Patent Publication Number: US-11377330-B2

Title: Remote controlled lift assembly

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Not Applicable 
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not Applicable 
     THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT 
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     INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC OR AS A TEXT FILE VIA THE OFFICE ELECTRONIC FILING SYSTEM 
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     STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR OR JOINT INVENTOR 
     Not Applicable 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     (1) Field of the Invention 
     The disclosure relates to lift devices and more particularly pertains to a new lift device for automatically lifting cargo on a scaffold. 
     (2) Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98 
     The prior art relates to lift devices and the prior art discloses a motorized scaffold platform for lifting and lowering a work surface. Additionally, the prior art discloses a novel drive unit for lifting and lowering a scaffolding platform along vertical cables. The prior art discloses a scaffold hoist that includes a winch and a cable and which is mounted atop a leg of scaffolding. The prior art also discloses a portable hoist for lifting heavy objects that includes wheels for rolling on a support surface. The prior art discloses a vertical lift member that includes slidable elements for improving safety of a stanchion climbing hoist. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a pair of supports is each mountable to a respective outrigger of scaffolding. A winch unit is positionable on the supports when the supports are mounted on the scaffolding and the winch unit has a cable extending downwardly therefrom. The cable is lowered or lifted when the winch is actuated. A receiver is coupled to the winch unit and the receiver is in electrical communication with the winch unit. A remote control is provided that is carried by a user and the remote control is in wireless electrical communication with the receiver. In this way the user can remotely lift and lower the cable for lifting and lowering cargo. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
     The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S) 
       The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a remote controlled lift assembly according to an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a bottom phantom view of a winch unit of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 3  is a front phantom view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  is a front cut-away view of a winch unit of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 5  is a cross sectional view taken along line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 4  of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 6  is a front perspective in-use view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective in-use view of an embodiment of the disclosure showing a winch unit being suspended from block and tackle. 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective in-use view of an embodiment of the disclosure showing a winch unit being suspended by a suspension loop. 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective in-use view of an embodiment of the disclosure showing a winch unit being positioned within scaffolding. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to  FIGS. 1 through 9  thereof, a new lift device embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral  10  will be described. 
     As best illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 9 , the remote controlled lift assembly  10  generally comprises a pair of supports  12  and each of the supports  12  is mountable to a respective outrigger  14  of scaffolding  16 . The scaffolding  16  may be scaffolding of any conventional design that is commonly employed at construction sites or the like. Each of the supports  12  has a first member  18 , a second member  20  oriented at a right angle with the first member  18 . The first member  18  is attachable to the respective outrigger  14  having the second member  20  being oriented to extend along a horizontal axis. Additionally, each of the supports  12  is positionable adjacent to a top end of the scaffolding  16 . 
     A winch unit  24  is positionable on the supports  12  when the supports  12  are mounted on the scaffolding  16  such that the winch unit  24  is spaced upwardly from a support surface on which the scaffolding  16  is positioned. The winch unit  24  has a cable  26  extending downwardly therefrom. The cable  26  is extended outwardly from the winch unit  24  when the winch unit  24  is actuated into a lowering condition. Conversely, the cable  26  is retracted into the winch unit  24  when the winch unit  24  is actuated into a lifting condition. In this way the winch unit  24  can lift or lower building materials, tools, equipment or any other heavy objects that are commonly lifted during the course of a construction project. 
     The winch unit  24  comprises a housing  28  that has a first end  30 , a second end  32  and an outer wall  33  extending therebetween, and the housing  28  is elongated between the first end  30  and the second end  32 . The outer wall  33  has a top side  34 , a bottom side  36 , a front side  38  and a back side  40 . The bottom side  36  has a cable aperture  42  extending into an interior of the housing  28  and the cable aperture  42  is centrally positioned between the first end  30  and the second end  32 . A suspension loop  44  is coupled to the top side  34  of the outer wall  33  of the housing  28  and the suspension loop  44  can be attached to a suspension line for suspending the housing  28  therefrom. The suspension loop  44  is centrally positioned between the first end  30  and the second end  32  for balancing the housing  28  when the housing  28  is suspended. 
     A winch  46  is positioned within the housing  28 , the winch  46  is aligned with the cable  26  opening and the cable  26  is coupled to the winch  46 . The winch  46  turns in a first direction when the winch  46  is turned on for lifting. Additionally, the cable  26  is wrapped around the winch  46  when the winch  46  turns in the first direction to lift a load attached to the cable  26 . The winch  46  turns in a second direction when the winch  46  is turned on for lowering. Additionally, the cable  26  is unwrapped around the winch  46  when the winch  46  turns in the second direction to lower the load attached to the cable  26 . The winch  46  may be an electric winch that has a lifting capacity of approximately 2000.0 pounds. 
     The cable  26  has a distal end  48  with respect to the winch  46  and a weight sensor  50  is coupled to the distal end  48  of the cable  26  where to sense the weight of the load on the cable  26 . The weight sensor  50  is in electrical communication with the winch  46  and the weight sensor  50  sends a shut off signal to the winch  46  when the weight sensor  50  senses a weight that exceeds a pre-determined trigger weight. In this way the weight sensor  50  inhibits the winch  46  from being overloaded by the weight of the load attached to the cable  26 . The weight sensor  50  may comprise an electronic weight sensor, a spring and a switch that is turned on when the spring is stretched to a trigger length or any other type of weight sensor. 
