Trapezoidal lifter

An apparatus for lifting and moving an object supported above a floor, said apparatus comprising:

• a lower three-sided frame having an open forward end, two side portions, and a rear portion connecting said side portions;
• an upper three-sided frame of smaller length than said lower frame above said lower frame, said upper frame having an open forward end corresponding to said open end of said lower frame, two side portions and a rear portion connecting said side portions;
• shackle means pivotably connected between said upper frame and said lower frame for pivoting on said lower frame and lifting said upper frame from said lower frame and for supporting said upper frame above said lower frame;
• wheel means beneath said lower frame for moving said connected frames from place to place;
• upright support means connected to and extending upward from said upper frame and adjustable vertically and horizontally for supporting from beneath said object to be lifted and moved;
• at least one chain connector attached above the rear portion of said upper frame;
• a chain connected to each chain connected at one end thereof;
• at least one angled latch member connected beneath and extending rearward from the rear portion of said upper frame;
• handle mechanism means pivotably mounted on the rear portion of said lower frame and connected to the end of said chain opposite the end connected to said chain connector for pulling said chain and said upper frame backward and upward;
• locking latch means connected to the rear portion of said lower frame opposite each angled latch member for engaging said angled latch member when said upper frame is pulled backward and for locking said upper frame in the raised position, said latch means having a first spring hole therethrough;
• a rocker arm pivotably mounted onto the rear portion of said lower frame next to each locking latch means, one end of said rocker arm extending toward and underneath said locking latch means;
• a spring guide mounted on the end of said rocker arm opposite the end extending toward said locking latch means;
• foot pedal means mounted on the rear portion of said lower frame adjacent said rocker arm, a portion thereof extending over the end of said rocker arm having said spring guide for pressing against and depressing said rocker arm when said foot pedal is depressed, said foot pedal further having at least one spring hole therethrough;
• a tension spring fitted through said spring hole in said foot pedal, said spring guide, and said spring hole in said locking latch means;
• and
• combination member means pivotably mounted on the rear portion of said lower frame between said locking latch means and said handle mechanism means for pivoting upward against and unlocking said locking latch means, for locking said handle mechanism means in an upright position and for holding the end of said spring and being tensioned thereby;
• whereby partially depressing said foot pedal means depresses said rocker arm and causes said rocker arm to pivot upward against said combination member means and causes said combination-member means to rotate away from and release said handle mechanism means,
• whereby further depressing of said foot pedal means causes said rocker arm to pivot upward further against said combination member means and causes said combination member means to rotate against and lift said locking latch means, and
• whereby upon removing pressure from said foot pedal means, said tension spring through said foot pedal means causes said foot pedal means to return to its upright position, causes said locking latch means to be pulled downward, and causes said combination member means to rotate toward said handle mechanism means and away from the position of lifting said locking latch means.