported on the platform.
This platform does not require additional guide tracks to be fixed to the truck box so that it can be lifted into and out of the box as desired.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate an exemplary embodiment of the present invention:
Figure 1 is an isometric view of a pickup truck with a caP;
Figure 2 is an isometric view of the pickup truck with the platform posi.tioned in the box and the cap shown removed for purposes of clarity, Figure 3 is a view like Figure 2 with the plat-form in an extended position;
Figures 4, 5 and 6, found on the same sheet as Figure 1, are schematic side elevations showing the ~ ~3~181~
stages in extending the platform;
Figure 7 is a transverse elevation, in section, of the platform;
Figure 8 is a detailed end elevation of a latch mechanism; and Figure 9 is a side elevation of the detail of Figure 8.
DETAILED DESCRIPTIO~
Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 illustrates a pickup truck 10 with a box 12 covered with a cap 14, all of conventional configuration. The tailgate 16 of the box is shown open, while the swing up rear window usually associated with the cap 14 has been omitted for the sake of clarity.
The floor 17 of the box 12 has a series of longitudinal channels 18 formed in it. These are stiffening channels that are conventionally provided in the floor of a truck box of this sort. The platform of this invention cooperates with these channels as well be described more fully in the following.
Referring to Figure 2, the truck is shown with the cap removed for the purposes of clarity. A platform has been placed in the truck box. It includes a rectangular panel 21 that extends from side to side of 130~
the box between the wheel wells and covers the floor from front to back. The platform also includes a pair of legs 22 that are pivotally connected to the panel near its outermost end. In the stored condition illustrated in Figure 2, the legs lie alongside the panel, within the confines of the truck box. In the extended position illustrated in Figure 3, the legs are vertically oriented and support the outer end of the panel above the ground.
A pair of latches 24 on the end of the panel lock the legs in the vertical positions as will be described in more detail in the following.
The panel 21 consists of a peripheral frame 26 surrounding a screen 28 that is preferably an expanded metal mesh. The screen may be supported by additional frame cross members where necessary, to provide it with sufficient strength to support the anticipated loads.
Along the longitudinal sides of the peripheral frame are two downwardly open channels 30. These are located beneath the screen 28 as most clearly illustrated in Figure 7. The channels accommodate transverse axles 32 that carry rollers 34. The rollers 34 are dimensioned to roll in the channels 18 in the floor of the truck box, to guide the movement of the platform into and out of the box.
~30~8~L1 Figures 8 and 9 illustrate a latching mechanism 24 for one of the legs 32. The other latch for the other leg is the mirror image of that shown. The latch in-cludes a latch bolt 36 that extends transversely along the back face of the peripheral frame 26 and is guided for lateral movement in its axial direction by three sleeves 38. Between the two innermost sleeves, the latch bolt 36 is provîded with a loop-like handle 40 which engages the two ad~acent sleeves to limit the reciprocat-ing movement of the bolt. The two handles 40 are also used to pull the platform from the truck box. A collar 42 is fitted to the latch bolt between the two outermost sleeves 38 and a compression sprlng 44 engages the collar and the next innermost sleeve to bias the latch bolt outwardly.
To retain the bolt in its unlatched position, each leg carries a circular bolt restralning plate 46.
Thls extends across the end of the bolt 36 and prevents it from projecting far beyond the side of the peripheral frame 26 until a bore 48 through the plate comes into line with the bolt. At that time, the spring 44 extends the bolt through the bore to retain the leg in its verti-cal position, as lllustrated in Figures 8 and 9.
Also illustrated in Figure 9 is a wear plate 50 ~30181~
that is fitted to the face of each leg 22.
Figures 4, 5 and 6 illustrate the manner in which the platform is extended. First, the legs 22 are pivoted about their transverse axes to lie on top of the tailgate 16 as illustrated in Figure 4. The platform is then pulled from the truck box. The platform is support-ed and guided in this motion by the rollers 34 which run in the floor channels 18. As the platform is drawn from the truck box, the legs 22 pivot downwardly about the outer edge of the tailgate 16 until they come to a verti-cal position as illustrated in Figure 5. At that time, the bores 4~ in the bolt restraining plates 46 are in line with the latch bolts 36, releasing the latch bolts to engage the bores under the influence of springs 44.
The legs are then latched in position and the platform may be drawn further from the truck to its fully extended position as illustrated ln Figure 6. The wearplates 50 protect the tailgate 16 and the faces of the legs 22 as the platform is moved from the condition of Figure 4 to that shown in Figure 5.
