GB2402115A - Rail mounted lifting apparatus - Google Patents
Rail mounted lifting apparatus Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2402115A GB2402115A GB0312373A GB0312373A GB2402115A GB 2402115 A GB2402115 A GB 2402115A GB 0312373 A GB0312373 A GB 0312373A GB 0312373 A GB0312373 A GB 0312373A GB 2402115 A GB2402115 A GB 2402115A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- rail
- lifting
- lever member
- lifting apparatus
- lever
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
Links
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B60R9/00—Supplementary fittings on vehicle exterior for carrying loads, e.g. luggage, sports gear or the like
- B60R9/08—Supplementary fittings on vehicle exterior for carrying loads, e.g. luggage, sports gear or the like specially adapted for sports gear
- B60R9/10—Supplementary fittings on vehicle exterior for carrying loads, e.g. luggage, sports gear or the like specially adapted for sports gear for cycles
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60P—VEHICLES ADAPTED FOR LOAD TRANSPORTATION OR TO TRANSPORT, TO CARRY, OR TO COMPRISE SPECIAL LOADS OR OBJECTS
- B60P3/00—Vehicles adapted to transport, to carry or to comprise special loads or objects
- B60P3/06—Vehicles adapted to transport, to carry or to comprise special loads or objects for carrying vehicles
- B60P3/10—Vehicles adapted to transport, to carry or to comprise special loads or objects for carrying vehicles for carrying boats
- B60P3/1008—Vehicles adapted to transport, to carry or to comprise special loads or objects for carrying vehicles for carrying boats on the vehicle roof
- B60P3/1025—Vehicles adapted to transport, to carry or to comprise special loads or objects for carrying vehicles for carrying boats on the vehicle roof with a sliding or rolling main movement of the boat or boat-supporting frame when loading on the roof
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B60R9/00—Supplementary fittings on vehicle exterior for carrying loads, e.g. luggage, sports gear or the like
- B60R9/04—Carriers associated with vehicle roof
- B60R9/042—Carriers characterised by means to facilitate loading or unloading of the load, e.g. rollers, tracks, or the like
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Public Health (AREA)
- Transportation (AREA)
- Fittings On The Vehicle Exterior For Carrying Loads, And Devices For Holding Or Mounting Articles (AREA)
Abstract
A lifting apparatus for lifting a load onto one or more rails 20, the lifting apparatus comprising: one or more lifting devices, each lifting device being adapted for attachment to a respective one of said one or more rails. Each lifting device comprises a lever member pivotably and slidably connected in use to the respective rail at a first end 32, such that a second end 34 of the lever member may be raised between a lowered position and a raised position to lift a load carried on the lever member, and such that the lever member may slide on the rail in a raised position to slide the load onto the rail. Preferably rollers and a belt provide friction reducing means and the two lever parts are connected by a hinge 56. The device is used with a vehicle roof rack eg to carry boats, canoes, bicycles, etc.
Description
1 24021 15 1 Rail Mounted Lifting Apparatus 3 The present invention
relates to lifting apparatus.
4 In particular, but not exclusively, the invention relates to rail mounted devices for lifting items 6 onto an elevated platform.
8 It is often necessary to lift a load to an elevated 9 position. This may be for the lifting of kayaks, canoes, bicycles or luggage onto the roof rack of 11 vehicle. Another application is the lifting of 12 items onto storage shelving provided in a warehouse.
14 The lifting is often performed manually without any equipment, and this can be strenuous and can cause 16 injuries. Commonly used lifting equipment can be 17 complex and expensive.
19 According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a lifting apparatus for lifting a 21 load onto one or more rails, the lifting apparatus 22 comprising: 1 one or more lifting devices, each lifting 2 device being adapted for attachment to a respective 3 one of said one or more rails, 4 wherein each lifting device comprises a lever member having a first end pivotably and slidably 6 connected in use to the respective rail, such that a 7 second end of the lever member may be raised between 8 a lowered position and a raised position to lift a 9 load carried on the lever member, and such that the lever member may slide on the rail in a raised 11 position to slide the load onto the rail.
13 Preferably the lever member may also slide on the 14 rail in any intermediate position between the lowered position and the raised position.
