Abstract:
A swing support mobilization lift includes a jack and a pivotably positionable swing arms, pivotally coupled to the jack, such that the attachment mechanism is capable of being initially displaced in the plane of the jack mechanism during insertion of the lifting device in a narrowly accessible space adjacent to shelving. Then, the swing arms are capable of being pivoted to extend outwardly from the plane of the surface of a jack facing the shelving, such that the shelving may be attached to the swing arms, such as by pins tethered to the jack. In one example, a pair of swing arms disposed on opposite sides of a portion of the shelving sandwich the portion of the shelving and support opposite ends of the pins coupling the swing arms to the shelving.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The field relates to mobilization equipment for shelving. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Within the context of this specification, gondola, gondola run, gondolas and gondola islands all refer to store shelving known in the field. Gondolas, such as the one depicted in  FIGS. 13A-13C , are known with or without a central support column and with one or two sides having shelving attached. Warehouse pallet racking is also known, such as pallet racking used in home centers and warehouses. Unless otherwise expressly indicated, the term gondolas refer to both a single gondola or a gondola run having a plurality of gondolas or both. 
     Lifting systems are known that use a plurality of caster wheels to mobilize empty gondolas or gondolas that have at least a portion of the racked products removed from the gondolas. U.S. Patent Publication 2007/0194546, published Aug. 23, 2007, and U.S. Patent Publication 2007/0059138, published Mar. 15, 2007 illustrate systems with a screw or hydraulic jack for lifting gondolas, the description and drawings of which are hereby incorporated for background herein. Two devices are disposed on opposite sides of the gondolas at each upright support, which may be accessible behind a kick plate. Each upright support is raised using the lifting apparatus and the gondola, even if quite long, is movable using the lifting system as a hand truck, with each of the hand trucks being moved at the same time. 
     However, deep gondolas and gondolas with products racked on the gondolas cannot be moved using these known devices. An upright support in the middle of a gondola, between two opposite sides of the gondola, bows excessively, causing damage to the gondola support structure and tumbling of the products. Thus, a time consuming unracking and reracking of at least a significant portion of the products on the gondolas is required in order to mobilize the gondolas. 
     U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/364,177, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein, teaches a system for mobilization of stocked gondolas that allows for mobilization without removing shelving and without removing the products from the shelving of the gondolas or pallet racking. The system described a lifting mechanism attachable an H-support or other upright support of pallet racking, such as for use in mobilization of the pallet racking, but only from an exposed front or side of the H-support. Using the system for mobilizing a gondola permits even very deep and very wide gondolas to be mobilized, without unracking and/or disassembly of the gondolas and/or removal of product from the shelves, when a pair of opposing members are positioned such that the members extend along the depth of the gondola from one side to an opposite side. Each pair of opposing members is positioned such that the pair of members is disposed on opposite sides of a gondola support. A slidable middle lift bracket on each of the pair of opposing members is positioned at the middle, upright support of the gondola, and may have additional lift brackets disposed at other upright support members of the gondola. An interlinking tongue and loop system may be used to slide under the supports and to engage one lift bracket to its opposite lift bracket. Thus, the pair of opposing members may provide rigid support to the gondola, when the pair of opposing members are lifted, allowing for mobilization of the gondola. In this system, a modified jack engaged each end of each of the opposing members, such as a screw or hydraulic mechanism coupled with a pair of forks capable of engaging the pair of opposing members, such that the forks raise and lower the pair of opposing members together, at the same time. The forks are fixed in position and are not capable of displacement to make positioning of the jack in narrow inaccessible spaces. 
     In one example, a hand crank, such as a hand crank and screw similar to that of a boat trailer hitch apparatus, is used to lift a pair of forks inserted into the opposing members. A screw and handcrank is capable of replacing a heavier, more expensive and harder to maintain hydraulic jack, for example, when a plurality of such lift mechanisms are coupled to opposite ends of a plurality of the support apparatuses spaced at intervals along a gondola run. No single lift mechanism is required to exceed its rated lifting potential. The lack of any significant sagging from one side of the gondola reduces the height that the lift must raise the gondola to mobilize it, because the support bar is capable of supporting the supporting structure of the gondola a plurality of support points, such as three or more support points. In some of the examples, three support points are disclosed, but additional support points may be added in other applications requiring support of larger spans, for example. 
     Single sided gondolas and islands may be raised and lowered similarly to the double-sided gondolas provided in the examples. In single sided gondolas, a support bar may be supported on only one side by a lift mechanism or on both sides. If supported on only one side by a lift mechanism, then other end of the support bar may be unsupported, requiring a counterbalance on the lift mechanism, or may be provided with a low-profile caster wheel that provides a fulcrum at an opposite end of the support bar assembly for lifting of the gondola during raising of the end of the support bar assembly attached to the lift mechanism, for example. In this way, a gondola having one side against a wall may be mobilized, for example, using a plurality of lift mechanisms along the side of the gondola facing away from the wall, only, while the low-profile casters inserted into or onto the support bar assemblies allow the support bar assemblies to be inserted and aligned under the gondolas. 
