Trunk-mounted portable crane

Claim 2

In combination with a vehicle including a storage compartment with a hinged lid movable between a lowered, close position and an upper, open position, the improvement of a crane, which comprises: (a) a column assembly including: (i) a column member with upper and lower ends; (ii) an upper sleeve with an open, lower end telescopically receiving said column member upper end and a sleeve upper end; (iii) said upper sleeve including an upper sleeve cap mounted on said upper sleeve upper end and an upper pivot pin extending upwardly from said upper sleeve cap; (iv) a lower sleeve including an open, upper end telescopically receiving said column member lower end and a lower sleeve lower end; (v) said lower sleeve including a lower sleeve cap mounted on said lower sleeve lower end and a lower pivot pin depending from said lower sleeve cap; (vi) column length adjustment means adjustably clamping said column member upper end to said upper sleeve; (b) an upper pivot pin receiver in said compartment lid, said upper pivot pin receiver rotatably receiving said upper pivot pin; (c) a base positioned within said compartment and including an upper surface and a lower pivot pin receiver open at said upper surface, said lower pivot pin receiver rotatably receiving said lower pivot pin; (d) a winch assembly, which includes: (i) a winch mounting bracket mounted on said lower sleeve; (ii) a winch mounted on said winch mounting bracket; (iii) a reversible electric motor drivingly connected to said winch; and (iv) a switch coupled to said electric motor and adapted for energizing same for forward and reverse drive; and (e) an arm assembly including: (i) a boom arm with a proximate end mounted on said column member and a distal end; and (ii) a tensile member with a proximate end mounted on said winch and a distal end, said tensile member being extendable and retractable by said winch and being slidably connected to said boom arm and extending from the distal end thereof.

Claim 3

In combination with a vehicle including a storage compartment with a hinged lid movable between a lowered, close position and an upper, open position, the improvement of a crane, which comprises: (a) a column assembly removably and pivotally mounted between the floor of the compartment and the open lid including: (i) a column member with upper and lower sections having upper and lower ends respectively; (ii) column assembly height adjustment means including an upper sleeve with an upper end mounted by a cap with a pivot pin projecting upwardly from said cap and having a bolt receiving hole passing through said upper sleeve, a length adjustment bolt member and tightening means; said upper sleeve telescopically receiving said column member upper end; said upper pivot pin rotatably engages and disengages an upper pivot pin receiver in the open lid as said column assembly height adjustment means lengthens and shortens, respectively, said column assembly; said length adjustment bolt passes through said bolt receiving hole, and out of said bolt receiving hole where said length adjustment cooperates with said tightening means to fixedly maintain the position of said elongating member in relation to said column member and thus in relation to said column member upper section; said tightening means threadably receive said length adjustment bolt; and (iii) a lower sleeve with a bottom end; said lower sleeve telescopically receiving said column member lower end; said lower sleeve bottom end is mounted by a bottom pivot pin; (b) a winch assembly including: (i) reel means; (ii) motor means for driving said reel means; said motor means includes a reversible electric motor drivingly connected to said winch assembly; said motor comprising a direct current electrical motor; (iii) a motor mount subassembly for securely attaching said winch assembly to said lower sleeve; said motor mount subassembly impinges upon said column member so that said lower sleeve only receives said column member lower section; and (iv) a control subassembly; said control subassembly includes a power supply for supplying power to said motor means and control means for instructing said motor means to drive said reel means; said power supply includes an automobile electrical power supply; said control means includes a double pole, double throw switch coupled to said electric motor for reversing the polarity of electrical current supplied thereto and a momentary contact switch serially coupled to said double pole, double throw switch; said switches being mounted in a hand-held housing with electrical leads extending to said electric motor; (c) a boom assembly including: (i) a boom arm with proximate and distal sections having proximate and distal ends, respectively, removably secured to said column member; said boom arm having a passage extending longitudinally therethrough; (ii) engagement means associated with said boom arm; said engagement means includes a first pulley rotatably mounted in said boom arm passage at said boom arm proximate section and a second pulley rotatably mounted in said boom arm passage at said boom arm distal end; said pulleys support a tensile member having proximate and distal ends; said tensile member proximate end is secured to said reel means which is driven by said motor means; said tensile member is reeved through said pulleys; said tensile member distal end is mounted by a hook member; and (iii) a boom arm sleeve projecting outwardly from said column member which is hollowly constructed to removably and slidably receive said boom arm proximate end; said boom arm receiving sleeve includes a proximate end fixedly attached to said column member upper section and an open distal end; and (d) base means including: (i) a base block situated on the floor of the compartment with an upper surface having a lower pivot pin receiving hole open at said upper surface; said base means further includes a base plate securely mounted to said base block upper surface and having a receiver corresponding to said lower pivot pin receiving hole; said lower pivot pin receiving hole is rotatably engaged by said lower pivot pin.