17 Preferably the or each lifting device includes a 18 sliding member having a first end slidably connected 19 to the rail and a second end pivotably connected to the lever member. Preferably the first end of the 21 lever member is offset from the first end of the 22 sliding member such that raising of a second end of 23 the lever member causes the sliding member to slide 24 along the rail in a first direction.
26 It should be appreciated that sliding of the sliding 27 member along the rail in the first direction causes 28 raising of the second end of the lever member.
Preferably the lifting apparatus comprises two 31 lifting devices. Preferably the lifting apparatus 1 includes linking means for structurally linking the 2 lifting devices.
4 Preferably the first end of the sliding member is also pivotably connected to the rail.
7 Preferably the lever member includes load carrying 8 means. Preferably the load carrying means comprises 9 the upper surface of the lever member. Preferably the lever member includes raising means for raising 11 the second end of the lever member. The raising 12 means may comprise the linking means.
14 Preferably the length of the lever member is substantially greater than the length of the sliding 16 member.
18 Preferably the lever member includes a rail 19 contacting portion and the lever member may be supported by an end of the rail at the rail 21 contacting portion. Preferably friction reducing 22 means is provided at the rail contacting portion.
24 Preferably the friction reducing means comprises a plurality of rollers provided transversely at a 26 plurality of locations along the length of the lever 27 member. Preferably the plurality of rollers are 28 enclosed by a belt. The lever member is supported 29 by the end of the rail which contacts the belt.
31 Preferably the lever member and the sliding member 32 comprise a flange and two webs forming a U section 1 channel. Preferably the lower surface of each flange 2 is adjacent to the upper surface of the rail and 3 each web depends from a longitudinal edge of the 4 respective flange. Alternatively the rail includes a groove or channel and the lifting device is 6 adapted for insertion into the groove or channel.
8 Preferably the lever member and the sliding member 9 are pivotably connected at a hinge provided at each flange of the lever member and the sliding member.
11 Preferably the first end of the lever member and the 12 second end of the sliding member are tapered towards 13 the hinge to allow pivoting of the lever member 14 relative to the sliding member until the tapered edges of the lever member and the sliding member 16 come into contact.
18 The raising means may comprise a pulley device. The 19 pulley device may be adapted to slide the sliding member along the rail in the first direction. The 21 raising means may be electrically, hydraulically or 22 pneumatically actuated.
24 The rail may be a component of a roof rack of a vehicle.
27 According to a second aspect of the present - 28 invention there is provided a lifting apparatus for 29 lifting a load comprising: at least one rail; 1 one or more lifting devices, each lifting 2 device being adapted for attachment to a respective 3 one of said one or more rails, 4 wherein each lifting device comprises a lever member having a first end pivotably and slidably 6 connected in use to the respective rail, such that a 7 second end of the lever member may be raised between 8 a lowered position and a raised position to lift a 9 load carried on the lever member, and such that the lever member may slide on the rail in a raised 11 position to slide the load onto the rail.
13 Preferably the lever member may also slide on the 14 rail in any intermediate position between the lowered position and the raised position.
17 Preferably the or each lifting device includes a 18 sliding member having a first end slidably connected 19 to the rail and a second end pivotably connected to the lever member. Preferably the first end of the 21 lever member is offset from the first end of the 22 sliding member such that raising of the second end 23 of the lever member causes the sliding member to 24 slide along the rail in a first direction.
26 Preferably the lifting apparatus comprises two rails 27 and a lifting device is provided at each rail.
29 An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to 31 the accompanying drawings, in which: 1 Figure 1 is a plan view of a lifting apparatus - 2 mounted on the rails of a roof rack for a vehicle; 4 Figure 2 is a side view of a lifting device of the lifting apparatus of Figure 1 shown at various i 6 positions along the rail; 8 Figure 3 is a side view of the lifting device of 9 Figure 2 at a particular position along the rail; 11 Figure 4 is a detailed side view of the lifting c 12 device of Figure 2 at another particular position 13 along the rail; and Figure 5 is an end view of the lifting apparatus of 16 Figure 1.
18 Figure 1 shows a lifting apparatus 10 adapted for 19 attachment to the rails 20 of a roof rack mounted on a vehicle 100.
