Patent ID: 6880187
Filing Date: 2005-04-19
Classification: B25H,B66F

Abstract:
1. A lifting apparatus, comprising: a base support for moving the lifting apparatus horizontally on a floor surface; the base support having a plurality of wheels being lockable; a platform having a multilayer thickness for supporting at least a user thereon, the multilayer thickness having a non-slip outer layer, a compressible inner layer, a base layer; the platform is configured to be vertically moveable; a vertical lifting system coupled to the platform and coupled to the base support; the vertical lifting system being configured to vertically move the platform through a plurality of heights above a floor surface; the vertical lifting system having a pair of laterally mounted hollow stanchions, each including an axially rotatable threaded rod for matingly receiving a gear which is mounted to a drive shaft which provides rotary movement to the gear; the vertical lifting system including a motor coupled to the drive shaft and configured to provide rotary movement to the drive shaft, the vertical lifting system including a controller unit operatively coupled to the motor configured to control the operation of the motor, and a non-contact foot sensing device mounted to the base support and operatively coupled to the controller unit, the sensing device configured to detect the presence a foot of a human body underneath the platform and prevent downward movement of the platform while the foot being detected.