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US 12,448,017 B2Granted
Delivery systems for ramps or stairs
AssigneeRehrig Pacific Company
InventorsDane Gin Mun Kalinowski, Joseph E. Popovits, II, Travis James Englert
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A pallet lift includes a base and a deck extending forward of the base. Load wheels support the deck. A platform above the deck is pivotable relative to the base. The platform has an upper support surface for supporting objects thereon. The platform may be pivoted as the pallet lift travels on an inclined surface, such as a truck ramp, in order to keep the platform relatively level relative to gravity to increase stability.
Claims30
A delivery device comprising:
- a base;
- a deck extending forward of the base;
- load wheels supporting the deck;
- a platform above the deck and pivotable relative to the base, wherein the platform has an upper support surface for supporting objects thereon;
- and
- an actuator secured to the base and to a forward end of the platform, the actuator configured to pivot the platform relative to the base and relative to the deck.
3 more elements
A method for stabilizing a platform including:
- a) supporting at least one object on a platform, wherein the platform is pivotably supported on a deck;
- b) moving the deck on wheels from a floor of a truck onto a ramp extending from the truck to ground, wherein the wheels are below the deck and below the platform;
- c) detecting an orientation during step b);
- and
- d) pivoting the platform relative to the ramp and relative to the deck based upon the orientation detected in step c) to maintain the platform substantially perpendicular to gravity.
2 more elements
A delivery device comprising:
- a base;
- a handle extending from the base for steering the delivery device;
- a rear wheel supporting the base;
- a platform extending forward from a lower end the base, the platform having an upper surface for supporting objects thereon;
- a plurality of load wheels supporting the platform;
- a camera mounted proximate a front of the delivery device;
- and
- a display mounted proximate an upper end of the base and oriented generally rearward of the delivery device, the display configured to provide a live video feed from the camera.
5 more elements
A pallet lift comprising:
- a base;
- at least one rear wheel supporting the base;
- a platform extending forward of the base;
- a pair of load wheels each secured to an arm pivotable relative to the platform, wherein the arm is configured to move the respective load wheel toward and away from the platform thereby lowering and raising the platform relative to a floor;
- a gravity sensor configured to generate an orientation signal indicating an orientation relative to gravity;
- a speed sensor configured to generate a speed signal indicative of the speed of the pallet lift;
- at least one motor for powering at least one of the load wheels;
- and
- a controller configured to control a speed of the at least one motor based upon the speed signal from the speed sensor and based upon the orientation signal from the gravity sensor.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.