Doorframe gantry lift system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9248771-B2
Application number	US-201313757310-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 1, 2013
Priority date	Feb 1, 2013
Publication date	Feb 2, 2016
Grant date	Feb 2, 2016

Abstract

A number of variations of the invention may include a vehicle having a doorframe gantry lift system for raising and lowering a cargo module in the doorframe. A number of variations of the invention may include a cargo module having at least a first lift structure constructed and arranged to mate with a first lift structure of a vehicle doorframe gantry lift system.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A product comprising:
a vehicle comprising a doorframe gantry lift system for raising and lowering a cargo module in the doorframe wherein the doorframe gantry lift system comprises a doorframe including a first side frame and a spaced apart second side frame, and a chain or cable carried in at least one of the first side frame or second side frame, and at least one lift catch connected to the chain or cable constructed and arranged for mating with at least a first lift structure comprising a lift bar for raising and lowering. the cargo module in the doorframe wherein a first rail is connected to the first side frame and extends over a cargo bed of the vehicle, the first side frame having a first notch formed therein at a position above the first rail so that the at least one lift structure may be slid out of the lift catch through the first notch and onto the first rail so that the cargo module may be moved off of the doorframe gantry lift system and over the cargo bed of the vehicle.

2. A product as set forth in claim 1 further comprising at least one recess in the vehicle bed for mating with a locking feature on the cargo module and securing the cargo module to the vehicle bed.

3. A product as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a cargo module wherein the cargo module includes a first mating lift structure for mating with the first lift structure.

4. A product as set forth in claim 1 wherein the cargo module includes a first recess formed in a side of the cargo module constructed and arranged to receive the lift bar therein.

5. A product as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a second lift structure.

6. A product as set forth in claim 5 further comprising a cargo module including a second mating lift structure for mating with the second lift structure.

7. A product as set forth in claim 5 wherein the second lift structure comprises a second lift bar.

8. A product as set forth in claim 4 further comprising a second lift bar, and wherein the cargo module includes a second recess framed in the side of the cargo module constructed and arranged to receive the second lift bar therein.

9. A product as set forth in claim 8 wherein the doorframe gantry lift system includes a second lift catch connected to the chain or cable, and wherein the second lift catch is constructed and arranged to receive the second lift bar therein.

10. A product as set forth in claim 1 wherein the doorframe gantry lift system comprises a doorframe including a first side frame and a spaced apart second side frame, and a chain or cable carried in at least one of the first side frame or second side frame, and at least one lift catch connected to the chain or cable constructed and arranged for mating with at least a first lift bar for raising and lowering the cargo module in the doorframe, the vehicle further comprising a cargo bed, and a first rail connected to the first side frame and extending over the cargo bed and a second rail connected to the second side frame and extending over the cargo bed, wherein the first side frame includes a first notch formed therein at a location above the first rail, and wherein the second side frame includes a second notch formed therein at a location above the second rail so that the lift bar may be slid out of the lift catch and onto the first rail and second rail so that the cargo container may be moved off of the doorframe gantry lift system and over the cargo bed.

11. A product as set forth in claim 1 wherein the doorframe gantry lift system comprises a doorframe including a first side frame and a spaced apart second side frame, and a chain or cable carried in at least one of the first side frame or second side frame, and a first lift catch connected to the chain or cable and constructed and arranged for mating with a first lift bar, a second lift catch connected to the chain or cable and constructed and arranged for mating with a second lift bar for raising and lowering the cargo module in the doorframe, the vehicle further comprising a cargo bed, and a first lower rail connected to the first side frame and extending over the cargo bed and a second lower rail connected to the second side frame and extending over the cargo bed, and a first upper rail connected to the first side frame and extending over the cargo bed and a second upper rail connected to the second side frame and extending over the cargo bed, wherein the first side frame includes a first notch formed therein at a location above the first lower side rail, and wherein each of the first side frame and the second side frame include a lower notch formed therein at locations above the first side rail and second lower rail, respectively, so that the second lift bar may be slid out of the second lift catch and onto the first lower rail and second lower rail, wherein each of the first side frame and the second side frame include an upper notch formed therein at a locations above the first upper rail and the second rail, respectively, so that the first lift bar may be slid out of the first lift catch and onto the first upper rail and second upper rail and so that the cargo container may be moved off of the doorframe gantry lift system and over the cargo bed.

12. A product comprising a cargo module having at least a first lift structure constructed and arranged to mate with a second lift structure of a vehicle doorframe gantry lift system comprising a doorframe including a first side frame and a spaced apart second side frame, and a chain or cable carried in at least one of the first side frame or second side frame, and at least one lift catch connected to the chain or cable constructed and arranged for mating with at least the first lift structure for raising and lowering the cargo module in the doorframe wherein a first rail is connected to the first side frame and extends over a cargo bed of the vehicle, the first side frame having a first notch formed therein at a position above the first rail so that the at least one lift structure may be slid out of the lift catch through the first notch and onto the first rail so that the cargo module may be moved off of the doorframe gantry lift system and over the cargo bed of the vehicle.

13. A product as set forth in claim 12 wherein the at least first lift structure comprises a recess formed in a side of the cargo module constructed and arranged to receive a first lift bar of the second lift structure of the vehicle doorframe gantry lift system.

14. A product as set forth in claim 13 wherein the cargo module further comprises a second recess formed in the side of the cargo module constructed and arranged to receive a second lift bar of the vehicle doorframe gantry system.

15. A method comprising:
providing a vehicle comprising a cargo bed and a doorframe gantry lift system for raising and lowering a cargo module in a doorframe, wherein the doorframe gantry lift system is positioned adjacent the cargo bed and a cargo module, the cargo module having a bottom, wherein the doorframe gantry lift system comprises a first side frame and a spaced apart second side frame, and a chain or cable carried in at least one of the first side frame or second side frame, and at least one lift catch connected to the chain or cable constructed and arranged for mating with at least a first lift structure comprising a lift bar for raising and lowering the cargo module in the doorframe wherein at least one rail is connected to one of the first side frame or second side frame and extends over a cargo bed of the vehicle, the first side frame having a first notch formed therein at a position above the first rail so that t

Assignees

• Gm Global Tech Operations Inc

Inventors

• Wisniewski Chet R

Classifications

• B60P1/6436 Primary

  the load-transporting element being shifted horizontally in a crosswise direction, combined or not with a vertical displacement · CPC title

• B60P1/00 Primary

  Vehicles predominantly for transporting loads and modified to facilitate loading, consolidating the load, or unloading (vehicles for carrying harvested crops with means for self-loading or self-unloading A01D90/00; peculiar to refuse collecting-vehicles B65F; loading or unloading vehicles by means not incorporated therein B65G) · CPC title

• B60P1/6418

  the load-transporting element being a container or similar · CPC title

• B60P1/36

  using endless chains or belts thereon · CPC title