Side mount loading platform for van type truck

Claim 2

The combination of a vehicle of the type that includes a vehicle frame, a vehicle side panel spaced outwardly from said vehicle frame, a loading door in said side panel and a vehicle floor including a floor opening between said vehicle frame and said loading door; a loading apparatus comprising lift arm means including an inner end pivotally supported by said vehicle frame and an outer end; lift platform means including an inner platform portion pivotally mounted on said outer end of said lift arm means and adapted to form a closure for said floor opening, and an outer platform portion pivotally mounted on said inner platform portion for swinging movement between a horizontal lift position and a vertical storage position; and power means for swinging said lift arm means to raise and lower said lift platform means between a lower position wherein said platform means is loaded, and an upper position wherein said inner platform portion forms the closure for said floor opening and said outer platform portion is disposed in said vertical storage position inwardly of saiD vehicle door.

Claim 3

The combination of a vehicle of the type that includes a vehicle frame, a vehicle side panel spaced outwardly from said vehicle frame, a loading door in said side panel and a vehicle floor including a floor opening between said vehicle frame and said loading door; a loading apparatus comprising lift arm means including an inner end pivotally supported by said vehicle frame and an outer end; lift platform means including an inner platform portion pivotally mounted on said outer end of said lift arm means and adapted to form a closure for said floor opening, and an outer platform portion pivotally mounted on said inner platform portion for swinging movement between a horizontal lift position and a vertical storage position; and a hydraulic cylinder positioned outwardly of said vehicle frame and operatively connected to said lift arm means for swinging said lift platform means between a lower loading position and an upper storage position, said inner platform portion forming said closure for said vehicle floor opening when said platform means is in said upper storage position.

Claim 4

The combination of a vehicle of the type that includes a vehicle frame, a vehicle side panel spaced outwardly from said vehicle frame, a loading door in said side panel and a vehicle floor including a floor opening between said vehicle frame and said loading door; a loading apparatus comprising lift arm means including an inner end pivotally supported by said vehicle frame and an outer end; lift platform means including an inner platform portion pivotally mounted on said outer end of said lift arm means and adapted to form a closure for said floor opening, and an outer platform portion pivotally mounted on said inner platform portion for swinging movement between a horizontal lift position and a vertical storage position; and a hydraulic cylinder positioned outwardly of said vehicle frame and operatively connected to said lift arm means for swinging said lift platform means between a lower loading position and an upper storage position, said inner platform portion forming said closure for said vehicle floor opening when said platform means is in said upper storage position.

Claim 5

The combination of a vehicle of the type that includes a vehicle frame, a vehicle side panel spaced outwardly from said vehicle frame, a loading door in said side panel and a vehicle floor including a floor opening between said vehicle frame and said loading door; a loading apparatus comprising lift arm means including an inner end pivotally supported by said vehicle frame and an outer end; lift platform means including an inner platform portion pivotally mounted on said outer end of said lift arm means and adapted to form a closure for said floor opening, and an outer platform portion pivotally mounted on said inner platform portion for swinging movement between a horizontal lift position and a vertical storage position; power means for swinging said lift arm means to raise and lower said lift platform means between a lower position wherein said platform means is loaded, and an upper position wherein said inner platform portion forms the closure for said floor opening and said outer platform portion is disposed in said vertical storage position inwardly of said vehicle door; and a folding handle means mounted on said outer platform portion for the manual pivotting of said outer platform to said vertical storage position.

Claim 6

The combination of a vehicle of the type that includes a vehicle frame, a vehicle side panel spaced outwardly from said vehicle frame, a loading door in said side panel and a vehicle floor including a floor opening between said vehicle frame and said loading door; a loading apparatus comprising lift arm means including an inner end pivotally supported by said vehicle frame and an outer end; lift platform means including an inner platform portion pivotally mounted on said outer end of said lift arm means and adapted to form a closure for said floor opening, and an outer platform portion pivotally mounted on said inner platform portion for swinging movement between a horizontal lift position and a vertical storage position; power means for swinging said lift arm means to raise and lower said lift platform means between a lower position wherein said platform means is loaded, and an upper position wherein said inner platform portion forms the closure for said floor opening and said outer platform portion is disposed in said vertical storage position inwardly of said vehicle door; and a folding handle means mounted on said outer platform portion for the manual pivotting of said outer platform to said vertical storage position.

Claim 7

The apparatus defined in claim 3 wherein said folding handle means includes a first latch portion that latches with a second latch portion on said inner platform portion when said outer platform portion is disposed in said vertical storage position.

Claim 8

The apparatus defined in claim 3 wherein said folding handle means is provided with remote control means for said power means.

Claim 9

The combination of a vehicle of the type that includes a vehicle frame including a longitudinally extending vehicle frame side member, a vehicle side panel spaced outwardly from said vehicle frame, a loading door in said side panel and a vehicle floor including a floor opening between said vehicle frame and said loading door; a loading apparatus frame mounted on said vehicle frame side member and including a cylinder mounting flange forming a first cylinder mounting pivot outwardly of said vehicle frame side member; lift arm means including an inner end pivotally mounted on said loading apparatus frame, a second cylinder mounting pivot, and an outer end; lift platform means pivotally mounted on said outer end of said lift arm means and adapted to form a closure for said vehicle floor opening when said lift platform means is in an upper storage position, said lift platform means including an inner platform portion, and an outer platform portion pivotally mounted on said inner platform portion for swinging movement to a vertical storage position within the confines of said loading door; and power cylinder means, including an upper connection with said first cylinder mounting pivot and a lower connection with said second cylinder mounting pivot, for swinging saiD lift arm means between a lower loading position and said upper storage position.

