Patent ID: 7240621

Claim:
A personal lift device comprising: a motor having an output shaft; a gearing system operatively connected to said output shaft for increasing torque; a strap for suspending a weight a spool for suspending said strap and for extending and retracting said strap; a drive connection between said gearing system and said spool to permit said motor to drive said spool; and a brake, associated with said spool to prevent unwanted extension of said strap from said spool, when a force is applied to said strap; wherein the brake creates a braking force through frictional contact between two surfaces; wherein the gearing system is efficient enough to permit the spool to back drive, in the absence of the brake; wherein said spool transmits at least some of said force applied to said strap onto said frictional contact surfaces; wherein a braking force generated by said frictional contact is proportional to said force applied to said strap; and wherein said motor, through said gearing system, generates enough force to overcome said braking force to extend said strap.