Patent Publication Number: US-7708250-B1

Title: Ceiling panel support apparatus

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to panel supporting devices and more particularly pertains to a new panel supporting device for assisting a person in supporting and lifting a ceiling panel to be installed. 
   2. Summary of the Invention 
   The present invention meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a base that includes a plurality of legs each with a first end and a second end. The first ends are attached together and the legs radiate outwardly from each other. A support guide is attached to and extends upwardly from the base. A support post is slidably mounted in the guide and is extendable upwardly from a top edge of the support guide. A lifting assembly is mounted on the support guide and is mechanically coupled to the support post. The lifting assembly lowers or lifts the support post with respect to the support guide when the lifting assembly is actuated. A plate is attached to an upper end of the support post and lies in a plane orientated perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the support post. A plurality of arms is attached to the plate. The arms extend outwardly from a perimeter edge of the plate. A ceiling panel is positionable on the arms. 
   There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
   The objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a top perspective view of a ceiling panel support apparatus according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a top expanded perspective view of the present invention. 
       FIG. 3  is a front view of the present invention. 
       FIG. 4  is a right side view of the present invention. 
       FIG. 5  is a left side view of the present invention. 
       FIG. 6  is a top view of the present invention. 
       FIG. 7  is a bottom view of the present invention. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to  FIGS. 1 through 7  thereof, a new panel supporting device embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral  10  will be described. 
   As best illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 7 , the ceiling panel  8  support apparatus  10  generally comprises a base  12  that includes a plurality of legs  14  each having a first end  16  and a second end  18 . The first ends  16  are attached together and the legs  14  radiate outwardly from each other. The first ends  16  may be removably attached to a bottom wall  20  of the base  12  and lie in a plane oriented parallel to the bottom wall  20 . The legs  14  lie in a horizontal plane and include at least three legs  14 . The base  12  further includes a plurality of foot members  22 . Each of the legs  14  has one of the foot members  22  attached thereto and positions the legs  14  off of a ground surface. Each of the foot members  22  is positioned adjacent to a respective one of the second ends  18  and comprises a wheel to allow for easy movement of the base  12  along a floor surface. Each of the legs  14  is telescopic and has an adjustable length. 
   A support guide  24  is attached to and extends upwardly from the base  12  and more particularly is removably attached to the bottom wall  20 . A support post  26  is slidably mounted in the guide  24  and is extendable upwardly from a top edge of the support guide  24 . The support guide  24  can be extended to a total height of between 8 feet and 14 feet above a floor surface. 
   A lifting assembly  28  is mounted on the support guide  24  and is mechanically coupled to the support post  26 . The lifting assembly  28  lowers or lifts the support post  26  with respect to the support guide  24  when the lifting assembly  28  is actuated. The lifting assembly  28  includes a reel  30  that is rotatably coupled to the support guide  24 . A handle  32  is mounted on the reel  30  to facilitate rotation of the reel  30 . A tether  34  is wound on the reel  30  and an end  36  of the tether  34  is attached to the support post  26 . A pulley  38  is mounted on the support guide  24  and is positioned above the reel  30 . The tether  34  is positioned on the pulley  38 . 
   A plate  40  is attached to an upper end of the support post  26 . The plate  40  lies in a plane orientated perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the support post  26  so that the plate  40  is horizontally oriented. The plate  40  is pivotable with respect to the support post  26  to allow the plate  40  to be angled with respect to the support post  26 . A plate support  42  retains the plate  40  in an angled orientation. A plurality of arms  44  is attached to the plate  40 . The arms  44  extend outwardly from a perimeter edge of the plate  40  and lie in a plane oriented parallel to the plate  40 . The arms  44  are pivotable with respect to the plate  40  to selectively position free ends  46  of the arms  44  toward or away from each other. The plurality of arms  44  may include four arms  44 . The arms  44  each extend away from the support post  26  a distance of at least 2 feet. 
   In use, a ceiling panel  8 , such as a drywall panel, is positioned on the arms  44 . The arms  44  are adjusted as needed to ensure that the panel  8  is stable on the arms  44 . The lifting assembly  28  is then used to lift the panel  8  so that it is positioned adjacent to ceiling joists and the panel  8  is then attached to the ceiling joists. The plate  40  is then lowered so that another ceiling panel  8  can be positioned on and lifted by the plate  40 . 
   With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
   Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.