GB2125365A - Latch mechanism for releasably securing a platform of a vehicle load lifting apparatus in a vertical raised stowed position - Google Patents
Latch mechanism for releasably securing a platform of a vehicle load lifting apparatus in a vertical raised stowed position Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2125365A GB2125365A GB08222047A GB8222047A GB2125365A GB 2125365 A GB2125365 A GB 2125365A GB 08222047 A GB08222047 A GB 08222047A GB 8222047 A GB8222047 A GB 8222047A GB 2125365 A GB2125365 A GB 2125365A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- platform
- latch
- keep
- stowed position
- attachable
- 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.)
- Granted
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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
- B60P1/44—Vehicles predominantly for transporting loads and modified to facilitate loading, consolidating the load, or unloading having a loading platform thereon raising the load to the level of the load-transporting element
Abstract
A latch mechanism for releasably securing a platform of a vehicle load lifting apparatus in a vertical raised stowed position is provided, including a pivot shaft (2) attachable to the platform (1) to rotate about its axis having a free end (2a) projecting beyond a side member on the platform (1), an elongated lever member (3) freely pivotably mountable at one end on the projecting end (2a), a latch member (4) fixedly mounted on the projecting end (2a) to rotate therewith and to lie adjacent the lever member (3), which latch member (4) is resiliently biased towards a position of engagement with the lever member (3), and a keep member (5) fixed in the vicinity of the vertical raised stowed position of the platform (1), which keep member (5) has a cam surface (11) leading into a shouldered recess (12, 13) engageable as the platform is raised by a corresponding projecting nose (14) on the latch member (4) to retain the platform in the vertical raised stowed position. The platform can be freed for movement from the vertical raised stowed position on releasing the latch mechanism by pivoting the lever member (3). <IMAGE>
Description
SPECIFICATION
Latch mechanism for releasably securing a platform of a vehicle load lifting apparatus in a vertical raised stowed position
This invention relates to a latch mechanism for releasably securing a platform of a vehicle load lifting apparatus in a vertical raised stowed position and is particularly, but not exclusively suitable for use with a vehicle load lifting apparatus in the form of a vehicle tail lift.
Such a vehicle load lifting apparatus usually includes a platform slidably mounted at one end in a pair of spaced apart substantially vertically extending guide channels and movable up and down the channels by means of electric motor or hydraulic ram operated cables housed in the channels. Such a vehicle load lifting apparatus will hereinafter be referred to as "of the kind hereinbefore defined".The channels may be mounted one on either side of a rear opening of a vehicle in the case of a tail lift, and the platform, which can be pivoted between substantially vertically and horizontal positions, may be moved between a vertical raised stowed position in which it closes at least partially the vehicle rear opening at or above the vehicle opening floor level, a horizontal pivoted out raised working position in which it lies at the level of the vehicle opening floor, and a horizontal pivoted out lower working position in which it lies substantially at ground level. Thus loads can be put on to the horizontal platform at ground level, the platform raised to vehicle floor level for removal of loads from the platform in to the vehicle and vice versa, and the platform can be pivoted back in to the vertical position to act as a vehicle opening closure means or tail gate.Such a vehicle load lifting apparatus may be mounted at any other convenient position on the vehicle such as on the vehicle side and need not necessarily be mounted at the rear end of the vehicle.
It is necessary to secure the platform of such a vehicle load lifting apparatus in the vertical raised stowed position to prevent inadvertent descent of the platform during movement of the vehicle with consequent damage to the vehicle or to other road users. One proposed mechanism for relasably securing the platform in a vertical raised stowed position has provided a spring loaded shaft which extends transversely through the platform to project at either end through holes in the two opposed platform side members.The projecting ends are spring urged into engagement with corresponding bores provided on members attached to the guide channels at the height of the platform vertical stowed position and in operation the shaft ends are spring urged into engagement with the corresponding bores to retain the platform in the vertical raised stowed position and are retracted from such engagement, against the spring action, by means of a pivoting lever arranged on the undersurface of the platform adjacent the side of the vehicle on which the operator controls for the electric motor and hydraulic ram assembly are located. Conveniently such a shaft is made in two parts with the inner shaft ends being linked together via the spring to the pivoting lever.
