Abstract:
An air conditioning crane boom assembly having a number of mounting feet that removably secure the assembly to the rungs of a stepladder. Braces extend from these feet to a boom that extends horizontally away from the rungs of the stepladder. A pulley or a winch may be attached to the base of the boom, near the rungs of the stepladder, and the boom extends away from the stepladder to facilitate safe and stable lifting of loads such as air-conditioner components.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application is related to and claims priority from prior provisional application Ser. No. 61/978,368, filed Apr. 11, 2014, entitled “LADDER MOUNTED CRANE SYSTEM”, the contents of all of which are incorporated herein by this reference and are not admitted to be prior art with respect to the present invention by the mention in this cross-reference section. 
     
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not applicable 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The present invention relates generally to providing a hoist device for use in lifting objects. More specifically relates to hoisting an air conditioner compressor unit using a portable crane system created by attaching a removable assembly comprising a boom, jib, winch, and handlebar to a stepladder. More particularly this invention relates to providing a system for hoisting an air conditioner compressor unit. 
         [0004]    In the field of air conditioner maintained and repairs, technicians may be required to remove a heavy compressor unit from within an air conditioning assembly. The removal of the compressor unit may require lifting of the compressor unit directly upward from inside the air conditioning assembly. The typical weight of the compressor unit in residential air conditioning assemblies is approximately a hundred to a hundred and fifty pounds, with compressor units weighing significantly more in commercial air conditioning assemblies. 
         [0005]    Air conditioner compressor units as used in residential and/or commercial air conditioning assemblies can be heavy and difficult for a technician to maneuver. Although the mentioned residential units are not typically large in size, they typically weigh a hundred to a hundred and fifty pounds. Furthermore, although they may be equipped with a handle, the technician must still bend over and pull the unit out using their back or legs. Lifting in this way is not desirable and may result in injuries. The possibility is extremely high that a technician will strain his or her back while either removing or installing the air conditioner compressor unit. Some compressor units come equipped with a D-rings or handles. When such units are being removed it may require it to be lifted higher to clear the edge of the entire air conditioning assembly unit. A safe and portable means for removal of the compressor units from residential and/or commercial air conditioning assemblies is desirable in the industry. 
         [0006]    The prior art contains several references showing various types of load maneuvering means. None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the invention as claimed. Thus, a need exists for a portable, lightweight lifting system that can be quickly unloaded from a vehicle and set-up by one person for use in maneuvering such air conditioning assemblies. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The present invention creates a crane to hoist an air conditioning compressor unit up and out of an air conditioning assembly by attachment of an assembly to any type of stepladder. The crane can then be used so that strain is minimized on the technicians back during the removal or replacing of the compressor unit from within the air conditioning assembly. 
         [0008]    The presently preferred embodiment of the present invention provides a crane by removably attaching a boom and jib assembly onto the rungs of a stepladder. The boom and jib assembly extend from the rungs of the stepladder horizontally away from the rungs. A winch is attached to the distal end of the boom, near the attachment of the jib to the boom. A cable extends downward from the winch to connect to the compressor unit in the air conditioning assembly. The jib extends horizontally away from the boom, and extends away from the stepladder. A handlebar is positioned on the jib on the end farthest from the boom and the stepladder. A control module for the winch is positioned near the handlebar to allow ease of use by a single technician while moving and controlling the crane. The handlebar is used to control the crane, and to facilitate safe and stable lifting of loads. The technician operates the crane using the handlebar to easily and safely control the movement of the crane while removing and installing the air conditioning compressor unit from the air conditioning assembly. 
         [0009]    Alternatively preferably, a pulley is attached to the distal end of the boom, near the attachment of the jib to the boom, allowing the winch to be positioned elsewhere. 
         [0010]    A primary object and feature of the present invention is to provide a crane system overcoming the above-mentioned problem. 
         [0011]    It is a further object and feature of the present invention to provide such a crane system that is portable. 
         [0012]    Another primary object and feature of the present invention is to provide such a crane system that can preferably be operated by a single person. 
         [0013]    It is a further object and feature of the present invention to provide such a crane system that preferably utilizes a stepladder. 
