Non-personnel lifting device

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6425463
  • Patent Number
    6,425,463
  • Date Filed
    Wednesday, March 15, 2000
    24 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, July 30, 2002
    22 years ago
Abstract
A lifting device for transporting items of personal property between floors of a building is provided which includes an a vertically adjustable outer frame, a pair of vertically adjustable spaced apart guide rails attached to the outer frame, a lift container having guide members positioned thereon to guide the lift container along said guide rails and to allow the lift container to move vertically along said guide rails, and a drive mechanism including a motorized drive pulley, a plurality of idler pulleys and drive belt. The drive belt is connected at one end to a top wall of said lifting container and is connected at an opposite end to the bottom wall of said lifting container. The drive belt is in contact with and powered by the drive pulley such that operating the drive pulley in a first direction causes the lift container to move vertically upward and operating said drive pulley in a second direction causes the lift container to move vertically downward to desired locations on different floors of a building.
Description




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




1. Field of the Invention.




A non-personnel lifting device is disclosed for transporting property between one floor and another floor in a building having at least two floors.




2. Description of the Prior Art.




Various type of elevators and lifting devices have been proposed in the past.




Schreiber et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,951,236 discloses a mountable hoist used as a non-personnel lifting device. The invention allows articles to be lifted by the hoist to any desired height including a height above the top of the hoist principal channel member. The patent teaches that a mountable hoist 9 includes a principal channel


10


and a secondary channel


12


movably mounted therein. Principal channel


10


is preferably a segmented channel member which can be increased in height to correspond to the level of the scaffold associated therewith. (Col.


2


,.Lines


59


-


64


). This arrangement is best shown in

FIG. 2

where secondary channel


12


is shown to telescope within the primary channel


10


.




Seitz, U.S. Pat. No. 1,596,462 also discloses a hoist and corresponding hoist frame. The patent teaches that one of the objects of the invention is the provision of a hoist frame in the form of a tower made up of a plurality of sections, thereby permitting the height thereof to be varied according to the requirements. The patent specifically teaches that each of the standards


14


and


17


is provided at its lower end with a sleeve like extension


18


, attached in any suitable manner thereto, the outer diameter of the said extension fitting closely into the respective standard to which it is attached, and also into the standard below the same. In order to hold the tower sections in proper positions, the top tower


16


is provided with a plurality of hooks


19


′ to which are fastened the ends of cables


19


′ the lower ends of the ladder being wound upon drums


20


. (Page 1, lines


62


-


73


). Thus, Seitz discloses one form of a telescopic frame as clearly shown in FIG.


5


. This patent also teaches the provisions of platforms


52


which may be placed upon the sectional tower.




Druschel, U.S. Pat. No. 1,658,042 discloses a portable elevator. The frame includes splice plates


26


, having a series of holes


27


, rigidly secured to the flanges at the bottom end of the upper and intermediate runway channels and splice angles


28


, having a series of holes


29


, which are rigidly secured to the outside of the webs at the upper ends of the lower and intermediate runway channels, as plainly shown in

FIGS. 3 and 4

. When the upper and lower channels are aligned with their ends abutting, holes


27


will align with holes


29


, and bolts may be passed through these holes to hold the runway sections in proper alignment as shown in FIG.


5


. Looking at

FIGS. 3 and 4

, it appears that some height adjustment could be made by selecting which holes


27


align with which holes


29


.




Esenmann, U.S. Pat. No. 5,131,505; Rivera, U.S. Pat. No. 5,690,190; and Olsen et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,020,641 each teach the provision of elevator guide rails which are formed with segments which are abutted end to end.




Finally, Olsen, U.S. Pat. No. 4,664,230; and Fitzgibbon, U.S. Pat. No. 3,693,761 each disclose elevator systems which employ a top mounted motor with an associated sprocket gear and chain mechanism to provide the lifting force.




There remains a need for a lifting device which is adjustable and flexible and which can be easily installed between floor joists and ceiling joists of existing buildings.




