Patent ID: 8875471

Claim:
A method for lifting and transporting a concrete panel having a top and a bottom to a surface and elevating the concrete panel above the surface, said method including the steps of: embedding within the concrete panel at least one threaded sleeve that extends through said panel between the top and bottom thereof; detachably connecting to the bottom of the concrete panel a plate so as to lie below said threaded sleeve; affixing to said plate an upstanding sleeve support and attaching said threaded sleeve to said plate so that said threaded sleeve is removably received within and surrounded by said sleeve support; connecting a threaded lifting bolt to said threaded sleeve, said lifting bolt having first and opposite ends; applying a lifting force to the first end of said threaded lifting bolt by which the concrete panel is lifted and transported to the surface; rotating said threaded lifting bolt through said threaded sleeve so that the opposite end of said bolt applies a pushing force against said plate for causing said plate to be displaced relative to the bottom of the concrete panel, said rotating step continuing until said plate and said sleeve support affixed thereto are detached from the bottom of the concrete panel and pushed against the surface below the concrete panel, whereby to generate a corresponding uplifting force for elevating the concrete panel above the surface; and removing the threaded lifting bolt from said threaded sleeve following the step of rotating said threaded lifting bolt through said threaded sleeve to generate the uplifting force for elevating the concrete panel above the surface, and filling at least some of the threaded sleeve with a filler material to plug said sleeve.