US 11,851,303 B2
Elevating cage apparatus with alternative powered or manual input
James Michael O'Keefe, Columbia, SC (US); and Jeffrey David Scott, Cornelius, NC (US)
Assigned to SAFE RACK LLC, Andrews, SC (US)
Filed by Safe Rack LLC, Andrews, SC (US)
Filed on Jul. 10, 2018, as Appl. No. 16/031,468.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/531,612, filed on Jul. 12, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2019/0016563 A1, Jan. 17, 2019
Int. Cl. B66B 5/16 (2006.01); B66B 11/02 (2006.01); B66F 11/04 (2006.01); B66B 11/04 (2006.01); B66B 9/02 (2006.01)
CPC B66B 11/0226 (2013.01) [B66B 9/02 (2013.01); B66B 11/0415 (2013.01); B66B 11/0469 (2013.01); B66F 11/04 (2013.01); B66B 11/0446 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An elevating cage apparatus for use in conjunction with a shipping container, said apparatus comprising:
a support structure;
a carriage coupled to the support structure so that the carriage is movable vertically with respect to the support structure when the support structure is in an upright position;
a gear box fixedly mounted with respect to the support structure so as not to move with the carriage having a first input and a second input either of which is operative to drive a shared output, the first input and the second input comprise opposite ends of a single shaft, wherein the gear box includes a worm drive and the single shaft comprises a worm shaft of the worm drive, the shared output being driven by the worm shaft and connected to the carriage to raise and lower the carriage;
a first driver in operative engagement with the first input of the gear box; and
a second driver in operative engagement with the second input of the gear box.