Deathcare apparatus for transporting multiple caskets, cots, stretchers, cremation trays or the like

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a deathcare apparatus for transporting multiple caskets, cots, stretchers, cremation trays or the like in a van or other vehicle. More particularly, the instant invention relates to a double-deck apparatus including upper and lower decks with the upper deck being pivotally movable between upper and lower positions with respect to the lower deck so that both the upper and lower decks may support caskets, cots, stretchers, cremation trays or the like thereon.

2. Description of the Related Art

Link Mgf., Ltd. (“Link”) of Sioux Center, Iowa, the assignee of this invention, has manufactured Double Deck deathcare apparatuses or systems which have been installed in full-size Chevrolet, Ford and Dodge vans with the Double Deck systems comprising a lower deck positioned on the floor of the van with an upper deck pivotally mounted thereon and which is movable between upper and lower positions with respect to the lower deck. The upper and lower decks are used to support and transport multiple caskets, cots, stretchers, cremation trays or the like. In the DD200 Double Deck system of Link, the upper deck is raised and lowered utilizing an electric actuator with that actuator moving a front torsion bar which lifts the front of the upper deck. In the DD200 Double Deck system of Link, there is a tie rod on each side, running from the front torsion bar to the rear swing arms with the rear swing arms lifting the rear of the upper deck.

Although the DD200 Double Deck system of Link has met with considerable success, the DD200 Double Deck system cannot be installed in certain vans which are smaller than the full-size vans described above. To satisfy that need, the instant invention is described which also includes an improved lifting system for the upper deck.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A deathcare apparatus for transporting multiple caskets, cots, stretchers, cremation trays or the like thereon is described for use in the cargo area of a van having a cargo floor. The apparatus of this invention comprises a lower deck which is secured to the vehicle cargo floor and which has a forward end, a rearward end, and opposite sides. A first support is secured to the lower deck at the forward end thereof adjacent one side thereof. A second support is secured to the lower deck at the forward end thereof adjacent the other side thereof. The apparatus also includes an upper deck which is positioned above the lower deck and which is movable between upper and lower positions with respect to the lower deck. A third support is secured to one side of the upper deck intermediate the forward and rearward ends thereof and a fourth support is secured to the other side of the upper deck intermediate the forward and rearward ends thereof. First and second lower lift arms are pivotally secured at their forward ends to the first and second supports and extend rearwardly therefrom. The forward ends of the lower lift arms and pivotally secured to the third and fourth supports adjacent the lower ends thereof. First and second lift arms are pivotally connected at their rearward ends to the upper ends of the first and second supports and are pivotally connected at their forward ends to the upper ends of the third and fourth supports, respectively. First and second actuators are pivotally connected to the first and second lower lift arms for raising and lowering the upper deck between its upper and lower positions. A torsion bar or member is secured to and extends between the forward ends of the first and second lift arms to stabilize the lifting operation.

A principal object of the invention is to provide an improved deathcare apparatus for transporting multiple caskets, cots, stretchers, cremation trays or the like in a vehicle such as a van.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved apparatus of the type described above which is compact and which includes a minimum of moving parts.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the type described above which includes a torsion bar or member which extends between a pair of lower lift arms to stabilize the lifting operation.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the type described above including a pair of lower lift arms, each of which has an electric actuator secured thereto for raising and lower the lower lift arms.

These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A

is a side view of a vehicle having the apparatus of this invention mounted therein which is shown in broken lines;

FIG. 1B

is a rear view of the vehicle and the apparatus of this invention;

FIG. 2

is a rear perspective view of the apparatus of this invention;

FIG. 3

is a top view of the apparatus of this invention;

FIG. 4

is a side view of the apparatus of this invention with the upper deck positioned in its lowermost position;

FIG. 5

is a rear view of the apparatus of this invention;

FIG. 6

is a rear perspective view of the apparatus of this invention with the upper deck raised to its upper position;

FIG. 7

is a top view of the apparatus of this invention with the upper deck in its raised position;

FIG. 8

is a side view of the apparatus of this invention with the upper deck in its upper position; and

FIG. 9

is a rear view of the apparatus of this invention with the upper deck in its raised position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The apparatus of this invention is referred to generally by the reference numeral

10

which is adapted to be installed in the cargo area of a vehicle

12

including a cargo floor

14

.

