Friction lock bar jack for construction

A friction lock bar jack for lifting items, comprising:

• an elongated bar having a proximal end and a distal end;
• a base coupled to the distal end;
• a lifting mechanism reciprocally slidably carried by the elongated bar, the lifting mechanism comprising:
• a toggle mounting body having a channel formed therethrough in receipt of the elongated bar;
• an actuating lever pivotally coupled to the toggle mounting body and movable between a neutral position and a drive position;
• and
• a toggle mechanism including a locking element carried by the elongated bar for reciprocal and canting movement, an element pivotally coupled to the actuating lever, and a cam element pivotally coupled to the element and pivotally coupled to the locking element, the cam element movable between a first condition permitting the locking element to reciprocate along the guide and a second condition bearing against the guide and canting the locking element into frictional engagement with the elongated bar and driving the element and thus the lift mechanism incrementally toward the distal end of elongated bar;
• a biasing member captured between the locking element and a lower end of the toggle mounting body, biasing the locking element toward distal end of the elongated bar;
• a locking assembly received about the elongated bar and carried by the lifting mechanism to selectively prevent movement of the lifting mechanism toward the proximal end and allow movement toward the distal end;
• and
• a support member coupled to the toggle mounting body.