The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 23, 2017
Filed:
Sep. 19, 2014
Columbia Machine, Inc., Vancouver, WA (US);
Tim Hansen, Lake Oswego, OR (US);
COLUMBIA MACHINE, INC., Vancouver, WA (US);
Abstract
A hoist safety lock mechanism includes a pair of pawls formed on terminal ends of each corner of a pallet support structure. The pawls are biased outward to an extended position and include a lower support surface adapted to rest on a support surface. The pawls may be pivotally deflected downward (but not upward) due to impact on a top surface of the pawl. Each pawl is configured to be received within a respective parallel column of slots formed on inwardly-facing sides of the vertical posts forming the lifting frame of the hoist. The slots within each column are vertically offset and separated by separators which can vertically deflect the pawls. Because the slots are vertically offset, and because each terminal end includes a pair of pawls, there is always at least one pawl engaged within the slot even if the other of the pair is deflected by contact with a separator. Thus, any failure of the hoist will cause the pallet support structure to only fall to the next lower separator before the pawl catches it.