CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 61 /71 1 ,553 entitled "TRUCK LIFT ASSIST AND STORAGE SYSTEM" by Juergen Wider, filed October 09, 2012, the disclosures of which is hereby incorporated herein in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] This disclosure relates generally to portable transports, such as hand trucks and dollies, for use with power tools and construction equipment and particularly to lift systems for loading and unloading such portable transports from a vehicle.

BACKGROUND

[0003] Portable transports, such as hand trucks and dollies, are widely used for moving large and/or heavy equipment and tools from one location to another. These devices typically comprise a wheeled frame with a flat base and/or an upright support structure. One or more pieces of heavy equipment, such as compressors, generators, power supplies, power tool cases, and the like, are stacked on the flat base and/or secured to the upright support structure. Typically, the equipment for a job is loaded onto a vehicle, such as a truck or van, and transported to the job site. Once at the job site, the equipment is unloaded from the vehicle onto a hand truck or dolly. The hand trucks and dollies are then used to move the equipment around. [0004] Loading and unloading tools and equipment from a vehicle when preparing for and setting up a job site can be heavy work, and require a considerable amount of time. To reduce the amount of time required to set up a job site, equipment and tools are sometimes preloaded onto a hand truck or dolly prior to transport to the job site. The hand truck or dolly with the equipment secured thereto can then be loaded onto a vehicle, transported to the job site, and unloaded from the vehicle as a unit. Similarly, heavier and/or bulkier pieces of equipment are sometimes provided with their own inbuilt hand truck or dolly system so they can be moved about without having to take the time to mount and un-mount the equipment from a separate transport.

[0005] Preloading equipment onto transports and providing equipment with inbuilt transport systems can reduce the amount of time required to set up a job site.

However, to get the equipment to the job site, the loaded down transports and portable equipment units must be loaded onto and unloaded from a vehicle bed or platform 22 that is located well above ground. The combined weight and bulkiness of the

equipment and transport can make it extremely difficult or impossible to do this manually. Therefore, some type of ramp or lift system is often required to enable preloaded transports and portable equipment units to be loaded onto and unloaded from a vehicle.

[0006] Fork lifts are often used to load and unload heavy equipment from vehicles. However, a separate fork lift would likely be required at the job site and at the location where the equipment is loaded onto the vehicle, or the fork lift would have to be transported to and from the job site, which, in either case, may not be feasible. Ramp systems typically require separate structures (e.g., ramps) that must be put in place or deployed when loading and unloading the vehicle and then stowed or retracted when the vehicle is on the road. As a result, ramps require time to set up and take down which adds to the time required to set up a job site. Ramps can also take up space on a vehicle that could otherwise be used for transporting equipment and materials.

[0007] In some cases, lift systems have been known to be incorporated onto the vehicles themselves to facilitate loading and unloading of vehicles. Previously known lift systems typically comprise a powered platform structure that can be lowered to ground level to allow equipment to be placed on the platform. The platform is then raised to elevate the equipment above ground for transport with the vehicle. While such lift systems are effective, they are expensive and can require a significant amount of power to raise and lower the platform with or without being loaded down. In addition, there is still a need to store and secure the equipment on the vehicle for transportation after the equipment is lifted.

DRAWINGS

[0008] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a truck lift assist and storage system for a vehicle adapted for use with a stackable tool case storage system with the storage system loaded and secured to the vehicle.

[0009] FIG. 2 is another perspective view of the truck lift assist and storage system of FIG. 1 with the stackable storage system attached thereto and positioned on the ground. [0010] FIG. 3 is another perspective view of the truck lift assist and storage system of FIG. 1 with the stackable storage system unloaded and the lift arms in the upright position.

[0011] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a stackable case of the stackable storage system of FIGS. 1 -3.

[0012] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a truck lift assist and storage system for a vehicle adapted for use with a hand truck assembly for a hammer drill with the hand truck assembly loaded and secured to the vehicle.

[0013] FIG. 6 is another perspective view of the truck lift assist and storage system of

FIG. 5 with the with the hand truck assembly attached thereto and positioned on the ground.

[0014] FIG. 7 is another perspective view of the truck lift assist and storage system of FIG. 5 with the hand truck assembly unloaded and the lift arms in the upright position.

