Patent Document

[0001]    The present invention relates to lifting devices, and in particular, to lifting devices for hot water heaters. This application claims the benefit of Provisional Application No. 61/826,305 filed May 22, 2013, which is incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Nearly every household in modern society utilizes a hot water heater to provide hot water. Hot water heaters are very heavy. A 50 gallon hot water heater can weight 150 lbs., empty. Hot water heaters can be expected to last between 6-9 years on average before a replacement is needed. Because hot water heaters are very heavy, large, cumbersome, and often elevated on a stand or platform it can be extremely difficult for one man or even two men to properly install the heater. Injury to installers is very common and very costly. 
         [0003]    What is needed is a better lifting device for hot water heaters. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The present invention provides a one-man operable hot water heater lifting device. An inner lifter arm is pivotally connected to an extendable extension arm. A pivot stabilizer arm is connected between the inner lifter arm and the inner extension arm. A plurality of outer lifter arms are connected to the inner lifter arm. A plurality of wheels is pivotally connected to the lifting device. The outer lifter arms are connected to the hot water heater and the hot water heater is lifted by pressing downward on the outer extension arm. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]      FIG. 1  shows a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0006]      FIGS. 2A and 2B  show a preferred hot water heater wrapped with a strap. 
           [0007]      FIGS. 3-6  show details on wrapping a preferred hot water heater. 
           [0008]      FIGS. 7-9  show a preferred method of using the present invention. 
           [0009]      FIGS. 10-17  show a preferred method for disassembling and then reassembling the lifting device for easy transport and storage. 
           [0010]      FIGS. 18-21  show another preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 22  shows another preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0012]      FIG. 1  shows a preferred embodiment of the present invention. One-man operated lifter  1  is utilized to lift hot water heater  2  onto elevated platform  3 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , pan  4  sits on top of table  3  and lifter  1  is able to lift heater  2  over the top edge of pan  4  so that heater  2  is placed inside pan  4 . Preferably, lifter  1  is fabricated from lightweight, strong aluminum and weighs approximately 65 pounds. 
         [0013]    Prior to lifting heater  2 , strap  5  is wrapped around heater  2  as shown.  FIG. 2A  shows further details of strap  5  as it is wrapped around heater  2 . Protective pads  9  are placed underneath strap  5  to protect heater  2 . The ends of strap  5  are looped around water heater pipe nipples  6  (see also  FIG. 3 ) utilizing hooks  7 . Ratchet  8  is utilized to tighten strap  5  securely around heater  2  (see also  FIG. 4 ). 
         [0014]    After strap  5  is secured around heater  2 , lifter  1  is connected to rings  9   b  of strap  5  ( FIG. 5 ).  FIG. 5  shows ring  9   b  connected to strap  5 . Ring  9   b  connects to loop  10  of lifter  1  as shown.  FIG. 6  shows a front view of inner lifter arm  14 , outer lifting arm holding tubes  11   b.  Outer lifting arms  11  are slid into outer lifting arm connector tubes  11   b  and are connected to straps  5  of heater  2 . 
       Lifting the Heater 
       [0015]    In  FIG. 7  the user has pressed downward on outer extension arm  12 C of lifter  1  to cause heater  2  to be lifted. Pivot stabilizer arms  13  are shown connected to inner extension arm  12   b.  In one preferred embodiment the distance from the far end of outer extension arm  12 C to wheels  15  is approximately 11 feet, the distance from wheels  15  to the far ends of outer lifting arms  11  is approximately 5½ feet. Connecting arms  13  preferably hold inner lifter arm  14  and inner extension arm  12   b  separated at an angle of approximately 110-125 degrees. 
         [0016]      FIG. 8  shows pivot stabilizer arms  13  connected to inner extension arm  12   b  and inner lifter arm  14 . Pivot stabilizer arms  13  hold inner lifter arm  14  rigid at a preferred angle for lifting, as shown in  FIG. 8 . 
         [0017]    Lifting arms  11  are lifting heater  2  off the ground ( FIG. 8 ). The user has pushed lifter  1  towards table  3  and lifter  1  has rolled towards table  3  on wheels  15 . Heater  2  is positioned above pan  4  on table  3 . 
