Concrete slab lifter

Abstract

A concrete slab lifter is disclosed, wherein the concrete slab lifter comprises a central support, a bottom plate attached to the bottom of the central support, a pair of wheels attached near the bottom of the central support, a jaw pivotally attached to the central support, and a handle attached to the top of the central support. The jaw is configured to slide along the central support and comprises a first member attached to the central support and configured to lock in a position flush against the central support, a second member attached perpendicularly to the first member, and a tooth comprising a sharpened plate attached perpendicularly to the second member.

1 . A slab lifter comprising: 
 a central support having a bottom end and a top end and a length between said bottom end and said top end;    a bottom plate extending from the central support at or near the bottom end of the central support;    a jaw extending from a region of the central support that is between said bottom end said top end; and    wheels operatively connected to the central support;    wherein the central support comprises a first portion that telescopes relative to a second portion of the central support to increase said length of the central support.    
   
   
       2 . A slab lifter as in  claim 1 , wherein the jaw is connected to said central support in such a way that it moves toward and away from the bottom plate in a direction parallel to the central support.  
   
   
       3 . A slab lifter as in  claim 1 , wherein the jaw comprises: 
 a first arm that is pivotally connected to the central support and is adapted to pivot and lock into a position where the first arm has a longitudinal axis which is parallel to a longitudinal axis of the central support;    a second arm connected to the first arm; and    a tooth connected to the second arm, said tooth extending parallel to the first arm.    
   
   
       4 . The slab lifter of  claim 3  wherein the tooth is a sharpened metal plate.  
   
   
       5 . The slab lifter of  claim 1  wherein the bottom plate extends generally perpendicularly from the central support.  
   
   
       6 . The slab lifter of  claim 1  wherein the wheels are adapted to pivot about a hinge connected to the central support.  
   
   
       7 . The slab lifter of  claim 1 , wherein the jaw comprises: 
 a first arm that is pivotally connected to the central support and is adapted to pivot and lock into a position where the first arm has a longitudinal axis which is parallel to a longitudinal axis of the central support;    a second arm connected to the first arm; and    a tooth connected to the second arm, said tooth extending parallel to the first arm and wherein the tooth extends perpendicularly to the bottom plate when said jaw is locked.    
   
   
       8 . The slab lifter of  claim 7  wherein the second arm extends perpendicularly to the first arm.  
   
   
       9 . The slab lifter of  claim 7  wherein the second arm has an inner surface for facing a slab being lifted, wherein said inner surface is generally flat and perpendicular to the central support when the jaw is locked.  
   
   
       10 . The slab lifter of  claim 1 , wherein the jaw is pivotally connected to said region of the central support that is between said bottom end said top end, wherein the wheels pivot about a hinge connected to the central support, and wherein the wheels pivot toward the bottom plate to be in a lowered position near the bottom plate and pivot away from the bottom plate to be in a raised position near the position of pivotal connection of said jaw to said region.  
   
   
       11 . The slab lifter of  claim 1  comprising only a single jaw.  
   
   
       12 . The slab lifter of  claim 1  wherein the tooth is a plate having a sharpened distal edge.  
   
   
       13 . A slab lifter as in  claim 1 , wherein the central support first portion is near said top end and the central support second portion is near said bottom end, and wherein said jaw is pivotally connected to the first portion at a jaw pivot, so that, when said first portion telescopes relative to said second portion, the jaw pivot moves away from the bottom plate by means of said lengthening of the central support.  
   
   
       14 . A lifter for lifting and transporting a slab having a top surface, a bottom surface, and opposing end surfaces, the slab lifter comprising: 
 a central support having a top end and a bottom end and a length between said top end and said bottom end;    a bottom member extending from the central support at or near the bottom end;    a generally U-shaped jaw having an elongated first arm being pivotally connected to the central support at a jaw pivot and extending toward the top end of the central support, a second arm extending from the first arm generally transverse to the central support longitudinal axis, and a tooth portion extending from the second arm to be generally perpendicular to the bottom member;    wherein the jaw is pivotal to move the second arm toward the bottom member so that the second arm and the bottom member are configured to clamp said opposite ends of a slab and so that the tooth portion is configured to extend along said bottom surface of the slab near one of the said opposing ends of the slab; and    wherein said central support comprises portions that telescope relative to each other to increase said length of the central support.    
   
   
       15 . The lifter as in  claim 14  wherein the bottom member is substantially planar and is not adapted to contact said bottom surface of the slab.  
   
   
       16 . The lifter as in  claim 14  comprising a lock that holds the jaw in a position wherein the second arm is parallel to the bottom member and that prevents the jaw from pivoting relative to the central support.  
   
   
       17 . The lifter as in  claim 14  comprising wheels pivotally connected to the central support and moveable from a position nearer said second end of the central support to a position nearer said first end of the central support.  
   
   
       18 . The lifter as in  claim 14 , wherein said central support portions that telescope relative to each other comprise a first portion near said top end and a second portion near said bottom end, and wherein said jaw pivot is located on said first portion, so that, when said first portion telescopes relative to said second portion, the jaw pivot moves away from the bottom member.  
   
   
       19 . The lifter as in  claim 18 , wherein said wheels are pivotally connected to said second portion of the central support.  
   
   
       20 . A slab lifter comprising: 
 a central support having a bottom end and a top end and a length between said bottom end and said top end;    a bottom plate extending from the central support at or near the bottom end of the central support;    a jaw extending from a region of the central support that is between said bottom end said top end; and    wheels operatively connected to the central support;    wherein the central support is extendable in length for varying the distance between the jaw and the bottom plate.    
   
   
       21 . The slab lifter as in  claim 20 , wherein said central support is extendable in length by means of portions of said central support telescoping relative to each other.