Abstract:
The embodiments of the invention are directed to a device and method for moving a load from a first height at a first location to a second height at a second location. The device includes a platform having a top surface and a bottom surface, and opposed guide members extending from the bottom surface of the platform and oriented along and parallel to the length of the platform. The device further includes a support member slidably engaged with the guide members, the support member capable of extending beyond the length of the platform or retracting beneath the platform. The device further includes a lift assembly having a frame and a controller. The frame is pivotably secured to the lower surface of the support member. The frame has a pair of parallel, opposed, leg assemblies where the height of the leg assembly is adjustable, and the controller controls the height of the leg assemblies.

Description:
The embodiments are directed to a device and method for moving a load from a first height at a first location to a second height at a second location. The device includes a platform having a top surface and a bottom surface, and opposed guide members extending from the bottom surface of the platform and oriented along and parallel to the length of the platform. The device further includes a support member slidably engaged with the guide members, the support member capable of extending beyond the length of the platform or retracting beneath the platform. The device further includes a lift assembly having a frame and a controller. The frame is pivotably secured to the lower surface of the support member. The frame has a pair of parallel, opposed, leg assemblies where the height of the leg assembly is adjustable, and the controller controls the height of the leg assemblies. 
    
    
     
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the first embodiment in a retracted, locked position in the back of a truck at a first height. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective of the first embodiment in an extended position. 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the first embodiment in a retracted, moveable position at a second height. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the first embodiment in use at a first height. 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of the first embodiment of  FIG. 3  along lines A-A. 
         FIG. 6A  is an enlargement of the roller assembly of the embodiment of  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 7  is a close up cross-sectional view of the leg assembly of the first embodiment along lines B-B of  FIG. 3 . 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION 
     The embodiments of the present invention are directed to a device and system for moving a load from a first height at a first location, to a second height at a second location. The embodiments of the present invention are intended for use by a single person to move a load from a location such as the cargo bed of a pick-up truck to a second location such as a work room or garage. A first preferred embodiment  10  is shown in  FIG. 1  in a stored and locked position. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , the first embodiment  10  is shown in a perspective view. The first embodiment  10  includes a platform  12  having a top surface  14  and a bottom surface  16 . The platform  12  also has a forward edge  13  and a back edge  15 . The top surface  12  may be textured so as to better grip a load (not shown) placed thereon. The platform  12  further includes a pair of opposed parallel guide rails  18  fixed to the bottom surface  16  along the length of the platform. Each guide rail  18  has an inwardly extending lip  20 , as shown in  FIG. 6 , that holds a roller  22  assembly which will be explained in more detail below. The first embodiment further includes a support member  24 . The support member  24  has an upper surface  26  and a lower surface  28  and side edges  30 . 
     Turning now to  FIG. 6 , the roller assembly includes an outer rail  23  fixed to the guide rail  18  and an inner rail  25  fixed to the side edge  30  of the support member  24 . The inner  25  and outer  23  rails slide relative to one another on a series of ball bearings  27  captured therebetween, as shown in  FIG. 6A . 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , wheels  36  are mounted to the bottom surface  16  of the platform  12 . It is preferred that the wheels  36  be located near the corners of the bottom surface  16  of the platform  12  with two near the forward edge  13  and two near the back edge  15 . A pair of handles  38  is pivotably mounted to the platform  12  near the forward edge  13 . It should be noted that the handles  38  may be mounted to the support member  24  and may be mounted in any number of ways that enable the first embodiment to function as well as to fold compactly. The first embodiment  10  also includes a lift assembly  40 . The lift assembly includes a collapsible frame  42  and a controller assembly  44 . The frame  42  includes a pair of collapsible leg assemblies  45  and a stabilizing member  43 . Each collapsible leg assembly  45  has a first end  46  and a second end  48 . The first end  46  of each leg assembly  45  is pivotably mounted to the lower surface  28  of the support member  24  so as to enable the leg assembly to rotate relative to its mounting location. The stabilizing member  46  is mounted to the second end  48  of each leg assembly  45  in the same manner so as to enable the leg assembly to rotate relative to its mounting location. The stabilizing member  43  has feet  47  mounted thereon for supporting the first embodiment  10  when the platform wheels  36  are not engaged with the ground. 
     The controller assembly  44  includes a controller  41  and a power unit  49  which powers the controller. The controller  41  controls the height of the lift assembly and will be explained in more detail below. The power unit is preferably a battery sized appropriately for the application. However, it is anticipated that the power unit could be a receptacle that receives AC power. This arrangement requires a local source of AC power and is thus less practical and less convenient. 
     Each leg assembly  45  includes an inner leg portion  50  and an outer leg portion  52 , shown in detail in  FIG. 7 . The inner leg portion  50  is located telescopically within at least a portion of the outer leg portion. The outer leg portion  52  has a hollow interior  53  which holds a piston  54 . The piston  54  slides axially along the length of the outer leg portion  52  by means of a hydraulic system (not shown). The hydraulic system includes a volume of hydraulic fluid  58 , a pump (not shown) and at least one valve (not shown) to control the flow of hydraulic fluid into and out of the hollow interior  53  of the outer leg portion  52 . A volume of hydraulic fluid  58  is located within a reservoir (not shown) located proximate to the hollow interior  53  of the outer leg portion  52 . The movement of the piston  54  within the hollow interior  53  of the outer leg portion  52  is controlled by increasing or decreasing the volume of hydraulic fluid within the hollow interior  53 . This is accomplished by pumping hydraulic fluid  58  into or out of the hollow interior  53 . The pump and valve are controlled electrically by the controller assembly  44 . 