         [0018]    In  FIG. 9  the user has eased up downward force on outer extension arm  12 C which has caused heater  2  to be lowered into pan  4  on table  3 . Heater  2  is now in the correct position on table  3  inside pan  4 . The user now will disconnect lifter  1  from straps  5  and then remove straps  5  from heater  2 . 
       Disassembling the Lifter for Easy Storage and Transport 
       [0019]    After heater  2  has been installed the user will need to disassemble lifter  1  so that he can easily roll it to his vehicle, place it inside the vehicle and transport it to the next job location. 
         [0020]    In  FIG. 10 , the user has removed outer lifter arms  11  from outer lifter arm connector tubes  26  and has set them aside. 
         [0021]    In  FIG. 11  the user has disconnected inner lifter arm  14  from pivot stabilizer arms  13  by removing connector pins. The user has positioned inner lifter arm  14  on the ground as shown. 
         [0022]    In  FIG. 12  the user has disconnected inner extension arm  12   b  from pivot stabilizer arms  13  by removing connector pins. The user has positioned inner extension arm  12   b  on the ground as shown and has set pivot stabilizer arms  13  aside. 
         [0023]    In  FIG. 13 , the user has removed the connector pin that holds middle extension arm  12 A and outer extension arm  12 C in an extended position attached to inner extension arm  12   b . The user is pushing middle extension arms  12 A and outer extension arm  12 C inside inner extension arm  12   b  for storage. 
         [0024]    In  FIG. 14  the user has pivoted pivotally attached inner extension arm  12   b  so that it is lying on top of inner lifter arm  14 . The user has inserted connector pin  93  to secure inner extension arm  12   b  to inner lifter arm  14 . 
         [0025]    In  FIG. 15  the user has inserted outer lifter arms  11  into connector tubes  26  of inner lifter arm  14 . Outer lifter arms  11  are held in place by connector pins  94 . Outer lifter arms  11  allow for lifter  1  to be stored upright as shown. 
         [0026]    In  FIGS. 16 and 17  the user has connected pivot stabilizer arms  13  to inner extension arm  12   b  by using connector pins  95 .  FIG. 17  shows lifter  1  fully disassembled and then reassembled so that it is ready for easy transport. The user can now easily roll lifter  1  to his vehicle for storage and transport. 
       Other Preferred Embodiment 
       [0027]      FIG. 18  shows another preferred embodiment of the present invention. For lifter  100 , inner extension arm  52   b  is pivotally connected to inner lifter arm  102 . Outer extension arms  11  are inserted into outer lifter arm tubes  102 A and  102 B, as shown. 
         [0028]    Lifter  100  includes pivot stabilizer arm  101 . Pivot stabilizer arm  101  is preferably a flexible cable that is threaded through holes in inner lifter arm  102  and connected to connection pins  105 . 
         [0029]    Flexible cable  101  allows for easier assembly and disassembly of lifter  100 . For example, in  FIG. 19  the user has removed outer lifter arms  11  and has pinned them to inner lifter arm  102 . Outer lifter arms  11  hold lifter  100  upright as shown. 
         [0030]    In  FIG. 20  the user has pivoted inner extension arm  52   b  upward and has pinned it to inner lifter arm  102  Likewise the user has clasped pivot stabilizer arm  101  to inner extension arm  52   b  as shown. Lifter  100  is now ready to me transported and stored. 
       Other Preferred Embodiment 
       [0031]      FIG. 22  shows another preferred embodiment of the present invention. In  FIG. 22  inner lifter arms  102  have been separated by approximately 8 inches. This allows for greater separation of outer lifter arms  11  which is important when lifting very large hot water heaters.  FIG. 21  shows closer separation of inner lifter arms  102  similar to that depicted in  FIG. 18 . 
         [0032]    Although the above-preferred embodiments have been described with specificity, persons skilled in this art will recognize that many changes to the specific embodiments disclosed above could be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, it is possible to use rings  77  in place of hooks  7 . It is also possible to substitute cam buckles  78  for ratchets  8  (see  FIG. 2B ). Therefore, the attached claims and their legal equivalents should determine the scope of the invention.

Technology Category: b