BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
Preferred embodiments of the invention, illustrative of the best modes in which Applicant contemplates applying the principles, are set forth in the following description and are shown in the drawings and are particularly and distinctly pointed out and set forth in the appended claims.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a hoist apparatus embodying a first embodiment of the improved support post of the present invention in operating position supporting a load shown in dot dashed lines.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a section of the first embodiment of the support post of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the support post shown in FIG. 2.
FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on line 4-4, FIG. 3 showing the support post being attached to a drive screw end cap at its upper end and mounted on a base at its lower end.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 1 showing a second embodiment of the improved support post.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a section of the second embodiment support post as shown in FIG. 5.
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the support post of FIGS. 5 and 6.
FIG. 8 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 8-8, FIG. 7 showing a drive screw end cap being secured to the upper end of the modified support post of FIGS. 5 and 6, with the bottom thereof being secured to a support base.
Similar numbers refer to similar parts throughout the drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The improved hoist construction of the present invention is indicated generally at 1, with a first embodiment being shown in FIGS. 1-4. Hoist 1 includes a support base 3 which preferably is moveably mounted on a plurality of rollers 5, and is merely one example of the various types of fixed or movable bases on which the improved support post indicated generally at 7, is rigidly mounted. Support post 7 is shown particularly in FIGS. 2 and 3, and in accordance with one of the features of the invention is extruded, preferably of aluminum, and has a hollow tubular configuration with a hollow interior 9, a back wall 11, a front wall 13 and a pair of side walls 15. Front wall 13 is formed with a concave recess 17 along which a drive screw 19 is located to partially conceal the drive screw and prevent it from contacting adjacent personnel and equipment. An arcuate-shaped guide channel 21 is formed in each side wall 15 for receiving a pair of rollers 23 which moveably support a carriage plate 25. Carriage plate 25 is operationally engaged with drive screw 19 by a follower nut (not shown) and is accurately raised and lowered along support post 7 by a hand crank 27 or other type of mechanism for rotating drive screw 19. Further features of such a support carriage and the drive mechanism therefore is shown in detail in U.S. Pat. No. 5,544,860, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
In accordance with one of the main features of the invention, a plurality of holes are formed in post 7 (FIG. 2) during the extrusion process and extend completely throughout the length of the post. Preferably, two of the holes indicated at 29, are formed in and adjacent to back wall 11, each by a pair of arcuate flanges 31 which form an opening 33, due to the features of the extrusion process. Each hole 29 has a smooth internal bore, and as indicated above, will extend throughout the length of the post. Another pair of holes 35 are formed on front wall 17 by a pair of arcuate-shaped flanges 37 with an intervening opening 39. The length of flanges 31 and 37 is approximately 300° with the intervening opening or slot therebetween being 60°.
In accordance with another feature of the invention, after the extrusion of post 7 which can either be formed in the desired length or cut from a longer piece of a similar-shaped extrusion, a short section of the formed holes 29 and 35 will be tapped as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. This forms a short internally threaded section 41 having a length L (FIG. 4), which is sufficient to receive an externally threaded shaft of an attachment bolt 43. Holes 29 and 30 adjacent the top peripheral edge 45 will be tapped, and preferably the holes at the bottom peripheral edge 47 of post 7 will be tapped to a length L1 extending inwardly into the post as shown in FIG. 4. These tapped holes enable an end cap plate 49 (FIGS. 1 and 4) to be easily mounted on peripheral edge 45 of post 7 by a plurality of fasteners 43 which extend through holes 51 formed in plate 49 and align with the internally threaded sections 41 of holes 29 as shown in FIG. 4. Likewise, holes 53 may be formed in base 3 for receiving another plurality of fasteners or bolts 55 which threadably engage the internally threaded sections 41 formed in the lower ends of holes 29 and 35 adjacent bottom peripheral edge 47 of post 7.
In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-4, back wall 11 preferably has a thickness of approximately 0.188 inches, side walls 15 having a thickness of 0.150 inches, and front wall 13 having a thickness of 0.211 inches. However, these thicknesses can vary considerably without affecting the concept of the invention. For example, back and front walls 11 and 13 can have a thickness of 0.15 inches and side walls 15 can have a thickness of 0.125 inches. Furthermore, threaded sections 41 will have a length of approximately 1½ inches, sufficient to receive most fasteners 43 and 55.
A modified embodiment of the support post is indicated generally at 61, and in shown in FIGS. 6-8, and is intended for supporting a heavier load than post 7 described above. Post 61 includes side walls 63 that have a pair of parallel spaced side wall sections 65 which extend at generally right angles from a back wall 69 and merge into the arcuate-shaped guide channels 21 as in post 7 described above. In the particular cross section of post 61, side walls 63 are longer in length than back wall 69, but can have other configurations without affecting the concept of the invention. Again, a pair of holes 67 are formed in back wall 69 and another pair of holes 71 are formed in front wall 73 during the extrusion process in the similar manner as are holes 29 and 35 discussed above. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, a short section of the extruded post holes is tapped to form internal threads 75 extending inwardly from an upper peripheral edge 77 or from the bottom peripheral edge 79 to receive fasteners 43 and 55 for mounting end cap 49 on post 61 or for mounting post 61 on base 3, either one or both depending upon the particular final configuration of the hoist.
Post 61 is similar in many respects to post 7 and will be used in applications requiring heavier loads to be supported and moved thereby. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 7, back wall 69 has a thickness of approximately 0.644 inches, side walls 63 have a thickness of approximately 0.306 inches, and front wall 73 has a thickness of approximately 0.644 inches. However, for certain applications back wall 69, side walls 63 and front wall 73 can have the same thickness, for example 0.75 inches.
In summary, the improved post construction and method of production of the present invention provides for an extremely simple and inexpensive post which is adapted to be mounted on a fixed or moveable base for moveably mounting a carriage thereon by the extrusion of the main post into a final desired cross-sectional configuration for receiving a drive screw and the carriage rollers, and requires only the subsequent tapping of formed holes at either the top and/or bottom for a short section of the formed holes for subsequent receiving externally threaded fasteners therein. Heretofore, even though the post was extruded of aluminum, it was solid and required drilling and then subsequently tapping the holes for the respective end plate or base mounting holes requiring additional manufacturing steps and costs and increased weight to the final post construction. The extruding of the post with the hollow interior and the appropriate through holes formed therein, which only require tapping a short section thereof, reduces the cost and the amount of material heretofore required, as well as the number and cost of manufacturing steps required to produce the completed post for incorporation in the host apparatus of the present invention.
In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness, and understanding. No unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirement of the prior art because such terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadly construed.
Moreover, the description and illustration of the invention is an example and the invention is not limited to the exact details shown or described.
Patent Application
20080054238
