Abstract:
A lifting and telescoping dolly for facilitating the moving of bulky objects into and out of attics by one operator acting alone. The collapsible dolly opens into a self-supporting A-frame with four support points. It has wheels and a brake system for positioning the dolly beneath an attic entry. From ground level a winch elevates the telescoping upper part of the dolly frame into the attic where it is firmly supported. From the attic a second winch elevates the load into the attic.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to the field of devices used for transporting objects, more specifically to the field of hand-operated, wheeled devices. Such devices are commonly referred to as hand trucks, carts, or dollies. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   No state-of-the-art dolly offers all the features of the the present invention. The present invention features a support member that makes it possible to hoist an object at various angles other than vertical, thus enabling the hoisting of an object into an attic having a pull-down staircase. The present invention enables one-person operation. It also provides an integral top support member that attaches to a fixed part of the attic construction, such as a rafter or beam. 
   The present invention provides a dolly the height of which can be telescoped from approximately that of dollies commonly used for moving furniture, household goods, appliances, and commercial stock to a height sufficient for hoisting objects from a floor or ground surface into an attic. 
   The present invention provides a dolly with a foldable support member that permits hoisting of objects at angles inclined from the vertical. 
   The present invention provides a telescoping dolly that incorporates a means of attaching the topmost section of the dolly to a structural member near an attic access in order to safely stabilize the dolly during the operation of hoisting an object from a floor or ground surface into an attic. 
   The present invention provides a dolly that enables an operator, acting alone, to safely hoist an object into an attic, remove the object from the dolly, and place the object on the attic floor. 
   The present invention provides a dolly with a lockable, collapsable support member that permits hoisting of objects at angles inclined from the vertical. 
   The present invention provides a dolly with a braking system. 
   The present invention provides a dolly that collapses into a compact profile that can be conveniently transported and stored. 
   The present invention provides a dolly of simple and lightweight, yet durable, construction that can be inexpensively manufactured. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a front isometric drawing of the dolly of the present invention loaded with a phantom load. 
       FIG. 2  is a rear isometric drawing of the dolly of the present invention loaded with a phantom load. 
       FIG. 3  is a rear orthogonal drawing of the dolly of the present invention with the rear support member folded inward and flat against the rear face of the main member, and the phantom load resting on the base member that is flat on the floor or ground surface. 
       FIG. 4  is a front orthogonal drawing of the dolly of the present invention with the rear support member folded inward and flat against the rear face of the main member, and the phantom load resting on the base member that is flat on the floor or ground surface. 
       FIG. 5  is a front isometric drawing of the dolly of the present invention telescoped to full extension and loaded with a phantom load hoisted to its maximum height. 
       FIG. 6  is a rear isometric drawing of the dolly of the present invention telescoped to full extension and loaded with a phantom load hoisted to its maximum height. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     FIG. 1  illustrates a preferred embodiment of the lifting and telescoping dolly  100  of the present invention, the function of which is to transport and hoist a load  200  resting on base member  31  and held to the front face of main member  12  with releasable strap  39 . Dolly  100  is moveable via an axle assembly and wheels  18  attached near the bottom edge of main member  12 . When necessary, rolling transport of dolly  100  is checked by operator-activation of braking system  15  that with a commonly understood lever-actuated system of cables applies a compressive force to some area of axle and wheel assembly  18 . 
   Support member  32  is pinned or otherwise attached to pivot brackets  45  attached to main member  12 . One end of each of the two telescoping support struts  34  is pinned, hinged, or otherwise rotatably attached to support member  32 , and the other ends of support struts  34  are slidably attached to main member  12  so that support member  32  may be positioned at various angles with respect to main member  12 , and locked in position with locking devices  33  such as pins, locknuts, or over-center clamps that when engaged maintain support member  32  in a position fixed relative to main member  12 . Two support axle and wheel assemblies  36 , located at the bottom edge of support member  32 , in conjunction with axle and wheel assembly  18 , facilitate rolling transport of dolly  100 . 
   Two handles  38 , attached to the rear face of main member  12 , provide means for an operator to grasp and maneuver dolly  100  during transport. Handles  38  also provide support when support member  32  is folded parallel to main member  12  and dolly  100  is lowered and positioned such that it is essentially parallel to the floor or ground surface. 
     FIGS. 1 and 6  show that the illustrated embodiment includes a receiver tube  41  near the top edge of main member  12 . Each end of receiver tube  41  receives a support arm  5  capable of sliding from a position recessed inside receiver tube  41  to a position substantially exposed but still engaged with receiver tube  41 . 
