Patent ID: 6098823
Filing Date: 2000-08-08
Classification: B66F

Abstract:
Load-bearing apparatus comprising:a reference portion;an arm support portion;a pivot mount disposed on said arm support portion;a load-bearing arm being pivotably mounted on said arm support portion at said pivot mount;said arm support portion being translatable with respect to said reference portion; anda motion linking arrangement for linking motion of said arm support portion with motion of said load-bearing arm;said motion linking arrangement being adapted to simultaneously translate said arm support portion, said pivot mount and said load-bearing arm with respect to said reference portion in response to motion of said load-bearing arm and in accordance with a predetermined algorithm that governs the simultaneous translation of said arm support portion, said pivot mount and said load-bearing arm in response to motion of said load-bearing arm, whereby:a stabilizing moment is imparted to said apparatus as motion of said load-bearing arm causes said apparatus toapproach a position of critical backward instability; anda stabilizing moment is imparted to said apparatus a motion of said load-bearing arm causes said apparatus do approach a position of critical forward instability.