1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a lifting apparatus and more particularly, to an apparatus capable of lifting numerous objects, such as a water heater, air conditioner, garage door, construction materials, etc.
The present invention eliminates the necessity of requiring the use of multiple individuals to move such objects. Through the use of the present invention, a mechanical apparatus which grasps, lifts, tilts, and translates the orientation of the object, such as the water heater is made efficient and safe.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Local codes usually require water heaters, particularly those installed in garages or the like, to have the base or bottom end of the heater elevated and supported on a stand at least 45.72 cm (18″) inches above the surface of the surrounding, and generally horizontal, floor. Since many of these water heaters are of considerable size, varying diametrically and longitudinally, and generally cylindrical, when a 189 L (50 gal) or greater volume water heater must be elevated it requires more than one workman to handle the water heater and lift it into place. Although water heaters are mentioned herein, the same issues regarding difficulty of movement are also applicable to numerous other objects including, but not limited to, air conditioning units, HVAC systems, and other bulky heavy objects.
The prior art discloses a number of United States patents which lift and move cylindrical containers from one location to another for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,379,814 issued Jan. 10, 1995 to Posly for a “Water Bottle Lifting Mechanism”. The Posly patent discloses a mechanism which lifts a bottle of water from a lower upright position to an elevated position during which a cam mechanism rotates the water bottle from an upright position to an inverted water discharging position. Also, U.S. Pat. No. 5,618,154 issued Apr. 8, 1997 to Irons, Jr. et al. for a “Drum Transporter” discloses a main frame mounted on wheels supporting a mast assembly extending horizontally from the main frame. An outer mast assembly includes a pair of legs which diverge from each other for straddling a pallet supporting a drum to be moved. A post extends upwardly from the main frame and includes a fixed guide post having an upward clamping mechanism for releasably engaging a drum chime to support the drum on a lower drum lifting support permitting the lifting mechanism to lift and move the drum from one location to another and minimize a tendency of the transporter to tip the drum during the handling movement thereof.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,122,027 issued Jun. 16, 1992 to Tabayashi for a “Carrier For Containers” and U.S. Pat. No. 5,944,474 issued Aug. 31, 1999 to Cummins et al. for a “Support For A Cylindrical Container” are believed to be good examples of further state-of-the-art. The Tabayashi and Cummins patents generally disclose horizontal wheel supported base frames which support upright members for lifting cylindrical containers from one place to another.
Before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments or of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
Referring now to the drawings, in particular to
The workload 14 will be described herein by way of example as the water heater 18. However, it should be understood that the portable apparatus 10 can be used for moving other types of loads, such as for example a garage door, an HVAC system, dry goods, shingles and other construction materials, etc. Also, although the workload 14 will be describe herein by way of example as one cylindrical water heater 18, it should be understood that the workload 14 can be a plurality of objects and can have any shape so long as the workload 14 can be supported, moved, lifted, lowered, and/or tilted by the portable apparatus 10 in accordance with the present invention.
Generally, the portable apparatus 10 includes a base frame 20, a mast 24, a lifting assembly 28, and a tilting assembly 32. The mast 24 is supported by the base frame 20 and has a first end 36, a second end 40, and a length 44 extending therebetween. The length 44 of the mast 24 may be of any dimension. Indeed, the mast 24 may be composed of one or more submasts (not shown) that are connected to one another to form mast 24 having a length 44. The lifting assembly 28 lifts the water heater 18 along at least a portion of the length 44 of the mast 28. The tilting assembly 32 adjusts an incline of the mast 28 so that the mast 24, and thus the water heater 18, can be tilted (e.g. see
In general, the base frame 20 provides support for the portable apparatus 10 on the surface 48 and stabilizes the portable apparatus 10 on the surface 48 as the water heater 18 is lifted by the portable apparatus 10 and/or as the mast 24 of the portable apparatus 10 is tilted so as to incline the mast 24. In one preferred embodiment, as shown for example in
In one preferred embodiment, the expandable portion 52 of the portable apparatus includes at least one telescoping cross member 60 and a plurality of telescoping legs 64 connected to the telescoping cross member 60. In one preferred embodiment, the expandable portion 52 has two telescoping legs 64 connected to the telescoping cross member 60 in a generally U-shaped configuration. Although the expandable portion 52 is shown in
The telescoping cross member 60 is adapted to longitudinally expand inwardly and outwardly from the base frame 20 and is, more particularly, connected to the bight portion 56 of the base frame 20. Each of the telescoping legs 64 is adapted to longitudinally expand inwardly and outwardly and connect to the telescoping cross member 60 so as to allow for two-dimensional expansion of the base frame 20. In one preferred embodiment, once the telescoping cross member 60 is expanded to a desired position, the telescoping cross member 60 can be locked into place via a locking assembly 66. The locking assembly 66 can be provided with a knob, for example, in order to facilitate turning of the locking assembly 66 so as to secure the telescoping cross member 60 in place.
