Tail hauler

Abstract

A lifting assembly for use on vehicles of a variety of types, including recreational vehicles, vans, trucks and the like, and includes one or more lifting structures that will support a deck structure. The lifting assembly will be removably mounted to the vehicle frame so that the whole assembly can be removed from the vehicle, and the deck structure is pivotally mounted to the lift assembly so that it can be moved between a stored position when not in use, or a transport position when loads are to be carried. When in the transport position the deck will be movable between lowered and raised positions so that items can be placed on the deck in the lowered position and then transported once the deck is raised to a desired height.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A hauling assembly comprising
 a frame having a vertical portion and a   horizontal portion;   a carriage movably mounted to the vertical portion of the frame;   a drive system including a drive mechanism mounted to the horizontal portion of the frame and operatively connected to the carriage to move the carriage along the frame between lowered and raised positions along the vertical portion; and   a deck operatively attached to the carriage to support a load and so as to be movable between transport and stored positions.   
     
     
         2 . The hauling assembly as in  claim 1  wherein the frame includes at least one vertical member. 
     
     
         3 . The hauling assembly as in  claim 1  wherein the frame comprises a pair of vertical members, each being provided with its own drive mechanism. 
     
     
         4 . The hauling assembly as in  claim 3  wherein the drive system includes a motor and further includes a drive member rotationally mounted to the horizontal portion and operatively connected to the drive mechanism provided on each of the vertical members. 
     
     
         5 . The hauling assembly as in  claim 1  wherein the vertical portion includes at least one rail member having a front portion and a rear portion, the front portion having opposing side surfaces each including a vertically extending groove each to operatively receive a flange formed on a portion of the carriage, the rear portion having a hollow interior portion extending upwardly from a bottom thereof for at least a predetermined distance. 
     
     
         6 . The hauling assembly as in  claim 5  wherein the carriage comprises a hollow elongated member having top and bottom ends, a front wall, a pair of side walls connected to the front wall, and a rear wall section defined by the flanges formed as opposing, spaced apart wall portions extending inwardly from a rear edge of each if the pair of side walls, and a travel block mounted internally of the carriage at a fixed point located between the top and bottom edges, the travel block being operatively mounted to the drive mechanism. 
     
     
         7 . The hauling assembly as in  claim 1  wherein the deck is attached to the carriage by a hinge assembly including at least one support wall having a rear portion mounted to a side wall of the carriage, a stop member secured to a front portion of the at least one support wall, a deck rail pivotally mounted to the hinge assembly so as to be pivotal between raised and lowered positions, and a locking member locking the deck rail to the hinge assembly in each of the lowered and raised positions. 
     
     
         8 . The hauling assembly as in  claim 1  further including a control system for controlling operation of the drive system. 
     
     
         9 . The hauling assembly as in  claim 1  wherein the deck includes at least one support rail pivotally attached to the carriage and a deck member secured to the at least one support rail. 
     
     
         10 . The hauling assembly as in  claim 1  further including a pair of support rails, each being pivotally connected to one of a pair of carriages, the vertical portion including a pair of spaced apart supports to which one each of the pair of carriages are movingly mounted, and wherein the drive system includes a threaded member rotationally mounted to each of the pair of spaced apart supports and engaged with one of the carriages, the drive system including a drive motor and an operative connection between the motor and each of the threaded members so that each carriage can be moved by the rotation of the threaded member in either one
 of a clockwise or counter clockwise direction. 
 
     
     
         11 . The hauling assembly as in  claim 10  further including a deck member secured to the pair of spaced apart supports. 
     
     
         12 . The hauling assembly as in  claim 11  further including a control system for controlling operation of the drive system and the movement of the pair of carriages. 
     
     
         13 . The hauling assembly as in  claim 7  wherein the hinge assembly further includes a pair of opposing support walls mounted to opposite sides of the carriage, the stop block being positioned between the pair of support walls and against a front wall of the carriage and a pair of spacer blocks each being mounted to one of the pair of support walls and spaced apart to permit the deck rail to pivot there between. 
     
     
         14 . A lifting assembly for mounting to a rear of a vehicle allowing transporting of a load comprising:
 a vehicle mounting assembly having two spaced apart vehicle connection portions each being secured to a frame of a vehicle and an outwardly positioned lift mounting support portion;   a pair of spaced apart, vertically extending support members each being removably mounted to one of the lift assembly support portions, and an upper support extending between and connected to an upper end of each of the pair of support members;   a carriage movably mounted on each of the pair of support members;   a drive system to move the carriages vertically along the pair of support members to traverse there along between raised and lowered positions;   a deck attached to the carriage so as to be movable between transport and storage positions; and   a control system by which lifting assembly operation is controlled.