Claim 10

The combination of a vehicle of the type that includes a vehicle frame including a longitudinally extending vehicle frame side member, a vehicle side panel spaced outwardly from said vehicle frame, a loading door in said side panel and a vehicle floor including a floor opening between said vehicle frame and said loading door; a loading apparatus frame mounted on said vehicle frame side member and including a cylinder mounting flange forming a first cylinder mounting pivot outwardly of said vehicle frame side member; lift arm means including an inner end pivotally mounted on said loading apparatus frame, a second cylinder mounting pivot, and an outer end; lift platform means pivotally mounted on said outer end of said lift arm means and adapted to form a closure for said vehicle floor opening when said lift platform means is in an upper storage position, said lift platform means including an inner platform portion, and an outer platform portion pivotally mounted on said inner platform portion for swinging movement to a vertical storage position within the confines of said loading door; and power cylinder means, including an upper connection with said first cylinder mounting pivot and a lower connection with said second cylinder mounting pivot, for swinging saiD lift arm means between a lower loading position and said upper storage position.

Claim 11

The combination of a vehicle of the type that includes a vehicle frame including a longitudinally extending vehicle frame side member, a vehicle side panel spaced outwardly from said vehicle frame, a loading door in said side panel and a vehicle floor including a floor opening between said vehicle frame and said loading door; a loading apparatus frame mounted on said vehicle frame side member and including a cylinder mounting flange forming a first cylinder mounting pivot outwardly of said vehicle frame side member; lift arm means including an inner end pivotally mounted on said loading apparatus frame, a second cylinder mounting pivot, and an outer end; lift platform means pivotally mounted on said outer end of said lift arm means and adapted to form a closure for said vehicle floor opening when said lift platform means is in an upper storage position, said lift platform means including an inner platform portion, and an outer platform portion pivotally mounted on said inner platform portion for swinging movement to a vertical storage position within the confines of said loading door; power cylinder means including an upper connection with said first cylinder mounting pivot and a lower connection with said second cylinder mounting pivot, for swinging said lift arm means between a lower loading position and said upper storage position; and a folding handle means mounted on said outer platform portion for the manual pivoting of said outer platform to said vertical storage position.

Claim 12

The combination of a vehicle of the type that includes a vehicle frame including a longitudinally extending vehicle frame side member, a vehicle side panel spaced outwardly from said vehicle frame, a loading door in said side panel and a vehicle floor including a floor opening between said vehicle frame and said loading door; a loading apparatus frame mounted on said vehicle frame side member and including a cylinder mounting flange forming a first cylinder mounting pivot outwardly of said vehicle frame side member; lift arm means including an inner end pivotally mounted on said loading apparatus frame, a second cylinder mounting pivot, and an outer end; lift platform means pivotally mounted on said outer end of said lift arm means and adapted to form a closure for said vehicle floor opening when said lift platform means is in an upper storage position, said lift platform means including an inner platform portion, and an outer platform portion pivotally mounted on said inner platform portion for swinging movement to a vertical storage position within the confines of said loading door; power cylinder means including an upper connection with said first cylinder mounting pivot and a lower connection with said second cylinder mounting pivot, for swinging said lift arm means between a lower loading position and said upper storage position; and a folding handle means mounted on said outer platform portion for the manual pivoting of said outer platform to said vertical storage position.

Claim 13

The combination of a vehicle of the type that includes a vehicle frame including a longitudinally extending vehicle frame side member, a vehicle side panel spaced outwardly from said vehicle frame, a loading door in said side panel and a vehicle floor including a floor opening between said vehicle frame and said loading door; a loading apparatus frame mounted on said vehicle frame side member and including a cylinder mounting flange forming a first cylinder mounting pivot outwardly of said vehicle frame side member; lift arm means including an inner end pivotally mounted on said loading apparatus frame, a second cylinder mounting pivot, and an outer end; lift platform means pivotally mounted on said outer end of said lift arm means and adapted to form a closure for said vehicle floor opening when said lift platform means is in an upper storage position, said lift platform means including an inner platform portion, and an outer platform portion pivotally mounted on said inner platform portion for swinging movement to a vertical storage position within the confines of said loading door; power cylinder means, including an upper connection with said first cylinder mounting pivot and a lower connection with said second cylinder mounting pivot, for swinging said lift arm means between a lower loading position and said upper storage position; and folding handle means including a first latch portion that latches with a second latch portion on said inner platform portion when said outer platform portion is disposed in said vertical storage position.

Claim 14

The combination of a vehicle of the type that includes a vehicle frame including a longitudinally extending vehicle frame side member, a vehicle side panel spaced outwardly from said vehicle frame, a loading door in said side panel and a vehicle floor including a floor opening between said vehicle frame and said loading door; a loading apparatus frame mounted on said vehicle frame side member and including a cylinder mounting flange forming a first cylinder mounting pivot outwardly of said vehicle frame side member; lift arm means including an inner end pivotally mounted on said loading apparatus frame, a second cylinder mounting pivot, and an outer end; lift platform means pivotally mounted on said outer end of said lift arm means and adapted to form a closure for said vehicle floor opening when said lift platform means is in an upper storage position, said lift platform means including an inner platform portion, and an outer platform portion pivotally mounted on said inner platform portion for swinging movement to a vertical storage position within the confines of said loading door; power cylinder means, including an upper connection with said first cylinder mounting pivot and a lower connection with said second cylinder mounting pivot, for swinging said lift arm means between a lower loading position and said upper storage position; and folding handle means including a first latch portion that latches with a second latch portion on said inner platform portion when said outer platform portion is disposed in said vertical storage position.