         [0014]    A further primary object and feature of the present invention is to provide such a system that is efficient, inexpensive, and handy. It is an object of the present invention to provide an air conditioning compressor unit hoist which is preferably portable, lightweight, and easy to set up while providing satisfactory lifting capabilities to lift a compressor unit up and out of an air conditioning assembly unit. 
         [0015]    It is another object of the present invention to provide an air conditioning hoist, which preferably can be used with existing portable stepladders of the type typically used by air conditioning technicians. 
         [0016]    It is an object and feature of the present invention to provide a crane system that preferably comprises a stepladder having a plurality of rungs, at least one boom attached to said stepladder at said plurality of rungs, a winch attached to said boom, at least one jib attached to said boom, at least one handlebar attached to said jib. 
         [0017]    It is further an object and feature of the present invention to provide a crane system wherein a boom preferably attaches to a stepladder at said plurality of steps using, downward opening channels positioned over said plurality of rungs. 
         [0018]    It is further an object and feature of the present invention to provide a crane system wherein a winch is preferably attached to a boom distally from a plurality of rungs. 
         [0019]    It is further an object and feature of the present invention to provide a crane system wherein a handlebar is preferably attached to a jib distally from a boom. 
         [0020]    It is further an object and feature of the present invention to provide a crane system wherein a control module for said winch is preferably attached to a jib. Alternately preferably it is an object and feature to provide a crane system wherein a control module for said winch is attached to said handlebar. 
         [0021]    It is further an object and feature of the present invention to provide a crane system wherein a boom, a winch, a jib, and a handlebar preferably form a single assembly which is preferably removably attached to a stepladder. 
         [0022]    It is further an object and feature of the present invention to provide a crane system which preferably comprises a stepladder having a plurality of rungs, at least one boom attached to said stepladder at said plurality of rungs, a pulley attached to said boom, at least one jib attached to said boom, at least one handlebar attached to said jib. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0023]    The particular objects and features of the invention as well as the advantages will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0024]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating a removable crane assembly for a STEPLADDER BASED CRANE SYSTEM not attached to a stepladder according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0025]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view illustrating a removable crane assembly for a STEPLADDER BASED CRANE SYSTEM according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0026]      FIG. 3  is a top view illustrating a removable crane assembly for a STEPLADDER BASED CRANE SYSTEM not attached to a stepladder according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0027]      FIG. 4  is side top view illustrating a removable crane assembly for a STEPLADDER BASED CRANE SYSTEM not attached to a stepladder according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0028]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view illustrating the STEPLADDER BASED CRANE SYSTEM where a removable crane assembly is attached to a stepladder ready for use to remove an air conditioning compressor unit from a residential air conditioning assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0029]      FIG. 6A  is a perspective view illustrating the STEPLADDER BASED CRANE SYSTEM where a removable crane assembly is attached to a stepladder and being attached to an air conditioning compressor unit for removal. 
           [0030]      FIG. 6B  is a perspective view illustrating the STEPLADDER BASED CRANE SYSTEM where a removable crane assembly is attached to a stepladder and has lifted an air conditioning compressor unit out of a residential air conditioning assembly. 
           [0031]      FIG. 7  is a flow chart illustrating the method of using the STEPLADDER BASED CRANE SYSTEM. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0032]    Referring now to the drawings,  FIG. 1  shows a removable crane assembly  101  for a STEPLADDER BASED CRANE SYSTEM according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention wherein a Mounting Section  110  is coupled to a Boom  120  using an Adjustable Boom Support Bracket  115  and Bolts  180 . In the preferred embodiment, a Winch Mount  130  is coupled to the Boom  120  also using Bolts  180 . The Handlebar  160  is welded at a  90  degree angle to the Jib  150 . The Jib  150  is bolted to the Boom  120  using Bolts  180 . 
         [0033]    As shown in  FIG. 2  the mounting section  210  of the removable assembly  201  preferably is comprised of a vertical base member  285  with an upper and lower horizontally elongated stepladder rung grips  290 , each of which is preferably a C-shaped, downwardly-opening channel. The stepladder rung grips  290  are preferably spaced and positioned to allow the removable crane assembly  201  to easily fit onto the rungs of a conventional stepladder, such as the type typically used by air conditioning technicians. An adjustable support bracket  285  fits into the vertical base member  285  and is secured by bolts  280 . 
