Lifting devices

A lifting device comprising:

• a) an elongated main body having opposed ends;
• b) a wheel assembly at one end of the main body which includes at least one ground engaging wheel which is rotatable about a rotation axis for facilitating movement of the device over a ground surface;
• c) the main body being mounted for pivotal movement at said one end of said main body in a main body pivot plane which is at right angles to the rotation axis;
• d) the main body extending in a lateral rearward direction with respect to the rotation axis;
• e) manually operable handle means at the other end of the main body at a manual manipulation point whereby the handle means, in use is gripped by a user so as to manoeuvre the device including the pivotal movement of the main body and the movement of the device over the ground surface;
• f) a boom portion having opposed ends, one end of the boom portion being operatively connected to the main body for pivotal movement in a boom portion pivot plane which is at right angles to the rotation axis, said one end of the boom portion being disposed rearwardly with respect to the rotation axis and extending forwardly therefrom;
• g) a load engaging device operatively connected to the other end of the boom portion;
• h) a motive power unit operatively connected to the main body and the boom portion for facilitating pivotal movement of the boom portion said motive power unit being powered by a power source;
• i) a brake associated with the ground engaging wheel and operable so that in a brake release position the ground engaging wheel is freely rotatable and in a braking position the ground engaging wheel is inhibited from rotation;
• j) a brake controller at the manipulation point and operable by the user to cause the brake to adopt the brake release position or the braking position;
• k) whereby in one operating mode the brake is in the brake release position and the pivotal movement of the main body is about the rotation axis, and in another operating mode, the brake is in the braking position and the pivotal movement of the main body is about a point of contact between the ground engaging wheel and the ground surface.