     A hook  52  is coupled to the weight sensor  50  thereby facilitating the load to be attached to the hook  52  for lifting and lowering. A pair of suspensions  54  is each coupled to the bottom side  36  of the outer wall  33  of the housing  28 . Each of the suspensions  54  may comprise a hook or the like and cabling can be attached between the suspensions  54 . In this way additional block and tackle can be added for increasing the weight capacity of the winch  46 . 
     A plurality of spot lights  56  is provided and each of the spot lights  56  is coupled to the bottom side  36  of the outer wall  33  of the housing  28  to emit light outwardly therefrom. Each of the spot lights  56  is positioned adjacent to a respective one of the first end  30  and the second end  32  of the housing  28  and each of the spot lights  56  is electrically coupled to the winch  46 . Each of the spot lights  56  is turned on when the winch  46  is turned on to illuminate the load. Each of the spot lights  56  may comprise an LED or other type of electronic light emitter. 
     A pair of handles  58  is each coupled to a respective one of the first end  30  and the second end  32  wherein for gripping and carrying the housing  28 . A pair of tie downs  60  is each coupled to the outer wall  33  of the housing  28 . Each of the tie downs  60  is positioned adjacent to a respective one of the first end  30  and the second end  32 . Each of the tie downs  60  has a strap space  62  integrated therein and a tie down strap  64  can be extended through the strap space  62  for attaching the housing  28  to a structure. 
     A strobe light  66  is coupled to the front side  38  of the outer wall  33  of the housing  28  to emit light outwardly therefrom. The strobe light  66  is electrically coupled to the winch  46  and the strobe light  66  is turned on when the winch  46  is turned on. In this way the strobe light  66  visually alerts people to the potential danger of the load is lifted or lowered. The strobe light  66  may comprise an LED that emits red light or any other type of electronic light emitter. A horn  68  is coupled to the housing  28  to emit an audible alert and the horn  68  is electrically coupled to the winch  46 . The horn  68  is turned on when the winch  46  is turned on to audibly alert people to the potential danger of the load is lifted or lowered. The horn  68  may be an electric horn similar to that which is found on motor vehicles. 
     A female electrical outlet  70  is integrated into the bottom side  36  of the outer wall  33  of the housing  28  to have a power cord  72  plugged therein. The female electrical outlet  70  is electrically coupled the winch  46  to deliver electrical current to the power cord  72 . The female electrical outlet  70  may be a three prong outlet or the like and the power cord  72  may be a three prong power cord. A power supply  74  is positioned within the housing  28 , the power supply  74  is electrically coupled to the winch  46  and the power supply  74  comprises at least one battery  76 . 
     A receiver  78  is coupled to the winch unit  24  and the receiver  78  is in electrical communication with the winch unit  24 . The receiver  78  is electrically coupled to the winch  46 . The receiver  78  turns on the winch  46  for lifting when the receiver  78  receives a lift command. The receiver  78  turns on the winch  46  for lowering when the receiver  78  receives a lower command. The receiver  78  may comprise a radio frequency receiver  78  or the like. 
     A remote control  80  is provided that can be carried by a user and the remote control  80  is in wireless electrical communication with the receiver  78 . The remote control  80  broadcasts the lift command to the receiver  78  when a lift button on the remote control  80  is depressed to facilitate the user to remotely actuate the winch unit  24  for lifting. The remote control  80  broadcasts the lower command to the receiver  78  when a lower button on the remote control  80  is depressed to facilitate the user to remotely actuate the winch unit  24  for lowering. The remote control  80  includes a transmitter  82  and the transmitter  82  is in electrical communication with the receiver  78 . The transmitter  82  may comprise a radio frequency transmitter or the like. 
     A lift box  84  is provided that is attachable to the cable  26  thereby facilitating the winch unit  24  to lift or lower the lift box  84 . The load is positionable in the lift box  84  thereby facilitating the winch  46  to lift or lower the load. The lift box  84  has a bottom wall  86  and a perimeter wall  88  extending upwardly therefrom, and the perimeter wall  88  has a distal edge  90  with respect to the bottom wall  86 . A plurality of engagements  92  is each coupled to the distal edge  90  of the perimeter wall  88  of the box. The engagements  92  are spaced apart from each other and are evenly distributed around the distal edge  90 . A plurality of rigging  94  is provided and the rigging  94  is coupled between each of the engagements  92  and the hook  52  on the cable  26 . In this way the rigging  94  evenly distributes the weight of the load in the lift box  84  with respect to keeping the lift box  84  in a horizontal oriented during lifting and lowering. 
     In use, the scaffolding  16  is assembly to accommodate the winch unit  24  to be positioned at a preferred location for lifting and lowering the load. Each of the supports  12  is attached to the respective outrigger  14  of the scaffolding  16  and the housing  28  is positioned on top of the supports  12 . Tie down strap  64   s  can be secured to each of the tie downs  60  on the housing  28  to secure the housing  28  to the scaffolding  16 . The remote control  80  is manipulated to either lift or lower the lift box  84 . In this way the load can be lifted without requiring the user to manually lift the load. Thus, the time required to lift a collection of bricks up to a rooftop, for example, is reduced as compared to carrying the bricks. 
     As is most clearly shown in  FIG. 7 , a block and tackle can be attached to the suspension loop  44  on the housing  28  for enhancing the load capacity of the winch  46 . As is most clearly shown in  FIG. 8 , the hook  52  on the cable  26  can be attached to the supports  12  thereby facilitating the winch unit  24  to be lifted and lowered. Thus, the load can be secured to the suspension loop  44  on the housing  28  for lifting and lowering. As is most clearly shown in  FIG. 9 , the housing  28  can be positioned within the scaffolding  16  for lifting and lowering the load within the scaffolding  16 . 
     With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.