The present invention is directed to the problem of maneuvering heavy cargo to an ergonomically correct lifting height for countless industries, including for equipment stored on firefighting and rescue vehicles. Mechanical and electrically actuated horizontal drawer slides and extendable arms enable loads to be moved outside of an enclosure or storage structure for easier access.

A bin tipper includes a vertical support column, a cam track adjacent to the vertical support column, a structural member mounted to and configured to translate along the vertical support column, and a gripper assembly including a gripper mount having gripper arms mounted thereon that are configured to receive and hold a collection bin. The cam track includes a proximal portion parallel to the vertical support column and a distal portion provided at an angle with respect to the vertical support column. A first end of the gripper mount is pivotally mounted to the structural member and a second end of the gripper mount includes a cam follower extending therefrom that is configured to move within the proximal and distal portions of the cam track. The gripper assembly lifts and inverts the collection bin based on a position of the cam follower of the gripper mount within the cam track.

A vehicle jack, such as a battery-operated vehicle jack is provided. The jack includes a base, a lift arm, a crank arm, an actuator coupled to the lift arm and an electric motor to actuate the actuator. The lift arm includes a first end that engages a load and a second end that is moveably coupled to the base. The crank arm includes a third end that is pivotally coupled to the base and a fourth end that is pivotally coupled to the lift arm between the first end and the second end. The electric motor actuates the actuator to move the second end of the lift arm relative to the third end of the crank arm to cause a vertical movement at the first end of the lift arm between a lowered position and a raised position.

A lifting column includes at least five column elements which are at least partly nested, and a first and a second drive arrangement. The first drive arrangement is configured to move the three innermost column elements relative to one another. The second drive arrangement is configured to move the three outermost column elements relative to one another.

A system and method for raising a structure, or part thereof, the system comprising vertical jack members connected and disposed about a rail system attached about the periphery of the structure. The vertical jack members comprise an outer sleeve and a slidable inner portion that is driven vertically by a jack screw and drive block. Extensible diagonal cross-braces stabilize the jack members and structure being raised.

A system and method for raising a structure, or part thereof, the system comprising vertical jack members connected and disposed about a rail system attached about the periphery of the structure. The vertical jack members comprise an outer sleeve and a slidable inner portion that is driven vertically by a jack screw and drive block. Extensible diagonal cross-braces stabilize the jack members and structure being raised.

A jack apparatus is provided for lifting a low rider vehicle, even though the vehicle has very low ground clearance. The jack apparatus includes interfitting upper and lower subframes supported by a scissor lift. The upper subframe includes opposing parallel arms shaped to fit within a generally triangular cavity defined by the vehicle's tire and sheet metal and ground surface, such that the jack apparatus can engage the vehicle's tire and lift the vehicle without violating the generally triangular cavity, thus leading to a safer and better system for lifting the low rider without potentially damaging vehicle's sheet metal components. The jack apparatus includes width-adjustable arms and legs for flexible use, which are removable or collapsible to a very low shape for compact storage. Also, the upper subframe includes a table, allowing it to lift an ATV or motorcycle.

A leveling and stabilizing jack includes an intermediate member joining first and second lifting sections. Each lifting section includes a cross beam, a leg, a brace, a foot, a motor and a drive screw. The motor powers the drive screw, which is operably associated with the leg, to cause the leg to extend away from or retract toward the cross beam depending on the motor's direction of rotation. A motor control can control the motor of each of the lifting sections independently in a manner that results in leveling of the jack when deployed.

A new and improved helical band actuator (HBA) is provided with a closed conduit upon a radially innermost edge portion of its first elongated fastening band that can accommodate electrical power wiring, as well as fiber optic cables, such that electrical power and computer control data can be transmitted from an electrical power source (EPS) and a central processing unit (CPU) to a powered component supported upon a load-bearing platform being elevated or raised by the new and improved helical band actuator (HBA).

A mathematical calculator, and a method of using the same, is disclosed which can help people, particularly children, to easily learn and master multiplication operations. The mathematical calculator comprises a substantially cylindrical platform, and in accordance with a first embodiment, the multiplicands and multipliers are located within a plurality of columns and rows defined upon a plurality of adjacent wheels which are rotatable around a longitudinal axis of the platform, whereas in accordance with a second embodiment, the multiplicands and multipliers are located within a plurality of columns and rows which are defined upon a solid block.