Hands-free lifting and carrying apparatus

• US 20090014483A1
• Filed: 07/13/2007
• Published: 01/15/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jonathan G. Wilson, Robert D. Green
• Original Assignee: Jonathan G. Wilson, Robert D. Green
• Inventors: Green, Robert D., Wilson, Jonathan G.
• Granted Patent: US 8,066,161 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 224/157
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 13/0007 Garments with built-in harnesses safety harnesses A62B35/00
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 3/14 Carrying-straps; Pack-carrying harnesses
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 5/068 Connections to the body for moving the cart, e.g. harnesses
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 7/12 Load carriers, e.g. hooks, slings, harness, gloves, modified for load carrying

Abstract

A hands-free rescue/carrying apparatus includes at least one body-worn garment having a front facing side and a rear facing side, and at least one adjustable lift mechanism attached to the at least one body-worn garment. The at least one lift mechanism is attachable to an article to be supported and is designed to provide a substantial mechanical advantage as to the weight of the article, when employed. Advantageously, the garment having the at least one lift mechanism permits selective dynamic lift capability of the article to which it is attached and secured in a substantially hands-free manner.

Claims

1. A hands-free rescue/carrying apparatus comprising:

at least one body-worn garment having a front facing side and a rear facing side; and

at least one adjustable lift mechanism attached to said at least one body-worn garment, said at least one lift mechanism being attachable to an article to be supported by said at least one lift mechanism.

2. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said at least one lift mechanism includes a first block and a second block axially aligned with one another, each of said first and second blocks including at least one pair of pulleys and a cable rove therethrough.

3. An apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein said first block of said at least one lift mechanism is attached to said body-worn garment and the second block of said at least one lift mechanism is attachable to an article to be lifted by said at least one lift mechanism.

4. An apparatus as recited in claim 3, wherein said lift mechanism is releasably attached to said at least one garment.

5. An apparatus as recited in claim 3, wherein an extending end of said cable is pulled by a wearer of said garment to control the lifting of a connected article, said at least one lift mechanism further including a locking mechanism to lock the position of an extending end of said cable in one axial direction.

6. An apparatus as recited in claim 5, wherein said locking mechanism is selectively releasable to permit vertical adjustment of a supported article while the garment is worn.

7. An apparatus as recited in claim 5, including a pair of body-worn garments wearable by at least two persons, each of said body-worn garments including at least one lift mechanism that is attached to said garment and to an article, respectively.

8. An apparatus as recited in claim 7, wherein an extending end of a cable rove through each said lift mechanism is acted upon to control the vertical movement of a supported article, each lift mechanism includes a locking mechanism to lock the extending end of said cable in one direction.

9. An apparatus as recited in claim 8, wherein each said locking mechanism is selectively releasable to permit vertical adjustment of a supported article by each individual.

10. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said at least one body worn garment is configured such that an article can be interchangeably and selectively attachable to either the front facing side or the rear facing side of said at least one garment.

11. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said supported article is a litter.

12. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said lift mechanism includes carabineers attached to at least one of said first and second blocks to releasably engage at least one of said article and said garment.

13. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said at least one lift mechanism is configured to be attached to multiple types of articles for lifting and carrying thereof.

14. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said at least one body worn garment includes at least one pivoting support to permit flexion of said garment while said garment is worn.

15. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said at least one body worn garment can be adjustably fitted to the wearer thereof.

16. An apparatus as recited in claim 14, wherein each of said first block and said second block are rotatably supported about a common axis said lift mechanism.

26. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, including means for supporting a litter frame against said garment and maintaining a specific vertical height.

27. An apparatus as recited in claim 26, wherein said article supporting means includes at least one hook member extending from a facing side of said garment, the vertical position of said at least one hook member being selectively adjustable.

28. An apparatus as recited in claim 27, wherein said at least one hook member is movably disposed in a vertical channel provide on said garment.

29. An apparatus as recited in claim 27, wherein said at least one hook member is attached to between horizontal spaced strap members provided on said garment.

30. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said garment includes at least one pocket.

31. An apparatus as recited in claim 30, wherein at least a portion of said lift mechanism is disposed within said pocket.

32. An apparatus as recited in claim 30, wherein said at least one pocket is an internal pocket and is sized to retain at least one liner or insert therein.

33. An apparatus as recited in claim 31 wherein said portion of said lift mechanism includes an extending end of said rove cable.

34. An apparatus as recited in claim 31, wherein said portion of said lift mechanism includes at least one block of said lift mechanism.

35. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said at least one garment supports and hosts at least one IV attachment for use with injured individuals.

17. A dynamic lifting apparatus for supporting an article between at least two persons, said lifting apparatus comprising:

a first garment wearable by a first person;

a second garment wearable by a second person, wherein each of said first and second garments includes;

article securing means to permit securement of an article to be lifted to each of said garments; and

at least one adjustable lifting mechanism attachable to said first garment and said second garment for lifting and selectively adjusting the relative position of said lifted article, wherein said adjustable lifting mechanism permits the vertical position of said article to be selectively and dynamically adjusted while said article is being carried between said first and second person without first requiring removal of said garments.

18. An apparatus as recited in claim 17, wherein said article to be supported is a rescue support member.

19. An apparatus as recited in claim 17, wherein said article to be supported is a litter.

20. An apparatus as recited in claim 17, wherein said article to be supported is a wheelchair.

21. An apparatus as recited in claim 17, wherein said apparatus is a rescue apparatus.

22. An apparatus as recited in claim 17, wherein said adjustable lifting mechanism comprises a pair of blocks axially aligned with one another, each of said blocks including a pair of axially defined pulleys, said arrangement forming a block and tackle and a cable rove through and between said blocks, wherein one block of said lift mechanism is attached to said article securing means.

23. An adjustable lift mechanism, said lift mechanism comprising:

a pair of axially disposed blocks, each of said blocks including at least one pulley and a cable rove through the blocks to create a block and tackle arrangement wherein one of said blocks is movable and the other of said blocks is fixed;

said movable block including a first connector to secure to an article to be lifted; and

said fixed block including a second connector and a locking device in which an extending end of said rove cable can be pulled in a first direction and said locking device prevents said end from moving in an opposite second direction, wherein said lift mechanism permits selective dynamic lifting capability of the article to which said first connector is attached.

24. A lift mechanism as recited in claim 23, wherein said first connector permits pivotal attachment to said body-worn garment.

25. A lift mechanism as recited in claim 23, wherein said first connector is attached to a swivel.