,The platform m,ay also be used as a ramp for loading wheeled vehicles such as golf carts or all terrain vehicles. The back end of the platform may be dropped to ground level by folding the platform legs. A
13018il vehicle may then be driven onto the platform, the back end of the platform lifted, and then the whole unit, including the vehicle, pushed into the truck box.
Unloading is the reverse.
While one embodiment of the present invention has been illustrated and described in the specification, it is to be understood that others are possible in the scope of the present invention. The invention is to be considered limited solely by the scope of the appended claims.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a pullout platform for a pickup truck box.
BACKGROUND
It is common to equip a pickup truck box with a cap, to protect the box contents from the environment.
However, with a cap in place it is difficult to remove equipment and supplies from anywhere in the box other than near the tailgate. The present invention proposes a solution to this problem.
SUMMARY
According to the present invention there is provided a pull out platform for use in an unmodified truck box of the type having a generally flat floor formed with integral, longitudinal, upwardly open, shallow stiffening channels, said platform comprising:
a rectangular panel dimensioned to lie flat on the floor of the truck box;
a plurality of rollers mounted on the panel to support the panel on the truck box floor, the rollers being arranged in at least two laterally spaced rows to engage respective stiffening channels on the floor;
a pair of legs pivotally connected to the panel ~ L~
~30~8~
adjacent an outer end thereof for free pivotal movement about a horizontal axis;
latch means for latching the legs in substan-tially vertical supporting positions depending from the platform.
The platform can be drawn out of the truck box and supported at its outer end on the legs, thus provid-ing access to all of the contents of the box which are supported on the platform.
This platform does not require additional guide tracks to be fixed to the truck box so that it can be lifted into and out of the box as desired.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate an exemplary embodiment of the present invention:
Figure 1 is an isometric view of a pickup truck with a caP;
Figure 2 is an isometric view of the pickup truck with the platform posi.tioned in the box and the cap shown removed for purposes of clarity, Figure 3 is a view like Figure 2 with the plat-form in an extended position;
Figures 4, 5 and 6, found on the same sheet as Figure 1, are schematic side elevations showing the ~ ~3~181~
stages in extending the platform;
Figure 7 is a transverse elevation, in section, of the platform;
Figure 8 is a detailed end elevation of a latch mechanism; and Figure 9 is a side elevation of the detail of Figure 8.
DETAILED DESCRIPTIO~
Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 illustrates a pickup truck 10 with a box 12 covered with a cap 14, all of conventional configuration. The tailgate 16 of the box is shown open, while the swing up rear window usually associated with the cap 14 has been omitted for the sake of clarity.
The floor 17 of the box 12 has a series of longitudinal channels 18 formed in it. These are stiffening channels that are conventionally provided in the floor of a truck box of this sort. The platform of this invention cooperates with these channels as well be described more fully in the following.
Referring to Figure 2, the truck is shown with the cap removed for the purposes of clarity. A platform has been placed in the truck box. It includes a rectangular panel 21 that extends from side to side of 130~
the box between the wheel wells and covers the floor from front to back. The platform also includes a pair of legs 22 that are pivotally connected to the panel near its outermost end. In the stored condition illustrated in Figure 2, the legs lie alongside the panel, within the confines of the truck box. In the extended position illustrated in Figure 3, the legs are vertically oriented and support the outer end of the panel above the ground.
A pair of latches 24 on the end of the panel lock the legs in the vertical positions as will be described in more detail in the following.
The panel 21 consists of a peripheral frame 26 surrounding a screen 28 that is preferably an expanded metal mesh. The screen may be supported by additional frame cross members where necessary, to provide it with sufficient strength to support the anticipated loads.
Along the longitudinal sides of the peripheral frame are two downwardly open channels 30. These are located beneath the screen 28 as most clearly illustrated in Figure 7. The channels accommodate transverse axles 32 that carry rollers 34. The rollers 34 are dimensioned to roll in the channels 18 in the floor of the truck box, to guide the movement of the platform into and out of the box.
~30~8~L1 Figures 8 and 9 illustrate a latching mechanism 24 for one of the legs 32. The other latch for the other leg is the mirror image of that shown. The latch in-cludes a latch bolt 36 that extends transversely along the back face of the peripheral frame 26 and is guided for lateral movement in its axial direction by three sleeves 38. Between the two innermost sleeves, the latch bolt 36 is provîded with a loop-like handle 40 which engages the two ad~acent sleeves to limit the reciprocat-ing movement of the bolt. The two handles 40 are also used to pull the platform from the truck box. A collar 42 is fitted to the latch bolt between the two outermost sleeves 38 and a compression sprlng 44 engages the collar and the next innermost sleeve to bias the latch bolt outwardly.
To retain the bolt in its unlatched position, each leg carries a circular bolt restralning plate 46.
