Integrated tail gate transporter

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to the field of transportation. More specifically, the invention comprises a transporting platoform which can be substituted for the tail gate of a dump truck in order to lift and carry items to be transported.

2. Description of the Related Art

The present invention is suitable for use with a wide variety of vehicles having a tilting cargo bed. FIG. 1 shows one such vehicle, denoted as utility vehicle 10 . Utility vehicle 10 is fairly small, but serves to illustrate the relevant features. It includes dump bed 12 , which can be raised to empty its contents pas tail gate 14 . Tail gate 14 is typically hinged at its upper end, so that the lower portion can pivot open to release the bed's contents.

FIG. 2 shows dump bed 12 in a raised position. Tail gate 14 pivots about two pivot joints 16 . It is customarily secured at its lower end until the operator is ready to dump the bed. At this point the lower end is released and the tail gate pivots open as the dump bed is raised. These features are common to many dump trucks of many sizes, as will be understood by those skilled in the art.

Many such tail gates are made removable, since the utility vehicle may be used for purposes other than carrying and dumping bulk material. FIG. 3 shows a detailed view of one type of pivot joint 16 . Tailgate 14 features a pin 18 on either side of the tailgate's upper extreme. Toggle latch 22 is attached to the outside of dump bed 12 . When the tail gate is in position, slot 46 of draw bar 48 is slipped over pin 18 . The toggle latch is then toggled to a locked position. Pin 18 is thereby drawn into a pivot journal on the back of the dump bed. This feature allows the tail gate to pivot with respect to the dump bed, as described previously.

If the user wishes to remove the tail gate altogether, he or she releases toggle latch 22 and pivots draw bar 48 away from pin 18 (This must be done on both sides). The tail gate can then be removed from the vehicle.

The mechanisms shown are one version among many in common use. Large dump trucks often use a pivot joint which is bolted more permanently in place. Such a joint looks different, but the pivoting of the tail gate with respect to the dump bed is essentially the same.

The present invention comprises an equipment lifting and transporting device that replaces a conventional tail gate. FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate the operation of the device. Lift gate 24 is pivotally attached to the rear of dump bed 12 by pin 38 . When the dump bed is raised, as in FIG. 8 , the lower portion of the transporter rests on the ground. Equipment can then be rolled or pushed onto the transporter. The dump bed is then lowered to its resting position, as shown in FIG. 9 . The transporter is thereby raised clear of the ground, lifting the equipment with it.

A standoff located on the lower portion of the transporter bears against the frame of the vehicle, or other suitably stable point. The equipment is thereby secured to the rear of the vehicle so that it can be transported to another location. The equipment is unloaded by reversing the procedure just described. A stop gate on the rear of the transporter can be raised and locked into position in order to further secure the equipment being transported.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view, showing a prior art utility vehicle.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view, showing the vehicle of FIG. 1 with its dump bed in a raised position.

FIG. 3 is a detail view, showing the pivot joint used to pivot the tail gate with respect to the dump bed.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view, showing the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view, showing the present invention mounted on a prior art utility vehicle.

FIG. 6 is a detail view, showing the pivot joint used to mount the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view, showing the loading of equipment on the transporter.

FIG. 8 is an elevation view, showing the loading of equipment on the transporter.

FIG. 9 is an elevation view, showing the raising of the transporter.

FIG. 10 is a detail view, showing an adjustable standoff

FIG. 11 is a perspective view, showing an alternate embodiment of the transporter which can function as both a transporter and a tail gate.

FIG. 4 shows the present invention, designated as lift gate 24 . Lift gate 24 comprises a solid lower frame 28 with a deck 26 . Lower frame 28 is connected to top link 40 by three uprights 42 . Brace 44 attaches to deck 26 in such a way as to create two equally sized compartments on lift gate 24 . Brace 44 also reinforces the structure of deck 26 when a load is placed on the lift gate.

