Portable lift assembly

Abstract

A portable lift assembly includes a rigid outer frame including a plurality of integrally mated support members configured to define a generally rectangular shape. A rigid inner frame including a plurality of integrally mated support members and having an outer perimeter is spaced inwardly from an inner perimeter of the outer frame. The assembly includes a mechanism for selectively elevating the inner frame along a vertical plane. The assembly further includes a mechanism for supporting at least one drywall panel on top of the inner frame wherein the drywall panel can be effectively elevated between alternate heights during operating conditions while the operator's hands remain freely disengaged from the drywall panel.

1 . A portable lift assembly for assisting an operator to elevate drywall paneling towards a ceiling during installation procedures, said lift assembly comprising: 
 a rigid outer frame including a plurality of integrally mated support members configured to define a generally rectangular shape;    a rigid inner frame including a plurality of integrally mated support members and being telescopically positional within an inner perimeter of said outer frame and along a substantially vertical plane such that said inner frame can be selectively biased between raised and lowered positions while said outer frame remains at a fixed ground position;    means for selectively elevating said inner frame along a vertical plane wherein said inner frame remains spaced inwardly from said outer frame such that said inner frame can be slidably guided along the vertical plane without directly contacting said outer frame; and    means for supporting at least one drywall panel on top of said inner frame wherein the drywall panel can be effectively elevated between alternate heights during operating conditions while the operator's hands remain freely disengaged from the drywall panel.    
   
   
       2 . The lift assembly of  claim 1 , wherein selected ones of said inner frame support member and said selected ones of said outer frame support members are vertically oriented substantially parallel to the vertical plane and symmetrically spaced at opposing corners of said outer and inner frames respectively, other ones of said support members being horizontally oriented and medially secured to said selected support members such that said other support members become vertically aligned along a longitudinal length of said selected inner frame and outer frame support members respectively.  
   
   
       3 . The lift assembly of  claim 2 , wherein said elevating means comprises: 
 a manually-operable jack including a rotatable winch and oppositely positioned base and top surfaces, said base surface being medially positioned on corresponding ones of said outer frame support members, said top surface being medially engaged beneath corresponding ones of said inner frame support members such that opposing lift forces will cause said inner frame to elevated when the operator adapts said jack between retracted and extended positions.    
   
   
       1 . The lift assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said elevating means further comprises: 
 at least one rigid guide bracket having a linear central portion and an integrally coupled arcuate end portion slidably engageable with said inner frame, said guide bracket further having an opposite end portion mated with said outer frame such that said guide bracket can be maintained at a static position while said inner frame is elevated toward the ceiling.    
   
   
       2 . The lift assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said drywall panel supporting means comprises: 
 a substantially rectangular platform sized and shaped for being positioned on an upper end portion of said inner frame, said platform having a substantially planar top surface oriented along the horizontal plane such that the drywall panel can be effectively maintained at equilibrium during transit; and    a plurality of U-shaped brackets positioned about said inner frame and spaced along opposite sides thereof such that said brackets become situated subjacent said platform, each said U-shaped bracket including outwardly extending flange portions for threadably receiving fasteners therethrough such that said platform and said inner frame become securely coupled.    
   
   
       3 . The lift assembly of  claim 2 , wherein said outer frame further comprises: 
 a plurality of elongated rails connected thereto wherein selected ones of said rails are perpendicularly oriented along traversing planes and vertically aligned along said selected outer frame support members for providing additional stability during operating conditions.    
   
   
       4 . A portable lift assembly for assisting an operator to elevate drywall paneling towards a ceiling during installation procedures, said lift assembly comprising: 
 a rigid outer frame including a plurality of integrally mated support members configured to define a generally rectangular shape, said support members having substantially linear shapes and being formed from tubular steel;    a rigid inner frame including a plurality of integrally mated support members and being telescopically positional within an inner perimeter of said outer frame and along a substantially vertical plane such that said inner frame can be selectively biased between raised and lowered positions while said outer frame remains at a fixed ground position;    means for selectively elevating said inner frame along a vertical plane wherein said inner frame remains spaced inwardly from said outer frame such that said inner frame can be slidably guided along the vertical plane without directly contacting said outer frame; and    means for supporting at least one drywall panel on top of said inner frame wherein the drywall panel can be effectively elevated between alternate heights during operating conditions while the operator's hands remain freely disengaged from the drywall panel.    
   
   
       5 . The lift assembly of  claim 7 , wherein selected ones of said inner frame support member and said selected ones of said outer frame support members are vertically oriented substantially parallel to the vertical plane and symmetrically spaced at opposing corners of said outer and inner frames respectively, other ones of said support members being horizontally oriented and medially secured to said selected support members such that said other support members become vertically aligned along a longitudinal length of said selected inner frame and outer frame support members respectively.  
   
