GB2522109A

GB2522109A - Lifting apparatus and method

Info

Publication number: GB2522109A
Application number: GB1420225.3A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Blayne Flint; Andrew Clark
Original assignee: NOTTINGHAM ZINC HOLDINGS Ltd
Current assignee: NOTTINGHAM ZINC HOLDINGS Ltd
Priority date: 2013-11-13
Filing date: 2014-11-13
Publication date: 2015-07-15
Also published as: GB201320074D0; GB201420225D0

Abstract

A low-profile lifting apparatus 2 for a wheeled container, roll cage or York container (50 fig 2) comprises a support means or lifting bed 16 having a lifting surface, a chassis 10, over which a base (52 fig 2) of the container (50 fig 2) to be lifted is placed, lifting means such as a hydraulic jack 22 in conjunction with a scissor frame 26 controlled by a user operable control means to raise and/or lower the height of the lifting bed 16 and means for centralising the base of the container (50 fig. 2) with respect to the support means. The user operable control means preferably comprises one or more pedals or levers (24 & 25 fig 6a), preferably foot operated located substantially below a plane defined by the lifting surface. The low profile of the lifting apparatus enables the container (50 fig 2) to be wheeled or rolled over the lifting bed. The support surface 16 may be shaped with an amount of tapering or narrowing going from a front lateral end to its opposite rear end to provide centralising of the wheeled container when rolled over. The centralising means may further comprise one or more stops in the form feet or brackets (15 fig 3a & 3b). The apparatus may further comprise one or more sets of transporting rolling means such a wheels, casters or rollers for mobility and an anchoring means to anchor the apparatus to the support to a floor, ground or wall (160a fig7a & 7b).

Description

LIFTING APPARATUS AND METHOD

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a lifting apparatus. More particularly the invention relates to a lifting apparatus for lifting a wheeled container, especially a wheeled container that can be rolled over the apparatus and subsequently lifted thereby, for example up to a desired working height. The invention also relates to a method of lifting a container using the apparatus.

BACKGROUND

In many industrial and commercial fields it is necessary to employ wheeled containers for moving items from place to place within a workplace or an industrial or commercial facility or environment. Items to be moved frequently have to be manually placed, arranged or stacked in a suitable container, usually a wheeled container, and once the container has been moved by wheeling or rolling to a new desired location, the items are then manually unpacked or removed from the container ready for further handling or onward processing.

Typical wheeled containers used in a variety of industrial and commercial applications are of the roll cage" type. These generally comprise a four-sided cage construction, of welded steel or other metal wire, carried on a rigid chassis, beneath which are mounted four wheels or roller casters which enable the container to be rolled from place to place as required simply by manual pushing.

One particularly significant industrial and commercial application of such roll cage-type wheeled containers is in the field of mail and courier operations, where they are used within sorting offices and depots for transporting mail, parcels, boxes, items of merchandise and a wide variety of other goods from place to place within a given postal or courier facility or environment. Such wheeled containers are often termed York containers".

With modern working practices becoming ever more stringent in terms of health and safety considerations involving repeated bending, stooping, overreaching and lifting of heavy items, particularly from low down or high up, it is increasingly the case that workers in such facilities are restricted in how they are permitted to move and handle items being stacked in or removed from such containers. For example, to help prevent back injuries workers are increasingly required to avoid undue or repeated bending down, stooping or over-reaching, especially for heavy items as they are being loaded into or out of a container at any particular location. There is therefore a need in the industry for a wheeled container that is able to be lifted off the ground, at any given location where it is to be loaded or unloaded, by a suitable and variable distance, in order that workers can access the interior of the container readily and at an optimum working height during a given loading or unloading operation.

In the field of industrial and commercial lifting equipment generally there are known various types of fork-lift lifting equipment, portable lifting platforms or tables, and pallet jacks. All these known forms of portable lifting equipment generally employ a mechanical or powered lifting mechanism to raise or lower, as required, a variable height lifting platform or bed, which is initially actively placed beneath the item to be lifted from one side thereof. On the side of the machine opposite the lifting platform access side, there are generally provided the necessary operator controls and a handle or other means by which the loaded machine is manipulated and moved from one location to another.

However, these known forms of portable lifting equipment are in some cases unsuitable for use with roll cage-type wheeled containers such as those used in postal and courier sorting offices and depots. In these scenarios space is often limited, making it difficult or impossible to accommodate and use such conventional forms of lifting equipment. Furthermore, the manner of handling such a roll cage-type wheeled container generally necessitates it being able to be manually pushed from one location to another often in any desired orientation and from any desired direction, and access to its interior from various directions provided unhindered by any equipment that might be contemplated for lifting it to a suitable working height.

Operator controls and handles at operator height on an operator's side of conventional lifting equipment such as known fork-lifts, portable lifting platforms or tables and pallet jacks would hinder such versatility if their use in the above contexts were to be contemplated.

It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to ameliorate or at least partially solve at least some of the shortcomings of known lifting equipment and to provide a versatile lifting apparatus that is particularly suitable for use with roll cage-type wheeled containers such as those used in postal and courier sorting offices and depots.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, in a first aspect the present invention provides a lifting apparatus for lifting a container above a surface to a desired working height thereabove, the apparatus comprising: support means over which a base of the container to be lifted is placeable from at least one direction; lifting means operable to raise and/or lower the height of the support means above the surface once the container has been placed over the support means; and user-operable control means for operating the lifting means; wherein the apparatus is constructed and arranged such that the control means is located substantially below a plane defined by, and preferably containing, the base of the container; and wherein the apparatus further comprises centralising means for centralising a base of the container relative to the support means so as to be centralised with respect to the said one direction as the container is, or once the container has been, placed over the support means from the said one direction.

Preferably the apparatus is constructed and arranged such that the control means is located substantially below a plane defined by, and preferably containing, the support means, preferably a lifting portion, lifting bed or lifting surface of the support means.

Especially preferably, the apparatus is constructed and arranged such that the control means is located substantially below a plane defined by, and preferably containing, the support means, or the lifting portion, bed or surface thereof, at least when the support means is in a lowermost! non-lifted configuration with respect to the surface.

In many practical embodiments of the invention, the container which the lifting apparatus of the invention is for lifting to a desired working height above the surface is preferably a wheeled container, and the wheeled container to be lifted is placeable over the support means of the apparatus by wheeling or rolling thereover.

In a second aspect of the present invention there is provided, in combination, a lifting apparatus according to the first aspect of the invention or any embodiment thereof, and a container, preferably a wheeled container, to be lifted by the apparatus, wherein the container has been placed, preferably by wheeling or rolling, over the support means of the apparatus from the said one direction and is ready for lifting, or has been lifted by the lifting means, upon operation of the control means, to a desired In a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of lifting a container, preferably a wheeled container, to a desired working height above a surface, the method comprising: providing a lifting apparatus according to the first aspect of the invention or any embodiment thereof; placing, preferably by wheeling or rolling, the container over the support means of the apparatus from the said one direction; and operating the lifting means by means of the control means to raise and/or lower the height of the support means above the surface; whereby the container is lifted above the surface by the support means to the said desired working height above the surface.

In some embodiments the support means of the lifting apparatus may be carried on a chassis. Preferably the chassis is supported on the surface above which the container is to be lifted.

In some embodiments the surface above which the container is to be lifted is a floor or ground upon which the apparatus is supported. Alternatively or additionally, the surface above which the container is to be lifted may be a floor or ground upon which the container is supported prior to being lifted thereabove.

The container for use with the lifting apparatus of the invention may preferably be a roll cage container. In particular, the container may be a generally rectangular-, especially oblong-, cross-sectioned container having a plurality of, e.g. two or three sides, such as of welded metal wire or other material(s), carried on a rigid rectangular, especially oblong, base, beneath which are mounted a plurality of, e.g. 4, rolling means, e.g. wheels or casters or rollers, which enable the container to be rolled from place to place as required, preferably by manual pushing.

It may be especially preferred that the container is a York container.

It is a feature of the lifting apparatus of the invention that the control means by which the lifting means is operable is/are located substantially at or below a plane defined by, and preferably containing, the base of the container to be lifted, preferably substantially below a plane defined by, and preferably containing, the support means, especially a lifting portion, bed or surface thereof, optionally at least when the support means is in a lowermost, non-lifted configuration with respect to the surface, or chassis if present. This permits a container to be placed over the support means, lifted and ready access to the interior of the container assured, when needed, without restriction on the end-to-end orientation of the container relative to the lifting apparatus. This may be especially useful in the case where substantially unobstructed access to the container's lower interior is required, regardless of whichever end-to-end orientation the container adopts when placed on the lifting apparatus and lifted to the desired working height above the surface.

Thus, in the case of a preferred oblong-based container, it is preferably able to be placed, preferably by wheeling or rolling, over the support means of the apparatus with either its front end first or its rear end first, and in either case access to the container's interior is assured, when needed, without interference or obstruction from the control means used to operate the lifting means. This is especially the case when access to the interior of the container is required from the same end of the lifting apparatus at which the user-operable control means are provided for operating the lifting means.