In one preferred embodiment, the telescoping legs 64 are connected to the telescoping cross member 60 via a weld (not shown). However, it should be understood the telescoping legs 64 and the telescoping cross member can be connected by any means, such as for example welding, bonding, bolting, screwing, gluing, clamping, fastening, magnetizing, interlocking, or engaging spring means or any other means known in the art. Further, the connection can be permanent i.e. the telescoping legs 64 may be fixed permanently in place.
In one embodiment, each of the telescoping legs 64 has at least one forward wheel 68 and at least one caster 72 connected to the telescoping leg 64 to facilitate expansion of expandable portion 52 generally along the surface 48. Preferably, the forward wheel 68 is rotatably connected near a forward end 76 of the telescoping leg 64 and the at least one caster 72 is rotatably connected near a rearward end 80 of the telescoping leg 64. As shown in
As best shown in
Generally, the mast 24 of the portable apparatus 10 provides a guide along which the lifting assembly 28 lifts the water heater 18. The mast 24 is preferably connected to the base frame 20 such that the mast 24 is capable of being inclined with respect to a substantial portion of the base frame 20 and/or the surface 48. The incline of the mast 24 allows for the water heater 18 supported by the lifting assembly 28, as discussed in further detail below, to be tilted.
In one preferred embodiment, the mast 24 is L-shaped and has a foot portion 108 and an elongated member 112. The foot portion 108 connects to the base frame 20 and the elongated member 112 connects to the foot portion 108. In one preferred embodiment, the elongated member 112 is removably connected to the foot portion 108, for example via a removable pin 118, so that the elongated member 112 can be removed from the foot portion 108, for example for storage or shipment of the portable apparatus 10. However, although the foot portion 108 is describe above as being connected to the elongated member 112 via the removable pin 118, it should be understood that the foot portion 108 and the elongated member 112 can be connected by any means, such as for example welding, bonding, bolting, screwing, gluing, clamping, fastening, magnetizing or any other means known in the art. Further, the connection can also be permanent or adjustable.
In one preferred embodiment, the elongated member 112 includes at least one piece of box channel tubing 114 so as to provide the elongated member 112 of the mast 24 with a forward surface 116, a rearward surface 120, a first side surface 124, and a second side surface 130. The rearward surface 120 is oppositely disposed of the forward surface 116. The first side surface extends generally from the forward surface 116 to the rearward surface 120, and the second side surface 130 is oppositely disposed of the first side surface and extends generally from the forward surface 116 to the rearward surface 120. Further, the mast 24 can have a plurality of holes 132 therethrough, which may or may not be threaded, which can be used to facilitate connections made with the mast 24, for example by allowing pins, bolts, or screws to be disposed through the holes 132. For example, the holes 132 can be keyhole slots in at least one of the forward surface 116, rearward surface 120, first side surface 124, second side surface 130, or combinations thereof, of the elongated member 112 of the mast 24.
