Combination of lifting apparatus and bracket

A lifting apparatus for raising furnishings, particularly suitable for use during removal and installation of floor covering, comprising:

• a foot member and an adjustable vertical support member, the foot member supporting the lifting apparatus at a distance from a furnishing and an associated work area, the adjustable vertical support member further comprising a pedestal tube rigidly attached to the foot member, the pedestal tube capable of adjustably receiving a generally vertical link member such that the lifting apparatus can be vertically adjusted;
• a leveraging assembly for a controlled raising and lowering of an item of furnishing, the leveraging assembly including one four-bar linkage including pivoting link members and another four-bar linkage including pivoting and sliding link members, the one and the other four-bar linkages having at least one common link member including a common stationary link member further including the generally vertical link member;
• a furnishing engaging bracket, the furnishing engaging bracket attached to one link member of the pivoting four-bar linkage by an attachment connection so as to be removable and interchangeable with another furnishing engaging bracket;
• and
• a sliding lock mechanism link member of the other four-bar linkage for maintaining the lifting apparatus in a desired position, the sliding lock mechanism link member capable of sliding relative to the leveraging assembly an upper link member and pivoting relative to a lower control arm link member, the sliding lock mechanism link member being released and restrained by a release lever, whereby the release lever is biased ill a restraining position in which an end of the release lever engages a serrated portion of the upper link member to maintain the lifting apparatus in the desired position.

A method of lifting or raising furnishings, particularly suitable for use during removal and installation of floor covering, comprising:

• supporting a support member of a lifting apparatus at a distance from a work area proximate an item of furnishing;
• engaging the item of furnishing with an engaging member carried by the lifting apparatus;
• raising and lowering an item of furnishing by operating a combination pivoting four-bar linkage and pivoting and sliding four-bar linkage with a common unmoving link and a common fulcrum;
• locking the lifting apparatus in a locked position with a spring-biased rachet member.