Back to results
US 9,550,444 B1Granted
Lift system
OwnerArmando Ferreirainventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A lift system that is attachable to a vehicle, such as a car, truck, van, and the like, for lifting and carrying heavy items, such as a motorcycle utilizing a platform connected to a lifting mechanism that is connected to the vehicle. The lifting mechanism has a pair of lift arm housings that are connected to the vehicle, a pair of lift arms connected to the platform that rises up and down within their respective lift arm housing, and an electric motor to raise and lower the lift arms. The platform can be removed from the lift arms and stored away or used as a tabletop by. Wheels may be provided to easily maneuver the platform on the ground. Elongated posts can be attached to the platform to function as braces to secure the item to the platform. The elongated posts can also be used as legs for the tabletop.
Claims22
A lift system for trucks, comprising:
- a. a platform, the platform comprising a proximal side, a distal side opposite the proximal side, a first lateral side adjacent to the proximal side and the distal side, a second lateral side opposite the first lateral side and adjacent to the proximal side and the distal side, a top surface bound by the proximal side, distal side, and first and second lateral sides, and a bottom surface opposite the top surface, wherein the top surface comprises a first recessed portion adjacent to the first lateral side and a second recess portion adjacent to the second lateral side;
- b. a retractable wheel chock attachable to the first recessed portion, the retractable wheel chock having a stowed configuration in which the chock is generally flush with the top surface of the platform, and a deployed configuration in which the chock protrudes above the top surface of the platform, the retractable chock having a U-shaped configuration defined by a pair of bars parallel to each other, each bar having a free end and a connected end, wherein the connected ends of each bar are connected to each other by a crossbar, wherein the free ends of the bars are rotatably connected to the platform inside the first recessed portion;
- c. a pair of wheel guides, one wheel guide attached adjacent to each free end of the retractable wheel chock;
- d. a gooseneck frame attachable to the second lateral side of the platform, the gooseneck frame having a zig-zag profile;
- e. a plurality of caster wheels attachable to the platform, each caster wheel comprising a vertical post;
- f. a plurality of elongated posts attachable to the vertical posts of the caster wheels;
- g. a lift arm operatively connected to the proximal side of the platform;
- h. a lift arm housing operatively connected to the lift arm, the lift arm housing having a top end and a bottom end opposite the top end, the lift arm configured to slide in and out of the lift arm housing at the bottom end;
- i. a horizontal bar operatively connected to the lift arm housing adjacent the bottom end;
- j. a receiver mountable on the truck, wherein the horizontal bar is attachable to the receiver;
- k. a cross brace attachable to the lift arm housing at the top end, the cross brace having a first end, a second end, and a pull rod therebetween, the first and second ends attachable to the truck, the pull rod attachable to the lift arm housing at a pull rod bracket;
- l. an electric motor mounted on the top end of the lift arm housing, the electric motor operatively connected to the lift arm to cause the lift arm to slide in and out of the lift arm housing;
- and
- m. a lift device housed inside the lift arm housing, the lift device comprising a threaded bolt, a head attached to the threaded bolt to rotate the threaded bolt about a longitudinal axis of the threaded bolt, and a barrel nut attachable to the threaded bolt, wherein the barrel nut is fixed to the lift arm, and wherein when the head is rotated by the electric motor in a first rotational direction, the barrel nut rises along the threaded bolt, and when the head is rotated in a second rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction, the barrel nut descends along the threaded bolt, thereby raising and lowering the lift arm through rotation of the threaded bolt.
11 more elements
A lift system, comprising:
- a. a platform, the platform comprising a proximal side, a distal side opposite the proximal side, a first lateral side adjacent to the proximal side and the distal side, a second lateral side opposite the first lateral side and adjacent to the proximal side and the distal side, a top surface and a bottom surface opposite the top surface;
- b. a plurality of elongated posts attachable to the platform;
- c. a lift arm operatively connected to the proximal side of the platform;
- d. a lift arm housing operatively connected to the lift arm, the lift arm housing having a top end and a bottom end opposite the top end, the lift arm configured to slide in and out of the lift arm housing at the bottom end;
- e. a horizontal bar operatively connected to the lift arm housing adjacent the bottom end;
- f. a lift device housed inside the lift arm housing, the lift device operatively connected to the lift arm;
- g. a motor operatively connected to the lift device to cause the lift arm to slide in and out of the lift arm housing;
- and
- h. a gooseneck frame having a zig-zag profile attachable to the second lateral side of the platform.
6 more elements
A lift system, comprising:
- a. a platform, the platform comprising a proximal side, a distal side opposite the proximal side, a first lateral side adjacent to the proximal side and the distal side, a second lateral side opposite the first lateral side and adjacent to the proximal side and the distal side, a top surface and a bottom surface opposite the top surface;
- b. a plurality of elongated posts attachable to the platform;
- c. a lift arm operatively connected to the proximal side of the platform;
- d. a lift arm housing operatively connected to the lift arm, the lift arm housing having a top end and a bottom end opposite the top end, the lift arm configured to slide in and out of the lift arm housing at the bottom end;
- e. a horizontal bar operatively connected to the lift arm housing adjacent the bottom end;
- f. a lift device housed inside the lift arm housing, the lift device operatively connected to the lift arm;
- g. a motor operatively connected to the lift device to cause the lift arm to slide in and out of the lift arm housing;
- h. a receiver mountable on a structure, wherein the horizontal bar is attachable to the receiver;
- and
- i. a receiver adapter, the receiver adapter comprising a main frame having a first end, a second end opposite the first end, a front face, and a back face opposite the front face, a pair of connection bars protruding perpendicularly from the back face in the rearward direction, and a pair of holes on the front face into which the horizontal bars of the lift arm housings can be inserted.