[0015] FIG. 8 depicts a schematic block diagram of a portion of the control system for the truck lift assist and storage system.

DESCRIPTION

[0016] For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the disclosure, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and described in the following written specification. It is understood that no limitation to the scope of the disclosure is thereby intended. It is further understood that the present disclosure includes any alterations and modifications to the illustrated embodiments and includes further applications of the principles of the disclosure as would normally occur to one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure pertains.

[0017] In accordance with this disclosure, a truck lift assist and storage system for a vehicle is provided that enables a portable equipment unit, such as a preloaded hand truck, a stackable tool storage system, a portable air compressor, and the like, to be loaded onto and unloaded from a transport vehicle as a single unit by a single person without having to remove and/or disconnect equipment from the unit. The portable equipment unit includes a wheeled base portion and an upper portion having a handle. The truck lift and assist system includes a platform and a lift system. The platform is configured to be fixedly secured to a vehicle and has an upper support surface configured to support the portable equipment unit thereon. The lift system includes a boom arm assembly, a lift plate, and an assist mechanism. The boom arm assembly has a platform attachment portion and an equipment supporting portion. The platform attachment portion is pivotably attached to the platform with the boom arm assembly extending upwardly from the platform to position the supporting portion a predetermined distance away the platform.

[0018] The lift plate is attached to the supporting portion of the boom arm assembly and is configured to be removably secured to the upper portion of the portable equipment unit. The boom arm assembly is pivotable between an upright position at which the lift plate is positioned over the platform and a deployed position at which the lift plate is laterally offset from the platform. The lift plate is configured to carry the portable equipment unit between a loaded position and an unloaded position, respectively, as the boom arm assembly moves between the upright and the deployed positions. The assist mechanism is configured to generate at least a portion of a force required to move the boom arm assembly and lift plate with the portable equipment unit suspended therefrom between the loaded and the unloaded positions.

[0019] Embodiments of the truck lift assist and storage system are depicted in FIGS. 1 -7. Referring to FIG. 1 , a truck lift assist and storage system 10 may be incorporated into a vehicle 12 to facilitate the loading and unloading of a portable equipment unit 14. The portable equipment unit 14 includes a wheeled base 16 and an upper portion having a handle 18. The portable equipment unit 14 may comprise a stackable tool storage system that includes a plurality of power tool cases and organizers 19 of different sizes of different that are configured to be stacked on top of each other in various configurations and locked together to form a unit 14 for easy transport and handling, such as depicted in FIGS. 1 -4. In other embodiments, a portable equipment unit may comprise a preloaded transport, such as a dolly or hand truck upon which one or more pieces of equipment, tools, and/or tool cases has been secured. For example, a portable equipment unit may comprise a portable air compressor, generator, power supply, power tool, or other piece of equipment that is mounted to a hand truck or dolly assembly. In one particular embodiment, a portable equipment unit may comprise a hand truck assembly to which a hammer drill 20 is mounted as depicted in FIGS. 5-7.

[0020] The truck lift assist and storage system 10 includes a platform 22, a boom arm assembly 24, 26, a lift plate 28, and a lift assist mechanism 30. The platform 22 may be provided by a portion of the vehicle, such as a bed or other similar type of surface. Optionally, a separate platform member may be secured to the vehicle to serve as the platform for the truck lift and assist system 22. The platform 22 comprises a structural member that provides a generally flat support surface upon which the portable equipment unit is placed when loaded onto the vehicle. The platform of the truck lift assist and storage system 10 is secured to a vehicle frame at any suitable location around the perimeter of the vehicle, e.g., front, back, side, corner. A single truck lift assist and storage system may be incorporated into a vehicle at a single location, or a plurality of such lift systems (not shown) may be located at multiple locations on the vehicle. Each truck lift assist and storage system can tailored to lift and store the same or a different type of equipment, equipment transport, or portable unit.

[0021] The loading and unloading of the portable equipment unit 14 is accomplished by a lift assembly comprising the boom arm assembly 24, 26, the lift plate 28, and the lift assist mechanism 30. The boom arm assembly incudes a pair of support arms 24, 26 that extend upwardly from opposite sides of the platform 22. Each support arm 24, 26 has an attachment end portion 31 and a supporting end portion 32. The attachment end portion 31 of each support arm 24, 26 is pivotally coupled to the platform 22 or to another structural member that is located proximate an edge of the platform 22. The support arms 24, 26 extend upwardly from the platform 22 to position the supporting end portions 32 a predetermined distance away the platform 22.