Stop gate 30 is attached to lower frame 28 by pivot 34 . This feature allows stop gate 30 to rotate about the axis of pivot 34 . The stop gate is shown in the “up” position, where it stops objects being transported from rolling off the back of deck 26 . Stop gate 30 can be lowered to the “down” position to facilitate loading by releasing gate latch 32 .

A pin 38 is located on both sides of top link 40 to facilitate connection to utility vehicle 10 . Lift gate 24 also employs standoff 36 on the forward portion of lower frame 28 . This standoff is positioned to bear against the frame of the utility vehicle when the dump bed is in the lowered position.

FIG. 5 shows the invention mounted to a utility vehicle. Lift gate 24 is pivotally attached to dump bed 12 of a utility vehicle. Dump bed 12 is pictured in the raised position to illustrate how lift gate 24 can be lowered to the ground to facilitate loading. Lift gate 24 is pictured with stop gate 30 in the lowered position so that objects like lawn mowers can easily be rolled onto the deck.

FIG. 6 shows the toggle latching device described previously with respect to FIG. 3 . Lift gate 24 has been substituted for the prior art tailgate. The reader will observe that the toggle latch engages pin 38 and pivotally connects the lift gate to the dump bed in the same way the prior art tail gate is attached. Thus, one can install the lift gate by removing the prior art tail gate and substituting the lift gate in its place.

FIG. 7 shows how equipment can be loaded onto the invention. Dump bed 12 is pictured in the raised position so that lift gate 24 is on or near the ground. Stop gate 30 is placed in the lowered position so that two walking mowers 50 can be rolled onto lift gate 24 . Stop gate 30 is then raised and locked in the upward position (as shown) to prevent walking mowers 50 from rolling off of the gate during transport.

FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 show elevation views of the loading process. FIG. 8 shows the invention with the dump bed in the raised position, so that the lift gate is ready for for loading or unloading. When dump bed 12 is raised, lift gate 24 pivots about pin 38 with respect to dump bed 12 so that lift gate 24 is always in a position close to the ground. The downward movement of the rear of dump bed 12 as the bed is raised lowers lift gate 24 to the ground for loading or unloading.

FIG. 9 shows the invention in the raised position for transporting. When dump bed 12 is lowered, lift gate 24 pivots about pin 38 with respect to dump bed 12 . The upward movement of the rear of dump bed 12 raises lift gate 24 off the ground. When dump bed 12 is in the lowered position, standoff 36 of lift gate 24 bears against frame 52 of the utility vehicle. The lift gate and its cargo are thereby stabilized against the rear of the utility vehicle.

FIG. 10 illustrates the invention with an adjustable standoff. Adjustable standoff 56 can be used to lengthen or shorten the distance between lower frame 28 and the frame of the utility vehicle (thereby altering the angle of the lift gate with respect to the dump bed when the dump bed is in the lowered position). Receiver 54 is located on lower frame 28 on the side facing the utility vehicle. Adjustable standoff 56 is sized to insert into receiver 54 . Adjustable standoff 56 has a series of adjustment holes 60 which enable the user to set the desired standoff distance. Adjustment pin 58 is inserted through receiver 54 into adjustment hole 60 when adjustable standoff 56 is set to the desired distance.

FIG. 11 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the invention which can function both as a tail gate and a transporter. Integrated gate/transporter 62 pivotally connects to dump bed 12 . Two pins 38 are used to create this connection, as for the preferred embodiment lift gate 24 . Integrated gate/transporter 62 has a solid gate panel 64 that enables bulk materials to be transported in the back of dump bed 12 when the bed is in the lowered position (without spilling out). Integrated gate/transporter 62 also functions like lift gate 24 to load and transport objects. Brace 44 and lower frame 28 transmit the load of deck 26 to gate panel 64 .

The preceding description contains significant detail regarding the novel aspects of the present invention. It is should not be construed, however, as limiting the scope of the invention but rather as providing illustrations of the preferred embodiments of the invention. As an example, brace 44 does not have to be centered on lift gate 24 . A variety of means could be used to transmit the load of deck 26 and objects being transported on it. Thus, the scope of the invention should be fixed by the following claims, rather than by the examples given.