Abstract:
A portable boom for use with a support, such as a tree, has a support extendable from a mound. The mount secures to a tree and supports a lifted weight connected to the support. The portable boom is designed to be portable and easy to connect to the support.

Description:
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/315,730 filed Aug. 29, 2001. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to a portable boom, and more particularly to a boom adapted to be supported from a vertical upright, such as a tree trunk, such that the boom may lift and/or support suspended weight, such as an engine pulled from an automobile. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In order to remove an engine from an automobile, hoists have been developed such as the one provided in U.S. Pat. No. 5,261,640 and others such as U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,479,632, 6,164,625, and 5,897,100. These hoists have a typically have a beam which is mechanically raised and lowered by a mechanical jack. Although this design is effective for many uses, the hoist will not work under a few scenarios. 
     Specifically, the prior art hoist has a maximum height that the beam can operate. Once the beam is lifted to its maximum elevation, if the engine has not been raised enough to be removed, the operator is stuck and must find an alternative method of removing the engine. Examples of problem scenarios could include (1) removing an inboard engine from a boat with the boat sitting on a tall trailer, or (2) removing an engine from a vehicle where the engine compartment extends a significant distance above the engine. The prior art hoists are also relatively bulky, heavy, take up a significant amount of storage space, are difficult to move from place to place, and are relatively expensive. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,202,964 contemplates hanging objects from a hanger connected to a tree. However, this reference does not appear to be well designed for handling heavy loads. Furthermore this hanger would require the user to climb the tree and then place the strap member at the desired height as the strap member is utilized to hold the connector member against an upright support member, i.e., the tree. There also does not appear to be a way to push this hanger up the tree to a desired position from below or to remove this hanger from the tree without unhooking the strap member. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A need exists for an improved apparatus for use in supporting and moving heavy objects. 
     Another need exists for a portable boom which may be utilized to lift objects, such as engines from vehicles, including boats, cars, etc. 
     A need exists for a portable boom having an adjustable length for ease of storage in compact spaces. 
     Another need exists for a portable boom which can be utilized on different diameter uprights. 
     Yet another need exists for a portable boom which may be quickly assembled and utilized by a single operator. 
     Accordingly a portable boom for use with a vertical upright member, such as a wooden pole or tree, is comprised of an extendable support. The support extends from a channel within a frame. A beam connects a portion of the frame to a retaining member, such as a wedge or chain, which contacts the upright member at a first location, and a stop connects the frame to the upright member at a second location. A post connects another portion of the frame to the beam for stability of the boom. A mount at the end of the support provides a location to locate a lift, chain, or come-a-long to support the weight and/or lift heavy objects. A shoulder such as a flat iron strap along the frame assists in distributing forces along the frame. 
     The boom may be rotated upwardly at the mount about the wedge which pulls the stop from the extendable support. The boom may then be pushed up, or lowered from the vertical upright without requiring the user to climb the vertical upright to unlatch connections. The beam and the retaining member may be detached to provide a compact profile for storage. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The particular features and advantages of the invention as well as other objects will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which: 
     FIG. 1 shows a side plan view of a first embodiment of the portable boom of the present invention supported by a vertical upright with portions shown in phantom; 
     FIG. 2 is a back plan view of the portable boom of the embodiment of FIG. 1 supported by a vertical upright with portions shown in phantom; 
     FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the portable boom of the embodiment of FIG. 1 supported by a vertical upright with portions shown in phantom; 
     FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of a portion of the portable boom of the embodiment of FIG. 1 where the frame connects to the stop in a storage position; 
     FIG. 5 is a side plan view of a second embodiment of the portable boom of the present invention supported by a vertical upright with portions shown in phantom; 
     FIG. 6 is a side plan view of a third embodiment of the portable boom of the present invention supported by a vertical upright with portions shown in phantom; 
     FIG. 7 is a side plan view of a fourth embodiment of the portable boom supported by a vertical upright with portions shown in phantom; and 
     FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view of a portion of the support of the portable boom of FIG.  6 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     FIGS. 1-4 are directed to a first embodiment of a portable boom  10 . FIGS. 1-3 illustrate a portable boom  10  comprised of a frame  12  such as square tube having a tunnel, or channel  14  therein. A support  16  is contained at least partially within the channel  14  and is extendable between a number of extended positions. A pin, or bolt  18 , is illustrated extending through a hole  20  in frame  12  and through a bore  22  in the support  16  to secure the support  16  relative to the frame  12 . The support  16  is connected to a mount  24 . The mount  24  illustrated has an opening  26  which may cooperate with a cable, hook, or other connector so that a lift, hoist, come-a-long or the like, may be suspended from the support  16 . Other mounts could support other items such as a basketball goal, or other the like. 
