Patent Publication Number: US-2007122260-A1

Title: Vehicle lift

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
      This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/740,726 filed on Nov. 30, 2005. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention relates generally to a lift for an object, such as a relatively smaller vehicle, for storing it within a transporting vehicle such as an automobile. In particular, the present invention relates to a system of attaching a lift to an automobile structure.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      Many disabled individuals rely on small power driven vehicles for mobility. There are a number of such mobility devices sold under many brand names. Such vehicles include personal mobility vehicles, scooters and powered wheelchairs. Generally, these small vehicles are transported in a larger automobile or other transporting vehicle, such as a van, car or truck, and are unloaded when they are to be used. The mobility vehicles typically weigh in excess of 150 pounds and therefore it may be necessary to use some type of lifting device or ramp for loading and unloading the vehicle to and from the automobile.  
      One form of lifting device comprises a boom structure that is typically mounted in a vehicle trunk or adjacent the rear or side door opening. Such lifting device typically includes a support base and a boom arm. One example of such a lifting device is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,431,526. The lifting device in the &#39;526 patent includes a stand portion which is bolted to the floor or floor boards of the automobile. An upstanding shaft supports a boom arm at the upper end thereof. A reversible motor drive is provided on the boom arm. The motor selectively rotates a drum on which is wound a lifting cable or strap. The strap extends along the boom arm and projects from the distal end. The strap terminates in a hook or claw, which is securable to the vehicle. The boom assembly is axially adjustable and the angular relationship of the boom to the vertical shaft is adjustable.  
      A lifting assembly for carrying small recreational vehicles and storing them in the back of a pickup truck is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,752,799. The lifting structure may be attached to a trailer hitch secured to the truck. In U.S. Pat. No. 6,007,289, the lifting assembly is attached to the rear bumper of an automobile or may be attached to a trailer hitch-type structure.  
      In  FIGS. 1 and 2  of the present application, there is shown a base portion for a lifting structure of the type that is known in the prior art. The base  2  includes a central support plate  4  attached to extendable support arms  6 . Each support arm telescopes to expand the platform area of the base. At the end of each support arm  6  is provided a mounting plate  8  having a opening therein for receipt of a bolt or the like, which may be inserted into the floor or frame structure of an automobile for fixing the base  2  in a stationary position.  FIG. 1  shows an upstanding post  10  extending out of the mounting plate  4 , which supports a vertical shaft (not shown) of the lifting device. In  FIG. 2 , the bottom surface of the support plate  4  is illustrated.  
      It is the object of the present invention to provide a lifting device having an attachment structure which releasably secures the lifting device to the existing vehicle structures.  
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION  
      A lifting device is provided for lifting objects into and out of a transporting vehicle, such as an automobile. The lifting device includes a base, which is securable to the automobile, a vertical support shaft projecting upwardly from the base, and a boom arm upwardly angled from the support shaft. A motor drive is secured at the top of the boom arm. The motor reversibly moves a cable structure which extends from the projected end of the boom arm. The cable includes a hook at one end, which is securable to a mobility vehicle or other object that is desired to be lifted into the automobile. The lift is secured to the transporting vehicle by attachment to at least one existing structure on the vehicle, and preferably multiple structures. The attachment permits the releasable securing of the lift to the vehicle without modification to the transporting vehicle, permitting the lift to be broken down and stored in between lifting operations.  
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      For the purpose of illustrating the invention, the drawings show one or more forms in which the invention can be embodied. The invention is not, however, limited to the precise form shown unless such limitation is expressly made in a claim.  
       FIG. 1  is an isometric top view of a base structure for a lifting device for a mobility vehicle or the like of the type which is found in the prior art.  
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a lifting device of the present invention as mounted on the tailgate of an automobile.  
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the lifting device embodiment of  FIG. 2 .  
       FIG. 4  is a close-up side elevational view of the attachment of the lifting device of the type illustrated in  FIGS. 2-3  to the structures of the automobile.  
       FIG. 5  is a top isometric view of a further embodiment of a lifting device base portion incorporating the features of the present invention.  
