Portable and foldable lift
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing solutions lack a portable and efficient means for a single person to lift and move heavy objects onto raised surfaces, such as truck beds or workbenches, without requiring additional assistance.
Innovation Solution
A portable and foldable lift system attachable to structures, featuring a support member, lifting member, support plate, glide member, and height adjustment mechanism, allowing for easy deployment and storage, with an electric motor-powered lifting mechanism and adjustable height settings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a portable and foldable lift is designed to be compact and easy to store, then the device complexity and storage convenience are improved, but the lifting capacity and structural strength may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The lift is divided into multiple support members that can be folded relative to each other, allowing the structure to be compact when stored but rigid when deployed. The segmentation enables the lift to transition between a compact storage state and a strong operational state, resolving the contradiction between portability and structural strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The support members are designed to nest within each other when folded, creating a compact storage configuration. When deployed, the nested structure expands to provide the necessary lifting strength. This nesting principle allows the lift to maintain high strength during operation while achieving compact dimensions for storage.
2Strength
If the lift structure is made more robust to handle heavy objects, then the lifting capacity and safety are improved, but the weight of the device increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lift employs a dynamic folding mechanism where the support members can transition between folded and extended positions. This dynamic structure allows the lift to achieve high lifting capacity when extended while maintaining relatively low weight for portability, as the full structural strength is only required during the lifting operation, not during transport.
Solution Approach 2:
The support members are constructed using composite materials that provide high strength-to-weight ratio. This allows the lift to achieve the necessary structural strength for heavy lifting while minimizing the overall device weight, resolving the contradiction between lifting capacity and portability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the lift is designed with multiple adjustment mechanisms for height and position, then the adaptability to different surfaces and heights is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The support members serve multiple functions: they provide structural support, enable height adjustment through folding, and facilitate positioning on different surfaces. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate adjustment mechanisms, thereby maintaining adaptability while controlling device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The folding support members provide dynamic adjustment capability, allowing the lift to adapt to different heights and surfaces through simple angular adjustments. This dynamic geometry enables versatility without requiring complex mechanical adjustment mechanisms, as the adaptability is achieved through the inherent flexibility of the folded structure.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables a single person to safely and efficiently lift and move heavy objects onto raised surfaces, providing stability and versatility across different environments and surfaces, while being compact and easy to store.
Implementation Method 1
a glide member operatively connected to the support member adjacent the top end thereof and slidably connected to a generally flat surface by an attachment member
Data Source
AI summary
A portable and foldable lift can be attached to a surface such as a tailgate of a truck. The lift can be slid off the gate and used to lift heavy objects from the ground to the bed of the truck. The portable and foldable lift is returned in a folded position to the tailgate for easy storage. The portable and foldable lift can also be attached to a work bench, either on top or underneath, and can be folded up and stored out of the way.