Patent Publication Number: US-8123269-B2

Title: Lifting device

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the priority of Chinese Patent Application No. 200820171355.7 filed Dec. 16, 2008, under 35 U.S.C. §119, the disclosure of which is hereby expressly incorporated by reference. 
     BACKGROUND 
     In their daily lives, people often use bags such as paper or plastic bags, cloth bags and so on, for example, for shopping. Normally, plastic bags or paper bags for carrying food and produce are supplied by food stores or food markets and therefore do not need to be brought by shoppers from home. Plastic bags with relatively thin handles are particularly commonly used by shoppers. Often times, shoppers use a few bags at a time in order to carry their purchases out of a store. Having loaded a number of bags with purchases, a shopper would experience an uncomfortable tension in his or her hands while carrying a few bags at a time in each hand. Furthermore, the shopper&#39;s hands might start aching and an imprint caused by the bag handles may appear on the shopper&#39;s skin. The longer the shopper carries his or her bags filled with purchases, particularly with heavy purchases, the more tense and tired his or her hand would feel. 
     Therefore, there is a need for a lifting device that could be used for carrying multiple bags at a time for a long time, without any inconvenience to a shopper that carrying multiple shopping bags normally causes. 
     SUMMARY 
     This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This summary is not intended to identify key features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. 
     In accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure, a lifting device is provided. The lifting device generally includes a handle portion having first and second ends; and a support portion having first and second ends. The first end of the support portion is pivotably coupled to the first end of the handle portion and the second end of the support portion is releasably engageable with the second end of the handle portion, such that the lifting device may be positioned in at least a closed position and an open position. 
     In accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure, a lifting device is provided. The lifting device generally includes a handle portion having first and second ends; and a support portion having first and second ends. The first end of the support portion is pivotably coupled to the first end of the handle portion and the second end of the support portion is releasably engageable with the second end of the handle portion, such that the lifting device may be positioned in at least a closed position and an open position. The device further includes an engagement mechanism including a lock tongue and lock hook and release portion. The lock hook and release portion includes a pull block, a button for moving the engagement mechanism to an unengaged position, and a return spring for biasing the engagement mechanism to an engaged position. Pressing the button inward releases the engagement mechanism such that the lifting device is in its open position and releasing the button returns the engagement mechanism to its open position. 
     In accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure, a method of using a lifting device is provided. The method generally includes obtaining a lifting device including a handle portion having a first and second ends, and a support portion having first and second ends, wherein the first end of the support portion is pivotably coupled to the first end of the handle portion and wherein the second end of the support portion is releasably engageable with the second end of the handle portion, such that the lifting device may be positioned in at least a first closed position and a second open position. The method further includes inserting a load between the handle portion and the support portion when the lifting device is in the open position, engaging the handle portion and the support portion such that the lifting device is in the closed position; and lifting a load using the lifting device. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant advantages of this disclosure will become more readily appreciated as the same become better understood by reference to the following detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a front view of a lifting device constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective partial cross-sectional view of the internal structure of the lifting device shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective partial cross-sectional view of the internal structure of the lifting device shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  when the lifting device is in an open position; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective partial cross-sectional view of the internal structure of the lifting device shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  when the lifting device is being closed to a closed position; 
         FIG. 5  is a side view of the lifting device shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ; and 
         FIG. 6  is an exploded perspective view of the lifting device shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     A lifting device  20 , according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, includes a handle portion  22  having first and second ends  24  and  26  and a support portion  28  having first and second ends  30  and  32 . The first end  24  of the handle portion  22  is pivotably coupled to the first end  30  of the support portion  28 . The second end  26  of the handle portion  22  is configured to releasably engage with the second end  32  of the support portion  28 . The lifting device  20  is designed for a user to carry a load with ease and comfort. In that regard, handle portion  22  is designed to be held by a user, and the support portion  28  is designed to support a load to be lifted (not shown). 
     The lifting device  20  may be positioned in at least a first closed position (see  FIGS. 1 and 2 ) and a second open position (see  FIG. 3 ). When in the open position, the user may insert a load between the handle portion  22  and the support portion  28 , such that the load can be supported by the support portion  28 . In the closed position, the user holds the handle portion  22  and carries the load supported by the support portion  28 . 