In another embodiment of the present invention, as shown for example in
In one preferred embodiment, to adjust the incline of the mast 24 the foot portion 108 can be hingably connected to the base frame 20 so that the mast 24 can pivot with respect to the base frame 20. In one preferred embodiment, the tilting assembly 32 pivots the mast 24 in a forward tilting position (see
In one preferred embodiment, to move the water heater 18 generally along at least a portion of the length 44 of the mast 24, the lifting assembly 28 of the portable apparatus 10 is provided with a lifting frame 146 and a hoist assembly 150. In general, the lifting frame 146 supports at least a portion of the water heater 18 and the hoist assembly 150 engages lifting frame 146 and traverses the lifting frame 146, and thus the attached water heater 18, generally along at least a portion of the length 44 of the mast 24. In one preferred embodiment, the lifting frame 146 is longitudinally and reciprocatably traverseable on the mast 24 so that the lifting frame 146 is capable of moving along at least a portion of the length 44 of the mast 24 generally toward or away from both the first end 36 and second end 40 of the mast 24, i.e., the lifting frame 146, and thus the water heater 18 supported by the lifting frame 146, can be raised or lowered along and relative to the mast 24. As shown in
The hoist assembly 150 can be any device capable of traversing the lifting frame 146 and water heater 18 generally along the mast 24. For example, the hoist assembly 150 can include a mechanical jack or lift, which may be operated manually or automated, for example by using pressurized air, hydraulics, or a motor. In one embodiment, in order to traverse the lifting frame 146 generally along the mast 24, the hoist assembly 150 engages the lifting frame 146 via a flexible band or belt 154 which can be retracted or advanced to cause the lifting frame 146 to traverse generally along and relative to the mast 24. For example, the hoist assembly 150 can include a hand crank winch 158 which retracts or advances the flexible belt 154 by winding or unwinding the flexible belt 154 about a hoist drum 160 of the hand crank winch 158 by turning a crank arm 161 associated with the hoist drum 160 to cause the angular rotation of the hoist drum 160, for example via a gear connection (not shown). The flexible belt 154 can for example be a strap, rope, chain, cable, cord, interlocking keys (plastic or metal) or any other flexible material known in the art, or combinations thereof.
In one embodiment, the hoist assembly 150 is connected to the elongated member 112 of the mast 24 of the portable apparatus 10, preferably in a removable or adjustable manner. For example, when the mast 24 includes at least one piece of box channel tubing 114 with holes 132 therethrough, the hoist assembly 150 can be removably mounted onto the mast 24 with at least one mounting bolt 164. In one preferred embodiment, the hoist assembly 150 is connected generally near the first end 36 of the mast 24 so that the hoist assembly 150 does not interfere with the lifting frame 146 and/or water heater 18 as the lifting frame 146 and/or water heater 18 traverses generally along at least a portion of the length 44 of the mast 24. In another embodiment, when the water heater 18 is to be lifted along a substantial portion of the length 44 of the mast 24, the portable apparatus 10 can further be provided with a hoist post 158, as shown in
In one preferred embodiment, the lifting frame 146 has an upper arm 162 and a lower arm 166 cooperating to support at least a portion of the water heater 18 and a brace member 170 connecting the upper arm 162 and lower arm 166 in a generally vertically spaced relation. So that the lifting frame 146 is traversable along at least a portion of the length 44 of the mast 24, the brace member 170 can be provided with a plurality of guide bearings 174 (only one such guide bearing 174 being numbered for purposes of clarity) rotatably engaging the mast 24. In one preferred embodiment, the brace member 170 comprises two pair of guide bearings 174, with each such pair of guide bearings 174 journaling about a stub axle 178 (only one stub axle 178 being numbered for purposes of clarity) connected to the brace member 170. In one embodiment, the brace member 170 straddles the first side surface 124 and second side surface 130 of the elongated member 112 of the mast 24 and is in a slidable relation with respect to the forward surface 116 and rearward surface 120 of the elongated member 112 of the mast 24.