Claim 4

In combination with a vehicle including a storage compartment with a hinged lid movable between a lowered, close position and an upper, open position, the improvement of a crane, which comprises: (a) a column assembly removably and pivotally mounted between the floor of the compartment and the open lid including: (i) a column member with upper and lower sections having upper and lower ends respectively; (ii) column assembly height adjustment means including an upper sleeve with an upper end mounted by a cap with a pivot pin projecting upwardly from said cap and having a bolt receiving hole passing through said upper sleeve, a length adjustment bolt member and tightening means; said upper sleeve telescopically receiving said column member upper end; said upper pivot pin rotatably engages and disengages an upper pivot pin receiver in the open lid as said column assembly height adjustment means lengthens and shortens, respectively, said column assembly; said length adjustment bolt passes through said bolt receiving hole, and out of said bolt receiving hole where said length adjustment cooperates with said tightening means to fixedly maintain the position of said elongating member in relation to said column member and thus in relation to said column member upper section; said tightening means threadably receive said length adjustment bolt; and (iii) a lower sleeve with a bottom end; said lower sleeve telescopically receiving said column member lower end; said lower sleeve bottom end is mounted by a bottom pivot pin; (b) a winch assembly including: (i) reel means; (ii) motor means for driving said reel means; said motor means includes a reversible electric motor drivingly connected to said winch assembly; said motor comprising a direct current electrical motor; (iii) a motor mount subassembly for securely attaching said winch assembly to said lower sleeve; said motor mount subassembly impinges upon said column member so that said lower sleeve only receives said column member lower section; and (iv) a control subassembly; said control subassembly includes a power supply for supplying power to said motor means and control means for instructing said motor means to drive said reel means; said power supply includes an automobile electrical power supply; said control means includes a double pole, double throw switch coupled to said electric motor for reversing the polarity of electrical current supplied thereto and a momentary contact switch serially coupled to said double pole, double throw switch; said switches being mounted in a hand-held housing with electrical leads extending to said electric motor; (c) a boom assembly including: (i) a boom arm with proximate and distal sections having proximate and distal ends, respectively, removably secured to said column member; said boom arm having a passage extending longitudinally therethrough; (ii) engagement means associated with said boom arm; said engagement means includes a first pulley rotatably mounted in said boom arm passage at said boom arm proximate section and a second pulley rotatably mounted in said boom arm passage at said boom arm distal end; said pulleys support a tensile member having proximate and distal ends; said tensile member proximate end is secured to said reel means which is driven by said motor means; said tensile member is reeved through said pulleys; said tensile member distal end is mounted by a hook member; and (iii) a boom arm sleeve projecting outwardly from said column member which is hollowly constructed to removably and slidably receive said boom arm proximate end; said boom arm receiving sleeve includes a proximate end fixedly attached to said column member upper section and an open distal end; and (d) base means including: (i) a base block situated on the floor of the compartment with an upper surface having a lower pivot pin receiving hole open at said upper surface; said base means further includes a base plate securely mounted to said base block upper surface and having a receiver corresponding to said lower pivot pin receiving hole; said lower pivot pin receiving hole is rotatably engaged by said lower pivot pin.

Claim 5

A crane for mounting in the trunk of a vehicle having a trunk lid and a trunk floor, comprising: (a) base means for supporting said crane as said base means is placed unsecured on the trunk floor; (b) a column assembly including: (1) a column having: (A) an upper end; and (B) a lower end releasably and rotatably engaged with said base means; and (2) trunk lid mounting means for mounting said column assembly on said trunk lid such that said upper end thereof is releasably and rotatably engaged with said trunk lid; (c) a boom assembly including: (1) a boom arm having: (A) a proximal end and a distal end; (B) a passage extending longitudinally through said boom arm; (C) a first pulley rotatably mounted in said passage near said proximal end of said boom arm; and (D) a second pulley rotatably mounted in said passage at said distal end of said boom arm; and (2) a boom arm sleeve having a proximal end rigidly secured to said column and a distal end adapted to releasably receive said proximal end of said boom arm; (d) a winch assembly mounted on said column; said winch assembly including: (1) reel means; (2) a reversible electric motor drivingly connected to said reel means; and (3) a control subassembly such that electrical power can be selectively and reversibly supplied to said motor by a user conveniently positioned behind the vehicle; and (e) a tensile member having a first end connected to said reel and a second end reeved over said first pulley and said second pulley and having a hook connected to the distal end thereof.

