GB2257683A

GB2257683A - A single lifter.

Info

Publication number: GB2257683A
Application number: GB9113697A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Geoffrey Allan Cole
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1991-06-25
Filing date: 1991-06-25
Publication date: 1993-01-20
Anticipated expiration: 2011-06-25
Also published as: GB2257683B; GB9113697D0

Abstract

An arrangement of co-axial flexible tube 1, hinged rigid tubes 2 and pinned but adjustable rods 4 carrying end lifting plates 8 with stops 9 and turned in lower edges 8 comprises a device for lifting single objects. With the rods pinned in position so that the end lifting plates bear on the object to be lifted, upward force on the flexible tube causes the end lifting plates to grip the object. The object can then be moved using one hand only to another position - for example a building brick or block can be transferred easily and accurately to its correct position in a course in a wall. <IMAGE>

Description

A SINGLE LIFTED This invention relates to a manual lifting device.

Walls are commonly built up from courses of bricks or blocks of diverse materials with jointing material in the vertical and horizontal joints. The bricks or blocks usually have to be lifted by hand, one at a time, to be placed in position in the wall carefully and accurately to maintain the courses in alignment, usually horizontally, and the whole wall to the correct profile in the vertical plane.

Bricks or blocks are often heavy and some have dimensions which make them difficult to lift with a manual grip on the upper part.

Additionally the surfaces are rough and hard on the fingers. If the operator wears gloves to protect the hands it is less easy to position the bricks or blocks in the wall.

According to the present invention there is provided a single lifter comprising within a flexible tube two rigid tubes hinged together which in turn carry adjustable rods which can be located in the tubes at several positions by means of pins. At their outer ends the rods carry lifting plates of which the lower edges are turned inwards. Stops on the lifting plates enable the device as a whole to be placed in position on the object to be lifted.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing in which Fig 1 shows in perspective the single lifter Fig 2 shows in perspective the single lifter in position on a block Referring to the drawing the single lifter comprises a moderately flexible tube C1) for example reinforced rubber tube in which are situated two rigid tubes (2) hinged together in the vertical plane at the joint (3). Rods (4 > can be located in the tubes by adjusting pins (5) which are secured in position with the securing pins (6). Attatched to the rods are the end lifting plates (7) with the lower edges turned inwards as at (8). Stops at (9) serve to position the lifter vertically, and to allow space between the flexible tube and the object to be lifted.

In order to lift a particular size of block the end lifting plates (7) are positioned, in a symmetrical manner, at a distance apart which allows the lower edges (8) just to clear the block.

The rods (4) are then fixed in the tubes (2) by the adjusting pins (5) which are secured by the securing pins (6). The spacing of holes (10) in the rods is arranged to cover the range of blocks commonly in use, but these spacings could be situated to make the lifter suitable for non-standard blocks or for special applications.

The lifter is then placed longitudinally on the block with the stops (9) resting on the upper face of the block. The centre of the flexible tube (1) is then gripped by the hand and raised so as to flatten slightly the flexible tube and to bring the inward turned edges (8) of the lifting plates (7) in contact with the ends of the block. Further upward movement of the hand clamps the lifting plates onto the block so that the latter can be lifted safely and conveniently.

With the lifter holding the block, the latter can be placed in a new position, for example in a course in wall. In this application it should be noted that together with the inward turned lower edges (8) the end liftin plate (7) nearest to the adjacent block already in the wall lies within, or could define the vertical space for the jointing material. The space in the joint occupied by the end lifting plate would be filled by jointing material when the next overlapping course of blocks is laid.

To release the lifter from the block the middle of the flexible tube has to be pressed down towards the upper surface of the block by the thumb, and with the fingers on the underside widely separated, the lifter can then be removed.

Claims

1. A single lifter comprising within a flexible tube two rigid tubes hinged together which carry adjustable rods which can be located in the tubes at several positions by means of pins. At their outer ends the rods carry lifting plates of which the lower edges are turned inwards. Stops on the lifting plates enable the device as a whole to be placed in position on the object to be lifted.

2. A single lifter as claimed in Claim 1 for manual lifting with one hand of building bricks or blocks or similar objects to enable such brick blocks or objects to be lifted, moved and repositioned accurately

3. A single lifter as in claim 1 and 2 wherein means are provided so that the lifter can be adjusted to lift objects of varying sizes

4. A single lifter as claimed in Claims 1, 2, and 3 with end lifting plates with turned in lower edges which lie within or determine the vertical joints in a wall.

5. A single lifter which can as claimed in Claim 2 lift bricks, blocks or objects wherein means are provided for the quick gripping or release of the object being lifted

6. A single lifter which as claimed in Claim 2 and 4 can be used to locate bricks or blocks in the courses of a wall.

7. A single lifter as described herein with reference to Figures 1 - 2 of the accompanying drawing.