IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0023114
(2011-02-08)
|
등록번호 |
US-8579304
(2013-11-12)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
- Setzer, Sr., Mitchell Olin
- Setzer, Sr., Larry Richard
|
출원인 / 주소 |
- Setzer, Sr., Mitchell Olin
|
대리인 / 주소 |
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
3 인용 특허 :
6 |
초록
▼
The disclosed technology includes methods for providing a hand truck with a powered lifting feature controlled by an electronic module associated with a scale where such scale is used to determine the weight of an item to be lifted and manually transported. The electronic module is configured for ca
The disclosed technology includes methods for providing a hand truck with a powered lifting feature controlled by an electronic module associated with a scale where such scale is used to determine the weight of an item to be lifted and manually transported. The electronic module is configured for causing a tray rise and lower as desired. The scale is mechanically associated with the tray for measuring the weight of an item placed on the scale. If the item weights more than a stored maximum value, the electronic device will not cause the tray to be lifted.
대표청구항
▼
1. A method of using a portable device comprising powered lifting features for manually transporting items, said method comprising the steps of: providing a handle defining a first handle end and an opposing second handle end;providing a first vertically extending support column defining an upper po
1. A method of using a portable device comprising powered lifting features for manually transporting items, said method comprising the steps of: providing a handle defining a first handle end and an opposing second handle end;providing a first vertically extending support column defining an upper portion and a lower portion, said first vertically extending support column housing a first motion facilitator;providing a second vertically extending support column defining an upper portion and a lower portion, said second vertically extending support column housing a second motion facilitator;providing a lower member defining a first end and an opposing second end;mechanically associating the first handle end with the upper portion of said first vertically extending support column;mechanically associating the second handle end with the upper portion of said second vertically extending support column;mechanically associating the first end of said lower member with the lower portion of said first vertically extending support column;mechanically associating the second end of said lower member with the lower portion of said second vertically extending support column;associating a first wheel with the lower portion of said first vertically extending support column so that said first wheel is carried adjacent to the lower portion of said first vertically extending support column;associating a second wheel with the lower portion of said second vertically extending support column so that said second wheel is carried adjacent to the lower portion of said second vertically extending support column;providing a first motion facilitator interface movably associated with said first motion facilitator;providing a second motion facilitator interface movably associated with said second motion facilitator;associating a tray with said first motion facilitator interface and said second motion facilitator interface so that said tray extends transversely from said vertically extending support columns;providing a force-to-movement converter mechanically associated with said first motion facilitator and said second motion facilitator, said force-to-movement converter configured for activating said first motion facilitator and said second motion facilitator;providing a power source electrically associated with said force-to-movement converter;providing a controller comprising a processing device electrically associated with a memory wherein said memory stores weight data values thereby defining stored-weight-data;electrically associating said controller with said force-to-movement converter and said power source so that said controller is configured for selectively activating said force-to-movement converter thereby activating said first motion facilitator and said second motion facilitator to move said tray in one of a plurality of directions;mechanically associating a scale with said tray and electrically associated said scale with said controller;configuring said scale to determine item weight data of an item placed on said scale and transfer said item weight data to said controller; andconfiguring said controller to compare the received item weight data and with at least one stored-weight-data value before activating the force-to-movement converter. 2. A method of using a portable device comprising powered lifting features for manually transporting items as in claim 1, further comprising the step of electrically associating a receiver with said processing device and wherein said scale comprises a transmitter and wherein said controller is electrically associated with scale with a wireless communication connection. 3. A method of using a portable device comprising powered lifting features for manually transporting items as in claim 2, further comprising the steps of providing: a display electrically associated with the processing device and configured for displaying data;at least one environment sensor configured for generating environment-data related to an environmental parameter for the apparatus' environment;a transmitter electrically associated with the processing device and configured for transmitting data to a remote location; anda controller power source electrically associated with at least said processing device, said memory, said transmitter, and said display. 4. A method of using a portable device comprising powered lifting features for manually transporting items as in claim 3, wherein said at least one environment sensor is a global positioning system (GPS) sensor configured to generate position-data for the controller, said position-data representing the current location of the controller. 5. A method of using a portable device comprising powered lifting features for manually transporting items as in claim 4, wherein said memory is configured to store customer-information comprising location-data and wherein said processing device is configured to use said position-data to retrieve the customer information associated with the current location of said controller and associate said item weight data with the retrieved customer information thereby defining customer-information-item-weight-data. 6. A method of using a portable device comprising powered lifting features for manually transporting items as in claim 5, wherein said controller is further configured to transmit a data signal comprising at least part of said customer-information-item-weight-data to a remote location. 7. A method of using a portable device comprising powered lifting features for manually transporting items as in claim 6, wherein said controller further comprises an imaging sensor electrically associated with said processing device, wherein said processing device is further configured to use said imaging sensor to generate and record image-data for said item and wherein said processing device is further configured to associate said image-data with said customer information. 8. A method of using a portable device comprising powered lifting features for manually transporting items as in claim 1, wherein said lower support member defines one of (a) an assembly housing, (b) an axel housing, and (c) an outrigger support, and further comprising a rear gusset support movably associated with at least one of (a) said lower support member, and (b) the lower portion of at least one vertically extending support column. 