Such a conventional mechanism suffers the drawback of being easily damaged, particularly at the shaft ends and bores receiving the shaft ends such that it is very difficult to ensure that the shaft ends correctly enter the bores provided for their receipt, and non entry of the shaft ends into the bores usually cannot be detected visually by the operator. Thus frequently the latching action is defective with corresponding risk of inadvertent descent of the platform from the vertical raised stowed position during movement of the vehicle.
Additionally the mechanism is housed within the platform which makes it very difficult for access to be gained to the mechanism for maintenance purposes such as to replace a damaged spring.
Moreover as the operator lever is located on the undersurface of the platform it can readily suffer damage and easily become clogged by dirt or debri sufficient to render it inoperative or difficult for the operator to grasp.
There is thus a need for a generally improved latch mechanism for releasabiy securing a platform of a vehicle load lifting apparatus in a vertical raised stowed position.
According to the present invention there is provided a latch mechanism for releasably securing a platform of a vehicle load lifting apparatus of the kind defined in a vertical raised stowed position, including a pivot shaft attachable to the platform to rotate about an axis substantially parallel to the plane containing the two channels, with a free end of the shaft projecting beyond a side member platform in the vicinity of the outer free edge of the platform, an elongated lever member freely pivotably mountable at one end on the projecting end of the shaft to lie adjacent the platform side member, a latch member fixedly mounted on the projecting end of the shaft to rotate therewith and to lie adjacent the lever member, which latch member is resiliently biassed towards a position of engagement with the lever member, and a keep member fixedly attachable to one of the channels in the vicinity of the vertical raised stowed position of the platform, which keep member has a cam surface leading into a shouldered recess engageable by a corresponding projecting nose on the latch member to retain the platform in the vertical raised stowed position, the arrangement being such that with the latch mechanism operatively connected to a vehicle load lifting apparatus as aforesaid the platform can be moved into the vertical raised stowed position and retained therein by the mechanism by the latch member nose, during movement of the platform into the vertical raised stowed position, contacting and riding up the keep member cam surface, pivoting against the resilient biass and snapping into the keep member recess behind the retaining recess shoulder, and the platform can be freed for movement from the vertical raised stowed position on releasing the latch mechanism by pivoting the lever member by its free end about the pivot shaft to entrain and pivot the latch about the pivot shaft rotational axis against the resilient biass and thus pivot the latch member nose out of engagement with the keep member recess shoulder to free the platform for movement.
Thus the latch mechanism engages in an automatic manner on movement of the platform into the vertical raised stowed position.
The latch mechanism may include a tenon fixedly attachable to the platform to project laterally beyond the platform side member substantially parallel to and spaced from the latch member for engagement with a support fixedly attachable to the channel substantially parallel to and spaced from the keep member, to aid retention of the platform in the vertical raised stowed position by the latch and keep members.
The latch mechanism also may include a side plate attachable to the guide channel side to project substantially horizontally therefrom, with the key member being attachable to an inner side of the projecting side plate with respect to the platform when the latter is in a vertical raised stowed position.
Advantageously according to one embodiment the keep member is attachable to extend substantially vertically with the shoulder lying in a substantially horizontal plane, with the first cam surface extending upwardly towards the shoulder and recess, and with the recess opening away from the channel to which the keep member is attachable via the side plates, and the latch member extends substantially parallel to the lever member, so that when the platform is raised in a vertical position towards the vertical stowed position the tenon engages and rides up a second cam surface on the keep member into engagement between the keep member and support in a manner such as to pivot the platform finally into the vertical position and retain it
against further pivotal movement, whilst the latch
member nose rides up the first cam surface of the
keep member into latched engagement with the
recess and shoulder to prevent downward
movement of the platform in the latch position of the latch mechanism, pivotal movement of the
lever member against the resilient biass releasing the latch member nose from the keep member
recess and shoulder to permit initial downward vertical movement of the platform sufficient to
release the tenon between the keep member and
support and thereby permit pivotal movement of
the platform. In this embodiment preferably the
engagement between the latch member and the
lever member is via a shoulder portion on the
latch member and a co-operating projection on
the facing side of the lever member intermediate
its ends.