     Instead of forks, other structures are suggested to mount the lifting apparatus to the support structures used in lifting of the gondolas or to the gondolas, themselves. These other structures may be grabs, bolts or fingers, for example. Grabs are L-shaped extensions from a surface of the lift mechanism that are capable of engaging slots in a coupling mechanism or a gondola. For example, forks may be attached to an attachment member having slots that engage the grabs, allowing the forks to be positioned in the ends of the gondola support bars prior to engaging the lift apparatus to the forks. Then, the lift apparatus may be positioned such that the grabs engage the slots in the attachment member of the forks, and the lift apparatus may be raised until the grabs firmly engage in the slots prior to raising the gondolas. Bolts are fasteners extending from the lift mechanisms that are coupled with nuts or plates having a threaded or other coupling mechanism for attachment to the bolts when inserted through a hole or slot in the gondolas or the attachment member of the forks, for example. Fingers are projections, shaped or straight that matingly engage the gondola or the attachment member of the forks, for example. Thus, when properly engaged to the supports or the gondolas, the lift mechanism provides for a positive displacement upward and downward. However, these other structures did not suggest the use of any structures capable of moving, pivotally, while remaining engaged to the lift mechanism. 
     Shelving used in warehouses, superstores, consumer retail clubs and home improvement stores cannot be moved using a lifting bar mechanism. Furthermore, these types of shelves are usually positioned back-to-back to form aisles with little space between the shelves, making it difficult to insert any known lifting mechanism between the shelves. Instead, only the sides of the shelving are accessible for coupling to the jacks described in a Mobilization System for Lifting and Mobilization of Gondolas. 
     SUMMARY 
     A lifting device includes a jack and a pivotably positionable attachment mechanism, pivotally coupled to the jack, such that the attachment mechanism is capable of being initially displaced in the plane of the jack mechanism during insertion of the lifting device in a narrowly accessible space adjacent to shelving. Then, the attachment mechanism is capable of being pivoted to extend outwardly from the plane of the surface of a jack facing the shelving, such that the shelving may be attached to the attachment mechanism extending on one or both sides of a shelving support. 
     For example, the shelving support may be an upright element of H-shelving that has holes provided in the upright element, and the attachment mechanism may comprise one or more holes extending through a plate pivotally coupled to the jack by a hinge. When pivoted into position for attaching to the shelving, a pair of plates may sandwich the upright element. By adjusting the height of the plates, such as by raising or lowering the jack with a ratchet mechanism, one or more pins may be inserted through the holes in the holes in the plates and the holes in the upright element of the shelving, securing the lifting mechanism to the upright element. By raising the raising the lifting mechanism using the jack, the lifting element, in conjunction with a set of lifting mechanisms likewise attached to other upright elements of the shelving, supports the weight of the shelving, with or without unstocking the shelving. 
     The pivotably displaceable attachment mechanism makes insertion of the lifting device possible in a narrow space provided between back-to-back rows of stocked shelving, which would otherwise be immovable using known jacks and mobilization gear. 
     In addition, the pins used with the attachment mechanism to secure the upright element of shelving to the attachment mechanism may, themselves, be secured to the jacks by a tether, at all times. In combination with the pivotally coupled plates of the attachment mechanism, for example, the tethered pins insure that everything necessary to align and attach a lifting device to shelving is present at all times. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIGS. 1A-1C  illustrate views of one example of a support bar assembly of a mobilization system for lifting and mobilization of gondolas. 
         FIG. 1B  illustrates a top plan view of the example in  FIG. 1A . 
         FIGS. 2A and 2B  illustrate views of a tube having a channel. 
         FIGS. 3A-3B  illustrate (A) a partial cross sectional view of an example of a caster wheel insert  300  for single-sided gondola mobilization, and (B) an end portion  302  for coupling with an end of a support bar assembly. 
         FIG. 4A  illustrates a side view of an extendable member for insertion telescopically into a receiving extendable member of the example illustrated in  FIGS. 1A-1C . 
         FIG. 4B  illustrates an end plan view of the extendable member of  FIG. 4A . 
         FIG. 5A  sketches an example of a system for mobilization of stocked gondolas mounted on two different types of manual lift trucks. 
         FIG. 5B  sketches a push pull rod. 
         FIG. 6A  illustrates a perspective view of an extendable tube for use in fabricating an extendable member of the system of  FIG. 1A  and  FIG. 1B . 
