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US 2015/0233134 A1Published application
Mobile support apparatus and method of using same
OwnerJames T. Benzinginventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A mobile support apparatus that includes one or more extension and refraction devices and a unit that is releasably attachable to vertical members of the apparatus such that the apparatus can be extended in one or more stages to a vertical height that is substantially greater than the height of the fully retracted apparatus. The mobile support apparatus is useful for a multitude of new and existing construction-related applications.
Claims20
An apparatus comprising:
- a support structure comprising a plurality of vertical support members, each of the plurality of vertical support members having a load-engaging portion located at an upper end, a ground-engaging portion located at a lower end, and a telescoping portion that enables the load-engaging portion to be raised and lowered relative to the ground-engaging portion, wherein the load-engaging portion, ground-engaging portion, and telescoping portion are vertically aligned and the telescoping portion is releasably connectable to the ground-engaging portion and moveable with respect to the ground-engaging portion;
- and
- at least one extension and retraction device that is adapted to releasably engage the telescoping portion and to cause the telescoping portion to extend and retract with respect to the ground-engaging portion.
A method comprising:
- (a) positioning a support apparatus on a support surface and beneath a load that is located above the support surface, the support apparatus comprising a support structure having a plurality of vertical support members, each of the vertical support members having a telescoping portion, a load-engaging portion, and a ground-engaging portion, wherein each of the telescoping portions is releasably connectable to and vertically aligned with the ground-engaging portion of a respective one of said vertical support members and vertically aligned with the load-engaging portion of said respective one of said vertical support members;
- (b) engaging the support surface with the ground-engaging portion of each of the plurality of vertical support members;
- (c) extending each of the telescoping portions of each of the plurality of vertical support members;
- and
- (d) locking the position of each of the telescoping portions relative to the ground-engaging portion thereof.
2 more elements
An apparatus comprising:
- a support structure comprising a plurality of vertical support members, each of the plurality of vertical support members having a load-engaging portion located at a top end of a telescoping portion and a ground-engaging portion located at a bottom end of said vertical support member, each of the telescoping portions being shaped to alternately nest within and be retracted from the ground-engaging portion of the respective vertical support member;
- a support portion-engaging unit having a plurality of sleeves, wherein each of the plurality of sleeves circumferentially surrounds one of the telescoping portions;
- at least one extension and retraction device that is attached at a first end to the support structure and attached at a second end to the support portion-engaging unit;
- and
- a locking structure having a locked configuration in which the position of the support portion-engaging unit is fixed relative to the telescoping portion and an unlocked configuration in which the support portion-engaging unit is vertically movable relative to the telescoping portion.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.