     The first embodiment  10  may be used to transfer a load from the cargo bed of a pick-up truck which is at a first location and first height to a second location and second height. To do so, the user firsts grabs the support member  24  and pulls it outwardly away from the truck and away from the platform  12 . This movement causes the outer rail  23  to travel with the guide rails  18  and move the support member  24  outwardly from its stored position under the platform  12  to an extended position toward the back of the truck. If the user continues to pull the support member, it will be fully extended and the outer rails  23  will have traveled to the end of the guide rails  18 . 
     At this point the lift assembly  40  is fully cleared from beneath the platform  12 . The user then turns on the controller assembly  44 . This provides electrical power via the battery  49  to the hydraulic pump and valve. The user then manipulates the controller  41  so as to cause the leg assemblies  45  to move from a fully retracted position to an extended position. This is accomplished by pumping hydraulic fluid  58  from a reservoir into the hollow portion  53  of the outer leg portion  52 . The increased volume of hydraulic fluid  58  in the hollow portion  53  causes the piston  54  to press against the inner leg portion  50  which causes the inner leg portion to move in an axial direction outwardly. When the stabilizing member  46  has reached the ground, the user stops the further extension of the leg assemblies  45  by manipulating the controller  43  to stop pumping hydraulic fluid  58  into the hollow portion  53  of the outer leg portion  52 . The feet  47  of the stabilizing member  46  engage with the ground. 
     To complete the transfer of the load from the first height to the second height, the user slides the platform  12  in a direction toward the support member  24  so that the platform is situated above the support member. This results in the inner rails  25  sliding relative to the outer rails  25  over the ball bearings  27  until the inner rails and outer rails are completely retracted and proximate to each other. The user activates the controller  41  to begin retraction of the inner leg portion  50  within the outer leg portion  52 . This is accomplished by manipulating the controller  41  to begin evacuation hydraulic fluid  58  from the hollow portion  53  of the outer leg portion  52  and into the reservoir. As a result of the retraction of the inner leg portion  50 , the height of the first embodiment  10  is lowered. Once the inner leg portion  50  is fully retracted, the wheels  36  of the platform  12  are in contact with the ground and the feet  47  are retracted beneath the support member  24  located below the platform. The wheels  35  are able to freely rotate and enable to user to move the load and first embodiment  10  to a desired location. The user is also able to power off the controller assembly  44  until the platform height needs to be adjusted. 
     To move the first embodiment  10  from a second height at a second location, to a first height and first location, the steps are essentially reversed. First the user should move the first embodiment  10  to a location as close to the first location as possible prior to changing the height. Once the first embodiment is moved to the desired location, then the controller assembly  44  is powered up and the controller  41  is manipulated by the user so that the leg assemblies  45  move from a retracted position to an extended position. This is accomplished by pumping hydraulic fluid into the outer leg portion  52  so as to cause the piston  55  to press against the inner leg portion  50  which causes the inner leg portion to extend away from the outer leg portion. Once the platform  12  has reached the desired first height, the user stops power to the controller  41  which in turn stops the movement of the leg assemblies  45 . The user then pushes the platform  12  along the forward edge  13  so that the platform slides along the guide rails  18  that ride over the roller assembly  22 . This results in the outer rails moving with the platform  12  and relative to the inner rails  25  via the ball bearings  27 . When the outer rails  23  move with the platform and the support member  24  stays fixed, the outer rails move via the ball bearings  27  away from the inner rails  25 . Once the platform  12  has reached the first location, the user moves the controller  43  so as to cause the leg assemblies  45  to retract. Once the leg assemblies  45  and collapsible frame  42  are fully retracted under the lower surface  28  of the support member  24 , the user pushes the support member  24  so that it slides on the roller assembly  22  along the guide rails  18  until it rests beneath the platform  12 . This results in the inner rails  25  moving relative to the outer rails  23  via the ball bearings  27  until the inner and outer rails are completely retracted and proximate to each other. 
     It is important to note that while the description herein has focused on first and second heights and first and second locations, a person of skill in this art would understand that there are infinite combinations and permutations in using this first embodiment. Thus, the first and second references were meant only for describing the function of the first embodiment and are not intended in any way to limit the operation, function or use herein. 
     It is envisioned that the embodiment may include an electrical outlet plug and have an extension cord plugged into it (not shown), so that the platform may be used as a work bench, as shown in  FIG. 5 . It is further envisioned that the platform may take the form of a picnic table surface for use in picnicking or tailgating and that the height of the platform surface would be adjusted accordingly. It is further envisioned that in lieu of feet at the bottom of the leg assemblies, an alternative embodiment may include lockable casters, wheels or rollers. It should be noted that the ability to lock the casters or rollers would be desirable if the embodiment had any load or weight thereon. If the load was heavy and the casters were not lockable, the user may have difficulty in keeping the embodiment in one place. If the embodiment were to begin rolling or moving, the momentum may be difficult for the user to overcome. This may result in the embodiment overturning and causing damage or injury. 
     It is also envisioned that the mechanism to adjust the leg assemblies  45  herein described has been a hydraulic system. However, it should be understood by a person of ordinary skill in this art that a number of alternative systems could be employed including but not limited to a mechanical screw whose rotation causes the leg assemblies to increase or decrease in height. Alternatively, a ratcheting system may be used to alter the height of the leg assemblies. 
     It should be noted that relative terms such as “upper”, “lower”, “front”, “back” and the like are used as a matter of convenience to define a frame of reference and are not intended to limit the orientation in which the embodiments of the invention may be used. It will be appreciated that the embodiments discussed above are preferred embodiments, falling within the scope of the appended claims, and that various alternative embodiments are contemplated.