     The frame  12  is also connected to a stop  28  which contacts a vertical upright  30 . The vertical upright  30  is preferably a tree, a wooden post, or the like. The stop  28  may be an abutment, which contacts the vertical upright  30  at a front surface  32  and/or include fork members  34 , 36  which contact the vertical upright  30  at front or sides  38 , 40  of the vertical upright  30 . The stop  28  may be constructed of channel iron having prongs  35 , 37  to distribute weight substantially evenly across two surfaces instead of one. An I-beam can also be utilized and it still provides the same two contacting prongs  35 , 37  as the channel iron as illustrated on the fork member  36  in FIG.  2 . 
     By connecting at the sides  38 , 40 , the fork members  34 , 36  reduce the likelihood of the stop  28  twisting away from the upright  30  under load. The fork members  38 , 40  may be rigidly connected to the frame  12 , or they may be pivotable, such as to a maximum extended position about fulcrums  42 , 44  connected by support plates  46 , 48  to the frame  12 . Toes  50 , 52  of the fork members  34 , 36  contact the frame  12  to prevent further outward rotation in the preferred embodiment. When the portable boom  10  is not connected to the vertical upright member  30 , the fork members  34 , 36  may be pivoted to substantially parallel with the frame  12  to minimize the space needed for storage as illustrated in FIG.  4 . 
     Referring back to FIGS. 1-3, the frame  12  is connected to first and second beams  54 , 56  which are utilized to support the weight placed on the support  16 . The beams  54 , 56  connect to the frame  12  at collars  58 , 60 . At least one post  62  also connects the frame  12  to the beams  54 , 56  to provide rigidity to the portable boom during operation. The beams  54 , 56 , are preferably constructed to have three segments  64 , 66 , 68  and  70 , 72 , 74 , respectively, which include first segment  64 , 70  which connects the frame support plates illustrated as collars  58 , 60  to the post  62 . First segments  64 , 70  preferably extend parallel to one another. Second segments  64 , 72  are angled relative to the first segments  64 , 70  to space the beams  54 , 56  a distance away from one another so that third segments  68 , 74  which are angled relative to second segments  66 , 72 , extend substantially parallel to one another about the vertical upright  30 . The beams  54 , 56  preferably connect to the collars with keeper  76  illustrated as a bolt. The beams  54 , 56  connect to the post  62  with coupler  78  illustrated as a bolt. The post  62  may be welded or otherwise connected to the frame  12 . The keeper  76  and the coupler  78  may be removed to at least partially disassemble the portable boom  10  for storage, if so desired. 
     A wedge  80  connects the first and second beams  54 , 56  at a docking station  82 . Preferably, a plurality of docking stations  82  are provided which allow the boom  10  to be utilized on a variety of uprights  30  of various diameters. The multiple docking stations  82  can also be utilized to adjust the angle of the support  16  relative to the vertical upright  30 . The wedge  80  may be constructed of bent angle iron which provides an edge  84  for digging into certain uprights  30 , such as trees. 
     In order to locate the boom  10  on an upright  30 , the boom  10  is preferably assembled except for locating the wedge  80  in a docking station  82 . The beams  54 , 56  are placed about the upright  30  and the stop  28  is placed proximate to the upright  30  as well. Depending on the desired angle of the support  16  relative to the upright  30 , a cable  85  may be utilized. Cable  85  has clips  88  on either end which may be clipped with one hand by a user. The cable  85  temporarily holds the boom  10  at a desired angle relative to the upright  30 . If satisfied with the angle, the particular docking station  82  may be selected and the wedge  80  secured to the beams  54 , 56 . A plurality of loops  90  are provided for attachment locations for the clips for the user to select the desired angle. 
     The boom  10  can now be moved to a desired altitude relative to the vertical upright  30 . It can be seen from the Figures that rotation of the boom  10  upwardly by lifting up at the support  16 , or other appropriate position, and rotating about the wedge  80  will pull the stop  28  away from the upright  30 . The wedge  80  can then be pulled from the upright  30  and the boom  10  pushed up, or pulled up, to a desired elevation on the upright  30 . Of course, the boom  10 , may be lowered utilizing this same technique. Once at the desired altitude, the boom  10  is then rotated downwardly and the stop  28  and wedge  80  will then contact the upright  30  to hold the boom  10  in position. A safety strap  92  may be connected to the wedge  80 , such as at finger  84  or otherwise, once in a desired elevation. 
     With the boom  10  at the desired elevation, which is not limited by the boom  10 , but by the vertical upright  30 , the support  16  may be extended to the desired position relative to the frame  12 , if not done before raising the boom  10  to the desired elevation. The mount  24  may then be utilized to lift and/or support the weight of an object, such as an engine. 
     With a weight supported from the mount  24 , a downward force is applied at the mount  24 . An upward force is then applied at the keeper  76  where the beams  54 , 56  connect to the collars  58 , 60 . The beams  54 , 56  also impart a longitudinal force to the frame due to their angular relationship. This longitudinal force is counteracted by the force of the stop  28  against the upright  30 . The wedge  80  experiences similar forces as the beams  54 , 56  and is counteracted by the contact with the upright  30 . When the boom  10  is under load, the shoulder  86  located atop the frame  12  has been found helpful in distributing the load imparted at the collars  58 , 60  about the frame  12 . The shoulder  86  may be constructed of adjacent angle iron as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, or channel iron supporting strapping thereon, which, as shown in FIG. 1, resembles the rib on top of a shotgun. 
