Lifting device for slab, panel or sheet materials

A device suitable for lifting or handling sheet, panel or slab material, the device

• comprising:
• a frame having:
• first and second generally vertical rigid sides arranged in spaced and opposed relation to one another, each of said sides having an upper and a lower portion,
• a substantially horizontal cross-member rigidly joining said upper portions of said sides together, and
• the lower portion of the first side shaped so that it diverges outwardly and .downwardly away from the second side,
• a substantially vertical first movable jaw arranged between the frame sides and depending from and slidably mounted on said cross-member for substantially horizontal movement between said sides,
• a first carriage arranged between the lower portion of the first side and said movable jaw for vertical movement with respect to the frame so that, as said carriage is raised in the frame, it will ride on the divergent lower portion of the first side and force the movable jaw horizontally toward the second frame side, and
• a first tension member connected to said carriage and extending upwards from the frame, whereby both the carriage and the lifting device as a whole may be raised by the application of an upward force to said tension member causing said movable jaw to be moved toward said second frame side.