Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6527492
-
Patent Number
6,527,492
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Date Filed
Friday, January 25, 200223 years ago
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Date Issued
Tuesday, March 4, 200322 years ago
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Inventors
-
-
Examiners
Agents
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 248 159
- 248 411
- 248 413
- 414 11
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International Classifications
-
Abstract
An apparatus for handling, lifting and supporting construction panels such as sheet rock or the like includes a pole unit that has telescoping poles supported on a scaffolding unit by supports that are quickly and easily attached and detached from the scaffolding unit. A workpiece engaging element is rotatably mounted on the poles.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to material or article handling and more particularly to wall or ceiling member manipulating apparatus, alternatively, this invention relates to the general art of supports.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Drywall and other forms of interior surface finishing panels used in the building industry are traditionally applied to ceiling and wall framing by placing planar sheets against the framing and securing each sheet in place by nailing, screwing, adhesive bonding or by a combination of fastening techniques to achieve permanent installation of adjacent panels or sheets. Because of the size and weight of such construction materials, the installation procedure often requires at least two persons, particularly where each sheet must be retained in an elevated position while fasteners are installed. Also, it is usually necessary that one or both of the two persons manually retain the sheet in position with one hand while inserting the fastener elements with the other hand. The installation is further complicated by the requirement in many cases that both persons use step ladders, scaffolding or other form of movable platform in order to reach the sheet in it ultimate position.
Accordingly, the art contains several inventions for facilitating installation of such materials. While somewhat effective, the devices embodying these inventions are often bulky, difficult to set up, difficult to knock down, expensive and inconvenient.
Therefore, there is a need for an apparatus for handling and supporting construction materials, such as drywall or the like, that is easy to use and is also easy to set up and to knock down.
Still further, some panels are more bulky than others and some panel installations are more precarious than others. Thus, some mechanism should be available for making a device used to handle such panels more stable in some situations. However, this should not be done by simply making the apparatus as bulky as possible so it can handle all situations. This approach would make the apparatus too bulky for some situations thereby making the apparatus too costly for most situations.
Therefore, there is a need for an apparatus for handling and supporting construction materials that is versatile and can be made stable enough for each particular situation.
Of course, the modification of such an apparatus should not require a great deal of work which would vitiate the advantages associated with the versatility of the apparatus.
Therefore, there is a need for an apparatus for handling and supporting construction materials that is versatile and can quickly and easily be made stable enough for each particular situation.
PRINCIPAL OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is a main object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for handling and supporting construction materials.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for handling and supporting construction materials such as drywall or the like.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for handling and supporting construction materials such as drywall or the like that is used in the ceiling of a building.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for handling and supporting construction materials such as drywall or the like that is used in the ceiling of a building that is easy to use and is also easy to set up and to knock down.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for handling and supporting construction materials that is versatile and can be made stable enough for each particular situation.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for handling and supporting construction materials that is versatile and can quickly and easily be made stable enough for each particular situation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
These, and other, objects are achieved by an apparatus for handling, lifting and supporting construction panels which comprises a pole unit which includes a plurality of telescopingly engaged poles; a quick-release lock coupling two of the poles of the pole unit together when in a locking configuration; a pole unit mounting unit fixedly mounted on one pole of the pole unit and including two scaffolding-engaging brackets having U-shaped bodies which releasably engage elements of a scaffolding unit; a workpiece-engaging unit rotatably mounted on a second pole of the pole unit; and a lock element locking the workpiece-engaging unit to the second pole of the pole unit when in a locked configuration.
The U-shaped bodies of the pole mounting unit are easily attached to elements of a scaffolding for a quick and easy set up, and are easily detached from the scaffolding for a quick and easy knockdown. The workpiece-engaging unit is rotatable so it can assume the most effective orientation with respect to the workpiece, and can be removed and replaced with a workpiece-engaging element that is most effective for a particular job. For example, the same apparatus can be used to install drywall and to install conduits. This makes the apparatus versatile and thus cost effective.
Additional support locations can be easily and quickly added to the apparatus so the apparatus can be modified to be more stable in an easy and rapid manner.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1
is a perspective view of a first form of the apparatus embodying the present invention.