The lifting frame 146 of the portable apparatus 10 is provide with a platform 182 to support at least a portion of the water heater 18, or other workload 14, so that water heater 18 can be moved by the portable apparatus 10 in a more effective and safe manner. The platform 182 is connected to at least one of the upper arm 162, the lower arm 166, the brace member 170, or combinations thereof. The connection of the platform 182 to the upper arm 162, lower arm 166, and/or brace member 170 is preferably removable so that different embodiments of the platform 182, as discussed in further detail below, can be interchanged. For example, the platform 182 can be removably screwed to at least one of the upper arm 162 and/or lower arm 166. This allows for the platform 182 to be provided accordingly or more suitably for the particular shape of the workload 14 and/or the location in which the workload 14 is to be moved. However, it should be understood that the connection of the platform 182 to the upper arm 162, lower arm 166, and/or brace member 170 can also be permanent or adjustable.
The platform 182 is adapted to support at least a portion of the water heater 18, or other workload 14, and cooperates with at least one of the upper arm 162, the lower arm 166, the brace member 170, or combinations thereof to lift the water heater 18, or other workload 14, along at least a portion of the length 44 of the mast 24 as the lifting frame 146 is traversed generally along at least a portion of the length 44 of the mast 24.
The lifting frame 146 may further include a strapping mechanism 186 for securing at least a portion of the water heater 18, or other workload 14, to at least a portion of the lifting frame 146, preferably to the platform 182. In one preferred embodiment, the strapping mechanism 186 includes a flexible band 190 capable of being disposed generally about at least a portion of the water heater 18. The flexible band 190 can be for example a strap, rope, chain, cable, cord, or any other flexible material known in the art, or combinations thereof. The strapping mechanism 186 can further include a tightening assembly 198 which retracts and advances the flexible band 190 so as to secure the flexible band 190 about at least a portion of the water heater 18, or other workload 14. For example, the tightening assembly 198 can be a ratchet tie down band clamp. In one preferred embodiment, the tightening assembly 198 is connected to the brace member 170 of the lifting frame 146 to secure the flexible band 190, and thus the water heater 18, or other workload 14, to at least a portion of the lifting frame 144.
In one preferred embodiment, the flexible band 190 can be provided with a fastening end 200 connected to a free end of the flexible band 190. The fastening end 200 is preferably releasably connectable to at least one portion of at least one of the water heater 18 (or other workload 14), the lifting frame 146, the strap 190, the tightening assembly 198, or combinations thereof. The fastening end 200 can include any fastener, or combination of fasteners, such as for example a hook, tie, velcro.
In one embodiment, as shown in
As discussed above, the base frame 20 of the portable apparatus 10 can further include the translation assembly 46 to facilitate movement of the portable apparatus 10, and any water heater 18, or other workload 14, supported by the portable apparatus 10, along the surface 48. In one preferred embodiment, the translation assembly 46 includes a plurality of translation wheels 222 which are in contact with the surface 48 when the portable apparatus 10 is tilted rearwardly. This allows the portable apparatus 10 to be wheeled along the surface 48 in a dolly fashion from one location to another, either alone or while supporting the water heater 18.
In such an embodiment, the translation assembly 46 can include at least two axle housings 226 (as shown by dashed lines in
In one preferred embodiment, the handle 230 is removably connected to elongated member 112 of the mast 24 so that the handle 230 can be removed and/or repositioned on elongated member 112 of the mast 24. For example, the handle 230 can be connected to the elongated member 112 via spring urged pins (not shown) supported by the extension member 124 which engage the holes 132 to lock the extension member 124 in axial alignment with the elongated member 112. However, the handle 230 can also be permanently or adjustably connected to the mast 24.
Referring now to
The first cradle 234 supports at least a portion of the first end 210 of the water heater 18, or other workload 14, and the second cradle 238 supports at least a portion of the second end 214 of the water heater 18, or other workload 14. The cradle support frame 238 connects to at least one of an upper arm 162a, a lower arm 166a, a brace member 170a or combinations thereof, of a lifting frame 146a of the lifting assembly 28a and connects the first cradle 234 and the second cradle 238 in a generally horizontal spaced relation. The platform 10a allows for the portable apparatus 10a to support the water heater 18, or other workload 14, when the water heater 18, or other workload 14, is generally horizontal or has a substantial generally horizontal component.