22 The lifting apparatus 10 comprises two lifting 23 devices 30, each lifting device 30 attached to a 24 rail 20, and the lifting devices 30 structurally linked by a lifting bar 60.
27 As shown particularly in Figure 2, the lifting 28 device 30 is adapted for attachment to one of the 29 rails 20. Each lifting device 30 comprises a lever member 34 having a first end 38 pivotably and 31 slidably connected to the rail 20. Therefore, a 32 second end 42 of the lever member may be raised 1 between a lowered position, as shown in Figure 2 2 (d), and a raised position, as shown in Figure 2 3 (a), to lift a load carried on the lever member 34, 4 and the lever member 34 may slide on the rail 20 in a raised position to slide the load onto the rail 6 20. The lever member 34 may also slide on the rail 7 20 in any intermediate position between the lowered 8 and the raised position.
As shown particularly in Figure 3, each lifting 11 device 30 includes a sliding member 32. The sliding 12 member has a first end 36 which is slidably 13 connected to the rail 20. The lever member 34 has a 14 first end 38 which is pivotally connected to a second end 40 of the sliding member 32. The first 16 end 38 of the lever member 34 is offset from the 17 first end 36 of the sliding member 32 such that 18 raising of a second end 42 of the lever member 34 19 causes the sliding member 32 to slide along the rail 20.
22 Figure 2 (a) to (d) show the lifting device 30 at 23 various positions along the rail 20. When the 24 second end 42 of the lever member 34 is raised, the sliding member 32 will tend to slide along the rail 26 20 in a direction which is away from the second end 27 42 of the lever member 34. This direction is shown 28 by arrow A in Figures 2 and 4.
It should be appreciated that, inversely, sliding of 31 the sliding member 32 in the direction of arrow A 32 will cause raising of the second end 42 of the lever 1 member 34. Also, sliding of the sliding member 32 2 in a direction opposite to arrow A will cause 3 lowering of the second end 42 of lever member 34.
The sliding member 32 is attached to the rail 20 by 6 a pin 44. This pin 44 allows sliding along the rail 7 20 and also pivoting of the sliding member 32 8 relative to the rail 20. A roller may be provided 9 at the pin 44. It is to be understood that the term 'sliding' should also encompass rolling of the 11 roller along the rail.
13 The upper surface 46 of the lever member 34 provides 14 load carrying means. The lifting bar 60, as well as providing linking means for structurally linking the 16 lifting devices 30, also provides raising means for 17 raising the second end 42 of the lever member 34.
19 As the lifting bar 60 is raised, a portion of the lever member 34 will be in contact with the rail 20.
21 This rail contacting portion will move from the 22 first end 38 to the second end 42 of the lever 23 member 34 as the second end 42 of the lever member 24 34 is raised. Friction reducing means is provided at this rail contacting portion. The friction 26 reducing means comprises a number of rollers 50 27 which are provided transversely at various locations 28 along the length of the lever member 34. A belt 29 (not shown) is provided around these rollers 50.
31 Each of the sliding member 32 and lever member 34 32 comprises a flange 52 and two webs 54 which form a U 1 section channel. The lower surface of the flange 52 2 is provided adjacent to the upper surface of the 3 rail 20 and each web 54 depends from a longitudinal 4 edge of the flange 52.
6 The lever member 34 and sliding member 32 are 7 pivotally connected by a hinge 56. The hinge 56 has 8 a leaf provided at each of the flanges 52 of the 9 lever member 34 and sliding member 32. The first end 38 of the lever member 34 and the second end 40 11 of the sliding member 32 are tapered towards the 12 hinge 56. This allows pivoting of the lever member 13 34 relative to the sliding member 32 until the 14 tapered edges come into contact.