FIG. 2
is a view of a scaffolding engaging section of the apparatus of the present invention.
FIG. 3
is an exploded view of the apparatus of the present invention showing a second pole section removed from a base pole section of a pole unit.
FIG. 4
is a top plan view of a workpiece-engaging unit of the apparatus of the present invention.
FIG. 5
is a side elevational view of the apparatus of the present invention mounted on a scaffolding unit with a workpiece-holding unit also mounted on the scaffolding unit.
FIG. 6
is a perspective view of an alternative form of a workpiece-engaging unit.
FIG. 7
is an exploded elevational view of a pole unit in association with the alternative form of workpiece-engaging unit.
FIG. 8
is a perspective view of a scaffolding unit in association with an apparatus which includes the alternative workpiece-engaging unit.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings.
The apparatus embodying the present invention is easily attached to a scaffolding that is being used to elevate workers into position to manipulate drywall or the like into a ceiling of a building. The apparatus is easily attached to and detached from the scaffolding and is easily adjusted to the desired height. The apparatus can also be used to install other overhead elements, such as pipes, conduits or the like into position, including an overhead position.
Shown in
FIGS. 1-5
is an apparatus
10
for handling, lifting and supporting construction panels, such as drywall panels S or the like adjacent to an overhead work area, such as ceiling C. More specifically, apparatus
10
comprises a pole unit
12
which includes a base pole section
14
having a proximal end
16
, a distal end
18
, a cylindrical hollow body
20
, a longitudinal axis
22
extending between proximal end
16
and distal end
18
of base pole section
14
. A bore
24
is defined along longitudinal axis
22
from distal end
18
to proximal end
16
of base pole section
12
, and for the sake of clarity is indicated only in FIG.
1
. Bore
24
of body
20
of base pole section
14
has an inner dimension
26
. Body
20
further includes an outer surface
28
. Pole unit
12
includes a plurality of pole sections, including a second pole section
30
having a hollow cylindrical body
31
having proximal end
32
, a distal end
34
, a cylindrical hollow body
36
, a longitudinal axis
38
extending between proximal end
32
of the second pole section
30
of pole unit
12
and distal end
34
of the second pole section
30
of pole unit
12
, and a bore
40
defined along longitudinal axis
38
of body of second pole section
30
between proximal end
32
of the second pole section
30
of pole unit
12
and distal end
34
of second pole section
30
of the pole unit
12
. Bore
40
of body
31
of the second pole section
30
of the pole unit has an inner dimension
42
and an outer surface
44
with an outer dimension
46
. Outer dimension
46
of second pole section
30
of pole unit
12
is smaller than inner dimension
26
of bore
24
of body
20
of base pole section
14
of pole unit
12
. In a set-up configuration such as shown in
FIGS. 1 and 5
, second pole section
30
of pole unit
14
is telescopingly received in bore
24
of body
20
of base pole section
14
of pole unit
12
with proximal end
32
of body
31
of second pole section
30
of pole unit
12
located in bore
24
of body
20
of base pole section
14
of pole unit
12
and distal end
34
of body
31
of second pole section
30
of pole unit
12
spaced from distal end
18
of body
20
of base pole section
14
of pole unit
12
. The telescoping connection between the two pole sections
14
and
30
permits adjustment of the length of the pole unit
12
as indicated in FIG.
5
. While two pole sections have been disclosed, those skilled in the art will understand that more than two pole sections can be used without departing from the scope of the present invention.
A quick-release lock
50
is positioned on body
20
of base pole section
14
of pole unit
12
adjacent to distal end
18
of body
20
for releasably coupling second pole section
30
to base pole section
14
. Quick-release lock
50
includes a sleeve
52
having a first section
54
fixed to outer surface
28
of body
20
of base pole section
14
of pole unit
12
, a second section
56
which is spaced from distal end
18
of body
20
of the base pole section
14
of the pole unit
12
, an inside surface
58
, and an outside surface
60
. A threaded bore
62
is defined through sleeve
52
in second section
54
of the sleeve
52
, and a threaded fastener
64
is threadably received in threaded bore
62
. Threaded fastener
64
has a distal end
66
located adjacent to inside surface
58
of the second section
56
of the sleeve
52
, and a proximal end
68
located adjacent to outside surface
28
of second section
56
of sleeve
52
. A handle
70
is located on proximal end
68
of the threaded fastener
64
of quick-release lock
50
. Threaded fastener
64
is movable in threaded bore
62
between a locking position with distal end
66
of the threaded fastener
64
engaging the outer surface of second pole section
30
which is received in bore
24
of body
20
of base pole section
14
of pole unit
12
in the set-up configuration and a releasing configuration with distal end
66
of the threaded fastener
64
spaced from the outer surface of the second pole section
30
of pole unit
12
received in the bore of the body of the base pole section
14
in the set-up configuration.
Apparatus
10
further includes a pole unit mounting section
80
which includes two scaffolding engaging sections
82
and
84
which are identical. Each scaffolding engaging section is mounted on base pole section
14
near proximal end
16
of body
20
of the base pole section
14
and includes a mounting element
86
having a proximal end
88
fixed to outer surface
28
of body
20
of base pole section
14
of pole unit
12
, and a distal end
90
. Each scaffolding engaging section
82
and
84
further includes a scaffolding engaging bracket
92
which includes a U-shaped body
94
which releasably engages an element
96
of a scaffolding unit
98
in the set-up configuration of apparatus
10
. A first leg
100
of U-shaped body
94
has a first end
102
and a second end
104
and a length defined between first end
102
of the first leg
100
of the U-shaped body
94
of the scaffolding engaging bracket
92
and second end
104
of the first leg
100
of the U-shaped body
94
of the scaffolding engaging bracket
92
. The scaffolding engaging bracket
92
further includes a second leg
106
which has a first end
108
and a second end
110
and a length defined between first end
108
of the second leg
106
of the U-shaped body
94
of the scaffolding engaging bracket
92
and second end
110
of the second leg
106
of the U-shaped body
94
of the scaffolding engaging bracket
92
. The length of the second leg
106
of the U-shaped body
94
of the scaffolding engaging bracket
92
is longer than length of the first leg
100
of the U-shaped body
94
of the scaffolding engaging bracket
92
. First end
102
of first leg
100
of the U-shaped body
94
of the scaffolding engaging bracket
92
is fixed to the mounting element
86
of the pole mounting section associated with the scaffolding engaging bracket
92
adjacent to the distal end of the mounting element
86
of the pole mounting section associated with the scaffolding engaging bracket
92
. Each scaffolding engaging element further includes a bight section
112
connecting first end
102
of first leg
100
of the U-shaped body
94
of the scaffolding engaging bracket
92
to first end
108
of second leg
106
of the U-shaped body
94
of the scaffolding engaging bracket
92
. The scaffolding engaging bracket
92
extends away from the mounting element
86
of the pole mounting section associated with the scaffolding engaging bracket
92
.
As can be seen in
FIGS. 3 and 5
, apparatus
10
can include a plurality of pole mounting sections. Additional pole mounting sections add stability to apparatus
10
and engage further scaffolding elements as shown in
FIGS. 3 and 5
. The ease with which the pole mounting sections are engaged with and disengaged from the scaffolding elements makes set up and knock down of apparatus
10
easy even if several pole mounting sections are used.
