Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
NON-PROVISIONAL UTILIYT PATENT
IN-VEHICLE TABULAR LIFTER FOR MOBILE REPAIRS
Gavin Bau Tran Duong
12715 Warden Ave
Stouffville Ontario
Canada L4A4L1
Date Recue/Date Received 2022-06-09
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No.
63233395 filed on August
16, 2021.
FIELD
[0001] The present disclosure is in the field of mechanical engineering, small
engine machine repair,
mechanical lifts, and especially, a small engine machine tabular lifter
embedded inside a service vehicle
for the purpose of repairing small engine machines like snowblowers,
lawnmowers, and tractors at
client's location under all weather conditions.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Lawnmowers and snow blowers are examples of machines with small
internal combustion
engines used at home or commercially. When they require maintenance or repair
work, e.g., oil changes,
tire/part repairs or replacement, washing, blade changes, etc., such machines
may be too heavy and/or
large to be conveniently transported to a repair shop. Therefore, a means to
repair those machines at the
client's location (on-site repairs) is required. Hereinafter, the term 'on-
site repairs' is interchangeable
with 'on-spot repairs' and 'mobile repairs'.
[0003] Normal jacks may be used for portable or at-home repairs. However, they
are less useful for
repairing smaller lawnmowers and snow blowers since they cannot raise the
machine high enough to
access the engine from the underside. In the case of two-wheeled snow blowers,
car jacks simply cannot
be properly placed to lift the entire machine.
[0004] A lift is more suitable for this purpose; however, lifts are usually
larger and are either stationary
(e.g., car lift) or not designed to travel long distances (i.e., forklift).
One exception is a lift table, which is
a device that employs a scissors mechanism to raise or lower goods or people;
however, it still requires
an individual to initially lift the lawnmower or a different machine onto the
table for repairs. Hereinafter,
the term 'lift' is interchangeable with 'lifter'; the term 'user' explicitly
refers to an operator of the lifter
and trained mechanic technician who repairs a small engine machine.
[0005] In summary, there is a lack of lifts that can be ideally used for
repairing machines at a customer's
location. Existing tools or machines for on-site repairs also face several
other challenges that make it less
ideal for fixing machines with small engines: (1) typical on-site repairs are
done outdoors, so the user is
at the mercy of certain environmental conditions, mainly bad weather
conditions (e.g., rain) and
temperature (e.g., extreme heat). (2) tabular lifters installation and
operation take up a large footprint and
Date Recue/Date Received 2022-06-09
a big deal. In other words, they take up more space within a storage
container, such as the rear cargo
compartment of a vehicle like a tailgate of a van. (3) existing tabular lifts
have no access to the engine
from underneath. This limits the repair work to a machine's top or side areas;
(4) the flexibility in repair
work may be limited in less ideal conditions. For example, existing lifters
cannot level a machine to be
repaired if the service vehicle is on an angle or slope. (5) the user may
require a non-disruptive (free
from external interruptions), quiet (free from loud noises like voices or
cars), or private (free from
spectators) work environment for on-site repairs.
[0006] Some lifters operate with a pulley mechanism via a winch or hoist with
a steel rope or chain.
Although they are considered interchangeable, those skilled in the art will
find it obvious that there are
key differences between the two. Mainly, a winch is used to pull objects
horizontally, while a hoist is
used to lift objects vertically. One factor in this difference is their
braking system: a winch uses a
dynamic braking system to allow the rope to spool in order to allow its gear
system to hold a load. For
example, if a car is towing a boat, the steel rope can move sideways to keep
hold of the boat as the car
moves. However, this makes most winches unstable for lifting; a hoist uses a
mechanical braking system,
which physically locks the rope to support the dead weight. Most pulley
lifters would use a hoist;
however, there are existing winches that can double as a hoist with the use of
the mechanical braking
system. In any case, there is also a risk of pulley lifts swinging or rotating
freely if not stabilized in place.
This puts the lifted object at risk of falling. Oftentimes, anything lifted by
a pulley would need to be
hand-guided. Some existing lifts have a screw or pin for extra stability;
however, they must be manually
inserted into a slot, which can be hard to pinpoint when the slot is not
visible. This results in wasted
time.
[0007] The present disclosure provides a new mobile lifter design in the form
of an in-vehicle small
engine machine tabular lifter inside a service vehicle for repairing small
engine machines/tools at the
client's location. The tabular lifter device improves upon the following
aspects: (1) improved
convenience; (2) improved space allocation; (3) increased stability; (4)
increased number of services; (5)
increased adaptability to different weather and environments conditions.
SUMMARY
[0008] The present disclosure describes a mobile tabular lifter embedded
inside a service vehicle for
repairing small engine machines or other tools under all environmental
conditions at a client's location.
The purpose is to provide portable on-spot repair services, especially for
relatively heavy small engine
machines like lawnmowers, snow blowers, tractors, and light utility vehicles.
The present disclosure
manifests as the following aspects: (1) a small footprint for installation and
operation within a vehicle;
Date Recue/Date Received 2022-06-09
(2) customizable adjustment of table/plate at various angles along the
sagittal and frontal planes; (3)
lifter stability implements like a spring-loaded locking pin/screw-based
locking pin and cylindrical
member; (4) a retractable and adjustable underside access hole; (5) increased
flexibility in repair
options; (6) protection or shelter for repairs in any area regardless of
distractions such as bad weather,
advert temperature, noise, and etc.
[0009] Generally, the embedded tabular lifter comprises only components that
have a small footprint: a
cylindrical lifter mast aligns against an interior wall of the service
vehicle, which takes up a minimal
amount of interior space; a very low-profile plate or table, which rests on
the floor of the vehicle's
interior space. This also takes up a minimal amount of useable space if the
lift is not being used; the
table or plate can also be lifted and rotated up to fold against the lifter
mast. As a result, the floor space
is freed up for other uses; a carriage and an anchor are nearly flushed to the
interior wall. The carriage is
connected to the cylindrical member along the lifter mast. The anchor is
connected to the carriage via a
joint. A winch raises the entire lifter via a steel rope and hook. A wired
remote is used to control the
lifter's operations.
[0010] Two main embodiments are present in the present disclosure, which are
defined by how they
implement their plate adjustment and locking mechanism: (1) the first main
embodiment, also called the
preferred embodiment, has a spring-loaded locking pin that automatically goes
into a pin slot on the
lifter mast. Pin switches are attached to side joints connecting the anchor
and carriage, allowing the
table/plate and anchor to tilt at a vertical angle along the sagittal plane;
(2) the second main
embodiment, also called the first alternative embodiment, has a lever on the
side of the lifter that adjusts
gears inside a modified carriage and anchor to adjust the lifter's angle along
the sagittal plane. The first
alternative embodiment has a screw-based pin that is inserted through the
carriage into a continuous
locking groove on the lifter mast.
[0011] An additional variant of the preferred embodiment, also called the
second alternative
embodiment, allows the lifter to pivot diagonally at an angle along a frontal
plane; it does so along a
backplane that is secured to the lifter mast. The lifter can be held in a
swung position by inserting an
anchor pin through the lifter's anchor and into one of the pin slots on the
backplane.
[0012] The lifter in the present disclosure is a type of pulley lift. The
lifter has implements for increased
stability, which is achieved with the following: a hollow cylindrical member
welded to the lifter, which
moves along the vertical height of the cylindrical lifter mast; the spring-
loaded locking pin or screw-
based pin mentioned above, which is fitted into a discrete slot or continuous
locking groove on the lifter
Date Recue/Date Received 2022-06-09
mast depending on the embodiment. In the second alternative embodiment, an
additional anchor pin is
used to secure the lifter when rotated at an angle along a frontal plane.
[0013] In an alternative version of either of the main embodiments, also known
as the third alternative
embodiment, the lifter plate has a repair access hole to allow the user to
access the underside of a small
engine machine. This access hole is protected by a sliding cover, which can be
moved to open partially
or completely; this makes the access hole adjustable.
[0014] The present disclosure allows for flexible repair options, which
manifests in a variety of ways:(1)
small engine machines of any size can be raised with the lifter: a whole snow
blower or the front wheels
or track of a tractor can be loaded onto the lifter; (2) the adjustable plate
aspect allows for the lifter to be
angled in a way that adapts to slopes or uneven surfaces so that the machine
can be loaded onto the
lifter at a relatively flat level.