9. A method for manually transporting items, said method comprising the steps of: providing a first vertically extending support column defining an upper portion and a lower portion and a second vertically extending support column defining an upper portion and a lower portion and wherein said first vertically extending support column and said second vertically support column are substantially the same length;providing a lower support member defining a first end and an opposing second end wherein said first end is mechanically associated with the lower portion of said first vertically extending support column and wherein said second end is mechanically associated with the lower portion of said second vertically extending support column;providing a handle portion defining a first handle end and a second handle end, wherein said first handle end is mechanically associated with the upper portion of said first vertically extending support column and wherein said second handle end is mechanically associated with the upper portion of said second vertically extending support column;providing a vertical motion facilitator defining a upper portion and a lower portion and wherein the length of said vertical motion facilitator is substantially equal to the length of the vertically extending support columns and wherein the upper portion of said vertical motion facilitator is movably associated with said handle portion and wherein the lower portion of said vertical motion facilitator is movably associated with said lower support member;providing a first wheel carried adjacent to the lower portion of said first vertically extending support column;providing a second wheel carried adjacent to the lower portion of said second vertically extending support column;providing a vertical motion facilitator interface movably associated with said vertical motion facilitator;providing a tray extending transversely from said support columns, said tray mechanically associated with said vertical motion facilitator interface;providing a power source;providing a force-to-movement converter mechanically associated with said first vertical motion facilitator and said second vertical motion facilitator, said force-to-movement converter comprising a gearing assembly configured for transferring movement from said force-to-movement converter to said vertical motion facilitator;providing a controller electrically associated with said power source and said force-to-movement converter, said controller configured for selectively activating said force-to-movement converter so that said vertical motion facilitator is selectively activated to move said tray in a desired direction;providing a scale mechanically associated with said tray and electrically associated with said controller wherein said scale is configured to determine item weight data and transfer said item weight data to said controller; andconfiguring said controller to compare the received item weight data to verify the item weight data falls within a predefined range before activating the force-to-movement converter. 10. A method for manually transporting items as in claim 9, wherein said controller comprises: a processing device electrically associated with a memory;a display electrically associated with the processing device and configured for displaying data;at least one environment sensor configured for generating environment-data related to an environmental parameter for the apparatus' environment;a first transmitter electrically associated with said processing device and configured for transmitting data to a remote first location;a bio-sensor electrically associated with said processing device and configured for generating bio-data;an imaging element electrically associated with said processing device and configured for generating image-data;a location sensor electrically associated with said processing device and configured for generating location-data;a transceiver electrically associated with said processing device and configured for short range data transmissions; anda controller power source electrically associated with at least said processing device, and said memory. 11. A method for manually transporting items as in claim 10, further comprising the step of configuring said memory to store customer data comprising customer name, customer location data, and customer bio-data and further configuring said processing device to: use said bio-sensor to determine bio-data for a customer with an item to be transported;use said location sensor to generate location-data for at least one of (a) the customer with an item to be transported, and (b) the item to be transported;use at least one of said bio-data and said location-data to retrieve stored customer data;use said retrieved stored customer data and item weight data to generate billing data; anduse said transceiver to transfer said billing data to a local device to generate a shipping label and a customer receipt. 12. A method for manually transporting items, said method comprising the steps of: associating each end of a handle portion with the upper portion of a first vertically extending support column and a second vertically extending support column wherein at least one of said first vertically extending support column and said second vertically extending support column house a motion facilitator;mechanically associating a lower support with at least one of the lower portion of said first vertically extending support column and the lower portion of said second vertically extending support;associating a first wheel with said lower portion of said first vertically extending support column so that said first wheel is carried adjacent to the lower portion of said first vertically extending support column;associating a second wheel with the lower portion of said second vertically extending support column so that said second wheel is carried adjacent to the lower portion of said second vertically extending support column;associating at least one motion facilitator interface with each motion facilitator;mechanically associating a item-tray with said interface said item-tray extends transversely from said vertically extending support columns;mechanically associating a force-to-movement converter with each motion facilitator wherein said force-to-movement converter comprising a gearing assembly configured for transferring movement from said force-to-movement converter to at least one motion facilitator;electrically associating a power source via a controller with said force-to-movement converter so that said force-to-movement converter is activates with power from said power source is provided to said force-to-movement converter;configuring said controller for selectively activating said force-to-movement converter so that at least one motion facilitator is selectively activated to move said item-tray in one of a plurality of directions; andconfiguring said gearing assembly to provide for self-breaking so that there is substantially no tray movement after the force-to-movement converter is deactivated. 13. A method for manually transporting items as in claim 12, further comprising the step of configuring said at least one of motion facilitator with a secondary activation point. 14. A method for manually transporting items as in claim 12, wherein said at least one motion facilitator is a screw. 15. A method for manually transporting items as in claim 14, wherein said force-to-movement converter comprises an electric motor and said power source comprises a battery. 16. A method for manually transporting items as in claim 15, wherein said screw is a ball screw. 17. A method for manually transporting items as in claim 16, wherein said motion facilitator interface is a ball nut. 18. A method for manually transporting items as in claim 17, wherein said lower support member defines one of (a) an assembly housing, (b) an axel housing, and (c) an outrigger support, said portable apparatus further comprising a rear gusset support configured to maintain said vertically extending support columns perpendicular to the surface supporting said rear gusset support, said rear gusset support movably associated with at least one of (a) said lower support member, and (b) the lower portion of at least one vertically extending support column. 19. A method for manually transporting items as in claim 16, further comprising the step of providing a manual activation interface mechanically associated with one of said ball screws wherein said manual activation interface is configured to allow a user to manually activate said ball screw to selectively move the tray in one of a plurality of directions. 20. A method for manually transporting items as in claim 16, further comprising the step of providing support rails extending transversely from at least one of (a) the bottom portion of at least one vertically extending support column, and (b) said lower support member.
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