There further remains a need for a lifting device that utilizes inner “C” shaped track as a part of the guide rails and wall frame members.




There further remains a need for a lifting device which utilizes base and ceiling frames attached to an-existing structure to which all the framing hardware is attached.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




A lifting device is disclosed for transporting items of personal property between one floor and another floor in a building having at least two floors, said building also having a lowermost floor of said building being served by said lifting device and an uppermost floor of said building being served by said lifting device. In its simplest form the device comprises:




a. an outer frame having a floor frame portion and a ceiling frame portion provided on each of said at least two floors including the lowermost floor and the uppermost floor of said building, said floor frame portion and said-ceiling frame portion on each floor being interconnected a plurality of wall frame members, said wall frame members being adjustable in height to facilitate installation of the lifting device in said building;




b. a pair of spaced apart guide rails attached to said outer frame and extending between the floor of the lowermost floor and the ceiling of the uppermost floor, said guide rails being vertically positioned [and adjustable in height to facilitate installation of the lifting device in said building];




c. a lift container having a top wall, a bottom wall and at least one side wall (preferably a pair of side walls), each of said side walls having guide members positioned thereon to guide the lift container along said guide rails and to allow the lift container to move vertically along said guide rails; and




d. drive means comprising a motorized drive pulley, a plurality of idler pulleys and drive belt means, said drive belt means connected by a first connection means at one end to said top wall of said lifting container and connected by a second connection means at an opposite end to the bottom wall of said lifting container, said drive belt means in contact with said drive pulley and said idler pulleys and being powered by said drive pulley whereby operating the drive pulley in a first direction causes the lift container to move vertically upward and operating said drive pulley in a second direction causes the lift container to move vertically downward to desired locations between the lowermost floor and the uppermost floor.




Various preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described. Preferably, said floor frame portion is positioned over two adjacent spaced-apart floor joists whereby said floor joists support opposite sides of said floor frame portion and wherein the floor frame portion leaves the entire space between the floor joists open and unobstructed. Similarly, said ceiling frame portion is positioned under two adjacent spaced-apart ceiling joists whereby said ceiling joists secure opposite sides of said ceiling frame portion and wherein the ceiling frame portion leaves the entire space between the ceiling joists open and unobstructed.




Preferably, said adjustable side rails and said wall frame members each consist of a “C” shaped inner track piece of which telescopically slides into an outer rail member. Further, said outer rail and inner track member preferably has a generally C-shaped cross-sectional configuration.




The lift container guide members are preferably formed of a non-metallic material such as plastic.




The drive belt means preferably further comprises a toothed belt attached at one end to the top wall of said lifting container, said toothed belt in contact with-said motorized drive pulley and attached at the other end to a wire rope, said wire rope connected to the, bottom wall of said container. An optional counter weight may be provided at the connection point between said toothed belt and said wire rope.




The said second connection means preferably includes a hook on the bottom of said lift container to facilitate attachment of said drive belt means. Said second connection means also preferably includes a tensioning safety spring means. Still further, said second connection means includes a tightening turnbuckle to tighten and maintain a proper tension on said drive belt means. Finally, said second connection means includes a one way self lock device to facilitate attachment of said drive belt means.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS





FIG. 1

is an isometric view the lifting device of the present invention.





FIG. 2

is a cross-sectional view showing the details of the drive means of the present invention:





FIG. 3

is an enlarged view of the second connection means of the present invention.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS




Referring to the figures, the present invention includes an outer frame


10


which has a floor frame portion


20


and a ceiling frame portion


30


provided on each of said at least two floors including a lower most floor


2


and an upper most floor


6


of a building. The floor frame portion


20


and the ceiling frame portion


30


on each floor are interconnected by a plurality of wall frame members


40


. Each of the wall frame members


40


are adjustable in height. This is accomplished by utilizing a piece of “C” shaped inner track


42


which telescopically slides into an outer rail member


44


. As will be seen below, an identical arrangement is utilized for guide rails


50


.




