Patent Application
20070292249
The present invention will be more fully understood by reference to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the views, wherein:
Where used in the various figures of the drawing, the same reference numbers designate the same or similar parts. Furthermore, when the terms “top,” “bottom,” “first,” “second,” “upper,” “lower,” “height,” “width,” “length,” “end,” “side,” “horizontal,” “vertical,” and similar terms are used herein, it should be understood that these terms have reference only to the structure shown in the drawing and are utilized only to facilitate describing the invention.
All figures are drawn for ease of explanation of the basic teachings of the present invention only; the extensions of the figures with respect to number, position, relationship, and dimensions of the parts to form the preferred embodiment will be explained or will be within the skill of the art after the following teachings of the present invention have been read and understood. Further, the exact dimensions and dimensional proportions to conform to specific force, weight, strength, and similar requirements will likewise be within the skill of the art after the following teachings of the present invention have been read and understood.
The major structural components of the hoist 100 are constructed from steel. Steel was chosen because it is inexpensive, easy to fabricate, structurally stable, and readily available. However, a person having ordinary skill in the art of fabrication would realize that other metals such as aluminum or even materials such as polymer composites may be used depending upon the structural load requirements. Lighter materials may make the hoist 100 easier to maneuver due to the lighter weight. However, the tradeoff may be in increased cost and reduced stability of a fully-loaded device. Steel provides a good balance of cost, stability, and maneuverability.
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While the current embodiment provides four casters for maximum stability, other configuration s are possible and are within the scope of the present invention. For example, in another embodiment all four of the casters could swivel. In yet another embodiment, the base 120 could utilize only three casters; two on the forward ends of the outer rails of the base 120 nearest the tank opening and one swivel caster on the opposite end of the base 120, located in the center approximately beneath the linear actuator 110. Utilizing only three casters would improve the maneuverability of the hoist 100 but at the same time would sacrifice some of the vertical stability.
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The safety ring 104 is threaded through a piece of tubular steel that fits within the center piece of slightly larger diameter tubular steel that makes up the framework of the cradle 102. Thus, the safety ring 104 can be lifted by raising the attached piece of tubular steel to a height that allows the safety ring 104 to slip easily over the tank's valve portion. When released, the tubular steel attached to the safety ring 104 slips down within the larger center piece of tubular steel that makes up the framework of the cradle 102. This allows the safety ring 104 to be rapidly installed and removed.
The hoist 100 according to the present embodiment features a linear actuator assembly 110 that is attached to both the cradle 102 and base 120. The linear actuator 110 uses electrical power from the 24V battery 116 to operate. The height switch 112 allows the linear actuator to extend and raise the tank cradle 102 with attached tank up to 27 inches above the floor surface. This height is sufficient for insertion of a tank into typical ambulance stowage compartments. A second position of the height switch 112 allows the linear actuator 110 to retract and thus return the cradle 102 to the floor level.
Power for the linear actuator 110 comes from a rechargeable 24V battery 116. The hoist 100 also features a built-in trickle charger 114 to allow the hoist 100 to be plugged into a standard wall socket and recharged when not in use. Battery power is utilized to prevent the need for an electrical cord to provide power to operate the hoist 100. This increases the devices portability and maneuverability. While the present embodiment utilizes a 24V power source, other voltages may be substituted as determined by the voltage requirements of the linear actuator 110 mechanism.
In view of the foregoing, the hoist 100 serves special needs required by the EMS community. In particular, the hoist 100 allows a single operator to safely and efficiently lift and transport a pressurized tank without the risk of back injury. The compact features of the hoist 100 lend to the device's maneuverability and ease of operation. Thus, a single operator can effectively remove a pressurized tank from an ambulance compartment and install a new one without assistance.
Although the invention hereof has been described by way of a preferred embodiment, it will be evident that other adaptations and modifications can be employed without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. The terms and expressions employed herein have been used as terms of description and not of limitation; and thus, there is no intent of excluding equivalents, but on the contrary it is intended to cover any and all equivalents that may be employed without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
