Patent Application
20230029606
The present invention relates generally to working platforms, more specifically but not by way of limitation, a transportable work platform that is configured to receive a user and subsequently provide elevation so as to lift the user to an area above them so as to assist in execution of a desired task.
As is known in the art, various types of tasks can require specific tools to execute the tasks. There are many types of commercial and maintenance type tasks that require a user to reach an elevated location. By way of example but not limitation, electrical work in ceilings, painting, plumbing and changing light bulbs can all require the use of a ladder in order to assist the user in completing the task. Ladders come in various sizes and types with the two most common being an extension ladder and a step ladder. The latter type of ladder is typically provided in lengths from three to ten feet and is the most common type of ladder utilized to perform tasks such as but not limited to the tasks mentioned herein above. Ladders are inherently risky and tens of thousands of people a year are taken to the hospital as a result of falling from a ladder.
One issue with ladders is the relatively small rungs on which the user has to stand while executing the task. A typical rung is no more than a few inches wide and as such presents a surface on which a user's foot will overhang in both directions. Additionally, individuals who are routinely on ladders to execute tasks such as but not limited to tradesmen, will climb up and down ladders while carrying tools sometimes fifty or more times in a single day. Each traversing up and down the ladder presents a safety risk for the individual. Additionally, another drawback is the lack of space a conventional step ladder provides to maintain tools within reach of the user.
It is intended within the scope of the present invention to provide a transportable lift platform wherein the lift platform of the present invention is configured to provide a surface for a user that can be elevated and further be moved while the user is in an elevated position.
It is the object of the present invention to provide a lift platform configured to receive a single user thereon and provide lifting of the user to a desired height wherein the present invention includes a base platform.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a lifting platform configured to lift a user and further provide an area large enough for additional items such as but not limited to tools wherein the base platform is movably coupled to a vertical support member.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a lift platform configured to receive a single user thereon and provide lifting of the user to a desired height that further includes a lower support structure wherein the lower support structure includes structural members secured to the lower portion of the vertical support member and extends outward therefrom.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a lifting platform configured to lift a user and further provide an area large enough for additional items such as but not limited to tools wherein the lower support structure includes wheels secured thereto.
An additional object of the present invention is to provide a lift platform configured to receive a single user thereon and provide lifting of the user to a desired height wherein the wheels secured to the lower support structure are operably coupled to at least one electric motor.
Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a lifting platform configured to lift a user and further provide an area large enough for additional items such as but not limited to tools wherein the tower support member includes disposed therein a winch and cable assembly that are operably coupled to the base platform.
Another object of the present invention is to a provide a lift platform configured to receive a single user thereon and provide lifting of the user to a desired height wherein the present invention includes a control station that is operably coupled to the motor operating the winch and cable assembly and the at least one electric motor controlling the wheels.
An alternate object of the present invention is to provide a lifting platform configured to lift a user and further provide an area large enough for additional items such as but not limited to tools wherein a preferred embodiment of the base platform is two feet by two feet in size.
Another object of the present invention is to a provide a lift platform configured to receive a single user thereon and provide lifting of the user to a desired height wherein the frame of the present invention is manufactured from lightweight metal so as to facilitate an ability for the present invention to be portable.
An alternate object of the present invention is to provide a lifting platform configured to lift a user and further provide an area large enough for additional items such as but not limited to tools wherein a preferred embodiment of the present invention lifts the base platform to be six feet in height.
To the accomplishment of the above and related objects the present invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Attention is called to the fact that the drawings are illustrative only. Variations are contemplated as being a part of the present invention, limited only by the scope of the claims.
A more complete understanding of the present invention may be had by reference to the following Detailed Description and appended claims when taken in conjunction with the accompanying Drawings wherein:
Referring now to the drawings submitted herewith, wherein various elements depicted therein are not necessarily drawn to scale and wherein through the views and figures like elements are referenced with identical reference numerals, there is illustrated a lifting apparatus 100 constructed according to the principles of the present invention.
An embodiment of the present invention is discussed herein with reference to the figures submitted herewith. Those skilled in the art will understand that the detailed description herein with respect to these figures is for explanatory purposes and that it is contemplated within the scope of the present invention that alternative embodiments are plausible. By way of example but not by way of limitation, those having skill in the art in light of the present teachings of the present invention will recognize a plurality of alternate and suitable approaches dependent upon the needs of the particular application to implement the functionality of any given detail described herein, beyond that of the particular implementation choices in the embodiment described herein. Various modifications and embodiments are within the scope of the present invention.
It is to be further understood that the present invention is not limited to the particular methodology, materials, uses and applications described herein, as these may vary. Furthermore, it is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is used for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. It must be noted that as used herein and in the claims, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” include the plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, a reference to “an element” is a reference to one or more elements and includes equivalents thereof known to those skilled in the art. All conjunctions used are to be understood in the most inclusive sense possible. Thus, the word “or” should be understood as having the definition of a logical “or” rather than that of a logical “exclusive or” unless the context clearly necessitates otherwise. Structures described herein are to be understood also to refer to functional equivalents of such structures. Language that may be construed to express approximation should be so understood unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
References to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, “exemplary embodiments”, and the like may indicate that the embodiment(s) of the invention so described may include a particular feature, structure or characteristic, but not every embodiment necessarily includes the particular feature, structure or characteristic.
