Patent ID: 7914017

Claim:
A portable apparatus for manually transporting items, the apparatus including a powered lifting feature, said apparatus comprising: a first vertically extending support column defining an upper portion and a lower portion, said first vertically extending support column housing a first vertical motion facilitator; a second vertically extending support column defining an upper portion and a lower portion, said second vertically extending support column housing a second vertical motion facilitator; a lower support member defining a first end and an opposing second end wherein said first end is mechanically associated with the lower portion of said first vertically extending support column and wherein said second end is mechanically associated with the lower portion of said second vertically extending support column; a first wheel carried adjacent to the lower portion of said first vertically extending support column; a second wheel carried adjacent to the lower portion of said second vertically extending support column; a handle portion defining a first handle end and a second handle end, wherein said first handle end is mechanically associated with the upper portion of said first vertically extending support column and wherein said second handle end is mechanically associated with the upper portion of said second vertically extending support column; a first vertical motion facilitator interface movably associated with said first vertical motion facilitator; a second vertical motion facilitator interface movably associated with said second vertical motion facilitator; a tray extending transversely from said vertically extending support columns, said tray mechanically associated with each vertical motion facilitator interface; a force-to-movement converter mechanically associated with said first vertical motion facilitator and said second vertical motion facilitator, said force-to-movement converter comprising a gearing assembly configured for transferring movement from said force-to-movement converter to said first vertical motion facilitator and said second vertical motion facilitator; a power source associated with said force-to-movement converter; a controller electrically associated with said force to movement converter and said power source, said controller configured for selectively activating said force-to-movement converter so that said vertical motion facilitators are selectively activated to move said tray in a desired direction; and wherein at least one of (a) said gearing assembly, and (b) at least one of said vertical motion facilitator interfaces, are configured to provide for self-breaking so that there is substantially no tray movement after the force-to-movement converter is deactivated.