     The handle portion is designed and configured to allow a user to carry a load with ease and comfort. In the illustrated embodiment, the handle portion is an elongated member having a rounded outer contour. Between the first and second ends, the handle portion includes a plurality of inwardly curved holding grooves  17  adapted to receive fingers or the palm of a hand. One skilled in the art will appreciate that the handle portion may take different forms suitable for a user&#39;s hand. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 6 , the handle portion further may include an inner cavity  34  for receiving various components of the lifting device  20 , as described in greater detail below. In the illustrated embodiment, the handle portion  22  includes a left cover  36  and a right cover  38 , which may be connected to one another to form an inner cavity  34  inside the handle portion  22 . A button hole (aperture)  40  and a tongue hole (aperture)  42  are disposed on the handle portion  22 , as seen in  FIGS. 3 ,  4 , and  6 . The handle portion  22  further includes a hole  44  at the first end  24  for receiving the pivot device. 
     The support portion  28  is designed and configured to support a load, for example, one or more grocery bag handles. As such, the support portion  28  may be designed to hold the load in a secure manner when the lifting device is in the open or closed position. In the illustrated embodiment, the support portion  28  is substantially U-shaped having first and second ends  30  and  32 . As other nonlimiting examples, the support portion may be substantially V-shaped, curved, squared, etc. Preferably, the shape of the support portion should facilitate the comfortable support of multiple bags when lifted using the lifting device. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the support portion  28 , like the handle portion, may include an inner cavity  46  for receiving various components of the lifting device  20 , as described in greater detail below. In the illustrated embodiment, the support portion includes a left semi-ring  48  and a right semi-ring  50 , which may be connected to one another to form an inner cavity  46  inside the support portion  28 . The support portion  28  further includes a hole  52  at the second end  32  from which a lock tongue  54  extends and a hole  56  at the first end  30  for mounting a pivoting device described below in greater detail. 
     The respective first ends  24 ,  30  of the handle portion  22  and the support portion  28  are configured to be coupled to one another. In that regard, at the respective first ends  24  and  30 , the handle portion  22  is pivotably coupled to the support portion  28 . Referring to  FIG. 2 , a pivoting device  58  including a pivot pin  60  is shown. However, it should be appreciated that other suitable pivoting devices are also within the scope of the present disclosure. 
     The advantage of a pivotal coupling is that the handle portion  22  and the support portion  28  remain coupled to one another even if the lifting device  20  is in the open position (see  FIG. 3 ). However, it should be appreciated that a nonpivotal coupling is also within the scope of the present disclosure. For example, the lifting device  20  may include a releasable coupling, for example, such as the latch coupling at the respective second ends of the handle portion and the support portion. 
     The respective second ends  26  and  32  of the handle portion  22  and the support portion  28  are configured to be coupleable to one another. As mentioned above, the second end  26  of the handle portion  22  is configured to releasably engage with the second end  32  of the support portion  28 . In the illustrated embodiment, the lifting device includes an engagement mechanism, such as a latch, as described in greater detail below. However, it should be appreciated that the engagement mechanism may have different implementations besides a latch known to those skilled in the art, for example, a clamping device, a lock, or the like. 
     The latch mechanism shown in the illustrated embodiment will now be described in greater detail. Referring to  FIGS. 2-4  and  6 , the latch mechanism includes a lock hook and release portion comprising a pull block  62 , a button  64 , and a return spring  66 . The latch mechanism further includes the lock tongue  54  for engagement as described in greater detail below. Although shown as being disposed in the handle portion and support portion, the latch mechanism may be mounted in different ways known to those skilled in the art. 
     The button  64  includes first and second ends  68  and  70  and is disposed in the button hole  40  for reciprocal movement between a first position (see  FIG. 2 ) and a second position (see  FIG. 3 ). The first end  68  of the button  64  is connected with, and abutted against, the pull block  62 . The second end  70  of the button  64  protrudes from the handle portion  22  through the button hole  40  so as to be accessible to the user. As seen in  FIG. 2 , the button may include a stop  72 , preferably in a form of a loop, positioned between the first and second ends  68  and  70 . It should be appreciated that the stop may be integrated with the button  64  in a number of different ways. The diameter of the stop loop  72  is preferably larger than the diameter of the button hole  40 , so that the button  64  does not fall out of the button hole  40 . 
