US 7,610,636 B2
In-vehicle lift mechanism
James K. Holmes, Niles, Mich. (US); Douglas J. Yoder, Nappanee, Ind. (US); and Gary D. Peter, Middlesburg, Ind. (US)
Assigned to Actuant Corporation, Glendale, Wis. (US)
Appl. No. 11/630,932
PCT Filed Jun. 29, 2005, PCT No. PCT/US2005/023281
§ 371(c)(1), (2), (4) Date Dec. 19, 2007,
PCT Pub. No. WO2006/007522, PCT Pub. Date Jan. 19, 2006.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/584625, filed on Jul. 01, 2004.
Prior Publication US 2008/0129086 A1, Jun. 05, 2008
Int. Cl. A47C 17/64 (2006.01); B60J 7/00 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 5—118  [5/11; 105/317; 296/190.02] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. In a recreational vehicle, a lift mechanism for raising and lowering a platform in an interior of the vehicle, the lift mechanism comprising:
a frame;
a drive unit;
a support member supporting the platform and connected to the frame to be vertically movable relative to the frame;
an elongated flexible member having a first end linked to the drive unit and a second end fixed relative to the frame; and
at least one guide member engaging the flexible member between the first and second ends and directing the flexible member through at least one turn;
wherein the drive unit drives the first end of the flexible member to adjust the height of the support member;
wherein the flexible member includes multiple elongated segments, each segment having a first end coupled together with the first ends of the other segments and to the drive unit and each segment having a second end coupled to the frame, such that travel of the first ends in one direction raises the support member and travel of the first ends in an opposite direction lowers the support member.