Hoisting device

• US 8,757,693 B2
• Filed: 09/14/2012
• Issued: 06/24/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jergens, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Jergens, Inc.
• Inventors: Fuller, Harry P., Stapulionis, Sean A., Taylor, Darel R., Khamphilapanyo, Touby
• Primary Examiner(s): KRAMER, DEAN J
• Application Number:
  US13/618,303
• Publication Number:
  US 20130082477A1
• Time in Patent Office: 648 Days
• Field of Search: 294/215, 294/82.1, 403/78, 403/164
• US Class Current: 294/215
• CPC Class Codes: B66C 1/66 for engaging holes, recesses, or abutments on articles specially provided for facilitating handling thereof
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/32213 Articulate joint is a swivel
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/32975 Rotatable

Abstract

A hoisting device and method of making the same including a hoist body having an inwardly extending post pocket that includes an inwardly facing body groove extending about a post pocket axis. The hoist body further includes an access opening in communication with the body groove. The hoisting device further including a post having a post head that has an outwardly extending post groove configured to functionally align with the body groove of the body such that the two groove are in functional alignment with one another when in an assembled position. The access opening allowing a plurality of bearings to be directed into the bearing groove when the post is in assembled position within the bearing pocket. The hoist device further includes a plug to selectively close the access opening thereby maintaining the plurality of bearings in the bearing grooves.

Claims

1. A hoisting device for use as a lifting device and/or securing device, the hoisting device comprising a hoist body having a first fastening device to secure the hoist body relative to a first associated object and an elongated post pocket extending inwardly from a first end, the post pocket having an inwardly facing body groove extending at least partially about a post pocket axis, the hoist body further comprising an outer surface with a bearing opening extending inwardly from the outer surface of the body and in communication with the body groove, the bearing opening being configured to allow passage of one or more bearings from the outer surface to the body groove, the hoisting device further includes a post having a second fastening device to secure the post relative to a second associated object and a post head, the post pocket being shaped to receive at least a portion of the post head in an assembled position, the post head including an outwardly facing post groove and the post groove being configured to functionally align with the body groove when in the assembled position within the post pocket, the post groove and the body groove together forming a bearing groove, the bearing opening allowing access to the bearing groove thereby allowing the one or more bearings to be directed into the bearing groove when the post is in the assembled position within the post pocket, the hoisting device further including a plug to close the bearing opening thereby maintaining the one or more bearings in the bearing groove, the one or more bearings in the bearing groove securing the post head within the post pocket the second fastening device includes a threaded fastening device, the post further including a tool receiving configuration to allow rotation of the post relative to the second associated object, the tool receiving configuration includes a tool receiving configuration on the post head, the hoist body further including a second end spaced from the first end, the second end including a tool passage opening providing tool access to the tool receiving configuration on the post head when the hoisting device is in the assembled position thereby allowing selective rotation of the post by an associated tool, the first fastening device includes a transverse opening that is transverse to the post pocket axis, the tool passage opening including a first and a second tool passage opening on either side of the transverse opening.

2. The hoisting device according to claim 1, wherein the one or more bearings in the bearing groove securing the post head within the post pocket allows relative rotation of the post about the post pocket axis.

3. The hoisting device according to claim 1, wherein the elongated pocket is coaxial to the post pocket axis, the inwardly facing post groove being an annular groove extending 360 degrees about the post pocket axis.

4. The hoisting device according to claim 1, wherein the threaded fastening device is a threaded post.

5. The hoisting device according to claim 1, wherein the second fastening device is a threaded opening.

6. The hoisting device according to claim 1, wherein the second fastening device further includes a collar surround the threaded fastening device.

7. The hoisting device according to claim 6, wherein the threaded fastening device is a threaded post.

8. The hoisting device according to claim 1, wherein the first fastening device further includes a ring selectively attachable to the transverse opening.

9. The hoisting device according to claim 1, wherein the one or more bearings are a plurality of spherical ball bearings.