Conveniently according to another
embodiment the keep member is attachable to
extend substantially horizontal with the shoulder
lying in a substantially vertical plane, with the first
cam surface extending from an outermost end of the keep member with respect to the channel to which the member is attachable via the side plate, and with the recess opening upwardly from the keep member at the end thereof closer to the channel to which the side plate is attachable, and the latch member extends substantially at right angles to the lever member, so that the platform can be pivoted into the vertical raised stowed position and latched therein by the latch member nose engaging and riding up the keep member cam surface into latched engagement with the recess and shoulder to prevent outward pivotal movement of the platform, whilst the tenon engages between the latch member and support to prevent vertical movement of the platform, and the platform can be released from the latched vertical raised stowed position by pivotal movement of the lever member against the resilient biass thereby pivoting the latch member away from the keep member and releasing the latch member nose from the keep member recess and shoulder producing pivotal movement of the platform away from the vertical raised stowed position. In the latter embodiment, preferably the engagement between the latch member and lever member is via a pin projecting laterally from the latch member and co-operating shoulder extension projecting from the lever member adjacent the pivotally mountable end substantially at right angles to the longitudinal and rotational axis of the lever member.
Advantageously the resilient biass is provided by a spring having a substantially C-shaped configuration pivotally connectible at one end to a pivot attachable to the platform side member adjacent the projecting end of the pivot shaft to extend around the pivotally mountable end of the latch member and to contact at its other end against the side of the latch member remote from and opposite to the side adjacent the pivotally connectible end of the spring.
Conveniently the latch member pivot shaft is dimensioned to extend across the platform and to project at its other end beyond the platform opposite the side member and the latch mechanism also includes a second resilient biassed latch member fixedly attachable to the pivot shaft other end for rotation therewith in response to movement of the lever member to cooperate with a second keep member attachable to the second guide channel adjacent the opposite side of the platform.
For a better understanding of the present invention and to show how the same may be carried into effect preference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a diagrammatic exploded diagram of a latch mechanism according to a first embodiment of the invention,
Figure 2 is a plan view from above, to a
reduced scaie, of the latch mechanism of Figure 1 shown in the latched position,
Figure 3 is a diagrammatic perspective view of part of the latch mechanism of Figure 1,
Figure 4 is a diagrammatic perspective view of part of the latch mechanism of Figure 1,
Figure 5 is a plan view from the side of the
latch mechanism of Figure 2,
Figure 6 is a diagrammatic exploded perspective view of a latch mechanism of a second embodiment of the invention,
Figure 7 is a diagrammatic perspective view of part of the latch mechanism of Figure 6 and
Figure 8 is a plan view from above of the latch member of Figure 6 in a latched position.
Although the latch mechanism of the invention shown in the accompanying drawings is described in terms of a vehicle load lifting apparatus in the form of a tail lift it is of course, to be understood, that the mechanism is equally suitable for use with vehicle load lifting apparatus mounted at any other convenient location on a vehicle such as at the vehicle side.
Basically a latch mechanism of the invention for releasably securing a platform 1 of a vehicle load lifting apparatus in a vertical raised stowed position includes a pivot shaft 2, an elongated lever member 3, a latch member 4 and a keep member 5.
The pivot shaft 2 is attachable to the platform
1 to rotate about an axis substantially parallel to the plane containing the two guide channels 6, with a free end 2a projecting beyond a side member on the platform 1 in the vicinity of the outer free edge of the platform. The elongated lever member 3 is freely pivotably mounted at one end on the projecting end 2a of the shaft 2, conveniently with the interposition of a washer 7, to lie adjacent the platform 5 member as shown in Figures 3 and 7 of the drawings.
