Patent ID: 8317243

Claim:
A device for gripping a load structure comprising: a first jaw member having a proximate end and a distal end; the distal end of the first jaw member being provided with a first gripper; a second jaw member having a proximate end and a distal end; the distal end of the second jaw member being provided with a second gripper; the second jaw member being slidably mounted to the first jaw member so as to define a jaw therewith having a variable distance between the first and second grippers; a fulcrum member mounted to the first jaw member near the proximate end thereof; the fulcrum member being slidably mounted to the first jaw member via a fulcrum assembly that allows to modify the position of the fulcrum member relatively to the distal end of the second jaw member; and a flexible element secured to the second jaw member near the distal end thereof operatively coupled to the fulcrum member for causing an externally applied pulling force on the flexible element to move the distal end of the first jaw member towards the distal end of the second jaw member so as to yield a first inward force between the first and second grippers.