Patent ID: 9187293
Filing Date: 2015-11-17
Classification: B66C

Abstract:
1. A lifting device comprising: three or more links hingedly joined end-to-end such that the lifting device is able to hingedly move in a first direction from a linear arrangement to a bent arrangement but is not able to hingedly move from the linear arrangement to a bent arrangement in a second direction opposite the first direction; a flexible sleeve at least partially enclosing the three or more links; wherein the three or more links comprise a first link, a second link, and a third link; wherein each link comprises a first end and a second end such that the first end of the second link is hingedly joined to the second end of the first link and such that the second end of the second link is hingedly joined to the first end of the third link; wherein the first link comprises a single finger projecting from its second end; wherein the second link comprises two fingers projecting from its first end; wherein through-holes are defined in each of the single finger of the first link and the double fingers of the second link; wherein the first link and the second link are aligned such that the through-holes of the single finger and the double fingers are aligned; wherein a hinge pin is at least partially inserted through each of the through-holes of the single finger and the double fingers; wherein the second end of the first link comprises a first shoulder on one side of the single finger and a second shoulder on an opposite side of the single finger; wherein the first end of the second link comprises a shoulder between the double fingers; and wherein (1) a contour of a distal end of the single finger cooperates with a contour of the shoulder between the double fingers and (2) a contour of a distal end of each of the double fingers cooperates with a contour of a corresponding one of the first and second shoulders on opposite sides of the first finger such that the lifting device is able to hingedly move in the first direction from the linear arrangement to a bent arrangement but is not able to hingedly move from the linear arrangement to a bent arrangement in the second direction opposite the first direction.