10. A hoisting device for use as a lifting device and/or securing device, the hoisting device comprising a hoist body having a first fastening device to secure the hoist body relative to a first associated object and an elongated post pocket extending inwardly from a first end, the post pocket having an inwardly facing body groove extending at least partially about a post pocket axis, the hoist body further comprising an outer surface with a bearing opening extending inwardly from the outer surface of the body and in communication with the body groove, the bearing opening being configured to allow passage of one or more bearings from the outer surface to the body groove, the hoisting device further includes a post having a second fastening device to secure the post relative to a second associated object and a post head, the post pocket being shaped to receive at least a portion of the post head in an assembled position, the post head including an outwardly facing post groove and the post groove being configured to functionally align with the body groove when in the assembled position within the post pocket, the post groove and the body groove together forming a bearing groove, the bearing opening allowing access to the bearing groove thereby allowing the one or more bearings to be directed into the bearing groove when the post is in the assembled position within the post pocket, the hoisting device further including a plug to close the bearing opening thereby maintaining the one or more bearings in the bearing groove, the one or more bearings in the bearing groove securing the post head within the post pocket, the post extends between a first post end and a second post end, the second fastening device facing the second post end and the post head facing the first post end, the post head including a conical post portion and a cylindrical post portion, the cylindrical post portion including the outwardly facing post groove, the elongated post pocket including a conical pocket portion shaped to receive the conical post portion.

11. The hoisting device according to claim 10, wherein the conical post portion is adjacent to the first post end and the cylindrical post portion is between the conical portion and the second post end, the post further including a collar adjacent to the cylindrical post portion, the collar being larger than the elongated post pocket and covering the elongated post pocket.

12. The hoisting device according to claim 11, wherein the collar has a circumferential edge and the edge includes a flange facing the first end and partially forming an annular groove facing the first end, the hoist body including a ridge and the ridge at least partially penetrating the annular groove when in the assembled position.

13. A hoisting device for use as a lifting device and/or securing device, the hoisting device comprising a hoist body having a first fastening device to secure the hoist body relative to a first associated object and an elongated post pocket extending inwardly from a first end, the post pocket having an inwardly facing body groove extending at least partially about a post pocket axis, the hoist body further comprising an outer surface with a bearing opening extending inwardly from the outer surface of the body and in communication with the body groove, the bearing opening being configured to allow passage of one or more bearings from the outer surface to the body groove, the hoisting device further includes a post having a second fastening device to secure the post relative to a second associated object and a post head, the post pocket being shaped to receive at least a portion of the post head in an assembled position, the post head including an outwardly facing post groove and the post groove being configured to functionally align with the body groove when in the assembled position within the post pocket, the post groove and the body groove together forming a bearing groove, the bearing opening allowing access to the bearing groove thereby allowing the one or more bearings to be directed into the bearing groove when the post is in the assembled position within the post pocket, the hoisting device further including a plug to close the bearing opening thereby maintaining the one or more bearings in the bearing groove, the one or more bearings in the bearing groove securing the post head within the post pocket, the hoisting device further including a spring loaded locking feature actuatable between a locked condition and an unlocked condition, when in the locked condition, the locking feature preventing relative rotation between the hoist body and the post such that rotation of the hoist body is transmitted to the post, when in the unlocked condition, the hoist body moving relative to the post.

14. A hoisting device for use as a lifting device and/or securing device, the hoisting device comprising a hoist body having a first fastening device to secure the hoist body relative to a first associated object and an elongated post pocket extending inwardly from a first end, the post pocket having an inwardly facing body groove extending at least partially about a post pocket axis, the hoist body further comprising an outer surface with a bearing opening extending inwardly from the outer surface of the body and in communication with the body groove, the bearing opening being configured to allow passage of one or more bearings from the outer surface to the body groove, the hoisting device further includes a post having a second fastening device to secure the post relative to a second associated object and a post head, the post pocket being shaped to receive at least a portion of the post head in an assembled position, the post head including an outwardly facing post groove and the post groove being configured to functionally align with the body groove when in the assembled position within the post pocket, the post groove and the body groove together forming a bearing groove, the bearing opening allowing access to the bearing groove thereby allowing the one or more bearings to be directed into the bearing groove when the post is in the assembled position within the post pocket, the hoisting device further including a plug to close the bearing opening thereby maintaining the one or more bearings in the bearing groove, the one or more bearings in the bearing groove securing the post head within the post pocket, a locking feature actuatable between a locked condition and an unlocked condition, when in the locked condition, the locking feature preventing relative rotation between the hoist body and the post such that rotation of the hoist body is transmitted to the post, when in the unlocked condition, the hoist body moving relative to the post, the locking feature includes an actuation button fixed relative to the hoist body and a locking pin in communication with the actuation button, the post include at least one locking feature shaped to receive the locking pin to prevent the relative rotation.

15. The hoisting device according to claim 14, wherein the at least one locking feature includes a plurality of openings circumferentially spaced about a post axis, each of the plurality of openings being shaped to receive the locking pin to prevent the relative rotation.