[0015] The present disclosure also provides a protective shelter for the user
and a small engine
machine to form a private environment for repairing work. This shelter can be
used for protection
against a variety of interferences. The user can now repair a machine under
adverse natural
environmental conditions like bad weather (e.g., heavy rain, snow, or wind)
and extreme temperatures
(heat or cold). Additionally, the user can do repairs in a private and quiet
environment, away from
spectators and external noises (e.g., cars, voices, etc.).
[0016] By using this lifter device, the overall experience of performing on-
site repairs and maintenance
for small engine machines is improved greatly by achieving the following: (1)
improved convenience for
the customer since the repair is done at their location. Additionally, it
improves convenience for the user
repairing the machine; (2) increased service vehicle space utilization thanks
to the minimal footprint and
foldaway features (i.e., adjustable plate); (3) increase stability of the
lifter thanks to the stability
implements (i.e., locking pins and cylindrical member); (4) increased number
of services available for
repairing small engine machines. This is thanks to the general plate design
and the repair access hole; (5)
increase adaptability to different environments due to angling of the plate
and placement of repairs
inside the vehicle to protect from weather, noise, and other disruptors. This
is thanks to the flexible
repair options and protective shelter aspects.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further
understanding of the
invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this application,
illustrate embodiment(s) of
the present disclosure and, together with the description, serve to explain
the principle of the invention.
Date Recue/Date Received 2022-06-09
For simplicity and clarity, the figures of the present disclosure illustrate a
general manner of construction
of various embodiments. Descriptions and details of well-known features and
techniques may be
omitted to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the discussion of the present
disclosure's described
embodiments. It should be understood that the elements of the figures are not
necessarily drawn to
scale. Some elements' dimensions may be exaggerated relative to other elements
for enhancing the
understanding of described embodiments. In the drawings:
[0018] FIG. 1 illustrates side and front views showing a preferred embodiment
of an in-vehicle tabular
lifter in its unloaded position.
[0019] FIG. 2 illustrates side views of a first alternative embodiment of the
in-vehicle tabular lifter
tilting to a level position when the vehicle is situated on a slope.
[0020] FIG. 3 illustrates perspective and front views of a second alternative
embodiment of the in-
vehicle tabular lifter, where its carriage, anchor, and plate are tilted
diagonally at an angle along the
frontal plane.
[0021] FIG. 4 illustrates side views of the preferred embodiment of the in-
vehicle tabular lifter from its
lowered position to a raised position, then finally to a position with its
plate fully folded.
[0022] FIG. 5 illustrates perspective views of the tabular lifter's spring-
loaded locking pin from the
preferred embodiment, as well as a side view of the screw-based pin from the
tabular lifter's first
alternative embodiment.
[0023] FIG. 6 illustrates side views relating to how an in-vehicle tabular
lifter of the preferred
embodiment raises a lawnmower and tractor machine for on-site repairs.
[0024] FIG. 7 illustrates top and side views of a third alternative embodiment
of the in-vehicle tabular
lifter with a retractable underside repair access hole on the plate as well as
showing how a user can repair
a machine from its underside.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0025] The present disclosure describes a mobile tabular lifter embedded
inside a service vehicle for
repairing small engine machines or tools under all environmental conditions at
the client's location.
Various examples of the present invention are shown in the figures. However,
the present invention is
not limited to the illustrated embodiments. In the following description,
specific details are mentioned
to give a complete understanding of the present disclosure. However, it may
likely be evident to a
Date Recue/Date Received 2022-06-09
person of ordinary skill in the art; hence, the present disclosure may be
applied without mentioning
these specific details. The present disclosure is represented as few
embodiments; however, the disclosure
is not necessarily limited to the particular embodiments illustrated by the
figures or description below.
[0026] The language employed herein only describes particular embodiments;
however, it is not
limited to the disclosure's specific embodiments. The terms "they", "he/she",
or "he or she" are used
interchangeably because "they", "them", or "their" are considered singular
gender-neutral pronouns. The
terms "comprise" and/or "comprising" in this specification are intended to
specify the presence of
stated features, steps, operations, elements, and/or components; however, they
do not exclude the
presence or addition of other features, steps, operations, elements,
components, or groups.
[0027] Unless otherwise defined, all terminology used herein, including
technical and scientific terms,
have the same definition as what is commonly understood by a person of
ordinary skill in the art,
typically to whom this disclosure belongs. It will be further understood that
terms, such as those defined
in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having the same
meaning as defined in the
context of the relevant art and the present disclosure. Such terms should not
be construed in an overly
strict sense unless explicitly described herein. It should be understood that
multiple techniques and steps
are disclosed in the description, each with its own benefit. Each technique or
step can also be utilized in
conjunction with a single, multiple, or all of the other disclosed techniques
or steps. For brevity, the
description will avoid repeating each possible combination of the steps
unnecessarily. Nonetheless, it
should be understood that such combinations are within the scope of the
disclosure. Reference will now
be made in detail to some embodiments of the present invention, examples of
which are illustrated in
the accompanying figures.
[0028] The tabular lifter comprises a cylindrical lifter mast embedded against
the interior wall of a
service vehicle and kept in place with a perpendicular support beam secured to
the vehicle frame. The
lifter table itself comprises multiple components: a lift carriage that moves
up and down the lifter mast
via a cylindrical member securely welded to the carriage; a plate that acts as
a platform for holding a
small engine machine in place. Hereinafter, the term 'plate' is
interchangeable with `table'; an anchor that
is welded to the plate. The anchor pivots with joints around the carriage or
with lever-activated gears to
adjust the tilting angle of the lifter, which depend on the embodiment of the
present disclosure: a
preferred embodiment uses pin switches attached to joints on the side of the
lifter to tilt the lifter
anchor and plate/table; a first alternative embodiment uses a lever on the
side of the lifter to activate
gears inside modified versions of the carriage and anchor to tilt the lifter
anchor and plate/table.
Date Recue/Date Received 2022-06-09
[0029] The present disclosure uses an electrical winch secured to the support
beam. The winch uses a
spooling steel rope with a hook that attaches to the top of the lift carriage.
The steel rope winds in or
out to raise or lower the lifter, respectively. The winch is connected to a
wired remote hanging from the
ceiling of the vehicle's interior space. A push of a button on the remote
causes the winch to activate,
raising or lowering the tabular lifter.
[0030] The lifter is secured to the cylindrical lifter mast at any position,
the means of which vary
depending on the embodiment: the preferred embodiment uses a spring-loaded
locking pin that
automatically inserts into a lifter mast pin slot, while the first alternative
embodiment uses a screw-based
pin inserted into a continuous lifter mast locking groove.
[0031] The tabular lifter has a few notable aspects. The first aspect is the
lifter's small footprint for
installation and operation within a service vehicle. None of the components
take up a lot of space; they
are generally aligned against an interior wall of the service vehicle, mainly
the wall closest to the vehicle's
passenger compartment. The cylindrical lifter mast is embedded within a
grooved space on the interior
wall of the service vehicle. The perpendicular support beam above is also
generally in line with the
interior wall, with a front portion sticking out from the top of said wall.
The plate does stick out from
the interior wall; however, it has a low profile, resting on the floor of the
vehicle's interior space.
Furthermore, the plate only takes up the middle portion of the vehicle's
interior flooring. This leaves
space on the side along the internal side walls of the vehicle.
[0032] In the second aspect of the present disclosure, there is customizable
adjustment of the lifter
plate's tilting angle. More specifically, the plate and anchor can tilt at any
angle along the sagittal plane.