A pair of spaced apart guide rails


50


are attached to the outer frame


10


and extend between the floor


20


of the lower most floor


2


and the ceiling


30


of the upper most floor


6


. The guide rails are vertically positioned and are adjustable in height to facilitate installation of the lifting device in the building. In actuality, the structure of the guide rails is essentially identical to that of the wall frame members. The guide rails


50


likewise include a piece of “C” shaped inner track


42


which telescopically slides into an-outer rail member


44


.




An assembleable lift container


60


is provided which has a top wall


62


, a bottom wall


64


and a pair of side walls


66


. Front and back portions are open as is shown at


68


. In order to gain access to the open portion of the lift container


60


, an access door


69


is provided at each floor. Upon opening the door


69


, access to the interior of the lift container


60


is achieved. Access to the lift container may provided from both the front and from a side.




Each of the side walls


66


of the lift container are provided with guide members


70


which are positioned thereon to guide the lift container


60


along said guide rails


50


and to allow the lift container


60


to move vertically along said guide rails


50


.




Referring specifically to

FIG. 2

, drive means


80


comprises a motorized drive pulley


82


, a plurality of idler pulleys


84


(two upper idler pulleys and two lower idler pulleys) and a drive belt means


90


. The drive belt means


90


is connected at one end by a first connection means


92


. The opposite end of the drive belt means


90


is connected by a second connection means


94


.




In operation, when the drive pulley operates in a first direction, the lift container is caused to move vertically upward and operating the drive pulley in a second direction causes the lift container to move vertically downward to desired locations between the lower most floor and the upper most floor of the building.




Preferably, the lower frame portion


20


and ceiling frame portion


30


of the outer frame


10


are provided respectively over floor joice


200


such that the entire space between the floor joice


202


remains open and unobstructed. Similarly, the ceiling frame portion


30


is provided below two adjacent spaced apart ceiling joice


300


such that the space between the ceiling joice


302


remains open and unobstructed. Preferably, the outer rail. member


44


described above has a general c-shaped cross sectional configuration. Further, the lift container guide members


70


are preferably formed of a non-metallic material such as plastic.




In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the drive belt means further comprises a tooth belt


96


attached at one end to the top wall


62


of the lift container


60


, said tooth belt in contact with said motorized drive pulley


82


and attached at the other end by means of a connector


100


to a wire rope


98


. The wire rope


98


is in turn connected to the bottom-wall


66


of the container


60


by the second connection means


94


.




If desired, the lifting device may be provided with an optional counter weight


102


at the location of the connection point between the tooth belt and the tooth belt


96


and the wire rope


98


.




The second connection means preferably includes a hook


110


on the bottom of the lift container


60


to facilitate attachment of the drive belt means. Further, a tensioning safety spring means


112


is preferably provided. Also preferably provided is a tightening turn buckle


112


to tighten and maintain proper tension of the drive belt. Finally, a 1-way self lock device


116


is preferably provided as part of the second connection means to facilitate attachment of the wire rope


98


.