16. A hoisting device for use as a lifting device and/or securing device, the hoisting device comprising a hoist body having a first fastening device to secure the hoist body relative to a first associated object and an elongated post pocket extending inwardly from a first end, the post pocket having an inwardly facing body groove extending at least partially about a post pocket axis, the hoist body further comprising an outer surface with a bearing opening extending inwardly from the outer surface of the body and in communication with the body groove, the bearing opening being configured to allow passage of one or more bearings from the outer surface to the body groove, the hoisting device further includes a post having a second fastening device to secure the post relative to a second associated object and a post head, the post pocket being shaped to receive at least a portion of the post head in an assembled position, the post head including an outwardly facing post groove and the post groove being configured to functionally align with the body groove when in the assembled position within the post pocket, the post groove and the body groove together forming a bearing groove, the bearing opening allowing access to the bearing groove thereby allowing the one or more bearings to be directed into the bearing groove when the post is in the assembled position within the post pocket, the hoisting device further including a plug to close the bearing opening thereby maintaining the one or more bearings in the bearing groove, the one or more bearings in the bearing groove securing the post head within the post pocket, the post pocked and head being shaped to prevent exact alignment between the post groove and the body groove such that the functional alignment of the bearing groove is an axial misalignment between the post groove and the body groove wherein the post pocket is shaped to create the axial misalignment by restricting the portion of the post head that can enter the post pocket such that the post grove is closer to the first end of the post pocket than the body grove when in the assembled position and the axial misalignment being maintained whether or not an associated load is applied to the hoisting device, the axial misalignment to seat the one or more bearings in the bearing groove.

17. A method of assembling a hoisting device for use as a lifting device and/or securing device, the method including the steps of:

providing a hoist body having a first fastening device to secure the body relative to a first associated object and an elongated post pocket extending inwardly from a first end, the post pocket having an inwardly facing body groove extending at least partially about a post pocket axis, the hoist body further comprising an outer surface with a bearing opening extending inwardly from the outer surface of the body and in communication with the body groove, the bearing opening being configured to allow the passage of one or more bearings from the outer surface to the body groove;

providing a post having a second fastening device to secure the post relative to a second associated object and a post head and the post pocket being shaped to receive at least a portion of the post head in an assembled position, the post head including an outwardly facing post groove and the post groove being configured to functionally align with the body groove when in the assembled position within the post pocket;

providing a plurality of bearings;

providing a plug to selectively close the bearing opening;

assembling the post and hoist body into the assembled position by positioning the post head into the post pocket such that the post groove and the body groove together form a bearing groove;

inserting the plurality of bearings into the bearing opening to at least partially fill the bearing groove;

securing the plug in the bearing opening to maintain the plurality of bearings within the bearing groove, the plurality of bearings in the bearing groove securing the post head within the post pocket; and

providing a tool receiving configuration on the post head and providing a tool passage opening in the hoist body thereby allowing selective rotation of the post, wherein the first fastening device includes transverse opening that is transverse to the post pocket axis, the tool passage opening including a first and a second tool passage opening on either side of the transverse opening.

18. The method according to claim 17, further including the steps of providing a ring selectively attachable to the transverse opening and securing the ring to the transverse opening.

19. A hoisting device for use as a lifting device and/or securing device, the hoisting device comprising a hoist body having a first fastening device to secure the hoist body relative to a first associated object and an elongated post pocket extending inwardly from a first end, the hoist body further including a second end spaced from the first end, the post pocket having an inwardly facing body groove extending at least partially about a post pocket axis, the hoist body further comprising an outer surface with a bearing opening extending inwardly from the outer surface of the body and in communication with the body groove, the bearing opening being configured to allow passage of one or more bearings from the outer surface to the body groove, the hoisting device further includes a post having a second fastening device that includes a threaded arrangement to threadingly secure the post relative to a second associated object and a post head, the post head having a tool receiving configuration to allow rotation of the post relative to the second associated object, the post pocket being shaped to receive at least a portion of the post head in an assembled position wherein the tool receiving configuration is within the post pocket, the second end including a tool passage opening providing tool access to the post pocket and the tool receiving configuration on the post head within the post pocket when the hoisting device is in the assembled position thereby allowing selective rotation of the post by an associated tool, the post head including an outwardly facing post groove and the post groove being configured to functionally align with the body groove when in the assembled position within the post pocket, the post groove and the body groove together forming a bearing groove, the bearing opening allowing access to the bearing groove thereby allowing the one or more bearings to be directed into the bearing groove when the post is in the assembled position within the post pocket, the hoisting device further including a plug to close the bearing opening thereby maintaining the one or more bearings in the bearing groove, the one or more bearings in the bearing groove securing the post head within the post pocket.