         FIG. 6B  illustrates a side view of the extendable tube of  FIG. 6A . 
         FIG. 6C  illustrates a top view of the extendable tube of  FIG. 6A . 
         FIG. 6D  illustrates an end view of the extendable tube of  FIG. 6A . 
         FIGS. 7A-7C  illustrate views of a receiving member. 
         FIG. 7B  illustrates a side plan view of the receiving member of  FIG. 5A . 
         FIGS. 8A-8C  illustrate views a tongue. 
         FIG. 9A-9C  illustrate views of a tube fabricated from two L-shaped members. 
         FIGS. 10A-10C  illustrate views a retaining member. 
         FIGS. 11A and 11B  illustrate a mating portion of a lifting apparatus for use with examples of a mobilization system for use with gondolas. 
         FIGS. 12A-12C  illustrate views of a slide bracket. 
         FIG. 12B  illustrates an end plan view of the assembly of  FIG. 12A . 
         FIGS. 13A-13C  illustrate a known gondola with (A) an assembled gondola run, (B) an exploded view of a gondola section, and (C) an end cap for terminating one end of the gondola run. 
         FIG. 14  illustrates a sketch of an example of a portion of a lifting apparatus for mobilization of stocked gondolas assembled and installed on one end of a gondola having products displayed on the shelving of the gondola. 
         FIGS. 15A-15E  illustrate sketches of an example of a lifting mechanism. 
         FIGS. 16A-19B  illustrate views of examples of a lifting device insertable in a gap between two back-to-back rows of warehouse shelving, for example. 
         FIG. 20  illustrates an exploded view of one example of a lifting device. 
         FIG. 21  illustrates a detailed, perspective view of an example of a plate used in an attachment mechanism. 
         FIG. 22  illustrates a support plate used in a support for an attachment mechanism. 
         FIG. 23  illustrates a known ratchet wrench. 
         FIG. 24  illustrates a plurality of lifting devices supporting shelving. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Many variations and combinations of the component parts illustrated in the drawings and disclosed in the examples are included within the scope of the invention.  FIGS. 1A-1C  and  5 A illustrate an example of a support bar assembly  1000  of a mobilization system for stocked gondolas  1 . A system comprises two opposing, complementary assemblies  1000  that have brackets  50 ,  120  and one or more extendable members  60 ,  160 —with tongues  32 ,  124 ,  82  that fit into receiving members  70 ,  122  of one assembly  1000  opposite from the other assembly  1000 . The tongues  32 ,  124 ,  82  and receiving members  70 ,  122  interlock and support a plurality of support points of a gondola, such as the middle support B and outer supports A, C of gondola  1 , as illustrated in the example of  FIG. 14 . The gondola  1  may be stocked with items  3  on the shelves during mobilization of the gondola  1 . 
     Components may be fabricated, such as by welding and assembly, to provide a pair of complementary, opposing support bar assemblies  1000 , such as illustrated schematically in the sketch of  FIG. 5A .  FIG. 2A  shows a side plan view of a tube used in fabricating components of the examples. The tube  200  may be made of a rigid material having a sufficient stiffness and other mechanical properties to safely raise and move gondolas together with items stocked on the gondolas. The dimensions of the tube  200  are selected to provide sufficient stiffness and to mate with other components of the assemblies  1000 . For example, components may be coupled telescopically, as illustrated in  FIG. 1A-1C . The height H of a support component, such as the extendable member  60 , must be able to fit under the bottom shelf of a gondola, if a solid kick plate is removed or if an open-faced kick plate is present or otherwise. The length of a support component L, such as an extendable member  60 , may be selected to allow the assembly  1000  to extend from one side of a gondola to the other, when coupled telescopically with other components of the assembly  1000 . A plurality of opposing assemblies  1000  may be coupled at a plurality of supports along the length of a gondola or gondola run, such as a gondola run running the length of an aisle in a store. By installing a plurality of the assemblies  1000  along the length of the gondolas, the entire aisle of gondolas may be lifted and mobilized, together with stockage, for example. 
     On one end of an assembly  1000 , an end bracket  50  may be attached to an extendable member  160 , which may be telescopically mated with another extendable member  60 , for example. An end bracket  50  may be coupled to an extendable member  60 ,  160  by any means, such as by welding, fastening, bonding or the like. In one example, an extendable member  60  has an integrated end bracket with a slot  65  for holding a pin, as illustrated in detail in  FIGS. 6B and 11B , and a retaining member  70  and tongue  82  welded to a bottom portion of the extendable member  60 . The slot may have a length q greater than its width p, and may be distance from the top of the member  60  and at a distance c from the end of the member  60 . The distances a, c may be selected to align the slot  65  with a recess  25  in one of the forks  20 , as illustrated in  FIG. 11A , for example. 
