Abstract:
The invention as presently conceived discloses an apparatus that combines the maneuverability of a heavy-duty two-wheel hand truck with an integral battery-powered lifting system. The base of the sliding frame has two outriggers for enhanced stability. The apparatus is provided with a lifting platform similar to a forklift. The lifting force is provided by a winch which retracts or extends a stainless steel cable with a distal hook. Such an arrangement is capable of lifting thousands of pounds. The winch is powered by an on-board 12 volt deep cycle battery. A control panel is situated on the rear of the hand truck for battery power operation. The apparatus can be used to raise loads slightly for transport in a conventional hand truck manner; or alternatively, the apparatus can be used to lift larger equipment including small vehicles.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present invention was first described in and claims the benefit of Disclosure Document No. 608,323 on Nov. 2, 2006. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     A hand truck with electric controls for a sliding lift assembly activated with a force is provided by a winch which retracts or extends a stainless steel cable and powered by an on-board 12 volt deep cycle battery. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The usefulness of a hand truck is limited to the physical strength of the user. The common hand truck is a very useful piece of equipment that receives almost constant use daily around the world. It is used to transport smaller items ranging from small boxes to refrigerator sized devices with ease. A single person, balancing the load over an axle supported by two (2) wheels can quickly and easily move large and/or heavy items. While a hand truck is very versatile at lifting loads, it can only do so for a distance of a few inches, and is also limited by the physical strength of its user. Accordingly, there exists a need for a means by which heavier loads can be lifted greater distances using the common hand truck as a starting point. 
     U.S. Pat. No. D 257,246 issued to Hihara discloses a hand truck for lifting and transporting a tire wheel. This design patent does not appear to disclose a design similar to the disclosed invention nor does it appear to possess a reversible winch and power capabilities. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,921,095 issued to Middleby discloses a hand trolley with a winch-operated lifting carriage. This patent does not appear to disclose a hand truck possessing a reversible winch and power capabilities. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,557,869 issued to Gilette, et al. discloses a hand truck. This patent does not appear to disclose a hand truck possessing a reversible winch and power capabilities. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,530,740 issued to Yu and Dong-han discloses a hand truck with electrically operated lifting platform. This patent does not appear to disclose a hand truck possessing a reversible winch that possesses lifting capabilities using a power operated cable. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,309,168 issued to Holmes discloses a attachable lift for a hand truck. This patent does not appear to disclose an apparatus that has a self contained reversible winch and mounted battery supply that lifts objects using a cable hoist. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,993,134 issued to Williamson discloses a hand truck with a load lifting mechanism. This patent does not appear to disclose an apparatus that has a self contained reversible winch and mounted battery supply that lifts objects using a cable hoist. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,975,826 issued to Scholder discloses a hand-truck with attachments. This patent does not appear to disclose an apparatus that possesses a battery powered, self contained reversible winch that is capable of lifting objects using a cable hoist. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,752,173 issued to Fleming discloses a hand truck apparatus for lifting as well as transporting loads, such as solid core doors, and method of installing a door. This patent does not appear to disclose an apparatus that possesses a battery powered, self contained reversible winch that is capable of lifting objects using a cable hoist. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,049,083 issued to Garvey discloses a electrically powered hand truck with stacker attachment. This patent does not appear to disclose an apparatus that has a battery powered, self contained reversible winch that is capable of lifting objects using a cable hoist. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the prior art, it has been observed that there is need for a hand truck based lifting apparatus that can be used in a simple and effortless manner with a minimal amount of training. 
     The hand truck based lifting apparatus is comprised of a hand truck frame, a handle assembly, lifting cable, pulleys, reversible electric winch and a wheel system. 
     The hand truck based lifting apparatus hand truck frame is constructed of any sturdy and durable material capable of supporting the object being lifted. 
     The hand truck based lifting apparatus is capable of being transported to any physical location for use. 
     The hand truck based lifting apparatus possesses large diameter wheels on its wheel system which permits the apparatus to be transported over rough grade surfaces. 
     The hand truck based lifting apparatus possesses a bottom plate which further possesses a first and second outrigger assembly to provide increased vertical stabilization to the apparatus. 
     The hand truck based lifting apparatus outrigger assemblies possess retractable members which can be slid back into the outrigger assembly as needed. 
     The hand truck based lifting apparatus possesses a center support shaft that provides structural support during the lifting process. 
     The hand truck based lifting apparatus possesses a bottom carrier plate with a large footprint that permits use of the apparatus on loosely compacted surfaces. 
     The hand truck based lifting apparatus possesses a top and a positioning pulley that permit the lifting cable to remain vertical and plumb reducing the chance that the apparatus will tip when in use. 
     The hand truck based lifting apparatus possesses a lifting hook at one end of the lifting cable capable of grasping onto virtually any object requiring lifting, such as but not limited to golf carts, fork trucks, electric carts, ATV&#39;s and even smaller motor vehicles. 
     The hand truck based lifting apparatus lifting cable terminates at its opposite end at a reversible electric winch. 
     The hand truck based lifting apparatus possesses a reversible electric winch comprising a drum assembly, a motor, a battery and a local control switch. 
     The hand truck based lifting apparatus local control switch provides control over the upward/downward movement of the lifting cable. 
     The hand truck based lifting apparatus may also be remotely controlled via an umbilical cord to enhance safety and permit increased visibility to the operator of the apparatus&#39; performance. 
     The hand truck based lifting apparatus remote control switch is composed of a rechargeable battery such as but not limited to lead acid, nickel-cadmium and lithium ion. 
     The hand truck lifting apparatus lifting height is governed by the height of the center support shaft. 
     The hand truck based lifting apparatus possesses a low center of gravity with most of the weight being concentrated in the area of the battery. 
     The hand truck based lifting apparatus possesses a angled wheel support frame to permit easy transportation of the apparatus. 
     The hand truck based lifting apparatus is powered by an attached battery with an over-current protection device such as a fuse. 
     The hand truck based lifting apparatus can be controlled by either the local control switch or the remote control switch. 
     The prior art appears to disclose apparatuses which operate as handcarts and some that possess lifting platforms. The prior art does not appear to disclose an apparatus that possesses a battery powered, self contained reversible winch that is capable of lifting objects using a cable hoist. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is an overall perspective diagram of the hand truck based lifting apparatus  10 , shown in a utilized state, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a detailed front view of the hand truck based lifting apparatus  10 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a detailed side view of the hand truck based lifting apparatus  10 ; and, 
         FIG. 4  is an electrical block schematic diagram, which depicts the electrical components as used in the hand truck based lifting apparatus  10 . 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTIVE KEY 
     