16 In use, a load, such as an item to be lifted onto 17 the roof rack, may be placed on the upper surface 46 18 of the lever member 34. The lifting bar 60 may then 19 be raised. The load will be supported by the user, by the rail 20 at the first end of the sliding 21 member 36 and at the rail contacting portion. If 22 the user wishes to rest and let go of the lifting 23 bar 60, or change grip or the like, all of the load 24 will be supported by the rail 20 and the second end 42 of the lever member 34 will remain at its present 26 position. - 28 With the use of the lever arrangement, and a portion 29 of the load being supported by the rail 20, less force is required to raise the load to a position 31 adjacent the rails 20. The pivoting arrangement of 32 the lever member 34 and sliding member 32, and the 1 pivot point being offset from the connection of the 2 sliding member 32 to the rail 20, produces a force 3 component in the direction A. This force component 4 causes the lifting device 30 to progressively move along the rail 20 until all of the device 30, and 6 the load, are located on the rail 20. At more 7 elevated heights, the abutting tapered edges of the 8 lever member 34 and sliding member 32 also co 9 operate to provide a force in the direction A. 11 The lifting apparatus 10 therefore offers the 12 advantages of less strenuous lifting, convenience 13 and safety.
Rather than manual lifting of the lifting bar 60, 16 the raising means may comprise a pulley device 17 attached to the sliding member 32 at or adjacent to 18 the pin 44 for sliding the sliding member 32 along 19 the rail. The pulley device may be manually operated. Alternatively, electrical, hydraulic or 21 pneumatic means may be provided for operating the 22 pulley device.
24 Various modifications and improvements can be made without departing from the scope of the present 26 invention. For instance, the lifting device may be 2 7 adapted to connect to a groove or channel provided 28 at the rail.
Claims (1)
1 Claims 3 1. A lifting apparatus for lifting a load onto one 4 or more
rails, the lifting apparatus comprising: one or more lifting devices, each lifting 6 device being adapted for attachment to a respective 7 one of said one or more rails, 8 wherein each lifting device comprises a lever 9 member pivotably and slidably connected in use to the respective rail at a first end, such that a 11 second end of the lever member may be raised between 12 a lowered position and a raised position to lift a 13 load carried on the lever member, and such that the 14 lever member may slide on the rail in a raised position to slide the load onto the rail.
17 2. A lifting apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, 18 wherein the lever member is adapted to slide on the 19 rail at one or more intermediate positions between the lowered position and the raised position.
22 3. A lifting apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, 23 wherein the or each lifting device includes a 24 sliding member having a first end slidably connected to the rail and a second end pivotally connected to 26 the lever member such that the lever member is 27 pivotably and slidably connected to the rail by the 28 sliding member.
4. A lifting apparatus as claimed in Claim 3, 31 wherein the first end of the lever member is offset 32 from the first end of the sliding member such that 1 raising of a second end of the lever member causes 2 the sliding member to slide along the rail in a 3 first direction.
5. A lifting apparatus as claimed in Claim 3 or 4, 6 wherein the first end of the sliding member is 7 pivotably connected to the rail.
9 6. A lifting apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the lifting apparatus comprises two 11 lifting devices, and wherein the lifting apparatus 12 includes linking means for structurally linking the 13 lifting devices.
7. A lifting apparatus as claimed in any preceding 16 claim, wherein the lever member includes load 17 carrying means.
19 8. A lifting apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the lever member includes raising 21 means for raising the second end of the lever 22 member.
24 9. A lifting apparatus as claimed in Claim 8 when dependent on Claim 6, wherein the raising means may 26 comprise the linking means.
28 10. A lifting apparatus as claimed in any of Claims 29 3 to 5, wherein the length of the lever member is substantially greater than the length of the sliding 31 member.
1 11. A lifting apparatus as claimed in any preceding 2 claim, wherein the lever member includes a rail 3 contacting portion and the lever member may be 4 supported by an end of the rail at the rail contacting portion.
7 12. A lifting apparatus as claimed in Claim 11, 8 wherein friction reducing means is provided at the 9 rail contacting portion.
11 13. A lifting apparatus as claimed in Claim 12, 12 wherein the friction reducing means comprises a 13 plurality of rollers provided transversely at a 14 plurality of locations along the length of the lever member.
17 14. A lifting apparatus as claimed in Claim 13, 18 wherein the plurality of rollers are enclosed by a 19 belt, and wherein the lever member is supported by the end of the rail which contacts the belt.
