Patent Publication Number: US-6981834-B1

Title: Portable engine hoist

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   Not Applicable. 
   STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
   Not Applicable. 
   REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX 
   Not Applicable. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Technical Field 
   This invention relates to an engine hoist and, more particularly, to an engine hoist that is removably attachable to a trailer hitch and includes alternate lifting means. 
   2. Prior Art 
   The ability to use vehicles as a means for hauling objects as well as a means for transportation has always been a public concern. Consequently, various devices which mount to the rear of a vehicle to serve as a lift have been invented. One such device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,867,402 issued on Jan. 6, 1959, to Graybill et al. Graybill et al. disclose an angled post with hooks at an upper end and a bumper clamp at the opposite end. The bumper clamp facilitates the mounting of the shaft to the rear bumper of a vehicle, while the hooks permit objects to be suspended for transportation by the vehicle. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 4,806,063 issued on Feb. 21, 1989, to York discloses a hoist which mounts to a ball trailer hitch. The hoist includes a multiple section boom which is provided with a winch. Straps attached to either side of a vehicle and a torsion bar mounted to the rear of the vehicle support the boom on the ball trailer hitch. The winch cable connects to a hanger which is used to support objects for transportation by the vehicle. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 5,064,078 issued on Nov. 12, 1991, to Van Staveren discloses a vehicle mounted crane. The crane includes a hydraulic cylinder to raise and lower its boom, and, further, mounts to a modified vehicle bumper using a specially designed support assembly. The distal end of the boom includes a chain which may connect to a variety of carrying devices such as a hook or an axle attachment-towing device. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 4,881,864 issued Nov. 21, 1989, to Amato discloses a hoist which attaches to a trailer hitch drawbar of a vehicle. The hoist includes a post connected to a tongue which fits within the trailer hitch drawbar to support the post. The lower end of the post includes an adjustable foot which aids in supporting the post. The post includes a boom which supports a cable driven by a winch attached to the post. The cable connects to a hook which is utilized to connect the cable to objects for hauling using the vehicle. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 5,211,526 issued on May 18, 1993, to Robinette discloses a mobile crane. The crane includes a central column which connects at a lower end to a T-shaped support and at its upper end to a boom. The T-shaped support fits within a trailer hitch drawbar to secure the crane to the rear of a vehicle. The crane further includes a hydraulic cylinder which vertically manipulates the boom. 
   Although the above-described devices operate adequately to lift objects for hauling, they each suffer from the disadvantage of difficult installation. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,867,402 uses a complicated clamping system to attach its post to the bumper of a vehicle, while U.S. Pat. No. 5,064,078 requires both a modified bumper and specially designed support assembly to mount its crane. Furthermore, both U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,806,063 and 5,211,526 require complicated and time-consuming assembly. Finally, U.S. Pat. No. 4,881,864 is difficult to mount into a trailer hitch drawbar because it is a single unit requiring strenuous exertion to be lifted and placed within the trailer hitch drawbar. 
   Accordingly, a hoist that requires little assembly and is extremely simple to mount to the rear of a vehicle is highly desirable. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   In view of the foregoing background, it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a portable engine hoist for automotive mechanics to lift and retrieve heavy engines from vehicles in remote locations, such as junkyards or locations where traditional engine-hoisting devices cannot be operated. These and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention are provided by a hoist including a base member having a substantially horizontal portion and a substantially vertical portion integral therewith. The horizontal portion is removably insertable into a vehicle hitch and has an aperture formed therein for receiving a first locking pin so that the base member will be securely connected to a vehicle hitch. 
   The hoist further includes a connector member having lower and upper end portions and a first locking plate for adjustably connecting the vertical portion of the base member to the lower end thereof. The locking plate allows the connector portion to be selectively rotated in a first plane. The hoist further includes a boom having first and second end portions with the first end portion being pivotally connected to the upper end portion of the connector member and thereby allows the boom to be pivoted in a second plane substantially perpendicular to the first plane. 
