# US 5,704,755 A · Panel lifting hoists > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,704,755 A - Document ID: US5704755A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/481,301 - Filed: 1995-07-05 - Granted: 1998-01-06 - Earliest claimed: 1993-01-05 - Assignees: Plasterboard Lifting Tools Pty Ltd. - Inventors: Thomas Francis Jesperson - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5704755A ## CPC - B66C 23/48: Manually-movable jib cranes for use in workshops - B66F 19/00: Hoisting, lifting, hauling or pushing, not otherwise provided for - E04F 21/1822: {with pivotally mounted arms} - E04F 21/1811: {with hand-driven crank systems, e.g. rope, cable or chain winding or rack-and-pinion mechanisms (E04F21/1816, E04F21/1822 and E04F21/1827 take precedence)} - B66C: CRANES; LOAD-ENGAGING ELEMENTS OR DEVICES FOR CRANES, CAPSTANS, WINCHES, OR TACKLES ({specially adapted for lifting invalids A61G7/10;} rope, cable, or chain winding mechanisms, braking or detent devices therefor B66D; specially adapted for nuclear reactors G21) - B66F: HOISTING, LIFTING, HAULING OR PUSHING, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, e.g. DEVICES WHICH APPLY A LIFTING OR PUSHING FORCE DIRECTLY TO THE SURFACE OF A LOAD ({invalid lifting devices A61G7/10; } mounting artificial islands on piles or like supports E02B17/00; scaffolding combined with lifting devices E04G1/22; lifting devices for sliding forms E04G11/24; lifting of buildings E04G23/06; shores or struts E04G25/00; lifts or other hoisting devices on ladders E06C7/12; props for mining E21D15/00) - E04F: FINISHING WORK ON BUILDINGS, e.g. STAIRS, FLOORS (windows, doors E06B) ## Abstract There is provided a panel lifting apparatus for detachable attachment to a panel lifting hoist or trolley. The apparatus comprises a primary support member, a clamp for gripping engagement with a panel to be lifted, a control device for actuating the clamp via a cable linking the clamp and the control device. When a panel is to be lifted from a position off the apparatus and onto the hoist or trolley, the clamp is brought into engagement with the panel and the control device is actuated to draw the panel onto the hoist or trolley enabling the support and carriage of same. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A panel lifting apparatus for detachable attachment to a panel lifting hoist or trolley, the apparatus comprising: a primary support member; a wedge-shaped plate extending from the support member which engages a saddle included on the panel lifting hoist or trolley, thereby providing the detachable attachment to the trolley or hoist, a clamp for gripping engagement with a panel to be lifted, control means for actuating the clamp via a cable linking the clamp and the control means; wherein when a panel is to be lifted from a position off of an assembly comprising the panel lifting hoist or trolley and the panel lifting apparatus and onto the hoist or trolley, the clamp is brought into engagement with the panel and the control means actuated to draw the panel onto the hoist or trolley enabling support and carriage thereof. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A panel lifting apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the clamp is a scissor clamp comprising jaws and a pantograph which act in response to actuation of the control means such that the greater the panel load the greater the clamping force. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) A panel lifting apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the control means comprises a drive wheel having associated therewith the cable linked via at least one pulley with the scissor clamp. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) A panel lifting apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the primary support member comprises a column. ### Claim 5 A panel lifting apparatus for detachable attachment to a panel lifting hoist or trolley, the apparatus comprising: a primary support member, a clamp for gripping engagement with a panel to be lifted, control means for actuating the clamp via a cable linking the clamp and the control means; wherein when a panel is to be lifted from a position off of an assembly comprising the panel lifting hoist or trolley and the panel lifting apparatus and onto the hoist or trolley, the clamp is brought into engagement with the panel and the control means actuated to draw the panel onto the hoist or trolley enabling support and carriage thereof, wherein the clamp is a scissor clamp comprising jaws and a pantograph which act in response to actuation of the control means such that the greater the panel load the greater the clamping force, and wherein the control means comprises a drive wheel having associated therewith the cable linked via at least one pulley with the scissor clamp, and wherein the primary support member comprises a column to which is attached a wedge plate which provides said detachable attachment to the hoist or trolley, and wherein the cable is anchored at one end on the column and travels via the clamp and said at least one pulley to an anchorage at its opposite end on or near the drive wheel. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) A panel lifting apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the drive wheel is mounted on an axle which is supported by an axle support structure affixed to the column. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) A panel lifting apparatus according to claim 6 further comprising an adaptor to facilitate fitting of the panel lifting apparatus to said hoist or trolley; the adapter comprising a clamp and a saddle for receiving said wedge plate. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) A panel lifting apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the scissor clamp is naturally biased by a spring to a clamped position. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) A panel lifting apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the column is hollow and includes a stop in the hollow portion to restrict travel of the clamp. ### Claim 10 A panel lifting assembly comprising; a panel support hoist or trolley having at least a ground engaging carriage and a support structure, a panel lifting apparatus having means to enable detachable attachment of the apparatus to and from the hoist or trolley; characterised in that the panel lifting apparatus comprises; a primary support member, a wedge-shaped plate extending from the support member which engages a saddle included on the panel lifting hoist or trolley, thereby providing the detachable attachment to the trolley or hoist, a clamp for gripping engagement with a panel to be lifted, control means for actuating the clamp via a cable linking the clamp and the control means; wherein when a panel is to be lifted from a position off of the assembly and onto the assembly, the clamp is brought into engagement with the panel and the control means actuated to draw the panel onto the assembly enabling support and carriage thereof. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) A panel lifting assembly according to claim 10 wherein the trolley comprises; said ground engaging carriage supporting a main frame, at least three castor wheels and said panel support platform which receives the panel lifting apparatus. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) A panel lifting assembly according to claim 11 wherein the main frame includes hinges which allow rotation of the panel support platform. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) A panel lifting assembly according to claim 12 wherein the panel support platform comprises a longitudinal beam and at least two transverse arms. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) A panel lifting assembly according to claim 13 wherein the longitudinal beam is telescopically extendable. ### Claim 15 A panel lifting trolley comprising a ground engaging carriage, a substantially upright mainframe, a panel support platform connected to the mainframe and capable of being tilted; wherein the panel support platform has thereon a saddle for detachably receiving a panel lifting apparatus on the support platform; wherein further the panel lifting apparatus comprises: a primary support member, a wedge-shaped plate extending from the primary support member which engages the saddle, thereby providing the detachable attachment to the trolley, a clamp for gripping engagement with a panel to be lifted, and control means for actuating the clamp via a cable linking the clamp and the control means; wherein when a panel is to be lifted from a position off the trolley and onto the trolley, the clamp is brought into engagement with the panel and the control means actuated to draw the panel onto the trolley enabling support and carriage thereof. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) A panel lifting trolley according to claim 15 wherein the trolley includes hinges which allow rotation of the panel support platform. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) A panel lifting trolley according to claim 16 wherein the panel support platform comprises a longitudinal beam and at least two transverse arms. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) A panel lifting trolley according to claim 17 wherein the longitudinal beam is telescopically extendable. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) A panel lifting trolley according to claim 18 wherein the ground engaging carriage comprises two spaced apart legs each of which terminate in a transverse castor support beam.