Personal lifting assembly
A lifting assembly, including a top plate, a bottom plate, a first pivoting plate assembly including a first plate pivotably connected to the top plate and a second plate pivotably connected to the first plate and the bottom plate, a second pivoting plate assembly including a third plate pivotably connected to the top plate and a fourth plate pivotably connected to third plate and the bottom plate, and a first bladder assembly engaged with the second plate and the bottom plate, the first bladder assembly operatively arranged to be inflated and deflated to displace the top plate with respect to the bottom plate.
1 . A lifting assembly, comprising:
a top plate;
a bottom plate;
a first pivoting plate assembly including a first plate pivotably connected to the top plate and a second plate, the second plate including a first end pivotably connected to the first plate and a second end pivotably connected to the bottom plate;
a second pivoting plate assembly including a third plate pivotably connected to the top plate and a fourth plate pivotably connected to the third plate and the bottom plate; and
a first bladder assembly engaged with the second plate and the bottom plate, the first bladder assembly operatively arranged to be inflated and deflated to displace the top plate with respect to the bottom plate;
wherein in an inflated state of the first bladder assembly, the first bladder assembly is arranged completely between the first end and the second end.
2 . The lifting assembly as recited in claim 1 , wherein:
the first pivoting plate assembly is connected to the top plate proximate a first side of the top plate;
the second pivoting plate assembly is connected to the top plate proximate a second side of the top plate; and
the first side is adjacent to the second side.
3 . The lifting assembly as recited in claim 1 , wherein:
the first pivoting plate assembly extends radially outward from a perimeter of the top plate in a collapsed state; and
the second pivoting plate assembly extends radially inward from the perimeter of the top plate in the collapsed state.
4 . The lifting assembly as recited in claim 3 , wherein the first plate forms a ramp surface in the collapsed state.
5 . The lifting assembly as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a second bladder assembly engaged with the first plate and the top plate, the second bladder assembly operatively arranged to be inflated and deflated to displace the top plate with respect to the bottom plate.
6 . The lifting assembly as recited in claim 1 , further comprising at least one handle connected to the top plate.
7 . The lifting assembly as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first bladder assembly comprises at least one bladder connected to at least one of the second plate and the bottom plate.
8 . The lifting assembly as recited in claim 7 , wherein the at least one bladder is at least partially enclosed by a membrane, and the membrane is fixedly secured to the at least one of the second plate and the bottom plate.
9 . The lifting assembly as recited in claim 8 , wherein the membrane comprises a lateral wall comprising a hole.
10 . The lifting assembly as recited in claim 7 , wherein the at least one bladder is connected to the second plate and/or the bottom plate by a tether.
11 . The lifting assembly as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a pump assembly fluidly connected to the first bladder assembly, the pump assembly operatively arranged to controllably inflate and deflate the first bladder assembly.
12 . The lifting assembly as recited in claim 1 , further comprising one or more wheels rotatably connected to the first plate.
13 . The lifting assembly as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a guard arranged proximate an edge of at least one of the first pivoting plate assembly and the second pivoting plate assembly.
14 . The lifting assembly as recited in claim 1 , wherein in the inflated state the first bladder assembly is arranged between and spaced apart from the first end and the second end.
15 . The lifting assembly as recited in claim 1 , wherein in a collapsed state the bottom plate, the second plate, and the fourth plate are aligned linearly.
16 . A lifting assembly, comprising:
a top plate;
a bottom plate;
a first pivoting plate assembly, including:
a first plate pivotably connected to the top plate proximate a first side of the top plate; and
a second plate pivotably connected to the first plate and the bottom plate;
a second pivoting plate assembly, including:
a third plate pivotably connected to the top plate proximate a second side of the top plate, the second side being adjacent to the first side; and
a fourth plate pivotably connected to the third plate and the bottom plate; and
a first bladder assembly engaged with the second plate and the bottom plate, the first bladder assembly operatively arranged to be inflated and deflated to displace the top plate with respect to the bottom plate;
wherein:
the first pivoting plate assembly extends radially outward from a perimeter of the top plate in a collapsed state of the lifting assembly; and
the second pivoting plate assembly extends radially inward from the perimeter of the top plate in the collapsed state.
17 . The lifting assembly as recited in claim 16 , wherein the first plate forms a ramp surface in the collapsed state.
18 . The lifting assembly as recited in claim 16 , further comprising a second bladder assembly engaged with the first plate and the top plate, the second bladder not engaged with the bottom plate, the second bladder assembly operatively arranged to be inflated and deflated to displace the top plate with respect to the bottom plate.
19 . The lifting assembly as recited in claim 16 , wherein in an expanded state of the lifting assembly the first bladder assembly is spaced apart from the top plate.