The latch member 4 is fixedly mounted on the projecting end 2a of the shaft, conveniently by means of a pin 8 engaging in a bore in the member 4 and passing through a transverse bore 8a through the shaft end 2a, to rotate with the shaft 2 and to lie adjacent the lever member 3 as shown in Figures 3 and 7.
The latch member 4 is resiliently biassed towards a position of engagement with the lever member 3. As shown in the accompanying drawings this resilient biass is provided by a spring 9 having a substantial C-shaped configuration, pivotally connectible at one 9a to a pivot 10 attachable to the platform side member adjacent the projecting end 2a of the pivot shaft 2. The spring 9 extends around the pivotally mountable end of the latch member 4 and contacts at its other end 9b against the side of the latch member 4 remote from and opposite to the side adjacent the pivotally connectible end 9a.
The keep member 5 is fixedly attachable to one of the channels in the vicinity of the vertical raised stowed position of the platform 1 and has a first cam surface 11 leading into a recess 12 with a shoulder 13. The shouldered recess 12 is engageable by a corresponding projecting nose 14 provided on the latch member 4, to retain the platform 1 in the vertical raised stowed position as shown in Figure 5.
Thus in general terms the latch mechanism is operable such that the platform 1 can be moved in to the vertical raised stowed position and retained therein by the latch member nose 14 contacting and riding up the keep member surface 11, pivoting against the biass of the spring 9 and snapping into the recess 1 2 beyond the shoulder 13 as shown in Figure 5. The platform can be freed for movement from the vertical position on releasing the latch mechanism by pivoting the lever member 3 by its free end 3a about the pivot shaft 2 to entrain and pivot the latch member 4 about the pivot shaft rotational axis against the resilient biass of the spring 9 and thus pivot the latch member nose 14 out of engagement with the keep member recess shoulder 13 to free the platform 1 for movement.
Thus the latch mechanism of the invention engages in an automatic manner on movement of into the vertical raised stowed position.
As shown in the drawings the latch mechanism of the invention includes a tenon 1 5 fixedly attachable to the platform to project laterally beyond the platform side member substantially parallel to and spaced from the latch member 4 for engagement with a support 1 6 attachable to the channel 6 substantially parallel to and spaced from the keep member 5 to aid retention of the platform 1 in the vertical raised stowed position by the latch and keep members 4 and 5.
Additionally as shown in the accompanying drawings the latch mechanism includes a side plate 1 7 attachable to the guide channel side to project substantially horizontally therefrom, with the keep member 5 being attachable to an inner side of the plate 17, as shown in Figures 2 and 8, with respect to the platform 1 when the latter is in the vertical raised stowed position.
In the first embodiments of the invention illustrated in Figures 1 to 5 of the accompanying drawings the keep member 5 extends substantially vertical with the shoulder 1 3 lying in a substantially horizontal plane with the first cam surface 11 extending upwardly towards the shoulder 13 and recess 12 and with the recess 12 opening away from the channel 6 to which the keep member 5 is attachable via the side plate 1 7. The latch member 4 extends substantially parallel to the lever member 3 as shown in
Figures 1 and 3, so that when the platform 1 is raised in a vertical position towards the vertical stowed position the tenon 1 5 engages and rides up a second cam surface 18 on the keep member 5 into engagement between the keep member 5 and support 16 as shown in Figure 2 is a manner such as to pivot the platform 1 finally into the vertical position and retain it against further pivotal movement. At the same time the latch member nose 14 rides up the first cam surface 11 of the keep member 5 into latched engagement with the recess 12 and shoulder 1 3 to prevent downward movement 1 in the latched position of the latched mechanism.Pivotal movement of the lever member 3 against the resilient biass of the spring 9 releases the latch member nose 14 from the keep member recess 12 and shoulder 13 to permit initial downward vertical movement of the platform 1 sufficient to release the tenon 1 5 from between the keep member 5 and support 16 and thereby permit pivotal movement of the platform.