In preferred practical embodiments of the invention, therefore, it is preferred that, at least when the support means is in its lowermost, unerected, unlifted or collapsed configuration relative to the surface, or chassis if present, there are substantially no parts or components of the control means, preferably nor also of the chassis if present, which substantially protrude or project above a plane defined by, and preferably containing, the base of the container to be lifted, preferably a plane defined by, and preferably containing, the support means, especially an upper lifting portion, bed or surface thereof. This general configuration of the lifting apparatus when in its unerected or collapsed configuration may thus be characteristically termed a "low-profile" configuration of the apparatus when in this condition.

Thus, according to an alternative aspect of the present invention there is provided a lifting apparatus for lifting a container above a surface to a desired working height thereabove, the apparatus comprising: support means over which a base of the container to be lifted is placeable from at least one direction; lifting means operable to raise and/or lower the height of the support means above the surface once the container has been placed over the support means from the said one direction; and user-operable control means for operating the lifting means; wherein the apparatus is constructed and arranged such that at least when the support means is in its lowermost position relative to the surface, there are substantially no parts or components of the control means which substantially protrude or project above a plane defined by, and preferably containing, the base of the container to be lifted, preferably a plane defined by, and preferably containing, the support means, especially an upper lifting portion, bed or surface thereof; and wherein the apparatus further comprises centralising means for centralising a base of the container relative to the support means so as to be centralised with respect to the said one direction as the container is, or once the container has been, placed over the support means from the said one direction.

In many embodiments of the lifting apparatus of the invention, in order to improve the stability of the container on the support means of the apparatus when it is lifted above the surface, the support means of the apparatus may preferably be laterally shaped and/or dimensioned such that it generally substantially or approximately matches the corresponding lateral shape and/or dimensions of the base of the container. It is to be understood that a lateral width of the support means may be dimensioned to allow the container to be placed, e.g. by rolling, over the support means, whilst wheels, casters or rollers of the container remain in contact with a floor or ground which supports the lifting apparatus and the container, which floor or ground is preferably the surface above which the container is liftable. Thus a sufficient portion or substantially a whole of the support moans may be of a width less than the spacing between wheels on opposite sides of the lifting apparatus, such that the container may be rolled over the support means ready for lifting.

In some embodiments, however, additionally or alternatively, in order to assist placement of the container over the support means of the apparatus, the support means itself may be shaped with an amount, preferably a relatively small amount, of tapering or narrowing going from a front end thereof to an opposite, rear end thereof (or vice versa), the front and rear ends being with respect to the defined one direction, so that a container wheeled, rolled or otherwise brought into placement over the support means from that rear (or front, as the case may be) direction is forced or encouraged into a centralised and symmetrical relative positioning over the support means with respect to a direction which is transverse to, i.e. perpendicular to, that defined one direction.

Thus, according to another alternative aspect of the invention there is provided a lifting apparatus for lifting a container above a surface to a desired working height thereabove, the apparatus comprising: support means over which a base of the container to be lifted is placeable; lifting means operable to raise and/or lower the height of the support means above the surface once the container has been placed over the support means; and user-operable control means for operating the lifting means; wherein the support means is shaped with an amount of tapering or narrowing going from a front end thereof to an opposite, rear end thereof (or vice versa), the front and rear ends being with respect to the defined one direction, so that a container wheeled, rolled or otherwise brought into placement over the support means from that rear (or front, as the case may be) direction is forced or encouraged into a centralised and symmetrical relative positioning over the support means with respect to a direction which is transverse to, i.e. perpendicular to, that defined one direction.

In some embodiments the support means by which the container is lifted above the surface, or chassis if present, may comprise a lifting bed having a lifting surface or face which abuts and thus supports the base of the container once it has been placed over the support means and as it is lifted thereby. In other embodiments the support means may instead take the form of one or more lifting members, especially one or more interconnected arms, struts, rods or other elongate support members, which together form a substantially rigid structure capable of supporting the weight of a container to be lifted by the apparatus.

In the lifting apparatus according to the invention, the apparatus is provided with centralising means for centralising the base of the container relative to the support means so as to be centralised with respect to the said one direction, e.g. along a longitudinal direction, as the container is, or once the container has been, placed, preferably by wheeling or rolling in many preferred examples, over the support means from the said one direction. In embodiments the said at least one direction may be a longitudinal, preferably a front-to-rear, direction relative to the support means, especially defined relative to the configuration of the support means. In preferred embodiments the container may be rolled over the lifting apparatus in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction.

S

In one preferred form, such centralising means may comprise one or more stop means provided on the support means, or on the chassis if present, at or adjacent a rear or a front end thereof. The stop means may preferably be constructed and arranged to act as one or more limiting backstops to limit the horizontal distance of travel of the container over the support means of the apparatus, such that the container is limited upon its preferred wheeling or rolling to adopting a position relative to the support means such that the base of the container is substantially centralised in a longitudinal direction and symmetrically disposed with respect to the support means in a lateral direction.

In some practical forms the or each stop or backstop means may comprise a foot or bracket carried on or attached to the support means, or the chassis if present, adjacent its front or rear end (or even both) and which protrudes transversely a short distance beyond a lateral side of the support means, or chassis if present, between its front and rear ends. Alternatively the or each stop or backstop means may be constituted by a housing in which one or more transporting wheels, casters or rollers are mounted, by which the apparatus is rendered more readily portable, as referred to and discussed hereinbelow in the context of other embodiments. In other practical forms the or each stop or backstop means may be constituted by such a transporting wheel, caster or roller on the support means itself, or on the chassis itself if present, as again referred to and discussed hereinbelow in the context of other embodiments.

In some practical embodiments, especially those in which the container is provided with a plurality of wheels, casters or rollers by which it is movable, a plurality of the above-defined centralising means may be provided on the apparatus, each being associated with and arranged for operation on a respective such wheel, caster or roller on the container.

In some embodiments of the lifting apparatus of the invention, the above-defined centralising means, for centralising the base of the container relative to the support means so as to be centralised with respect to the above-defined one (e.g. longitudinal) direction, may constitute first centralising means, and the apparatus may further comprise second centralising means constructed and arranged for centralising the container relative to the support means so as to be centralised with respect to a transverse direction perpendicular to the above-defined one (e.g. longitudinal) direction.

In some embodiment forms the second centralising means may comprise a centralising wedge member attached to or provided as part of the apparatus, e.g. a frame member thereof, and against which abuts, bears or rides a wheel, caster or roller by which the container is movable as the container is placed over the support means, preferably as the container approaches a limit of travel in the said one direction as it is placed over the support means.

Preferably the wedge member has a bearing or engagement surface which is inclined at an angle of between 00 and 900, e.g. in the approximate range of -30° to 60°, with respect to the said one direction, i.e. at an angle of between 30 and 930, such as in the approximate range of 30° to 60°, with respect to the said one direction, i.e. the direction of travel in which the container is placed over the support means.

In some practical embodiments, especially those in which the container is provided with a plurality of wheels, casters or rollers by which it is movable, a plurality of the above-defined second centralising means may be provided in the apparatus, each being associated with and arranged for operation on a respective such wheel, caster or roller on the container. In such embodiments, in order to optimise the centralising functionality of the plurality of second centralising means, it may be preferred that such second centralising means are provided as or in at least one pair thereof, one of the pair being located on one lateral side of the apparatus and the other of the pair being located on the opposite lateral side of the apparatus. In that case, the preferred above-defined non-right angled inclined bearing or engagement surfaces of the respective wedge members are preferably configured such that their respective angles of inclination relative to the said one direction are substantially equal but arranged oppositely either side of an axis defined by the said one direction. In this manner, as the container is placed, e.g. by longitudinal rolling, over the support means, it may be centralised transversely relative to the rolling direction from both lateral sides simultaneously, thereby ensuring a more accurate and stable centralised final position relative to the support means.

Alternatively or additionally, especially in embodiments in which the container is provided with a plurality of wheels, casters or rollers by which it is movable, the or each such second centralising means may comprise a or a respective anti-swivel device, constructed and arranged for maintaining a rolling direction of the or the respective wheel, caster or roller substantially parallel to the said one direction, especially as it approaches its limit of travel in the said one direction as the container is placed over the support means. In other words, the or each such anti-swivel device may be constructed and arranged for maintaining an axis of rotation of the respective wheel, caster or roller substantially perpendicular to the said one direction, especially as it approaches its limit of travel in the said one direction as the container is placed over the support means.

Thus, preferably the or each such anti-swivel device may be constructed and arranged for substantially preventing any angular change or aberration in the direction in which the wheel, caster or roller permits the container to be moved into its position over the support means of the apparatus with respect to an axis defined by or parallel to the said one direction.

In one example form, the or each such anti-swivel device may comprise a tongue, e.g. in the form of a plate, sheet, spigot or rod, protruding or extending from a portion of the apparatus, e.g. a frame member thereof, which engages with a yoke, detent or other retainer element provided on the container, preferably on or adjacent the wheel, caster or roller or its mounting. If desired, such a tongue may be tapered in order to further facilitate or optimise its centring functionality.

In a preferred practical form of such a preferred anti-swivel device, the tongue may be spaced from an outer lateral side of the apparatus, especially a laterally outer frame member of a frame thereof, by a distance sufficient to permit at least one 1800 swivelling of the wheel, caster or roller on its mounting immediately or shortly after it has been disengaged therefrom upon removal of the container from above the support means by rolling in the reverse direction to the defined one direction. This feature may be useful particularly in the case of wheels, casters or rollers which are carried on an asymmetrical or off-centre mounting, allowing easy removal of the container, e.g. by rolling in a reverse direction, from its position over the support means of the apparatus, e.g. upon completion of a particular loading/unloading operation.