       FIG. 6  show various forms of automobile structures that may be used to secure the present invention to the frame of the automobile. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      In the various figures there is shown various embodiments of a lifting device of the type contemplated by the present invention. In  FIGS. 3-6 , the lifting device is generally identified by the numeral  12  and is positioned within an automobile  14 . It should be recognized that the general form of the lifting device, including its base portion  16 , vertical shaft  18 , boom arm  20 , motor drive  22 , cable  24 , and hook (not shown) may vary as desired. As used herein, the term cable includes ropes, straps, tapes, chains, and the like. The motor drive  22  is electrically connected to the automobile power source and, as illustrated, is operated by a controller  26 .  
      As more particularly illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the base  16  of the lift  12  includes a base plate  28  having a first support arm  30  projecting there from and a second support arm  32  projecting toward the automobile  14  body and connected thereto at bracket  34 , which is part of the automobile  14 . The automobile  14  as illustrated in  FIGS. 2-4  includes a rear hatch opening and a tailgate  36 . The tailgate includes a latch mechanism  38  (viewed partially in  FIG. 4 ) which engages bracket  34  mounted on the rear frame of the vehicle. A similar latch mechanism  38  is located on the opposite side of the tailgate  36  and is identified in  FIG. 2 . The latch mechanism  38  is controlled by a central handle  40 . The latch mechanism  38  of the automobile  14  includes an engagement hook that wraps around a bar formed within the bracket  34 . In  FIG. 3 , the second support arm  32  includes an angled extension having a securement hook  42  positioned at the projected end. The securement hook  42  engages the bar of the bracket  34  to secure the base  16  of the lift  12  on the tailgate  36 . The base plate  28  and the first support arm  30  further stabilize the lift  12  on the tailgate  36 . Thus, the lift  12  is secured to the automobile  14  by means of the existing structures formed on the vehicle, without the need to modify the vehicle.  
      The lift  12  may be stored within the vehicle until needed to lift a smaller vehicle into the transporting vehicle. The tailgate  36  is opened, and the hook  42  is secured around the bracket  34 . The base  16  is placed on the tailgate  36 , with the support arms  30 ,  32  resting on the tailgate to provide further support for the lift  12 . The hook at the end of the cable  24  is connected to a smaller vehicle, for example, a personal mobility vehicle. The lift  12  is then used to move the smaller vehicle into or out of the transporting vehicle in a manner well known to those skilled in the art of lifts. Once the smaller vehicle has been moved to the desired location, the user may lift the base  16  from the tailgate  36 , unhook the hook  42  from the bracket  34 , and place the lift  12  in storage within the transporting vehicle until the next lifting operation.  
      In  FIG. 4  there is illustrated an alternate version of a base plate  28  for the base portion  16  of the lift  12 . The base plate  28 ′ includes a projection  44  extending downwardly from its lower surface. The projection  44  is positioned to engage the latch mechanism  38  of the type illustrated in  FIGS. 2-3 . The projection  44  has a generally U-shaped profile, including a central bar  50  extending between two legs  52  (only one of which appears in  FIG. 4 ). The projection  44  is formed similarly to bracket  34  attached to the rear frame portions of the automobile. The projection  44  is engaged within the latch mechanism  38  to provide a further point of attachment for the lift structure  12  on the automobile  14 . Again, the projection  44  attaches to the existing automobile structure and does not require separate mounting means, such as by drilling holes and inserting bolts to secure the base plate  28 ′ or support arms on the tailgate  36 . As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , there are two points of attachment for the lift structure  12  on the automobile.  
      Although the projection  44  is illustrated as depending downward from the base  16 , a projection  44  may also depend downward from the support arm  30 , in addition to or as an alternative to a projection  44  mounted on the base  16 . A projection  44  may be provided anywhere on the base  16  and/or support arms  30 ,  32 , as long as the locations of the projections  44  correspond to the locations of the latches  38  provided within the tailgate or vehicle bed with which the lift  12  will be used.  