     FIG. 2  shows winches  1  and  2 , and their respective cranks  10  and  20 . Winch  2 , attached slightly below the top edge of main member  12 , is turned by an operator with crank  20 . Turning of winch  2  causes cable  21  (see  FIGS. 1 and 3 ), attached to the drum of winch  2  and led through a system of commonly understood pulleys and guides to the bottom of secondary member  7 , to slide secondary member  7  (see  FIGS. 1 and 4 ) inside main member  12 . Secondary member  7  is a rigid tubular frame, the long sides of which are captured by but can slide, and, assisted by wheels or bearings, roll, in the long sides of main member  12 , constructed of C-section beams. 
   An operator can load an object  200  onto base member  31 , secure it to dolly  100  with adjustable attachment strap  39 , and transport dolly  100  and its load to a position near an attic access. The operator can rotate support member  32  away from its transport and storage position that is substantially adjacent and parallel to main member  12 . Such rotation extends foldable support struts  34 , and the operator can engage locking devices  33  so as to orient main member  12  in a substantially A-frame configuration. The operator can activate and lock brake system  15  that forces brake pads against the dolly wheels and prevents further rolling transport of dolly  100 . 
   With winch  2 , an operator can extend secondary member  7  from main member  12  until the bottom edge of secondary member  7  is close to the top edge of main member  12 . Pins (not shown) can be inserted into holes  44  on both long sides of main member  12  and through mating holes (not shown) on the long sides of secondary member  7  to prevent secondary member  7  from further movement with respect to main member  12  until the pins are removed. 
     FIG. 3  shows winches  1  and  2  and their respective cables  27  and  21 . Wheels  11  and wheels  10  (see  FIG. 4 ) are attached to secondary member  7  and engage the insides of the C-section beams that make up the long sides of main member  12 , thus facilitating telescoping of secondary member  7  with respect to main member  12 . 
     FIG. 4  shows one set of wheels  10  that, along with the set of wheels  11  (see  FIG. 3 ), facilitates the telescoping movement of secondary member  7  within main member  12 .  FIG. 4  also shows a system of cables and pulleys  25  that controls the position of support arms  5  in receiver tube  41  (see  FIGS. 1 and 2 ) as discussed below. 
     FIG. 5  shows dolly  100  in its fully extended configuration with locking devices  33  locked to prevent collapsing of support members  34 , and brake system  15  activated to prevent rotation of axle assembly and wheels  18 . From  FIG. 5  it can be seen that dolly  100  could be positioned in its extended configuration at various angles with reference to the floor or ground surface, depending on the position of support member  32 . Because of its angled configuration, dolly  100  is capable of providing access to an attic equipped with a pull-down staircase if the bottom section of the staircase remains folded. 
     FIG. 6  shows dolly  100  in its fully extended configuration. While the operator extends secondary member  7  from main member  12 , support arms  5  are recessed into receiver tube  41 . When secondary member  7  enters an attic access, the operator toggles lever  42  that causes cable and pulley system  25  to release a detent (not shown) in receiver tube  41 . Release of the detent permits springs  26  to urge support arms  5  outward from their positions recessed into receiver tube  41 . In their extended positions, support arms  5 , which in an alternative embodiment may be shaped like hooks, span two adjacent attic rafters and provide support for the top of extended dolly  100 . 
   With support arms  5  resting on attic rafters, locking devices  33  locked, and brake system  15  activated, dolly  100  is stable and secure. Then the operator may access the attic, and, with winch  1  and cable  27 , hoist base member  31  and load  200  upward from the floor along the extended combination main and secondary members  12  and  7  until it is in position to be unloaded onto the attic floor. 
   After the load is removed from dolly  100 , the operator, while still in the attic, may use winch  1  to lower base member  31  from the attic to the floor or ground surface. Then the operator may leave the attic, and, from the floor or ground surface, toggle lever  42  so that cable and pulley system  25  operates to retract support arms  5  into receiver tube  41 , thereby disconnecting the top of dolly  100  from the attic rafters upon which it had been supported during the hoisting operation. 
   The operator may then use winch  2  to lower secondary member  7  from its extended position in the attic to its non-extended position telescoped into main member  12 . Locking devices  33  may be released, support members  34  collapsed, and support member  32  rotated into its storage position substantially adjacent and parallel to main member  12 . Brake system  15  may be released, and dolly  100  moved to a storage location. 
   It will be apparent to those with ordinary skill in the relevant art having the benefit of this disclosure that the present invention provides an apparatus for moving objects and hoisting objects from a floor or surface into an attic above the floor or surface. It is understood that the forms of the invention shown and described in the detailed description and the drawings are to be taken merely as presently preferred examples and that the invention is limited only by the language of the claims. While the present invention has been described in terms of one preferred embodiment and a few variation thereof, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that form and detail modifications may be made to those embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.