Abstract:
A stove loading mechanism to assist a person in lifting and moving heavy and/or awkward loads, such as loading logs into an outdoor wood boiler. A fork assembly for holding the log can easily be raised and lowered from the ground and latched at any height by means of a jack mechanism.

Description:
[0001]     The present application is based on and claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application 60/631,821 filed Nov. 30, 2004. 
     
    
       [0002]     The present invention relates generally to a unique and novel articulating loader apparatus with twin control arms, and methods of constructing and utilizing same.  
         [0003]     More particularly, the present invention relates to a novel and unique articulating loading mechanism and apparatus to assist a person with the lifting of heavy or awkward loads, and methods of constructing and using same.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     The prior, but not necessarily relevant, art is exemplified by the following U.S. patents.  
         [0005]     Majors U.S. Pat. No. 4,186,839 entitled “CRANE FOR HANDLING FIREPLACE OR WOOD STOVE LOGS”, discloses a wheeled platform providing a storage space for logs below an elevated track supported on standards rising from the platform. A trolley device movable along the tracks supports an adjustable log gripping and release device which is utilized to place logs in a fireplace or the fire box of a stove or furnace. The user of the crane need not place the logs by hand, thus avoiding the possibility of being burned.  
         [0006]     Shields U.S. Pat. No. 4,232,792 entitled “CRANE”, discloses a remotely controlled rotatable crane for loading logs on a live deck. The crane includes a carriage having a horizontal bed rotatable on a circular track about a vertical axis, the bed carrying a truss assembly extending upwardly and radially outwardly from the bed. The distal end of the truss assembly carries a vertically movable and rotatable grapple. A winch and cable raises and lowers the grapple. A counterweight is disposed on the carriage to counter balance the truss assembly. Electro-hydraulic controls operate the winch for raising and lowering the grapple, controls the rotation of the grapple about a vertical axis and its opening and closing and controls the movement of the carriage about its vertical axis. Hydraulic motors also drive wheels on the track for rotating the carriage about a vertical axis.  
         [0007]     Majors U.S. Pat. No. 4,252,357 entitled “FIREPLACE LOG GRAPPLE”, discloses a wheeled platform which provides a storage space for logs below an elevated track supported on standards rising from the platform. A trolley device moveable along the track supports and adjustable log gripping and release device which is utilized to place logs in a fireplace or in the fire box of a stove or furnace. The user of the crane need not place the logs by hand, thus avoiding the possibility of being burned.  
         [0008]     It is a desideratum of the present invention to avoid the shortcomings and animadversions of the prior art techniques, and to provide a novel and unique loading mechanism for assisting a person with the lifting of heavy or awkward loads, such as logs.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0009]     The present invention provides an articulating apparatus for assisting in lifting and moving a relatively heavy and/or awkward load, comprising: first means for receiving said load; second means operably connected to said first means for pivoting said first means; third means operably connected to said first means and said second means for rotating said first means; fourth means operably connected to said second means and said third means for lifting and lowering said first means; and fifth means operably connected to said first means, said second means, and said third means for twisting said first means to either side 360° if necessary to transfer said load off of said first means.  
         [0010]     The present invention provides a novel and unique loading apparatus to assist a person with the lifting of heavy or awkward loads, such as logs.  
         [0011]     It is a primary object of the present invention to provide such a loading apparatus which may be used for stove-loading purposes to assist an individual with the lifting, moving, and/or maneuvering of heavy or awkward loads, such as logs.  
         [0012]     The present invention provides many advantages and features which will become more apparent to those persons skilled in this particular area of technology and to other persons after having been exposed to the detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the present invention as set forth hereinbelow in conjunction with the accompanying patent drawings. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0013]      FIG. 1  is a side elevational view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0014]      FIG. 2  is a top plan view of the  FIG. 1  embodiment.  
         [0015]      FIG. 3  is a view similar to  FIG. 1  on an enlarged scale and illustrating the various ranges of motion of the various components.  
         [0016]      FIG. 4  is a view similar to  FIG. 2  on an enlarged scale and showing the various ranges of movement of the various components. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0017]     With reference to the accompanying patent drawings, there is shown a preferred embodiment of the articulating loader apparatus  10  in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0018]     The loader apparatus  10  includes a support pole or pipe  11  which is rigidly secured in a cement foundation  12 .  
         [0019]     Swingably and rotatably supported on the support pole  11  is a swing top pipe  13 .  
         [0020]     A pair of anchor control arm brackets  14  and  15  are welded to the swing top pipe  13 .  
         [0021]     A pair of fork control arm brackets  16  and  17  are welded to perpendicularly-arranged fork support arms  18  and  19 .  
         [0022]     An upper control arm  20  and a lower control arm  21  are interconnected between the anchor control arm brackets  14  and  15  and the fork control arm brackets  16  and  17  by way of upper control arm bolts  22  and  23  and lower control arm bolts  24  and  25 , respectively.  
         [0023]     A fork assembly  26  includes a pair of forks  27  and  28  rigidly secured to a fork spindle  29 .  
         [0024]     The fork spindle  29  is movably supported within a spindle housing  30 .  
         [0025]     The fork assembly  26  is also provided with a T-handle  31  and a release handle  32 .  
         [0026]     A pair of spindle housing brackets  33  and  34  are welded to the spindle housing  30 .  
         [0027]     The spindle housing brackets  33  and  34  are secured to the fork support arm  19  by way of a fork bolt  36  about which the entire fork assembly  26  can pivot relative to the fork support arm  19  as illustrated by the arc  50 .  
         [0028]     A jack support member  37  is welded to the top of the top pipe  13 .  
         [0029]     A jack support bracket  38  is welded to the top of the upper control arm  20 . Interconnected between the jack support bracket  38  and the jack support member  37  is a jack mechanism  39  including a jack crank  40  and a cable  41 .  
         [0030]     With reference to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , using the jack mechanism  39 , the fork assembly  26  can easily be raised or lowered to the ground  42 , and latched at any desired height.  
         [0031]     A heavy or awkward load, such as a log (not shown), can be loaded onto the fork assembly  26 , and then pivoted right or left, and be rotated around the support pole  11  with very little effort.  
         [0032]     When a log is inserted into a stove, the log and forks  27  and  28  can be lowered at any desired position, and the forks  27  and  28  pulled out leaving the log in the stove (not shown).  
         [0033]     In addition to raising and lowering the log, the forks  27  and  28  can be tilted to either side of the stove to dump the log by releasing the fork release handle  32 .  
         [0034]     It should be noted in  FIG. 3 , how the fork assembly  26  can be rotated and twisted 360° if necessary to dump the load.  
         [0035]     There has been illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described hereinabove only a preferred embodiment of the unique and novel apparatus in accordance with the present invention which can be constructed in many different sizes, shapes, and arrangements.  
         [0036]     It will also become apparent to those skilled in this particular area of technology, that although the preferred embodiment has been described assisting with the loading of logs into an outdoor work boiler, many other use of this apparatus are also contemplated.  
         [0037]     It should be understood that many changes, modifications, variations, and other uses and applications will become apparent to those persons skilled in this particular area of technology and to other persons after having been exposed to the present patent specification and the accompanying drawings.  
         [0038]     Any and all changes, modifications, variations and other uses and applications which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention are therefore covered by and embraced within the present invention and patent claims set forth hereinbelow.