      As before, the lift  12  may be stored within the transporting vehicle until needed. The tailgate  36  is opened, and the hook  42  is secured around the bracket  34 . The projection  44  is inserted into the latch mechanism  38 , so that the latch mechanism  38  engages the projection  44  in the same manner as the latch mechanism would engage the bracket  34  if the tailgate were closed. The hook at the end of the cable  24  is connected to a smaller vehicle, for example, a personal mobility vehicle. The lift  12  is then used to move the smaller vehicle into or out of the transporting vehicle in a manner well known to those skilled in the art of lifts. Once the smaller vehicle has been moved to the desired location, the user may actuate the handle  40  to release the projection  44  from the latch mechanism  38 . The user may then may lift the base  16  from the tailgate  36 , unhook the hook  42  from the bracket  34 , and place the lift  12  in storage within the transporting vehicle until the next lifting operation.  
      In  FIG. 5  there is illustrated a further embodiment of the lift support base, incorporating two forms of attachment to a vehicle. The base  16  includes a first support arm  30 ′ having an attachment structure  46  at its projected end. The second support arm  32 ′ includes an alternate form of the attachment hook  42 ′ at its projected end. The engagement hook  42 ′ on the end of second support arm  32 ′ differs from the one illustrated in  FIGS. 2-4  in that the hook structure will engage the bracket from the top, as compared to the hook  42  which engages from the bottom (see  FIG. 6 ). A spring-biased keeper may also be provided on the hook  42 ′ to retain the hook in engagement with the bracket ( 34 ).  
      As shown in  FIG. 5 , the second form of attachment is mounting bracket  46  on the end of first support arm  30 ′. This mounting bracket  30 ′ is structured for use within a hatchback type vehicle (such as that shown in  FIG. 6 ), wherein a single rear door or hatch lifts open, without a tailgate. A bar  54  ( FIG. 6 ) extends across a receiving bracket at the base of the tailgate. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 8 , the mounting bracket  46  includes a latch mechanism  56  similar to that formed in the hatch. This latch mechanism  56  engages the bar  54  to fixably secure the end of the first support arm  30 ′ to the automobile frame. In this manner, two attachment points are provided at opposite ends of base. A third attachment, such as projection  44  illustrated in  FIG. 4 , may also be incorporated.  
      The lift  12  may be stored within the transporting vehicle until needed. The hatch is opened, and the hook  42 ′ is secured around the bracket  34 . The latching mechanism  46  is secured to the bar  54  in the same manner that the latching mechanism of the rear hatch would engage this bar  54 . At this point, the base  16  is resting on the cargo bed of the transporting vehicle. The hook at the end of the cable  24  is connected to a smaller vehicle, for example, a personal mobility vehicle. The lift  12  is then used to move the smaller vehicle into or out of the transporting vehicle in a manner well known to those skilled in the art of lifts. Once the smaller vehicle has been moved to the desired location, the user may actuate the latching mechanism  46  to release the latching mechanism  46  from the bar  54 . The user may then may lift the base  16  from the vehicle bed, unhook the hook  42 ′ from the bracket  34 , and place the lift  12  in storage within the transporting vehicle until the next lifting operation.  
      In prior designs, there is a requirement that holes be drilled in the vehicle in order to secure the base of the lifting structure. In the present invention, a universal structure is provided to fix the lifting structure to the automobile. The bracket  34  illustrated in  FIGS. 2-5  is but one form of the type of structure that may form a part of the automobile. Guide points, tie down loops such as loop  48  in  FIG. 4 , bars, guide bolts and the like may be provided, for example, attachment points  58 ,  60 ,  62 ,  64  ( FIG. 6 ),. Thus, variation on the form of the attachment structure is contemplated. In addition, multiple attachments are possible, including but not limited to any combination of attachment mechanisms included in any of the above-described embodiments. Any securement point may be utilized. In addition, loops or hooks may be added to the automobile structure. Thus, the added attachment mechanisms are contemplated to become a permanent part of the vehicle, while the lift may be releasably secured to the vehicle.  
      There is no critical size for the lift structures, including the boom, base, or support arms. Each is dependent on the position of the latching structure on the automobile. The position of the attachments will vary depending upon the model, make and year of the automobile. A kit may be provided with multiple attachment structures to fit a variety of automobiles.  
      The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or central attributes thereof. Accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims, rather than the above description as indicative of the scope of the invention.