Apparatus
10
further includes a workpiece-engaging unit
130
which includes a support pole
132
having an outer surface
134
with an outer dimension
135
which is smaller than inner dimension
42
of bore
40
of body
31
of second pole section
30
of the pole unit. Support pole
132
of workpiece-engaging unit
130
has a distal end
136
spaced from distal end
34
of body
31
of second pole section
30
of the pole unit. A workpiece-engaging element
140
is fixed to distal end
136
of support pole
132
of workpiece-engaging unit
130
and includes a tubular sleeve
150
which has a blind-ended bore
152
defined therein. Support pole
132
of workpiece-engaging unit
130
is received in blind-ended bore
152
of tubular sleeve
150
of the workpiece-engaging element
140
and is fixedly secured to the tubular sleeve
150
adjacent to blind-ended bore
152
. Support pole section of the workpiece-engaging unit
130
is rotatably received in bore
40
of the second pole section
30
adjacent to distal end
34
of the second pole section
30
. The workpiece-engaging element
140
is rotatable in a plane that is at right angles to the plane containing longitudinal axis
38
of the second support pole section of the pole unit. The workpiece-engaging unit
130
further includes two workpiece-engaging legs
160
and
162
with each workpiece-engaging leg having a proximal end
164
fixed to the tubular sleeve
150
of the workpiece-engaging element
140
of workpiece engaging unit
130
, and a distal end
166
spaced from the tubular sleeve
150
of the workpiece-engaging element
140
of workpiece engaging unit
130
. The two workpiece-engaging legs are oriented at right angles with respect to each other.
Each workpiece-engaging leg includes a top edge
170
with the top edge of leg
160
being co-planar with the top edge of leg
162
to define a planar workpiece-engaging surface as indicated in
FIGS. 3 and 5
.
Different size workpiece engaging units can be used according to the size and bulk of a workpiece being used whereby the workpiece engaging unit can be selected to most efficiently carry out the objectives of the particular job. Since the workpiece engaging units can quickly and easily be changed, the exact workpiece required for a particular job can be selected and used.
Apparatus
10
further includes a lock element
180
positioned on distal end
34
of second pole section
30
of pole unit
12
and attaches support pole
132
of workpiece-engaging unit
130
to the second pole section of the pole unit in the set-up configuration. Lock element
180
is movable between a locked configuration locking the support pole of the workpiece-engaging unit
130
to the second pole section
30
of the pole unit
12
and an unlocked configuration in which the support pole of the workpiece-engaging unit
130
is rotatable with respect to the second pole section
30
of the pole unit
12
.
An alternative form of the apparatus is used to elevate and support arcuate workpieces, such as conduit
199
, or the like, while that arcuate workpiece is being attached to a ceiling or other such building structure or is simply being supported while such workpiece is being worked on. The alternative form of the apparatus is shown in
FIGS. 6
,
7
and
8
, and is indicated as apparatus
10
′. Apparatus
10
′ is identical to the above-described form with the exception that the workpiece-engaging element of the alternative form of the apparatus includes an arcuate workpiece-engaging member
200
fixedly mounted on the distal end of the support pole of said workpiece-engaging unit. The alternative form of the apparatus is shown in
FIGS. 6
,
7
and
8
, which are similar to
FIGS. 3
,
4
and
5
, to show the alternative form of the apparatus in a manner similar to the first form of the apparatus.
The apparatus can also be attached to scaffolding unit
98
by fasteners, such as bolts
202
shown in FIG.
5
. The additional attachment provided by the fastener adds still further stability to the apparatus. One form of the scaffolding unit includes a workpiece holding unit
204
attached to the scaffolding unit, and the base pole section of the pole unit is attached to that workpiece-holding unit as shown in
FIGS. 5 and 8
for the two forms of the apparatus. As shown in
FIGS. 5 and 8
, the workpiece holding unit supports workpieces, such as drywall panels P
1
in position for easy access by a worker standing on the scaffolding unit. As can also be seen in these figures, the scaffolding unit can have as many tiers as required for any particular job, and apparatus
10
can have as many supports as there are tiers. Thus, the apparatus can be easily and quickly modified without requiring modification of the scaffolding unit. In fact, the apparatus can be modified as easily and in conjunction with modification of the scaffolding unit itself in order to be customized for a particular job.
It is understood that while certain forms of the present invention have been illustrated and described herein, it is not to be limited to the specific forms or arrangements of parts described and shown.
Claims
- 1. An apparatus for handling, lifting and supporting construction panels comprising:a) a pole unit which includes (1) a base pole section having (A) a proximal end, (B) a distal end, (C) a cylindrical hollow body, (D) a longitudinal axis extending between the proximal end and the distal end of the base pole section, (E) a bore defined along the longitudinal axis from the distal end to the proximal end of the base pole section, (F) the bore of the body of the base pole section having an inner dimension, and (G) an outer surface, (2) a second pole section having (A) a proximal end, (B) a distal end, (C) a cylindrical hollow body, (D) a longitudinal axis extending between the proximal end of the second pole section of said pole unit and the distal end of the second pole section of said pole unit, (E) a bore defined along the longitudinal axis of the second pole section of said pole unit between the proximal end of the second pole section of said pole unit and the distal end of the second pole section of said pole unit, (F) the bore of the body of the second pole section of said pole unit having an inner dimension, and (G) the body of the second pole section of said pole unit having an outer surface with an outer dimension, the outer dimension of the second pole section of said pole unit being smaller than the inner dimension of the bore of the body of the base pole section of said pole unit, and (3) in a set-up configuration, the second pole section of said pole unit being telescopingly received in the bore of the body of the base pole section of said pole unit with the proximal end of the second pole section of said pole unit being located in the bore of the body of the base pole section of said pole unit, the distal end of the second pole section of said pole unit being spaced from the distal end of the base pole section of said pole unit; b) a quick-release lock positioned on the body of the base pole section of said pole unit adjacent to the distal end of the base pole section of said pole unit and including (1) a sleeve having (A) a first section fixed to the outer surface of the base pole section of said pole unit, (B) a second section spaced from the distal end of the base pole section of said pole unit, (C) an inside surface, and (D) an outside surface, (2) a threaded bore defined through the sleeve in the second section of the sleeve, and (3) a threaded fastener threadably received in the threaded bore of said quick-release lock, the threaded fastener having (A) a distal end located adjacent to the inside surface of the sleeve, (B) a proximal end located adjacent to the outside surface of the sleeve of said quick-release lock, (C) a handle on the proximal end of the threaded fastener of said quick-release lock, and (D) the threaded fastener being movable in the threaded bore between a locking position with the distal end of the threaded fastener engaging the outer surface of the second pole section of said pole unit received in the bore of the body of the base pole section of said pole unit in the set-up configuration and a releasing configuration with the distal end of the threaded fastener spaced from the outer surface of the second pole section of said pole unit received in the bore of the body of the base pole section of said pole unit in the set-up configuration; c) a pole unit mounting section which includes (1) two scaffolding engaging sections, each scaffolding engaging section being mounted on the base pole section of said pole unit near the proximal end of the base pole section and including (a) a mounting element having (i) a proximal end fixed to the outer surface of the base pole section of said pole unit, and (ii) a distal end, (b) a scaffolding engaging bracket which includes (i) a U-shaped body which releasably engages an element of a scaffolding unit, (ii) a first leg of the U-shaped body having a first end and a second end and a length defined between the first end of the first leg of the U-shaped body of the scaffolding engaging bracket and the second end of the first leg of the U-shaped body of the scaffolding engaging bracket, (iii) a second leg of the U-shaped body having a first end and a second end and a length defined between the first end of the second leg of the U-shaped body of the scaffolding engaging bracket and the second end of the second leg of the U-shaped body of the scaffolding engaging bracket, (iv) the length of the second leg of the U-shaped body of the scaffolding engaging unit being longer than the length of the first leg of the U-shaped body of the scaffolding engaging bracket, (v) the first end of the first leg of the U-shaped body of the scaffolding engaging bracket being fixed to the mounting element of the pole unit mounting section adjacent to the distal end of the mounting element of the pole unit mounting section, (vi) a bight section connecting the first end of the first leg of the U-shaped body of the scaffolding engaging bracket to the first end of the second leg of the U-shaped body of the scaffolding engaging bracket, and (vii) the scaffolding engaging bracket extending away from the mounting element of the pole unit mounting section; d) a workpiece-engaging unit which includes (1) a