Patent/Product Search & Selection Analysis

Team Up(Phill – Mark – Josh – Chris – Ed)

June 4, 2008

Review of Concept Designs

• Telescoping tube rails• Cable lift platform• Wheeled cart (detachable) • Conveyor belt• Scissor lift

The Attic LiftPerspective View – Lowered Position Perspective View – Raised Position

Application number: 11/238,415; Publication number: US 2007/0114098 A1; Filing date: Sep 29, 2005; Inventor: Jason Hartley; www.theatticlift.com

The Attic Lift

• Upper level frame and winch raise and lower a platform by winding and unwinding cables

• No support or guidance structure in lower level• Pros:

o Many sizes (200 lbs – 750 lbs)o Durability (so they claim)

• Cons:o Must have stairs, not an elevator for peopleo Objects can fall off

The SpaceLift 6000

By SpaceLift Products, Inc.        Patented: Nov. 8, 2005www.spaceliftproducts.com        No. 6,962,236   by Jay Penn

The SpaceLift 6000

• Specialized staircase, mounting frame, and trolley attached to a winch via 4 cables.

• Trolley and mounting frame roll to side once at top to allow access.

Pros:• Level platform at chest height for loading• Load management system detects interference

Cons:• 4 Cables complicates lifting process• Single size compatibility

Combination Loft and Ladder Lift(patent pending)

Inv.  Daniel Harry Corby Quare      Filing Date: Nov. 29, 2006Application #: 11/564,534           Publication: US 2007/0269303

Combination Loft and Ladder Lift

• Uses a custom ladder with a carriage and crane system to move packages up attic stairs.

• Crane Actuates to move said package when carriage reaches top of the attic stairs.

Pros:• Solution to handling the object when reaches the top.• Allows for unobstructed use of stairs by people.• Load management system detects interference

Cons:• Requires vertical room for installation.• Does not provide any package control and item may fall off

platform.• Obstructs the landing area for humans as they climb the

ladder

   Overhead Platform Elevation Device

Inventor: Douglas J. HughesPatent number: 5,667,035

Filing date: Oct 19, 1995Issue date: Sep 16, 1997

   Overhead Platform Elevation Device

• Assembly is positioned in its own ceiling cutout, separate from attic stairs

• Device consists of platform raised and lowered by cables within telescopic support structures

• Cables are wound on opposed pulleys, and driven by a motor to power the vertical displacement

• Pros:o Maintains orientation of objecto Does not block or interfere with laddero Self Storing

• Cons:o Requires second cutout in attico Cannot be retrofit

   Overhead Platform Elevation Device

Inventor: Randy SpraguePatent number: 5,626,208

Filing date: July 13, 1995Issue date:  May 6, 1997

   Screw Lift Device

• Again, assembly is positioned in its own ceiling cutout, separate from attic stairs

• Device consists of platform raised and lowered by screw within permanent rail structure

• Motor drives the screw to raise and lower the platform

• Pros:o Maintains orientation of objecto Does not block or interfere with laddero small vertical foot printo simple design

• Cons:o Permanent, or if not requires a lot of spaceo high cost

   Selection Analysis

   Selection Analysis

   Selection Analysis

    1.  Wheeled Cart (relative score = 1.00)- Simple, effective design and easy to use    2.  Cable lift (relative score = 0.98)- Very capable, but more complicated    3.  Conveyor belt (relative score = 0.95)

4. Product: Spacelift 6000 (relative score = 0.91)

5. Telescoping rails (relative score = 0.87)

6. Patent pending: Combo lift and ladder (relative score = 0.83)

    7.  Scissor lift (relative score = 0.68)- Less reliable and complex structure 

Final choice: Wheeled Cart

Future Design Considerations:• Number of cables

• Detachable connection• Motor size

• Wheel size and orientation

Next Meeting:• Design prop

• Mid-term presentation