In certain embodiments it may be possible for the functionality of the or a respective first centralising means and the functionality of the or a respective second centralising means to be provided by a or a respective single structural feature, or by different portions, elements or features of a single structural feature of the apparatus, especially a or a respective portion of a frame thereof.

In particular, in some embodiments, whether or not already comprising any of the above-defined first and/or second stabilising means, the apparatus may comprise one or more locating means constructed and arranged for mutually locating the apparatus and the container itself with respect to one another, once or as the container has been or is placed over the support means of the apparatus. Such relative locating may be with respect to either or both of the said one direction and/or a transverse direction perpendicular thereto. For example, such locating means may comprise one or more protrusions or other locating elements provided on one of a lower portion of the apparatus. e.g. on a lower frame member thereof, and an underpart of the container, and one or more corresponding channels, recesses or other locating elements on the other of the lower portion of the apparatus and the underpart of the container. As the container is brought into position over the support means, the respective locating elements thus mutually engage each other to locate the apparatus and the container relative to each other in an accurate, predetermined, especially overall centralised relative position, which overall centralising may be in either or simultaneously both of a longitudinal and/or a transverse sense.

In some further embodiments of the apparatus of the invention the apparatus may further comprise brake means for anchoring the apparatus, as or when desired, in a substantially fixed location relative to the ground or other surface on which it is placed. In one preferred form, such brake means may be constructed and arranged for so anchoring the apparatus relative to the ground or other surface only after or whilst the container has been placed or is in positon over the support means. One example of such a preferred form of brake means is a or a respective base plate attached to the apparatus, e.g. to a frame member thereof, and extending therefrom towards a or a respective wheel, caster or roller on the container so as to permit the or the respective wheel, caster or roller to be placed thereon as it approaches its limit of travel in the said one direction as the container is placed over the support means, wherein the weight of the container thereby engages the base plate with the ground or other surface therebeneath and so anchors the base plate, and thus the apparatus to which it is attached, thereon.

In many practical embodiments of the lifting apparatus of the invention, the support means, or the chassis if present, is preferably constructed and arranged such that the wheels or other rolling means of the container to be lifted pass freely and laterally externally thereof as the container is wheeled, rolled or otherwise placed over the support means from the above-defined one direction. (This free movement is of course preferably subject to any limiting distance placed thereon by the aforementioned stop means used to limit the relative movement of the container and the lifting apparatus in order to assist in the centralising of the former on the latter.) This free movement enables a plurality of like containers optionally to be used in conjunction with a plurality of respective lifting apparatuses. Or alternatively it enables at least one such container to be used with a respective lifting apparatus, and one or more other like containers to be placed adjacent the said one container, whilst enabling all the said containers to be placed closely adjacent one another, e.g. side by side, so as to optimise use of space and in order not to inhibit normal loading or unloading of any of the containers in the normal way, whether or not they are in the process of, or have been, lifted to a desired working height above the surface using a or a respective lifting apparatus.

In some embodiments of the invention the lifting means, which is or are operable by the control means to raise and/or lower the height of the support means above the surface, may preferably comprise: a frame attached to the support means, and a mechanical or powered lifting means operable by the control means to act on the frame to increase and/or decrease (as the case may be) the relative distance between the surface and the support means.

Particularly preferred is a frame which comprises at least one pair, more preferably at least a plurality of pairs, of elongate, substantially rigid frame members, a first frame member of the or each pair being attached at a first end thereof to the mechanical or powered lifting means, or if present a chassis carrying the mechanical or powered lifting means, and a second frame member of the or each pair being attached at a second end thereof to the support means, the first and second frame members of the or each pair being pivotally attached intermediate their first and second ends so as to be pivotable relative to each other. Thus, this form of frame may be termed a scissor frame", examples of which in principle and general construction are known from prior art scissor lifting tables and suchlike.

In embodiments where a chassis is present that carries the mechanical or powered lifting means, in such embodiments at least part of the frame of the lifting means may optionally be constituted by one or more elements or components of the chassis itself: in other words, at least part of the chassis itself may comprise at least some of the aforementioned frame members which serve to constitute the frame of the lifting means.

Alternatively or additionally, in some embodiments at least part of the frame of the lifting means may be constituted by one or more elements or components of the support means itself: in other words, at least part of the support means itself may comprise at least some of the aforementioned frame members which serve to constitute the frame of the lifting means.

In some embodiments it may be preferred that the frame comprises at least one pair of frame members, more preferably at least two pairs of frame members, which support the support means above the surface substantially without the presence of a base or platform on which the frame sits or is mounted. In such embodiments it is preferred that the frame comprises at least one, and more preferably at least two, pairs of frame members each having respective lower supporting terminal ends which themselves -either directly or through a respective wheel or other surface-contacting support or rolling member or device attached thereto -contact the surface and support the support means -via the frame -thereabove. Thus, this arrangement enables the supporting function of the frame to be fulfilled without the use of a base, platform or other structure which typically sits, lies or rests on the surface and carries the frame and other components of the apparatus thereon. As a consequence of this arrangement, it may be expected in such embodiments that the terminal supporting ends of at least one pair of the frame members -or the terminal supporting ends of at least two pairs of the frame members (in cases where there are at least two pairs of frame members) -move laterally and in opposite directions from each other across and with respect to the surface as the frame "scissors" to raise or lower the support means relative thereto.

Particularly preferred lifting means are a mechanical or powered lifting means which comprise a hydraulic device, such as a hydraulic jack or ram, which comprises a hydraulically operated cylinder and piston device in combination with one or more appropriate valve arrangements. Preferably one of the cylinder and piston is attached to a chassis, if present, of the apparatus, or alternatively simply bears against or is supported by the surface above which the container is to be lifted, and the other of the cylinder and piston is attached to the support means or a frame member adjacent or attached directly to the support means, whereby actuation of the hydraulic device by the user-operable control means moves the cylinder and piston apart or together (as the case may be) to increase or decrease (as the case may be) the distance between the surface, or chassis if present, and the support means.

The hydraulic device may be powered from an external source, e.g. an onboard battery carried on the apparatus (or even in certain less preferred cases from a mains electrical power supply), although in many more preferred embodiments the hydraulic device comprises a mechanically operated hydraulic pump, coupled with appropriate valve arrangements(s), which pump is actuatable by a user by the control means of the apparatus. This feature enables the apparatus to be essentially self-contained, requiring no connections to external services for its use.

Preferably the control means by which such a mechanically operated hydraulic pump is operable by a user comprises one or more pedals or levers, particularly preferably operable by means of a worker's foot. Especially preferably the control means comprises one or more foot-operable pedals or levers located on or within the boundaries, especially the height boundaries, of any chassis, if present, of the apparatus.

It is a feature of such embodiments of the invention comprising such foot-operable pedals or levers as the control means for the lifting means, that the one or more pedals or levers of the preferred hydraulic lifting means is/are located on the support means, or on or in any chassis, if present, such as not to interfere with or hinder the low-profile" configuration of the lifting apparatus as referred to hereinabove. In other words, it is preferred that no part or component of the one or more pedals or levers of the preferred hydraulic lifting means substantially protrudes or projects above a plane defined by, and preferably containing, the base of the container to be lifted, even better a plane defined by, and preferably containing, the support means, especially an upper lifting portion, bed or surface thereof.

Preferably such one or more pedals or levers, and/or possibly even other controls, of the preferred hydraulic lifting means is/are located on one only of the front and rear ends of the apparatus, which one end may be that end, or the opposite end therefrom, via which the container is brought into placement over the support means of the apparatus.

In the case of a container with three walls, being provided along respective lateral sides and a front or rear end of the base, and an opening at the other end of the base not having a wall, the pedals, levers or other control means of the hydraulic or other lifting means of the apparatus, may preferably be provided at an end of the apparatus corresponding to that opposite the end of the front or rear wall (as the case may be) of the container, so that the lifting means can be operated by a worker from the same end as they will subsequently work in loading or unloading the container via the opening.

Practical examples of such preferred hydraulic devices suitable for use in preferred embodiments of the invention are well known in the art and widely commercially available.

Thus, according to yet another alternative aspect of the invention there is provided a lifting apparatus for lifting a container above a surface to a desired working height thereabove, the apparatus comprising: support means over which a base of the container to be lifted is placeable from at least one direction; lifting means operable to raise and/or lower the height of the support means above the surface once the container has been placed over the support means from the said one direction; and user-operable control means for operating the lifting means; wherein the apparatus further comprises centralising means for centralising a base of the container relative to the support means so as to be centralised with respect to the said one direction as the container is, or once the container has been, placed over the support means from the said one direction; and wherein the lifting means comprises a hydraulic device, and the control means comprises one or more pedals or levers, and wherein the said one or more pedals or levers is/are located on one only of the front and rear ends of the apparatus, which one end is that end, or the opposite end therefrom, via which the container is brought into placement over the support means of the apparatus.

