Patent ID: 9409744
Filing Date: 2016-08-09
CPC Classification: B65H,F16M

Claim Text:
1. Apparatus for lifting and supporting an item from an underlying floor wherein the item includes a centrally-disposed barrel having two opposite ends and about which a windable material is either wound or can be wound, said apparatus comprising: a pair of supports wherein each support includes a) a floor-engaging base; b) an elongated telescoping post assembly having two opposite ends, an inner tube section which provides one end of the two opposite ends of the post assembly and an outer tube section which provides the other end of the two opposite ends of the post assembly wherein one end of the two opposite ends of the post assembly is connectable to the floor-engaging base for support of the post assembly in a substantially vertical orientation with respect thereto and wherein the inner and outer tube sections are movable relative to one another to alter the spaced distance between the two opposite ends of the telescoping post assembly and wherein the outer tube section has a length; and c) a lift assembly includes a body which is positioned about the outer tube section of the telescoping post assembly and which is movable relative to and along the length of the outer tube section, and the lift assembly includes a member which is cooperable with a corresponding end of the barrel of the item so that when the item is supported by the supports, at least a portion of the weight of the item is borne by the member of the lift assembly; and d) means for moving the inner and outer tube sections of the telescoping post assembly relative to one another so that the two opposite ends of the post assembly are moved further apart so that by positioning each of the supports adjacent a corresponding end of the barrel of the item, arranging the lift assemblies of the supports in cooperating relationship with the barrel of the item so that when lifted by the supports, the weight of the item is borne by the lift assemblies, and then moving the inner and outer tube sections relative to one another so that the opposite ends of the telescoping post assembly are moved further apart, the item is lifted from the floor by way of the lift assemblies; and each support further includes means for releasably securing the lift assembly at alternative locations along the length of the outer tube section.