Vehicle mounted lift assembly

Abstract

A lift assembly connects to a receiver hitch and utilizes a plurality of parallel arms connecting a vertical mounting post to a center support in a lift frame that is raised and lowered by the lift assembly. The lift assembly is configured so that the parallel arms rotate from vertical to an inclined angle as the lift frame is lowered, but the arms do not extend below the horizontal as they extend rearward from the mounting post.

1 - 22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . A lift assembly for a vehicle having a hitch receiver, said assembly comprising:
 a mounting portion having a top and a bottom with said mounting portion adapted for attachment to the hitch receiver of the vehicle;   a lift frame coupled to said mounting portion and having a center support member defining a channel with said lift frame defining a forward plane; and   first parallel arms having first bottom ends fastened to said bottom of said mounting portion, and having first opposite ends fastened to said center support member of said lift frame such that said first parallel arms extend in a nearly vertical orientation when said lift frame is in a raised position and extend rearward outward from said mounting portion in an upward orientation when said lift frame is in a lowered position;   wherein said first parallel arms and a portion of said mounting portion are aligned in a vertical orientation about one another and are received within said channel of said center support member rearward of said forward plane when said lift frame is in said raised position.   
     
     
         24 . A lift assembly as set forth in  claim 23  further including second parallel arms having second bottom ends fastened to said bottom of said mounting portion, and having second opposite ends fastened to said center support member of said lift frame such that said second parallel arms extend in a nearly vertical orientation when said lift frame is in said raised position and extend rearward outward from said mounting portion in an upward orientation when said lift frame is in said lowered position. 
     
     
         25 . A lift assembly as set forth in  claim 24  wherein both of said first and second parallel arms and a portion of said mounting portion are aligned in a vertical orientation about one another and are received within said channel rearward of said forward plane when said lift frame is in said raised position. 
     
     
         26 . A lift assembly as set forth in  claim 25  further including a locking device engaging at least one of said first and second parallel arms, a portion of said mounting portion and a portion of said center support member when said first and second parallel arms and said portion of said mounting portion are in said channel to maintain said alignment in said vertical orientation about one another. 
     
     
         27 . A lift assembly as set forth in  claim 26  wherein said locking device is further defined a locking pin directly engaging at least one of said first and second parallel arms, an opening in said center support member and an opening in said mounting portion. 
     
     
         28 . A lift assembly as set forth in  claim 24  wherein second bottom ends of said second parallel arms are fastened to said bottom of said mounting portion rearward of said first bottom ends of said first parallel arms, and second opposite ends of said second parallel arms are fastened to said center support member rearward of said first opposite ends of said first parallel arms. 
     
     
         29 . A lift assembly as set forth in  claim 23  wherein said first bottom ends of said first parallel arms are fastened to said bottom of said mounting portion by a first bottom retaining axis, and said first opposite ends are fastened to said center support member by a first top retaining axis. 
     
     
         30 . A lift assembly as set forth in  claim 29  wherein said first bottom retaining axis and said first top retaining axis are in the form of bolts. 
     
     
         31 . A lift assembly as set forth in  claim 24  wherein said second bottom ends of said second parallel arms are fastened to said bottom of said mounting portion by a second bottom retaining axis, and said second opposite ends are fastened to said center support member by a second top retaining axis. 
     
     
         32 . A lift assembly as set forth in  claim 31  wherein said second bottom retaining axis and said second top retaining axis are in the form of bolts. 
     
     
         33 . A lift assembly as set forth in  claim 23  wherein said upward orientation of said first parallel arms is at least 25 degrees above horizontal when said lift frame in said lowered position. 
     
     
         34 . A lift assembly as set forth in  claim 24  wherein said upward orientation of both of said first and second parallel arms are at least 25 degrees above horizontal when said lift frame in said lowered position. 
     
     
         35 . A lift assembly as set forth in  claim 23  wherein said mounting portion includes a horizontal attaching member adapted for attachment to the hitch receiver, and a vertical mounting post defining said top and said bottom. 
     
     
         36 . A lift assembly as set forth in  claim 23  wherein said lift frame further includes a top frame member and a front bottom frame member with said top frame member, said front bottom frame member and said center support member defining said forward plane. 
     
     
         37 . A lift assembly as set forth in  claim 23  further including a motor mounted within said lift frame to provide powered raising and lowering of said lift frame. 
     
     
         38 . A lift assembly as set forth in  claim 37  further including a cable connected between said motor and said mounting portion with said motor retracting and extending said cable to raise and lower said lift frame.