Preferably the hydraulic or other lifting means has an overall lifting length or lifting height extent such that it is sufficient at least for raising the support means of the apparatus, and thus the container placed thereover, up to any given desired or required working height above the surface, or chassis if present, and thus preferably above the floor or ground on which a worker may be standing for working at the container and operating the apparatus. In order to take into account variable desired or required working heights, and/or even different worker body heights, it is preferred therefore that the hydraulic or other lifting means has a variable lifting length or height, so that the relative distance between the support means and the surface, or chassis if present, may be varied as desired or required anywhere within a range of distances from approximately zero up to a maximum as defined by the maximum overall length or height extent of the hydraulic or other lifting means.

In some embodiments of the invention the apparatus may preferably further comprise locking means for preventing lowering of the support means other than by means of the lifting means under operation of the control means.

Preferably the locking means is constructed and arranged to prevent lowering of the support means, especially when the container is in position thereover, in the event that the lifting means and/or control means, e.g. the preferred hydraulic device or a component of its control system, fails and/or the support means (and thus the container) ceases to be maintained at a desired working height under controlled operation of the lifting means.

Thus the locking means may act as a safety device to prevent the support means, especially when with a container in position thereover, collapsing or unintentionally lowering itself under gravity and/or the weight of the container, in the event of failure of the lifting means and/or control means. This helps to avoid or reduce risk of injury to a worker working in or around the apparatus and container, and/or damage to items contained within the container.

In embodiments of the invention including such locking means, the locking means may be provided on or as a component of the support means or the lifting means itself, or even the chassis if present, or more preferably it may be provided as an independent component of the apparatus. It is particularly preferred that such locking means, if present, are provided on or as a component of the preferred frame, especially a scissor frame as defined above, which serves to support and lift the container support means under operation of the lifting means.

Accordingly, in some preferred embodiments incorporating such locking means, the locking means may preferably comprise: a first locking component provided on a first frame member of a frame attached to the support means, and a second locking component provided on a second frame member of the frame, wherein the first and second locking components are selectively interengageable to substantially prevent relative scissoring movement of the said first and second frame members, the locking means further comprising release means for selectively arranging the first and second locking components in either a non-engaged, i.e. non-locking, or an engaged, i.e. locking, condition.

In one preferred form of locking means one of the first and second locking components may comprise a locking channel or slot formed in its respective first or second frame member, and the other of the first and second locking components may comprise a locking pin or rod carried on its respective first or second frame member, wherein the locking channel or slot has one or more grooves or recesses in a wall thereof into or with which the locking pin or rod is selectively engageable to substantially lock the first and second frame members with respect to each other such as to prevent their relative scissoring movement.

The selective engagement of the first and second locking components is provided by the release means, which are configurable in either a non-locking or a locking condition. The non-locking condition is preferably provided by or upon intentional actuation of the control means of the apparatus to lower the height of the support means above the surface, or chassis of present, and the locking condition is preferably provided by or upon a condition occurring or existing in which the lifting means fails or ceases to maintain the support means (and thus the container) at a desired working height under controlled operation of the lifting means, eg. upon failure of the lifting means and/or the control means.

An example of a preferred locking means for incorporation into the lifting apparatus of the invention will be described in detail hereinbelow in the context of preferred embodiments of the invention on conjunction with the drawings.

In one species of embodiments of lifting apparatus according to the invention, the apparatus is portable or mobile, by virtue of its further comprising at least one, or at least one pair or set of, transporting rolling means, such as one or more, or one or more pairs or sets of, wheels, casters or rollers attached to or carried by at least one end of the support means, or chassis if present. Such transporting means enable the overall apparatus to be manually lifted at least by an end thereof opposite to the said end provided with said transporting rolling means and dragged by rolling across a floor or other surface of a working environment or facility from one location to another. It can even allow the apparatus to be conveniently dragged by rolling to a location for storage as or when not required for use. Such mobile portability of such preferred embodiments of lifting apparatus enables such lifting apparatuses to be self-contained, so they can be positioned substantially anywhere where they may be required for use, preferably substantially without the need for any connection to, or reliance upon, any external services such as external power sources or external equipment.

Conveniently such transporting rolling means may comprise a pair of wheels, casters or rollers located on one only of the front and rear ends of the support means, or chassis if present. For added convenience and manoeverability, a pair of such wheels, casters or rollers may alternatively be provided on both of the front and rear ends of the support means, or chassis if present.

To assist such dragging by rolling of the apparatus, a handle may be provided on one or more ends of the support means, or chassis if present, of the apparatus, which in the case of there being provided said transporting wheels or other rolling means on one end only thereof, is preferably on at least that end opposite to that carrying the said transporting wheels or other rolling means. Preferably, any such handle should not protrude or extend above the plane defined by, and preferably containing, the base of the container to be lifted, or more preferably a plane defined by, and preferably containing, the support means, especially a lifting portion, bed or surface thereof, so as not to hinder or interfere with placement of the container thereover during use of the apparatus.

In such preferred embodiments comprising one or more transporting roller means, to assist stable placement of the apparatus on the surface such as a floor or ground on which it is to be placed for use, there may further be provided one or more feet attached to or carried by the support means, or chassis if present, adjacent the or each transporting roller means, the or each said foot protruding below the support means, or chassis if present, a short distance which is greater than the distance by which the or the respective transporting roller means itself protrudes downwardly therefrom. Thus, when the apparatus is in its floor-or ground-contacting position ready for use, i.e. in other than its lifted, draggable configuration relative to the floor, ground or other surface, the support means, or chassis if present, contacts the floor, ground or other surface via only the or the respective foot, and not the or the respective transporting roller means. A preferred form of the or each such foot is a peg or spigot attached to the support means, or chassis if present, adjacent its respective transporting roller means and extending the required short distance beyond the corresponding downwardly protruding distance or extent of the respective transporting roller means itself.

Thus, according to yet another alternative aspect of the invention there is provided a lifting apparatus for lifting a container above a surface to a desired working height thereabove, the apparatus comprising: support means over which a base of the container to be lifted is placeable; lifting means operable to raise and/or lower the height of the support means above the surface once the container has been placed over the support means; and user-operable control means for operating the lifting means; wherein the apparatus further comprises: at least one, or at least one pair or set of, transporting rolling means attached to or carried by at least one end of the apparatus, and one or more feet attached to or carried by the apparatus adjacent the or each transporting roller means, the or each said foot protruding below the apparatus a short distance which is greater than the distance by which the or the respective transporting roller means itself protrudes downwardly therefrom.

In another species of embodiments of lifting apparatus according to the invention, the apparatus is substantially static and mounted in a relatively fixed location on a floor, ground or other surface on which it is to be used. Additionally or alternatively the apparatus may be mounted in a relatively fixed location on or adjacent a wall. For either purpose the apparatus may preferably further comprise one or more anchoring means attached to the support means, or chassis if present, and via which it is anchored or anchorable to at least one of said floor, ground or other surface, and/or said wall.

Suitable preferred such anchoring means may comprise one or more anchoring brackets attached to the support means, or chassis if present, and attached or attachable to the floor, ground or other surface, and/or the said wall, e.g. a wall adjacent the said floor etc., using for example one or more screws, bolts or other suitable fixing means.

Conveniently, in such preferred essentially static embodiments, preferred anchoring brackets include one or more hinge or pivot means, to permit the support means, or chassis if present -and thus the apparatus itself -to be hinged or pivoted upwardly relative to the floor, ground or other surface, and retained against an adjacent wall by a suitable clip, lock or other retaining means, such as for when its use is not required.

Thus, this upward foldability of such static embodiments may assist in saving space within potentially cramped working environments at times when use of the apparatus may not be required.

Thus, according to yet another alternative aspect of the invention there is provided a lifting apparatus for lifting a container above a surface to a desired working height thereabove, the apparatus comprising: support means over which a base of the container to be lifted is placeable; lifting means operable to raise and/or lower the height of the support means above the surface once the container has been placed over the support means; and user-operable control means for operating the lifting means; wherein the apparatus further comprises one or more anchoring means via which it is anchored or anchorable to at least one of a surface on which the apparatus is intended for use and a wall thereadjacent.

Such anchoring means of this alternative aspect may thus preferably include one or more hinge or pivot means to permit the support means, or chassis if present -and thus the apparatus itself -to be hinged or pivoted upwardly relative to the said surface, and retained against an adjacent wall by a retaining means for when use of the apparatus is not required.

In one aspect of the invention for which protection is sought there is provided lifting apparatus for lifting a container above a surface to a desired working height thereabove, the apparatus comprising: support means over which a base of the container to be lifted is placeable; lifting means operable to raise and/or lower the height of the support means above the surface once the container has been placed over the support means; and user-operable control means for operating the lifting means; wherein the apparatus is constructed and arranged such that the control means is located substantially at or below a plane defined by, and preferably containing, the base of the container to be lifted.