   
       6 . The lift assembly of  claim 8 , wherein said elevating means comprises: 
 a manually-operable jack including a rotatable winch and oppositely positioned base and top surfaces, said base surface being medially positioned on corresponding ones of said outer frame support members, said top surface being medially engaged beneath corresponding ones of said inner frame support members such that opposing lift forces will cause said inner frame to elevated when the operator adapts said jack between retracted and extended positions.    
   
   
       7 . The lift assembly of  claim 7 , wherein said elevating means further comprises: 
 at least one rigid guide bracket having a linear central portion and an integrally coupled arcuate end portion slidably engageable with said inner frame, said guide bracket further having an opposite end portion mated with said outer frame such that said guide bracket can be maintained at a static position while said inner frame is elevated toward the ceiling.    
   
   
       8 . The lift assembly of  claim 7 , wherein said drywall panel supporting means comprises: 
 a substantially rectangular platform sized and shaped for being positioned on an upper end portion of said inner frame, said platform having a substantially planar top surface oriented along the horizontal plane such that the drywall panel can be effectively maintained at equilibrium during transit; and    a plurality of U-shaped brackets positioned about said inner frame and spaced along opposite sides thereof such that said brackets become situated subjacent said platform, each said U-shaped bracket including outwardly extending flange portions for threadably receiving fasteners therethrough such that said platform and said inner frame become securely coupled.    
   
   
       9 . The lift assembly of  claim 8 , wherein said outer frame further comprises: 
 a plurality of elongated rails connected thereto wherein selected ones of said rails are perpendicularly oriented along traversing planes and vertically aligned along said selected outer frame support members for providing additional stability during operating conditions.    
   
   
       10 . A portable lift assembly for assisting an operator to elevate drywall paneling towards a ceiling during installation procedures, said lift assembly comprising: 
 a rigid outer frame including a plurality of integrally mated support members configured to define a generally rectangular shape, said support members having substantially linear shapes and being formed from tubular steel;    a rigid inner frame including a plurality of integrally mated support members and having an outer perimeter spaced inwardly from an inner perimeter of said outer frame, said inner frame being telescopically positioned within the inner perimeter of said outer frame and along a substantially vertical plane such that said inner frame can be selectively biased between raised and lowered positions while said outer frame remains at a fixed ground position;    means for selectively elevating said inner frame along a vertical plane wherein said inner frame remains spaced inwardly from said outer frame such that said inner frame can be slidably guided along the vertical plane without directly contacting said outer frame; and    means for supporting at least one drywall panel on top of said inner frame wherein the drywall panel can be effectively elevated between alternate heights during operating conditions while the operator's hands remain freely disengaged from the drywall panel.    
   
   
       11 . The lift assembly of  claim 13 , wherein selected ones of said inner frame support member and said selected ones of said outer frame support members are vertically oriented substantially parallel to the vertical plane and symmetrically spaced at opposing corners of said outer and inner frames respectively, other ones of said support members being horizontally oriented and medially secured to said selected support members such that said other support members become vertically aligned along a longitudinal length of said selected inner frame and outer frame support members respectively.  
   
   
       12 . The lift assembly of  claim 14 , wherein said elevating means comprises: 
 a manually-operable jack including a rotatable winch and oppositely positioned base and top surfaces, said base surface being medially positioned on corresponding ones of said outer frame support members, said top surface being medially engaged beneath corresponding ones of said inner frame support members such that opposing lift forces will cause said inner frame to elevated when the operator adapts said jack between retracted and extended positions.    
   
   
       13 . The lift assembly of  claim 13 , wherein said elevating means further comprises: 
 at least one rigid guide bracket having a linear central portion and an integrally coupled arcuate end portion slidably engageable with said inner frame, said guide bracket further having an opposite end portion mated with said outer frame such that said guide bracket can be maintained at a static position while said inner frame is elevated toward the ceiling.    
   
   
       14 . The lift assembly of  claim 13 , wherein said drywall panel supporting means comprises: 
 a substantially rectangular platform sized and shaped for being positioned on an upper end portion of said inner frame, said platform having a substantially planar top surface oriented along the horizontal plane such that the drywall panel can be effectively maintained at equilibrium during transit; and    a plurality of U-shaped brackets positioned about said inner frame and spaced along opposite sides thereof such that said brackets become situated subjacent said platform, each said U-shaped bracket including outwardly extending flange portions for threadably receiving fasteners therethrough such that said platform and said inner frame become securely coupled.    
   
   
       15 . The lift assembly of  claim 14 , wherein said outer frame further comprises: 
 a plurality of elongated rails connected thereto wherein selected ones of said rails are perpendicularly oriented along traversing planes and vertically aligned along said selected outer frame support members for providing additional stability during operating conditions.