초록 ▼

A cargo loading and unloading system for a vehicle comprising a rail pivotally connected to the vehicle, a raising apparatus for raising the rail from a rest position to an elevated position, a lifting attachment that projects from the rail and which is moveable along a portion of the rail, and a li

A cargo loading and unloading system for a vehicle comprising a rail pivotally connected to the vehicle, a raising apparatus for raising the rail from a rest position to an elevated position, a lifting attachment that projects from the rail and which is moveable along a portion of the rail, and a lifting attachment driving mechanism for moving the lifting attachment along the portion of the rail.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A cargo loading and unloading system for a vehicle, comprising: a rail pivotally connected to the vehicle and deployable from a rest position to an elevated position; a bed forming a lengthwise opening for receiving the rail in the rest position; a raising apparatus for raisi

What is claimed is: 1. A cargo loading and unloading system for a vehicle, comprising: a rail pivotally connected to the vehicle and deployable from a rest position to an elevated position; a bed forming a lengthwise opening for receiving the rail in the rest position; a raising apparatus for raising the rail from the rest position to the elevated position; a lifting attachment that projects from the rail and which is moveable along a portion of the rail; a lifting attachment driving mechanism for moving the lifting attachment along the portion of the rail; and means for releasably securing the bed to said rail; wherein the bed is pivotally connected to the vehicle such that the bed will pivot during a raising of said rail when the bed is secured to said rail. 2. The system as set forth in claim 1, further comprising: another rail pivotally connected to the vehicle. 3. The system as set forth in claim 2, further comprising: another lifting attachment that projects from said another rail and which is moveable along a portion of said another rail; and another lifting attachment driving mechanism for moving said another lifting attachment along the portion of said another rail, wherein the raising apparatus also raises said another rail. 4. A cargo loading and unloading system for a vehicle, comprising: a bed forming a lengthwise opening; a rail pivotally connected to the bed and deployable from a rest position that is substantially parallel to the bed at rest through an elevated position that is substantially perpendicular to the bed at rest, wherein the rail is located within the lengthwise opening in the bed while in the rest position; another rail pivotally connected to the bed; a raising apparatus for raising the rail from the rest position through the elevated position; a lifting attachment that projects from the rail and which is moveable along a portion of the rail; a lifting attachment driving mechanism for moving the lifting attachment along the portion of the rail; and means for securing the bed to one or both of said rail and said another rail; wherein the bed is pivotally connected to the vehicle such that the bed will pivot during a raising of one or both of said rail and said another rail when the bed is secured to said one or both of said rail and said another rail. 5. The system as set forth in claim 4, further comprising: another lifting attachment that projects from said another rail and which is moveable along a portion of said another rail. 6. The system as set forth in claim 5, further comprising: another lifting attachment driving mechanism for moving said another lifting attachment along the portion of said another rail, wherein the raising apparatus also raises said another rail. 7. The system of claim 4, wherein the raising apparatus includes a scissor jack. 8. The system of claim 4, wherein the raising apparatus includes a telescoping hydraulic cylinder jack. 9. A cargo loading and unloading system for a vehicle having a bed, comprising: a rail pivotally connected to the bed and extending within a lengthwise opening in the bed while in a rest position that is substantially parallel to the bed at rest; a raising apparatus for raising the rail from the rest position to an elevated position that is substantially perpendicular to the bed at rest; a fork that projects from the rail and which is moveable along a portion of the rail; and a driving mechanism for moving the fork along the portion of the rail; and a pin for releasably securing the bed to said rail; wherein the bed is pivotally connected to the vehicle such that the bed will pivot during a raising of said rail when the bed is secured to said rail. 10. The system of claim 9, further comprising: another rail pivotally connected to the bed and extending through another opening in the bed; and another fork that projects from the another rail and which is moveable along a portion of the another rail. 11. A cargo loading and unloading system for a vehicle, comprising: a bed; a first rail pivotally connected to the bed and extending within a first lengthwise opening in the bed while in a rest position that is substantially parallel to the bed at rest; a second rail pivotally connected to the bed and extending within a second lengthwise opening in the bed while in the rest position; a raising apparatus for raising the rails from the rest position through an elevated position that is substantially perpendicular to the bed at rest; a first fork that projects from the first rail and which is moveable along a portion of the first rail; a second fork that projects from the second rail and which is moveable along a portion of the second rail; a driving mechanism for moving one or both of the first fork along the portion of the first rail and the second fork along the portion of the second rail; and at least one pin for securing the bed to one or both of the first rail and the second rail; wherein the bed is pivotally connected to the vehicle such that the bed will pivot during a raising of one or both of the first rail and the second rail when the bed is secured to said one or both of the first rail and the second rail. 12. A cargo loading and unloading system for a vehicle having a bed, comprising: a first rail pivotally connected to the bed and extending through a first lengthwise opening in the bed, wherein the first rail includes a first channel along a part of its length; a second rail pivotally connected to the bed and extending through a second lengthwise opening in the bed, wherein the second rail includes a second channel along a part of its length; and a raising apparatus for raising one or both of the first rail and the second rail from a rest position that is substantially parallel to the bed at rest to an elevated position that is substantially perpendicular to the bed at rest, wherein the first rail is located within the first lengthwise opening when in the rest position and wherein the second rail is located within the second lengthwise opening when in the rest position; wherein the bed is pivotally connected to the vehicle and wherein a means for releasably securing the bed to the first rail and the second rail is provided such that the bed will pivot during a raising of the first rail and the second rail when the bed is secured to one or more of the first rail and the second rail. 13. The system set forth in claim 12, further comprising: a scaffolding attached to the first rail and the second rail; and a driving mechanism for moving the scaffolding along the first rail and the second rail. 14. The system set forth in claim 12, further comprising: a platform attached to the first rail and the second rail; and a driving mechanism for moving the platform along the first rail and the second rail. 15. The system set forth in claim 14, further comprising: a swinging platform attachment attached to the platform. 