Patent ID: 7997633
Filing Date: 2011-08-16
Classification: B65G

Abstract:
1. A tool for lifting and transporting a stack of objects, comprising: a support member including a generally planar support plate and a post attached to said plate generally normal to a plane thereof, a portion of said support plate extending forwardly of said post and said post extending upwardly from said plate, in the disposition of normal use of said tool, and having at least one aperture there-through in an upper portion thereof; a carrier assembly comprised of a pair of substantially identical, flat frame pieces affixed to one another in parallel, transversely spaced relationship so as to present a common profile, each of said frame pieces having an elongate, generally rectilinear upstanding leg section and a forwardly offset shoulder section at an upper end of said leg section, said leg sections of said frame pieces defining a channel therebetween and having a multiplicity of pairs of transversely aligned apertures therethrough at spaced locations along the lengths thereof, said post of said support member being received in said channel between said leg sections to slidably mount said carrier assembly on said support member, and said shoulder sections of said frame pieces having a pair of transversely aligned apertures therethrough, at a location spaced forwardly of the longitudinal axes of said leg sections thereof, and also having a pair of transversely aligned, laterally elongated openings in upper parts thereof to cooperatively provide a hand-grip portion on said carrier assembly; disengageable fastening means having an element extending through said at least one aperture in said post and one of said pairs of apertures through said leg sections of said frame pieces so as to disengagably affix said carrier assembly at a selected height on said support member; a handle member having a head section at one end and a handle section extending therefrom, a portion of said head section of said handle member being received in a space between said shoulder sections of said frame pieces with said handle section extending forwardly thereof, said head section having a plurality of apertures therethrough, one of said apertures of said head section, proximate said handle section, being aligned with said transversely aligned pair of apertures through said shoulder sections of said frame pieces to cooperatively define therewith a handle member mounting passage, and another of said apertures of said head section being provided in a bottom portion thereof; a first pivot element disposed in said handle member mounting passage, rotatably mounting said handle member on said frame pieces with said bottom portion of said head section accessible for mechanical connection; a clamping member including a clamping plate having a top side and a bottom side and forward and rearward edges, and a pair of pivot arms attached to said clamping plate and extending parallel to one another with rearward portions projecting beyond said rearward edge of said clamping plate, said pivot arms having at least one pair of transversely aligned apertures therethrough which are also aligned with one of said multiplicity of pairs of apertures in said leg sections of said frame pieces to define a pivot arm mounting passage; a pair of substantially identical link elements having opposite ends and being disposed in parallel, transversely spaced relationship so as to present a common profile, said link elements having a plurality of pairs of transversely aligned apertures therethrough, one of said pairs of apertures being provided adjacent each of said opposite ends of said link elements, a first pair of said apertures at one of said ends of said link elements being aligned with said another aperture in said bottom portion of said handle member head section to cooperatively define therewith a link element mounting passage, and a second pair of said apertures at the other of said ends of said link elements being aligned with said at least one pair of transversely aligned apertures in said pivot arms to cooperatively define therewith a clamping member mounting passage; second, third, and fourth pivot elements disposed, respectively in said pivot arm mounting passage, said link element mounting passage, and said clamping member mounting passage so as to enable movement of said clamping plate, toward and away from said support plate, in opposition to pivotal movement of said handle section of said handle member in upward and downward directions, respectively; a kick plate disposed behind said post on said support plate and upstanding therefrom; and a push-off plate disposed in front of said post, and proximate thereto, on said support plate and upstanding therefrom, said push-off plate having marginal portions extending laterally beyond said post on both sides and providing contact elements for engaging, and urging forwardly, objects supported on said support plate upon rotation of said tool about a longitudinal axis of said tool.