Patents by Inventor Howard Lefler

Howard Lefler has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8177243
    Abstract: A trailerable load-transferring assembly is removably attachable to the rear portion of a load-bearing vehicle. The load-transferring assembly includes a pivot connection, an auxiliary axle, an elongate abutment member that extends between a free end and an abutment end, and an actuator assembly disposed between the free end of the abutment member and the auxiliary axle. When the load-transferring assembly is connected to the vehicle by the pivot connection, the actuator assembly is actuated such that it applies a lifting force on the free end relative to the auxiliary axle. The lifting force causes the abutment member to pivot about the pivot connection, bringing the abutment end of the abutment member into an abutting engagement with an abutment surface attached to the frame of the load-bearing vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Starcon International, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas B. Boisture, Howard Lefler
  • Patent number: 6756547
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for lifting and lowering equipment. In a preferred embodiment, the equipment is lifted by attaching a plurality of equipment adapters to the equipment, attaching a jack assembly to each of the plurality of equipment adapters, lifting the equipment by simultaneously raising the jack assemblies, moving the transport under the equipment and lowering the equipment onto the transport. The inventive method may be modified to include an additional process of weighing the equipment before lowering the equipment by measuring the amount of force required to hold the equipment in an elevated position. To practice the inventive method, the present invention also provides an apparatus that includes a plurality of equipment adapters and a plurality of jack assemblies, wherein each of the plurality of jack adapter assemblies is configured for removable connection to a corresponding equipment adapter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2004
    Inventor: Howard Lefler
  • Publication number: 20040007840
    Abstract: A trailerable load-transferring assembly is removably attachable to the rear portion of a load-bearing vehicle. The load-transferring assembly includes a pivot connection, an auxiliary axle, an elongate abutment member that extends between a free end and an abutment end, and an actuator assembly disposed between the free end of the abutment member and the auxiliary axle. When the load-transferring assembly is connected to the vehicle by the pivot connection, the actuator assembly is actuated such that it applies a lifting force on the free end relative to the auxiliary axle. The lifting force causes the abutment member to pivot about the pivot connection, bringing the abutment end of the abutment member into an abutting engagement with an abutment surface attached to the frame of the load-bearing vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2002
    Publication date: January 15, 2004
    Applicant: Starcon International, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas B. Boisture, Howard Lefler
  • Publication number: 20020102151
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for lifting and lowering equipment. In a preferred embodiment, the equipment is lifted by attaching a plurality of equipment adapters to the equipment, attaching a jack assembly to each of the plurality of equipment adapters, lifting the equipment by simultaneously raising the jack assemblies, moving the transport under the equipment and lowering the equipment onto the transport. The inventive method may be modified to include an additional process of weighing the equipment before lowering the equipment by measuring the amount of force required to hold the equipment in an elevated position. To practice the inventive method, the present invention also provides an apparatus that includes a plurality of equipment adapters and a plurality of jack assemblies, wherein each of the plurality of jack adapter assemblies is configured for removable connection to a corresponding equipment adapter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2002
    Publication date: August 1, 2002
    Inventor: Howard Lefler