   The hoist further includes means for pivoting the boom along the second plane that is connected to the connector member and to the first end portion of the boom. A lifting member is removably connectable to the second end portion of the boom for transporting an object from a first location to a second location. The boom preferably includes a first member having an aperture formed therein and connected to the connector member. A second member has a plurality of apertures formed therein and is alignable with the aperture of the first member so that a length of the boom can be telescopically adjusted by inserting a pin therethrough. 
   The means for pivoting the boom preferably includes a winch including an elongate cable having lower and upper end portions anchored to the winch and to the first end portion of the boom respectively. Advantageously, as the cable in wound, the boom is caused to pivot in a first direction along the second plane and, when the cable is unwound, the boom is caused to pivot in a second direction along the second plane. The means for pivoting the boom may include a power supply source attached to the winch. The hoist may also include a control panel for operating the winch via the power supply source. 
   Alternately, the means for pivoting the boom may include a sump attached to the connector member and for selectively supplying either fluid or air to an elongate hose connected to the sump. A piston is connected to the hose and is selectively operable by the sump. The piston preferably includes a stationary portion secured to the connector member and a mobile portion having opposed end portions connected to the stationary portion and the boom respectively. The hoist may further includes a power supply source connected to the piston and a control panel for operating same: 
   The hoist may further include means for operating the lifting member that is connected to the boom. The means for operating the lifting member preferably includes a winch including an elongate cable having opposed end portions anchored thereto and to the second end portion of the boom respectively. A plurality of sheaves cooperate with the winch and are disposed adjacent to the second end portion of the boom for guiding the cable towards the lifting member. Alternately, the means for operating the lifting member may include a power supply source for powering the winch and a control panel for operating same. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
     The novel features believed to be characteristic of this invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a side elevational view showing a portable engine hoist including means for operating the hoist via a hand-operated winch, in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line  2 — 2  in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line  3 — 3  in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 4  is an alternate embodiment of  FIG. 1  including means for operating the hoist via an power operated winch; 
       FIG. 5  is an alternate embodiment of  FIG. 1  including means for operating the hoist via a hand-operated piston; and 
       FIG. 6  is an alternate embodiment of  FIG. 1  including means for operating the hoist via a power operated piston. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this application will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the true scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout, and prime and double prime notations are used to indicate similar elements in alternate embodiments. 
   The hoist of this invention is referred to generally in  FIG. 1  by the reference numeral  10  and is intended to be removably attachable to a vehicle hitch or drawbar for transporting an engine in a relatively simple manner. It should be understood that the hoist  10  may be used to transport other heavy objects and should not be limited to transporting only engines. 
   The hoist  10  includes base member  11  having a substantially horizontal portion  12  integral with a substantially vertical portion  13 . The horizontal portion  12  has an end portion provided with an aperture  31  therein and insertable into a conventional vehicle hitch such as a class III or IV trailer hitch, for example. The base member  11  is securely maintained and attached to a conventional trailer hitch by inserting a locking pin  32  into aperture  31 . A bracket  44  is connected to base member  11 , where the vertical portion  13  and horizontal portion  12  form a substantially right angle, to thereby assist in preventing the base member  11  from bending thereat. 
   The hoist  10  further includes a connector member  16  having a lower end portion rotatably connected to the vertical portion  13  of base member  11 . In particular, a locking plate  14  secures such members together and maintains same at a stationary position by inserting a locking pin  15  through aperture  35 . The connector member  16  further has an upper end portion that is generally annular and is connected to the first end portion of boom  17 . Boom  17  includes a first member  18  having a hollow or tubular portion and further includes a second member  19  removably positionable within such a hollow portion. 
   In particular, the first member  18  is provided with aperture  20  formed at an end portion thereof adjacent to the second member  19 . The second member  19  is provided with a plurality of generally equally spaced apertures  21  extending along the length thereof. Such apertures  21  are alignable with aperture  20  of first member  18  for allowing the boom  17  to be secured and telescopically adjusted in length by selectively positioning pin  22  into corresponding apertures  20 ,  21 . 