Within the scope of this application it is expressly intended that the various aspects, embodiments, examples and alternatives set out in the preceding paragraphs, in the claims and/or in the following description and drawings, and in particular the individual features thereof, may be taken independently or in any combination. That is, all embodiments and/or features of any embodiment can be combined in any way and/or combination, unless such features are incompatible. The applicant reserves the right to change any originally filed claim or file any new claim accordingly, including the right to amend any originally tiled claim to depend from and/or incorporate any feature of any other claim although not originally claimed in that manner.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred embodiments of the present invention in its various aspects will now be described in detail, by way of non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first preferred, portable, embodiment of a portable lifting apparatus according to the invention, shown in part-erected configuration; Figure 2 is a perspective view of an exemplary typical roll cage wheeled container for use with the lifting apparatus of Figure 1, and whose lifting thereby to a suitable working height is desired during its loading or unloading; Figures 3(a) and 3(b) are perspective views of a simplified apparatus, corresponding to that of Figure 1, but showing only the main frame elements of the lifting mechanism, Figure 3(a) showing it in its lowermost, unerected (i.e. unlifted) configuration, and Figure 3(b) showing it in its part-erected (i.e. part-lifted) configuration; Figures 4(a) and 4(b) are perspective views of the simplified apparatus of Figure 3, shown in progressive stages of having a container placed over a lifting bed thereof; Figures 5(a) and 5(b) are perspective views of a more advanced and complete prototype lifting apparatus according to the invention, shown respectively in a collapsed, non-lifting configuration and an erected, lifting configuration; Figures 6(a) to 6(e) are perspective snapshot views of the more advanced and complete prototype lifting apparatus as shown in Figure 5, and container-and-lifting-apparatus combination, shown in various sequential stages of use: Figure 6(a) shows the lifting apparatus in its unerected (i.e. unlifted) configuration ready for use; Figure 6(b) shows the container about to be wheeled into position over the lifting bed of the apparatus; Figure 6(c) shows the container part-wheeled over the lifting bed; Figure 6(d) shows the container now fully wheeled over the lifting bed and into its stopped position relative to the apparatus and ready for a lifting operation to commence; and Figure 6(e) shows the lifting apparatus having been erected and in its lifting configuration at which the container is now at a suitable desired working height and in the process of being loaded or unloaded; Figures 7(a) is a close-up perspective view of part of the combined arrangement of a lifting apparatus and a swivel caster on the underside of a container in the process of being placed thereover, showing an alternative, more preferred constructional arrangement of the lifting apparatus transporting wheel/caster mounting in combination with the container caster; Figure 7(b) is another perspective view of the same arrangement as shown in Figure 7(a), but viewed from the opposite end and showing the caster of the container having been placed into its fully advanced positon with respect to the lifting apparatus and ready to begin an operation of lifting of the container; Figures 8(a) and 8(b) are perspective views of a second embodiment of lifting apparatus according to the invention, which is a static version and shown anchored to a floor ready for use (Figure 8(a)) and folded upwardly and retained against an adjacent wall (Figure 8(b)) for storage purposes; and Figure 9 is an exploded explanatory view of an example of a safety mechanism by which unintended collapse or lowering of the lifting apparatus, e.g. upon failure of the hydraulic mechanism, may be prevented.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring firstly to Figures 1 and 2, in Figure 1 there is shown generally as 2 an example of a portable lifting apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. It is designed, by virtue of various of its constructional features, to be usable for lifting a container 50 such as a York roll cage-type container such as that shown in Figure 2. As shown in Figure 2, the container 50 for loading, transporting goods or items within its cage walls is of generally rectangular, especially oblong, cross-section, with a correspondingly shaped base 52, which is supported on the floor or ground by wheels or casters 56, each mounted adjacent a respective corner of the base 52. The container 50 has a cage defined by three walls provided along two lateral, parallel sides and across one end of the base 52. The opposite, front end of the base 52 is not provided with a wall, in order to allow access to the container's interior for the purpose of loading and unloading goods or items therein/therefrom.

The opposite rear cage wall may be provided with a worker-operable handle for actuation of a brake mechanism (not shown), which acts on at least one or more of the container wheels or casters 56 to lock them in a stable non-wheeling/rolling stationary position when loading or unloading is required.

By way of non-limiting example only, current examples of such York containers 50 in commercial use, and suitable for use with a given lifting apparatus of the invention, have typical overall external dimensions of approximately 670 mm wide x 860 mm deep x 1500 mm high. Currently there are two different models of such York containers, a "Mk 2" model and a "Mk 3" model, both of which share the above nominal general external dimensions, but differ in the respective spacings of the various wheels or casters 56, which are approximately as follows: -Mk 2 model: rear wheel/caster spacing: 510 mm front wheel/caser spacing: 560 mm wheelbase (front-rear distance): 690 mm -Mk 3 model: rear wheel/caster spacing: 600 mm front wheel/caser spacing: 540 mm wheelbase (front-rear distance): 680 mm.

Because of the frequent need, in the normal day-to-day use of such containers 50, for workers to bend down, stoop or overreach in the loading or unloading of goods or items, which may be heavy or bulky, there is a propensity for workers to suffer back-related or other injuries over time. Thus, there is a need to be able to raise items stored in the container to a suitable desired working height for any given worker (who may themselves be of varying height or stature) who may be working with or at a given container.

The lifting apparatus such as that shown in Figure 1 is useful for this purpose. The lifting apparatus 2 comprises a chassis -shown generally as 10 -and a lifting bed 16 mounted or carried on the chassis. The lifting bed 16 may be a solid board, plate or sheet of suitably strong and rigid, yet preferably lightweight, material, or it may (as illustrated in Figure 1 for simplicity and clarity) comprise one or more interconnected rods, arms, struts or other members which together form a rigid structure capable of supporting the weight of the container 50 to be lifted. The lifting bed 16 is shaped with a slight narrowing taper going from end 6 to its rear end 8, in order to assist accurate centralising of the container 50 onto or above the lifting bed 16 as it is wheeled or rolled thereover with the container's wheels or casters 56 passing to either side of chassis 10 and lifting bed 16.

The chassis 10 is borne on the floor or ground by respective freely rotatable transporting wheels, casters or rollers 13a, 13b (front); 14a, 14b (rear) carried by the lowermost chassis members 26. Each wheel may be housed within a housing 15, as illustrated more clearly in Figure 3 and referred to in more detail below.

The chassis supports above it a scissor frame 26 for carrying the lifting bed 16 and forming a part of the lifting mechanism by which it is raised or lowered above the chassis 10. The scissor frame 26 is made up of a plurality of pairs of frame members pivotally attached via pivot joints 27. The frame members are attached at their lower ends to the chassis 10 and at their upper ends to or adjacent the lifting bed 16, so that by pivoting about their respective pivot joints 27 the frame members move in a scissoring fashion, as is well known in principle in the art of scissor lifting tables in other fields. The scissor frame members 26 may be formed from any suitable material, which is preferably a strong, substantially rigid, yet preferably also a relatively lightweight, material, e.g.. steel, a metal or metal alloy (e.g. of aluminium), a plastics material, wood or any combination of the aforesaid materials.

It is to be noted in this illustrated example that the scissor frame 26 is formed actually by elements of the chassis 10 itself. However it is to be understood that the scissor frame 26 may alternatively be constituted by constructional elements distinct and independent from the components that form the chassis 10 per se, which latter component may be formed of any suitable sturdy construction capable of supporting the scissor frame 26, lifting bed 16 and, ultimately, the container lifted above it.

Moreover, it will be noted that it is actually the lower terminal ends of the frame members of the scissor frame 26 that actually perform the function of supporting the frame, and thus the lifting bed 16, above the floor or ground, via the wheels/rollers 13a, 13b; 14a, 14b. Thus, there is no (and no need for a) discrete base, platform or other structure which sits, lies or rests on the floor or ground and carries the frame and other components of the apparatus thereon. This enables the overall frame construction to be simpler in construction and operation, and especially lighter in weight, in comparison with many known designs of lifting tables or scissor lifts which typically employ such bases or ground-contacting beds or platform arrangements to carry and support the scissoring portion of the apparatus.

By way of non-limiting example only, the lifting apparatus 2 suitable for use with the currently used "Mk 2" or "Mk 3" York containers mentioned above may have the following approximate dimensions: -rear wheel/caster spacing: 370 mm -front wheel/caser spacing: 640 mm -wheelbase (front-rear distance): 1030 mm (in collapsed, fully down, non-lifting configuration) -height of lifting bed above floor: -in collapsed, fully down, non-lifting configuration: 125 mm -in fully upwardly extended, lifting configuration: 550 mm -width of lifting bed: 420 mm -maximum width of apparatus (including transporting wheels/casters): 680 mm.

When it is required to wheel or roll the container 50 over the lifting bed 16 of the apparatus 2, it is a simple matter for the container 50 to be wheeled or rolled onto it in a direction from the rear end 8 of the apparatus towards its front end 6. or possibly vice versa.

The lifting means by which the lifting bed 16 is variably raisable or lowerable -as desired or required so that the container can always be arranged to be at a desired suitable height for loading or unloading, even part-way through a given loading or unloading operation -comprises a hydraulic jack or ram 22 attached at its lower end via the hydraulic cylinder 22a to the chassis 10 and via its upper end via the distal end of the hydraulic piston 22b to the lifting bed 16 or one of the scissor frame members adjacent the lifting bed 16.

The hydraulic ram or jack is operated, via suitable valve and hydraulic fluid conduits and reservoir (not shown), by user-operable -or worker-operable -control means, which comprise a pair of, e.g. spring-loaded, foot-operated pedals or levers 24, 25.

For example, one of the pedals or levers 24 may be repeatedly depressed or pumped" to extend the hydraulic piston 22b of the jack or ram 22, whilst the other of the pedals or levers 25 may be depressed just once for releasing hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic cylinder 22a for the purpose of releasing the hydraulic pressure and thus retracting the piston back into the cylinder. In this manner the lifting bed can be raised or lowered as desired to any given desired height above the chassis by simple foot operation of the appropriate pedal or lever 24, 25, once the container 50 has been wheeled or rolled into position onto the lifting bed 16.

In accordance with the invention, the pedals or levers 24, 25 are contained within the vertical boundaries of the chassis, preferably at a level below a plane defined by or containing the base 52 of the container 50 to be lifted, optionally below a plane defined by or containing the upper load-bearing surface of the lifting bed 16.

By way of simplified illustrative explanation, Figures 3(a) and 3(b) show a simplified version of the chassis 10, scissor fame 26 and lifting bed 16 of the lifting apparatus, shown for simplicity without the components of the hydraulic jack or ram 22. Figure 3(a) shows the apparatus in its lowermost, unerected (i.e. unlifted) configuration, and Figure 3(b) shows it in its part-erected (i.e. part-lifted) configuration.

In addition however, Figures 3(a) and 3(b) also show one preferred form of centralising means of the lifting apparatus which assists in centering the container 50 on the lifting bed 16 once it has been placed thereover. These centralising means comprise respective stop means which in this case are constituted by the respective housings 15 within which each of the front transporting wheels 13a, 13b is housed.

Each housing 15 extends laterally outwardly, i.e. transversely, from the respective side edge of the lifting bed 16 by a short distance, e.g. from about 5 or 10 mm up to about 15, 20, 25 or 30 mm, or more, such that it forms a backstop to limit the passage of the container 50 as it is wheeled or rolled over the lifting bed 16. When the container 50 has reached its maximum wheeled or rolled position over the lifting bed 16 such that it is centralised optimally thereon for stable subsequent lifting, the wheels/casters/rollers on the base of the container and/or the base of the container itself abut the pair of housings 15, thereby assuring an optimum centralised placement of the container over the apparatus 2.

Likewise, Figures 4(a) and 4(b) show the simplified apparatus of Figure 3 in progressive stages of having a base 52 of a container 50 wheeled or rolled over the lifting bed 16, ready for lifting: Figure 4(a) shows the apparatus part-way to having the container base 52 placed thereover, and Figure 4(b) shows the apparatus after the container base 52 has been completely placed thereover.

Figures 6(a) to 6(e) are perspective snapshot views of a more advanced and complete prototype lifting apparatus and container-and-lifting-apparatus combination, shown in various sequential stages of use. The lifting apparatus itself is shown in its collapsed, i.e. non-lifting, and erected, i.e. lifting, configurations in Figures 5(a) and 5(b), respectively. Individual component parts of the lifting apparatus 2 and container shown in each of these sequential Figures 6(a) to 6(e) will be readily apparent from a visual comparison with the corresponding parts of the respective items shown in Figures 1 and 2, so will not be described again in detail here, for brevity. As already mentioned: Figure 6(a) shows the lifting apparatus in its unerected (i.e. unlifted) configuration ready for use; Figure 6(b) shows the container about to be wheeled into position over the lifting bed of the apparatus; Figure 6(c) shows the container part-wheeled over the lifting bed; Figure 6(d) shows the container now fully wheeled over the lifting bed and into its stopped position relative to the apparatus and ready for a lifting operation to commence; and Figure 6(e) shows the lifting apparatus having been erected and in its lifting configuration in which the container is now at a suitable desired working height and in the process of being loaded or unloaded.

It will be noted in Figures 6(a) to (e) that the container 50 has a front end 50F that is not provided with a cage wall. When the container 50 has been loaded onto the lifting apparatus 2, its front end 50F corresponds to the front end 6 of the lifting apparatus itself, which is that end which carries the control pedals or levers 24, 25 by which the lifting mechanism is operated by the user. Thus, once the container 50 is placed over the lifting bed 16 of the apparatus 2 and the pedals or levers 24, 25 operated to actuate the lifting mechanism, in this orientation the interior of the container 50 remains readily accessible through the open front end SOF of the container 50 despite the presence at the same end 6 of the apparatus 2 of the pedals or levers 24, by which the user operates the lifting mechanism.

Referring now to Figures 7(a) and 7(b), here there is shown in enlarged detail a preferred constructional arrangement of one foot or corner region of a lifting apparatus which includes a transporting wheel or caster 13a and a swivel caster 56 on the underside of a container in the process of being placed over the apparatus and into position ready for it to be lifted by the apparatus. Figure 7(b) shows the same arrangement but from the opposite longitudinal direction and showing the caster 56 of the container having now been placed into its fully advanced positon with respect to the foot of the lifting apparatus and ready to begin the lifting operation.

As shown in Figures 7(a) and 7(b), the foot of the lifting apparatus carries a transporting wheel or caster 13a (which may correspond to the wheel or caster 13a as shown in Figures 1 to 6), which is mounted on a lower frame member 26L of the frame of the apparatus by means of a housing 83a. Extending from the housing 83a in a direction towards the caster 56 on the underside of the container (which container is not shown for clarity) is a generally flat base plate 86a which is mounted and configured so as to lie adjacent but slightly spaced from the ground, floor or other surface on which the apparatus is placed and over which the container rolls as it is placed over the lifting bed of the apparatus ready to commence a lifting operation. Thus in this condition the base plate 86a does not actually engage the ground or floor and so impede any movement of the apparatus across the ground or floor as it is located into its desired positon thereon. As the swivel caster 56 of the container is rolled into position and up to its limit of travel where it abuts a stop face 87a (Figure 7(b)) of the housing, it rolls over the base plate 86a and into the relative configuration as illustrated in Figure 7(b), in which state the weight of the container anchors the base plate against the ground or floor (e.g. by virtue of the flexibility or resilience of the material of the wheel/caster 1 3a, or possibly by virtue of the latter being spring-loaded in its mounting in the housing 83a) and thereby acts as a brake to effectively prevent the apparatus sliding or shifting across or relative to the ground or floor during the subsequent lifting operation.

As the container caster 56 rolls into position as shown in Figure 7(b) various other constructional features of the arrangement come into play which act as centralising means to ensure that the container is accurately positioned over the lifting bed of the apparatus in a laterally centralised manner, i.e. centralised in a side-to-side sense perpendicular to the direction of travel of the container as it is rolled over the lifting bed.

One such centralising feature is a centralising wedge member 88a, which is mounted at the junction between frame member 2SF of the apparatus frame and the wheel/caster housing 83a and presents to the container caster 56 an angled engagement face S8aE, against which the container caster 56 abuts as it approaches its limit of travel into the position shown in Figure 7(b). Owing to the angled configuration of the engagement face 88aE, which may be oriented at an angle of e.g. anywhere between O and 900 (such as in the approximate range of -30° to -60°, especially in the vicinity of around 45°) relative to an axis parallel to the longitudinal direction of travel of the container, as the caster 56 bears against the face 88aE it is urged laterally sideways so as to assume a predetermined relative lateral position relative to the frame of the apparatus, thereby serving to centralise the container with respect to the frame -and thus the lifting bed -as the container is brought into position. In practice another corresponding wedge member (corresponding to 88a) can be expected to be provided on a laterally opposite side of the apparatus, for corresponding engagement with a corresponding caster on the opposite lateral side of the container, but with its own angled engagement face angled oppositely relative to the said axis (parallel to the longitudinal direction of travel of the container), that is to say at the same angle in degrees to the angle of the engagement face 88aE but to the opposite side of that axis. In this manner both of the container casters are urged into respective centralised positions simultaneously from opposite transverse lateral directions, thereby more efficiently and accurately placing the container in an overall laterally centralised position relative to the lifting bed as it is rolled into positon thereover.

A further centralising feature is a tongue 90a, which is mounted at the top of the wheel/caster housing 83a and extends toward the incoming container caster 56. The container caster 56 is mounted on the container underside via its asymmetrical swivel mounting 59 and a yoke 58 which carries the caster wheel. As the caster 56 approaches its limit of travel towards the stop face 87a of the housing 83a the tongue 90a (which optionally may be slightly tapered) becomes inserted into the yoke 58, i.e. into the gap between the top of the yoke 58 and the caster wheel), and is therefore then restricted from any further lateral movement or swiveling once in this position relative to the lifting bed. A corresponding tongue may of course be provided in association with a corresponding foot and container caster arrangement on the opposite lateral side of the apparatus/container, in a similar manner to the dual wedge members as described above. In this manner the or the respective tongue member(s) 90a lead to an even more accurate and secure centralising of the container relative to the lifting bed as the container is rolled into positon thereover.

For assisting the removal of the container from over the lifting bed of the apparatus upon conclusion of a particular lifting operation, it is of course intended that the container should be simply rollable backwards in the opposite longitudinal direction from whence it came. Owing to the asymmetrical swivel mounting 59 of the container caster 56, in order to facilitate a 180° swivelling of the caster 56 once its yoke 58 has been withdrawn from its engagement over the tongue 90a, so it can roll in its normal manner, the tongue 90a is spaced from the adjacent lateral frame member 2SF by a distance sufficient to allow room for such a 1800 swivelling to take place. This same spacing also applies to the gap between the swivel caster 56 itself and the lateral frame member 2SF, so that the caster 56 can if desired or convenient swivel back into its rolling position actually during that backwards withdrawing travel past the lateral frame member 26F.