[0022] The lift plate 28 extends between the supporting end portions 32 of the support arms over at least a portion of the portable equipment unit 14. The support arms 24, 26 are pivotable in relation to the platform 22 between an upright position (FIG. 1 ) and a deployed position (FIG. 2). In the upright position, the support arms 24, 26 extend generally vertically from the platform 22 to position the lift plate 28 over the platform 22. In the deployed position, the support arms 24, 26 extend generally laterally from the platform 22 to position the lift plate 28 at a position that is laterally offset from the platform 22.

[0023] The lift plate 28 includes attachment features that enable the lift plate 28 to be removably secured to the upper portion of the portable equipment unit 14 so the lift plate can carry the portable equipment unit suspended under the plate 28 between a loaded position and an unloaded position, respectively, as the support arms 24, 26 move between the upright and the deployed positions. The attachment features comprise fastening structures 34 (FIG. 2), such as clamping mechanisms, retaining pins, retaining slots, and the like, that are configured to cooperate with complementary structures located on the upper portion the portable equipment unit 14 to secure the portable equipment unit to the lift plate 28. The support arms 24, 26 are configured to position the lift plate 28 so that it extends over at least a portion of the portable equipment unit at a height corresponding to a height of the complementary attachment features on the upper portion of the portable equipment unit 14.

[0024] To load the portable equipment unit 14 onto the vehicle, the portable equipment unit 14 is positioned on the ground adjacent the vehicle 12 and the platform 22. The support arms 24, 26 are pivoted to the deployed position so that the lift plate 28 is situated over the unit 14. The lift plate 28 is then secured to the upper portion of the portable equipment unit 14. Once secured, the support arms 24, 26 are pivoted from the deployed position to the upright position. As the support arms are pivoted, the lift plate 28 carries the portable equipment unit 14 from the unloaded position adjacent the vehicle to a loaded position on the platform 22. [0025] The attachment end portions 31 of the support arms are coupled to the liftassist mechanism 30 to assist in moving the loaded down lift assembly. The lift assist mechanism 30 is configured to generate at least a portion of a force, e.g., through mechanical advantage or powered means, to move the support arms 24, 26 and lift plate 28 with the portable equipment unit 14 suspended therefrom between the loaded and the unloaded positions. For example, the support arms 24, 26 may be spring- loaded to provide a mechanical advantage in moving the support arms 24, 26 between the upright position and deployed positions. In alternative embodiments, the assist mechanism 30 may include a pneumatic, electric, or hydraulic actuation for driving the support arms 24, 26 between the deployed and upright positions.

[0026] In the loaded position, with the lift plate 28 secured to the upper portion of the portable equipment unit 14, the wheeled base 16 of the unit 14 rests on the platform 22. The support arms 24, 26 may be configured to have adjustable lengths that enable the position of the lift plate 28 to be adjusted to accommodate portable equipment units 14 of different heights. For example, the support arms 24, 26 may have a telescoping configuration (not shown) or may be configured to utilize removable extension members (not shown) to extend the length of the support arms 24, 26. To unload the unit 14 from the platform 22, the support arms 22 are pivoted from the upright position to the deployed position so that the lift plate carries the portable equipment unit 14 from the loaded position on the platform to an unloaded position on a surface adjacent the platform 22.

[0027] As mentioned above, the portable equipment unit 14 in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 -3 comprises a stackable tool storage system 14. The stackable tool storage system 14 includes a plurality of power tool cases and organizers 19 of different sizes that are stacked on top of each and locked to form a unit for easy transport and handling. As depicted in FIG. 4, each tool case 19 has a box-like configuration with an upper surface 36, a lower surface 38, and a plurality of side surfaces 40. The upper portion and the lower portion of each case 19 is provided with complementary

attachment features 42, 44 that enable the bottom portion of one case 19 to be attached to the upper portion of another case 19. In this manner, a plurality of cases 19 can be stacked and attached to one another to form a unit. In one embodiment, the attachment features 42 on the upper portion of each case 19 comprise slots or grooves defined in the side walls or in projections that extend from the sidewalls, and the attachment features 44 in the lower portion of each case 19 comprise clamping mechanisms that are configured to engage the slots or grooves defined in the upper portion of each case.