     When the boom  10  is not in use, it may be left suspended by the upright  30 , or it may be lowered and at least partially disassembled for storage. The boom  10  may be utilized with various upright cross sections and sizes. 
     The frame  14 , and post  62 , may be constructed of square stock steel having a channel  14  therein. The support  16  may be of similar square stock steel having smaller dimensions than the frame  14 . The shoulder  86 , the beams  54 , 56  and the wedge  80  may be constructed from angle iron and bent into the desired configuration, if necessary. The fork members  34 , 36  may be channel iron or I-beam as illustrated. Although iron and steel is discussed, other building materials could also be utilized including aluminum, titanium, steel alloys or other appropriate material. 
     Although the embodiment of FIG. 1 works satisfactorily, the embodiment of FIG. 5 is also a satisfactory design. FIG. 5 shows a boom  100  which is substantially similar to the boom  10  of FIGS. 1-4 except that the beams  54 , 56  are no longer constructed of a single member as illustrated. Pivot  102  is illustrated connecting first beam segment  64  with second beam segment  66 . A bolt may provide a satisfactory pivot  102 . Of course, while only one pivot  102  is illustrated, a corresponding pivot would exist for beam  56  which would likely be provided by the same bolt. 
     By providing pivots  102 , the wedge  80  will not tend to dig into the surface of the upright  30 . Additionally, the force distribution has been found advantageous through this arrangement, and the boom  100  is believed to be user friendly in terms of installation onto the upright  30 . 
     The mount  124  has been simplified from the preferred embodiment and may comprise a bore  104  through the support  16 . A length of chain  106  may be attached through the bore  104 . Alternatively, two flat strips of metal forming a shackle can be attached at bore  104  to provide a mount  124 . Other mounts  124  are also known in the art. Finally, the shoulder  86  has been modified to be comprised of spaced pillars  130 , 132 , 134  supporting a ridge  136 . This construction has been found to provide adequate strength while significantly reducing the weight of the shoulder  86 . 
     Also, the support  16  has a cap  138  and a rest  140  at a distal end  142  of the support  16 . The rest  140  preferably corresponds with the pillars  130 , 132 , 134  as illustrated when holes  144 , 146 , 148  illustrated in FIG. 8 are aligned with keeper  76 . The cap  138  and rest  140  are believed to provide rigidity to the support  16 . The rest  140  is believed to assist in the distribution of forces to the top of the support  16  to assist in preventing a loaded support  16  from digging into the frame  12 , especially when located under the pillars  130 , 132 , 134 . 
     An alternative embodiment of the support  16  is illustrated in FIG. 8 as support  150 . This embodiment has an internal stress member  152  which is believed to assist in distributing stresses and forces about the support  150  while allowing the support  150  to be constructed of lighter weight materials while supporting relatively heavy loads without failure, and preferably without significant bending. The stress member  152  may be spot welded in place relative to an exterior square tube member  152 . 
     The third and fourth embodiments of FIGS. 6 and 7 have a similar mount  124  as the second preferred embodiment of FIG.  5 . Notice that the chain  106  utilized with the mount  124  has been removed, and may not be necessary in all embodiments. FIG. 7 shows the presently preferred embodiment of the invention. 
     The largest difference between the third and fourth embodiments of the booms  200  of FIGS. 6 and 7 and the embodiment of FIG. 5 is the use of a chain  202  for a retaining member instead of beams  54 , 56  and wedge  80 . The chain  202  is retained by a bolt  204  (which may be similar to the bolt utilized for pivots in the second embodiment) and/or a nut  206  in a connected position. Once the chain  202  is looped around the upright  30 , it may be connected to an eye-grab hook  208 , such as one adapted to work with chain. In this manner, the boom  200  is particularly well adapted to work with almost any sized upright  30  with an appropriate amount of chain  202 . 
     Additionally, since the beams  54 , 56  are reduced to a single segment  64  which does not transfer forces to a wedge, bar stock has been found adequate to form the beams  54 , 56  in the boom  200 . Of course, in both the second and third embodiments, shoulder  86  is illustrated as being comprised of channel iron supporting strapping thereon as explained for FIG. 5 above. 
     In the third embodiment of FIG. 6, an optional extension  210  connected to the frame  12  is utilized. This extension provides a connector  212  for connecting links  214 , 216  which may, or may not be chain members as illustrated. The extension  210  connects at bolt  218  and may pivot about bolt  218  in some embodiments. The links  214 , 216  connect connector  212  to mount  220  and bolt  206  which is believed to assist in relieving at least some vertical load stress off of the support  16 . 
     Numerous alternations of the structure herein disclosed will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art. However, it is to be understood that the present disclosure relates to the preferred embodiment of the invention which is for purposes of illustration only and not to be construed as a limitation of the invention. All such modifications which do not depart from the spirit of the invention are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims.