Abstract:
An assembly for lifting and storing an ice house or other item is herein disclosed. The assembly comprises a base and a plurality of horizontal brace members rigidly connected to one another. The assembly further comprises an electric winch mounted to the base and a plurality of rollers and pulleys. The rollers are rotatably attached to the base and the pulleys are connected to the horizontal brace members. The assembly includes at least one cable that is routed from the electric winch, past the roller and over the pulley. The cable is attached to the ice house. The ice house is lifted and suspended from a ceiling or an assembly of overhead beams via the electric winch.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    None. 
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH 
       [0002]    None. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Demand for storage space in modern homes and other buildings, and in particular, in garages, is at a premium. These spaces can become cluttered and messy in the absence of organizational tools to help utilize available space. As people accumulate ever increasing quantities of outdoor equipment, the need to organize these spaces becomes more acute. 
         [0004]    One outdoor item which has contributed to the need for increased organization is the portable ice house. The use and popularity of portable ice houses has grown over the last decade. New designs and technological advancements in portable ice houses make them more user friendly. The downside of these designs, however, is that they typically require a significant amount of storage space, especially when stored flat. 
         [0005]    In light of the foregoing, there remains a need for a device that can utilize unused space, for example, in one&#39;s garage. 
         [0006]    The art referred to and/or described above is not intended to constitute an admission that any patent, publication or other information referred to herein is “prior art” with respect to this invention. In addition, this section should not be construed to mean that a search has been made or that no other pertinent information as defined in 37 C.F.R. §1.56(a) exists. 
         [0007]    All US patents and applications and all other published documents mentioned anywhere in this application are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
         [0008]    Without limiting the scope of the invention, a brief summary of some of the claimed embodiments of the invention is set forth below. Additional details of the summarized embodiments of the invention and/or additional embodiments of the invention may be found in the Detailed Description of the Invention below. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    In some embodiments, the invention is directed to a storage lift assembly which comprises a base, a plurality of brace members, an electric winch, a plurality of rollers, a plurality of pulleys, and a first cable. The brace members are mechanically linked to one another and to the base. Further, in some embodiments, the electric winch extends from the base. And, the rollers are rotatably attached to the base. In some embodiments, the pulleys are connected to the brace members and the first cable is routed from the electric winch over at least one of the pulleys. The first cable contacts one of the rollers between the electric winch and the pulley. 
         [0010]    In some embodiments, the storage lift assembly further comprises a second cable. The second cable extends from the electric winch and over at least one of the pulleys. 
         [0011]    In some embodiments, each of the cables has two free ends. At least one of the free ends of each cable has a chain attached thereto. 
         [0012]    In some embodiments, each of the cables is connected to a chain via a karabiner. 
         [0013]    In some embodiments, the plurality of rollers comprises a first pair of rollers and a second pair of rollers. 
         [0014]    In some embodiments, the plurality of pulleys comprises a first pair of pulleys and a second pair of pulleys. 
         [0015]    In some embodiments, the rollers of the first pair of rollers are spaced at a distance R 1  and the rollers of the second pair of rollers are spaced at a distance R 2 . In some embodiments, the pulleys of the first pair of pulleys are spaced at a distance P 1  and the pulleys of the second pair of pulleys are spaced at a distance P 2 . In some embodiments, P 1 &gt;R 1  and P 2 &gt;R 2 . 
         [0016]    In some embodiments, the electric winch is attached to a control box. 
         [0017]    In some embodiments, the electric winch comprises a direct current motor. 
         [0018]    In some embodiments, the invention is directed to a storage lift kit which comprises: 
         [0019]    a base; 
         [0020]    a brace member; 
         [0021]    an electric winch; 
         [0022]    a plurality of rollers; 
         [0023]    a plurality of pulleys; 
         [0024]    at least one cable; and 
         [0025]    a control box for operating the electric winch. 
         [0026]    In some embodiments, the storage lift kit further comprises a plurality of karabiners. 
         [0027]    In some embodiments, the storage lift kit further comprises an instruction manual for assembling the storage lift. 
         [0028]    In some embodiments, the storage lift further comprises a chain. In some embodiments, the invention is directed to a storage lift which comprises a base, a plurality of brace members, an electric winch, and a plurality of rollers. Further, in some embodiments, the storage lift comprises a rolling guide, a plurality of pulleys, and first and second cables. In some embodiments, the brace members include central brace members and outboard brace members. The brace members are rigidly connected to one another and the central brace members are attached to the base. In some embodiments, the electric winch extends from the base. In some embodiments, the rollers include a first pair of rollers and a second pair of rollers. The rollers are rotatably attached to the base and extend orthogonally from the base. In some embodiments, the rolling guide is attached to the base and is parallel to the base. In some embodiments, the pulleys are connected to the outboard brace members. 
         [0029]    In some embodiments, the first cable has a first section and a second section. The first section of the first cable is routed from the electric winch, between the rollers of the first pair of rollers, and over one of the pulleys. The second section of the first cable is routed from the electric winch, between the rollers of the first pair of rollers, and over another one of the pulleys. 
         [0030]    In some embodiments, the second cable has a first section and a second section. The first section of the second cable is routed from the electric winch, over the rolling guide, between the rollers of the second pair of rollers, and over another one of the pulleys. The second section of the second cable is routed from the electric winch, over the rolling guide, between the rollers of the second pair of rollers, and over another one of the pulleys. 
         [0031]    In some embodiments, the electric winch is situated between the first pair of rollers and the second pair of rollers. 
         [0032]    In some embodiments, the invention is directed to a storage lift that is used in combination with a storage facility. The storage lift is attached to the storage facility. In some embodiments, the storage facility comprises a garage. 
         [0033]    In some embodiments, the storage lift is used in combination with an ice house, with the first and second cables being attached to the ice house. 
         [0034]    In some embodiments, the storage lift further comprises a battery box attached to the central brace members. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0035]      FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the garage-storage lift assembly and an ice house in a storage-ready configuration. 
           [0036]      FIG. 2  shows a detailed perspective view of a portion of the garage-storage lift assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0037]      FIG. 3  shows an embodiment of the roller assembly  36 . 
           [0038]      FIG. 4  shows a perspective view of the garage-storage lift assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0039]      FIG. 5  shows an end view of an ice house, in a storage-ready configuration, that is suspended by the garage-storage lift assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0040]    While this invention may be embodied in many different forms, there are described in detail herein specific embodiments. This description is an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit it to the particular embodiments illustrated. 
         [0041]    For the purposes of this disclosure, like reference numerals in the figures shall refer to like features unless otherwise indicated. 
         [0042]    An assembly for lifting and storing an ice house  24  or other item is herein disclosed. Shown for example in  FIG. 1 , the assembly  10  comprises a base  12 , a plurality of brace members  14 , an electric winch  16 , a plurality of rollers  18 , a plurality of pulleys  20 , and one or more cables  22 . 
         [0043]    As used herein, the term “ice house” is used herein to refer to such a structure regardless of configuration. For example, the ice house can be assembled, disassembled, folded, prepared for storage, or ready for use. 
         [0044]    Generally, the brace members  14  are rigidly mounted to the ceiling of a garage or other structure so that the ice house  24  can be raised via the assembly  10 . Additionally, attached to the base  12  are the rollers  18  and pulleys  20 . Optionally attached to the base  12  are the brace members  14 . 
         [0045]    In some embodiments, the assembly  10  comprises outboard brace members  14   a  and central brace members  14   b.  The ice house  24  is generally suspended from the outboard brace members  14   a  while the central brace members  14   b  support the electric winch  16 . 
         [0046]    Turning to  FIG. 2 , the base  12  is shown attached to the central brace members  14   b.  Further, in some embodients, the rollers  18  and electric winch  16  are attached to the base  12 . In some embodiments, the rollers  18  extend orthogonally from the base  12 . The rollers  18  guide the cable  22  between the winch  16  and the pulleys  20 . 
         [0047]    As shown, for example in  FIG. 3 , in some embodiments, the rollers  18  comprise a first pair of rollers  18   a  and a second pair of rollers  18   b.  In some embodiments, the rollers  18  are attached to the base  12  via bolts  32  on which nuts  34  are threaded to secure the bolts  32  to the base  12 . In some embodiments, a plate  28  is located at the end of the bolts  32 . The rollers  18  are located between the plate  28  and the base  12 , with washers  30  and nuts  34  disposed on the ends of the rollers  18 , as desired. Further, in some embodiments, the rollers  18  are secured on the bolts  32  such that they are permitted to rotate. For example, a nut  34  is threaded onto the bolt  32  but is not fully tightened against the bolt  32 . Moreover, to secure the roller assembly  36  to the base  12  ( FIG. 3 ), another nut  34  is threaded onto the bolt  32  to sandwich the base  12  between the head of the bolt (not shown) and the nut  34 . In some embodiments, a threaded rod is used in place of bolts  32 . 
         [0048]    The rollers  18  can be made from any suitable material. In some embodiments, the rollers  18  are made from a metallic material, for example steel. Polymeric materials, rubber, alloys, and composite materials may also be suitable. 
         [0049]    With further regard to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , in some embodiments, the base  12  has attached thereto a rolling guide  38 . The rolling guide  38  positions the cable  22  away from the base  12  and aligns it with the electric winch  16  ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ). In some embodiments, the rolling guide  38  is parallel to the base  12 . Further, it will be appreciated that in some embodiments, a rolling guide  38  is necessary on only one side of the electric winch  16  as the cables  22  extend from opposing hemispheres of the electric winch  16 . 
         [0050]    In this regard, and with further reference to  FIGS. 1 and 3 , in some embodiments, the assembly  10  comprises two cables  22 , a first cable  22   a  for lifting one side of the ice house  24  and a second cable  22   b  for lifting the other side of the ice house  24 . In some embodiments, for example as shown in  FIG. 2 , the first cable  22   a  emanates from the top side of the electric winch  16  while the second cable  22   b  emanates from the bottom side of the electric winch  16 . This configuration allows the electric winch  16  to raise the ice house  24 , simultaneously acting on the first cable  22   a  and the second cable  22   b.    
         [0051]    In some embodiments, the first cable  22   a  comprises a first section  22   a ′ and a second section  22   a ″. Further, the second cable  22   b  comprises a first section  22   b ′ and a second section  22   b ″. The cable sections,  22   a ′,  22   a ″,  22   b ′, and  22   b ″, are defined as the length of cable extending from the electric winch  16 , with the electric winch  16  being the divider between the respective sections. 
         [0052]    Turning to  FIG. 4 , in some embodiments, the rollers  18  of the second pair of rollers  18   b  are spaced apart from one another at a distance R 2 . Further, the rollers  18  of the first pair of rollers  18   a  are spaced apart from one another at a distance R 1 . In some embodiments, R 1 is equal to R 2 . 
         [0053]    In some embodiments, the pulleys  20  comprise a first pair of pulleys  20   a  and a second pair of pulleys  20   b.  The pulleys  20  of the first pair of pulleys  20   a  are spaced apart from one another at a distance P 1  while the pulleys  20  of the second pair of pulleys  20   b  are spaced apart from one another at a distance P 2 . In some embodiments, P 1  is equal to P 2 . Further, in some embodiments, P 1  is greater than R 1  and, in some embodiments, P 2  is greater than R 2 . In this way, the rollers  18  direct the cables  22  from the wider spaced pulleys onto the electric winch  16 . 
         [0054]    In some embodiments, the pulleys  20  are attached to the outboard brace members  14   a  by way of eye bolts  40 . Moreover, in some embodiments, the brace members  14  are secured to the garage ceiling by way of lag bolts. 
         [0055]    With reference to  FIG. 5 , in some embodiments, the cables  22  have chains  42  attached thereto. Each of the cables  22  has two free ends  58  which, in some embodiments, are attached to the chains  42 . In some embodiments, the chains  42  are attached to the cables  22  via a karabiner or spring snap  44 . Although shown with a karabiner  44  in  FIG. 5 , other types of hooks, for example s-hooks, or other attachments could also be used. It is also within the scope of the invention for the cable  22  to be hooked directly to the chain  42 . 
         [0056]    As illustrated via  FIG. 5 , the ice house  24  can be leveled by way of chains  42  and karabiners  44 . The chains  42  are secured to the ice house  24  using fasteners  46 . In some embodiments, the fasteners  46  comprise bolts that are inserted through holes in the ice house  24 . Desirably, washers  30  are used to distribute the load. As shown in  FIG. 5 , a washer  30  is placed near the head of the fastener  46  and the fastener  46  is then disposed through one of the last links, desirably the last link, of the chain  42 . Thereafter, another washer  30  is added and the fastener  46  is pushed through the hole in the ice house  24 . A washer may be added to the end of the fastener protruding into the ice house  24  and a nut threaded onto the end of the fastener  46  and tightened. In some embodiments, it may be necessary to drill holes in the desired location of the ice house  24 . 
         [0057]    As further shown in  FIG. 5 , the assembly  10  further comprises a control box  48 . In some embodiments, the control box  48  comprises a hand held remote. The control box  48  is connected to the electric winch  16  and has an up button and a down button or other switch or toggle for directing the winch to wind or unwind the cable  22  as desired. 
         [0058]    In some embodiments, the assembly  10  has a safety line  50  connected to the chain  42  and the brace member  14 . The safety line  50  provides added security in the event of component failure, for example in the cable  22  or electric winch  16 . In some embodiments, the safety line  50  comprises a braided wire. Other materials and configurations are also suitable, for example rope or chain. In some embodiments, the safety line  50  has a spring snap, for example a slide-bolt spring snap  52 , as shown. 
         [0059]    In some embodiments, the electric winch  16  comprises a direct current (D/C) motor. In some embodiments, the DC motor is a 12V type motor that can be operated off of a car battery. Alternatively, the electric winch can use an alternating current (A/C) motor, for example 110V. 
         [0060]    In some embodiments, a battery  56 , for example 12V, is located in a battery box  54 , for example as shown in  FIG. 2 . In some embodiments, the battery box  54  is attached to the central brace members  14   b.  Other locations are suitable as well. In some embodiments, the electric winch is powered by an A/C to D/C converter. More generally, any suitable power supply may be used. 
         [0061]    In some embodiments, the assembly  10  comprises a limit switch that automatically stops the electric winch  16  once the ice house  24  has reached a predetermined height. 
         [0062]    In some embodiments, the brace members  14  are drilled to be compatible with both 18 inch and 24 inch truss-spacing. Additionally, in some embodiments, the brace member  14  can be drilled to be compatible with 16 inch, 18 inch, and 24 inch truss-spacing, or any combination of common truss-spacing(s). 
         [0063]    In some embodiments, the components of the assembly  10  are sold in a kit, desirably together with an instruction manual for assembling and using the storage lift. 
         [0064]    It will be appreciated that the assembly  10  can be used with a variety of ice house types, including popular brands. In this way, the assembly  10  is universal. Further, although herein described with reference to ice house  24 , the skilled artisan will appreciate that the assembly  10  can be used with a variety of other products, for example kayaks, boats, boxes, cargo carriers, temporary dwelling, and the like. 
         [0065]    The above disclosure is intended to be illustrative and not exhaustive. This description will suggest many variations and alternatives to one of ordinary skill in this art. The various elements shown in the individual figures and described above may be combined or modified for combination as desired. All these alternatives and variations are intended to be included within the scope of the claims where the term “comprising” means “including, but not limited to”. 
         [0066]    Further, the particular features presented in the dependent claims can be combined with each other in other manners within the scope of the invention such that the invention should be recognized as also specifically directed to other embodiments having any other possible combination of the features of the dependent claims. For instance, for purposes of claim publication, any dependent claim which follows should be taken as alternatively written in a multiple dependent form from all prior claims which possess all antecedents referenced in such dependent claim if such multiple dependent format is an accepted format within the jurisdiction (e.g. each claim depending directly from claim  1  should be alternatively taken as depending from all previous claims). In jurisdictions where multiple dependent claim formats are restricted, the following dependent claims should each be also taken as alternatively written in each singly dependent claim format which creates a dependency from a prior antecedent-possessing claim other than the specific claim listed in such dependent claim below. 
         [0067]    This completes the description of the invention. Those skilled in the art may recognize other equivalents to the specific embodiment described herein which equivalents are intended to be encompassed by the claims attached hereto.