The portable apparatus 10a may be, in alternate embodiments, especially well suited for lifting garage doors, tree limbs, etc. If first cradle 23f and second cradle 238 were straightened and made substantially parallel to the floor, the portable apparatus 10a would be especially well suited for lifting sheet materials such as drywall and plywood.
Referring now to
The upper brace 246 of the platform 182b connects to an upper arm 162b of a lifting frame 146b of the lifting assembly 28b and supports at least a portion of the first end 210 the water heater 18, or other workload 14. The lower brace 250 of the platform 182b connects to a lower arm 166b of the lifting frame 146b of the lifting assembly 28b and supports at least a portion of the second end 214 of the water heater 18, or other workload 14. The platform 182b can further have at least one brace crossbeam 254 connecting the upper brace 246 and the lower brace 250 in a generally vertically spaced relation.
Referring now to
The bottom plane member 258 supports at least a portion of the second end 214 of the water heater 18, or other workload 14. The at least one side plane member 262 connects to the bottom plane member 258 and supports to at least one portion of the first end 210 of the water heater 18, or other workload 14, the second end 214 of the water heater 18, or other workload 14, or combinations thereof. In one preferred embodiment, the side plane member 262 connects to the bottom plane member 258 orthogonally and is generally adjacent to an upper arm 162c and a lower arm 166c of a lifting frame 146c of the lifting assembly 28c. At least one of the bottom plane member 258, the side plane member 262, or combinations thereof is connected to at least one of the upper arm 162c, the lower arm 166c, the brace member 170, or combinations thereof. Further, although the platform 182c is shown as having only one side plane member 262 connected to the bottom plane member 258, the platform 182c can have more than one side plane member 232. For example, the platform 182 can have three or four side plane members 232 connected to the bottom plane member 258 so as to form a cage or box-like support for the water heater 18.
Referring now to
The bottom plane member 900 supports at least a portion of the second end 214 of the water heater 18, or other workload 14. The connection assembly 910 reversibly secures that bottom plane member 900 to the lifting assembly 28d. In one preferred embodiment, the connection assembly 910 further includes a horizontal member 930 having a first end 932, and a catch assembly 940, wherein the catch assembly 940 is attached to and extends substantially perpendicularly upward from the first end 932 of the horizontal member 930. In operation, the catch assembly 940 engages the second arch support 206d and a bottom surface 960 of the bottom plane member 900 contacts and rests upon the two supporting lips 218d.
The securing assembly 920 is a substantially “L” shaped channel of material associated with the plane member 900. The securing assembly 920 includes a plurality of connection holes 950 through which a screw or other fastening device (not shown) may reversibly pass. The screw or other fastening device, in operation, passes through the plurality of connection holes 950 and reversibly engages a substrate, such as a sidewall of a platform, so as to reversibly attach the plane member 900 to the substrate.
An example of the operation and use of the present invention will be described hereinafter in conjunction with the portable apparatus 10. However, it should be understood that the present invention operates in a similar manner with the portable apparatus 10a-10c. Further, the following example should be considered illustrative and not limiting the scope of the present invention. Other operations and uses of the present invention are apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art in view of the present disclosure.
In one example of operation, assuming the portable apparatus 10 has been constructed and assembled as described hereinabove, the portable apparatus 10 is manually moved over the surface 48, such as a floor, to the location of the water heater 18, to be lifted. The telescoping cross member 60 and the telescoping legs 64 of the base frame 20 can be expanded and disposed on opposing sides of the water heater 18 such that the telescoping legs 64 are straddling the water heater 18.
The lifting frame 146 of the portable apparatus 10 can be lowered such that the first arched portion 202 and the second arched portion 206 of the platform 182 of the lifting frame 146 are disposed adjacent to a portion of the water heater 18. The water heater 18 is manually tilted in a direction opposite the portable apparatus 10 while the later is moved toward the water heater 18 so that a portion of the second end 214 of the water heater 18 can be rested on the supporting lips 218 of the platform 182, i.e., the water heater 18 is positioned such that the platform 182 is supporting at least one portion of the water heater 18.
