Tiltable vehicle lift

Abstract

A vehicle lift includes a lift platform which can be selectively moved in a range between one or more raised positions which are level from the front to the rear and a lowered position where the lift platform is tilted for loading and unloading. A vehicle may be supported on the lift platform. The vehicle lift may be arranged in a trailer.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A method of using a vehicle lift, comprising:
 a. providing a lift platform extending between a forward support post and a rear support post on a support surface,
 i. wherein the forward support post defines a front tilt support position adjacent a lower end of the forward support post and the rear support post defines a rear tilt support position adjacent a lower end of the rear support post and wherein the front tilt support position is arranged at a height greater than the height of the rear tilt support position; and 
 ii. wherein the front lift-side post and the rear lift-side post define a range of raised positions above the front tilt position and the rear tilt position; 
   b. selectively raising and lowering the lift platform within the range of raised positions while maintaining the lift platform in a level arrangement; and   c. lowering the lift platform to a position wherein the front tilt support position and the rear tilt support position support the lift platform at an angle relative to the support surface.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising a front latch mechanism arranged to sequentially engage the forward support post in a series of positions as the lift platform is raised and a rear latch mechanism arranged to sequentially engage the rear support post in a series of positions as the lift platform is raised. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the front latch mechanism is configured to automatically engage the forward support post and the rear latch mechanism is configured to automatically engage the rear support post to prevent unintentional downward movement of the lift platform; and
 disengaging the front latch mechanism and the rear latch mechanism when the lift platform is being intentionally lowered.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein a lower rear edge of the lift platform is spaced above the support surface when the lift platform is in the lowered position. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein:
 a. the forward support post and the rear support post each define a plurality of support notches extending within the range of raised positions; and, 
 b. wherein in each of the raised positions the lift platform engages one of the support notches in the forward support post and the lift platform engages a paired one of the support notches in the rear support post so that the lift platform is supported parallel to the support surface. 
 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising a ramp extension pivotally coupled to a rear edge of the lift platform wherein the ramp extension includes a lower surface which is parallel to and contacts the support surface when the lift platform is in the lowered position. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein selectively raising and lowering the lift platform comprises extending and retracting a hydraulic cylinder operatively coupled to the lift platform via a front lift linkage and a rear lift linkage. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the lift platform in the lowered position is arranged at an angle of approximately four degrees (4°) relative to the support surface. 
     
     
         9 . A method of using a vehicle lift, comprising:
 a. providing a forward support post and a rear support post arranged on a support surface;   b. moving a lift platform between one or more raised positions wherein the lift platform is maintained parallel to the support surface and supported by the forward support post and the rear support post; and   c. moving the lift platform to a lowered position supported by the forward support post and the rear support post so that the lift platform is arranged at an angular orientation relative to the support surface.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the lift platform in the lowered position is arranged at an angular orientation of approximately four degrees (4°) relative to the support surface. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the forward support post defines a front tilt support position adjacent a lower end of the forward support post which supports the lift platform in the lowered position; wherein the rear support post defines a rear tilt support position adjacent a lower end of the rear support post which supports the lift platform in the lowered position; and wherein the front tilt support position is at a height greater than the height of the rear tilt support position 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , comprising maintaining a lower rear edge of the lift platform above the support surface when the lift platform is in the lowered position. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , comprising a front latch mechanism arranged to sequentially engage the forward support post in a series of positions as the lift platform is raised and a rear latch mechanism arranged to sequentially engage the rear support post in a series of positions as the lift platform is raised. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the front latch mechanism is configured to automatically engage the forward support post and the rear latch mechanism is configured to automatically engage the rear support post to prevent unintentional downward movement of the lift platform; and
 disengaging the front latch mechanism and the rear latch mechanism when the lift platform is being intentionally lowered.   
     
     
         15 . A method of using a vehicle lift, comprising:
 a. providing a forward support and a rear support arranged on a support surface;   b. providing a lift platform operably supported by the forward support and the rear support and movable along a height between a lowered position and one or more raised positions above the lowered position;   c. maintaining the lift platform parallel to the support surface when moving the lift platform between the one or more raised positions;   d. supporting a forward portion of the lift platform at a forward support position on the forward support when the platform is in the lowered position;   e. supporting a rearward portion of the lift platform at a rear support position on the rear support when the platform is in the lowered position, wherein the front support position is higher in height than the rear support position so that in the lowered position the lift platform is arranged at an angular orientation relative to the support surface.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , comprising a front latch mechanism arranged to sequentially engage the forward support in a series of positions as the lift platform is raised and a rear latch mechanism arranged to sequentially engage the rear support in a series of positions as the lift platform is raised. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the front latch mechanism is configured to automatically engage the forward support and the rear latch mechanism is configured to automatically engage the rear support to prevent unintentional downward movement of the lift platform; and
 disengaging the front latch mechanism and the rear latch mechanism when the lift platform is being intentionally lowered.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15  comprising spacing a rear edge of the lift platform above the support surface when the lift platform is in the lowered position. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , comprising a ramp extension connected to the rear edge of the lift platform wherein when the lift platform is in the lowered position the ramp extension includes a lower surface which is parallel to and flush with the support surface. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , comprising pivoting the ramp extension slightly upward relative to the lift platform when the ramp extension lower surface contacts the support surface as the lift platform is moved to the lowered position.