Appeal No. 2003-0677 Page 6 Application No. 09/759,950 The claims under appeal are drawn to a loading platform system for mounting on a vehicle having a loading bed. The system comprises, inter alia, (1) a loading platform; (2) a lift support structure with a lift actuator for raising and lowering the loading platform between lower and upper end positions; (3) a tilt structure with a tilt actuator for pivoting the loading platform from a horizontal to a vertical position and vice versa; and (4) a releasable locking means for locking the loading platform in its upper end position level with, and directly to, the loading bed, and also for releasably locking the loading platform in the vertical position. Randall's invention relates to loading apparatus and particularly to an improved power operated loader adapted to be mounted on a truck or other platform to be loaded. As shown in the drawings, a load supporting platform 34 is actuated by a power cylinder 60 controlled by a manually actuated lever 90 so as to movable between lower and upper end positions. As shown in Figures 1 and 3, a rotary collar 41 is provided with a manually actuated latch means indicated generally at 70 which includes a manually actuated latch lever 72 having an inner end pivotally mounted on beam member 22 at a pivot 74. Lever 72 includes a first latch portion in the form of a recess 76 and a second latch portion 78 mounted on rotary collar 41 so as to enter recess 76 when lift platform 34 is manually pivoted to the closed tailgate position illustrated in Figure 5. Also, in the position of Figure 5 the platform 34 isPage: Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 NextLast modified: November 3, 2007