     In one example of an extendable member  60 , fourteen through holes  63  or recesses may be provided at a height h and starting at a distance  1  from one end of the extendable member  60  as illustrated in more detail in  FIG. 6A-6C . The holes may be disposed at a distance b one from the other, for example, such that telescopically inserted second extendable member  160  may be coupled with a retainer in one or more of the holes  63  of the first extendable member  60  having the holes  63 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 1A and 1B , which show the second extendable member  160  extending into the first extendable member  60 , by making the first extendable member  60  transparent or using hidden lines. The holes  63  may be provided for convenience and flexibility in adjusting the length of a support bar  1000  during installing and disassembly of the system, for example. 
       FIG. 2B  shows a perspective view of a tube  200  having a channel  229  extending along the length of a tube  200 . The example of a tube  200 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 2A and 2B  may be used to fabricate components of the support bar assembly  1000 , for example. The channel  229  may have another tube inserted along the channel, providing for a telescopic fit of one tube inside of the other or a sliding fit of a bracket made from the tube on another tube. Thus, the tube  200  may cooperatively engage another tube or a solid member for extending along the axis of the tube  200 . In this way, the system may be adjusted in length to accommodate a variety of gondolas with varying lengths, depths, widths and configurations. For example, a middle slide bracket  120  may be fabricated from such a tube  200  and may be slidably disposed on the extendable member  60 , as illustrated in  FIG. 1C . The slide bracket  120  is moveable in either direction Q along the extendable member  60 , allowing the slide bracket  120  to be aligned with a central support B of a gondola  1 , for example, as illustrated in  FIG. 14 . A middle slide bracket  120 , as illustrated in the example of  FIGS. 9A-9C , may be fabricated by tube forming or by welding or otherwise binding together of two L-shaped members  121 ,  123  to form the tube  200 .  FIGS. 12A-12C  illustrate a detail view of such a slide bracket  1200  having a tongue  82  and a retainer  122  welded to the bottom of one of the L-shaped members  121 ,  123  that form the tube  200 , for example. Dimensions shown are provided as an example, only. 
     A tongue  82  may have a tapered end  84 , such as illustrated in  FIGS. 8A-8C , for example. In one example, the tongue  82  has material removed, such as by machining or grinding, to form the tapered end  84 . In another example, the tapered end  84  of the tongue  82  is forged into shape. The tapered end  84  is insertable to provide support under a gondola  1  support A, B, C and extends through a retaining member  122  of an opposite positioned assembly  1000 , for example. 
       FIGS. 3A-3B  illustrate (A) a partial cross sectional view of an example of a caster wheel assembly  300  for single-sided gondola mobilization, and (B) an end portion  302  for insertably coupling with an end of a support bar assembly. Other end portions may be used to couple with the support bar assembly. A caster wheel  304  multi-directionally couples a wheel  305  to a coupling member  306 , such as by a threaded lug  307 . The wheel  305  pivots freely about a rotational axis that may be aligned with the axis of the lug  307 , for example. A cavity is formed by the coupling member  306  that permits free pivoting of the wheel  305  within the cavity during mobilization of the gondolas. The wheel  305  extends below the end portion  302  used for coupling with the support bar assembly. By extending slightly below the support bar assembly, the wheel  305  may acts as a fulcrum point for raising a gondola, when support bar assemblies having the caster wheel assembly  300  coupled at one end are raised at an opposite end by a lift mechanism. In one example, the end portion  302  is coupled to the support bar assembly by inserting the end portion  302  into the support bar assembly in the same manner as one of the forks of a lift mechanism would be inserted into the support bar assembly. A slot or hole  309  may be provided for insertion of a pin to retain the end portion  302  within the support bar assembly, for example. 
     One-sided gondolas and islands may be raised and lowered similarly to the double-sided gondolas provided in the example of  FIG. 14 . In single sided gondolas, a support bar may be supported on only one side by a lift mechanism or on both sides. If supported on only one side by a lift mechanism, then other end of the support bar may be unsupported, requiring a counterbalance on the lift mechanism, or may be provided with a low-profile caster wheel assembly  300 , such as illustrated in  FIGS. 3A and 3B , for example. In this way, a gondola having one side against a wall may be mobilized, for example, using a plurality of lift mechanisms along the side of the gondola facing away from the wall, without the use of any other special equipment than the caster wheel assemblies  300 . Thus, a system for mobilization of double-sided gondolas  1  may be used for single-sided gondolas positioned against a wall, without much modification to the method or equipment. A push/pull rod or other device may be coupled to a mounting bracket  301 , which may be coupled to the caster wheel assembly  300 , for example, to assist in the pushing or pulling of gondolas  1 . In another example, a pair of caster wheel assemblies  300  may be used for one or more of the pair of opposing support bar assemblies  1000  in mobilization of double sided gondolas  1  or gondola islands. 
