Material or article handling – Apparatus for moving material to a position in the erection... – Flat wall or ceiling member manipulating means
Reexamination Certificate
2000-08-31
2001-08-14
Krizek, Janice L. (Department: 3652)
Material or article handling
Apparatus for moving material to a position in the erection...
Flat wall or ceiling member manipulating means
C248S371000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06273662
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention may be described as a lifting device that can be used to lift and support articles such as cabinets, counter tops, shelving and the like during installation or removal which provides greater adjustability, support and maneuverability over conventional devices reducing the time and effort required during installation.
DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART
During the construction or remodeling of kitchens, bathrooms, offices, entertainment centers and conference rooms in residential and commercial structures, lift and support devices are used to aid in the installation of articles such as cabinets and counter tops. Installation of cabinets typically requires them to be mounted to walls as units or as a series of interconnected cabinets. Removal of existing cabinets usually requires support of the cabinets while the fastening mechanisms are removed. To attach a cabinet to a wall, it is necessary to incorporate a device to support the cabinet while it is fastened. A typical device used to install wall cabinets is a T-shaped support fabricated from lumber stock wherein the vertical member is cut to a height equal to the elevation at which the cabinet is to be installed. These onsite constructed supports work best when the cabinet is installed against a soffit and the cabinet can be wedged between the support and a soffit to securely hold the cabinet in place. When a soffit is not used, these devices are relatively unstable for supporting a cabinet and require two people to install the cabinet. Also, it is not uncommon during the installation of cabinets in new construction or during remodeling of an existing structure to encounter a room that has walls that are not square or a floor that is not level, rendering it difficult to install cabinets so they appear plumb. When installing cabinets in rooms of this sort, it is desirable to align the cabinets by placing shims between the wall and the cabinet so that they are horizontal and plumb even though the walls are not. Previous devices used to support cabinets during installation do not have the adjustment capability to adequately raise and level the cabinet. Typically, shims need to be placed between the cabinet and the lift device in order to maneuver the cabinet into the proper position so it can be fastened to the wall. These types of adjustments are time consuming causing delay in the completion of the installation. Also, prior devices do not have the adjustable range of height needed to cover the different aspects of cabinet installation. Furthermore, the prior art devices do not have the ability to elevate an existing counter top while the base cabinets beneath are replaced. Typically, several different devices need to be used to allow the completion of the installation since the range of adjustability is limited. The present invention has the ability to lift a cabinet to a desired height with an adjustment range from 13 inches to 8 feet and allows for the precise adjustment of the cabinet to allow proper fastening and remains stable even when cabinets are raised to higher elevations.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a lifting and adjustable positioning device for supporting an article such as a cabinet or counter top and allows for precise adjustment so the cabinet can be properly fastened to a wall. The lifting device consists of a base, a vertically extendable shaft, an adjustable L-shaped bracket assembly and an adjustable platform. The vertical shaft assembly is supported by the base which includes four outwardly extending legs equipped with locking casters. The hydraulic adjustment portion of the vertical shaft consists of a base portion and a telescoping shaft. The shaft is telescopically raised by the use of a foot operated hydraulic pump mechanism which incrementally raises the extending portion of the jack with each press of the pedal. To lower the jack, a release knob releases the hydraulic pressure thereby lowering the lift.
The adjustable L-shaped bracket assembly consists of a one piece L-shaped rectangular bracket with a long leg and a short leg. The long leg has apertures placed along its length to allow for multiple position attachment to the telescoping shaft. To adjust the bracket assembly, two bolts are removed from the bracket allowing it to be raised or lowered to the desired height.
The adjustable platform supports the cabinet and has a central pivot and two height adjustment mechanisms that aid in leveling the cabinet prior to installation. The jack has a height adjustment range from 13 inches to 8 feet and allows a cabinet to be pivoted in three axes of rotation.
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Krizek Janice L.
Lee, Mann, Smith McWilliams, Sweeney and Ohlson
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