Patent ID: 7478852

Claim:
A lifting beam comprising: an I-beam having first and second ends, a lower flange and an upper flange extending between said first and second ends and having a plurality of spaced apart openings positioned along the I-beam; three hoist connectors fixed to and extending upwardly from the upper flange, one of the three hoist connectors being at approximately a mid-point of said I-beam between the other two hoist connectors, which are equidistant therefrom: a center load connector positioned on said I-beam extending downwardly from approximately a midpoint along the lower flange; at least two movable load connectors positioned on said I-beam extending downwardly from the lower flange, each movable load connector engaged with said I-beam by a plurality of supports having one or more members positioned to roll along upper surfaces of the lower flange regardless of load borne by said at least two movable load connectors, and having at least one mechanical fastener associated with said plurality of supports, the at least one mechanical fastener being receivable in an individual opening of the plurality of spaced apart openings positioned along the I-beam to thereby secure each said movable load connector at a predetermined position along the I-beam, said center load connector being positioned between said at least two movable load connectors; first and second stop members respectively positioned at the first and second ends of said I-beam to prevent said at least two movable load connectors from disengaging from said I-beam and extending sufficiently below the lower flange to form an angle with an underside of said lower flange; at least two pulleys each positioned at the angle formed by an underside of said lower flange and one of said first and second stop members; and a continuous cable operably associated with said at least two pulleys and said at least two movable load connectors.