Patent Publication Number: US-9901500-B2

Title: Lifting assembly

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     Field of the Disclosure 
     The disclosure relates to lifting devices and more particularly pertains to a new lifting device for selectively lifting and lowering a user with respect to a seat. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a cart that includes a first section, a second section and a third section. Each of the first section, the second section and the third section are removably coupled together. The first section may be rolled along a support surface. A lifting unit is coupled to the cart and the lifting unit is positioned on the second section. The lifting unit selectively urges the third section upwardly with respect to the support surface. The third section may be gripped by a user thereby facilitating the third section to lift the user from a seated position. 
     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 THE DRAWINGS 
       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 left side view of a lifting assembly according to an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a back view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 3  is a top view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective in-use view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to  FIGS. 1 through 5  thereof, a new lifting 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 5 , the lifting assembly  10  generally comprises a cart  12  that includes a first section  14 , a second section  16  and a third section  18 . Each of the first section  14 , the second section  16  and the third section  18  are removably coupled together. The first section  14  may be rolled along a support surface  20  and the support surface  20  may be a floor or the like. The first section  14 , the second section  16  and the third section  18  may be uncoupled from each other thereby facilitating the cart  12  to be stored. 
     A lifting unit  22  is provided and the lifting unit  22  is coupled to the cart  12 . The lifting unit  22  is positioned on the second section  16 . The lifting unit  22  selectively urges the third section  18  upwardly with respect to the support surface  20 . The third section  18  may be gripped by a user  24  thereby facilitating the third section  18  to lift the user  24  from a seated position. The user  24  may be an elderly person or a physically disabled person. 
     The first section  14  comprises a pair of first members  26  and a second member  28 . The second member  28  is coupled between each of the first members  26 . The first members  26  are spaced apart from each other such that the first section  14  has a U-shape. Each of the first members  26  has a distal end  30  with respect to the second member  28 . Each of the first members  26  angles outwardly between the second member  28  and a middle  30  of the first members  26 . Each of the first members  26  angles upwardly between the middle  30  of the first members  26  and the second member  28 . 
     A pair of first wheels  32  is provided and each of the first wheels  32  is rotatably coupled to the second member  28 . Each of the first wheels  32  is positioned at an intersection of an associated one of the first members  26  and the second member  28 . Each of the first wheels  32  may roll along the support surface  20 . Each of the first wheels  32  may be locking wheels or the like thereby facilitating each of the first wheels  32  to be locked. Thus, the first section  14  is selectively prevented from rolling on the support surface  20 . 
     A pair of second wheels  34  is provided. Each of the second wheels  34  is rotatably coupled to an associated one of the first members  26 . Each of the second wheels  34  is positioned between the second member  28  and the distal end  30  of the associated first member  26 . Each of the second wheels  34  may roll along the support surface  20 . 
     A pair of third wheels  36  is provided. Each of the third wheels  36  is rotatably coupled to an associated one of the first members  26 . Each of the third wheels  36  is positioned on the distal end  30  of the associated first member  26 . Each of the third wheels may  36  roll along the support surface  20 . 
     A pair of first sleeves  38  is provided and each of the first sleeves  38  is coupled to and extends upwardly from an associated one of the first members  26 . Each of the first sleeves  38  angles toward the second member  28 . Each of the first sleeves  38  has a distal end  40  with respect to the associated first member  26  and the distal end  40  of each of the first sleeves  38  is open. A pair of second sleeves  42  is provided and each of the second sleeves  42  is coupled to and extends upwardly from the second member  28 . Each of the second sleeves  42  is positioned at an intersection of the second member  28  and an associated one of the first members  26 . Each of the second sleeves  42  has a distal end  44  with respect to the second member  28  and the distal end  44  of each of the second sleeves  42  is open. 
     The second section  16  comprises a pair of primary members  46  and each of the primary members  46  has a bottom end  48  and a top end  50 . The distal end  44  of each of the second sleeves  42  insertably receives the bottom end  48  of an associated one of the primary members  46 . Thus, the second section  16  extends upwardly from the first section  14 . A pair of cross members  52  is each coupled between each of the primary members  46  such that the primary members  46  are spaced apart from each other. Each of the cross members  52  is spaced apart from each other. 
