Lifter

#The invention relates to lifting devices used to lift heavy objects.

#In the furniture industry, upholstered furniture is built by a series of craftsmen in a series of steps, each craftsman having a specialty in the manufacturing process. At each step, the work in process is lifted and positioned on a support, usually two "saw horses", and the craftsman then performs his speciality with the workpiece in that position. The fruit of his labors is then removed from the support and then moved to another station where still another craftsman lifts the work in process onto another support and performs his particular task. This basic process is continued until the work in process becomes finished goods.

#This basic method is shown in FIG. 1 and 2, the figures showing the initial station in an upholstering furniture production process, namely, the providing of a wooden frame 2 and placing it on saw horses 1 by craftsman 3 in preparation to performing various upholstering procedures to frame 2.

#FIGS. 1 and 2 are perspective views of prior art practice involving a working support created by two "sawhorses? upon which a workman places a wooden furniture frame to carry out various manufacturing processes.

#FIGS. 3, 4, and 5 are side elevations of the invention used in its intended environment, FIGS. 4 and 5 showing the invention positioning the furniture frame in two different positions.

#FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the invention.

#The procedure and apparatus for making upholstered furniture shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 represent prior art. Sawhorses 1 are placed together to form a working support upon which wooden furniture frame 2 is ultimately placed. Furniture frame 2 is then grasped, lifted and placed upon sawhorses 1 by workmen 3 as shown. In this position, the speciality of wokkman 3 is then performed on frame 2. The work in process is then removed from sawhorses 1 and passed to another workman. Additional tasks are performed on element 2 employing such procedure until a piece of upholstered furniture is completed. Represented by furniture frame 2, the work in process goes through a multiplicity of manufacturing steps and stages and each time it is lifted from floor surface to a pair of sawhorses and then removed, placed again on a floor surface and transported to another location where the same lifting and placement takes place and additional upholstering steps are taken.

#Referring now to FIGS. 3, 4, 5, and 6, there is shown in FIGS. 3, 4, and 5 side elevation of the invention used in its intended environment. In its broadest sense, the invention is composed of a frame comprising upstanding and lateral portions 27 and 8 respectively, and a pair of arcuate arm moving rack gears 6. Rack gears 6 are spaced apart and are disposed between upstanding portions 27 and lateral portions 8 as shown. Attached to each rack gear 6 is a first terminal portion 16 of an arm. Represented by element 5 is a second terminal portion of the arm. Element 16 is rotatively fixed to rack gear 6 by axles 14 and 26. See FIGS. 6, 7, and 8. Each arm first terminal portion 16 is fixed to arm second terminal portion 5 by means of cross member 43. As is shown in FIG. 6, the two upstanding arcuate rack members 6 have teeth 13 disposed on the surface of each of the pair members, which are in mechanical engagement with arm moving pinion gear pair 12.

#Foot 4 which provides the surface upon which workpiece 2 is positioned, is made up of spaced apart side members 20 fixed to each other by spaced apart cross members 18 and 30. Members 44 can be extended laterally as shown in FIG. 13. Extension members 28 and 29 are slideably received in cross members 18 and 30. Side members 44 are affixed to extension members 28 and 29 forming a "T? shaped configuration. Element 28 is slideably received in cross member 18 and element 29 is slideably received in element 30 of foot 4. Not shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, but shown in FIG. 6 is rotatable axle 19 to which side members 20 of foot 4 are fixed. Also fixed to axle 19 is foot pinion gear 11, paired with a corresponding foot control pinion gear 24, see FIGS. 7 and 8.