Patent Application
20200330295
The following includes information that may be useful in understanding the present disclosure. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art nor material to the presently described or claimed inventions, nor that any publication or document that is specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.
The present invention relates generally to the field of lift devices and more specifically relates to an electric lift device.
Safety mechanisms are built into the wheels of motorized wheelchairs and scooters that causes them to lock up in the off position, making it difficult for people to push them onto and off of loading ramps. Doing so can even place strain on a person's back or cause other painful injuries. Some people may turn on chairs or scooters on, but this can drain the battery. Additionally, most people push mobility devices from the side, which can be hazardous to other people nearby. A suitable solution is desired.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,105,915 to Jerry M. Gary relates to a wheelchair lifting device. The described wheelchair lifting device includes a wheelchair lift that consists of a horizontal platform mounted on a hydraulic elevator operable by the wheelchair occupant. A pivotable back panel of the platform provides a ramp for access to its top from ground level when the elevator frame is completely contracted, and the platform is at its lowest position. The back ramp, together with a front gate and a system of lateral rails insures the stability and safety of the wheelchair on top of the platform, which can then be raised to the desired height by the occupant. The elevator arrangement is designed for fast response, so that the invention can be effectively used not only to move a wheelchair to a different plane for locomotion, but also for applications that require frequent adjustments to different heights.
In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known lift device art, the present disclosure provides a novel mobility device lift system. The general purpose of the present disclosure, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new and improved way of lifting a mobility device to a variable height.
A mobility device lift system is disclosed herein. The mobility device lift system includes an electric pallet jack having a handle, a pallet, a ramp, a vertical lifting mechanism, and a wheel assembly. The electric pallet jack is steerable via the handle. The pallet is sized and functionally configured to support a mobility device thereon. The pallet is affixed to the vertical lifting mechanism, such that the pallet is able to move up and down vertically via hydraulics of the vertical lifting mechanism. The ramp is hingedly connected to the pallet. The ramp is configured to lock in an upright position and alternatively to unlock to provide a ramp for loading the mobility device. In a preferred embodiment, the pallet and the ramp comprise aluminum. The pallet is connected to and is configured to move along a track of the vertical lifting mechanism. The electric pallet jack is configured for transporting the mobility device from a loading bridge to a belt loader.
For purposes of summarizing the invention, certain aspects, advantages, and novel features of the invention have been described herein. It is to be understood that not necessarily all such advantages may be achieved in accordance with any one particular embodiment of the invention. Thus, the invention may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other advantages as may be taught or suggested herein. The features of the invention which are believed to be novel are particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings and detailed description.
The figures which accompany the written portion of this specification illustrate embodiments and methods of use for the present disclosure, a mobility device lift system, constructed and operative according to the teachings of the present disclosure.
The various embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein like designations denote like elements.
As discussed above, embodiments of the present disclosure relate to lift devices and more particularly to a mobility device lift system as used to improve the transportation of mobility devices from a loading bridge to a belt loader with ease and safety.
Generally, the mobility device lift system provides an efficient, safe way to transport wheelchairs, scooters, and more from a loading bridge to a belt loader. The device may comprise an electric warehouse lift with a specially designed pallet, preferably made from lightweight aluminum. The bottom of the pallet can have a jagged surface with holes to prevent moisture buildup. Additionally, the pallet has a flap that folds down and rests on the conveyor belt of a belt loader. On the backside of the flap can be a roller. The device effectively eliminates the need to manually push devices from the side, which can cause stress and strain on the body, especially if the wheels lock up. It spares the battery life of mobility devices, preventing them from dying. The present invention saves a considerable amount of time and frustration.
Referring now more specifically to the drawings by numerals of reference, there is shown in
The embodiments of the invention described herein are exemplary and numerous modifications, variations and rearrangements can be readily envisioned to achieve substantially equivalent results, all of which are intended to be embraced within the spirit and scope of the invention. Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientist, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application.
The present application is related to and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/631,178 filed Feb. 15, 2018, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62631178 | Feb 2018 | US |