     A pair of secondary members  54  is each hingedly coupled to an associated one of the primary members  46 . Each of the secondary members  54  is positionable in a stored position having the secondary members  54  being coextensive with the associated primary member  46 . Each of the secondary members  54  is positionable in a deployed position having each of the secondary members  54  angling away from the associated primary member  46 . Each of the secondary members  54  has a distal end  56  with respect to the primary members  46 . The distal end  40  of each of the first sleeves  38  insertably receives the distal end  56  of an associated one of the secondary members  54  when the associated secondary member  54  is positioned in the deployed position. 
     The third section  18  comprises a pair of lifting members  58  and each of the lifting members  58  has a first end  60  and a second end  62 . The first end  60  of each of the lifting members  58  is selectively hingedly coupled to the top end  50  of an associated one of the primary members  46 . Each of the lifting members  58  is substantially aligned with an associated one of the first members  26 . A support  64  is coupled between the lifting members  58  and the support  64  is centrally positioned on the lifting members  58 . 
     A pair of handles  66  is provided and each of the handles  66  is coupled to and extends downwardly from an associated one of the lifting members  58 . Each of the handles  66  has a distal end  68  with respect to the lifting members  58 . Each of the handles  66  is centrally positioned along the associated lifting member  58 . A pair of grips  70  is each coupled to the distal end  68  of an associated one of the handles  66 . Each of the grips  70  may be gripped by the user  24 . 
     A strap  72  is coupled to the second end  62  of each of the lifting members  58 . A belt  74  is provided and the belt  74  is attached to the strap  72 . The belt  74  may be coupled around a waist  76  of the user  24 . Thus, the user  24  is coupled to the third section  18  thereby facilitating the third section  18  to selectively lift and lower the user  24 . 
     The lifting unit  22  comprises a power supply  78  that is coupled to the second member  28  of the first section  14 . The power supply  78  may comprise at least one battery  80 . A pump  82  is coupled to one of the cross members  52  of the second section  16 . The pump  82  may comprise a hydraulic pump or the like. 
     A first conductor  84  is electrically coupled to the pump  82 . The first conductor  84  has a distal end  86  with respect to the pump  82 . The distal end  86  of the first conductor  84  is selectively electrically coupled to the battery  80 . Thus, the battery  80  supplies electrical power to the pump  82 . 
     An actuator  88  is coupled to one of the cross members  52  of the second section  14 . The actuator  88  is fluidly coupled to the pump  82  such that the pump  82  urges the actuator  88  between an extended position and a retracted position. The actuator  88  has a distal end  90  with respect to the cross member  52 . The distal end  90  of the actuator  88  is selectively hingedly coupled to the support  64  on the third section  18  such that the actuator  88  selectively lifts and lowers the third section  18 . Thus, the user  24  may be selectively lifted and lowered and the actuator  88  may comprise a hydraulic piston or the like. 
     A second conductor  92  is electrically coupled to the pump  82 . The second conductor  92  has a distal end  94  with respect to the pump  82 . A switch  96  is coupled to one of the grips  70  such that the switch  96  may be manipulated. The switch  96  is selectively electrically coupled to the distal end  94  of the second conductor  92  such that the switch  96  actuates the pump  82  to extend and retract the actuator  88 . 
     In use, the first section  14 , the second section  16  and the third section  18  are coupled together. The distal end  86  of the first conductor  84  is electrically coupled to the battery  80  and the distal end  94  of the second conductor  92  is electrically coupled to the switch  96 . The user  24  positions the cart  12  proximate a seat  98  that the user  24  wishes to sit upon. The user  24  couples the belt  74  around the user&#39;s waist  76  and the user  24  grips each of the grips  70 . The switch  96  is manipulated to actuate the actuator  88  to lower the user  24  onto the seat  98 . The switch  96  is manipulated to actuate the actuator  88  to lift the user  24  upwardly from the seat  98 . The cart  12  is utilized in the convention of a walker when the cart  12  is not utilized to lift or lower the user  24 . 
     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.