Mechanical load bearing device

Abstract

A load bearing device for supporting ceilings during repair, said load bearing device including: a base having at least one support; a lifting means connected to said base, said lifting means including an operating mechanism used to operate said lifting means and an elongate extension means having a lower end and a upper end; a pressure plate mounted on said upper end of said elongate extension means to apply a load to and raise a portion of said ceiling when said lifting means is operated; said lifting means being arranged to move through a predetermined distance, the distance being substantially equivalent to a typical sagging distance, the lifting means being arranged to indicate to a user when it has moved through the predetermined distance.

1 . A load bearing device for supporting ceilings during repair, said load bearing device including:
 a base having at least one support;   a lifting means connected to said base, said lifting means including an operating mechanism used to operate said lifting means and an elongate extension means having a lower end and a upper end;   a pressure plate mounted on said upper end of said elongate extension means to apply a load to and raise a portion of said ceiling when said lifting means is operated;   said lifting means being arranged to move through a predetermined distance, the distance being substantially equivalent to a typical sagging distance, the lifting means being arranged to indicate to a user when it has moved through the predetermined distance.   
   
   
       2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one support includes a leg attached to said base. 
   
   
       3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one support includes three legs configured as a tripod. 
   
   
       4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said base further includes a single tube connected to said lifting means. 
   
   
       5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said operating mechanism includes a handle or similar device. 
   
   
       6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of supports further include a wheel connected to a lower end of each support to allow the device to be manoeuvrable. 
   
   
       7 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein said wheels include a locking mechanism to prevent the load bearing device from movement when in use. 
   
   
       8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said lifting means further includes a release mechanism to allow the lifting means to retract after use. 
   
   
       9 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein said lifting means is a bottle jack. 
   
   
       10 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein said lifting means is a combination hydraulic/air jack. 
   
   
       11 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said elongate extension means includes a number of spaced apart height adjustment holes located spaced from said upper end of said elongate extension means to allow for the adjustment in height of said load bearing device for different height ceilings. 
   
   
       12 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein said elongate extension means includes different length elongate extension means to vary the overall height of the load bearing device. 
   
   
       13 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein said lifting means further includes a spigot attached to said lifting means for attaching to said lower end of said elongate extension means. 
   
   
       14 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said pressure plate is a flat rectangular plate. 
   
   
       15 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said pressure plate is dimensioned to be 1130 mm in length to span three rafters having a standard 450 centimetres span from the centre of each rafter to the centre of the next rafter. 
   
   
       16 . A load bearing device for supporting ceilings during repair, said load bearing device including:
 a tripod base having a plurality of legs each having an upper end and a lower end, a wheel connected to the lower end of each leg to allow the device to be manoeuvrable;   a support having a top end and a bottom end, said plurality of legs attached to said support;   a lifting means including an operating mechanism used to operate said lifting means and said lifting means is connected to said top end of said support, said lifting means including:
 a release mechanism to allow the lifting means to retract after use; 
 an elongate extension means having a lower end and a upper end, said lower end connected to said lifting means; 
 a pressure plate attached to said upper end of said elongate extension means to apply a load to and raise a portion of said ceiling when said lifting means is operated; 
 wherein said lifting means being arranged to move through a predetermined distance, the distance being substantially equivalent to a typical sagging distance, the lifting means being arranged to indicate to a user when it has moved through the predetermined distance. 
   
   
   
       17 . The device of  claim 16 , wherein said pressure plate is dimensioned to be 1130 mm in length to span three rafters having a standard 450 centimetres span from the centre of each rafter to the centre of the next rafter. 
   
   
       18 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein said elongate extension means includes a number of spaced apart height adjustment holes located spaced from said upper end of said elongate extension means to allow for the adjustment in height of said load bearing device for different height ceilings. 
   
   
       19 . The device of  claim 17 , wherein said elongate extension means includes different length elongate extension means to vary the overall height of the load bearing device.