       
         
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 10 
                 hand truck based lifting apparatus 
               
               
                 20 
                 handle assembly 
               
               
                 25 
                 wheel system 
               
               
                 30 
                 bottom carrier plate 
               
               
                 35 
                 first outrigger assembly 
               
               
                 40 
                 second outrigger assembly 
               
               
                 45 
                 first retractable member 
               
               
                 50 
                 second retractable member 
               
               
                 55 
                 center support shaft 
               
               
                 60 
                 top pulley 
               
               
                 65 
                 lifting cable 
               
               
                 70 
                 positioning pulley 
               
               
                 75 
                 lifting hook 
               
               
                 82 
                 object requiring lifting 
               
               
                 85 
                 reversible electric winch 
               
               
                 90 
                 drum assembly 
               
               
                 95 
                 motor 
               
               
                 100 
                 battery 
               
               
                 105 
                 local control switch 
               
               
                 110 
                 remote control switch 
               
               
                 115 
                 umbilical cord 
               
               
                 120 
                 angled wheel support frame 
               
               
                 125 
                 over-current protective device 
               
               
                 130 
                 raise relay 
               
               
                 135 
                 lower relay 
               
               
                 140 
                 local raise pushbutton 
               
               
                 145 
                 raise relay coil 
               
               
                 150 
                 local lower pushbutton 
               
               
                 155 
                 lower relay coil 
               
               
                 160 
                 remote raise pushbutton 
               
               
                 165 
                 remote lower pushbutton 
               
               
                 170 
                 high power relay contacts 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in terms of its preferred embodiment, herein depicted within  FIGS. 1 through 4 . However, the invention is not limited to the described embodiment and a person skilled in the art will appreciate that many other embodiments of the invention are possible without deviating from the basic concept of the invention, and that any such work around will also fall under scope of this invention. It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only one particular configuration shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
     The terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced items. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , an overall perspective diagram of the hand truck based lifting apparatus  10 , shown in a utilized state, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention is disclosed. The hand truck based lifting apparatus  10  is composed of a hand truck frame  15  along with a handle assembly  20  and a wheel system  25 . In such a manner, the common user can move the hand truck based lifting apparatus  10  to any physical location it services are required by simply using the handle assembly  20  and the wheel system  25  in a common and well-known manner. The large diameter nature of the wheel system  25  allows usage of the hand truck based lifting apparatus  10  over outside rough grade surfaces. As would typically be expected on a hand truck, a bottom carrier plate  30  is also provided. The bottom carrier plate  30  is equipped with a first outrigger assembly  35  and a second outrigger assembly  40  to provide increased and adequate vertical stabilization while performing lifting duties as will be described in greater detail herein below. The first outrigger assembly  35  and the second outrigger assembly  40  are equipped with a first retractable member  45  and a second retractable member  50  respectively, shown here in their extended state for purposes of illustration. Each said retractable member can be simply slid back into its respective outrigger assembly for purposes of moving, transport, general hand truck duties, or simply when the features of the first retractable member  45  and the second retractable member  50  are not required. A center support shaft  55  is positioned in a vertical manner along the center axis of the hand truck based lifting apparatus  10 , with is bottom most point resting upon the bottom carrier plate  30 . Such positioning provides structural support for the center support shaft  55 , as the majority of the physical forces associated with the lifting process will be born by the center support shaft  55  and the bottom carrier plate  30 . The large footprint nature of the bottom carrier plate  30  allows distribution of these forces over a large area of grade, thus making use of the hand truck based lifting apparatus  10  on loose or un-compacted soil acceptable. The top of the center support shaft  55  is provided with a top, pulley  60 , which is used to route a lifting cable  65  into a downward direction. The lifting cable  65  would be made of multiple strands of steel that is well-known in the art, rated and suitable for lifting weights associated with the usage of the hand truck based lifting apparatus  10 . A positioning pulley  70  is provided directly below the top pulley  60  and is used to relocate the travel path of the lifting cable  65  outward from that exiting the top pulley  60 . In such a manner, the vertical path of the lifting cable  65  as it extends downward is completely vertical and plumb. Said feature is important to permit lifted loads to remain centered against the lifting axis of the center support shaft  55  thus increasing safety and eliminating the possibility of the hand truck based lifting apparatus  10  tipping over during use. The lowermost end of the lifting cable  65  is equipped with a lifting hook  75  which is designed to grasp onto almost any type of object requiring lifting  80 . The object requiring lifting  80  depicted here is a golf cart type vehicle, but other items such as fork trucks, electric carts, ATV&#39;s and even smaller motor vehicles are envisioned as possible object requiring lifting  80  and thus should not be interpreted as a limiting factor of the present invention. The opposite end of the lifting cable  65  terminates at a reversible electric winch  85 . The reversible electric winch  85  is well-known in the art and is typically used on the bumper area of a motor vehicle to aid in traversing hills, rocky areas and the like along with pulling the equipped vehicle or other vehicles from mud, snow or other movement inhibitors. The reversible electric winch  85  consists of a drum assembly  90  and a motor  95 . The motor  95  is electrically connected to a battery  100  through a local control switch  105 . The local control switch  105  provides up and down control over the motor  95  and the associated lifting hook  75 . Additionally, the functionality of the local control switch  105  is duplicated on a remote control switch  110  as connected via an umbilical cord  115 . In such a manner, the user may utilize the remote control switch  110  to operate the hand truck based lifting apparatus  10  from a remote physical position for either the purposes of safety and/or increased visibility of the lifting and/or lowering process. Further description and operation of the electrical components associated with the hand truck based lifting apparatus  10  will be described in greater detail herein below. The remote control switch  110  is envisioned to be of rechargeable lead acid design, although other technologies such as nickel-cadmium, lithium ion, along with future developing portable power technologies are also possible, and as such, should not be interpreted as a limiting factor of the present invention. 
     Referring next to  FIG. 2 , a detailed front view of the hand truck based lifting apparatus  10  is depicted. This FIG more clearly depicts the relationship between the hand truck frame  15  and the positioning of the center support shaft  55 . This view clearly shows the importance of keeping the center of gravity of the lifting point as close as possible to the center vertical axis of the center support shaft  55 . Any minor modifications to the alignment towards the direction of the object requiring lifting  80 , (or towards the viewer) (as shown in  FIG. 1 ) would be compensated by the first retractable member  45  and second retractable member  50  along with the first outrigger assembly  35  and second outrigger assembly  40  respectively. Any minor modification to the alignment to either the left or right must be compensated by the bottom carrier plate  30  itself, and due to its small longitudinal nature, they must be kept to a minimum. The overall lifting height of the hand truck based lifting apparatus  10  is governed by the height of the center support shaft  55 . While safety must be the prime overriding concern of the lifting process especially when large masses are involved, the height is not intended to be a limiting factor of the present invention. For the purposes of lifting golf carts, fork trucks, electric carts, ATV&#39;s and small motor vehicles, a lift height of 24 inches and an overall center support shaft  55  length of 48 inches is envisioned as being commonplace. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , a detailed side view of the hand truck based lifting apparatus  10  is shown. This FIG. more clearly shows the relationship of the wheel system  25  to the bottom carrier plate  30  and the center support shaft  55 . The wheel system  25  is supported by a angled wheel support frame  120  which serves to allow for easy transportation of the hand truck based lifting apparatus  10  from location to location, but remains isolated from the surrounding ground during use. The overall center of gravity of the hand truck based lifting apparatus  10  is fairly low, with the maximum weight being concentrated in the area of the battery  100 . 