As an additional centralising feature to further assist in accurate centralised positioning of the container over the lifting bed of the apparatus, attached to the upper edge of the wheel/caster housing 83a is an upstanding flange 92 which is configured to be locatable in a correspondingly shaped and configured channel or recess (not shown) provided on or in the underside of the container. Thus, as the container is rolled into positon, the flange 92 engages with the channel/recess, thereby further adding to the overall stability of the centralised relative positional arrangement of the container as it is placed into its fully advanced position over the lifting bed.

The arrangement illustrated in Figures 7(a) and 7(b) may usefully be incorporated in any embodiment of the lifting apparatus of the invention, including other embodiments described herein and illustrated in other of the drawings.

Turning to Figure 8, here there is shown a modified embodiment of lifting apparatus according to the invention. It corresponds for the most part to the embodiment shown in Figure 1, and accordingly features of the embodiment of Figure 8 which equate or correspond directly to those of the embodiment of Figure 1 are indicated by the same reference numerals but incremented by 100.

As shown in Figures 8(a) and 8(b), the lifting apparatus 102 comprises most of the same components (incremented by 100 in their reference numerals) as the embodiments of Figure 1, but here the distal ends of the rearwardly extending chassis or scissor frame members have been modified to enable the apparatus to be of the static species. Thus, each of the previous rear transporting wheels or casters (14a, 14b) has been replaced with a respective metal mounting bracket or foot 160a, 160b, which permit the apparatus 102 to be anchored to a floor 180 of the working facility, e.g. adjacent a wall 200. Each foot or bracket lSOa, 160b is attached to its respective chassis/frame member by a pivot hinge 162, which permits the overall apparatus to be folded upwards, as shown by arrow "A" (Figure 8(b)), so as to adopt a generally vertical configuration against the said wall 200. It may be retained thereagainst by any suitable retaining means (not shown), e.g. a clip or lock arrangement.

In the use of this modified embodiment therefore, the lifting apparatus can be sited at a substantially fixed location where it may frequently be needed for repeated usage.

And furthermore in order to save space when it is not being used, the apparatus may be folded away against the wall 200 to save space.

Referring to Figure 9, here there is shown in exploded view an example of a safety device for incorporation into any of the embodiment lifting apparatuses described above and illustrated in any of the foregoing drawings, for preventing the container support means, especially when a container is being carried thereon and lifted, collapsing or unintentionally lowering itself under gravity and/or the weight of the container in the event of failure of the lifting means and/or control means, e.g. the hydraulic device.

In the illustrated example of Figure 9, the safety device is shown by way of example incorporated into a pair of mutually pivotable frame members 326a, 32Gb of a scissor frame (or alternatively a chassis member 326a and a frame member 326b of a scissor frame) of the lifting apparatus. These chassis/frame members 326a, 32Gb form part of the scissoring mechanism by which the support means, e.g. a container-supporting lifting platform or bed, is raised or lowered by the hydraulic device or other lifting mechanism.

On one side of the apparatus, for example within a box section of the lower one 326a of the frame members, is mounted a release member 330 in the form of an elongate strip, e.g. of metal, having formed therein a first elongate slot 340 with at least a generally straight lower wall 342 and which is connected via its forward end 332 to one end of a crank arm 350, e.g. by means of interlocking pin and hole/recess 351a, 351 b. The other end of the crank arm 350 is fixedly attached to a pivot rod 360 upon which is carried that one of the pedals or levers 24, 25 which operates as the release (or lowering) pedal/lever of the hydraulic mechanism that controls the lifting mechanism.

A wall of the lower frame member 326a against or adjacent which the release strip 330 is itself mounted is formed with a second elongate locking slot 400 therein, but this second slot 400 is formed with a series of one or more recesses, grooves or notches 402 in a lower internal wall thereof. This second, notched locking slot 400 in the frame member 326a and the straight-walled slot 340 in the release strip 330 are arranged to be at least partly in register under normal circumstances and operation of the apparatus, but relatively moveable past one another to become relatively more or less in register.

To complete the locking mechanism by which relative scissoring movement of the two frame members 326a, 32Gb may be selectively inhibited under certain conditions, an upper one 32Gb of the frame members carries, e.g. via a linking member 328, one or more sideways-projecting locking pins or spigots 329 (e.g. of metal) which are located within both the notched locking slot 400 in the lower frame member 326a and the straight-walled slot 340 in the release strip 330.

Under normal operation with the straight-walled slot 340 in the release strip 330 configured substantially in-register with the notched locking slot 400 in the lower frame member 326a, the respective frame members 326a, 32Gb may pivot in a scissoring manner with respect to one another, and as they do so the one or more locking pins or spigots 329 may freely slide within and along both slots 400 and 340.

However, upon displacement of the straight-walled slot 340 in the release strip 330 so as to be configured substantially out-of-register with respect to the notched locking slot 400 in the lower frame member 326a, the one or more locking pins or spigots 329 can thus become engaged within one or a respective one of the notches or recesses 402 in the lower wall of the locking slot 400 in the lower frame member 326a, thereby effectively locking the two frame members 326a, 32Gb with respect to one another and thus inhibiting their relative pivotal displacement in this condition. It is therefore this displacement of the straight-walled slot 340 in the release strip 330 relative to the notched locking slot 400 in the lower frame member 326a that constitutes the locking mechanism.

Under normal controlled operation, when it is required to release the hydraulic device to lower the container lifting platform or bed, the release pedal or lever 24/25 is depressed for this purpose, and upon so doing the crank arm 350 is rotated by the rotating pivot rod 360, which thereby moves the slotted release strip 330 upwards and forwards in the general direction of arrow F. At the rear end 334 of the slotted release strip 330 is formed an angled slot 380 whose internal sides act against a fixed cross pin 390 to raise the rear end 334 of the slotted release strip 330 as the crank arm 350 pulls the front end 332 of the release strip 330 upwards and forwards. The combined effect is that both ends 332, 334 of the slotted release strip 330 are raised equally in an upward direction in a substantially parallel motion.

In this thus raised position, resulting from the depressing of the release pedal or lever 24/25, the lower straight edge or wall 342 of the slot 340 in the release strip 330 thus bears upwardly beyond the lower notched or recessed wall of the notched locking slot 400 in the lower frame member 326a, preventing the one or more locking pins or spigots 329 entering and engaging the notches or recesses 402 in the locking slot 400. This enables the frame members 326a, 326b to scissor as normal and thus to permit the support means to descend as the hydraulic pressure is released.

However, upon failure of the hydraulic lifting mechanism, the release pedal or lever 24/25 is not depressed and in that situation the release strip 330 is not shifted upwardly relative to the lower frame member 326a, so the lower straight wall 342 of the slot 340 in the release strip 330 is not lifted clear of the notches or recess 402 in the locking slot 400. As a result the locking pins or spigots 329 are free to become engaged, trapped and/or lockingly seated therein, and do so become engaged with or in any one of the notches or recesses 402. In this configuration therefore, the frame members 328a, 326b become effectively locked together in a non-relatively-moveable position, thereby preventing further scissoring of the frame members 326a, 326b and thus locking the lifting mechanism against further collapse or lowering.

In this manner potential injury to persons working at or in the vicinity of the lifting apparatus or container may be avoided or the risk thereof reduced, and in addition the risk of damage to items within the container being lifted to a desired height may also be reduced in the event that it were suddenly to fall or collapse upon failure of the hydraulic lifting mechanism.

It is to be understood that the above description of some embodiments and aspects of the invention has been by way of non-limiting examples only, and various modifications may be made from what has been specifically described and illustrated whilst remaining within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Throughout the description and claims of this specification, the words "comprise" and "contain" and variations of those words, for example "comprising" and comprises", mean "including but not limited to", and are not intended to (and do not) exclude other moieties, additives, components, integers or steps.

Throughout the description and claims of this specification, the singular encompasses the plural unless the context otherwise requires. In particular, where the indefinite article is used, the specification is to be understood as contemplating plurality as well as singularity, unless the context requires otherwise.