[0028] As depicted in FIGS. 1 -3, the stackable storage system 14 is attached to a hand truck or dolly 46 to enable the stackable storage system 14 to be easily moved from location to location. The upper portion of the uppermost stackable case 19 of the system 14 is exposed. Therefore, the attachment features 42 provided on the upper portion of the uppermost case 19 of the stack are accessible for use in securing the stackable storage system 14 to the lift plate 28. In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 -3, the lift plate 28 is provided with fastening structures 34, or clamping mechanisms, that correspond to the fastening structures 42 that are provided on the upper portions of the cases 19 of the stackable storage system 14.

[0029] FIGS. 5-7 show an alternative embodiment of a truck lift assist and storage system 10 that is configured to lift and store a portable equipment unit 14 that comprises a hand truck to which a hammer drill 20 is mounted. The hand truck includes an equipment support portion 17 that encompasses the area occupied by the drill 20. The handle portion 18 includes a pair of rods 60 that extend upwardly from equipment support portion 17. The rods 60 are connected together by a cross-member 62, which may be formed by curving the upper ends of the rods toward each other, at a position above the equipment support portion. In this embodiment, the lift plate 28 includes a pair of slots 64 that are positioned and sized to receive the upwardly extending rods 60 of the handle portion. In this embodiment, the lift plate 28 is supported by the support arms 24, 26 at a distance that enables the lift plate 28 to be positioned between the cross-member 62 and the equipment support portion 1 7.

[0030] In one embodiment, the portable equipment unit 14 may be provided with at least one indicating device configured to output a signal for providing information regarding the portable equipment unit 14 and/or the equipment stored thereon. In this embodiment, the truck lift assist and storage system is provided with a reading device configured to receive the signal from the indicating device(s) when the portable equipment unit 14 is in the loaded position. For example, each case 19 in a stackable storage system may include an indicator (not visible), such as a near field

communication (NFC) card or radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag, that is configured to provide an indication whether or not the equipment associated with the case 19 is actually located in case 19. The truck lift assist and storage system 14 of FIGS. 1 -3 is provided with a reader 56 that is configured to read the indicator (NFC card or RFID tag) to determine whether all of the equipment is present in the appropriate cases 19 of the stackable storage system. In one embodiment, the reader 56 is provided in a strip located on the wall that surrounds the storage area on the platform 22. The reader 56 is operatively connected to an alert system (not shown), which may include audio and/or visual indicators located at one or more locations on the vehicle, such as in the cab of the vehicle, to alert an operator when a tool is not located in its case.

[0031] The portable equipment unit 14 may include one or more electrical devices and/or power tools that have rechargeable batteries and are capable of being

recharged. The portable equipment unit 14 and/or the devices on the unit 14 (such as the cases 19) may include some type of power input device that is configured to receive power for charging the equipment. The truck lift assist and storage system 10 may be provided with a power supply system 50 (FIG. 8) configured to supply power to the power input of the unit 14 to enable the equipment to be charge while they are loaded on the vehicle. For example, the system 10 may include a power output, such as a standard AC or DC power outlet 52, that enables the unit 14 or the equipment on the unit 14 to be plugged in to receive power. Alternatively, a power source 51 (FIG. 3) may be integrated into the lift plate 28 that is configured to supply power to a charging system on the portable equipment unit 14, e.g., to charge the equipment in the cases 19. The cases 19 may be configured to transmit power from case to case so that each case can be provided with power for charging batteries from the same outlet.

[0032] In one embodiment, the cases 19 of a stackable tool storage system may be configured to receive power for charging batteries wirelessly via induction. Referring to FIG. 2, the platform 22 may be provided with an inductive charging unit 54 having a primary induction coil (not shown) for creating an alternating electromagnetic field. A secondary induction coil (not shown) is provided in the lowermost case 19 of the stackable storage system that converts power from the magnetic field into electrical current to charge a battery. In alternative embodiments, induction charging units may be provided in other locations, such as in the walls surrounding the platform 22, as an alternative or in addition to the charging unit in the platform 22 base. The inductive charging unit 54 may be configured to detect whether a complementary inductive charge receiving system is present on the portable equipment unit 14. This enables power to be supplied to the unit 14 automatically once the unit 14 is loaded onto the platform and also allows power to be saved by not outputting power when it is not needed.

