Abstract:
A chair lifting and moving assembly provides stable, efficient, and safe loading and unloading of multiple stacks of stacked chairs. The assembly has at least two chair members to lift the stacks of chairs, a lifting member to at least lift the front portion of the chair members, and the handle to move the chair lifting and moving assembly. The assembly has wheel supports disposed along a longitudinal axis of each of the chair members to provide further stability.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    In convention centers, hotels, and other venues for hosting large numbers of people, stackable chairs are used for seating the large numbers of people. It is important to be able to quickly and safely move the stackable chairs around the venues. Stacks of the stackable chairs are typically moved using a chair dolly. A typical chair dolly is a modified hand truck that is rolled under a single stack of chairs, which is then leaned backwards to lift the legs of the bottommost chair off the ground. The operator must typically hold the chair dolly with one hand and the stack of chairs in the other hand to safely move the chairs around the venue. This arrangement requires both strength and balance on the part of the operator. Additionally, only one stack of chairs, typically limited to 10-12 chairs, may be moved at a time. 
         [0002]    This system is therefore limited in the number of chairs that can be moved in a given trip in the safety of the movement of the chairs is dependent upon the balance and strength of the operator. Therefore, a chair lifting and moving assembly that is capable of moving a larger number of chairs that is not dependent upon the operator strength or balance is needed. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The present invention is directed to an assembly for moving multiple stacks of stackable chairs in a safe, efficient, and expeditious manner. 
         [0004]    According to one aspect of the present invention, a chair lifting and moving assembly includes a frame having a plurality of wheels, at least two chair members, each of the at least two chair lifting members having a front portion and a rear portion, a lifting member operatively coupled to the at least two chair members and the frame to lift at least the front portion of the two chair members, and a handle attached to the at least two chair members. 
         [0005]    In some embodiments, the at least two chair members are adjustably attached to the frame. 
         [0006]    In some embodiments, the frame has two wheel supports, each of the wheel supports disposed along a longitudinal axis of a respective one of the at least two chair members. 
         [0007]    In other embodiments, at least one wheel on the wheel supports is disposed under each of the at least two chair members. 
         [0008]    In yet another aspect, a chair lifting and moving assembly includes a frame having a plurality of wheels, at least two chair members, each of the at least two chair lifting members having a front portion and a rear portion, and a lifting member operatively coupled to the at least two chair members and the frame to lift at least the front portion of the two chair members. 
         [0009]    In yet another aspect, a chair lifting and moving assembly includes a frame, the frame having two wheel supports and the two wheel supports having a plurality of wheels, at least two chair members, each of the at least two chair lifting members having a front portion and a rear portion, and a lifting member operatively coupled to the at least two chair members and the frame to lift at least the front portion of the two chair members. at least one wheel on the wheel supports is disposed under each of the at least two chair members, wherein each of the wheel supports is disposed along a longitudinal axis of a respective one of the at least two chair members. 
         [0010]    Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the detailed description which follows, and in part will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from that description or recognized by practicing the invention as described herein, including the detailed description which follows, the claims, as well as the appended drawings. 
         [0011]    It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description of the present embodiments of the invention, and are intended to provide an overview or framework for understanding the nature and character of the invention as it is claimed. The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention, and are incorporated into and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate various embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles and operations of the invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is top perspective view of one embodiment of a chair lifting and moving assembly according to the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a rearview of the chair lifting and moving assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a side view of the chair lifting and moving assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is a top view of the chair lifting and moving assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is a side view of the chair lifting and moving assembly of  FIG. 1  approaching a stack of chairs; 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  is a side view of the chair lifting and moving assembly of  FIG. 5  with the stack of chairs in a lifted position; and 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  is a top perspective view of another embodiment of a chair lifting and moving assembly according to the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0019]    Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiment(s) of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Whenever possible, the same reference numerals will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. 
         [0020]    Referring to  FIGS. 1-4 , a chair lifting and moving assembly  10  is illustrated. The chair lifting and moving assembly  10  has a frame  12 , the frame  12  having a plurality of wheels  14  attached to a respective one of the wheel supports  16 . The chair lifting and moving assembly  10  also has at least two chair members  18  for engaging and lifting stacks of chairs. The chair members  18  have a front portion  20  and a rear portion  22 . The rear portion  22  of the chair members  18  are attached to a chair support member  24 , which extends across the back of the chair members  18  and parallel to the frame  12 . The chair support member  24  is also attached to tabs  26 , which are adjustably attached to the links  28 , which in turn are rotatably attached to the frame  12 . The links  28  have a plurality of openings  30  therein to allow for a variety of positions of the rear portion  22  of the chair members  18  relative to the back of the bottom chair in the stack of chairs to be lifted. The front portion  20  also has tabs  32  to rotatably attach to links  34 , which are fixedly attached to the wheel supports  16 . 
         [0021]    A handle  40  is attached to the rear portion  22  of the chair lifting members  18 , although the handle  40  could be attached to the chair support member  24  or even the frame  12 . 
         [0022]    A lifting member  50 , which is preferably a hydraulic pump, is secured to the frame  12 , and more particularly to the two cross members  52 ,  54 . The lifting member  50  is also connected to the U-shaped element  56 , which is connected to the links  28 . When the lifting member  50  is activated, typically by the foot pedal  58 , it pushes upward on the U-shaped element  56 , which in turn pulls the links  28  upward. The links  28  in turn pull upward on the chair members  18  thereby lifting the chair members  18 . The lifting member  50  is illustrated in  FIG. 3  but not in the other figures so as to block the view of the other components of the assembly  10 . While a bottle-type hydraulic pump is illustrated, other lifting mechanisms are also possible and fall within the scope of the present invention, including for example, hand or powered lead screws and nuts (Acme screws), cable winch, chain drive or a ratcheting jack. 