Features, integers, characteristics, compounds, chemical moieties or groups described in conjunction with a particular aspect, embodiment or example of the invention are to be understood to be applicable to any other aspect, embodiment or example described herein unless incompatible therewith.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A lifting apparatus for lifting a container above a surface to a desired working height thereabove, the apparatus comprising: support means over which a base of the container to be lifted is placeable from at least one direction; lifting means operable to raise and/or lower the height of the support means above the surface once the container has been placed over the support means; and user-operable control means for operating the lifting means; wherein the apparatus is constructed and arranged such that the control means is located substantially at or below a plane defined by. and preferably containing, the base of the container to be lifted; and wherein the apparatus further comprises centralising means for centralising a base of the container relative to the support means so as to be centralised with respect to the said one direction as the container is, or once the container has been, placed over the support means from the said one direction.
2. A lifting apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein the apparatus is constructed and arranged such that the control means is located substantially below a plane defined by, and preferably containing, the support means.
3. A lifting apparatus according to Claim 2, wherein the apparatus is constructed and arranged such that the control means is located substantially below a plane defined by, and preferably containing, the support means at least when the support means is in a lowermost, non-lifted configuration with respect to the chassis.
4. A lifting apparatus according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the support means is carried on a chassis.
5. A lifting apparatus according to any preceding Claim, wherein: (i) the surface above which the container is to be lifted is a floor or ground upon which the apparatus is supported; and/or (ii) the surface above which the container is to be lifted is a floor or ground upon which the container is supported prior to being lifted thereabove.
6. A lifting apparatus according to any preceding Claim, wherein the container to be lifted by the apparatus is a wheeled container, and the apparatus is constructed and arranged such that the wheeled container to be lifted is placeable over the support means of the apparatus by wheeling or rolling thereover from the said one direction.
7. A lifting apparatus according to Claim 6, wherein the container to be lifted by the apparatus is a roll cage container, preferably a York container.
8. A lifting apparatus according to any preceding Claim, wherein the container is an oblong-based container, and the apparatus is constructed and arranged such that the container is able to be placed over the support means of the apparatus with either its front end first or its rear end first, and in either case the container's interior is accessible without interference or obstruction from the control means.
9. A lifting apparatus according to any preceding Claim, wherein the container to be lifted includes an opening at at least one end of the container for loading and unloading, and the said end of the container corresponds to an end of the lifting apparatus on which is located the user-operable control means for operating the lifting means.
10. A lifting apparatus according to any preceding Claim, wherein the support means of the apparatus is laterally shaped and/or dimensioned such that it generally substantially or approximately matches the corresponding lateral shape and/or dimensions of a base of the container to be lifted.
11. A lifting apparatus according to any preceding Claim, wherein the support means is shaped with an amount of tapering or narrowing going from a front end thereof to an opposite, rear end thereof (or vice versa), the front and rear ends being with respect to the said one direction, so that a container brought into placement over the support means from that rear (or front, as the case may be) direction is forced or encouraged into a centralised and symmetrical relative positioning over the support means with respect to a transverse direction perpendicular to the said one direction.
12. A lifting apparatus according to any preceding Claim, wherein the said at least one direction is a longitudinal direction relative to the support means.
13. A lifting apparatus according to Claim 12, wherein the centralising means comprises one or more stop means provided on the apparatus at or adjacent a rear or a front end thereof.
14. A lifting apparatus according to Claim 13, wherein: (I) the or each stop means comprises a foot or bracket carried on or attached to the apparatus adjacent its front or rear end (or even both) and which protrudes transversely a shod distance beyond a lateral side of the apparatus between its front and rear ends; or (ii) the or each stop means comprises a housing in which one or more transporting wheels, casters or rollers are mounted; or (iii) the or each stop means is constituted by a transporting wheel, caster or roller mounted on the apparatus.
15. A lifting apparatus according to any preceding Claim, wherein the said centralising means constitutes first centralising means, and the apparatus further comprises second centralising means constructed and arranged for centralising the container relative to the support means so as to be centralised with respect to a transverse direction perpendicular to the said one direction.
16. A lifting apparatus according to Claim 15, wherein the second centralising means comprises a centralising wedge member attached to or provided as part of the apparatus, preferably a frame member thereof, and against which abuts, bears or rides a wheel, caster or roller by which the container is movable as the container is placed over the support means from the said one direction.
17. A lifting apparatus according to Claim 15 or Claim 16, wherein the container is provided with a plurality of wheels, casters or rollers by which it is movable, and the second centralising means comprises an anti-swivel device constructed and arranged for maintaining a rolling direction of the or the respective wheel, caster or roller substantially parallel to the said one direction.
18. A lifting apparatus according to any preceding Claim, wherein the apparatus further comprises one or more locating means constructed and arranged for mutually locating the apparatus and the container itself with respect to one another, once or as the container has been or is placed over the support means of the apparatus.
19. A lifting apparatus according to any preceding Claim, wherein the apparatus further comprises brake means for anchoring the apparatus, as or when desired, in a substantially fixed location relative to the ground or other surface on which it is placed.
20. A lifting apparatus according to Claim 6 or any one of Claims 7 to 19 as depending through Claim 6, wherein the apparatus is constructed and arranged such that the wheels or other rolling means of the container to be lifted pass laterally externally of the apparatus as the container is wheeled, rolled or otherwise placed over the support means from the said one direction.
21. A lifting apparatus according to any preceding Claim, wherein the lifting means operable to raise and/or lower the height of the support means above the surface comprises: a frame attached to the support means, and a mechanical or powered lifting means operable by the control means to act on the frame to increase and/or decrease (as the case may be) the relative distance between the surface and the support means.
22. A lifting apparatus according to Claim 21, wherein the frame comprises at least one pair of elongate, substantially rigid frame members, a first frame member of the or each pair being attached at a first end thereof to the mechanical or powered lifting means or a chassis carrying the mechanical or powered lifting means, and a second frame member of the or each pair being attached at a second end thereof to the support means, the first and second frame members of the or each pair being pivotally attached intermediate their first and second ends so as to be pivotable relative to each other.
23. A lifting apparatus according to Claim 21 or Claim 22, wherein the frame of the lifting means is constituted by one or more elements or components of a chassis that carries the mechanical or powered lifting means and/or the support means itself.
24. A lifting apparatus according to any one of Claims 21 to 23, wherein the frame comprises at least one pair of frame members which support the support means above the surface substantially without the presence of a base or platform on which the frame sits or is mounted.
25. A lifting apparatus according to any preceding Claim, wherein the lifting means comprises a hydraulic device including a hydraulically operated cylinder and piston device in combination with one or more valve arrangements.
26. A lifting apparatus according to Claim 25, wherein one of the cylinder and piston is attached to a chassis that carries the mechanical or powered lifting means, or bears against or is supported by the surface above which the container is to be lifted, and the other of the cylinder and piston is attached to the support means or a frame member adjacent or attached directly to the support means, whereby actuation of the hydraulic device by the control means moves the cylinder and piston apart or together (as the case may be) to increase or decrease (as the case may be) the distance between the surface and the support means.
27. A lifting apparatus according to any one of Claims 21 to 26, wherein the lifting means comprises a hydraulic pump and the control means comprises one or more pedals or levers, preferably operable by means of a user's foot.
28. A lifting apparatus according to Claim 27, wherein the one or more pedals or levers are located on or within the boundaries of a chassis of the apparatus that carries the mechanical or powered lifting means.
29. A lifting apparatus according to any preceding Claim, wherein the control means are located on one only of front and rear ends of the apparatus.
30. A lifting apparatus according to Claim 29, wherein the said one of said front and rear ends of the apparatus is that end, or the opposite end therefrom, via which the container is brought into placement over the support means of the apparatus.
31. A lifting apparatus according to Claim 29 or Claim 30, wherein the said one (front or rear, as the case may be) end of the apparatus on or at which are located the pedals or levers correspond to the same said front or rear, as the case may be, end of the container having the said opening, so that the apparatus lifting means can be operated by a worker from the same end as they will subsequently work loading or unloading the container via the said opening.
32. A lifting apparatus according to any preceding Claim, further comprising locking means for preventing lowering of the support means other than by means of the lifting means under operation of the control means.
33. A lifting apparatus according to Claim 32, wherein the locking means comprise: a first locking component provided on a first frame member of a frame attached to the support means, and a second locking component provided on a second frame member of the frame, wherein the first and second locking components are selectively interengageable to substantially prevent relative scissoring movement of the said first and second frame members, the locking means further comprising release means for selectively arranging the first and second locking components in either a non-engaged or an engaged condition.
34. A lifting apparatus according to any preceding Claim, wherein the apparatus is portable or mobile by virtue of its further comprising at least one, or at least one pair or set of, transporting rolling means, such as one or more, or one or more pairs or sets of, wheels, casters or rollers attached to or carried by at least one end of the apparatus.
35. A lifting apparatus according to Claim 34, wherein there are further provided one or more feet attached to or carried by the apparatus adjacent the or each transporting roller means, the or each said foot protruding below the apparatus a short distance which is greater than the distance by which the or the respective transporting roller means itself protrudes downwardly therefrom.
36. A lifting apparatus according to any preceding Claim, wherein the apparatus is substantially static, and is mounted: (i) in a relatively fixed location on a floor, ground or other surface on which it is to be used, and/or optionally (ü) is mounted in a relatively fixed location on a wall.
37. A lifting apparatus according to Claim 36, wherein the apparatus further comprises one or more anchoring means via which it is anchored or anchorable to at least one of said floor, ground or other surface, and/or said wall.
38. A lifting apparatus according to Claim 37, wherein the anchoring means comprises one or more hinge or pivot means, to permit the apparatus to be hinged or pivoted upwardly relative to the floor, ground or other surface.
39. A lifting apparatus according to Claim 38, wherein the apparatus is constructed and arranged to engage one or more retaining means provided in or on a wall adjacent said floor, ground or other surface for retaining the apparatus thereagainst when its use is not required.
40. In combination, a lifting apparatus according to any one of Claims 1 to 39, and a container to be lifted by the apparatus, wherein the container has been placed over the support means of the apparatus and is ready for lifting, or has been lifted by the lifting means, upon operation of the control means, to a desired working height above the said surface.
41. A method of lifting a container, preferably a wheeled container, to a desired working height above a surface, the method comprising: providing a lifting apparatus according to any one of Claims 1 to 39; placing the container over the support means of the apparatus from the said one direction; and operating the lifting means by means of the control means to raise and/or lower the height of the support means above the surface; whereby the container is lifted above the surface by the support means to the said desired working height above the surface.
42. A lifting apparatus, or a combination of a lifting apparatus and a container to be lifted, or a method of lifting a container to a desired working height above a surface, substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.