In this embodiment, as illustrated in Figures 1, 3 and 5, engagement between the latch member 4 and lever member 3 is via a shoulder portion 1 9 on the latch member and a co-operating projection 20 on the facing side of the lever member 3 intermediate its ends. Thus the latch mechanism of the first embodiment of the invention functions both to prevent vertical and pivotal movement of the platform 1 in the vertical raised stowed position.
In the second embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 6 to 8 the keep member 5 is attachable to extend substantially horizontally with the shoulder 1 3 lying in a substantially vertical plane, with the first cam surface 11 extending from an outermost end of the keep member 5 with respect to the channel 6 to which the keep member is attachable via the side plate
1 7 and with the recess 12 opening upwardly from the keep member 5 at the end thereof closer to the channel 6 to which the keep plate is attachable. The latch member 4 in this embodiment extends substantially at right angles to the lever member 3 as shown particularly in
Figures 6 and 7.In this embodiment the platform 1 can be pivoted into the vertical raised stowed position and latched therein by the latch member nose 14 engaging and riding up the keep member cam surface 11 into latched engagement with the recess 12 and shoulder 1 3 to prevent outward pivotal movement of the platform whilst the tenon engages between the latch member 4 and support 1 6 to prevent vertical movement of the platform 1. The platform can be released from the latched vertical raised stowed position by pivotal movement of the lever member 3 against the biass of the spring 9 thereby pivoting the latch member 4 away from the keep member 5 and releasing the latch member nose 14 from the keep member recess 12 and shoulder 13 and permitting pivotal movement of the platform away from the pivotal raised stowed position.In this embodiment engagement between the latch member 4 and lever member 3 is via a pin 21 projecting laterally from the latch member 4 and co-operating shoulder extension 22 projecting from the lever member adjacent the pivotally mountable end substantially at right angles to the longitudinal and rotational axis of the lever
member 3. The latch mechanism of the second embodiment of the invention also prevents vertical and pivotal movement of the platform in the vertical raised stowed position.
Conveniently, as shown in Figure 1, the latch
mechanism pivot shaft 2 is dimensioned to
extend across the platform and project at its other
end beyond the platform opposite side member
and the latch mechanism also includes a second
resiliently biassed latch member 23 fixedly attachable to the pivot shaft other end for rotation therewith in response to movement of the lever member 3. The second latch member 23 cooperates with a second keep member (not shown) attachable to the second guide channel 6 adjacent the opposite side of the platform. In this way it is possible to actuate the latch mechanism by means of a single lever 3 from one side of the vehicle adjacent the conventional electric motor and hydraulic ram mechanism controls.
Nevertheless latch and keep engagement is provided at both sides of the platform 1.
With the latch mechanism of the invention, the lever member 3 is not spring urged during latching and hence there is no danger of the member 3 trapping an operators hand. Moreover under heavy braking action of a vehicle fitted with the latch mechanism of the invention the latch member 4 is being urged by inertia towards the latched position with consequent increased safety.
In both embodiments of the invention the latch member 4 and the side plate 17 may be dimensioned such that the shoulder portion 1 9 may be seen to project rearwardly beyond the rear end of the plate 1 7 if the mechanism is not latched. This affords a visual safety feature.
Additionally the spring 9 may readily be removed for replacement, if damaged, by removal of the screw from the end 9a, without removal of a major part of the mechanism. The second resiliently biassed latch member 4, when provided, acts as a double safety feature.
