US3844381A

US3844381A - Storage servicing apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3844381A
Application number: US00425209A
Authority: US
Inventors: E Condon
Original assignee: Mac Press Inc
Current assignee: Mac Press Inc
Priority date: 1973-12-17
Filing date: 1973-12-17
Publication date: 1974-10-29
Anticipated expiration: 1991-10-29

Abstract

An apparatus for storing and transporting athletic equipment such as wrestling mats comprising an overhead horizontally disposed suspended support beam having a movable carriage means mounted thereon. A first power means is provided on the movable means for selectively longitudinally driving the movable means along the length of the support beam. A pair of cable members extend downwardly from the movable means and have a sling secured to the lower end thereof adapted to embrace and removably support the mat therein. A second power means is provided on the movable means for selectively raising and lowering the cable members and the sling.

Description

United States Patent 11 1 Condon STORAGE SERVICING APPARATUS [75] Inventor:

[73] Assignee: Mac Press, Inc., Barnum, Iowa [22] Filed: Dec. 17, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 425,209

Edmund ,1. Condon, Barnum, Iowa [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,730,047 l/1956 Rollings 105/153 2,812,863 11/1957 Ralston 212/71 Primary ExaminerLloyd L. King Assistant Examiner-1-1oward Beltran Voorhees [5 7] ABSTRACT An apparatus for storing and transporting athletic equipment such as wrestling mats comprising an overhead horizontally disposed suspended support beam having a movable carriage means mounted thereon. A first power means is provided on the movable means for selectively longitudinally driving the movable means along the length of the support beam. A pair of cable members extend downwardly from the movable means and have a sling secured to the lower end thereof adapted to embrace and removably support the mat therein. A second power means is provided on the movable means for selectively raising and lowering the cable members and the sling.

5 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an apparatus for storing and transporting athletic equipment and more particularly to an apparatus which may be used to store and trans port wrestling mats or the like.

In schools, wrestling mats are ordinarily placed on the gymnasium floor when meets are being conducted. It is necessary to remove the mats when the gymnasium is going to be used for other activities. Frequently, the mats are then taken to the gymnasium balcony to enable the wrestlers to practice. The conventional wrestling mats are quite large and are difficult to handle and store. In an effort to overcome the handling and storage problem, the mats are sometimes made in multiple piece units which are less than satisfactory. If a onepiece mat is used. it requires several people to manually carry the mat to some storage location which is difficult and dangerous since the mat may weight as much as 1,500 pounds.

Therefore, it is a principal object of the invention to provide an apparatus for storing and transporting athletic equipment.

A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for storing and transporting athletic equipment such as wrestling mats or the like.

A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for storing and transporting athletic equipment including a sling means which may be lowered from an overhead location to allow the mat to be placed therein.

A further object of the invention is to provide an ap paratus for storing and transporting athletic equipment such as a one-piece wrestling mat.

A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for storing and transporting athletic equipment which prevents damage to the equipment.

A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for storing and transporting athletic equipment which is convenient and safe to use.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for storing and transporting athletic equip ment which is economical of manufacture, durable in use and refined in appearance.

These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS This invention consists in the construction, arrangements and combination of the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained as hereinafter more fully set forth. specifically pointed out in the claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view of the apparatus being used to store a mat:

FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view illustrating the sling of the apparatus in a lowered condition with a portion of the mat engaging the same:

FIG. 3 is an enlarged partial sectional view seen on lines 3 3 of FIG. 1:

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the trolley or movable means with the housing removed therefrom:

FIG. 5 is a sectional view seen on lines 5 5 of FIG. 3:

FIG. 6 is a sectional view seen on lines 6 6 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 7 is a sectional view seen on lines 7 7 of FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The apparatus of this invention is referred to generally by the reference numeral 10 while the reference numeral 12 refers to a flexible wrestling mat or the like. An overhead horizontally disposed support beam 14 would normally extend over the gymnasium floor or the like and has an I-shaped cross-sectional configuration.

A trolley means or movable means 16 is longitudinally movably mounted on support beam 14 as illustrated in the drawings. Movable means 16 comprises a frame means 18 including a pair of spaced apart

frame members

20 and 22 interconnected by U-shaped

channels

24, 26, 28 and 30.

As seen in FIG. 4, a pair of trolleys 32 and 32' are secured to and extend upwardly from the

channels

26 and 30 respectively and engage the lower flange 34 of the support beam as also illustrated in the drawings. The numeral 36 refers to an electric gear motor mounted on channel 38 which is secured to and extends between the

beams

20 and 22 as seen in FIG. 4. Gear motor 36 drives a sprocket 40 which is connected to sprocket 42 by chain 44. As seen in FIG. 7, sprocket 42 is secured to an axle 46 which is rotatably mounted on the upper ends of

supports

48 and 50 which are secured to channel 52 and which extend upwardly therefrom. A rubber tire is mounted on the axle 46 for rotation therewith and frictionally engages the bottom surface of the lower flange 34 of support beam 14 as illustrated in FIG. 7. Thus, actuation of gear motor 36 causes the drive tire 54 to rotate with respect to the support beam so that the movable means 16 moves relative to the support beam 14. Gear motor 36 is reversible to enable the movable means 116 to move in either direction along the length of the support beam 14.