Because the anchor is securely welded to the plate, plate movement in this
regard also implies anchor
movement. The lifter plate can tilt upward at a vertical angle along the
sagittal plane, folding into itself
to align with the rest of the lifter and the vehicle's internal wall. The
lifter plate can be positioned along
any angle between the interior vehicle floor and the perpendicular interior
wall. The lifter plate can also
position itself at a downward angle along the sagittal plane; the lift
carriage and cylindrical member are
raised at one end, and the loading end (away from the interior wall) is
pointing down toward the floor of
the vehicle's interior space. The way this is achieved depends on the
embodiment: in the preferred
embodiment, the plate and the secured anchor pivot around joints on the sides
of the lifter. Pin switches
attached to the joints pivot upward to allow this tilt and pivot downward to
lock the lifter at the tilted
position. The tilting movement in the preferred embodiment is done manually;
in the first alternative
embodiment, a lever is located on one side of the lifter. The lever can be
moved to one of two lever
slots: an inward lever slot to lock the lifter plate and anchor in position
and an outward lever slot for
Date Recue/Date Received 2022-06-09
tilting the lifter plate and anchor. Moving the lever to the outward lever
slot activates gears in the anchor
and carriage that allow for the tilting motion of the lifter plate. The plate
adjustment in this embodiment
can be made automatically or manually.
[0033] The second aspect also allows the lifter plate to pivot at an angle
along the frontal plane, which
manifests a second alternative embodiment. More specifically, the second
alternative embodiment is a
variant of the preferred embodiment. Here, the lifter plate, anchor, and
carriage can rotate at any angle
along the frontal plane. The components are mounted on a backplane; this
backplane takes the form of
a rectangular board secured onto the cylindrical lifter mast. The hook of the
winch is attached to the top
portion of the backplane. To secure the lifter at such angles, the backplane
has four backplane slots:
three lower backplane slots to adjust the frontal angle of the lifter,
respectively known as the first,
second, and third backplane slots. When positioned in the desired spot, an
anchor pin is inserted
through the anchor into one of the three lower backplane slots; one upper
backplane slot, respectively
known as the fourth backplane slot, for the insertion of the lifter's spring-
loaded locking pin. The lifter
in this embodiment rotates along the spring-loaded pin inside the fourth
backplane, so the anchor pin
needs to be inserted into one of the other three backplane slots prior to
removing the spring-loaded pin
for vertical movement along the lifter mast. [0034] In the third aspect of the
present disclosure, stability
implements are used for the tabular lifter. The tabular lifter ¨ specifically,
its carriage ¨ is securely welded
onto a hollow cylindrical member. The member is fitted onto the lifter mast,
moving with the rest of the
lifter along the lifter mast's vertical height. Generally, the cylindrical
member keeps the lifter in place as
it is raised or lowered. The aspect also relates to the locking pins that hold
the lifter at certain vertical
positions. As noted before, this can manifest differently depending on the
embodiment: the preferred
embodiment uses a spring-loaded pin that inserts into discrete pin slots on
the lifter mast, also known as
lifter mast pin slots. Each time the lifter moves, the user pulls an external
handle of the locking pin to
free it from its current lifter mast pin slot. The associated spring is held
in a loaded position. Upon
aligning with a new (upper or lower) lifter mast pin slot, the spring is
released, and the pin is
automatically inserted into the new lifter mast pin slot; the first
alternative embodiment uses a screw-
based pin that is inserted at the base of the carriage and screwed into a
continuous locking groove on
the lifter mast. The screw-based pin is inserted manually when the lifter is
in the desired position; the
second alternative embodiment incorporates the spring-loaded locking pin, as
well as an additional
anchor pin that is inserted into one of three backplane slots upon adjusting
its frontal angle. Ultimately,
these stability implements help keep the lifter steady when it moves up or
down like a pulley.
[0035] In the fourth aspect of the present disclosure, an adjustable underside
repair access hole is
present in a third alternative embodiment. This access hole is a rectangular
hole in the middle of a
Date Recue/Date Received 2022-06-09
modified plate. This modified plate holds the wheels of a small engine
machine. Hereinafter, the term
'wheels' is interchangeable with 'track' when referring to the front pair of
wheels, back pair of wheels, or
both. An access hole cover protects the sliding hole, which allows a machine
to load onto the lifter
without the risk of a wheel falling into the access hole. The cover is
primarily accessed from underneath
the plate of the lifter. The access hole cover slides outward from the loading
end of the plate to partially
or completely open the access hole for repairing a machine's underside. In
other words, adjustments to
the open portion of the access hole can be made.
[0036] In the fifth aspect of the present disclosure, there is increased
flexibility in repair options. This
manifests in two ways: (1) the lifter can accommodate small engine machines of
various sizes. It can lift
an entire lawnmower or snowblower or a track of a tractor or utility vehicle;
(2) the lifter can be angled
in such a way so that the machine can be loaded and positioned onto the lifter
at a relatively level
position, particularly when the service vehicle is situated on a sloped or
uneven surface. This can be
done using the second aspect of the present disclosure, where the lifter can
be angled along a sagittal
plane or frontal plane.
[0037] In the sixth aspect of the present disclosure, a protective shelter is
formed within the service
vehicle containing the lifter. Since the repair is done inside the vehicle,
the user and the small engine
machine are protected from a myriad of environmental conditions that could
hinder the repair process.
The most obvious example of protection would be from poor weather conditions
such as rain, snow, or
strong winds. The present disclosure also protects against extreme
temperatures. For example, if it is too
hot outside, the user may get heatstroke, and the small machine will be too
hot to touch. The protective
shelter can provide air conditioning for better working conditions. The
protective shelter can also free
the user from external distractions that may hinder the repair work. The
service vehicle can provide
privacy to shield the user from unwanted spectators or external noises such as
traffic or people's voices.
[0038] The lifter addresses problems previously found in existing lifts and on-
spot repair machines.
First, the device improves convenience for both the customer and the user.
Because the lifter is inside
the service vehicle, it can be brought to a customer's location at any time.
The customer does not have
to bring a small engine machine to the shop, effectively saving time. The
improved convenience also
eases the entire operational process. First, the user presses a button on the
wired remote to lower or
raise the lifter. The user then moves one end of the small engine machine onto
the plate of the lifter. In
another sense, the convenience is improved for the user since they can also
adjust the lifter to a vertical
level that is comfortable for them using these aspects of the present
disclosure. Overall, there is no need
to bring the machine to a shop or even a different location for on-spot
repairs.
Date Recue/Date Received 2022-06-09
[0039] Second, there is increased space utilization within the accommodating
vehicle. In the first
aspect of the present disclosure, the lifter has a small footprint. All
components of the lifter are
practically aligned with an interior wall of a service vehicle, particularly
the wall closest to the vehicle's
passenger compartment. Furthermore, the column practically lines up with the
interior wall rather than
protrude from it. The plate has a very low profile along the floor of the
vehicle's interior space. The
plate does not take up the entire width of the floor within the vehicle's
interior space. This leaves some
extra space for the user to move around to access the sides of a small engine
machine. Additional space
can also be saved thanks to the second aspect of the present disclosure. The
adjustment of the plate
along the sagittal plane allows for extra floor space inside the vehicle. The
space saved in this regard can
be acquired regardless of whether the plate is angled upward or downward;
however, this increased
space is more obvious when the plate is angled upward to be in line with the
rest of the lifter and the
interior wall. Improving the space utilization also improves the convenience
of repair since additional
tools can be stored inside the service vehicle for repairs equivalent to that
of a typical brick-and-mortar
setup.
[0040] Third, the stability of the lifter is improved, primarily thanks to the
third aspect involving
stability implements. As noted before, winches are generally not suited for
lifting and support the dead
weight of objects such as small engine machines. While some winches have a
mechanic braking system,
lifting applications are better suited for hoists. Therefore, the selection of
devices used for pulling the
lifter is normally more limited. Using the third aspect, the cylindrical
member is practically secured onto
both the lifter and the lifter mast. In other words, the cylindrical member
holds the lifter in place when
the lifter is stationary or moving along the lifter mast. The locking pins
also stabilize the lifter, holding it
in place when they are inserted into discrete pin slots or a continuous
locking groove on the lifter mast
(depending on the embodiment). If the lifter needs to pivot in a diagonal
direction at an angle along a
frontal plane, an anchor pin in the second alternative embodiment is inserted
into a backplane pin slot
to stabilize the lifter. Therefore, the stability implements help the lifter
support the dead weight, and the
steel rope of the winch merely moves the lifter vertically. The lifter and the
machine on it would not
swing around or rotate when being lifted up, so the steel rope does not spool
in a different direction. In
other words, a standard winch can be used because the entire lifter is
essentially fixed onto the lifter
mast, and therefore, does not have to entirely support the weight of the
lifter and a small engine
machine. Using the stability implements also improves convenience for the
user. In the preferred
embodiment, the spring-loaded pin automatically locks into the intended slot
without the need to
pinpoint the slot's location. In the first alternative embodiment, improved
convenience is also present
Date Recue/Date Received 2022-06-09
since the groove on the lifter mast is one continuous slot. Therefore, the
user just needs to insert the
screw-base pin through the slot at the bottom of the carriage.
