Tow truck light support

• US 4,192,427 A
• Filed: 04/24/1978
• Issued: 03/11/1980
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/1978
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: William D. Bergman
• Original Assignee: William D. Bergman
• Inventors: Bergman, William D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sheridan, Robert G.
• Application Number:
  US05/899,480
• Time in Patent Office: 687 Days
• Field of Search: 362/61, 362/66, 362/74, 248/291, 248/293, 212/8 R, 414/563, 340/87
• US Class Current: 212/271
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2611 Indicating devices mounted on the roof of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2692 retractable lights retractable headlights B60Q1/05
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 7/02 to be attached to overhanging loads or extending parts of vehicle

Abstract

Retractable means for supporting light and other equipment on an automotive service truck. There is provided for use with an automotive service truck retractable means by which warning lights, radio antenna and/or other devices may be alternately supported in raised operative position or if desired temporarily dropped into a lowered position for enabling the service truck to enter through door openings or under ceilings of reduced height such as often exists in parking garages. The supporting means for said lights, radio antenna and other devices are mounted on suitable bases which in turn are mounted on a rotative rod. Stop means are provided for limiting movement of said bases in a device lifting direction and handle means are provided for operatively rotating said rod to effect such lifting. Said handle means also function at least in part as spring means for maintaining said bases under pressure against said stop means.

Claims

1. Mounting means for devices such as lights or radio antenna for a service truck, comprising:

a base plate;

a torsion bar extending along said base plate and rotatable with respect thereto;

a handle operatively associated with said torsion bar and catch means for selectively holding and releasing said handle in or from a predetermined position with respect to said base plate;

at least one mounting means, same including a platform rigidly fixed to said torsion bar and said platform being alignable substantially parallel with said base plate;

at least one stop fixed with respect to said base plate for limiting upward movement of said platform, the positioning of said stop being so related to the positioning of said catch means that when rotation of said torsion bar is stopped by said stop and said handle is in said catch means a substantial degree of tension will exist within the system comprising the handle, torsion bar and mounting means so as to hold same in a nonrattling condition;

means for mounting selected devices, as warning lights, service lights or radio antenna onto said mounting means;

whereby when said handle is positioned in said catch means, the platform of said mounting means is substantially parallel with the upper surface of said base plate and fixed with respect to said stop and said handle may be removed from said catch means and the entire system rotated to move said devices out of their raised position.

2. Mounting means for devices such as lights or radio antenna for a service truck, said service truck having lift mechanism support means including a pair of end members upstanding from the bed of the truck and a top member supported on said end members, comprising:

a torsion bar extending along said top member and rotatable with respect thereto;

a handle operatively associated with said torsion bar and catch means for selectively holding and releasing said handle in or from a predetermined position;

a pair of device mounting means each comprising a platform and a depending rearward flange rigidly fixed to opposite ends of said torsion bar and at least the platforms of each thereof alignable in substantial parallelism with said top member;

stops fixed with respect to opposite ends of said top member for limiting upward movement of said platforms, positioning of said stops being so related to the positioning of said catch means that when said platforms are fixed with respect to said stops and said handle is in said catch means, a substantial degree of tension will exist within the system comprising the handle, torsion bar and mounting means so as to hold same in a nonrattling condition;

means for mounting selected devices, as warning lights, service lights or radio antenna onto said mounting means;

whereby when said handle is positioned in said catch means, the platform of said mounting means is substantially parallel with said top member and fixed with respect to said stops and said handle may be removed from said catch means and the entire system rotated to move said devices out of their raised position.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein said stops are mounted on an upper portion of said top member said catch means is mounted on one of said end members for setting up a torsion system between said catch means and said stops.

4. The device of claim 2 wherein said catch means is provided with a handle retaining notch and a ramp guiding said handle to said notch.

5. The device of claim 2 including also brackets fixed to at least one of said mounting means for the support of auxiliary devices such as service lights.