Claims (Filed on 19th July 1983)
1. A latch mechanism for releasably securing a platform of a vehicle load lifting apparatus of the kind defined in a vertical raised stowed position,
including a pivot shaft attachable to the platform to rotate about an axis substantially parallel to the
plane containing the two channels, with a free end of the shaft projecting beyond a side member on the platform in the vicinity of the outer free
edge of the platform, an elongated lever member freely pivotably mountable at one end on the
projecting end of the shaft to lie adjacent the
platform side member, a latch member fixedly
mounted on the projedting end of the shaft to
rotate therewith and to lie adjacent the lever
member, which latch member is resiliently
biassed towards a position of engagement with the lever member, and a keep member fixedly
attachable to one of the channels in the vicinity of the vertical raised stowed position of the
platform, which keep member has a cam surface
leading into a shouldered recess engageable by a
corresponding projecting nose on the latch
member to retain the platform in the vertical
raised stowed position, the arrangement being such that with the latch mechanism operatively
connected to a vehicle load lifting apparatus as
aforesaid the platform can be moved into the vertical raised stowed position and retained therein by the mechanism by the latch member
nose, during movement of the platform into the vertical raised stowed position, contacting and
**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.
Claims (11)
1 7 and with the recess 12 opening upwardly from the keep member 5 at the end thereof closer to the channel 6 to which the keep plate is attachable. The latch member 4 in this embodiment extends substantially at right angles to the lever member 3 as shown particularly in
Figures 6 and 7.In this embodiment the platform 1 can be pivoted into the vertical raised stowed position and latched therein by the latch member nose 14 engaging and riding up the keep member cam surface 11 into latched engagement with the recess 12 and shoulder 1 3 to prevent outward pivotal movement of the platform whilst the tenon engages between the latch member 4 and support 1 6 to prevent vertical movement of the platform 1. The platform can be released from the latched vertical raised stowed position by pivotal movement of the lever member 3 against the biass of the spring 9 thereby pivoting the latch member 4 away from the keep member 5 and releasing the latch member nose 14 from the keep member recess 12 and shoulder 13 and permitting pivotal movement of the platform away from the pivotal raised stowed position.In this embodiment engagement between the latch member 4 and lever member 3 is via a pin 21 projecting laterally from the latch member 4 and co-operating shoulder extension 22 projecting from the lever member adjacent the pivotally mountable end substantially at right angles to the longitudinal and rotational axis of the lever
member 3. The latch mechanism of the second embodiment of the invention also prevents vertical and pivotal movement of the platform in the vertical raised stowed position.
Conveniently, as shown in Figure 1, the latch
mechanism pivot shaft 2 is dimensioned to
extend across the platform and project at its other
end beyond the platform opposite side member
and the latch mechanism also includes a second
resiliently biassed latch member 23 fixedly attachable to the pivot shaft other end for rotation therewith in response to movement of the lever member 3. The second latch member 23 cooperates with a second keep member (not shown) attachable to the second guide channel 6 adjacent the opposite side of the platform. In this way it is possible to actuate the latch mechanism by means of a single lever 3 from one side of the vehicle adjacent the conventional electric motor and hydraulic ram mechanism controls.
Nevertheless latch and keep engagement is provided at both sides of the platform 1.
With the latch mechanism of the invention, the lever member 3 is not spring urged during latching and hence there is no danger of the member 3 trapping an operators hand. Moreover under heavy braking action of a vehicle fitted with the latch mechanism of the invention the latch member 4 is being urged by inertia towards the latched position with consequent increased safety.
In both embodiments of the invention the latch member 4 and the side plate 17 may be dimensioned such that the shoulder portion 1 9 may be seen to project rearwardly beyond the rear end of the plate 1 7 if the mechanism is not latched. This affords a visual safety feature.
Additionally the spring 9 may readily be removed for replacement, if damaged, by removal of the screw from the end 9a, without removal of a major part of the mechanism. The second resiliently biassed latch member 4, when provided, acts as a double safety feature.
