Lowering assist device

Abstract

A lowering assist device includes a track housing, a resistance mechanism, and a platform. The track housing includes a front face, a rear face, and opposing side faces and further includes an internal shaft and an internal member vertically movable along the internal shaft. The resistance mechanism is housed within the track housing and is configured to provide a biasing force to the internal member as the internal member moves within the track housing. The platform is mounted to the internal member.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A lowering assist device configured to attach to a structure, the lowering assist device comprising:
 a track housing including a front face and an opposing rear face, and further including an internal shaft and an internal member vertically movable along the internal shaft within the track housing, wherein the front face includes a vertical slot;   a resistance mechanism housed within the track housing wherein the resistance mechanism is configured to provide resistance to the internal member as the internal member moves within the track housing; and   a platform mounted to the internal member;   wherein the track housing is configured to attach to a side surface of the structure.   
     
     
         2 . The lowering assist device of  claim 1 , wherein the resistance mechanism biases the internal member toward an upper end of the track housing. 
     
     
         3 . The lowering assist device of  claim 1 , wherein the platform is attached to the internal member at a pivot point, and wherein the platform pivots about the pivot point between an extended position and a retracted position. 
     
     
         4 . The lowering assist device of  claim 3 , wherein the internal member includes a mounting surface, wherein the platform includes a mounting component configured to engage the mounting surface of the internal member, and wherein the pivot point includes a pin extending along aligned openings within the mounting component and the mounting surface and one or more torsion springs that urge the platform into the retracted position. 
     
     
         5 . The lowering assist device of  claim 1 , wherein the platform comprises an elbow cup. 
     
     
         6 . The lowering assist device of  claim 1 , wherein the track housing includes an upper end and a lower end of the longitudinal housing and a bracket at the upper end, wherein the bracket is configured to be secured to an upper edge of the side surface of the structure. 
     
     
         7 . The lowering assist device of  claim 6 , wherein the bracket includes a clamp mechanism configured to tighten onto the side surface of the structure. 
     
     
         8 . The lowering assist device of  claim 7 , wherein the bracket includes a top planar surface and a transverse side surface extending from the top planar surface, and the clamp mechanism includes a bore within the transverse side surface and a knob attached to a threaded shaft that extends through the bore. 
     
     
         9 . The lowering assist device of  claim 6 , wherein the track housing further includes a lower knob received within a bore adjacent to the lower end of the track housing. 
     
     
         10 . The lowering assist device of  claim 1 , wherein the resistance mechanism comprises one of a compression spring, a gas spring, or a linear spring on the internal shaft within the track housing, wherein the compression spring biases the internal member upward toward the upper end of the track housing. 
     
     
         11 . The lowering assist device of  claim 10 , wherein the resistance mechanism comprises a rotary dampener configured to apply resistance to the biasing force applied as the internal member moves upward within the track housing. 
     
     
         12 . The lowering assist device of  claim 11 , wherein the rotary dampener is configured to apply resistance as the internal member moves downward against the compression spring. 
     
     
         13 . The lowering assist device of  claim 11 , wherein the rotary dampener is secured to the upper end or the lower end of the track housing. 
     
     
         14 . The lowering assist device of  claim 11 , wherein the rotary dampener is secured to the internal member. 
     
     
         15 . The lowering assist device of  claim 10 , wherein the resistance mechanism further comprises a spring return. 
     
     
         16 . A lowering assist device configured to attach to a structure, the lowering assist device comprising:
 a platform configured to move along a track housing, wherein the track housing is attached to the structure; and   a resistance mechanism housed within the track housing, wherein the resistance mechanism is configured to provide resistance to the platform as the platform moves within the track housing.