Patent ID: 7708250

Claim:
A ceiling panel support apparatus comprising: a base including a plurality of legs having a first end and a second end, said first ends being attached together and said legs radiating outwardly from each other, said base further including; a support guide being attached to and extending upwardly from said base; a support post being slidably mounted in said guide and being extendable upwardly from a top edge of said support guide; a lifting assembly being mounted on said support post and being mechanically coupled to said support post, said lifting assembly lowering or lifting said support post with respect to said support guide when said lifting assembly is actuated; a plate being attached to an upper end of said support post, said plate lying in a plane orientated perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said support post; a plurality of arms being attached to said plate, said arms extending outwardly from a perimeter edge of said plate said arms lying in a plane oriented parallel to said plate, said arms being pivotable with respect to said plate to selectively position free ends of said arms toward or away from each other, said arms remaining in said plane orientated parallel to said plate when said arms are pivoted with respect to said plate; and wherein a ceiling panel is positionable on said arms.