Claims (Filed on 19th July 1983)
1. A latch mechanism for releasably securing a platform of a vehicle load lifting apparatus of the kind defined in a vertical raised stowed position,
including a pivot shaft attachable to the platform to rotate about an axis substantially parallel to the
plane containing the two channels, with a free end of the shaft projecting beyond a side member on the platform in the vicinity of the outer free
edge of the platform, an elongated lever member freely pivotably mountable at one end on the
projecting end of the shaft to lie adjacent the
platform side member, a latch member fixedly
mounted on the projedting end of the shaft to
rotate therewith and to lie adjacent the lever
member, which latch member is resiliently
biassed towards a position of engagement with the lever member, and a keep member fixedly
attachable to one of the channels in the vicinity of the vertical raised stowed position of the
platform, which keep member has a cam surface
leading into a shouldered recess engageable by a
corresponding projecting nose on the latch
member to retain the platform in the vertical
raised stowed position, the arrangement being such that with the latch mechanism operatively
connected to a vehicle load lifting apparatus as
aforesaid the platform can be moved into the vertical raised stowed position and retained therein by the mechanism by the latch member
nose, during movement of the platform into the vertical raised stowed position, contacting and
riding up the keep member cam surface, pivoting against the resilient biass and snapping into the keep member recess behind the retaining recess shoulder, and the platform can be freed for movement from the vertical raised stowed position on releasing the latch mechanism by pivoting the lever member by its free end about the pivot shaft to entrain and pivot the latch about the pivot shaft rotational axis against the resilient biass and thus pivot the latch member nose out of engagement with the keep member recess shoulder to free the platform for movement.
2. A mechanism according to claim 1, including a tenon fixedly attachable to the platform to project laterally beyond the platform side member substantially parallel to and spaced from the latch member for engagement with a support fixedly attachable to the channel substantially parallel to and spaced from the keep member, to aid retention of the platform in the vertical raised stowed position by the latch and keep members.
3. A mechanism according to claim 1 or claim 2, including a side plate attachable to the guide channel side to project substantially horizontally therefrom, with the keep member being attachable to an inner side of the projecting side plate with respect to the platform when the latter is in a vertical raised stowed position.
4. A mechanism according to claim 3, when dependent from claim 2, wherein the keep member is attachable to extend substantially vertically with the shoulder lying in a substantially horizontal plane with the first cam surface extending upwardly towards the shoulder and recess, and with the recess opening away from the channel to which the keep member is attachable via the side plates, and the latch member extends substantially parallel to the lever member, so that when the platform is raised in a vertical position towards the vertical stowed position the tenon engages and rides up a second cam surface on the keep member into engagement between the keep member and support in a manner such as to pivot the platform finally into the vertical position and retain it against further pivotal movement, whilst the latch member nose rides up the first cam surface of the keep member into latched engagement with the recess and shoulder to prevent downward movement of the platform in the latch position of the latch mechanism, pivotal movement of the lever member against the resilient bias releasing the latch member nose from the keep member recess and shoulder to permit initial downward vertical movement of the platform sufficient to release the tenon between the keep member and support and thereby permit pivotal movement of the platform.
5. A mechanism according to claim 4, wherein the engagement between the latch member and the lever member is via a shoulder portion on the latch member and a co-operating projection on the facing side of the lever member intermediate its ends.
6. A mechanism according to claim 3 when dependent from claim 2, wherein the keep member is attachable to extend substantially horizontal with the shoulder lying in a substantially vertical plane, with the first cam surface extending from an outermost end of the keep member with respect to the channel to which the member is attachable via the side plate, and with the recess opening upwardly from the keep member at the end thereof closer to the channel to which the side plate is attachable, and the latch member extends substantially at right angles to the lever member, so that the platform can be pivoted into the vertical raised stowed position and latched therein by the latch member nose engaging and riding up the keep member cam surface into latched engagement with the recess and shoulder to prevent outward pivotal movement of the platform, whilst the tenon engages between the latch member and support to prevent vertical movement of the platform and the platform can be released from the latched vertical raised stowed position by pivotal movement of the lever member against the resilient bias thereby pivoting the latch member away from the keep member and releasing the latch member nose from the keep member recess and shoulder producing pivotal movement of the platform away from the vertical raised stowed position.
7. A mechanism according to claim 6, wherein the engagement between the latch member and lever member is via a pin projecting laterally from the latch member and co-operating shoulder extension projecting from the lever member adjacent the pivotally mountable end substantially at right angles to the longitudinal and rotational axis of the lever member.