       FIGS. 4A and 4B  show an extendable member  400  for insertion into a receiving extendable member  60 . A detent ball  405  provides for retaining of the member in the receiving member, for example. Alternatively or additionally, a pin may be inserted through a hole  406  in the member. 
       FIG. 5  provides a sketch of an assembled example of pair of support assemblies  1000  of a system for mobilization of stocked gondolas mounted on two different types of manual lift trucks  1400 ,  1401 . One of the trucks  1401  uses a lift mechanism similar to a boat trailer jack. A boat trailer jack uses a hand crank to raise and lower the boat and to give the trailer mobility, in some instances, when the jack has one or more caster wheels. A rack and pinion gear mechanism may be used to translate rotational motion of a hand crank to translational motion of the jack raising and lowering the gondolas, for example. The other truck  1400  uses a hydraulic jack, for example. Any jack with sufficient force to lift the gondolas may be used with a hand truck of the type known in the art to lift and mobilize the gondolas. The hydraulic truck  1400  has an hydraulic jack  1559  mounted between a base and a height adjustable lifting mechanism  1557 , which may have one or more grabs  1510  for coupling to a mounting fixture, such as a plate  1593  or slats  1594 ,  1596 . A handle  1553  is provided for positioning and coupling the hydraulic lift  1400  to the support assembly  500 . As illustrated in  FIG. 5B , a push-pull rod  1580  may be coupled by a hook to an eyebolt  1526  or a U-shaped attachment point  1525  on a truck  1400 ,  1403 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 5A and 15A , respectively. 
       FIG. 6A  shows a perspective view of an example of an extendable member  60  that has a channel  61  for mating with a fork-like extension, for example. The member  60  may itself be inserted into a channel  42 ,  52  of another tube  40 ,  41 . As sketched in the example of  FIG. 5A , a support assembly  500  may comprise a pair of opposing support bar assemblies  1000 , as illustrated in detailed views of  FIGS. 1A-1C , for example. In the detailed views of  FIGS. 1A-1C , one end  50  slips telescopically over a first end of an intermediate member  160 , and an elongated member  40  slips telescopically over an opposite end of the intermediate member  60 . The elongated member  40  in this example has a plurality of holes  63  extending through the thickness of at least one outer wall of the tubular member  40 , such that a pin or detent ball or both may be used to couple the elongated member  40  and the intermediate member  160  preventing relative movement of the two members  40 ,  160  during mobilization of a gondola or a pallet racking. In  FIG. 5A , a partial exploded view illustrates the alignment and positioning of two examples of trucks  1400 ,  1401  with one using a hand crank  145  for raising and lowering the system and the other using a hydraulic jack handle  1555  to raise and lower a hydraulic jack  1559  that raises and lowers the system. One end  41  may be coupled to the other tube  40 ,  60 ,  160  by an intermediate member  54 , as illustrated in the example of  FIG. 11B , for example. Regardless of the type of coupling of one member of a support bar to another, tongues  32 ,  34  and retainers  70  are aligned between the right-hand and left-hand support bars to provide an interlocking fit, for example. 
     As illustrated in the drawings of the system, a receiving member  70  is attached to opposing members and are disposed to receive the tongue of the opposing member. A receiving member  70  has a first end  73  and a second end  71  that are attachable to a portion of the system and a body  72  connecting the first end  73  and the second end  71 , as illustrated in the views of  FIGS. 7A-7C , for example. 
       FIGS. 8A and 8B  illustrate a tongue  82  having a tapered end  84 . A tongue  82  and a receiving member may be assembled for a bracket. A receiving member  70 ,  122  may be used, as illustrated in  FIGS. 7A-7C  and  FIGS. 10A-10C , for example. The bracket  1200  in  FIGS. 12A-12C  is assembled using the tube  200  of  FIGS. 2A and 2B  with the receiving member  122  of  FIGS. 10A-10C , such as by welding, for use as a slidable, middle bracket for engaging the gondolas at a middle shelf support B. This middle bracket  1200  allows very heavy gondolas and very deep gondolas to be moved without unstocking the shelves, for example. The tongue  82  may be welded to the tube  200  and the receiving member  122 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 12A-12C , for example. The assembly provides for an interlocking of the tongues  82 ,  124 ,  125  of opposing assemblies  1000 . 
