Overhead platform elevation device
OwnerDouglas J. Hughesinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An overhead platform elevation device for moving objects between a lower level of a building structure and an overhead storage space is provided including a rectangular platform having a base plate and a centrally disposed supporting surface, a motor assembly, opposed pulley assemblies, a plurality of platform adjustment cables, drive cables and telescoping stabilization members. The device of the invention is self storing, having the base plate of the platform raised flush with the ceiling of the building structure when in its raised storage position.
Claims15
A platform elevation device in combination with an overhead storage space with an access opening in the ceiling of a building structure for moving objects between a lower level of the building structure and a supporting surface of the storage space, comprising:
- a rectangular platform having a base plate and a centrally disposed supporting surface;
- a motor assembly having a dual direction motor and a drive shaft with two pulleys, wherein said motor assembly is mounted on the storage space supporting surface adjacent to a proximal side of said access opening;
- opposed left and right pulley assemblies, each having three pulleys mounted on a pulley support rod extending along a longitudinal length of respective left and right sides of the access opening between the proximal side and opposing distal side, wherein two pulleys on each rod are spaced adjacent to a respective one of four corners of the access opening and the third pulley on each rod is located adjacent to the proximal side of the access opening in the same plane as a pulley on the motor drive shaft;
- a plurality of platform adjustment cables, each cable having a first end attached to a respective pulley adjacent one of said corners and a second end attached to the platform;
- and
- left and right drive cables, each cable having a first end attached to one drive shaft pulley and a second end attached to the third pulley on the respective left and right pulley assemblies;
- wherein operation of said motor causes the drive cables to rotate the pulley assemblies for adjusting the position of the platform between the storage space access opening and lower level of the building.
An enclosed platform elevation device in combination with an overhead storage space with an access opening in the ceiling of a building structure for moving objects and people between a lower level of the building structure and a supporting surface of the storage space, comprising:
- a rectangular platform having a base plate, four sides, a raised supporting surface, and a plurality of rollers on the four sides;
- a motor assembly having a dual direction motor and a drive shaft with two pulleys, wherein said motor assembly is mounted on the storage space supporting surface adjacent to a proximal side of said access opening;
- opposed left and right pulley assemblies, each having three pulleys mounted on a pulley support rod extending along a longitudinal length of respective left and right sides of the access opening between the proximal side and opposing distal side, wherein two pulleys on each rod are spaced adjacent to a respective one of four corners of the access opening and the third pulley on each rod is located adjacent to the proximal side of the access opening in the same plane as a pulley on the motor drive shaft;
- a plurality of platform adjustment cables, each cable having a first end attached to a respective pulley adjacent one of said corners and a second end attached to the platform;
- and
- left and right drive cables, each cable having a first end attached to one drive shaft pulley and a second end attached to the third pulley on the respective left and right pulley assemblies;
- wherein operation of said motor causes the drive cables to rotate the pulley assemblies for adjusting the position of the platform between the storage space access opening and lower level of the building.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.