Portable lifting, loading and transporting device

A device for lifting and transporting articles from one location to another comprising:

• a tubular column with an elongated slot therein;
• base means for supporting said column in an upright position and rotatable means attached to the underside of said base means;
• a threaded ball screw supported for rotation within said column and a movable nut threadedly engaged with said screw;
• motor means mounted on said base means;
• drive means for interconnecting said motor means with said ball screw;
• means extending transversely from said column for retaining an article to be lifted;
• pin means extending through said slot for interconnecting said screw nut and said article retaining means;
• support means for enclosing said screw nut and said pin means and for reducing friction on said tubular column due to a load applied to said article retaining means, said support means including a first series of rotatable bearing means for engaging on outer surface of said column and a second series of rotatable bearing means for engaging either edge of opposite side edges of said elongated slot in said column;
• whereby rotation of said ball screw by said motor means causes vertical movement of said article retaining means and any article supported thereon relative to said column while said first and second bearing means afford minimal friction on said tubular column irrespective of the load being lifted.