       FIGS. 11A and 11B  show a portion of a manual truck having forked extensions  10 ,  20 , extending fork-like, that mate with tubes  40 ,  41 . The extensions  10 ,  20  fit into the channels  42 ,  52  of their respective tubes  40 ,  41 , as illustrated in  FIG. 11B , for example. One of the ends may have a pin  45  inserted through a slot  49  formed in the end of the member  40 , and the pin  45  may be disposed such that it engages a recess  25  formed in the end of at least one of the forks  20 . When the pin  45  engages the recess  25 , the fork  20  is latched in the end of the member  40 . Then, when the system is raised, the lifting system, which has wheels, such as caster wheels, may be pulled or pushed to mobilize the gondola and the fork  20  remains latched in the channel formed by the end of the member  40 . By lifting the pin  45  free of the recess  25  formed in the at least one fork  20 , the fork  20  may be withdrawn from the channel  42 , after the gondola is moved and the pair of opposing members are lowered to rest the gondola on the ground, for example. The pin  45  may be retained by a flange, such as a head  47  and/or threaded nuts  43 , and/or a cotter pin or the like. Preferably, the pin may be easily raised to release the pin  45  from the recess  25 . 
       FIG. 11B  illustrates the interlocking relationship between two tongues  32 ,  34 , at one end of a pair of support members, for example. When the opposing members  40 ,  41  are aligned on opposite sides of the gondolas supports and are mated, the tongues  32 ,  34  are retained by the receiving members  70  in the opposing member opposite of the tongues  32 ,  34 . 
       FIG. 14  illustrates an example of a system for mobilization of stocked gondolas  1  assembled and installed on one end of gondolas  1  having products  3  displayed on the gondolas  1 , for example. A tongue  182  from an opposite half of a lift assembly  500  matingly engages a receiving member of the half of the lift assembly  500  shown on an end of the gondolas  1 . In a method of moving gondolas  1  a plurality of lift assemblies  500  are positioned along the length of the gondolas  1  such that the entire length of the gondolas  1  may be raised by the lift mechanisms of the trucks  148 . When raised, the gondolas  1  may be moved on the caster wheels  149  of the trucks  148  by pulling or pushing the trucks  148 , such as by the push-pull handle  1580  illustrated in  FIG. 5B , for example. In one example, a hand crank  145  with a rack and pinion gear mechanism  142  is used to raise and lower the fork-like extensions  10 ,  20  attached to the truck  1401 , as illustrated in the example of  FIG. 5A , for example. In another example, a hydraulically activated truck  1400  is used to raise and lower fork-like extensions  10 ,  20  attached to the truck  1400 . Either mechanism, or other lift mechanisms, may be capable of raising and lowering gondolas  1 , when the lift assembly  500  is aligned on opposite sides of gondola supports A, B, C and is matingly assembled by inserting the tongues  32 ,  34 ,  82 ,  124 ,  125 ,  126  into the receiving members  70 ,  122 . In a preferred example, each tongue fits into its respective receiver provider an interlocking fit between each pair of support bar assemblies  500 . 
     If the opposite halves of the support assembly  500  are properly aligned and matingly engaged, then the extensions  10 ,  20  of the trucks  147 ,  148  are aligned and engaged in tubular channels  42 ,  52  in the ends of tubular members  40 ,  41 ,  50 , as illustrated in  FIG. 5 ,  FIG. 11A ,  FIG. 11B , and  FIG. 14 , for example. A bracket  120  is capable of being aligned with a middle support B, for example, by slidably engaging a continuous tubular member  40  on each of two opposite halves of the support assembly  500 , as illustrated in  FIG. 14 , for example. 
     In the example of  FIG. 14 , the length of the two halves of the support assembly  500  is adjusted using extension member  60  and intermediate member  54  for aligning the ends of the tubular supports  40 ,  60  having tongues  82  with one outer support A of the gondolas  1  and the tongues  32 ,  34 ,  182  of a tubular member  50  with an opposite outer support C of the gondolas  1 . The extendable member  60  and intermediate member  54  may telescopically engage to provide for adjusting of the length of the support assembly  500  from one meter to several meters, for example. Since the gondola  1  is fully supported by the middle and outer supports A, B, C, items  3  do not have to be removed from the gondola  1 , even for very wide gondolas  1 , which otherwise requires labor intensive removal and restocking. Thus, the support assembly  500  provides for a method that saves substantial time and money compared to prior art methods of gondolas mobilization that could not be used to move wide gondolas. In prior art systems, lifts and wheels were only positioned on the outer supports A, C and could not provide support at all of the supports A, B, C. Another system is known that only provides support at a middle support B but not at all of the supports A, B, C. 