[0041] Fourth, it increases the number of services available for repairing
small engine machines. The
plate itself generally has a length that can accommodate both tracks of a
smaller machine or one track
(typically the front) of a larger tractor machine. Thanks to the fourth aspect
involving the underside
repair access hole. Because of this access hole, a user can access the
underside of a small engine machine
for even more repair options. For example, a typical lawnmower with a top
engine can be repaired from
the top. Thanks to the repair access hole, the user can, for example, do an
oil change or blade change for
a lawnmower. Furthermore, the cover can slide out from the plate at any length
to provide partial or
total access to the machine's underside, depending on the type of repair
required.
[0042] Fifth, there is increased adaptability for repair work under less-than-
ideal environments and
conditions. This is mainly thanks to the second and sixth aspects. With the
second aspect, the lifter plate
can tilt at any vertical angle along a sagittal or any angle along a frontal
plane. If a service vehicle is
parked on a sloped or uneven surface, the lifter plate can tilt to allow a
small engine machine to be
loaded at a relatively level position. For example, the service vehicle is on
a downward hill. Thanks to
the second aspect, the lifter can be raised to a position where the plate can
tilt at a downward angle. As a
result, the small engine machine can go into the service vehicle, load onto
the lifter plate, and be raised
for repairs without the risk of the machine falling off. In the second
alternative embodiment, the same
concept can be applied if the uneven surface is along the frontal plane. The
lifter can pivot and be
secured on the backplane via an inserted anchor pin.
[0043] Thanks to the sixth aspect relating to protective shelter, the user can
do on-spot repairs at a
given location regardless of the environmental conditions or surroundings. The
protection provided can
be seen in a myriad of repair scenarios. For example, in one scenario, the
protective shelter provided by
the service vehicle can protect from poor weather conditions like rain, snow,
or strong winds. In
another example, the user wants to repair something on a hot or cold day. In
this case, the user can do
repair work inside the service vehicle with the air conditioning or heat
turned on. In another example,
the user wants to privately repair a machine without any distractions. The
service vehicle itself shields
the user and machine from prying eyes. The service vehicle can also serve as a
soundproof barrier from
surrounding noises such as voices, traffic, or construction work.
[0044] FIG. 1 illustrates side and front views showing a preferred embodiment
of an in-vehicle tabular
lifter in its unloaded position. Sub-figure (a) illustrates a side view of the
in-vehicle lifter (100) in its
unloaded position. The lifter (100) is situated along an interior wall of a
service vehicle (102). Looking at
Date Recue/Date Received 2022-06-09
the sub- figure, the rear end of the vehicle (102) is on the left side, and
the lifter is on the right side. A
lifter mast (104) is situated within the wall of the vehicle's (102) interior,
particularly the wall closest to
the vehicle's (102) passenger compartment. The top edge of the associated
interior wall of the vehicle
(102), also considered the ceiling, is below a support beam (106) that is
secured to the vehicle (102)
frame. A winch (108) is installed in front of the support beam (106). A steel
rope (110) winds in or out
whenever the winch (108) is activated. The lower end of the steel rope (110)
has a hook (112); the rope
(110) and hook (112) are the components that raise or lower the lifter (100).
The hook (112) latches
onto the upper section of a lift carriage (114).
[0045] The carriage (114) is securely welded to a hollow cylindrical member
(116). The cylindrical
member (116) is slidably-secured onto the lifter mast (104) behind the
carriage (114), moving along the
vertical height of the lifter mast (104) as the lifter (100) is raised or
lowered. The front side of the upper
section of the carriage (114) has a spring-loaded locking pin (118) that
protrudes away from the rest of
the lifter (100). An anchor (120) is secured to the carriage (114) and can
tilt along the component with
joints (128). One joint (128) is located on each side of the anchor (120). The
plate (122) is situated along
the floor of the vehicle's (102) interior space and is securely welded to the
anchor (120).
[0046] A remote (126) controls the lifter's (100) movements along the lifter
mast (104) via a power cable
(124) connected to the winch (108). When a button on the remote (126) is
pressed, it triggers the winch
(108) to wind the steel rope (110) in or out, moving the attached lifter (100)
up or down as a result.
[0047] The sub-figure illustrates how the increased space utilization inside
the vehicle (102) is achieved
thanks to the small footprint aspect. None of the components take up a
significant amount of space. All
components are practically aligned against the innermost wall of the vehicle's
(102) interior space. The
lifter mast (104) is installed behind the interior wall of the vehicle (102).
More specifically, there is a
groove in the middle of the interior wall where the lifter mast (104) is held
in place; this will be shown in
the next sub-figure. The support beam (106) is above the top section of the
vehicle's (102) interior wall,
aligned with the ceiling. The plate's (122) length takes up a bit of space
along the length of the vehicle
(102), but it is mainly on the floor of the vehicle's (102) interior space.
The power cable (124) attached
to the remote is aligned with the ceiling of the vehicle's (102) interior
space, dropping slightly so the user
can access the remote (126). [0048] The hook (112) shown in the sub-figure
is a general
representation. It is obvious to those skilled in the art that the hook (112)
would include a latch so that
the hook (112) securely attaches to the carriage (114) of the lifter (100).
[0049] Sub-figure (b) illustrates a front view of the in-vehicle lifter (100)
in its unloaded position. All
descriptions of the lifter (100) and its components in the previous sub-figure
also apply here. The front
Date Recue/Date Received 2022-06-09
view of the lifter (100) is shown from the rear of the vehicle (102). In this
sub-figure, most of the steel
rope (110) is wound within the center portion of the winch (108). The left
side of the winch (108) has an
electric motor (130) that triggers the winch (108) to wind or unwind the steel
rope (110), moving the
lifter (100) in the process. The motor (130) activates through its connection
with the power cable (124).
[0050] In this sub-figure, increased space utilization is achieved with the
small footprint aspect since the
lifter mast (104) is situated within a groove opening on the interior wall of
the vehicle (102). The small
footprint is also demonstrated with the size of the lifter (100) shown in
comparison to the rest of the
vehicle's (102) interior space. The lifter (100) is shown mainly with its
width limited to the middle of the
vehicle's (102) interior space. As a result, there is still floor space within
the vehicle (102) for the user to
move around in order to repair the sides of a small engine machine. This extra
space may be used to
store additional tools and even a workbench in an alternative embodiment. In
doing so, the present
disclosure can achieve an increased number of services provided for mobile
repairs since the user can
provide repair services equivalent to that of a brick-and-mortar shop.
[0051] The winch (108) in the sub-figures is a general representation, with
certain alterations being
possible in different embodiments. In one embodiment, the winch (108) may have
a clutch that
determines the direction of the lifter's (100) movement. In another
embodiment, the motor (130) can be
protected by a housing cover. In yet another embodiment, the winch (108) may
be handled manually
with a winch handle. This embodiment would eliminate the need for a remote
(126) and power cable
(124).
[0052] The winch (108) is one means of moving the lifter (100) up or down. As
noted before, those
skilled in the art may find it obvious that standard winches (108) are not
normally suited for lifting
applications. One main reason for this is that most winches (108) use a
dynamic braking system, which
is suitable for moving the steel rope (110) around to horizontally pull an
object but not for lifting dead
weight. A hoist or a winch with a mechanical braking system would be needed to
properly lift and
support an object (i.e., small engine machine); the steel rope (110) of such a
device locks in place rather
than spool in a different direction. Thanks to the aspect relating to
stability implements, however, the
cylindrical member (116) and locking pin (118) hold the lifter (100) in place,
preventing it from swinging
around when supporting a machine. In another sense, the stability implements
help reduce the weight
that the lifter (100) needs to support. Thanks to this, a standard winch (108)
can be used because the
winch is merely guiding the lifter (100) rather than holding the weight on the
lifter (100). Furthermore,
the steel rope (110) does not spool in a different direction during lifting.
In an alternative embodiment,
Date Recue/Date Received 2022-06-09
an actual hoist or winch with mechanical braking can be used in place of the
standard winch (108). As
they are designed to support dead weight, the lifter's (100) stability may be
further increased.
[0053] In another alternative embodiment, a hydraulic system may be used to
move the lifter (100).
This may incorporate the use of hydraulic cylinders and rods to influence the
movement of the lifter
(100). More specifically, hydraulic oil would be distributed to the cylinders
to extend or retract the rods
and cause the lifter (100) to move. Hydraulic systems generate a large amount
of pressure. This makes it
better suited for heavy-duty applications like lifting heavy objects. However,
the use of a hydraulic
system may affect the small footprint aspect since more components need to be
set up within the
vehicle's (102) interior space. Furthermore, any spillage of hydraulic oil may
be considered a safety
hazard for the user.
[0054] The remote (126) achieves improved convenience since the user only
needs to press a button to
activate the winch (108) and move the lifter (100). The remote (126) in this
figure is a general
representation. In this figure, the remote (126) is illustrated with a single
button. An additional button
may be used to define the direction of the lifter's (100) movement. Another
additional button may be
used to lock the lifter (100) in place, so the user would not be able to
activate the lifter's (100)
movement even when pressing the activation buttons. It should also be noted
that the remote (126) in
the present disclosure is wired with a power cable (126) connected to the
motor (130) of the winch
(108). Those skilled in the art may find it obvious that the power source of
the lifter (100) is linked to an
electric source like a car battery. In another embodiment, the remote (126) is
wireless. The remote (126)
would activate the winch (108) to move the lifter (100) via a terminal or
sensor.
[0055] FIG. 2 illustrates side views of a first alternative embodiment of the
in-vehicle tabular lifter
tilting to a level position when the vehicle is situated on a slope. Sub-
figure (a) illustrates a first
alternative embodiment of the in-vehicle tabular lifter (200) tilting to a
level position when the vehicle
(102) is situated on a downward slope. All general descriptions of the lifter
mast (104), cylindrical
member (116), winch (108), steel rope (110), hook (112), and plate (122) in
FIG. 1 also apply here. The
alternative in-vehicle tabular lifter (200) is located inside a service
vehicle (102) that is situated on a
downward slope. The alternative lifter (200) has a modified alternative
carriage (202) and alternative
anchor (204) with bottom portions that appear to somewhat protrude from the
interior wall of the
vehicle (102). A screw-based pin (206) is present at the base of the
alternative carriage (204). A lever
(208) is located on one side of the alternative anchor (204). This lever (208)
can be moved to one of two
slots: an outward lever slot (210) and an inward lever slot (212).
Date Recue/Date Received 2022-06-09
[0056] In this sub-figure, the alternative lifter (200) starts in an initial
position that is lined up with the
base of the alternative carriage (202). Therefore, this initial lifter
position can be termed the initial
carriage position (214). It is also noted that the plate (122) starts in an
initial plate position (220) near the
floor of the vehicle's (102) interior space. At this time, the winch (108) is
activated to wind in the steel
rope (110) with its hook (112) attached to the top portion of the alternative
carriage (202). The
alternative carriage (202) and cylindrical member (116) move along the lifter
mast (104) within the
interior wall of the vehicle (102). The alternative carriage (202) and
cylindrical member (116) move
upward with a vertical carriage movement (216) to a raised carriage position
(218). These components
(116, 202) can also move downward to the initial carriage position (214) with
a vertical carriage
movement (216).
[0057] The lever (208) is situated in the outward lever slot (210). Because of
this, the plate (122) and the
alternative anchor (204) tilt at a downward angle when the alternative
carriage (202) moves upward: the
loading end of the plate (122) is touching the vehicle's (102) interior floor,
while the ends of the plate
(122) and alternative anchor (204) are raised up. As the plate (122) is
securely welded to the alternative
anchor (204), both components move simultaneously. From the initial plate
position (220), the plate
(122) and alternative anchor (204) tilt to an angled plate position (224) with
a tilting plate movement
(222). Because the vehicle (102) is on a downward slope, the plate (122) is at
a level position to load a
small engine machine. The plate (122) and alternative anchor (204) can also
tilt back to the initial plate
position (220) with a tilting plate movement (222).
[0058] The alternative lifter (200) in this sub-figure shows how increased
adaptability can be achieved
using the aspect relating to customizable tilting of the plate's (122)
position along the sagittal plane. The
tilting of the plate (122) and alternative anchor (204) at an angle along a
sagittal plane means that on a
sloped surface, like the one shown in this sub-figure, a small engine machine
can still be moved into the
service vehicle (102) and loaded onto the tilted plate (122) at a level
position. As a result, there is a
reduced risk of the machine falling during the alternative lifter's (200)
operation. In a way, it improves
convenience since the user does not have to move to a flat location or shop to
do repair work.
[0059] The plate (122) and alternative anchor (204) in this sub-figure are
shown to be angled
downward. In another embodiment, the plate (122) and alternative anchor (204)
can be positioned at an
upward angle, with the loading end of the plate (122) pointing upward. This
position may be used if the
service vehicle (102) is situated on an upward sloped surface. The lever (208)
would still need to be in
the outward lever slot (210) to allow the movement of the alternative anchor
(204) and plate (122) along
the alternative carriage (202).
Date Recue/Date Received 2022-06-09
[0060] The screw-based pin (206) is one of the stability implements that
secures the alternative in-
vehicle tabular lifter (200) in place, particularly when it is stationary. It
is manually inserted through the
alternative carriage (202) into a continuous locking groove on the lifter mast
(104); this will be further
demonstrated in FIG. 5.
[0061] Sub-figure (b) illustrates a side view of the alternative tabular
lifter's carriage (202), anchor
(204), and plate (122) tilting downward. All descriptions of the alternative
anchor (204), alternative
carriage (202), plate (122), lever (208), and lever slots (210, 212) in the
previous sub-figure also apply
here. The lever (208) is pointing outward toward the loading end of the plate
(122) due to its placement
in the outward lever slot (210). As a result, two gears (226) move
simultaneously, meshing against each
other: one gear (226) in the alternative carriage (202) and another gear (226)
in the alternative anchor
(204). As the gears (226) mesh against each other, the plate (122) and
alternative anchor (224) tilt at a
downward angle. Once the plate (122) and alternative anchor (204) have tilted
to the desired angle, the
lever (208) is switched to the inward lever slot (212). This locks the gears
(226) in place, preventing them
from meshing against each other. As a result, the plate (122) and alternative
anchor (204) are locked in
place and cannot tilt any further. [0062] The gears (226) in the present
disclosure are allocated to
one side of the alternative anchor (204) and alternative carriage (202). In
another embodiment, another
lever (208) and set of gears (226) can be installed on the other side of the
alternative anchor (204) and
alternative carriage (202). A set of axles can be used to connect the upper
and lower gears (226) of each
side together so that they can move simultaneously as the alternative carriage
(202) moves.
[0063] The gears (226) allow the plate (122) and alternative anchor (204) to
automatically tilt as the
alternative carriage (202) is raised. In another embodiment, this tilting
motion can be manually adjusted.
For example, when the alternative carriage (202) of the alternative lifter
(200) goes from the raised
carriage position (218) to the initial carriage position (214), an object can
be placed underneath the plate
(122). In this scenario, the vehicle (102) is situated on an upward slope, so
this object is placed under the
loading end of the plate (122). As the alternative carriage (202) drops, the
object pushes up on the plate
(122), causing the plate (122) and the alternative anchor (204) to tilt at an
upward angle.