16. The system set forth in claim 14, wherein the platform remains substantially horizontal when the first rail and the second rail are raised or lowered. 17. The system set forth in claim 12, further comprising a stabilizing foot for stabilizing the vehicle, said stabilizing foot being connected to the vehicle and extendable to an external surface. 18. The system set forth in claim 12, further comprising: a first fork which projects from the first rail and which is movable along the first channel; and a second fork which projects from the second rail and which is movable along the second channel. 19. The system set forth in claim 18, further comprising: a swinging platform attachment attached to one or more of the first fork and the second fork, wherein the platform attachment remains substantially horizontal when the first fork or the second fork are raised or lowered. 20. The system set forth in claim 18, further comprising: a first fork extension that is extendable from and retractable to the first fork; and a second fork extension that is extendable from and retractable to the second fork. 21. The system set forth in claim 18, further comprising: a first plurality of wheels connected to the first fork and located within the first rail; a second plurality of wheels connected to the second fork and located within the second rail; and a cable for moving one or more of the first fork and the second fork. 22. The system set forth in claim 21, further comprising: a winch for winding the cable. 23. The system set forth in claim 18, further comprising: a first plurality of wheels connected to the first fork and located within the first rail; a second plurality of wheels connected to the second fork and located within the second rail; a first hydraulic mechanism for moving the first fork along the first channel; and a second hydraulic mechanism for moving the second fork along the second channel. 24. The system set forth in claim 18, wherein the first rail includes a first tooth and gear system for moving the first fork along the first channel, and further wherein the second rail includes a second tooth and gear system for moving the second fork along the second channel. 25. The system set forth in claim 18, wherein the first rail includes a first screw drive system for moving the first fork along the first channel, and further wherein the second rail includes a second screw drive system for moving the second fork along the second channel. 26. The system set forth in claim 12, wherein the first rail and the second rail are extendable from a first length to a second length. 27. A cargo loading and unloading system for a vehicle having a bed, comprising: a first rail pivotally connected to the bed and extending through a first lengthwise opening in the bed, wherein the first rail includes a first channel along a part of its length; a second rail pivotally connected to the bed and extending through a second lengthwise opening in the bed, wherein the second rail includes a second channel along a part of its length; and a raising apparatus for raising one or both of the first rail and the second rail from a rest position that is substantially parallel to the bed at rest to an elevated position that is substantially perpendicular to the bed at rest, wherein the first rail is located within the first lengthwise opening when in the rest position and wherein the second rail is located within the second lengthwise opening when in the rest position; wherein the bed is comprised of a pivoting segment and a fixed segment; wherein the pivoting segment is pivotally connected to the vehicle such that the pivoting segment will pivot during a raising of the first rail and the second rail when the pivoting segment is secured to one or more of the first rail and the second rail while the fixed segment does not pivot. 28. A cargo loading and unloading system for a vehicle, comprising: a bed; a first rail pivotally connected to the bed and extending within a first lengthwise opening in the bed while in a rest position that is substantially parallel to the bed at rest, wherein the first rail is comprised of a first beam and a first track; a second rail pivotally connected to the bed and extending within a second lengthwise opening in the bed while in the rest position, wherein the second rail is comprised of a second beam and a second track; a raising apparatus for raising the first rail and the second rail from the rest position through an elevated position that is substantially perpendicular to the bed at rest; a first fork which projects from the first rail and which is movable along the first track; a second fork which projects from the second rail and which is movable along the second track; means for securing the bed to one or more of the first rail and the second rail; wherein the bed is pivotally connected to the vehicle such that the bed will pivot during a raising of one or both of first rail and the second rail when the bed is secured to said one or both of first rail and the second rail. 29. A method of modifying a truck, comprising the steps of: providing a truck with an existing bed; and replacing the existing bed with the loading and unloading system of claim 4. 30. A method of modifying a truck, comprising the steps of: providing a truck with an existing bed; and replacing the existing bed with the loading and unloading system of claim 11. 31. A method of modifying a truck, comprising the steps of: providing a truck having a bed pivotally connected to the truck, wherein the bed forms a first lengthwise opening and a second lengthwise opening; providing a first rail, a second rail, a raising apparatus, and a lifting attachment; installing the first rail and the second rail on the truck so that the first rail and the second rail are able to pivot from a rest position within the first lengthwise opening and the second lengthwise opening, respectively, and away from the bed and the first rail and the second rail are installed so that the bed will pivot during a raising of one or both of the first rail and the second rail when the bed is secured to one or both of the first rail and the second rail; installing the raising apparatus so that the raising apparatus is able to raise one or more of the first rail and the second rail from the rest position that is substantially parallel to the bed at met through an elevated position that is substantially perpendicular to the bed at rest; and attaching the lifting attachment to one or both of the first rail and the second rail. 32. A method of constructing a truck; comprising the steps of: providing a truck without a bed; and installing the system of claim 4 on the truck. 33. A method of constructing a truck, comprising the steps of: providing a truck without a bed; and installing the system of claim 11 on the truck. 34. The system set forth in claim 2, wherein the rail and the another rail are asymmetrically located with respect to a centerline of the bed. 35. The system set forth in claim 14, wherein the platform is a work platform that includes guardrails.