Lifting cushion for the lifting, supporting and moving of heavy objects

Abstract

A lifting cushion apparatus is equipped with a plurality of inflatable chambers at least one of which is adapted to have a wedge-like shape when inflated. The wedge chambers may be preformed through the use of wedge-shaped sidewalls and interior separators. Alternatively, the wedge chambers may be formed through the use of an external shaping means such as a string or band placed through a pair of separator bars in a zig-zag fashion. By employing at least four wedge chambers in the cushion apparatus it is possible to achieve at least seven discrete head tilt angles. The head plate of each of the cushion apparatuses is equipped with a coupling means so that two lifting cushion apparatus can be connected together in the tandem fashion. By the judicious placement of the lifting cushions it is possible to lift loads which have a low specific surface strength relative to their weights. Such loads would include, for example, airplanes, busses, tank cars, trucks, subway cars and the like.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.