support pole having an outer surface with an outer dimension which is smaller than the inner dimension of the bore of the body of the second pole section of said pole unit, the support pole of said workpiece-engaging unit having a distal end spaced from the distal end of the second pole section of said pole unit, (2) a workpiece-engaging element fixed to the distal end of the support pole of said workpiece-engaging unit and including (A) a tubular sleeve having a blind-ended bore, (B) the support pole of said workpiece-engaging unit being received in the blind-ended bore of the tubular sleeve of the workpiece-engaging element and fixedly secured to the tubular sleeve adjacent to the blind-ended bore, (C) the support pole of said workpiece-engaging unit being rotatably received in the bore of the second pole section adjacent to the distal end of the second pole section, and (D) the workpiece-engaging element being rotatable in a plane that is at right angles to the plane containing the longitudinal axis of the second pole section of said pole unit, and (E) two workpiece-engaging legs (i) each workpiece-engaging leg having a proximal end fixed to the tubular sleeve of the workpiece-engaging element of said workpiece engaging unit, (ii) each workpiece-engaging leg including a distal end spaced from the tubular sleeve of the workpiece-engaging element of said workpiece engaging unit, (iii) the two workpiece-engaging legs being oriented at right angles with respect to each other, and (iv) each workpiece engaging leg having a top edge, with the top edges of the workpiece-engaging legs being co-planar with each other; and e) a lock element positioned on the distal end of the second pole section of said pole unit and attaching the support pole of said workpiece-engaging unit to the second pole section of said pole unit in the set-up configuration, the lock element being movable between a locked configuration locking the support pole of the workpiece-engaging unit to the second pole section of said pole unit and an unlocked configuration in which the support pole of said workpiece-engaging unit is rotatable with respect to the second pole section of said pole unit.
- 2. The apparatus as described in claim 1 further including a second pole unit mounting section.
- 3. The apparatus as described in claim 2 further including a workpiece-holding unit attached to the scaffolding unit, the base pole section of said pole unit being attached to said workpiece-holding unit.
- 4. An apparatus for handling, lifting and supporting construction panels comprising:a) a pole unit which includes (1) a base pole section having (A) a proximal end, (B) a distal end, (C) a cylindrical hollow body, (D) a longitudinal axis extending between the proximal end and the distal end of the base pole section, (E) a bore defined along the longitudinal axis from the distal end to the proximal end of the base pole section, (F) the bore of the body of the base pole section having an inner dimension, and (G) an outer surface, (2) a second pole section having (A) a proximal end, (B) a distal end, (C) a cylindrical hollow body, (D) a longitudinal axis extending between the proximal end of the second pole section of said pole unit and the distal end of the second pole section of said pole unit, (E) a bore defined along the longitudinal axis of the second pole section of said pole unit between the proximal end of the second pole section of said pole unit and the distal end of the second pole section of said pole unit, (F) the bore of the body of the second pole section of said pole unit having an inner dimension, and (G) the body of the second pole section of said pole unit having an outer surface with an outer dimension, the outer dimension of the second pole section of said pole unit being smaller than the inner dimension of the bore of the body of the base pole section of said pole unit, and (3) in a set-up configuration, the second pole section of said pole unit being telescopingly received in the bore of the body of the base pole section of said pole unit with the proximal end of the second pole section of said pole unit being located in the bore of the body of the base pole section of said pole unit, the distal end of the second pole section of said pole unit being spaced from the distal end of the base pole section of said pole unit; b) a quick-release lock positioned on the body of the base pole section of said pole unit adjacent to the distal end of the base pole section of said pole unit and including (1) a sleeve having (A) a first section fixed to the outer surface of the base pole section of said pole unit, (B) a second section spaced from the distal end of the base pole section of said pole unit, (C) an inside surface, and (D) an outside surface, (2) a threaded bore defined through the sleeve in the second section of the sleeve, and (3) a threaded fastener threadably received in the threaded bore of said quick-release lock, the threaded fastener having (A) a distal end located adjacent to the inside surface of the sleeve, (B) a proximal end located adjacent to the outside surface of the sleeve of said quick-release lock, (C) a handle on the proximal end of the threaded fastener of said quick-release