Patent ID: 11958398
Assignee: nan
Field: Transport (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC B | IPC B

Claim 0:
1. An apparatus for moving an object across a ground surface, the apparatus comprising:
a platform having an upper surface for positioning the object on, the platform having a perimeter; and
a plurality of lift assemblies mounted on the platform, the lift assemblies being located along the perimeter of the platform, each of the lift assemblies comprises:
an elongated support arm having an inboard end and an outboard end, the support end being pivotally mounted on the platform by a pivot located at the inboard end of the support arm to permit pivot movement of the support arm with respect to the platform;
a ground contacting element mounted on the support arm at a mount location on the support arm between the pivot at the inboard end and the outboard end of the pivot arm, the mount location being located at a first distance from the pivot at the inboard end and the mount location being located at a second distance from the outboard end; and
wherein the second distance is greater than the first distance such that the support arm acts as a lever when a downward force is applied to the outboard end of the support arm to push the ground contacting element downwardly and the platform upwardly via the pivot to lift the platform and any object thereon upwardly off of the ground surface;

wherein each lift assembly has a deployed condition and a retracted condition;
wherein the deployed condition of a said lift assembly is characterized by the lift assembly supporting the platform in an elevated position off of the ground surface and having the ground contacting element in contact with the ground surface to facilitate movement of the platform across the ground surface; and
wherein the retracted condition of a said lift assembly is characterized by the lift assembly not supporting the platform in the elevated position off of the ground surface such that the platform is in a lowered position.