[0064] FIG. 3 illustrates perspective and front views of a second alternative
embodiment of the in-
vehicle tabular lifter, where its carriage, anchor, and plate are tilted
diagonally at an angle along the
frontal plane. The second alternative embodiment is considered a variant of
the preferred embodiment
in FIG. 1, so the general description of the components in this figure is
similar to that of FIG. 1. In this
figure, the carriage (114), anchor (120), and plate (122) may be collectively
described as 'tilting lifter
components'. Because the aforementioned lifter components (114, 120, 122)
appear to be swinging in
Date Recue/Date Received 2022-06-09
this figure, the term 'tilt' is interchangeable with 'swing' when describing
this type of lifter adjustment in
this figure. Sub- figure (a) illustrates a perspective view of the in-vehicle
tabular lifter's second alternative
embodiment, where its carriage (114), anchor (120), and plate (122) are tilted
diagonally at an angle along
the frontal plane. The lift carriage (114), anchor (120), and plate (122) all
tilt diagonally at an angle along
the frontal plane. These components (114, 120, 122) are supported by a
backplane (302), which is
secured against the lifter mast (104). Because the carriage (114) tilts along
with the anchor (120) and
plate (122), the hook (112) attaches to the lifter via a connection at the top
of the backplane (302) to
raise or lower the lifter.
[0065] Looking at the sub-figure, the carriage (114), anchor (120), and plate
(122) are tilted to the left
side. More specifically, the top of the carriage (114) is tilted to the upper
right side, while the plate (122)
appears to be positioned at the lower left side. This tilting motion is done
along the position of the
spring- loaded locking pin (118). The anchor (120) in this embodiment uses an
anchor pin (304) that
secures the aforementioned components (114, 120, 122) in place as they are
tilted along the frontal
plane. A first backplane slot (306) is revealed when the lifter tilts to the
left.
[0066] The spring-loaded locking pin (118) in this sub-figure is shown with a
right-angle handle, which
allows the user to pull the locking pin (118) in order to move the lifter
vertically along the lifter mast
(104). The locking pin (118) is actually one single component. This will be
further shown and explained
in FIG. 5.
[0067] Sub-figure (b) illustrates a front view of the in-vehicle tabular
lifter's second alternative
embodiment, where its carriage (114), anchor (120), and plate (122) are tilted
diagonally at an angle along
the frontal plane. All descriptions of the components in sub-figure (a) also
apply here. The backplane
(302) is shown with multiple backplane slots (306, 308, 310, 312). Three lower
backplane slots (306, 308,
310) are shown where the anchor pin (304) is inserted to support the tilting
lifter components (114, 120,
122) when they are tilted at an angle along the frontal plane: a first
backplane slot (306) is shown on the
right for securing the tilting lifter components (114, 120, 122) when they are
tilted to the right; a second
backplane slot (308) is shown in the center for securing the tilting lifter
components (114, 120, 122) in
an upright position; a third backplane slot (310) is shown on the left for
securing the tilting lifter
components (114, 120, 122) when they are tilted to the left, as shown in the
sub-figure. There is also a
fourth backplane slot (312) above the second backplane slot (308). This slot
allows the tilting lifter
components (114, 120, 122) to tilt in any direction along the frontal plane
when the spring-loaded pin
(118) is inserted. In a sense, the swinging motion of the tilting lifter
components (114, 120, 122) revolve
around the spring-loaded pin (118) and the fourth backplane slot (312).
Date Recue/Date Received 2022-06-09
[0068] The sub-figure also shows how the tilting lifter components (114, 120,
122) swing to the left.
The tilting lifter components (114, 120, 122) initially start at an initial
lifter position (314), marked at the
bottom of the plate (122), as well as in the middle of the lifter mast (104).
The tilting lifter components
(114, 120, 122) are initially upright with the anchor pin (304) into the
second backplane slot (308). When
the tilting lifter components (114, 120, 122) move, the anchor pin (304) is
removed from the second
backplane slot (308). The tilting lifter components (114, 120, 122) then
swings to the diagonal lifter
position (318) with a frontal swinging lifter movement (316). The anchor pin
(304) is then inserted into
the third backplane slot (310). The tilting lifter components (114, 120, 122)
can also swing back to the
initial lifter position (314) using the frontal swinging lifter movement
(316).
[0069] The figure shows how increased adaptability can be achieved using a
variation of the aspect
relating to customizable plate (122) positioning. A sloped or uneven surface
can also affect the
horizontal side of the vehicle and lifter. In other words, the unevenness is
along the frontal plane. This
may be due to bumps or any other factors. By tilting the carriage (114),
anchor (120), and plate (122)
along the frontal plane rather than a sagittal plane, a small engine machine
can still be moved into the
service vehicle and loaded onto the tilted plate (122) at a level position. As
a result, there is a reduced
risk of the machine falling during the lifter's operation. In a way, it
improves convenience since the user
does not have to move to a flat location or shop to do repair work.
[0070] The aspect relating to stability implements is also applied in the
second alternative
embodiment. Mainly, the spring-loaded pin (118) and anchor pin (304) help
secure the lifter along the
backplane (302), which stabilizes the lifter during operation. It should also
be noted that although the
cylindrical member is not present in this figure, it is obvious to those
skilled in the art that it is
presumably welded behind the backplane (302). The cylindrical member still
envelops the lifter mast
(104), allowing the entire lifter to move vertically. The use of the pins
(118, 304) and the cylindrical
member in this embodiment can support much of the dead weight and keep the
lifter and the machine
stationary. As a result, a standard winch can be used to merely guide the
lifter.
[0071] The backplane slots (306, 308, 310, 312) are shown as discrete slots.
It is one example of how
the slots (306, 308, 310, 312) can be implemented to adjust the tilted
position of the tilting lifter
components (114, 120, 122). In another embodiment, there can be more backplane
slots (306, 308, 310,
312) for additional locking positions along the frontal plane. By using this
particular embodiment,
further adaptability may be achieved since the tilting lifter components (114,
120, 122) can be placed in a
position along the frontal plane with greater precision.
Date Recue/Date Received 2022-06-09
[0072] It may be obvious to those skilled in the art that either the anchor
pin (304) or the spring-loaded
locking pin (118) has to be inserted into the respective backplane slots (306,
308, 310, 312) for the tilting
lifter components (114, 120, 122) to securely move along the frontal plane. In
another embodiment, an
extra stability implement may be used to stabilize the lifter in the event
that both pins (118, 304) are
removed from the backplane slots (306, 308, 310, 312).
[0073] FIG. 4 illustrates side views of the preferred embodiment of the in-
vehicle tabular lifter from its
lowered position to a raised position, then finally to a position with its
plate fully folded. Sub-figure (a)
illustrates a side view of the preferred embodiment of the lifter (100) in its
lowered or unloaded position.
All descriptions of the lifter and its components in FIG. 1 also apply here.
The lifter (100) starts at an
initial position; this is considered the initial plate position (220), which
is marked along the bottom of
the plate (122). Since the plate (122) moves with other components of the
lifter (100), any mention of
the plate (122) position in this figure also implies the general lifter (100)
position. Hence, the initial
position is considered the initial plate position (220). A joint (128) on the
anchor (120) has a pin switch
(402), which is angled downward at an initial locked pin switch position
(408). It should be noted that
the sub-figure shows one joint (128) and pin switch (402) on one side of the
anchor (120); it is obvious
to those skilled in the art that another joint (128) and pin switch (402) are
located on the other side of
the anchor (120). As the lifter (100) prepares its vertical ascent, the user
pulls the spring-loaded pin (118)
away from the carriage (114). [0074] Sub-figure (b) illustrates a side view of
the preferred embodiment
of the lifter (100) in a raised position. The user presses a button on the
remote (126) to activate the
tabular lifter (100). More specifically, the remote (126) sends an electric
signal to the winch (108) via the
attached power cable (124). The winch (108) then winds in the steel rope (110)
and attached hook (112)
to pull the carriage (114) up, which also lifts the anchor (120) and plate
(122). During this movement,
the cylindrical member (116) welded to the carriage (114) moves along the
lifter mast (104). As the lifter
(100) moves up, the lifter (100) moves from the initial plate position (220)
to the raised plate position
(406) with a vertical lifter movement (404). Once the lifter (100) reaches the
raised plate position (406),
the spring-loaded locking pin (118) is then automatically inserted into the
lifter mast (104) to secure the
lifter (100) in place. The lifter can also move from the raised plate position
(406) back to the initial plate
position (220) with a vertical lifter movement (404).
[0075] The plate (122) in the preferred embodiment and the first alternative
embodiment in FIG. 2 are
the same. Since they both start out flat along the floor of the vehicle's
interior space, the initial plate
position (220) is considered interchangeable between embodiments.
