Lifting Apparatus
First Claim
1. A lifting apparatus, comprising:
- a base having a proximal end, a distal end, a first pair of generally parallel laterally offset channels with open top ends, and a second pair of generally parallel laterally offset channels with open top ends;
a first pair of rotatable arms extending inside the first pair of channels;
a second pair of rotatable arms extending inside the second pair of channels;
one arm of the first pair of arms and one arm of the second pair of arms rotating about a generally common first axis;
the other arm of the first pair of arms and the other arm of the second pair of arms rotating about a generally common second axis;
the first and second pairs of arms being rotatable in concert between lowered and raised positions;
the arms of the first pair of arms being generally laterally adjacent one another when at the lowered position;
the arms of the second pair of arms being generally laterally adjacent one another when at the lowered position;
a receiving portion;
one arm of the first pair of arms and one arm of the second pair of arms being rotatably coupled to the receiving portion about a generally common third axis;
the other arm of the first pair of arms and the other arm of the second pair of arms being rotatably coupled to the receiving portion about a generally common fourth axis;
the first and second axes being separated by a distance generally equal to a distance between the third and fourth axes.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
One disclosed lifting apparatus includes a base, a receiving portion, and a first pair of laterally offset arms. The base has proximal and distal ends, and the laterally offset arms are rotatably coupled to the base for movement between lowered and raised positions. The arms are also rotatably coupled to the receiving portion, and the receiving portion is relatively near the base distal end when the arms are at the lowered position. The arms of the first pair of arms do not share a common axis of rotation with one another. Further, a height of the first pair of arms when at the lowered position is less than the sum of: (a) a thickness of one arm of the first pair of arms; (b) a thickness of the other arm of the first pair of arms; and (c) a height of the base at the distal end.
21 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A lifting apparatus, comprising:
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a base having a proximal end, a distal end, a first pair of generally parallel laterally offset channels with open top ends, and a second pair of generally parallel laterally offset channels with open top ends; a first pair of rotatable arms extending inside the first pair of channels; a second pair of rotatable arms extending inside the second pair of channels;
one arm of the first pair of arms and one arm of the second pair of arms rotating about a generally common first axis;
the other arm of the first pair of arms and the other arm of the second pair of arms rotating about a generally common second axis;
the first and second pairs of arms being rotatable in concert between lowered and raised positions;
the arms of the first pair of arms being generally laterally adjacent one another when at the lowered position;
the arms of the second pair of arms being generally laterally adjacent one another when at the lowered position;a receiving portion;
one arm of the first pair of arms and one arm of the second pair of arms being rotatably coupled to the receiving portion about a generally common third axis;
the other arm of the first pair of arms and the other arm of the second pair of arms being rotatably coupled to the receiving portion about a generally common fourth axis;
the first and second axes being separated by a distance generally equal to a distance between the third and fourth axes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A low-clearance lifting apparatus, comprising:
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a base having a proximal end and a distal end; a receiving portion; and a first pair of laterally offset arms rotatably coupled to the base for movement between lowered and raised positions, the first pair of arms being rotatably coupled to the receiving portion, the receiving portion being relatively near the base distal end when the first pair of arms is at the lowered position, the arms of the first pair of arms not sharing a common axis of rotation with one another; wherein a height of the first pair of arms when at the lowered position is less than the sum of; (a) a thickness of one arm of the first pair of arms; (b) a thickness of the other arm of the first pair of arms; and (c) a height of the base at the distal end. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A lifting apparatus, comprising:
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a base having a proximal end and a distal end; a receiving portion; and first and second arms rotatably coupled to the base for movement between lowered and raised positions, the first and second arms being coupled to the receiving portion, the receiving portion being relatively near the base distal end when the first and second arms are at the lowered position, the receiving portion being relatively distant to the base distal end when the first and second arms are at the raised position.
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Specification