# US 12,006,194 B2 · Lift device with user contact sensor > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,006,194 B2 - Document ID: US12006194B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/108,997 - Filed: 2023-02-13 - Published: 2023-06-22 - Granted: 2024-06-11 - Earliest claimed: 2021-01-21 - Assignees: Oshkosh Corporation - Applicants: Oshkosh Corporation - Inventors: Davide Boroni; Matteo Lavagnini; Roberto Marchesini; Zeno Poltronieri; Fredric L. Yutzy; Korry D. Kobel; John Hill - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12006194B2 ## CPC - B66F 11/044: {Working platforms suspended from booms} - B66F 17/006: {for working platforms} - B66F 11/046: {of the telescoping type} - G05B 15/02: electric - B66F: HOISTING, LIFTING, HAULING OR PUSHING, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, e.g. DEVICES WHICH APPLY A LIFTING OR PUSHING FORCE DIRECTLY TO THE SURFACE OF A LOAD ({invalid lifting devices A61G7/10; } mounting artificial islands on piles or like supports E02B17/00; scaffolding combined with lifting devices E04G1/22; lifting devices for sliding forms E04G11/24; lifting of buildings E04G23/06; shores or struts E04G25/00; lifts or other hoisting devices on ladders E06C7/12; props for mining E21D15/00) - G05B: CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS (systems for controlling or regulating non-electric variables G05D; systems for regulating electric or magnetic variables G05F; control devices or systems insofar as characterised by mechanical features only G05G) ## Abstract A lift device includes a chassis, a platform configured to support a user, a lift assembly coupling the platform to the chassis, an actuator configured to at least one of (a) move the platform relative to the chassis or (b) propel the chassis, a sensor assembly, and a controller. The sensor assembly includes a bar including a first end portion coupled to the platform and a second end portion opposite the first end portion and a housing defining an aperture sized to receive the second end portion of the bar. The sensor provides a signal in response to at least one of (a) the second end portion of the bar contacting the sensor or (b) the second end portion of the bar exiting the aperture. The controller is operatively coupled to the sensor and the actuator and configured to control the actuator based on the signal from the sensor. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A lift device comprising: a chassis; a platform configured to support a user; a lift assembly coupling the platform to the chassis; an actuator configured to at least one of (a) move the platform relative to the chassis or (b) propel the chassis; a sensor assembly, comprising: a bar including a first end portion coupled to the platform and a second end portion opposite the first end portion; a housing defining an aperture sized to receive the second end portion of the bar; and a sensor configured to provide a signal in response to at least one of (a) the second end portion of the bar contacting the sensor or (b) the second end portion of the bar exiting the aperture; and a controller operatively coupled to the sensor and the actuator and configured to control the actuator based on the signal from the sensor. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The lift device of claim 1, wherein the sensor is positioned to contact the second end portion when the second end portion is received within the aperture. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The lift device of claim 2, wherein the bar includes a resilient member extending between the first end portion and the second end portion, and wherein the resilient member is configured to resist the second end portion exiting the aperture. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The lift device of claim 1, further comprising a hinge pivotally coupling the first end portion to the platform. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The lift device of claim 4, wherein the hinge includes: a first hinge portion fixedly coupled to the platform; and a second hinge portion pivotally coupled to the first hinge portion and defining a bar aperture that receives the bar therethrough, wherein the bar is repositionable through the bar aperture to adjust a position of the second end portion of the bar. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The lift device of claim 1, further comprising a plate coupling the first end portion of the to the platform, wherein the first end portion includes a threaded portion, wherein the sensor assembly further includes a fastener in threaded engagement with the threaded portion and engaging a first side of the plate. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The lift device of claim 6, wherein the fastener is a first fastener, wherein the sensor assembly further includes a second fastener in threaded engagement with the threaded portion and engaging a second side of the plate opposite the first side such that the plate extends between the first fastener and the second fastener. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The lift device of claim 1, wherein the sensor is selectively repositionable relative to the platform to adjust a position of the sensor relative to the second end portion of the bar. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The lift device of claim 1, further comprising a user interface coupled to the platform and operatively coupled to the controller, wherein the controller is configured to control the actuator based on an instruction received by the user interface, and wherein the bar extends above the user interface. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The lift device of claim 1, wherein the sensor is configured to provide the signal in response to the second end portion of the bar exiting the aperture. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The lift device of claim 10, wherein the sensor includes a proximity sensor configured to indicate when the second end portion of the bar is within a threshold distance of the proximity sensor. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The lift device of claim 11, wherein the proximity sensor is configured to distinguish between a metallic object and a non-metallic object, and wherein the second end portion of the bar is metallic. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The lift device of claim 1, wherein the sensor is configured to provide the signal in response to the second end portion of the bar contacting the sensor. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The lift device of claim 13, wherein the sensor includes an interface member configured to engage the second end portion of the bar and a biasing element configured to bias the interface member toward the second end portion of the bar. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The lift device of claim 14, wherein the sensor includes a first switch and a second switch each coupled to the interface member and operatively coupled to the controller; wherein the first switch is configured to change from a first configuration to a second configuration in response to the second end portion of the bar contacting the interface member; wherein the second switch is configured to change from a first configuration to a second configuration in response to the second end portion of the bar contacting the interface member; and wherein, in response to an indication that at least one of (a) the first switch is in the first configuration of the first switch or (b) the second switch is in the first configuration of the second switch, the controller is configured to at least one of (a) stop movement of the actuator or (b) change a direction of the movement of the actuator. ### Claim 16 A sensor assembly for a lift device, comprising: a rod including a first end portion, a second end portion opposite the first end portion, and a resilient member extending between the first end portion and the second end portion; a hinge coupled to the first end portion of the rod and configured to pivotally couple the rod to a platform of the lift device; a housing configured to be coupled to the platform, the housing defining an aperture sized to receive the second end portion of the rod; and a sensor coupled to the housing and configured to provide a signal in response at least one of (a) the second end portion of the rod contacting the sensor or (b) the second end portion of the rod exiting the aperture, wherein the resilient member is configured to apply a biasing force to resist movement of the second end portion away from the sensor. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The sensor assembly of claim 16, wherein the sensor includes a switch positioned to contact the second end portion of the rod when the second end portion is received within the aperture of the housing. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The sensor assembly of claim 16, wherein the sensor includes a proximity sensor configured to detect a presence of the second end portion within the aperture without the proximity sensor contacting the second end portion. ### Claim 19 A lift device comprising: a chassis; a platform configured to support a user, the platform including a first rail and a second rail; a user interface coupled to the platform and positioned between the first rail and the second rail; a lift assembly coupling the platform to the chassis; an actuator configured to at least one of (a) move the platform relative to the chassis or (b) propel the chassis; a sensor assembly, comprising: a rod including (a) a first end portion coupled to the first rail, (b) a second end portion opposite the first end portion, and (c) a resilient member extending between the first end portion and the second end portion; a plate coupled to the second rail and defining an aperture sized to receive the second end portion of the rod; a sensor positioned to detect the second end portion of the rod when the second end portion of the rod is received by the aperture; and a controller operatively coupled to the sensor and the actuator and configured to control the actuator in response to an indication from the sensor that the second end portion of the rod has exited the aperture. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The lift device of claim 19, wherein the resilient member is configured to apply a biasing force to resist the second end portion of the rod exiting the aperture.