Date Recue/Date Received 2022-06-09
[0076] The raised plate position (406) is one example of a vertical position
of the lifter (100). In
actuality, the lifter (100) can be raised to any position along the lifter
mast (104) up the bottom of the
winch (108). The height is determined by the user depending on the type of
machine on the lifter (100)
and the type of repair needed. In a sense, this improves convenience for the
user.
[0077] Sub-figure (c) illustrates a side view of the preferred embodiment of
the lifter (100) in a raised
position, particularly with its plate (122) fully folded in line with the
lifter (100). The pin switches (402)
and associated joints (128) pivot around the anchor (120) with a pivoting pin
switch movement (410)
from the initial locked pin switch position (408) to an unlocked pin switch
position (412). This unlocked
pin switch position (412) is parallel to the floor of the vehicle's interior
space. The anchor (120) pivots
with the joints (128) around the carriage (114). In the rotated state, the
anchor (120) is perpendicular to
the carriage (114). The plate (122) and anchor (120) move from the raised
plate position (406) to the
upright plate position (416) with a rotating anchor movement (414). At the
upright plate position (416),
the plate (122) is parallel to the other lifter (100) components, and the
anchor (120) is parallel to the
floor. The plate (122) and anchor (120) are then locked into the upright plate
position (416) when the
pin switches (402) and associated joints (128) pivot from the unlocked pin
switch position (412) to the
locked pin switch position (408) with a pivoting pin switch movement (410).
[0078] Using the customizable plate (122) adjustment and small footprint
aspects, the present
disclosure achieves increased vehicle space utilization. The plate (122) in
the upright plate position (416)
protrudes slightly from the vehicle's interior wall, taking up little space.
Extra space inside the vehicle's
interior becomes available, primarily the floor space. In this case, the extra
floor space can be used to
store additional tools or goods.
[0079] The user is required to tilt the plate (122) and anchor (120) manually
to achieve the upright
plate position (416). In another embodiment, this can be done automatically.
The remote (126) may be
modified to accommodate the rotating anchor movement (414). This will improve
convenience for the
user because they can save time and effort; however, such a setup may need
additional electrical
components, which may affect the footprint aspect of the lifter (100).
[0080] FIG. 5 illustrates perspective views of the tabular lifter's spring-
loaded locking pin from the
preferred embodiment, as well as a side view of the screw-based pin from the
tabular lifter's first
alternative embodiment. Sub-figure (a) illustrates a perspective view of the
tabular lifter's spring-loaded
locking pin (118) from the preferred embodiment, where the spring-loaded
locking pin (118) is released
from a first lifter mast pin slot (504). The lifter starts at a given position
along the lifter mast (104). More
specifically, the sub- figure shows the cylindrical member (116) and top
portion of the carriage (114) at
Date Recue/Date Received 2022-06-09
an initial locking position (502), marked at the center of a first lifter mast
pin slot (104). The spring-
loaded locking pin (118) is initially inserted in the first lifter mast pin
slot (504) and is stored within a
carriage drawer (508) at the top portion of the carriage (114). A spring (506)
coils around the locking pin
(118) inside the carriage drawer (508). The locking pin (118) protrudes
outside the carriage drawer (508),
forming a right-angled handle.
[0081] The carriage drawer (508) starts in a closed drawer position (510);
this position is marked along
the top edge of the carriage drawer (508) in line with the front of the
carriage (114). For the lifter to
vertically move, the user pulls the external handle portion of the spring-
loaded locking pin (118). The
opening drawer movement (512) brings the spring-loaded locking pin (118) and
the carriage drawer
(508) out to the open drawer position (514). At the same time, the spring
(506) enveloping the spring-
loaded locking pin (118) extends out in a stretched state, with each loop
becoming farther apart. Once
brought out to the open drawer position (514), the spring-loaded locking pin
(118) and carriage drawer
(508) are locked in place.
[0082] Sub-figure (b) illustrates a perspective view of the tabular lifter's
spring-loaded locking pin (118)
from the preferred embodiment, where the spring-loaded locking pin (118) is
inserted into a second
lifter mast pin slot (520). The carriage (114) and cylindrical member (116)
move up the lifter mast (104)
with a vertical cylindrical member movement (516) from the initial locking
position (502) at the first
lifter mast pin slot (504) to a final locking position (518) at a second
lifter mast pin slot (520). When the
carriage (114) and the spring-loaded locking pin (118) are aligned with the
second lifter mast pin slot
(520), the carriage drawer (508) in the open drawer position (514)
automatically moves to the closed
drawer position (510) with a closing drawer movement (522). At the same time,
the spring (506) retracts
back to an unstretched position with the loops touching one another. The
spring-loaded locking pin
(118) is then inserted into the second lifter mast pin slot (520).
[0083] The process above is also applicable if the carriage (114) and
cylindrical member (116) were to
move back from the final locking position (518) at the second lifter mast pin
slot (520) to the initial
locking position (502) at the first lifter mast pin slot (504).
[0084] Sub-figure (c) illustrates a side view of the alternative tabular
lifter's screw-based pin (206) from
the first alternative embodiment. The user manually inserts a screw-based pin
(206) at the base of the
alternative carriage (202). The pointed tip of the screw-based pin (206) is
inserted into a continuous
locking groove (524) on the lifter mast (104).
Date Recue/Date Received 2022-06-09
[0085] All sub-figures show how increased stability is achieved thanks to the
spring-loaded and screw-
based locking pins (118, 206) acting as stability implements. The locking pins
(118, 206) in both
embodiments work with the cylindrical member (116) on the lifter mast (104) to
hold the lifter in place
as it moves. Since the lifter is not swinging around during movement, either a
standard winch or hoist
can be used since the support of dead weight is shared with the stability
implements (116, 118, 206). In
some ways, this provides flexibility and convenience when it comes to the
installation of components
for the lifter. [0086]
The locking pins (118, 206) also improve convenience for the user since there
is
no need to blindly pinpoint slots for the locking pins (118, 206). In other
words, it saves time. In the
preferred embodiment, the spring-loaded locking pin (118) acts automatically
upon reaching a new lifter
mast pin slot (504, 520). In the second embodiment, the slot on the lifter
mast (104) is one long
continuous lifter mast locking groove (524), so the user just needs to put the
screw-based pin (206)
inside the slot on the alternative carriage (202). In a sense, the lifter mast
locking groove (524) is better
for placing the lifter at more precise positions along the lifter mast (104).
The screw-based pin (206) is
also considered more secure because it is considered better at holding loads.
[0087] FIG. 6 illustrates side views relating to how an in-vehicle tabular
lifter of the preferred
embodiment raises a lawnmower and tractor machine for on-site repairs. Sub-
figure (a) illustrates a side
view of a lawnmower (604) loaded into a service vehicle (102) for on-site
repairs with the tabular lifter.
The user opens the rear door of the service vehicle (102) and loads a ramp
(602) at the base of the
vehicle's (102) rear opening. The ramp (602) is sloped diagonally to make a
connection between the
ground and the vehicle's (102) interior. A lawnmower (604) with an external
top engine (606) moves in a
direction (608) toward the vehicle (102). In this sub-figure, the front mower
track (610) is loaded onto
the ramp (602), while the rear mower track (612) is on the ground.
[0088] The ramp (602) in this sub-figure is a general representation that can
vary depending on the
embodiment. In one embodiment, the ramp (602) is a single sheet of metal with
an attachment portion
connecting to the base of the vehicle's (102) rear opening. In another
embodiment, there are two
thinner ramps (602), each of which accommodates an individual wheelbase of an
entire small engine
machine. In yet another embodiment, the ramps (602) can have telescoping
segments for better space
utilization when stored in the vehicle (102). In yet another embodiment, the
ramp (602) is an integrated
part of the vehicle (102), such as a ramp door at the rear of the vehicle
(102).
[0089] Sub-figure (b) illustrates a side view of a lawnmower (604) loaded onto
the tabular lifter for on-
site repairs. The lifter is in an unloaded position. The lawnmower (604) is
loaded onto the lifter with
both sets of mower wheels (610, 612) on the plate (122). The lawnmower (604)
is situated at an initial
Date Recue/Date Received 2022-06-09
mower position (614), marked along the bottom of the mower wheels (610, 612).