     Still referring to  FIGS. 2-4  and  6 , the pull block  62  is disposed inside the inner cavity  34  of the handle portion  22  and is pivotably connected at, or proximate to, its center, to the handle portion  22  by a pivot, such as a hinge pin  74 . In that regard, the pull block  62  is normally biased in a first position (see  FIG. 2 ) but can be rotated around the hinge pin  74  in clockwise rotation to a second position (see  FIG. 3 ), and back in counter-clockwise rotation to the first position (see  FIG. 2 ). An upper end  76  of the pull block  62  is propped against the first end of the button  64 , and the lower end of the pull block  62  forms a lock hook  78 . A stop column  80  prevents the pull block  62  from rotating in counter-clockwise rotation further than the first position shown in  FIG. 2 . 
     The return spring  66  is disposed inside the handle portion  22 . In one embodiment, the return spring  66  is sleeved on a spring column  82 . One end of the return spring  66  is connected with and propped against the upper end  76  of the pull block  62  to bias the pull block  62  in its first position, and the other end of the return spring  66  is connected with and propped against a lower wall of the inner cavity  34 . As a result of the pressure applied to the upper end  76  of the pull block  62  by the return spring  66 , which props the upper end  76  of the pull block  62  to the end  68  of the button  64 , the pull block  62  remains biased in the first position such that the lock hook  78  of the pull block  62  hitches the lock tongue  54 . 
     As mentioned above, the support portion  28  includes the hole  52  at the second end  32  from which the lock tongue  54  extends. The lock tongue  54  includes a lock hole (through aperture)  84 . As seen in  FIGS. 2-4 , the tongue hole  42  is configured to receive the lock tongue  54  enabling the lock tongue  54  to pass through the handle portion  22  and extend into the inner cavity  34 , where it engages with the lock hook  78  of the pull block  62 . The lock tongue  54  is engaged when the lock hook  78  engages the lock tongue aperture  84 . 
     The pivoting device  58  shown in the illustrated embodiment will now be described in greater detail. With reference to  FIG. 6 , the pivoting device  58  includes the pivot pin  60  and a pin receiving portion  86 . As described above, the first end  30  of the support portion  28  includes the hole  56  from which the pin receiving portion  86  extends. The first end  24  of the handle portion  22  also includes the hole  44  within which the pin receiving portion  86  is received. It should be appreciated, however, that the pin receiving portion may be housed within either the support portion or the handle portion. 
     When in use, the lifting device may be positioned in the open position when a user simply presses the button  64  inward, as illustrated by arrow  88  in  FIG. 3 . As the button  64  pushes the upper end  76  of the pull block  62  inward, compressing the return spring  66 , the lower end  78  of the pull block  62  turns outward to disengage the lock hook  78  from the lock tongue aperture  84 , separating the end of the support portion  28  from the handle portion  22 . When the button  64  is released, the return spring  66  returns the pull block  62  to its initial position. When in the open position, a load, for example, a plurality of bags, such as plastic bags, may be hung on the support portion  28 . 
     To position the lifting device in the closed position after the load has been hung on the support portion  28 , the user pivots the support portion  28  toward the handle  22 , causing the lock tongue  54  to insert into the handle portion  22  through the tongue hole  42 , as illustrated in  FIG. 4 . The lock tongue  54  pushes the lower end  78  of the pull block  62  outward. In one embodiment, the lock hook  78  of the pull block  62  is equipped with an outer surface  51  that is adapted to slidably engage the lock tongue  54 , providing a seamless movement of the lower end of the pull block  62  outward when pressed by the lock tongue  54 . The elastic force of the return spring  66  will lead the pull block  62  to return when the lock hook  78  meets the lock tongue aperture  84 . After this movement, the lock hook  78  is hitched in the lock tongue aperture  84 , locking the support portion  28  to the handle portion  22 . The user can then use the lifting device to lift the load to be carried. 
     While illustrative embodiments have been illustrated and described, it will be appreciated that various changes can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure.