A hoist mechanism for lifting articles, such as a mobility scooter, into and from an interior of an automobile has a boom arranged to be mounted on the vehicle. A length of webbing depends from the boom and can be attached to the article to be lifted in use. An electric motor is configured to retract the webbing to provide lifting of the article by winding the webbing onto a spool. The boom has a mounting bracket. The spool is mounted to one side of the mounting bracket and the electric motor is mounted on the other side of the mounting bracket. The boom may take the form of a pivoting and swiveling armature. The boom may be releasably latched in a raised condition for use.

An embodiment of the present disclosure provides a vehicle having a cargo area that includes an internal surface. A longitudinally extending bar is located within the cargo area of the vehicle. A bag configured to hang onto and slide along the longitudinally extending bar. A movable rail assembly is attached to the internal surface and includes: a rail moveable between extend and retract positions with respect to the cargo area; a bearing engageable with the rail to assist moving the rail between the extend and retract positions; and a bracket attachable to the bearing to suspend the bearing and the rail in the cargo area and away from the internal surface.

A portable gantry crane formed of composite members includes a composite material I-beam. Two or more support members are formed of a composite material and each support member supports the I-beam when the portable gantry crane is in an upright position. Two or more end housings are included, each end housing enclosing a top end of one of the two or more support members and coupled thereto using adhesive. A plurality of latch structures are coupled with the I-beam, each latch structure including a latch, and each end housing having a latch receiver, each latch in combination with a latch receiver allowing one of the latch structures to be releasably fixedly coupled with an end housing. In implementations a plurality of latch structures are coupled with the I-beam, each latch structure having a latch structure enclosure and each latch structure enclosure at least partially enclosing one of the end housings.

A hoist mechanism for lifting articles, such as a mobility scooter, into and from an interior of an automobile has a boom arranged to be mounted on the vehicle. A length of webbing depends from the boom and can be attached to the article to be lifted in use. An electric motor is configured to retract the webbing to provide lifting of the article by winding the webbing onto a spool. The boom has a mounting bracket. The spool is mounted to one side of the mounting bracket and the electric motor is mounted on the other side of the mounting bracket. The boom may take the for of a pivoting and swivelling armature. The boom may be releasably latched in a raised condition for use.

A portable gantry crane formed of composite members includes a composite material I-beam. Two or more support members are formed of a composite material and each support member supports the I-beam when the portable gantry crane is in an upright position. Two or more end housings are included, each end housing enclosing a top end of one of the two or more support members and coupled thereto using adhesive. A plurality of latch structures are coupled with the I-beam, each latch structure including a latch, and each end housing having a latch receiver, each latch in combination with a latch receiver allowing one of the latch structures to be releasably fixedly coupled with an end housing. In implementations a plurality of latch structures are coupled with the I-beam, each latch structure having a latch structure enclosure and each latch structure enclosure at least partially enclosing one of the end housings.

A vehicle for transporting and communicating with a robot includes a vehicle body and a robot dock mechanically coupled to the vehicle body and configured to mechanically couple the robot to the vehicle body. The vehicle also includes an input/output port configured to be electrically coupled to the robot. The vehicle also includes an electronic control unit (ECU) coupled to the input/output port and configured to transmit a signal to the robot via the input/output port to at least one of program the robot or control the robot.

A stowable hydraulic crane for a vehicle load bed includes a boom, a mast configured to pivot between a deployed configuration and a stowed configuration in a load bed sidewall receiver, and a base. A hydraulic member is provided to tilt the boom. The base includes a locking member for retaining the mast in the deployed configuration.

A vehicle for transporting and communicating with a robot includes a vehicle body and a robot dock mechanically coupled to the vehicle body and configured to mechanically couple the robot to the vehicle body. The vehicle also includes an input/output port configured to be electrically coupled to the robot. The vehicle also includes an electronic control unit (ECU) coupled to the input/output port and configured to transmit a signal to the robot via the input/output port to at least one of program the robot or control the robot.

A portable crane formed of composite members. A composite mast is coupled to a composite boom. A boom end housing removably couples at a top of the mast and includes an enclosure. A first end of the boom couples within the boom end housing. A boom pivot couples to the boom end housing and couples the boom to the mast. An angle adjuster releasably secures the boom at a desired angle relative to the mast. In implementations an end cap is included at a second end of the boom, coupled to a sheave with a pin, the end cap covering a terminal end of a second end of the boom and extending along both sides of a slot in an upper surface of the second end and along a portion of a first side of the second end and along a portion of a second side of the second end.