Lift System

Abstract

A lift system that is attachable to a vehicle, such as a car, truck, van, and the like, for lifting and carrying heavy items, such as a motorcycle utilizing a platform connected to a lifting mechanism that is connected to the vehicle, The lifting mechanism has a pair of lift arm housings that are connected to the vehicle, a pair of lift arms connected to the platform that rises up and down within their respective lift arm housing, and an electric motor to raise and lower the lift arms. The platform can be removed from the lift arms and stored away or used as a tabletop by. Wheels may be provided to easily maneuver the platform on the ground. Elongated posts can be attached to the platform to function as braces to secure the item to the platform. The elongated posts can also be used as legs for the tabletop.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A lift system, comprising:
 a. a platform, the platform comprising a proximal side, a distal side opposite the proximal side, a first lateral side adjacent to the proximal side and the distal side, a second lateral side opposite the first lateral side and adjacent to the proximal side and the distal side, a top surface and a bottom surface opposite the top surface;   b. a plurality of elongated posts attachable to the platform, wherein each elongated post comprises a long stem having a first end and a second end, and a short stem attached to the long stem at the second end in a perpendicular manner, wherein the short stem is configured to attach to the platform in a plurality of the orientations such that the long stem can project perpendicularly above the top surface, parallel to the top surface, and below the top surface;   c. a lift arm operatively connected to the proximal side of the platform;   d. a lift arm housing operatively connected to the lift arm, the lift arm housing liming a top end and a bottom end opposite the top end, the lift arm configured to slide in and out of the lift arm housing at the bottom end;   e. a horizontal bar operatively connected to the lift arm housing adjacent the bottom end;   f. a lift device housed inside the lift arm housing, the lift device operatively connected to the lift arm; and   g. a motor operatively connected to the lift device to cause the lift arm to slide in and out of the lift arm housing.   
     
     
         2 . The lift system of  claim 1 , further comprising a retractable wheel chock attachable to the top surface, the retractable wheel chock having a stowed configuration in which the chock is generally parallel with the top surface of the platform, and a deployed configuration in which the chock juts away from the top surface of the platform; 
     
     
         3 . The lift system of  claim 1 , wherein the top surface comprises a first recessed portion adjacent to the first lateral side and a second recess portion adjacent to the second lateral side. 
     
     
         4 . The lift system of  claim 1 , further comprising a gooseneck frame having a zig-zag profile attachable to the second lateral side of the platform. 
     
     
         5 . The lift system of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of wheels attachable to the platform, wherein each wheel comprises a wheel assembly having a vertical post and configured to receive one of the elongated posts. 
     
     
         6 . The lift system of  claim 1 , further comprising a receiver mountable on a structure, wherein the horizontal bar is attachable to the receiver, wherein the receiver comprises:
 a. a main bar having a top side, a bottom side opposite the top side, a first terminal end and a second terminal end opposite the first terminal end,   b. two stabilizing bars projecting perpendicularly from the top side of the main bar in the same direction and spaced apart from each other, wherein the first stabilizing bar is located adjacent to the first terminal end of the main bar opposite where the horizontal bar attaches, and the second stabilizing bar is located in between the first stabilizing bar and the second terminal end, and   c. a pair of holes on the main bar bilaterally arranged on opposite sides of second stabilizing bar.   
     
     
         7 . The lift system of  claim 1 , wherein the lift device comprises a threaded bolt, a head attached to the threaded bolt to rotate the threaded bolt about a longitudinal axis of the threaded bolt, and a barrel nut attachable to the threaded bolt, wherein the barrel nut is fixed to the lift arm, and wherein when the head is rotated by the motor in a first rotational direction, the barrel nut rises along the threaded bolt, and when the head is rotated in a second rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction, the barrel nut descends along the threaded bolt, thereby raising and lowering the lift arm through rotation of the threaded bolt. 
     
     
         8 . The lift system of  claim 1 , wherein the lift arm housing comprises a tab adjacent to the bottom end of the lift arm housing, the tab defining a hole into which a fastener can be inserted to fasten the lift arm housing to the lift arm. 
     
     
         9 . A lift system, comprising:
 a. a platform, the platform comprising a proximal side, a distal side opposite the proximal side, a first lateral side adjacent to the proximal side and the distal side, a second lateral side opposite the first lateral side and adjacent to the proximal side and the distal side, a top surface and a bottom surface opposite the top surface;   b. a plurality of elongated posts attachable to the platform;   c. a lift arm operatively connected to the proximal side of the platform;   d. a lift arm housing operatively connected to the lift arm, the lift arm housing having a top end and a bottom end opposite the top end, the lift arm configured to slide in and out of the lift arm housing at the bottom end;   e. a horizontal bar operatively connected to the lift arm housing adjacent the bottom end;   f. a lift device housed inside the lift arm housing, the lift device operatively connected to the lift arm;   g. a motor operatively connected to the lift device to cause the lift arm to slide in and out of the lift arm housing; and   h. a receiver mountable on a structure, wherein the horizontal bar is attachable to the receiver, wherein the receiver comprises a main bar having a top side, a bottom side opposite the top side, a first terminal end and a second terminal end opposite the first terminal end; two stabilizing bars projecting perpendicularly from the top side of the main bar in the same direction and spaced apart from each other, wherein the first stabilizing bar is located adjacent to the first terminal end of the main bar opposite where the horizontal bar attaches, and the second stabilizing bar is located in between the first stabilizing bar and the second terminal end; and a pair of holes on the main bar bilaterally arranged on opposite sides of the second stabilizing bar.   
     
     
         10 . The lift system of  claim 9 , further comprising a retractable wheel chock attachable to the top surface, the retractable wheel chock having a stowed configuration in which the chock is generally parallel with the top surface of the platform, and a deployed configuration in which the chock juts away from the top surface of the platform; 
     
     
         11 . The lift system of  claim 9 , wherein the top surface comprises a first recessed portion adjacent to the first lateral side and a second recess portion adjacent to the second lateral side. 
     
     
         12 . The lift system of  claim 9 , further comprising a gooseneck frame having a zig-zag profile attachable to the second lateral side of the platform. 
     
     
         13 . The lift system of  claim 9 , further comprising a plurality of wheels attachable to the platform, wherein each wheel comprises a wheel assembly having a vertical post and configured to receive one of the elongated posts. 
     
     
         14 . The lift system of  claim 9 , wherein the lift device comprises a threaded bolt, a head attached to the threaded bolt to rotate the threaded bolt about a longitudinal axis of the threaded bolt, and a barrel nut attachable to the threaded bolt, wherein the barrel nut is fixed to the lift arm, and wherein when the head is rotated by the motor in a first rotational direction, the barrel nut rises along the threaded bolt, and when the head is rotated in a second rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction, the barrel nut descends along the threaded bolt, thereby raising and lowering the lift arm through rotation of the threaded bolt. 
     
     
         15 . The lift system of  claim 9 , wherein the lift arm housing comprises a tab adjacent to the bottom end of the lift arm housing, the tab defining a hole into which a fastener can be inserted to fasten the lift arm housing to the lift arm. 
     
     
         16 . The lift system of  claim 9 , wherein each elongated post comprises a long stem having a first end and a second end, and a short stem attached to the long stem at the second end in a perpendicular manner, wherein the short stem is configured to attach to the platform in a plurality of the orientations such that the long stem can project perpendicularly above the top surface, parallel to the top surface, and below the top surface.