lock, and (D) the threaded fastener being movable in the threaded bore between a locking position with the distal end of the threaded fastener engaging the outer surface of the second pole section of said pole unit received in the bore of the body of the base pole section of said pole unit in the set-up configuration and a releasing configuration with the distal end of the threaded fastener spaced from the outer surface of the second pole section of said pole unit received in the bore of the body of the base pole section of said pole unit in the set-up configuration; c) a pole unit mounting section which includes (1) two scaffolding engaging sections, each scaffolding engaging section being mounted on the base pole section of said pole unit near the proximal end of the base pole section and including (A) a mounting element having (i) a proximal end fixed to the outer surface of the base pole section of said pole unit, and (ii) a distal end, (B) a scaffolding engaging bracket which includes (i) a U-shaped body which releasably engages an element of a scaffolding unit, (ii) a first leg of the U-shaped body having a first end and a second end and a length defined between the first end of the first leg of the U-shaped body of the scaffolding engaging bracket and the second end of the first leg of the U-shaped body of the scaffolding engaging bracket, (iii) a second leg of the U-shaped body having a first end and a second end and a length defined between the first end of the second leg of the U-shaped body of the scaffolding engaging bracket and the second end of the second leg of the U-shaped body of the scaffolding engaging bracket, (iv) the length of the second leg of the U-shaped body of the scaffolding engaging unit being longer than the length of the first leg of the U-shaped body of the scaffolding engaging bracket, (v) the first end of the first leg of the U-shaped body of the scaffolding engaging bracket being fixed to the mounting element of the pole unit mounting section adjacent to the distal end of the mounting element of the pole unit mounting section, (vi) a bight section connecting the first end of the first leg of the U-shaped body of the scaffolding engaging bracket to the first end of the second leg of the U-shaped body of the scaffolding engaging bracket, and (vii) the scaffolding engaging bracket extending away from the mounting element of the pole unit mounting section; d) a workpiece-engaging unit which includes (1) a support pole having an outer surface with an outer dimension which is smaller than the inner dimension of the bore of the body of the second pole section of said pole unit, the support pole of said workpiece-engaging unit having a distal end spaced from the distal end of the second pole section of said pole unit, (2) a workpiece-engaging element fixed to the distal end of the support pole of said workpiece-engaging unit and including (A) a tubular sleeve having a blind-ended bore, (B) the support pole of said workpiece-engaging unit being received in the blind-ended bore of the tubular sleeve of the workpiece-engaging element and fixedly secured to the tubular sleeve adjacent to the blind-ended bore, (C) the support pole of said workpiece-engaging unit being rotatably received in the bore of the second pole section adjacent to the distal end of the second pole section, and (D) the workpiece-engaging element being rotatable in a plane that is at right angles to the plane containing the longitudinal axis of the second pole section of said pole unit, (E) an arcuate workpiece-engaging member fixedly mounted on the distal end of the support pole of said workpiece-engaging unit; and e) a lock element positioned on the distal end of the second pole section of said pole unit and attaching the support pole of said workpiece-engaging unit to the second pole section of said pole unit in the set-up configuration, the lock element being movable between a locked configuration locking the support pole of the workpiece-engaging unit to the second pole section of said pole unit and an unlocked configuration in which the support pole of said workpiece-engaging unit is rotatable with respect to the second pole section of said pole unit.
- 5. The apparatus as described in claim 4 further including a second pole unit mounting section.
- 6. The apparatus as described in claim 5 further including a workpiece-holding unit attached to the scaffolding unit, the base pole section of said pole unit being attached to said workpiece-holding unit.
- 7. An apparatus for handling, lifting and supporting construction panels comprising:a) a pole unit which includes a plurality of telescopingly engaged poles; b) a quick-release lock coupling two of the poles of said pole unit together when in a locking configuration; c) a pole unit mounting unit fixedly mounted on a first pole of said pole unit and including two scaffolding-engaging brackets having U-shaped bodies which releasably engage elements of a scaffolding unit; d) a workpiece-engaging unit rotatably mounted on a second pole of said pole unit; and e) a lock element locking said workpiece-engaging unit to the second pole of said pole unit when in a locked configuration.
US Referenced Citations (9)
