1. Field of the Invention.
The present invention relates to a lifting apparatus that is designed to be utilized by persons who rely upon the assistance of a mobility assistance device (“MAD”), such as a traditional powered or non-powered wheelchair or a battery-powered motor scooter, to traverse over steps that are commonly found at the entrance ways of a residential or commercial facilities. Examples of battery-powered motor scooters that are commonly found in the industry have brand names such as Jazzy® or Hoveround®.
2. Description of the Related Art.
There is already established in the present field of art numerous configurations of devices and traditional-installed ramps that are manufactured from a variety of materials such as wood, concrete, steel, aluminum or combinations of materials thereof. Typically, the existing lifting apparatuses that are found in the market are meant to be permanent installations and are usually found located in the interior of the facility so as to protect the components of the lift from the elements.
In regards to traditional ramps, they are intended to be permanent and to remain in place once installed. Or, if the ramp is removable, it requires great effort to relocate the ramp to an alternate location and leaves an indelible mark on the facility and/or ground space (“groundscape”) where the ramp once existed.
For traditional lifting apparatuses, one huge negative trait is that they tend to be very costly due to the intricacy of their design and installation. Additionally, once installed, they too tend to not be easily removed and relocated without undertaking great expense and effort.
There are also negative traits associated with traditional ramps. First, in regards to residential properties, permanent to semi-permanent ramps are not aesthetically pleasing regardless of the type of materials they are constructed from or the quality of the design and installation. Besides aesthetics, the presence of a ramp can also indicate that at least one of the residents at the location could be a disabled person. The perception of a disability can create a belief that the person is more vulnerable and an easier target for crime.
Yet another drawback to permanent, or semi-permanent, ramps are that due to regulations regarding the design of ramps, namely rise-run and width configuration, they typically require a significant amount of groundscape to create proper slope that meets code. One common method of achieving proper slope is to utilize a series of turns and landings. This ultimately increases the “footprint” that the overall ramp consumes and requires even more groundscape.
Yet another issue with ramps involves the safety of the user. Dependent upon the slope of the ramp, the user may not be able to control the speed they traverse down along the ramp. Additionally, outdoor ramps are exposed to accumulations of ice and/or snow buildup which can make travel upon the ramp difficult and hazardous.
What is needed in the art is a lilting apparatus that is able to lift significant loads, i.e. the combined weight of the user and their MAD, in both the vertical and horizontal direction and that also allows the user to traverse over steps that would have normally been impassible by the user and/or their MAD. Additionally, what is needed is a lifting apparatus that is low-cost, easily installed, easily removed if desired and is aesthetically pleasing. The present invention accomplishes all or these goals.
The present invention provides a lifting apparatus that utilizes what is commonly known as a “parallelogram” linkage configuration that is able to be raised or lowered by the user. The invention comprises, in one form thereof, a linkage configuration that is able to lift significant loads in both the vertical and horizontal directions and allows the user to traverse over steps that would have normally been impassible by the user and their MAD.
One advantage of the present invention is that the invention utilizes a very small “foot print.” This means that the present invention utilizes a small base that creates the foundational support for the operation of the present invention. This small base conserves groundscape and still achieves the goals of the lifting apparatus.
Yet another advantage of the present invention is that it is aesthetically pleasing in that the goals of raising or lowering the user and their MAD are achieved without utilizing a great length of ramp with landings to accommodate governmental regulations regarding the same. The present invention easily fits into most residential and commercial design schemes and the construction materials can be adapted to fit and blend into most décor.
Yet still another advantage of the present invention is that the invention is made of durable materials, i.e. steel and/or aluminum. These materials are well known in the industry for their high strength, durability, and relatively low-cost.
Yet still another advantage of the present invention is that the entire unit is portable. The present invention easily be picked up and relocated with no-impact on the groundscape or that leaves indelible marks on the facility or existing groundscape. This allows the user to easily relocate the present invention should they desire to.
The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of the present invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the present invention will be better understood by reference to the following description of embodiments of the present invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. The exemplifications set out herein illustrate preferred embodiments of the present invention, and such exemplifications are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner.
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Power cylinders 16 receives its power from a power unit 20. Power unit 20 receives commands from the user via a wired and/or wireless control panel or a key fob unit (all not shown.) These control units have simple individual controls contained therein, such as “up”, “down” and/or “stop” commands that direct the movement of convertastep 2.
Master linkages 10 and slave linkages 12 are connected to a platform 22. Platform 22 serves as the deck upon which the user traverses upon either by walking onto it or driving their MAD onto it. Platform 22 can be manufactured from a variety of materials such as traditional wood or simulated wood products, aluminum, steel, or expanded mesh steel. These types of materials are commonly known and found in the industry and are already utilized for ramp surfaces.
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This type of linkage configuration allows convertastep 2 to maintain a low profile as possible when convertastep 2 is in the full downward “lowered” position. This not only helps with the appearance of convertastep 2, but also helps to keep shipping costs of convertastep 2 low when it is shipped to the user's location. Also, by having master linkages 10 and slave linkages 12 in an offset position, rather than centered, it allows platform 22 to rise and wing over existing steps and ultimately reach the top step of step(s) 4.
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In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, safety bar 26 can be that small, inclined ramp. This ramp allows the user to easily make the transition from ground 8 to the top of platform 22. When platform 22 is raised, safety bar 26 is also raised and thus prevents a MAD located atop platform 22 from rolling off platform 22.
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There are a plurality of benefits achieved from this particular type or linkage configuration. First, this particular linkage configuration lessons the initial force necessary to begin moving platform 22 from the first position to the second position. Higher forces can be realized when utilizing a convertastep 2 that is setup to rise up to a large number of steps and thus requiring a bigger “swing” are to reach the top of the steps4. This particular linkage configuration also allows convertastep 2 to operate faster while moving from the “raised” and “lowered” positions. The power cylinder 16 also requires less electrical load to create the power transfer necessary for convertastep 2 to function.
Yet another additional benefit of this type of linkage configuration is that plurality of supporting linkages and the power cylinder is safely covered by cover 24. This helps to provide additional coverage from the elements and helps to eliminate any pinch points may be presented in convertastep 2.
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While this invention has been described with respect to preferred embodiments, the present invention can be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains, and to which the claims are directed. It is therefore intended that the present invention be not limited to the exact forms described and illustrated herein, but should be construed to cover all modifications that may fall within the scope of the appended claims.
This is a non-provisional utility patent application bearing the title “Lifting Apparatus” filed on Nov. 13, 2013 and claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/726059 filed on Nov. 14, 2012, the disclosure of which is incorporated, in its entirety, by this reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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61726059 | Nov 2012 | US |