         [0023]    As can be better seen in  FIGS. 2 and 4 , the two chair members  18  are separated by a distance sufficient to allow the legs from two stacks of stacked chairs to fit therebetween. Additionally, the wheel supports  16  are positioned along a longitudinal axis (A,B) extending through the front portion  20  in the rear portion  22  of the chair members  18 . This provides increased ability for the chair lifting and moving assembly  10  when loaded with two stacks of stacked chairs as illustrated in  FIG. 6 . All of the wheels  14  are illustrated as being able to swivel. However, it is within the scope of the invention that some of the wheels  14  do not swivel and/or could be locked so as to prevent them from swiveling. 
         [0024]    As noted above, the links  28 ,  34  and the tabs  32  each have multiple openings therein to control the amount of lift for each of the chair members  18 . It is possible, by adjusting the connection point of the links  28 ,  34  with the tabs, for the rear portion  22  of the chair members  18  to be lifted higher than the front portion  20 . The adjustability of the chair members  18  may be dependent upon the configuration of the chairs to be lifted. However, the front portion  20  of the chair members  18  is always lifted in operation. 
         [0025]      FIGS. 5 and 6  illustrate the chair lifting and moving assembly  10  approaching stacks of chairs  70 . While only two chairs are illustrated, more chairs can be included in the stack  70 , generally between  10  and  12  are typical. After operation of the lifting member  50 , the stack of chairs  70  is fully supported by the assembly  10  without any assistance from an operator. It should be noted, that the handle  40  may be used to assist in supporting the stack of chairs. 
         [0026]    An alternative embodiment of the chair lifting and moving assembly  10 ′ according to the present invention is illustrated in  FIG. 7 . The operation and elements of assembly  10 ′ is the same as noted above. However, assembly  10 ′ has four chair members, the rear chair members  18 ′ and the front chair members  18 ″ to support, lift, and move up to four stacks of chairs  70 . The chair lifting and moving assembly  10 ′ has a frame  12 ′, the frame  12 ′ has a plurality of wheels  14 ′ attached to a respective one of the wheel supports  16 ′. The wheel supports  16 ′ are more substantial in this assembly  10 ′. In fact, the wheel supports  16 ′ preferably have to generally parallel members  16   a ′, 16   b ′ to support the extra chair members  18 ′, 18 ″ and the weight of the stacks of chairs  70 . The chair members  18 ′, 18 ″ have a front portion  20 ′, 20 ″ and a rear portion  22 ′, 22 ″, respectively. The rear portion  22 ′ of the chair members  18 ′ are attached to a chair support member  24 ′, which extends across the back of the chair members  18 ′ and parallel to the frame  12 ′. The chair support member  24 ′ is also attached to tabs  26 ′, which are adjustably attached to the links  28 ′, which in turn are rotatably attached to the frame  12 ′. The links  28 ′ have a plurality of openings  30 ′ therein to allow for a variety of positions of the rear portion  22 ′ of the chair members  18 ′ relative to the back of the bottom chair in the stack of chairs to be lifted. The front portion  20 ′ also has tabs  32 ′ to rotatably attach to links  34 ′, which are fixedly attached to the wheel supports  16 ′. 
         [0027]    The front chair members  18 ″ are spaced forward of the rear chair members  18 ′ and from one another to allow a second row of stacks of chairs  70  to be lifted and moved. The front portion  20 ″ and rear portion  22 ″ are attached to the wheel supports  16 ′ with tabs  32 ′ and links  34 ′. 
         [0028]    A handle  40 ′ is attached to the rear portion  22 ′ of the chair lifting members  18 ′, although the handle  40 ′ could be attached to the chair support member  24 ′ or even the frame  12 ′. 
         [0029]    A lifting member  50 ′, which is preferably a hydraulic pump, is secured to the frame  12 ′, and more particularly to the two cross members  52 ′,  54 ′. The lifting member  50 ′ is also connected to the U-shaped element  56 ′, which is connected to the links  28 ′. When the lifting member  50 ′ is activated, typically by the foot pedal  58 ′, it pushes upward on the U-shaped element  56 ′, which in turn pulls the links  28 ′ upward. The links  28 ′ in turn pull upward on the chair members  18 ′ thereby lifting the chair members  18 ′. The front portion  20 ′ of the rear chair member  18 ′ is attached to the rear portion  22 ″ of the front chair member  18 ″ so that the movement of the rear chair member  18 ′ causes the movement of the front chair member  18 ″. While the front portion  20 ′ of the rear chair member  18 ′ is attached to the rear portion  22 ″ of the front chair member  18 ″ in a center portion thereof, the attachment point of the two chair members  18 ′, 18 ″ may be positioned to one side or the other. 
         [0030]    Similarly, the front chair members  18 ″ may also be attached to a lifting member  50 ′ through the U-shaped element  56 ′. Alternatively, there could be two different lifting members  50 ′ that lift selected ones of the chair members  18 ′, 18 ″. For example, the rear chair members  18 ′ could be lifted by one lifting member while the front chair members  18 ″ could be lifted by the other. Additionally, the left chair members  18 ′, 18 ″ could be lifted according to sides-left side and right side. 
         [0031]    It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus it is intended that the present invention cover the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.