Claims
  • 1. A lifting device for transporting items of personal property between one floor and another floor in a building having at least two floors, said building also having a lowermost floor of said building being served by said lifting device and an uppermost floor of said building being served by said lifting device, comprising:a. an outer frame having a floor frame portion and a ceiling frame portion provided on each of said at least two floors including the lowermost floor and the uppermost floor of said building, said floor frame portion and said ceiling frame portion on each floor being interconnected a plurality of wall frame members, said wall frame members being adjustable in height to facilitate installation of the lifting device in said building; b. a pair of spaced apart guide rails attached to said outer frame and extending between the floor of the lowermost floor and the ceiling of the uppermost floor, said guide rails being vertically positioned and adjustable in height to facilitate installation of the lifting device in said building; c. a lift container having a top wall, a bottom wall and at least one side wall, each of said at least one side walls having guide members positioned thereon to guide the lift container along said guide rails and to allow the lift container to move vertically along said guide rails; and d. drive means comprising a motorized drive pulley, a plurality of idler pulleys and drive belt means, said drive belt means connected by a first connection means at one end to said top wall of said lifting container and connected by a second connection means at an opposite end to the bottom wall of said lifting container, said drive belt means in contact with said drive pulley and said idler pulleys and being powered by said drive pulley whereby operating the drive pulley in a first direction causes the lift container to move vertically upward and operating said drive pulley in a second direction causes the lift container to move vertically downward to desired locations between the lowermost floor and the uppermost floor.
  • 2. A lifting device according to claim 1 wherein said floor frame portion is positioned over two adjacent spaced-apart floor joists whereby said floor joists support opposite sides of said floor frame portion and wherein the floor frame portion leaves the entire space between the floor joists open and unobstructed.
  • 3. A lifting device according to claim 1 wherein said ceiling frame portion is positioned under two adjacent spaced-apart ceiling joists whereby said ceiling joists secure opposite sides of said ceiling frame portion and wherein the ceiling frame portion leaves the entire space between the ceiling joists open and unobstructed.
  • 4. A lifting device according to claim 1 wherein said adjustable guide rails and said wall frame members each consist of a piece of “C” shaped inner track which telescopically slides into an outer rail member.
  • 5. A lifting device according to claim 4 wherein said outer rail member has a generally C-shaped cross-sectional configuration.
  • 6. A lifting device according to claim 1 wherein said lift container guide members are formed of a non-metallic material.
  • 7. A lifting device according to claim 1 wherein said drive belt means further comprises a toothed belt attached at one end to the top wall of said lifting container, said toothed belt in contact with said motorized drive pulley and attached at the other end to a wire rope, said wire rope connected to the bottom wall of said container.
  • 8. A lifting device according to claim 7 further comprising a counter weight provided at the connection point between said toothed belt and said wire rope.
  • 9. A lifting device according to claim 1 wherein said second connection means includes a hook on the bottom of said lift container to facilitate attachment of said drive belt means.
  • 10. A lifting device according to claim 1 wherein said second connection means includes a tensioning safety spring means.
  • 11. A lifting device according to claim 1 wherein said second connection means includes a tightening turnbuckle to tighten and maintain a constant proper tension on said drive belt means.
  • 12. A lifting device according to claim 1 wherein said second connection means includes a one way self lock device to facilitate attachment of said drive belt means.
  • 13. A lifting device according to claim 1 wherein said floor frame portion and said ceiling frame portion each have pockets therein to facilitate insertion of the wall frame members and said guide rails.
  • 14. A lifting device according to claim 1 wherein said lift container is formed from two or more component parts which may be easily assembled at a job site.
  • 15. A lifting device according to claim 1 wherein said lift container can be accessed from the front of the lift container.
  • 16. A lifting device according to claim 1 wherein said lift container can be accessed from a side of the lift container.
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Number Name Date Kind
837826 Handlan, Jr. Dec 1906 A
966769 Rintenhouse Aug 1910 A
1658042 Druschel Feb 1928 A
1676161 Schiller et al. Jul 1928 A
2086002 Shepard Jul 1937 A
2537075 Margles Jan 1951 A
3845842 Johnson Nov 1974 A
4231148 Harding Nov 1980 A
4986041 Prewer et al. Jan 1991 A
5012621 Power et al. May 1991 A
5788018 Mendelsohn et al. Aug 1998 A
6167670 Reite et al. Jan 2001 B1
6193018 Schroder-Brumloop et al. Feb 2001 B1
Foreign Referenced Citations (5)
Number Date Country
3-243586 Oct 1991 JP
5-39655 Jun 1993 JP
5-319728 Dec 1993 JP
10-87215 Apr 1998 JP
10-157945 Jun 1998 JP