Truck bed system with raisable platform
View Patent ↗The present invention provides a truck bed system with a plurality of powered actuators which can raise a raisable platform above the truck bed floor to create a second platform in addition to the truck bed floor surface. The additional or second truck bed platform allows the truck user to use the upper platform for carrying tools and other goods or materials, with the space between the truck bed floor and platform for storing or moving large flat items like lumber and plywood or drywall sheets without displacing or disturbing the contents stowed on the upper platform. The present invention also allows the upper platform to be used for stowing large items like lumber and plywood or drywall sheets, with the space between the truck bed floor and upper platform for carrying tools and other goods or materials. The present invention allows the space between the truck bed floor and the upper platform, when in a raised position, to be used as secure storage when the tailgate is locked. The plurality of actuators can be attached to the truck bed floor, the truck bed walls or integrated into the space within the truck bed side walls.
1 . A powered raisable platform system for a vehicle comprising:
a plurality of powered actuators, each having a motor and an actuator mount configured to connect the powered actuator to the vehicle;
a rigid, weight bearing platform configured to fit within a cargo area of the vehicle and to move in a vertical direction above a cargo floor of the vehicle;
a plurality of extension brackets, each extension bracket being coupled to a corresponding powered actuator;
a plurality of platform connectors, each platform connector being coupled to a corresponding extension bracket through a pivot arrangement, the pivot arrangement permitting the rigid platform to pivot or tilt relative to the powered actuators during raising and lowering; and
the motor of each powered actuator connected to a power source through a bi-directional control device operative to raise and lower the powered actuators.
2 . The powered raisable platform system of claim 1 , wherein when the bidirectional control device is activated in a second direction the bidirectional control device enables the motor of each of the plurality of powered actuators to move the powered actuators in the second direction; and wherein as the plurality of powered actuators move in the second direction the rigid weight bearing platform moves in the second direction.
3 . The powered raisable platform system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a plurality of trays for placement in the cargo floor of the vehicle, wherein each of the plurality of trays receives a base of each of the plurality of powered actuators.
4 . The powered raisable platform system of claim 1 , wherein each actuator mount is configured to attach to the vehicle in a support location where a vehicle frame support member supports the actuator mount.
5 . The powered raisable platform system of claim 4 , wherein the vehicle is a truck and the plurality of actuators are attached to the truck in a cavity within a truck bed side wall.
6 . The powered raisable platform system of claim 5 , further comprising:
a plurality of vertical slots in the truck bed side wall, wherein each slot receives a platform connector for connecting the actuator to the platform; wherein as the plurality of powered actuators move the connector moves along the vertical slot to raise or lower the platform.
7 . The powered raisable platform system of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of powered actuators are a scissor type lift actuator.
8 . The powered raisable platform system of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of powered actuators are a nut screw type actuator.
9 . The powered raisable platform system of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle is a truck and the cargo area is a truck bed.
10 . The powered raisable platform system of claim 1 , wherein the motor is an electrically driven motor and the bidirectional control device is a switch which connects electrical power to the motor.
11 . The powered raisable platform system of claim 1 , wherein a bottom surface of the rigid weight bearing platform rests on the cargo floor when the rigid weight bearing platform is in a fully lowered position.
12 . A powered raisable platform system for a truck bed comprising:
a rigid weight bearing platform shaped to fit within the truck bed;
a left front powered actuator positioned in a left front location in the truck bed;
a left rear powered actuator positioned in a left rear location in the truck bed;
a right front powered actuator positioned in a right front location in the truck bed;
a right rear powered actuator positioned in a right rear location in the truck bed;
each powered actuator having a motor and an actuator mount configured to connect the powered actuator to the truck bed;
a plurality of extension brackets, each extension bracket being coupled to a corresponding powered actuator;
a plurality of platform connectors, each platform connector being coupled to a corresponding extension bracket through a pivot arrangement, the pivot arrangement permitting the rigid platform to pivot or tilt relative to the powered actuators during raising and lowering; and
a bi-directional control device connected to each motor and operative to raise and lower the powered actuators simultaneously or independently.
13 . The powered raisable platform system of claim 12 , wherein each motor is an electrically driven motor.
14 . The powered raisable platform system of claim 12 , wherein each motor is a pneumatic air motor.
15 . The powered raisable platform system of claim 12 , wherein each actuator is a scissor type lift actuator.
16 . The powered raisable platform system of claim 12 , wherein each actuator is a nut screw type lift actuator.
17 . The powered raisable platform system of claim 12 , wherein each actuator mount is configured to connect each actuator to a truck bed side wall.
18 . The powered raisable platform system of claim 12 , wherein each actuator mount is configured to connect each actuator to a cavity within a truck bed wall.
19 . The powered raisable platform system of claim 12 , wherein each actuator mount is configured to connect each actuator to a truck bed floor.
20 . The powered raisable platform system of claim 12 , wherein a bottom surface of the rigid weight bearing platform rests on a truck bed floor when the rigid weight bearing platform is in a fully lowered position.
21 . The powered raisable platform system of claim 12 , wherein each actuator is contained within an actuator housing.
22 . The powered raisable platform system of claim 1 , wherein each motor is a hydraulic motor.
23 . The powered raisable platform system of claim 12 , wherein each of the plurality of powered actuators is a hydraulic motor actuator.