Panel raising apparatus and method of use

Abstract

In a building construction having a floor surface, a wall structure extending upwardly from the floor surface to a ceiling structure, which is positioned above the floor surface, a panel lifting apparatus includes a stationary hinging member, which is tacked in a horizontal attitude to the wall structure in proximity to the ceiling structure. The stationary hinging member provides strut-fastening fixtures engaged with extended support struts extending downward from the stationary hinging member. A movable hinging member is mounted near the free ends of the support struts. The movable hinging member provides a hinged fixture for engaging an extended lifting strut. The lifting strut is able to push the support struts with a ceiling panel on top of them into place against ceiling joists in position to be fastened in place while the lifting strut wedges the panel in place against the floor surface.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . In a building construction having a floor surface, a wall structure extending upwardly from the floor surface to a ceiling structure positioned above the floor surface, a panel lifting apparatus comprising in combination: a stationary hinging member providing a means for fixing of the stationary hinging member in a horizontal attitude above the floor surface to the wall structure in proximity to the ceiling structure, the stationary hinging member further providing a hinged means for support strut engagement, the support strut engagement means rotatable over an arc of at least 90 angular degrees; and a movable hinging member providing a means for support strut attachment establishing a spaced apart position of the movable hinging member relative to the stationary hinging member, the movable hinging member further providing a hinged means for engaging a lifting strut, the lifting strut engaging means rotatable over an arc of at least 45 angular degrees.  
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the fixing means of the stationary hinging member is a base plate having apertures therein.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the support strut engagement means and the support strut attachment means are both at least one rotatably mounted U-shaped fixture.  
     
     
         4 . In a building construction having a floor surface, a wall structure extending upwardly from the floor surface to a ceiling structure positioned above the floor surface, a panel lifting apparatus comprising in combination: a stationary hinging member providing a means for fixing of the stationary hinging member in a horizontal attitude above the floor surface to the wall structure in proximity to the ceiling structure, the stationary hinging member further providing a hinged means for support strut engagement, the support strut engagement means is rotatable over an arc of at least 90 angular degrees so that support struts engaged therewith may be so rotated; and a movable hinging member providing a means for support strut attachment thereby positioning the movable hinging member in a spaced apart position on the support struts relative to the stationary hinging member, the movable hinging member further providing a hinged means for engaging a lifting strut, the lifting strut engaging means rotatable over an arc of at least 45 angular degrees as rotated by a lifting strut so as to rotate a panel resting on the support struts from a leaning position below the ceiling structure into a raised position proximate the ceiling structure.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein the fixing means of the stationary hinging member is a base plate having apertures therein.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein the support strut engagement means and the support strut attachment means are both at least one rotatably mounted U-shaped fixture.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein the support and lifting struts are common wood beams.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 4  further comprising a means for strut spacing engaged between the support struts.  
     
     
         9 . In a building construction having a floor surface, a wall structure extending upwardly from the floor surface to a ceiling structure positioned above the floor surface, a panel lifting apparatus comprising in combination: a stationary hinging member fixed to the wall structure and providing support struts extending at an angle downwardly therefrom for supporting a ceiling panel; a movable hinging member engaged with the support struts in spaced apart juxtaposition relative to the fixed hinging member; and a lifting strut engaged with the movable hinging member and extending. downwardly at an angle therefrom into contact with the floor surface.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the fixing means of the stationary hinging member is a base plate having apertures therein.  
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the support strut engagement means and the support strut attachment means are both at least one rotatably mounted U-shaped fixture.  
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the support and lifting struts are common wood beams.  
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 9  further comprising a means for strut spacing engaged between the support struts.  
     
     
         14 . In a building construction having a floor surface, a wall structure extending upwardly from the floor surface to a ceiling structure positioned above the floor surface, a panel lifting method comprising the steps of: fixing a stationary hinging member in a horizontal attitude above the floor surface to the wall structure in proximity to the ceiling structure; providing a hinged means for support strut engagement on the stationary hinging member so as to be rotatable over an arc of at least 90 angular degrees; mounting a movable hinging member having a means for support strut attachment in a spaced apart position relative to the stationary hinging member; providing the movable hinging member with a hinged means for engaging a lifting strut so as to be rotatable over an arc of at least 45 angular degrees.  
     
     
         15 . In a building construction having a floor surface, a wall structure extending upwardly from the floor surface to a ceiling structure positioned above the floor surface, a panel lifting method comprising the steps of: mounting a stationary hinging member in a horizontal attitude above the floor surface to the wall structure in proximity to the ceiling structure; engaging struts with a hinged means for support strut engagement, the support strut engagement means rotatable over an arc of at least 90 angular degrees so that the support struts engaged therewith may be so rotated; mounting a movable hinging member having a means for support strut attachment in a spaced apart position on the support struts relative to the stationary hinging member and providing the movable hinging member with a hinged means for engaging a lifting strut that is rotatable over an arc of at least 45 angular degrees; lifting the lifting strut so as to rotate a panel resting on the support struts from a leaning position below the ceiling structure into a raised position proximate the ceiling structure.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising the step of engaging a strut spacing means between the support struts.  
     
     
         17 . In a building construction having a floor surface, a wall structure extending upwardly from the floor surface to a ceiling structure positioned above the floor surface, a panel lifting method comprising in the steps of: fixing a stationary hinging member to the wall structure; providing support struts extending at an angle downwardly therefrom for supporting a ceiling panel; engaging a movable hinging member with the support struts in spaced apart juxtaposition relative to the fixed hinging member; engaging a lifting strut with the movable hinging member and extending the lifting strut downwardly at an angle therefrom into contact with the floor surface; and lifting the lifting strut to rotate the panel into proximity with the ceiling.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising the step of engaging a means for strut spacing between the support struts.