22 15. A lifting apparatus as claimed in any of Claims 23 3 to 5, wherein one or both of the lever member and 24 the sliding member comprise a flange and two webs forming a U section channel, and wherein the lower 26 surface of the or each flange is adjacent to the 27 upper surface of the rail and each web depends from 28 a longitudinal edge of the respective flange.
16. A lifting apparatus as claimed in Claim 15, 31 wherein the lever member and the sliding member are 1 pivotably connected at a hinge provided at each 2 flange of the lever member and the sliding member.
4 17. A lifting apparatus as claimed in Claim 8, wherein the raising means comprises a pulley device.
7 18. A lifting apparatus as claimed in Claim 17, 8 wherein the pulley device is adapted to slide the 9 sliding member along the rail in the first direction.
12 19. A lifting system for lifting a load comprising: 13 at least one rail; 14 a lifting apparatus according to any of Claims 1 to 18.
17 20. A lifting system as claimed in Claim 19, 18 wherein the or each rail is a component of a roof 19 rack apparatus for a vehicle.
21 21. A lifting system as claimed in Claim 19 or 20, 22 wherein the lifting apparatus comprises two rails.
24 22. A lifting apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in the 26 accompanying drawings.
28 23. A lifting system substantially as hereinbefore 29 described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB0312373A GB2402115A (en) | 2003-05-30 | 2003-05-30 | Rail mounted lifting apparatus |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB0312373A GB2402115A (en) | 2003-05-30 | 2003-05-30 | Rail mounted lifting apparatus |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB0312373D0 GB0312373D0 (en) | 2003-07-02 |
| GB2402115A true GB2402115A (en) | 2004-12-01 |
Family
ID=9958996
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB0312373A Withdrawn GB2402115A (en) | 2003-05-30 | 2003-05-30 | Rail mounted lifting apparatus |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| GB (1) | GB2402115A (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP2080670A1 (en) * | 2008-01-21 | 2009-07-22 | Aurilis Group S.A. | Sliding box/goods-carrier for motor vehicles |
Citations (6)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2118501A (en) * | 1982-03-02 | 1983-11-02 | Ronic Staal Bv | Roof rack device |
| EP0101054A2 (en) * | 1982-08-09 | 1984-02-22 | Heinrich Wunder GmbH & Co. KG | Luggage carrier for vehicles, especially for caravans |
| WO1987007568A1 (en) * | 1986-06-03 | 1987-12-17 | Peltolan Metalli Oy | Roof rack for automobiles |
| DE4229762A1 (en) * | 1991-09-17 | 1993-03-18 | Volkswagen Ag | Loading aid for vehicle roof rack - has hinged sliding bars which move pallets along horizontal carrier beams |
| US6015074A (en) * | 1998-07-01 | 2000-01-18 | Snavely; Travis J. | Roof rack for a vehicle |
| US6428263B1 (en) * | 2000-07-06 | 2002-08-06 | Thomas Schellens | Vehicular rooftop load elevating device |
-
2003
- 2003-05-30 GB GB0312373A patent/GB2402115A/en not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (6)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2118501A (en) * | 1982-03-02 | 1983-11-02 | Ronic Staal Bv | Roof rack device |
| EP0101054A2 (en) * | 1982-08-09 | 1984-02-22 | Heinrich Wunder GmbH & Co. KG | Luggage carrier for vehicles, especially for caravans |
| WO1987007568A1 (en) * | 1986-06-03 | 1987-12-17 | Peltolan Metalli Oy | Roof rack for automobiles |
| DE4229762A1 (en) * | 1991-09-17 | 1993-03-18 | Volkswagen Ag | Loading aid for vehicle roof rack - has hinged sliding bars which move pallets along horizontal carrier beams |
| US6015074A (en) * | 1998-07-01 | 2000-01-18 | Snavely; Travis J. | Roof rack for a vehicle |
| US6428263B1 (en) * | 2000-07-06 | 2002-08-06 | Thomas Schellens | Vehicular rooftop load elevating device |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP2080670A1 (en) * | 2008-01-21 | 2009-07-22 | Aurilis Group S.A. | Sliding box/goods-carrier for motor vehicles |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB0312373D0 (en) | 2003-07-02 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| WAP | Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1) |