Apparatus

10

includes a lower deck

16

having a forward end

18

, rearward end

20

, and opposite sides

22

,

24

. As seen in

FIGS. 2 and 6

, the rearward end

20

of deck

16

extends downwardly and rearwardly to define a ramp

25

for facilitating the placement of deathcare items such as caskets, cots, stretchers, cremation trays or the like on deck

16

. Mounting brackets

26

and

28

secure the rearward end of deck

16

to the cargo floor

14

. Mounting brackets

30

and

32

are secured to the forward end of the deck

16

for further securing the deck

16

to the cargo floor

14

. Elongated supports

34

and

36

are secured to brackets

30

and

32

, respectively, and extend horizontally rearwardly therefrom laterally of sides

22

and

24

of deck

16

, respectively. Mounting brackets

38

and

40

are secured to the forward ends of supports

34

and

36

, respectively. Mounting brackets

38

and

40

are secured to the cargo floor

14

and to sides

22

and

24

of deck

16

, respectively.

Actuator mounts

42

and

44

are mounted on supports

34

and

36

, respectively, which have the lower ends of electric screw actuators

46

and

48

pivotally secured thereto, respectively. Posts

50

and

52

are secured to mounting brackets

30

and

32

and extend upwardly therefrom. Lower lift arms

54

and

56

are pivotally secured at their rearward ends to posts

50

and

52

above mounting brackets

30

and

32

and extend rearwardly therefrom. Torsion tube or member

58

is secured to the rearward ends of lower lift arms

54

and

56

and extends therebetween. Lower lift arms

54

and

56

are provided with generally inverted V-shaped pockets

60

and

62

which receive the upper ends of electric actuators

46

and

48

and which are pivotally connected thereto.

The numeral

64

refers to an upper deck having a forward end

66

, rearward end

68

and opposite sides

70

and

72

. The rearward end

20

of deck

64

extends downwardly and rearwardly to define a ramp

65

for facilitating the placement of deathcare items on deck

64

such as caskets, cots, stretchers, cremation trays or the like. Stabilizer or upper lift arms

74

and

76

have their forward ends pivotally connected at the upper ends of posts

50

and

52

and extend rearwardly therefrom. Upstanding supports

78

and

80

are secured to and extend upwardly from sides

70

and

72

of deck

64

, respectively. As seen, supports

78

and

80

include gussets

79

and

81

, respectively. The rearward ends of lower lift arms

54

and

56

are pivotally connected to supports

78

and

80

adjacent the lower ends thereof. The rearward ends of stabilizer arms

74

and

76

are pivotally connected to the upper ends of supports

78

and

80

, as seen in the drawings. The pivotal connection of the lower lift arms

54

and

56

and the stabilizer arms

74

and

76

with the posts

50

and

52

and the pivotal connection of the lower lift arms

54

and

56

and the stabilizer arms

74

and

76

with the supports

78

and

80

forms a parallelogram-type lifting mechanism for the upper deck.

FIG. 2

illustrates the upper deck

64

in its lowered position with respect to lower deck

16

. If the apparatus of this invention is not going to be used to support a large number of items thereon, the deck

64

may be left in its lowermost position with the deathcare items being positioned thereon. If the deathcare items cannot fit on the upper deck

64

in its lower position, as seen in

FIG. 2

, the electric actuators

46

and

48

are extended which causes the lower lift arms

54

and

56

to be pivotally moved upwardly from the position of

FIG. 2

to the position of FIG.

6

. The stabilizer arms

74

and

76

, through their pivotal connection with the supports

78

,

80

and the supports

50

and

52

, respectively, causes the deck

64

to be raised to the upper position, as seen in

FIG. 6

, with the parallelogram structure causing the deck

64

to remain horizontal at all times during the lifting and lowering movements. The torsion bar

78

interconnects the forward ends of the lower lift arms

54

and

56

to assist in a smooth coordinated operation of the actuators

46

and

48

.

When the apparatus

10

is in the position of

FIG. 6

, the deathcare items such as caskets, cots, stretchers, cremation trays, etc., may be positioned on both the lower deck

16

and the upper deck

64

. The apparatus of this invention is extremely compact and has a minimum of moving parts.

Thus it can be seen that the invention accomplishes at least all of its stated objectives.