Patent ID: 7363875

Claim:
An apparatus for supporting a load, said apparatus comprising: a first member having a first connection point thereon; a second member having a second connection point thereon, said second member having a connector configured and arranged to support the load and said second member being supported on the first member; and an overload indicator comprising a longitudinal member having opposite ends spaced apart by a first distance, said overload indicator extending between the first and second connection points, thereby supporting the second member on the first member, said longitudinal member having a weakened portion between the opposite ends, the weakened portion being bendable; the connection points being points being spaced apart by a second distance; the apparatus having a load limit; the longitudinal member of the overload indicator bending proximate the weakened portion if the load exceeds the load limit of the apparatus such that the first distance between the opposite ends of said longitudinal member is decreased, thereby visually indicating overloading of the apparatus; and the second member moving during bending of the longitudinal member of the overload indicator such that the second distance between the first and second connection points is decreased.