8. A mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the resilient bias is provided by a spring having a substantially C-shaped configuration pivotally connectible at one end to a pivot attachable to the platform side member adjacent the projecting end of the pivot shaft to extend around the pivotally mountable end of the latch member and to contact at its other end against the side of the latch member from and opposite to the side adjacent the pivotally connectible end of the spring.
9. A mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the latch member pivot shaft is dimensioned to extend across the platform and to project at its other end beyond the platform opposite the side member and the latch mechanism also includes a second resilient biassed latch member fixedly attachable to the pivot shaft other end for rotation therewith in response to movement of the lever to co-operate with a second keep member attachable to the second guide channel adjacent the opposite side of the platform.
10. A latch mechanism for releasably securing a platform of a vehicle load lifting apparatus in a vertical raised stowed position, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures
1 to 5, or Figures 6 to 8 of the accompanying drawings.
11. A vehicle load lifting apparatus having a latch mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 10, substantially as hereinbefore described.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB08222047A GB2125365B (en) | 1982-07-30 | 1982-07-30 | Latch mechanism for releasably securing a platform of a vehicle load lifting apparatus in a vertical raised stowed position |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB08222047A GB2125365B (en) | 1982-07-30 | 1982-07-30 | Latch mechanism for releasably securing a platform of a vehicle load lifting apparatus in a vertical raised stowed position |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB2125365A true GB2125365A (en) | 1984-03-07 |
| GB2125365B GB2125365B (en) | 1986-04-03 |
Family
ID=10532024
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB08222047A Expired GB2125365B (en) | 1982-07-30 | 1982-07-30 | Latch mechanism for releasably securing a platform of a vehicle load lifting apparatus in a vertical raised stowed position |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| GB (1) | GB2125365B (en) |
Cited By (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2174972A (en) * | 1985-05-15 | 1986-11-19 | Ross & Bonnyman Eng Ltd | Vehicle tail-lift safety lock |
| GB2180818A (en) * | 1985-09-20 | 1987-04-08 | Ratcliff Tail Lifts Ltd | Improvements in vehicle tail lifts |
| US20220185164A1 (en) * | 2019-03-28 | 2022-06-16 | Liftwave, Inc. Dba Rise Robotics | Multiple use actuation system for vertical rail liftgate |
Citations (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB1421552A (en) * | 1972-12-27 | 1976-01-21 | Gemert A J Van | Loading and unloading flap device particularly for a truck |
| GB2032879A (en) * | 1978-07-13 | 1980-05-14 | Ratcliff Ltd J | Improvements in or Relating to Load Lifting and Lowering Apparatus |
| GB1602453A (en) * | 1978-02-24 | 1981-11-11 | Parkwood Eng Co Ltd | Load lifting apparatus |
-
1982
- 1982-07-30 GB GB08222047A patent/GB2125365B/en not_active Expired
Patent Citations (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB1421552A (en) * | 1972-12-27 | 1976-01-21 | Gemert A J Van | Loading and unloading flap device particularly for a truck |
| GB1602453A (en) * | 1978-02-24 | 1981-11-11 | Parkwood Eng Co Ltd | Load lifting apparatus |
| GB2032879A (en) * | 1978-07-13 | 1980-05-14 | Ratcliff Ltd J | Improvements in or Relating to Load Lifting and Lowering Apparatus |
Cited By (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2174972A (en) * | 1985-05-15 | 1986-11-19 | Ross & Bonnyman Eng Ltd | Vehicle tail-lift safety lock |
| GB2180818A (en) * | 1985-09-20 | 1987-04-08 | Ratcliff Tail Lifts Ltd | Improvements in vehicle tail lifts |
| US20220185164A1 (en) * | 2019-03-28 | 2022-06-16 | Liftwave, Inc. Dba Rise Robotics | Multiple use actuation system for vertical rail liftgate |
| US11654816B2 (en) * | 2019-03-28 | 2023-05-23 | Liftwave, Inc. | Multiple use actuation system for vertical rail liftgate |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB2125365B (en) | 1986-04-03 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCNP | Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee |