Platform lift apparatus for attic storage space

A platform lift apparatus, comprising:

• a frame having internal and external mounting surfaces, the external mounting surfaces being adapted to fixedly engage an opening provided in a horizontal supporting surface;
• a drive mechanism substantially disposed within said frame and coupled to said internal mounting surfaces, said drive mechanism including a plurality of rotatable, parallel shafts with each shaft further including at least one lift drum having an associated lift tether at least partially wound thereon and having an end hanging therefrom;
• and
• a platform, the hanging ends of said lift tethers cooperating to suspend the platform from said frame, said platform being selectively movable by operation of said drive mechanism in a vertical direction between raised and lowered positions relative to the horizontal supporting surface;
• wherein said platform further comprises a horizontal base and a plurality of vertical walls defining a basket, and wherein said platform further comprises a foldable fence connected to said vertical walls.

A platform lift apparatus, comprising:

• a frame having internal and external mounting surfaces;
• a drive mechanism substantially disposed within said frame and coupled to said internal mounting surfaces, said drive mechanism including a plurality of rotatable, parallel shafts with each shaft further including at least one lift drum having an associated lift tether at least partially wound thereon and having an end hanging therefrom;
• and
• a platform, the hanging ends of said lift tethers cooperating to suspend the platform from said frame, said platform being selectively movable by operation of said drive mechanism in a vertical direction between raised and lowered positions;
• wherein said drive mechanism further comprises at least one tensioner associated with said at least one lift drum, said at least one tensioner being disposed in contact with said lift tether associated with said at least one lift drum to prevent twisting or kinking of said lift tether while winding on or unwinding from said at least one lift drum.

A platform lift apparatus, comprising:

• a frame having internal and external mounting surfaces;
• a drive mechanism substantially disposed within said frame and coupled to said internal mounting surfaces, said drive mechanism including a plurality of rotatable, parallel shafts with each shaft further including at least one lift drum having an associated lift tether at least partially wound thereon and having an end hanging therefrom;
• a platform, the hanging ends of said lift tethers cooperating to suspend the platform from said frame, said platform being selectively movable by operation of said drive mechanism in a vertical direction between raised and lowered positions;
• and
• means coupled to an underside of said platform for detecting impact of said platform upon an object.

A platform lift apparatus, comprising:

• a frame having internal and external mounting surfaces;
• a drive mechanism substantially disposed within said frame and coupled to said internal mounting surfaces, said drive mechanism including a plurality of rotatable, parallel shafts with each shaft further including at least one lift drum having an associated lift tether at least partially wound thereon and having an end hanging therefrom;
• a platform, the hanging ends of said lift tethers cooperating to suspend the platform from said frame, said platform being selectively movable by operation of said drive mechanism in a vertical direction between raised and lowered positions;
• and
• a contact plate and a plurality of springs coupling said contact plate to an underside of said platform, said contact plate thereby being moveable vertically against bias applied by said plurality of springs.

A platform lift apparatus, comprising:

• a frame having internal and external mounting surfaces, the external mounting surfaces being adapted to fixedly engage an opening provided in a horizontal supporting surface;
• a drive mechanism substantially disposed within said frame and coupled to said internal mounting surfaces, said drive mechanism including a plurality of rotatable, parallel shafts with each shaft further including at least one lift drum having an associated lift tether at least partially wound thereon and having an end hanging therefrom;
• a platform, the hanging ends of said lift tethers cooperating to suspend the platform from said frame, said platform being selectively movable by operation of said drive mechanism in a vertical direction between raised and lowered positions relative to the horizontal supporting surface;
• and
• a retractable wheel coupled to an underside of said platform.

A platform lift apparatus for use in moving objects between floors of a structure, comprising:

• a frame having internal and external mounting surfaces, the external mounting surfaces being adapted to be secured to a framed opening between the floors;
• a drive mechanism substantially disposed within said frame and coupled to said internal mounting surfaces, said drive mechanism including first and second rotatable, parallel shafts supported by said frame, said first shaft further including at least one lift drum and at least one drive pulley, said second shaft further including at least one lift drum, each said lift drum of said first and second shafts having an associated lift tether at least partially wound thereon and having an end hanging therefrom, said at least one drive pulley of said first shaft being operatively coupled to said second shaft to permit simultaneous rotation of said first shaft and said second shaft;
• and
• a platform, the hanging ends of said lift tethers cooperating to suspend the platform from said frame, said platform being selectively movable by operation of said drive mechanism in a vertical direction between a raised position substantially in contact with said frame and a lowered position within a space below said frame;
• wherein said platform further comprises a horizontal base and a plurality of vertical walls defining a basket, and wherein said platform further comprises a foldable fence connected to said vertical walls.

A platform lift apparatus for use in moving objects between floors of a structure, comprising:

• a frame having internal and external mounting surfaces, the external mounting surfaces being adapted to be secured to a framed opening between the floors;
• a drive mechanism substantially disposed within said frame and coupled to said internal mounting surfaces, said drive mechanism including first and second rotatable, parallel shafts supported by said frame, said first shaft further including at least one lift drum and at least one drive pulley, said second shaft further including at least one lift drum, each said lift drum of said first and second shafts having an associated lift tether at least partially wound thereon and having an end hanging therefrom, said at least one drive pulley of said first shaft being operatively coupled to said second shaft to permit simultaneous rotation of said first shaft and said second shaft;
• and
• a platform, the hanging ends of said lift tethers cooperating to suspend the platform from said frame, said platform being selectively movable by operation of said drive mechanism in a vertical direction between a raised position substantially in contact with said frame and a lowered position within a space below said frame;
• wherein said platform further comprises a seal providing a barrier between said platform and said frame when said platform is at said raised position.

A platform lift apparatus for use in moving objects between floors of a structure, comprising:

• a frame having internal and external mounting surfaces, the external mounting surfaces being adapted to be secured to a framed opening between the floors;
• a drive mechanism substantially disposed within said frame and coupled to said internal mounting surfaces, said drive mechanism including first and second rotatable, parallel shafts supported by said frame, said first shaft further including at least one lift drum and at least one drive pulley, said second shaft further including at least one lift drum, each said lift drum of said first and second shafts having an associated lift tether at least partially wound thereon and having an end hanging therefrom, said at least one drive pulley of said first shaft being operatively coupled to said second shaft to permit simultaneous rotation of said first shaft and said second shaft;
• and
• a platform, the hanging ends of said lift tethers cooperating to suspend the platform from said frame, said platform being selectively movable by operation of said drive mechanism in a vertical direction between a raised position substantially in contact with said frame and a lowered position within a space below said frame;
• wherein said drive mechanism further comprises at least one tensioner associated with said at least one lift drum, said at least one tensioner being disposed in contact with said lift tether associated with said at least one lift drum to prevent twisting or kinking of said lift tether while winding on or unwinding from said at least one lift drum.

A platform lift apparatus for use in moving objects between floors of a structure, comprising:

• a frame having internal and external mounting surfaces, the external mounting surfaces being adapted to be secured to a framed opening between the floors;
• a drive mechanism substantially disposed within said frame and coupled to said internal mounting surfaces, said drive mechanism including first and second rotatable, parallel shafts supported by said frame, said first shaft further including at least one lift drum and at least one drive pulley, said second shaft further including at least one lift drum, each said lift drum of said first and second shafts having an associated lift tether at least partially wound thereon and having an end hanging therefrom, said at least one drive pulley of said first shaft being operatively coupled to said second shaft to permit simultaneous rotation of said first shaft and said second shaft;
• and
• a platform, the hanging ends of said lift tethers cooperating to suspend the platform from said frame, said platform being selectively movable by operation of said drive mechanism in a vertical direction between a raised position substantially in contact with said frame and a lowered position within a space below said frame;
• wherein said at least one lift drum on said second shaft further comprises an idler lift drum operatively coupled to said at least one drive pulley of said first shaft.

A platform lift apparatus for use in moving objects between floors of a structure, comprising:

• a frame having internal and external mounting surfaces, the external mounting surfaces being adapted to be secured to a framed opening between the floors;
• a drive mechanism substantially disposed within said frame and coupled to said internal mounting surfaces, said drive mechanism including first and second rotatable, parallel shafts supported by said frame, said first shaft further including at least one lift drum and at least one drive pulley, said second shaft further including at least one lift drum, each said lift drum of said first and second shafts having an associated lift tether at least partially wound thereon and having an end hanging therefrom, said at least one drive pulley of said first shaft being operatively coupled to said second shaft to permit simultaneous rotation of said first shaft and said second shaft;
• a platform, the hanging ends of said lift tethers cooperating to suspend the platform from said frame, said platform being selectively movable by operation of said drive mechanism in a vertical direction between a raised position substantially in contact with said frame and a lowered position within a space below said frame;
• and
• means coupled to an underside of said platform for detecting impact of said platform upon an object.

A platform lift apparatus for use in moving objects between floors of a structure, comprising:

• a frame having internal and external mounting surfaces, the external mounting surfaces being adapted to be secured to a framed opening between the floors;
• a drive mechanism substantially disposed within said frame and coupled to said internal mounting surfaces, said drive mechanism including first and second rotatable, parallel shafts supported by said frame, said first shaft further including at least one lift drum and at least one drive pulley, said second shaft further including at least one lift drum, each said lift drum of said first and second shafts having an associated lift tether at least partially wound thereon and having an end hanging therefrom, said at least one drive pulley of said first shaft being operatively coupled to said second shaft to permit simultaneous rotation of said first shaft and said second shaft;
• a platform, the hanging ends of said lift tethers cooperating to suspend the platform from said frame, said platform being selectively movable by operation of said drive mechanism in a vertical direction between a raised position substantially in contact with said frame and a lowered position within a space below said frame;
• and
• a contact plate and a plurality of springs coupling said contact plate to an underside of said platform, said contact plate thereby being moveable vertically against bias applied by said plurality of springs.

A platform lift apparatus for use in moving objects between floors of a structure, comprising:

• a frame having internal and external mounting surfaces, the external mounting surfaces being adapted to be secured to a framed opening between the floors;
• a drive mechanism substantially disposed within said frame and coupled to said internal mounting surfaces, said drive mechanism including first and second rotatable, parallel shafts supported by said frame, said first shaft further including at least one lift drum and at least one drive pulley, said second shaft further including at least one lift drum, each said lift drum of said first and second shafts having an associated lift tether at least partially wound thereon and having an end hanging therefrom, said at least one drive pulley of said first shaft being operatively coupled to said second shaft to permit simultaneous rotation of said first shaft and said second shaft;
• a platform, the hanging ends of said lift tethers cooperating to suspend the platform from said frame, said platform being selectively movable by operation of said drive mechanism in a vertical direction between a raised position substantially in contact with said frame and a lowered position within a space below said frame;
• and
• a retractable wheel coupled to an underside of said platform.