     In the example of  FIGS. 15A-15E , views of an example of a preferred lifting mechanism  1403  are illustrated or sketched that comprise a hand crank  1530  (detailed view in  FIG. 15C ), a screw mechanism contained in a column  1550 , such as a rack and pinion gear, for raising and lowering a coupling mechanism  1500  (detailed views in  FIGS. 15D and 15E ) attached to the column  1550  by one or more pins  1502 . A pin  1502  may be biased into a hole  1556  in the column  1550  by a biasing mechanism  1503 , adjustably. A pull knob  1501  may be used to release the pin  1502  from the hole  1556 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 15A and 15B , for example. The coupling mechanism  1500  may include one or more grabs  1510 ,  1511 , which are capable of being mounted in slots on a plate or other mounting device. As illustrated in the example of  FIGS. 15D and 15E , the grabs  1510 ,  1511  are both L-shaped members welded to a flared portion  1509  of the coupling mechanism  1500 , for example. A shaft  1507  fits slidably around the column  1550  of the lifting mechanism  1403 , for example. In an alternative embodiment, the coupling mechanism  1500  may be fixed to the column  1550  such as by welding. 
     A base  1560  includes a pair of casters  1558  and a mounting surface for mounting to a bracket  1562  of the column  1550 . The coupling mechanism  1500  may include one or more stabilizers  1520  capable of extending to the ground to provide a point of contact to the ground in addition to the casters  1558  for keeping the lifting mechanism  1403  balanced in an upright position, as illustrated in the views of  FIGS. 15A and 15E , for example. Alternatively, the coupling mechanism  1500  may include grabs, fasteners or another coupler for coupling directly or indirectly with a gondola. The coupling mechanism, as illustrated in  FIGS. 15D and 15E , are provided with L-shaped grabs that are capable of mating with slots formed a gondola structure or in a mounting plate that may be attached to a mechanism for coupling to a gondola or support assemblies, such as the fork extensions  10 ,  20  of  FIG. 11A  and as illustrated in  FIG. 5A , for example. In  FIG. 5A , a plate  1593  and a pair of lateral members  1594 ,  1596  are shown for mounting the forks  10 ,  20  to an example of a rack and pinion lift mechanism  1401  or a hydraulic lift mechanism  1400 , for example. 
     A handle  1530 , such as illustrated in detail in  FIG. 15C  may include a rotatable grip  1532  and a ratchet coupling  1535  for removably attaching the handle to a ratchet mechanism in the head of the screw mechanism, such as by the biased detent ball  1537  engaging a groove in the ratchet mechanism  1545 . A ratchet mechanism  1545  in the head  1540  attached to column  1550  is surprisingly useful, allowing precise simultaneous raising of a plurality of lift mechanisms by a plurality of users of a plurality of lifting mechanisms, even if one or more of the lifting mechanism are in areas having insufficient room to rotate the handle  1530  by 360 degrees. In addition, an unexpected advantage of having a removably coupled handle  1530  is that storage requirements for a mobilization system are greatly reduced compared to a system with a fixed handle. A U-shaped handle  1525  on the lifting mechanism  1403  provides for coupling to a pull bar (not shown). A pull bar may have a hook on one end of an elongated member for coupling to the U-shaped handle  1525  and may have a handle on the opposite end of the elongated member. The pull bar may be used to pull or push the lifting mechanism  1403  during mobilization of a gondola  1 , for example. 
       FIGS. 18A-22  illustrate views of a swing support mobilization lifting device. In this example, a lifting device  5000  is provided for insertion in otherwise inaccessible locations for attachment to support structures of shelving. Holes H in the support structure P of the shelving are aligned with holes, slots, slits or the like in an attachment mechanism  5010 ,  5040 . The attachment mechanism may comprise one or more swing arms  5010 ,  5040  capable of pivotally rotating about a hinge  5017  coupling the swing arm  5010 ,  5040  to a jack capable of raising and lowering the swing arm. The jack may be any jack, mechanical, electric, hydraulic or pneumatic; however a mechanical jack, such as used for a boat trailer is preferred for ease of maintenance and small size. The attachment mechanism in the example is comprised of two plates  5010 ,  5040  (or plate-like members), but may be comprised of a one or more members of any type capable of pivoting out of the way during placement and being pivoted into a support position capable of engaging a portion of the shelving to be supported. In the example of  FIG. 21 , holes or slots,  5013 ,  5015  are provided in an end of a plate  5010  opposite of the hinge  5017 . A locking tab  5011  may extend from a bottom surface to engagingly fit into slots  5032 ,  5034  of a support plate  5030 , as illustrated in  FIG. 22 , providing locking of the plate in one of two positions. A spring  5012  may bias the plate downwardly, locking the tab  5011  in a slot  5032 ,  5034  of the support plate  5030 . Thus, the attachment mechanism is displaceable from a stowed position to a support position, for example, by lifting the plate  5010 , allowing the lifting device to fit into an otherwise inaccessible location in the stowed position, such as illustrated in  FIG. 19A , and to support the shelving when pivoted to the supporting position, such as illustrated in  FIG. 19B . 
