GB2225769A

GB2225769A - Lifting device

Info

Publication number: GB2225769A
Application number: GB8826014A
Authority: GB
Inventors: William Richard Keahey
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1988-11-07
Filing date: 1988-11-07
Publication date: 1990-06-13
Also published as: GB8826014D0

Abstract

A device for lifting and temporarily holding an object, such as a door or window, in a raised position while the object is permanently fixed, includes a base (1) and a lifting member (4) hingedly connected to the base and means for raising one end (6) of the lifting member with respect to the base by pivoting the lifting member about the hinge. The lifting means may comprise a screw-and-nut mechanism (11, 13), with an extension (16) intended to be foot-operated to rotate threaded sleeve (13). <IMAGE>

Description

LIFTING DEVICE This invention relates to lifting devices, particularly for use in fixing doors in buildings.

In accordance with normal practice, doors are fitted by placing the door within a door frame and, by use of wedges inserted between the floor and the door, the door is positioned with the correct clearance. The positions for the hinges are then marked on the door frame and/or the door and the door is removed for attachment of the hinges. The door is then replaced in the door frame, lifted up again on wedges and the hinges screwed to the marked positions on the door frame. This established practice has the disadvantage that wedges have generally to be made by the carpenter prior to starting work and is a relatively slow and laborious method of locating and fixing doors.

There is a need for a simple and effective lifting device which can be used for locating and fitting doors, or other similar building components such as windows or panels.

According to the present invention there is provided a lifting device which comprises a base, a lifting member Xingedly supported on said base and means for raising one end of the lifting member with respect to the base by pivoting the member about the hinge and for maintaining the member in a raised position.

Preferably, the hinge is located intermediate the ends of the base and the raising means may comprise a screw or cam acting between the lifting member and the base, typically located on the side of the hinge remote from the ends which will lift the door.

Further features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side elevation of one embodiment of the device in the raised position; Figure 2 is a section taken along the line A-A in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a plan view of the device shown in Figure 1; Figure 4 is an exploded view showing the raising means of the device; and Figure 5 is a longitudinal section of the device in the lowered position through one of the hinges.

Referring to the drawings, the lifting device comprises a base member 1 having a tapered portion 2 which tapers towards a thin edge 3. Base 1 supports a lifting member 4 via a pair of hinges 5, each of which have components attached respectively to base 1 and lifting member 4. Lifting member 4 has a thinned portion 6 which is formed with laterally extending ridges 7 to facilitate gripping of the underneath of a door. Hinges 5 enable the lifting member 4 to be pivoted up and down in the direction of the arrows B in Figure 1, and as shown in Figure 5, portion 6 of lifting member 4 and portion 2 of base member 1 close together so as to form a tapered end which can be inserted beneath a door.

Raising and lowering of the lifting member 4 with respect to the base 1 is achieved by raising means generally indicated at 8 in Figures 1, 2 and 5. The construction of the raising device 8 is shown more clearly in Figure 4 which is an exploded view of the raising means. The raising means 8 comprise an anchor member 9 which is received within a recess 10 in the base member 1 and has surfaces which enable it to pivot to some extent about a vertical axis as the device is raised and lowered.

Anchor member 9 has an upwardly extending threaded stem 11, which passes through a collar 12 and is received within an internally threaded sleeve 13. Collar 12 incorporates ears 14 which bear beneath a ring 15 secured to the top face of lifting member 4. Sleeve 13 can be turned by means of a large web-shaped handle 16, which is shaped so that it can readily be operated by the foot of the user. Although not shown in the drawings, a spring such as a coil spring may be provided between the lifting member 4 and the base member 1 so as to bias the device into the closed position.

Typical dimensions of the lifting device are shown in inches on Figures 3 and 5, and a device of these dimensions provides sufficient stability when lifting even heavy doors.

The device is operated by pushing the device in the closed position beneath the door in the desired door aperture. The device can be operated by rotating the handled member 16 and raised to the desired position within the door aperture. The operator can move the handle 16 with his foot to raise the end 6 of lifting member 4, thereby leaving his hands free to position the door within the door frame. The device will maintain itself in its raised position because of the friction in the raising device. If desired, a locking catch could also be provided. After the door has been marked the device can be lowered to enable the hinges to be attached to the door and the device then returned to the raised position for attaching the hinges to the door frame. The lifting member, base and hinges may be manufactured in metal, e.g. light alloy or moulded from plastic such as PVC, while the raising means is preferably manufactured from metal, although the handle 16 may also be manufactured from plastics material.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A lifting device which comprises a base, a lifting member hingedly supported on said base and means for raising one end of the lifting member with respect to the base by pivoting the member about the hinge and for maintaining the member in a raised position. 2. A device according to claim 1 in which the hinge is located intermediate the ends of the base. 3. A device according to claim 1 or 2 in which the base and/or lifting member are shaped or dimensioned so that in the lowered position the device can be pushed beneath a door. 4. A device according to claim 3 in which the base and/or lifting member is tapered to a thin edge at one end thereof. 5. A device according to any one of the preceding claims in which the raising means comprises a screw or cam acting between the lifting member and the base. 6. A device according to claim 5 in which the raising means is operable by a handle which can be actuated by the user with his foot. Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows

1. A lifting device which comprises a base, a lifting member hingedly supported on said base, means for raising one end of the lifting member with respect to the base by pivoting the member about the hinge and means for maintaining the member in a raised position.

2. A device according to claim 1 in which the hinge is located intermediate the ends of the base.

3. A device according to claim 1 or 2 in which the base and/or lifting member are shaped or dimensioned so that in the lowered position the device can be pushed beneath a door.

4. A device according to claim 3 in which the base and/or lifting member is tapered to a thin edge at one end thereof.

5. A device according to any one of the preceding claims in which the raising means comprises a screw or cam acting between the lifting member and the base which serves to raise the lifting member and maintain the lifting member in a raised position.

6. A device according to claim 5 in which the raising means is operable by a handle which can be actuated by the user with his foot.

7. A device according to claim 6 in which the handle takes the form of a web-shaped or wheel-shaped handle.