7 more elements
A lift system, comprising:
- a. a platform, the platform comprising a proximal side, a distal side opposite the proximal side, a first lateral side adjacent to the proximal side and the distal side, a second lateral side opposite the first lateral side and adjacent to the proximal side and the distal side, a top surface and a bottom surface opposite the top surface;
- b. a plurality of elongated posts attachable to the platform;
- c. a lift arm operatively connected to the proximal side of the platform;
- d. a lift arm housing operatively connected to the lift arm, the lift arm housing having a top end and a bottom end opposite the top end, the lift arm configured to slide in and out of the lift arm housing at the bottom end;
- e. a horizontal bar operatively connected to the lift arm housing adjacent the bottom end;
- f. a lift device housed inside the lift arm housing, the lift device operatively connected to the lift arm;
- g. a motor operatively connected to the lift device to cause the lift arm to slide in and out of the lift arm housing;
- and
- h. a receiver mountable on a structure, wherein the horizontal bar is attachable to the receiver;
- wherein the receiver further comprises a shield on a bottom side of the receiver to protect a fastener fastening the receiver to the structure.
7 more elements
A lift system, comprising:
- a. a platform, the platform comprising a proximal side, a distal side opposite the proximal side, a first lateral side adjacent to the proximal side and the distal side, a second lateral side opposite the first lateral side and adjacent to the proximal side and the distal side, a top surface and a bottom surface opposite the top surface;
- b. a plurality of elongated posts attachable to the platform;
- c. a lift arm operatively connected to the proximal side of the platform;
- d. a lift arm housing operatively connected to the lift arm, the lift arm housing having a top end and a bottom end opposite the top end, the lift arm configured to slide in and out of the lift arm housing at the bottom end;
- e. a horizontal bar operatively connected to the lift arm housing adjacent the bottom end;
- f. a lift device housed inside the lift arm housing, the lift device operatively connected to the lift arm;
- g. a motor operatively connected to the lift device to cause the lift arm to slide in and out of the lift arm housing;
- and
- h. a cross brace attachable to the lift arm housing at the top end and a structure to secure the lift arm housing to the structure.
6 more elements
A method of using a lift system to support an item, comprising:
- a. acquiring a platform, the platform comprising a proximal side, a distal side opposite the proximal side, a first lateral side adjacent to the proximal side and the distal side, a second lateral side opposite the first lateral side and adjacent to the proximal side and the distal side, a top surface and a bottom surface opposite the top surface;
- b. attaching a plurality of wheels to the platform to project below the bottom surface;
- c. attaching a plurality of elongated posts to the wheels so that the elongated posts project above the top surface, wherein one elongated post is attached to one wheel;
- d. attaching a lift mechanism to the proximal side of the platform, the lift mechanism comprising a lift arm, a lift arm housing operatively connected to the lift arm, the lift arm housing having a top end and a bottom end opposite the top end, the lift arm configured to slide in and out of the lift arm housing at the bottom end, a horizontal bar operatively connected to the lift arm housing adjacent the bottom end, a lift device housed inside the lift arm housing, the lift device operatively connected to the lift arm, and a motor operatively connected to the lift device to cause the lift arm to slide in and out of the lift arm housing;
- e. placing the item on the top surface of the platform;
- f. mounting a receiver onto a structure;
- g. rolling the platform to the structure;
- h. inserting the horizontal bar into the receiver;
- i. activating the motor to raise the platform, whereby the item is lifted, wherein a first set of wheels is attached to the platform prior to loading the item and a second set of wheels is attached to the platform after the item has been loaded on the platform.
6 more elements
A method of using a lift system to support an item, comprising:
- a. acquiring a platform, the platform comprising a proximal side, a distal side opposite the proximal side, a first lateral side adjacent to the proximal side and the distal side, a second lateral side opposite the first lateral side and adjacent to the proximal side and the distal side, a top surface and a bottom surface opposite the top surface;
- b. attaching a plurality of wheels to the platform to project below the bottom surface;
- c. attaching a plurality of elongated posts to the wheels so that the elongated posts project above the top surface, wherein one elongated post is attached to one wheel;
- d. attaching a lift mechanism to the proximal side of the platform, the lift mechanism comprising a lift arm, a lift arm housing operatively connected to the lift arm, the lift arm housing having a top end and a bottom end opposite the top end, the lift arm configured to slide in and out of the lift arm housing at the bottom end, a horizontal bar operatively connected to the lift arm housing adjacent the bottom end, a lift device housed inside the lift arm housing, the lift device operatively connected to the lift arm, and a motor operatively connected to the lift device to cause the lift arm to slide in and out of the lift arm housing;
- e. placing the item on the top surface of the platform;
- f. mounting a receiver onto a structure;
- g. rolling the platform to the structure;
- h. inserting the horizontal bar into the receiver;
- and
- i. activating the motor to raise the platform, whereby the item is lifted;
- and further comprising the steps of
- j. activating the electric motor to lower the platform, detaching the horizontal bar from the receiver, rolling the platform away from the structure, removing the item from the platform, re-orienting the platform to stand on the elongated posts to create a tabletop.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.