Detachable support structure for use with mobile lift table

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12459063-B2
Application number	US-202419005755-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 30, 2024
Priority date	Nov 4, 2022
Publication date	Nov 4, 2025
Grant date	Nov 4, 2025

Abstract

An apparatus and method of use for supporting a fuel unit, the apparatus including: a frame including an attachment portion and a coupling portion, the attachment portion being configured to engage the fuel unit to thereby prevent lateral movement of the fuel unit relative to the frame, the coupling portion being configured to engage a lift table to thereby prevent lateral movement of the frame relative to the lift table; and a plurality of legs rotatably secured to the frame, each leg of the plurality of legs being configured to transition between an extended configuration and a retracted configuration, wherein the extended configuration is configured to allow a foot of a respective leg to contact a floor, wherein the retracted configuration is configured to prevent the foot of the respective leg from contacting the floor.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An apparatus for supporting a fuel unit, the apparatus comprising:
(a) a frame including an attachment portion and a coupling portion, wherein the attachment portion comprises at least one retainment tab extending upwardly from a respective portion of the frame, wherein the coupling portion comprises at least one tab extending downwardly from a respective portion of the frame, the at least one retainment tab being configured to engage a perimeter of the fuel unit to thereby prevent lateral movement of the fuel unit relative to the frame, the coupling portion being configured to engage and detachably couple, by the at least one tab and a coupling pin, to a bracket of a lift table to prevent lateral movement of the frame relative to the lift table; and (b) a plurality of legs movably attached to the frame, each leg of the plurality of legs being configured to transition between an extended configuration and a retracted configuration, wherein the extended configuration is configured to allow a foot of a respective leg to contact a floor, wherein the retracted configuration is configured to prevent the foot of the respective leg from contacting the floor.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the frame is configured to extend between a first length and a second length, the first length being longer than the second length.

3 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the frame is configured to extend between a first width and a second width, the first width being wider than the second width.

4 . The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the frame includes at least one locking device, the at least one locking device being configured to selectively lock the frame in either the first length, the second length, the first width, or the second width.

5 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one retainment tab includes a series of upwardly projecting tabs, the series of upwardly projecting tabs being configured to engage the perimeter of the fuel unit.

6 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each leg of the plurality of legs is configured to selectively lock into either the extended or retracted configurations.

7 . The apparatus of claim 6 , each leg of the plurality of legs being pivotably coupled to a respective bracket fixedly secured to the frame.

8 . The apparatus of claim 1 , the frame being configured to maintain a fixed length between a bracket and an adjacent bracket during an extension of the frame, the frame being further configured to vary a width between the bracket and another adjacent bracket during a widening of the frame.

9 . An apparatus for supporting a fuel unit, the apparatus comprising:
(a) a frame dimensioned to receive a fuel unit to thereby support the fuel unit and inhibit movement of the fuel unit relative to the frame, wherein at least one laterally slidable section of at least one adjustable end section of the frame comprises a retainment tab configured to engage a perimeter of the fuel unit to thereby prevent lateral movement of the fuel unit relative to the frame, wherein the frame is configured to selectively attach and detach to a tabletop assembly of a mobile lift table while the frame supports the fuel unit; and (b) a plurality of support legs attached to the frame, wherein each support leg of the plurality of support legs is configured to move relative to the frame between an extended position and a retracted position, wherein the plurality of legs extend away from the frame in the extended position such that the plurality of legs are configured to contact a floor to thereby support both the frame and a supported fuel unit while the frame is detached from the tabletop assembly of the mobile lift table.

10 . The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein each support leg of the plurality of support legs is pivotally attached to the frame.

11 . The apparatus of claim 10 , further comprising a locking assembly configured to selectively lock each support leg of the plurality of support legs in the retracted position.

12 . The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the locking assembly is configured to selectively lock each support leg of the plurality of support legs in the extended position.

13 . The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the locking assembly comprises a plurality of spring-biased pins, wherein each spring-biased pin of the plurality of spring-biased pins are slidably housed within a respective support leg of the plurality of support legs.

14 . The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the locking assembly comprises a plurality of plates, wherein each plate of the plurality of plates is fixed relative to a respective portion of the frame, wherein the plate defines a locking slot, wherein the locking slot of a respective plate is dimensioned to receive a respective locking pin to thereby lock the respective support leg in the retracted position.

15 . The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein each support leg of the plurality of support legs comprises an adjustable leveling pad configured to adjust a length of a respective support length.

16 . The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein each adjustable leveling pad comprises a threaded rod.

17 . An apparatus for supporting a fuel unit, the apparatus comprising:
(a) a frame dimensioned to receive a fuel unit to thereby support the fuel unit and inhibit movement of the fuel unit relative to the frame, wherein at least one laterally slidable section of at least one adjustable side section of the frame comprises a retainment tab configured to engage a perimeter of the fuel unit to thereby prevent lateral movement of the fuel unit relative to the frame, wherein the frame is configured to selectively attach and detach to a tabletop assembly of a mobile lift table while the frame supports the fuel unit; and (b) at least one support leg pivotally attached to the frame, wherein the at least one support leg is configured to pivot relative to the frame between an extended position and a retracted position, wherein the at least one support leg extends away from the frame in the extended position such that the at least one support leg is configured to contact a floor to support the frame while the frame is both detached from the tabletop assembly of the mobile lift table and supporting the fuel unit.

18 . The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the at least one support leg comprises a handle.

19 . The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the at least one support leg comprises lock configured to secure the at least one support leg in the retracted position.

20 . The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein the lock is configured to secure the at least one support leg in the extended position.

Assignees

• Vehicle Service Group Llc

Inventors

• Lauderbaugh Gerry

Classifications

• Y10T29/49819

  with conveying of work or disassembled work part · CPC title

• B23P6/00

  Restoring or reconditioning objects (straightening or restoring form of sheet metal, metal rods, metal tubes, metal profiles, or specific articles made therefrom B21D1/00, B21D3/00; repairing defective or damaged objects by casting techniques B22D19/10) · CPC title

• B65D2519/0087

  collapsible pallet · CPC title

• B65D2519/00815

  on the pallet · CPC title

• B65D2519/00761

  the surface being variable, e.g. extendable pallets (B65D2519/00746 takes precedence) · CPC title