The flexible band 190 of the strapping mechanism 186 is secured generally about at least a portion of the water heater 18 and is secured by the fastening end 194, which can be for example a hook, to the brace member 170 of the lifting frame 146. The tightening assembly 198, which can be also be connected to the brace member 170, can retract the flexible band 190 to secure the flexible band 190 about the water heater 18 and to secure the water heater 18 to at least a portion of the lifting frame 146, namely the platform 182. For example, if the tightening assembly 198 includes a ratchet tie down band clamp, a sprocket wheel of the ratchet tie down band clamp can be manually rotated in a conventional manner so that the flexible band 190 firmly impinges or secures the water heater 18 against the first arched portion 202 and the second arched portion 206 of the platform 182.
Thereafter the water heater 18 is moved with the portable apparatus 10 to a place for installation, for example by wheeling along the portable apparatus 10, and the water heater 18 supported by the portable apparatus 10, on the translation wheels 222 of the translation assembly 46 generally along the surface 48 to the installation location.
As shown for example in
To accomplish this, the extension member 124 telescopically disposed in the elongated member 112 is extended from the elongated member 112. One way of disposing the extension member 124 into the elongated member 112 is to remove the handle 230 from elongated member 112 of the mast 24, and providing the extension member 124 with a reduced end portion 300 which is telescopically received by the elongated member 112 opposite the base frame 20. The extension member 124 is connected to the elongated member 112, for example via a pair of spring urged pins (not shown) which engage the holes 132 normally receiving the handle 230 to lock the extension member 124 in axial alignment with the elongated member 112 of the mast 24. The hoist assembly 150 is moved from its normal position on the elongated member 112 of the mast 24 and is similarly connected to an upper end portion 308 of the extension member 124, thus permitting the flexible belt 154 of the hoist assembly 150 to traverse the lifting frame 146 so as to lift the water heater 18 to the desired elevated installation position 266.
Further, tilting of the mast 24 and water heater 18 by the tilting assembly 32 facilitates positioning the mast 24 through the opening 274, lifting the water heater 18, or other workload 14, through the opening 274, and/or installing the water heater 18, or other workload 14, in the desired elevated installation position 266.
The portable apparatus 10 may be folded, for shipping or storage, which is accomplished by manually rotating the screw 138 of the screw jack 134 of the tilting assembly 32 to tilt the mast 24 in a forward direction, as described hereinabove, until the mast 24 and any components supported thereby to be tilted toward a horizontal position until the mast 24 is substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of the telescoping legs 64 of the base frame 20. Further, portions of the portable apparatus 10 can be disassembled to facilitate shipping or storage. For example, the elongated member 112, and any components supported thereby, can be removed from the foot portion 108 of the mast 24.
The embodiments of the invention discussed herein are intended to be illustrative and not limiting. Other embodiments of the invention will be obvious to those skilled in the art in view of the above disclosure. Changes may be made in the embodiments of the invention described herein, or in the parts or the elements of the embodiments described herein, or in the steps or sequence of steps of the methods described herein, without departing from the spirit and/or the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.
The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119 (e) to the Provisional Patent Application U.S. Ser. No. 60/406,783, which was filed on Aug. 28, 2002, the entire contents of which are hereby expressly incorporated herein by reference. The present application is also a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/650,372, filed Aug. 28, 2003; which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/132,140, filed Apr. 24, 2002, now abandoned; which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/728,394, filed Dec. 4, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,406,248, issued Jun. 18, 2002, the entire contents of each being hereby expressly incorporated herein by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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60406783 | Aug 2002 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 10650372 | Aug 2003 | US |
Child | 11845622 | Aug 2007 | US |
Parent | 09728394 | Dec 2000 | US |
Child | 10132140 | Apr 2002 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 10132140 | Apr 2002 | US |
Child | 11845622 | Aug 2007 | US |