     Referring finally now to  FIG. 4 , an electrical block schematic diagram which depicts the electrical components as used in the hand truck based lifting apparatus  10  is disclosed. Electrical power from the battery  100  is routed through an over-current protective device  125  such as a fuse. The power is then routed to a raise relay  130  and a lower relay  135 . The raise relay  130  and the lower relay  135  control the high current loads of the motor  95  and allow for lower control currents through the local control switch  105  and the remote control switch  110  respectively. A local raise pushbutton  140  controls the application of power to a raise relay coil  145 , while a local lower pushbutton  150  controls the application of power to a lower relay coil  155  in a similar manner. A remote raise pushbutton  160  in the remote control switch  110  is routed through the umbilical cord  115  where it connects to the local raise pushbutton  140  in a parallel arrangement. A remote lower pushbutton  165  in the remote control switch  110  is routed through the umbilical cord  115  where it connects to the local lower pushbutton  150  in a likewise parallel arrangement. In such a manner, either the local control switch  105  or the remote control switch  110  can control the hand truck based lifting apparatus  10  in an identical manner. High current power is then routed through a series of complimentary high power relay contacts  170  that allow for the reversing of the power application dependent upon which relay is closed. Such an arrangement is well-known in the art and could also incorporate sealing contacts, isolation contacts and the like. 
     It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only one particular configuration shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
     The preferred embodiment of the present invention can be utilized by the common user in a simple and effortless manner with little or no training. The common hand truck is a very useful piece of equipment that receives almost constant use daily around the world. It is used to transport smaller items ranging from small boxes to refrigerator sized devices with ease. A single person, balancing the load over an axle supported by two wheels can quickly and easily move large and/or heavy items. While a hand truck is very versatile at lifting loads, it can only do so for a distance of a few inches, and is also limited by the physical strength of its user. Accordingly, there exists a need for a means by which heavier loads can be lifted greater distances using the common hand truck as a starting point. The development of the present invention fulfills this need. 
     It is envisioned that the hand truck based lifting apparatus  10  would be manufactured and/or assembled in general accordance with  FIG. 1 . The final user would ensure that the battery  100  is properly charged and in position as shown. At this point, the hand truck based lifting apparatus  10  is ready for use. 
     To use the hand truck based lifting apparatus  10 , the user would wheel it into position using the handle assembly  20  and wheel system  25  as depicted in  FIG. 1 . The first retractable member  45  would then be pulled out of the first outrigger assembly  35 , and the second retractable member  50  would be pulled from second outrigger assembly  40  for safety and stability. Adequate slack on the lifting cable  65  would be provided by pressing the local lower pushbutton  150  on the local control switch  105 , or the remote lower pushbutton  165  on the remote control switch  110 . At this point, the user would position the lifting hook  75  at a suitable point upon the object requiring lifting  80 . Next, the user would remove slack from the lifting cable  65  by pressing the local raise pushbutton  140  on the local control switch  105  or the remote raise pushbutton  160  on the remote control switch  110 . Once all slack is removed, the user would verify stability and safety and continue with the lifting or raising process. 
     After the work is done, the user would lower the object requiring lifting  80  by pressing the local lower pushbutton  150  on the local control switch  105 , or the remote lower pushbutton  165  on the remote control switch  110 . At this point, the user can remove the lifting hook  75  and store the hand truck based lifting apparatus  10  until needed again. 
     The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention and method of use to the precise forms disclosed. Obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, and to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is understood that various omissions or substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstance may suggest or render expedient, but is intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims of the present invention.