     In  FIG. 16A , one of pins  5056  is shown in a stowed position, tethered to the lifting device. The pin  5056  is removed from the stowed position prior to inserting the pin through one of the holes in the pair of plates  5040 ,  5010  comprising the attachment mechanism as illustrated in  FIG. 16B . Each of the plates are pivotally connectable as illustrated in  FIGS. 17A and 17B , to connect the lifting device  5000  to a support structure  5030 . The jack  5016  of the lifting device  5000 , raises and lowers the support structure  5030  and the pair of plates  5040 ,  5010 . Each of the pair of plates  5040 ,  5010  in the example illustrated in  FIGS. 16A-19B  are biased downwards by a spring  5012 , which functions with a detent  5011  or other structure of each plate to keep it in its stowed position until a user raises the plates when pivoting the plates  5010 ,  5040  into a support position, as illustrated in  FIG. 19B , for example. In the example, additional support tabs  5042 ,  5044  are welded in place on one plate  5040  to increase the area in contact with the each pin  5056 . 
     The support structure  5030  is comprised of a pair of identical plates, for example, mounted to the jack  5016  on opposite sides of the attachment mechanism plates  5040 ,  5010 . A bolt passing through the identical plates of the support structure  5030  provides a hinge for the plates  5040 ,  5010  of the attachment mechanism. Each of the plates  5040 ,  5010  includes a sleeve through which the bolt passes, coupling the plates to the support structure  5030 . The spring  5012  biases the plates  5040 ,  5010  downward, keeping a tab on the bottom of the plates engaged with a slot in the plates of the support structure  5030 . By applying a force upward on the plates  5040 ,  5010  of the attachment mechanism, the plates are pivotable to a support position on opposite sides of a shelving support structure, as illustrated in  FIG. 19B . 
     The lifting device includes caster wheels  5054  for mobilization of shelving once the jack  5016  raises the shelving off the floor. A ratchet mechanism  5014  is provided that allows the jack  5016  to be raised and lowered using a socket wrench. A tab  5011  integrally formed on a bottom surface of a plate  5010  in  FIG. 21  is capable of engaging each of a plurality of slots  5034 ,  5032  of a support plate  5030 , as illustrated in  FIG. 22 , when the plate  5010  is in the stowed and support positions, respectively. The plurality of slots may be arranged to position the attachment mechanism in one or more stowed and/or support positions. A hinge bolt extends through the hole  5036  in each of the identical support plates  5030  and the sleeve  5017  of the plate  5010  of the attachment mechanism, pivotally coupling the plate  5010  of the attachment mechanism to the pair of identical support plates  5030 , which may be welded to the jack of the lifting device for raising and lowering of stocked shelving. 
     A handle  5020  is provided on the lifting device  5000  for ease in lifting, holding and positioning the lifting device. 
     Use of the lifting device illustrated in the examples is accomplished by positioning the attachment mechanism tabs in the stowed position, prior to inserting the lifting device in an otherwise inaccessible space. Then, the attachment mechanism plates  5010 ,  5040  are raised to disengage the tabs  5011 , allowing the plates to pivotally rotate about the axis of the hinge bolt  5033  to a support position as illustrated in  FIG. 19B . In one example, in  FIG. 19 , tabs T 1 , T 2  are included to prevent rotation of the plates  5010 ,  5040  beyond the tabs T 1 , T 2 . The holes  5013 ,  5015  in the plates  5010 ,  5040  of the attachment mechanism may be aligned by adjusting the height of the jack  5016 , and the pins  5056  are inserted through holes H in the shelving supports P and the holes  5013 ,  5015  of the plates of the attachment mechanism when aligned with those holes, by removing the tethered pins  5056  from their stowed location and inserting the pins  5056  through the aligned holes  5013 ,  5015 , H. The jack  5016  may then be raised using a socket wrench  2301  attached to the ratchet extension  5014 . When used to raise a row of shelving, a plurality of lifting devices  5000  are attached to a plurality of shelving supports P. Then, all of the lifting devices are raised to raise the entire row of shelving. In one example, the shelving remains stocked, as illustrated in  FIG. 24 , during the raising and mobilization of the shelving. The process achieves a very surprising and unexpected rate for the mobilization of shelving compared to any known system of mobilization. 
     Any jack could be used to raise and lower the shelving; however, a jack  5016  using a rack and pinion gear is surprisingly versatile in tight spaces and provides adequate lifting capability when used as a system having a plurality of lifting devices. For example, a boat trailer type jacket mechanism has the advantage of having an acceptably narrow width while providing for a displacement that positively locks the position of the shelving in its raised position without slipping or lowering or need of a separate locking mechanism. Other combinations and variations of the features in the examples, obvious to those knowledgeable in the art, may be included and are contemplated as being within the scope of the claims that eventually issue.