Apparatus for removal of vault lids and other heavy covers

An apparatus for lifting and removing lids, said apparatus comprising:

• an elongate lever having a handgrip area at an upper end thereof for application of force in a rearward and downward direction;
• at least one wheel mounted to a lower end of said lever for resting on an underlying surface so as to provide a generally horizontal pivot axis, said at least one wheel being mounted so that said pivot axis which is formed thereby is positioned behind a long axis of said elongate lever, said wheel further being configured to form a rolling axis for transporting a lid over said underlying surface after lifting and removal;
• a foot plate mounted to said lower end of said lever rearwardly of said pivot axis for application of force in a downward direction;
• a lifting arm mounted to said lower end of said elongate lever;
• at least one hook member mounted to said lifting arm forwardly of said pivot axis for engaging and raising a lid in response to said forces being applied in said rearward and downward directions to said lever and said footplate, said hook member being pivotably mounted to said lifting arm so that said hook member is free to pivot rearwardly as a lid is lifted and removed thereby;
• and
• means for stabilizing a lid as said lid is lifted and removed by said hook member, said means for stabilizing a lid comprising first and second outwardly extending stabilizing plates mounted to said lower end of said lever below said lifting arm for engaging an edge surface of said lid as said lid is lifted and removed by said pivoting hook member.

An apparatus for lifting and removing lids, said apparatus comprising:

• an elongate lever having a handgrip area at an upper end thereof for application of force in a rearward and downward direction;
• at least one wheel mounted to a lower end of said lever for resting on an underlying surface so as to provide a generally horizontal pivot axis, said at least one wheel being mounted so that said pivot axis which is formed thereby is positioned behind a long axis of said elongate lever, said wheel further being configured to form a rolling axis for transporting a lid over said underlying surface after lifting and removal;
• a foot plate mounted to said lower end of said lever rearwardly of said pivot axis for application of force in a downward direction;
• a lifting arm mounted to said lower end of said elongate lever;
• and
• at least one hook member mounted to said lifting arm forwardly of said pivot axis for engaging and raising a lid in response to said forces being applied in said rearward and downward directions to said lever and said footplate, said hook member comprising a first hook member mounted at a rearward position on said lifting arm for engaging a first opening on a rear side of a lid and a second hook member mounted at a forward position on said lifting arm for engaging a second opening on a far side of said lid.