The user then pulls
the spring- loaded locking pin (118) to ready the lifter for movement.
[0090] Both sub-figures show convenience is achieved since the user just
pushes the lawnmower (604)
from outside the vehicle (102) to the lifter inside the vehicle (102). A ramp
(602) is simply placed at the
rear of the vehicle (102) to bring the lawnmower (604). Typically, the ramp
(602) is removable and
requires no extra steps for installation onto the vehicle's (102) rear
opening.
[0091] Sub-figure (c) illustrates a side view of a tabular lifter raising a
lawnmower (604) for on-site
repairs. All descriptions of the lifter, its components, and its vertical
movement in previous figures also
apply here. The user presses a button on the remote (126), which sends a
signal to the winch (108) via a
power cable (124). The winch (108) winds in the steel rope (110) and hook
(112) to raise the lifter. As
the lifter is raised, the cylindrical member (116) moves up along the lifter
mast. At the raised position,
the spring- loaded locking pin (118) automatically springs back to insert
itself into a pin slot on the lifter
mast (104). The lawnmower (604) on the lifter moves with a vertical mower
movement (616) from the
initial mower position (614) to a raised mower position (618). When the
required repairs are done, the
lifter lowers the lawnmower (604) from the raised mower position (618) to the
initial mower position
(614) via the vertical mower movement (622).
[0092] Sub-figure (d) illustrates a side view of a tabular lifter lifting a
tractor (620) machine for on-site
repairs. All descriptions of the lifter, its components, and its vertical
movement in previous figures also
apply here. The tractor (620) is a large vehicle-sized machine with an
internal front engine (622). The
tractor (620) is loaded onto the tabular lifter with its front side facing the
device. Because of its size, only
the front tractor track (624) is loaded onto the plate (122), while the rear
tractor track (626) remains on
the floor of the service vehicle (102).
[0093] The tractor (620) in this sub-figure is shown with its front track
(624) loaded onto the plate
(122). In another embodiment, the rear track (624) can be loaded onto the
plate (122). This can be done
if a particular repair is needed at the back of the tractor (620) or if the
engine is located at the rear. The
ability to load a tractor (620) in this manner may also depend on the ramp
(602), as backing up the
tractor (620) may require a wide singular ramp (602).
[0094] The figure not only shows the improved convenience of loading a machine
(604, 620) onto the
lifter, but it also shows how the number of services for on-site repair can be
increased due to the
flexibility in repair options. The tabular lifter has a plate (122) with a
fixed length that can hold a smaller
machine entirely or partially hold a larger tractor machine. The plate (122)
also has a fixed width that fits
Date Recue/Date Received 2022-06-09
the track width of most small engine machines. In another embodiment, the
plate (122) has folding or
telescoping segments, which would allow for customization of length and width
to further
accommodate machines with different track widths or wheelbases. Implementing
such an embodiment
may also lead to an even smaller footprint, which leads to increased vehicle
space utilization.
[0095] Both the lawnmower (604) and tractor (620) in sub-figures (c) and (d)
can be lifted to any height
since the lifter can be raised to any position along the lifter mast (104)
between the floor of the vehicle's
(102) interior to the bottom of the winch (108). This flexibility in the
lifter's vertical height improves
convenience for the user to raise the machines (604, 620) at a height based on
user comfort and the
repair required. [0096] Sub-figure (d) demonstrates one means of repairing the
underside of the tractor
(620), mainly to access the front-facing engine (622). Because only one set of
tracks (624, 626) can be
loaded onto the plate (122), the user can move to the side of the tractor
(620) to go underneath. The
plate (122) is solid, so repairing the underside of a machine is limited to
larger machines like the tractor
(620) in this sub-figure. In an alternative embodiment, there is a hole in the
middle of the plate (122) to
allow access to the underside; this will be further shown and explained in
FIG. 7.
[0097] FIG. 7 illustrates top and side views of a third alternative embodiment
of the in-vehicle tabular
lifter with a retractable underside repair access hole on the plate as well as
showing how a user can repair
a machine from its underside. Sub-figure (a) illustrates a top view of the
third alternative embodiment
comprising an alternative lifter plate (702) with an underside repair access
hole (704). The alternative
plate (702) has a rectangular underside repair access hole (704) in the
middle. The side lengths of the
plate (702), shown at the top and bottom of the sub-figure, are used to
accommodate each wheelbase of
a machine.
[0098] Sub-figure (b) illustrates a top view of the third alternative
embodiment with an access hole cover
(706) sliding along the alternative lifter plate (702) to open up the
underside repair access hole (704). All
descriptions of the alternative plate (702) and access hole (704) in FIG. 7(a)
also apply here. An access
hole cover (706) is situated in the middle of the alternative plate (702),
which covers the opening
provided by the access hole (704). The access hole cover (706) moves along the
length of the alternative
plate (702) in one direction. Looking at the sub-figure, the cover (706) moves
from left to right moves
with an access hole cover movement (712). The cover (706) is adjustable to
stop at any position along
the length of the alternative plate (702) up to the outward edge of the access
hole (704).
[0099] The cover (706) helps improve convenience when using the third
alternative embodiment
because it allows machines to be loaded onto the lifter without concern for
the wheel being stuck in the
access hole (704). Depending on the embodiment, the cover (706) can be placed
on the top or bottom
Date Recue/Date Received 2022-06-09
of the alternative plate (702). In yet another embodiment, the cover is
situated on the top and bottom of
the alternative plate (702). The alternative plate (702) would have a hollow
slot next to the outward edge
of the access hole (704) along the loading end, which would be perpendicular
to the outward edge of the
access hole. The cover (706) has a vertical, perpendicular segment between the
top and bottom sides of
the cover (706); this segment slides through the perpendicular slot from the
alternative plate (702),
allowing the cover (706) to slide and open the access hole (704).
[00100] The cover (706) in this sub-figure shows the cover sliding in one
direction along the length of
the alternative plate (702) with an access hole cover movement (712). In one
embodiment, the cover
(706) can move in other ways. For example, the cover (706) can move up to one
side of the alternative
plate's (702) length. Looking at the sub-figure, this would be an up and down
movement along the
alternative plate's (702) width. In another embodiment, the cover (706) can
rotate or pivot along a
certain point on the alternative plate (702).
[00101] Sub-figure (c) illustrates a side view of a raised tabular lifter,
showing how a user can repair the
underside of a small engine machine. A lawnmower (604) is loaded onto the
lifter. The lifter then moves
to a raised plate position (406) equivalent to that of FIG. 4(b). A user can
lie down and move
underneath the alternative plate (702). The user then slides the access hole
cover (706) outward away
from the rest of the lifter. The user can now access the underside of the
lawnmower (604).
[00102] The sub-figure illustrates a visual representation of how the present
disclosure achieves
increased adaptability, primarily with the protective shelter aspect. As the
user is inside the vehicle, they
are shielded from environmental factors like poor weather (e.g., rain, wind,
or snow) and extreme
temperatures (e.g., heat or cold). The protective shelter aspect also removes
the user and the lawnmower
(604) from prying eyes and distracting noises, so the user can do the repairs
with full concentration.
Additionally, the vehicle can hide the user and machine in plain sight. In
other words, the lifter blends
into any environment, such as an urban center.
[00103] Overall, the repair access hole (704) in this figure achieves
flexibility and an increased number
of services that one can provide because the user can do additional repairs
underneath a small machine.
For example, the lawnmower (604) in sub-figure (c) can be accessed from
underneath to do services like
an oil change or blade change. Without the access hole (704), repairs
available would be limited to
engine repairs or tire repairs. Furthermore, the cover (706) in sub-figure (b)
can move outward to any
position along the alternative plate's (702) length. In such a case, when
doing an oil change, if the cover
(706) is opened only partially, just enough to access the required part, then
the cover (706) may serve as
a sort of splash guard.
Date Recue/Date Received 2022-06-09
[00104] FIG. 8 illustrates the lifter method that includes but is not limited
to the following steps: b)
loading a small engine vehicle onto the plate by rolling it there atop;
pressing a button on the remote
engaging the winch and lifting the carriage (thereby lifting the small engine
vehicle); and securing the
screw-based locking pin to the lifter mast so that it remains at elevation.
Date Recue/Date Received 2022-06-09