[0033] The power supply system 50 or the truck lift assist and storage system 10 may include a power monitoring function for monitoring the charge level of the vehicle battery in order to shut off the power supply system if the charge level of the vehicle battery gets too low. The power monitoring function may also be configured to monitor the status of the charge of the equipment on the portable equipment unit 14 in order to shut off the power supply when the equipment is fully charged. The power supply system 50 may also be configured to output the detected charge level(s) of the equipment on the unit 14 to a display 58 (FIG. 8) in the cab of the vehicle or other suitable locations. The power supply system 50 may configured to communicate receive and/or extract information from the charging system(s) of the portable equipment unit 14 and may be configured to communicate "smart" devices which have been provided with their own computer control systems. [0034] The truck lift assist and storage system 10 may also include various types of detection equipment and sensors for detecting the load state of the portable equipment unit 14 on the platform 22, such as whether the unit 14 is properly positioned, oriented, aligned, and/or secured on the platform 22. For example, in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 -3, the truck lift and storage system may include a camera system 53 that is configured to take images of the platform area and the portable control unit 14. The images can be output to a control system 55 (FIG. 8) that is configured to process the images process the images to identify positions of the lift assembly and to output signals indicating the identified position.

[0035] In one embodiment, the control system 55 is configured to compare images taken by the camera to pre-generated images that have been taken of the unit 14 in a properly loaded state. The pre-generated images can be stored or saved in a memory 56 of the control system. Each time the unit 14 is loaded on the platform 22, the camera 53 is actuated to capture an image which is sent to the control system 55 for comparison with the pre-generated images. If the control system 55 determines that the detected image indicates the unit 14 is not in a proper position, the control system can generate an alert, such as by activating an audible or visual indicator 58, such as a display, an LED, a buzzer, and the like, provided in the cab or on the vehicle near the platform 22. The operator, upon receiving the alert, would then know that the unit 14 is not loaded properly on the platform and needs to be repositioned. In other example, the reader may read the signal transmitted by the indicator and wirelessly transmits the detected signal to a portable electronic device such as a tablet, smart phone carried by the operator to alert the operator when the tool is not located in its case or misalignment of the preloaded equipment transport, the portable equipment, or the truck lift assist and storage system.

[0036] In another embodiment, the detection system may include a weight sensor system 60 incorporated into the platform 22 for detecting the weight of objects on the platform 22. The weight sensor may be used to detect the weight of a portable equipment unit 14 after it has been first loaded onto the platform and again after it has been reloaded onto the platform after having been unloaded. A difference between the initial weight and the weight after use of the unit 14 can be used to indicate whether all the equipment has been loaded back onto the unit 14, e.g., in the cases 19. Weight sensors can also be used to detect the weight distribution on the platform which can be used to determine whether the unit 14 is located in the proper position on the platform. For example, weight sensors can be positioned to detect the weight in the outer portions of the platform, such as the four corners. If the unit 14 is loaded in an offset position on the platform, the weights detected by the sensors will be skewed to one side or the other. The control system 55 is configured to identify detected weights from the sensors that indicate offset positioning of the unit 14 and to generate an alert to indicate the offset positioning.

[0037] As another alternative, the detection system may include sensors 48 for detecting the presence of parts of the unit 14 at certain positions on the platform 22. The sensors 48 may comprise optical sensors that are configured to indicate whether or not a unit 14 is properly positioned on the platform. Optical sensors 48 may be positioned at locations that will be blocked by the unit 14 when the unit 14 is properly positioned and that may remain unblocked when the unit 14 is not properly positioned, or vice versa. For example, sensors 48 may be integrated into the support arms 24, 26 as well as the lift plate 28. . Other locations may, of course, be desirable so long as the sensors 48 are disposed in a manner that allows detection of the truck lift assist and storage system 10 in an upright position. The control system 55 is configured to receive the signals from the sensors 48 and to determine whether the signals indicate that the unit 14 is properly positioned and to generate an alert if the signals indicate an offset positioning for the unit 14.

[0038] While the disclosure has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same should be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character. It is understood that only the preferred embodiments have been presented and that all changes, modifications and further applications that come within the spirit of the disclosure are desired to be protected.