Claim 6

A crane for mounting in the trunk of a vehicle having a trunk lid and a trunk floor, comprising: (a) base means for supporting said crane as said base means is placed unsecured on the trunk floor; (b) a column assembly including: (1) a column having: (A) an upper end; and (B) a lower end releasably and rotatably engaged with said base means; and (2) trunk lid mounting means for mounting said column assembly on said trunk lid such that said upper end thereof is releasably and rotatably engaged with said trunk lid; (c) a boom assembly including: (1) a boom arm having: (A) a proximal end and a distal end; (B) a passage extending longitudinally through said boom arm; (C) a first pulley rotatably mounted in said passage near said proximal end of said boom arm; and (D) a second pulley rotatably mounted in said passage at said distal end of said boom arm; and (2) a boom arm sleeve having a proximal end rigidly secured to said column and a distal end adapted to releasably receive said proximal end of said boom arm; (d) a winch assembly mounted on said column; said winch assembly including: (1) reel means; (2) a reversible electric motor drivingly connected to said reel means; and (3) a control subassembly such that electrical power can be selectively and reversibly supplied to said motor by a user conveniently positioned behind the vehicle; and (e) a tensile member having a first end connected to said reel and a second end reeved over said first pulley and said second pulley and having a hook connected to the distal end thereof.

Claim 7

The invention of claim 3 wherein said control subassembly includes: (a) a double pole, double throw switch coupled to said electric motor for reversing the polarity of electrical current supplied thereto; and (b) said motor comprising a direct current electrical motor.

Claim 8

The invention of claim 4, which includes: (a) a momentary contact switch serially coupled to said double pole, double throw switch; (b) said switches being mounted in a hand-held housing; and (c) electrical leads extending from said switch housing to said electric motor.

Claim 9

A crane for mounting in the trunk of a vehicle having a trunk lid and a trunk floor, comprising: (a) a receiver in the trunk lid; (b) base means for supporting said crane as said base means is placed unsecured on the trunk floor; (c) a column assembly including: (1) a column having: (A) an upper end; and (B) a lower end releasably and rotatably engaged with said base means; and (2) adjustment means for slidably adjusting the height of said column assembly such that said upper end is releasably and rotatably engaged with said receiving hole as said lower end is engaged with said base means; (d) a boom assembly including: (1) a boom arm having: (A) a proximal end and a distal end; (B) a passage extending longitudinally through said boom arm; (C) a first pulley rotatably mounted in said passage near said proximal end of said boom arm; and (D) a second pulley rotatably mounted in said passage at said distal end of said boom arm; and (2) a boom arm sleeve having a proximal end rigidly secured to said column and a distal end adapted to releasably receive said proximal end of said boom arm; (e) a winch assembly mounted on said column; said winch assembly including: (1) reel means; (2) a reversible electric motor drivingly connected to said reel means; and (3) a control subassembly such that electrical power can be selectively and reversibly supplied to said motor by a user conveniently positioned behind the vehicle; and (f) a tensile member having a first end connected to said reel and a second end reeved over said first pulley and said second pulley and having a hook connected to the distal end thereof.

Claim 10

A crane for mounting in the trunk of a vehicle having a trunk lid and a trunk floor, comprising: (a) a receiver in the trunk lid; (b) base means for supporting said crane as said base means is placed unsecured on the trunk floor; (c) a column assembly including: (1) a column having: (A) an upper end; and (B) a lower end releasably and rotatably engaged with said base means; and (2) adjustment means for slidably adjusting the height of said column assembly such that said upper end is releasably and rotatably engaged with said receiving hole as said lower end is engaged with said base means; (d) a boom assembly including: (1) a boom arm having: (A) a proximal end and a distal end; (B) a passage extending longitudinally through said boom arm; (C) a first pulley rotatably mounted in said passage near said proximal end of said boom arm; and (D) a second pulley rotatably mounted in said passage at said distal end of said boom arm; and (2) a boom arm sleeve having a proximal end rigidly secured to said column and a distal end adapted to releasably receive said proximal end of said boom arm; (e) a winch assembly mounted on said column; said winch assembly including: (1) reel means; (2) a reversible electric motor drivingly connected to said reel means; and (3) a control subassembly such that electrical power can be selectively and reversibly supplied to said motor by a user conveniently positioned behind the vehicle; and (f) a tensile member having a first end connected to said reel and a second end reeved over said first pulley and said second pulley and having a hook connected to the distal end thereof.