Thls extends across the end of the bolt 36 and prevents it from projecting far beyond the side of the peripheral frame 26 until a bore 48 through the plate comes into line with the bolt. At that time, the spring 44 extends the bolt through the bore to retain the leg in its verti-cal position, as lllustrated in Figures 8 and 9.
Also illustrated in Figure 9 is a wear plate 50 ~30181~
that is fitted to the face of each leg 22.
Figures 4, 5 and 6 illustrate the manner in which the platform is extended. First, the legs 22 are pivoted about their transverse axes to lie on top of the tailgate 16 as illustrated in Figure 4. The platform is then pulled from the truck box. The platform is support-ed and guided in this motion by the rollers 34 which run in the floor channels 18. As the platform is drawn from the truck box, the legs 22 pivot downwardly about the outer edge of the tailgate 16 until they come to a verti-cal position as illustrated in Figure 5. At that time, the bores 4~ in the bolt restraining plates 46 are in line with the latch bolts 36, releasing the latch bolts to engage the bores under the influence of springs 44.
The legs are then latched in position and the platform may be drawn further from the truck to its fully extended position as illustrated ln Figure 6. The wearplates 50 protect the tailgate 16 and the faces of the legs 22 as the platform is moved from the condition of Figure 4 to that shown in Figure 5.
,The platform m,ay also be used as a ramp for loading wheeled vehicles such as golf carts or all terrain vehicles. The back end of the platform may be dropped to ground level by folding the platform legs. A
13018il vehicle may then be driven onto the platform, the back end of the platform lifted, and then the whole unit, including the vehicle, pushed into the truck box.
Unloading is the reverse.
While one embodiment of the present invention has been illustrated and described in the specification, it is to be understood that others are possible in the scope of the present invention. The invention is to be considered limited solely by the scope of the appended claims.
Claims (9)
1. A pull out platform for use in an unmodified truck box of the type having a generally flat floor formed with integral, longitudinal, upwardly open, shallow stiffening channels, said platform comprising:
a rectangular panel dimensioned to lie flat on the floor of the truck box;
a plurality of rollers mounted on the panel to support the panel on the truck box floor, the rollers being arranged in at least two laterally spaced rows to engage respective stiffening channels on the floor;
a pair of legs pivotally connected to the panel adjacent an outer end thereof for free pivotal movement about a horizontal axis;
latch means for latching the legs in substantially vertical supporting positions depending from the platform.
a rectangular panel dimensioned to lie flat on the floor of the truck box;
a plurality of rollers mounted on the panel to support the panel on the truck box floor, the rollers being arranged in at least two laterally spaced rows to engage respective stiffening channels on the floor;
a pair of legs pivotally connected to the panel adjacent an outer end thereof for free pivotal movement about a horizontal axis;
latch means for latching the legs in substantially vertical supporting positions depending from the platform.
2. A platform according to Claim 1 wherein the panel comprises a perimeter frame and a support surface surrounded by the frame.
3. A platform according to Claim 1 wherein the support surface is an expanded metal mesh.
4. A platform according to Claim 2 including two longitudinal, downwardly open channels mounted on the panel, said rollers comprising axles extending across the channels and wheels rotatable on the axles.
5. A platform according to Claim 2 wherein each leg is pivotally mounted on a respective side of the frame adjacent the outer end of the panel for pivotal movement from a stored position extending along the frame, through a ready position projecting from the end of the frame and to the supporting position.
6. A platform according to Claim 5 wherein the latch means comprise two bolts mounted on the frame and a bolt receiving aperture on each leg for receiving a respective one of the bolts in the supporting position of the leg.
7. A platform according to Claim 6 wherein each bolt is biased towards an extended position in which it engages in the bolt receiving aperture of the respective leg.
8. A platform according to Claim 7 including bolt restraining means mounted on each leg for restraining the associated bolt against movement into the extended position unless the leg is in the supporting position.
9. A platform according to Claim 8 wherein the bolt restraining means comprise plates mounted on the respective legs and extending across the ends of the respective bolts, the bolt receiving aperture being formed in the plates.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000562998A CA1301811C (en) | 1988-03-30 | 1988-03-30 | Pullout platform for truck floor |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000562998A CA1301811C (en) | 1988-03-30 | 1988-03-30 | Pullout platform for truck floor |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1301811C true CA1301811C (en) | 1992-05-26 |
Family
ID=4137748
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000562998A Expired - Lifetime CA1301811C (en) | 1988-03-30 | 1988-03-30 | Pullout platform for truck floor |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1301811C (en) |
-
1988
- 1988-03-30 CA CA000562998A patent/CA1301811C/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKLA | Lapsed |