   The lifting member  23  is hook shaped and is operably connected to the second end portion of boom  17 . Of course, such a lifting member  23  may be shaped as a clamp or other conventional devices, well known in the industry. A fastener  30  is secured to the second end portion of boom  17  and anchors an end portion of cable  27  attached thereto. Such a cable is guided by a plurality of pulley or sheaves  28 ,  29  disposed adjacent to second member  19  of boom  17 . In particular, pulley  29  is connected to lifting member  23  while pulley  28  is secured to second member  19  to thereby guides cable  27  from winch  26 , connected to the first member  18  of boom  17 , towards pulley  29 . 
   Winch  26  is preferably a conventional and manually operated device and includes a drum (not shown) for receiving cable  27  therearound, as well known to person of ordinary skill in the art. Similarly, winch  24  is connected to connector member  16  and is a conventional and manually operated device including a drum for receiving cable  25  therearound. Cable  25  extends from winch  24  and is secured to the first end portion of boom  17 . Such winches  24 ,  26  are operated by rotating their respective handles to thereby cause their respective cables  25 ,  27  to be extended or retracted. Advantageously, boom  17  can be pivoted about rod  33  substantially along a distinct plane. Likewise, lifting member  23  may be moved from a low position to a high position. 
   Now referring to  FIG. 2 , a cross-section of connecting member  16  and base member  11  is shown wherein the connector member  16  has a lower end portion  36 , which is rounded and is surrounded by round tubing  37 , both disposed within the hollow interior of base member  11 . In particular, such a base member preferably includes a square tubing  34  to thereby allow connector member  16  to rotatably move about a longitudinal axis of base member  11 . Of course, locking pin  15  must be removed from locking plate  14  when desiring to rotate the connector member  16 . Such a locking pin must be reinserted into aperture  35  for maintaining the connector member  16  at a stationary position. 
   Now referring to  FIG. 3 , a cross-sectional view of boom  17  is shown wherein the second member  18  telescopically receives first member  19  therein so that the length of boom  17  can be adjusted in a substantially linear direction. Locking pin  22  passes through aperture  20  of first member  18  and an associated aperture  21  of second member  19 . The first member  18  may have a substantially square tubular cavity for assisting the second member  19  to slidably move therein. 
   Now referring to  FIG. 4 , an alternate embodiment  10 ′ of the present invention is shown wherein winches  24 ′,  26 ′ are not manually operated. Rather, they are automatically operated in a conventional manner. In particular, winch  24 ′ includes a power source  40  connected thereto and operated by a control panel  42 . Similarly, winch  26 ′ includes a power source  41  connected thereto and operated by a control panel  43 . Advantageously, an operator does not have to manually turn the handle of winches  24 ,  26  to operate hoist  10 ′. Power sources  40 ,  41  may be conventional power sources such as battery packs or may include power cords (not shown) connectable to power outlets (not shown), as would be obvious to person of ordinary skill in the art. 
   Now referring to  FIG. 5 , an alternate embodiment  10 ″ is shown wherein boom  17  is pivotable by a conventional piston  47  such as a hydraulic piston, for example. A conventional sump  45  is connected to connecting member  16  via a bracket and includes a pump handle  46  for supplying fluid or other conventional material to the hydraulic piston  47  via hose  51 . Hydraulic piston  47  includes a stationary portion  48  connected to the connecting member  16  via a conventional bracket and further includes a movable portion  49  connected to boom  17  via a conventional bracket. As well known in the industry, the movable portion  49  extends substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis passing therethrough and thereby pivots boom  17  about rod  33 . Lifting member  23  is securely attached to chain  52 , which is anchored to second member  19  via a conventional fastener  53 . 
   Now referring to  FIG. 6 , an alternate embodiment  10 ′″ of the present invention is shown wherein the hydraulic piston  47  is power operated by a conventional control panel  55  connected to sump  45 . A power source  54  supplies power to sump  45 , in a manner well known in industry. Advantageously, an operator may easily and quickly operate the hoist  10 ′″ without exerting unnecessary effort. 
   While the invention has been described with respect to certain specific embodiments, it will be appreciated that many modifications and changes may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is intended, therefore, by the appended claims to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.