Patent ID: 7182379

Claim:
An object lifting device, comprising: a plurality of compression straps, each of which is configured to bear against a surface of an object to be lifted, wherein each compression strap has a first end and a second end; and a plurality of gathering loops, each of which is comprised of a flexible material that is slidably engaged with two or more of the compression straps to draw an end of one compression strap toward an opposing end of another compression strap when the gathering loops are pulled, wherein the sliding engagement is such that the two or more compression straps can slide along the flexible material forming the respective gathering loop, and wherein tension on the gathering loops pulls the first and second ends of each compression strap away from each other, with the first end of a compression strap being pulled toward the second end of another compression step, thus causing the compression straps to bear against a surface of the object to be lifted, and wherein detachment of a gathering loop from a compression strap enables the object lifting device to be laterally removed from the object without bringing the device over the top or under the bottom of the object.