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US 2013/0075353 A1Published application
Foldable Lifting Apparatus
OwnerScott Thompsoninventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention is a self-locking folding crane apparatus that can be left on a vehicle or cart while it is in either an operative or stowed state. Unlike all other portable cranes that were found in prior art either singly or in combination, the present invention requires no assembly or disassembly between uses.
Claims19
A crane apparatus that engages an insert adapter, that can be folded in and out of operable states without disassembly, is capable of remaining fully assembled in said insert adapter while in tow that further comprises
- a pivot hinge comprising a substantially flat upper surface adapted to engage the distal end of a stanchion of said crane apparatus causing said stanchion to lock into a substantially vertical operative state as said crane apparatus is unfolded, a substantially vertical cylindrical opening adapted for pivotable attachment to a substantially vertical pivot shaft, and a substantially horizontal opening adapted for hinge coupled attachment to the distal region of a stanchion,
- a stanchion comprising a substantially horizontal hinge coupling point at a distal end adapted for hinge coupled attachment to said pivot hinge, a substantially horizontal hinge coupling point on the proximal end adapted for hinge coupled attachment to a lifting boom, a substantially flat surface at said proximal end adapted to engage upper surface of said pivot hinge as said crane apparatus is unfolded into an operable state, and a locking surface at the proximal end adapted to engage a boom lock as said crane apparatus is unfolded into an operable state,
- a boom lock having a substantially horizontal hinge coupling point at the proximal end adapted for hinge coupled attachment to a lifting boom and a lock engagement point at the distal end adapted to engage said locking surface on the proximal end of said stanchion as said crane apparatus is unfolded into an operable state,
- a boom having a substantially horizontal hinge coupling point at the distal end adapted for hinge coupled attachment to the proximal end of said boom lock, a substantially horizontal hinge coupling point at the distal end adapted for hinge coupled attachment to the proximal end of said stanchion, and an attachment at the proximal end adaptable to engage a lifting coupler,
- a pivot shaft inserted through said substantially vertical cylindrical opening of said pivot hinge, said pivot shaft adapted at the distal end for attachment to a mounting base.
2 more elements
A kickstand style jig apparatus for a portable hoist that comprises in combination
- an upper portion having a substantially horizontal hinge coupling point at the distal end adapted for hinge coupled attachment to a mounting base of said portable hoist and a surface at the distal end adapted to engage a trapping surface of said mounting base causing the kickstand style jig apparatus to lock into an operable state as it is unfolded,
- a lower portion having a base attached substantially perpendicular to the proximal end and a plurality of segments at the distal end adapted for vertically adjustable position attachment to the proximal end of said upper portion,
- a mechanical means such as a spring to induce pulling tension between a fixed point above the hinged coupling attachment to said mounting base and a fixed point of the kickstand style jig to force the kickstand style jig to remain in place when folded into stowed and operative states.
A method of operating a portable hoist which may be unfolded and locked into an operable state and refolded and locked into a stowed state without the need for assembly or pins;
- said method comprising the steps of
- unfolding a stanchion and boom assembly away from a base mount until said base of said stanchion comes to rest against the upper surface of a pivot hinge,
- unfolding said boom assembly away from said stanchion until a boom lock drops into place and causes said boom assembly to lock into an operable state,
- connecting a component of said hoist that is attachable to a load to a secure point on said load,
- using said hoist to cause said attachable load coupling adaptor to raise and lower said load,
- rotating said stanchion, boom assembly, and load to position said load,
- releasing said attachable load coupling adaptor from load,
- releasing said boom lock from locked position and lowering said boom out of operative state until said boom rests against said stanchion,
- folding said stanchion and boom assembly away from operative state against pivot hinge until said stanchion and boom assembly achieves a stowed state.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.