Now referring in particular to the Figures submitted as a part hereof, the lifting apparatus 100 includes a frame 10. The frame 10 is manufactured from a lightweight rigid metal such as but not limited to aluminum. The frame 10 includes a lower support portion 15 wherein the lower support portion 15 is operably coupled to the lower end 31 of the vertical support member 30. The lower support portion 15 includes a first section 16 and a second section 17 wherein the first section 16 and second section 17 are coupled to opposing sides of the lower end 31 of the vertical support member 30. The first section 16 includes first member 13 and second member 12 that are manufactured from a rigid lightweight material such as but not limited to metal. First member 13 is angular in orientation to second member 12 so as to provide stability for the vertical support member 30 and the base platform 60 as it traverses in an upwards-downwards direction on the vertical support member 30. The second section 17 is constructed identically as the first section 16 having first member 8 and second member 9. It should be understood within the scope of the present invention that the first section 16 and second section 17 could be constructed in alternate manners and achieve the objective of providing stability for the lifting apparatus 100.
Secured to the lower support portion 15 are wheels 25. Wheels 25 are configured to allow either independent or controlled movement of the lifting apparatus 100. The rear wheels 27,28 are conventional swivel caster type wheels that rotate three hundred and sixty degrees. The front wheels 29, 39 are fixed in position and are operably coupled to a driving element 40. The driving element 40 is configured to operably engage both front wheels 29, 39 and provide rotational movement thereof in both a clockwise and counterclockwise direction. The driving element 40 in one embodiment is a rotational drum that is engaged with the front wheels 29,39 ensuing a downward force being applied to be the engagement member 50. The driving element 40 is operably coupled to power supply 90 wherein the power supply 90 in a preferred embodiment is a rechargeable eighteen volt battery. It should be understood within the present invention that the necessary power to operate the lifting apparatus 100 and the elements thereof is provided by the power supply 90. It should be understood within the scope of the present invention that the power supply 90 could be alternate sizes in order to achieve the desired objective stated herein.
The lifting apparatus 100 includes lower housing 55 wherein the lower housing 55 is secured to the lower end 31 of the vertical support member 30. The lower housing 55 includes a plurality of walls 56 that are contiguously formed to create an interior volume 57 wherein the interior volume 57 is suitable size to accommodate the power supply 90 and additional elements discussed herein. The base platform 60 is operably coupled to the vertical support member 30 and is configured to traverse therealong in an upwards-downwards direction. The base platform 60 is generally square in shape and is manufactured from a rigid material sufficient to support the weight of a human being thereon. While not particularly illustrated herein, it is contemplated within the scope of the present invention that the base platform 60 could have safety railing secured to the perimeter edge thereof. The base platform 60 includes control station 80 secured thereto utilizing suitable durable techniques. The control station 80 includes user interfaces that are operable coupled to the power supply 90 and elements such as but not limited to the driving element 40 so as to provide operation of the lifting apparatus 100. The control station 80 includes switch 81 that is configured to provide control of the upwards-downwards movement of the base platform 60. It should be understood within the scope of the present invention that the switch 81 could be a momentary directional contact switch wherein movement thereof provides corresponding movement of the base platform 60. Control station 80 further includes a control member 82 that is operably coupled to the driving element 40. Control member 82 is movably secured to the control housing 84 and is operable to provide user input to move the lifting apparatus 100 in a desired motion. It is contemplated within the scope of the present invention that the lifting apparatus 100 could employ two driving elements 40 each coupled independently with the front wheels 29,39 wherein the control member 82 provides operation thereof. In a preferred embodiment the driving elements 40 are reversible so as to provide rotation of the front wheels 29,39 in a desired direction for both forward-backward movement of the lifting apparatus 100 as well as alternate front wheel 29,39 rotation in order to provide turning of the lifting apparatus 100. It should be understood within the scope of the present invention that the control station 80 could be provided in alternate embodiments such as but not limited to a wireless remote control unit.
The vertical support member 30 extends upward from the lower portion 15 and is perpendicular thereto. The vertical support member 30 is manufactured from a rigid material having sufficient structural integrity to support the base platform 60 and a user superposed thereon. The vertical support member 30 in a preferred embodiment is of a length to provide a height of the lifting apparatus 100 that is approximately six feet in height. It should be understood within the scope of the present invention that the vertical support member 30 be provided in a configuration wherein the vertical support member 30 is configured to fold or be telescopic so as to provide easier transport of the lifting apparatus 100. Secured to the top of the vertical support member 30 is container 77. Container 77 is secured to the top of the vertical support member 30 utilizing suitable mechanical techniques. The container 77 has an interior volume that is of suitable size so as to accommodate tools and other implements therein that may be required by a user of the lifting apparatus 100 to execute a task while in an elevated position on the base platform 60. It should be understood within the scope of the present invention that the container 77 could be provided in various sizes and shapes in order to achieve the desired objective. While one container 77 is illustrated and discussed herein, it is contemplated within the scope of the present invention that the lifting apparatus 100 could have more than one container 77.
A winch 110 is mounted to the top of the vertical support member 30. The winch 110 is mounted utilizing suitable techniques and is operably coupled to base platform 60 via cable 115. The winch 110 is an electrically powered winch 110 that is operably coupled to power supply 90. Rotational movement of the winch 110 is configured to traverse the base platform 60 in an upwards or downwards direction wherein engagement of switch 81 controls this motion. While a winch 110 and cable 115 are illustrated and discussed herein being provided to move the base platform 60, it is contemplated within the scope of the present invention that the lifting apparatus 100 could employ alternate elements to provide movement of the base platform 60. By way of example but not limitation, the vertical support member 30 could have disposed therein a worm drive wherein the base platform 60 would be operably coupled to the worm drive to provide movement thereof.
In the preceding detailed description, reference has been made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments, and certain variants thereof, have been described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. It is to be understood that other suitable embodiments may be utilized and that logical changes may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. The description may omit certain information known to those skilled in the art. The preceding description is, therefore, not intended to be limited to the specific forms set forth herein, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents, as can be reasonably included within the spirit and scope of the invention.