         [0034]    Preferably fixed to the mounting section  210 , a boom  220  is attached onto the adjustable boom support bracket  215  and adjustable boom support member  285  and extending opposite the stepladder rung grips  290  of the mounting section  210 . The boom  220  is attached to the adjustable boom support bracket  215  with bolts  280 . The adjustable boom support bracket  215  slides into and is attached to the adjustable boom support member  285  and secured using bolts  280 . A winch mount  230  is preferably mounted on the boom  220  distal to the mounting section  210  using bolts  280 . A winch preferably is positioned in the winch mount  230 . A jib  250  preferably is attached to the boom  220  distally from the mounting section  110  using bolts  280 , near the winch mount  230 . A handlebar  260  preferably is mounted to the jib  250  distally from the boom  220  preferably extending at  90  degree angles from the jib  250 . The handlebars  260  preferably extend to both sides of the jib  250  preferably parallel to the ground. 
         [0035]    The handlebars  260  alternately preferably may extend at  45  degree angles from the jib  250 , with grip positions preferably  90  degrees apart. A winch control module is preferably removably mounted on the jib  250  proximate to the handlebar  260  to allow for easy control during operation of the removable assembly  201 . Alternately preferably the winch control module is mounted on the handlebar  260 . 
         [0036]    Referring to  FIG. 3  where it can be seen that the Handlebar  360  is the most distal object from the Mounting Section  310  of the removable crane assembly  301 . The Handlebar  360  is preferably affixed to the Jib  350 . The Jib is attached to the Boom  320  using Bolts  380 . And the Boom  320  is attached to the Adjustable Boom Support Member  315  that is further attached to the Mounting Section  310 . The Winch Mount  330  can be seen extending out from underneath the Boom  320  attached with Bolts  380 . 
         [0037]      FIG. 4  shows the top view of the removable crane assembly  401  where it can be seen that the Handlebar  460  is attached to the Jib  450 , which in turn is attached to the boom  420  using bolts  480 , which is then attached to the adjustable boom support bracket  415  which is further attached to the mounting section  410 , all using bolts  480 . 
         [0038]      FIG. 5  shows how the removable crane assembly  501  is to be installed on a stepladder  502 , and positioned next to the residential air conditioning assembly  504  for removal of the compressor. The winch  540  is shown located in the winch mount  530  under the boom  520  with the winch control module  508  removably attached to the jib  550 . 
         [0039]      FIG. 6A and 6B  show an air conditioning technician  614  operating the removable crane assembly  601  that has been mounted on a stepladder  602  to remove a residential air conditioning compressor unit  603 . As can be seen in  FIG. 6A , the air conditioning technician  614  is attaching the winch cable  612  to the air conditioning compressor unit  603  within an air conditioning assembly  604 . As shown in  FIG. 6B  the air conditioning technician  614  then positions the removable crane assembly  601  to safely lift the air conditioning compressor unit  603  using the removable crane assembly  601  and the winch control module  608  to operate the winch  640 . 
         [0040]    Referring to  FIG. 7 , which shows a method of using a Stepladder Based Crane System comprises the steps of: setting up a stepladder next to the air conditioning assembly  701 , mounting the removable assembly onto the stepladder  702 , attaching the winch hook of the removable assembly to the air conditioning compressor unit  703 , stabilizing the Stepladder Based Crane System using the handlebar  704 , tilting the Stepladder Based Crane System forward so the winch is directly above the air conditioning compressor unit  705 , using the winch to lift the air conditioning compressor unit from the air conditioning assembly high enough to clear the edge of the air conditioning assembly  706 , tilting the Stepladder Based Crane System back so that the air conditioning compressor unit is above the ground  707 , and using the winch to lower the air conditioning compressor unit onto the ground  708 . 
         [0041]    Alternately preferably, a method of using a Stepladder Based Crane System comprises a technician operating the position of the Stepladder Based Crane System with one hand using the handlebar, while operating the winch controls of the Stepladder Based Crane System using another hand.