A reversible gear motor 56 with an electric brake is secured to the channel 58 which extends between the

frame members

20 and 22 as also seen in FIG. 4. Gear motor 56 drives a sprocket (not shown) which is connected to the sprocket 60 by the chain 62. Sprocket 60 is mounted on shaft 64 for rotation therewith which is rotatably mounted on the

brackets

66 and 68 secured to the

frame members

20 and 22. Drum 70 is also mounted on the shaft 64 for rotation therewith as is a sprocket 72. Chain 74 extends around the sprocket 72 and extends around a sprocket 76 which is mounted on shaft 78 which rotatably extends between a pair of brackets 80 secured to the

frame members

20 and 22. Drum 82 is mounted on the shaft 78 for rotation therewith.

The numeral 84 refers generally to a cable which is wrapped around the drum 70 and which extends therefrom towards one end of the movable means as seen in FIG. 4. Cable 84 extends over a rotatable pulley 86 secured to the channel 24. The numeral 88 refers to a cable which is wrapped around the drum 82 and which extends therefrom towards the other end of the movable means as seen in FIGS. 3 and 4. Cable 88 extends over the rotatable pulley 90 which is secured to the channel 28. It should be noted at this time that the

drums

70 and 82 have the same diameters and that the

sprockets

72 and 76 also have the same diameters. The chain 74 serves to synchronize the operation of the two drums. The numeral 92 refers generally to a housing which extends around the movable means 16 as seen in FIG. 1.

A sling means 94 is secured to the lower ends of the

cables

84 and 88 and comprises generally an elongated bar 96 having a plurality of hooks 98 secured thereto in a spaced apart relation as depicted in FIG. 2. A plurality of flexible straps 100 are secured at one end thereof to one side of the bar 96 and have a plurality of straps 102 secured thereto and extending therebetween as also seen in FIG. 2. Each of the free ends of the straps 100 are provided with an opening 104 formed therein which is adapted to receive the hook 98 as will be described in more detail hereinafter.

Assuming that the wrestling mat 12 is on the gymnasium floor and that the movable means is positioned overhead, the method of operation is as follows. Gear motor 36 is activated to approximately position the movable means 16 over the mat 12. The gear motor 56 is then operated to cause the rotation of the

drums

70 and 72 so that the

cables

84 and 88 unwind therefrom respectively to cause sling means 94 to be lowered. When sling means 94 has been lowered close to the floor, the straps 100 are disconnected from the hooks 98 and spread out on the floor. One end of the mat 12 is then placed on the straps 100 as seen in FIG. 2. Mat 12 is then rolled-up onto the straps 100 with the straps 100 then being secured to the hooks 98.

Gear motor 56 is then operated to raise the sling means and the mat to the desired height. The gear motor 36 is selectively operated to position the movable means and sling means longitudinally along support beam 14. The mat may be transported to the gymnasium balcony if desired or may be left suspended in the sling means until some future time.

It can be appreciated that the sling means can be used to transport and store equipment other than wrestling mats. Thus, it can be seen that a novel apparatus has been provided for storing and transporting athletic equipment which accomplishes at least all of its stated objectives.

I claim:

1. An apparatus for storing and transporting athletic equipment comprising,

an overhead horizontally disposed support beam,

movable means mounted on said support beam,

first power means on said movable means for selectively longitudinally driving said movable means with respect to said support beam,

at least a pair of cable members extending downwardly from said movable means,

a sling means secured to the lower ends of said cable members for removably supporting athletic equipment therein at times,

and second power means on said movable means for selectively raising and lowering said cable members and said sling means.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said sling means comprises a horizontally disposed bar secured to the lower ends of said cable members, a plurality of flexible straps secured at one end thereof to said bar, and means for detachably securing the other ends of said straps to said bar.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said movable means comprises a horizontally disposed frame means, said first power means comprising a rotatable drive wheel in frictional engagement with said support and an electric motor means operatively connected to said drive wheel for selectively rotating said drive wheel in either direction at times.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said movable means comprises a horizontally disposed frame means having opposite ends, said second'power means comprising first and second spaced apart drums rotatably mounted on said frame means, means connecting said drums for synchronizing the rotation thereof, said first and second cable members being wound upon said first and second drums respectively and extending therefrom, and an electric motor operatively connected to said first drum for selectively rotating the same in either direction at times.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said first and second cable members extend downwardly from opposite ends of said frame means.

Claims

1. An apparatus for storing and transporting athletic equipment comprising, an overhead horizontally disposed support beam, movable means mounted on said support beam, first power means on said movable means for selectively longitudinally driving said movable means with respect to said support beam, at least a pair of cable members extending downwardly from said movable means, a sling means secured to the lower ends of said cable members for removably supporting athletic equipment therein at times, and second power means on said movable means for selectively raising and lowering said cable members and said sling means.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said movable means comprises a horizontally disposed frame means having opposite ends, said second power means comprising first and second spaced apart drums rotatably mounted on said frame means, means connecting said drums for synchronizing the rotation thereof, said first and second cable members being wound upon said first and second drums respectively and extending therefrom, and an electric motor operatively connected to said first drum for selectively rotating the same in either direction at times.