US 12,214,708 B2
Torsion bar bracket with bushing
Karapet Ablabutyan, Glendale, CA (US)
Assigned to MAXON INDUSTRIES, INC., Santa Fe Springs, CA (US)
Appl. No. 17/634,383
Filed by MAXON INDUSTRIES, INC., Santa Fe Springs, CA (US)
PCT Filed Oct. 22, 2020, PCT No. PCT/US2020/056902
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Feb. 10, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/081233, PCT Pub. Date Apr. 29, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/925,145, filed on Oct. 23, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0410785 A1, Dec. 29, 2022
Int. Cl. B60P 1/44 (2006.01); F16C 17/02 (2006.01)
CPC B60P 1/4421 (2013.01) [B60P 1/4492 (2013.01); F16C 17/02 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system comprising:
a sliding bar disposed between a platform section and a flipover of a lift platform;
a sliding bar mount pivotally connected to the flipover;
a rotatable portion fixedly connected to the sliding bar, wherein the rotatable portion is rotatable relative to the platform section;
a torsion bar disposed in the lift platform, wherein the torsion bar is connected to the rotatable portion at one end and to a first attachment point in the lift platform along a length of the torsion bar, wherein the torsion bar comprises a twist between the rotatable portion and the first attachment point to reduce a pull force for moving the flipover, wherein the torsion bar is connected to the first attachment point using an adjustment mechanism configured for selective adjustment of a torque exerted by the torsion bar; and
a bushing disposed in the sliding bar mount, wherein the bushing slidably receives a portion of the sliding bar and a contact surface between an outer surface of the sliding bar and an inner surface of the bushing is maintained to allow reduced sliding friction;
wherein the bushing allows the sliding bar to slide relative to the sliding bar mount;
wherein the bushing reduces a pull force for moving the flipover;
wherein the bushing comprises at least one flange to secure the bushing in the sliding bar mount; and
wherein the adjustment mechanism comprises a bracket, wherein the lift platform includes two or more different attachment points arranged in a direction that the torsion bar extends, wherein the attachment points are two or more spaced holes for engaging with the bracket, and wherein a location of the first attachment point is adjusted by moving the bracket among the two or more spaced holes of the different attachment points and engaging the bracket with any one of the two or more spaced holes.