Method and apparatus for hanging sheeting material

Abstract

A panel lifting device can have a panel lift body and a base. The panel lift body can comprise a plurality of extension arms, each being selectively engaged perpendicular to a main support member. A material stabilizer can be selectively attached to each extension arm, and can be selectively positionable between a stored position and a working position. The panel lift body can comprise a support member attachment that selectively attaches the panel lift body to a supporting member. The support member attachment can be pivotally coupled to a first end of the panel lift body, so the panel lift body can be pivoted up and down. The base can be pivotally coupled to a second end of the panel lift body, such that the base may be pivoted to an opened and closed position. The base may comprise a first and a second leg member that are selectively extendable.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device comprising:
 a panel lift body comprising:
 a support member attachment means pivotally engaged to a first end of said panel lift body, and configured to selectively attach said device to an associated support member; and 
 a plurality of side extension arms selectively engaged with a central support member of said panel lift body at a first end of respective extension arms, wherein:
 respective side extension arms are extending relative to said central support member; 
 respective side extension arms comprise a material stabilizer selectively engaged at a second end of said side extension arm; and 
 said material stabilizer is configured to mitigate movement of an associated panel during lifting; and 
 
   a support base, comprising:
 a first leg and a second leg respectively configured to selectively extend and retract; and 
 at least one lift body engagement means configured to pivotally engage with a second end of said panel lift body, wherein said support base is configured to pivot between a folded position, comprising an adjacent position parallel to said panel lift body, and an open position, comprising a position perpendicular to said panel lift body when said associated panel is lifted into an installation position. 
   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said first leg and a second leg respectively comprise one or more of:
 an internal member and an external member, said internal member configured to selectively extend from and retract into said external member;   an adjustable stop comprising a ratchet assembly configured to allow said internal member to extend from said external member and mitigate said internal member retracting into said external member; and   a safety stop configured to selectively mitigate said internal member extending from said external member.   
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein said support base further comprises at least one rung fixedly engaged with, and disposed between, said external member of said first leg and said external member of said second leg. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein one or more of said at least one rung comprises an adjustable rung, configured to be selectively adjustable in length. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said panel lift body comprises a first, a second, a third, and a fourth side extension arm, and wherein respective material stabilizers are selectively positionable between a stored position and a working position. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said support member attachment means comprises a positioning hinge, wherein said positioning hinge is configured to be selectively attached to said associated support member by a fastening means engaged with said positioning hinge and said associated support member. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said support member attachment means comprises a gripper attachment, wherein said gripper attachment is configured to be selectively attached to said associated support member by a gripping action selectively locked into a gripping position on said associated support member. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said panel lift body has an effective width for accommodating different sizes of sheeting material, and wherein said effective width is selectively changeable. 
     
     
         9 . An apparatus configured to facilitate merely one person applying sheet material, the apparatus comprising:
 a selectively adjustable lift body support base configured to pivot from a folded position to a support position to support an associated panel sheet during application of an associated sheet panel; and   a panel lift body pivotally engaged with said lift body support base at a second end of said panel lift body, said panel lift body configured to retain said associated panel sheet during lifting and application of said associated sheet panel to an associated ceiling structure, said panel lift body comprising:
 a support attachment selectively, pivotally engaged with a first end of said panel lift body, and configured to selectively attach to a support member to secure said first end of said panel lift body to said support member during lifting and application of said associated sheet panel to an associated ceiling structure; and 
 a center support member selectively engaged with a first, second, third, and fourth extension arm, wherein a combination of said center support member said first, second, third, and fourth extension arms are configured mitigate movement of said associated panel sheet during lifting and application of said associated sheet panel to said associated ceiling structure. 
   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein said panel lift body further comprises one or more of:
 a fifth extension arm selectively engaged with the second end of said panel lift body; and   at least one material stabilizer selectively engaged with at least one extension arm, wherein the material stabilizer is configured to be selectively positionable between a stored position and a working position.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein said support attachment comprises one or more of:
 a positioning hinge, pivotally coupled to said first end, and configured to be selectively fastened to said support member using a fastening means; and   a gripper attachment, pivotally coupled to said first end, and configured to apply gripping force to said support member to selectively secure said first end of said panel lift body to said support member.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein said lift body support base is pivotally coupled to a second end of said panel lift body. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein said lift body support base further comprises a first leg and a second leg, wherein said first leg and a second leg respectively comprise an internal member and an external member, said internal member configured to selectively extend from and retract into said external member. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein said lift body support base further comprises an adjustable stop comprising a ratchet assembly configured to allow said internal member to extend from said external member and mitigate said internal member retracting into said external member. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein said lift body support base further comprises a safety stop configured to selectively mitigate said internal member extending from said external member. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein said lift body support base further comprises one or more rungs disposed between said first leg and said second leg, wherein at least one of the one or more rungs comprises an adjustable rung configured to allow the length of said adjustable rung to be adjusted. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein at least one of said extension arms are configured to be selectively positionable along said center support member of said panel lift body. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the panel lift body has an effective width configured to accommodate said associated panel sheet, and wherein at least one of said extension arms are selectively positionable along said center support member to adjust said effective width of said panel lift body. 
     
     
         19 . A method for hanging a panel sheet overhead comprising the steps of:
 providing a device comprising a lift body pivotally coupled to a base;   positioning said device in a first position comprising said device disposed in a folded position and substantially parallel to a sidewall;   pivoting a first end of said lift body upward toward a ceiling structure;   attaching a support member attachment means to a supporting member, wherein said support member attachment means is pivotally engaged with said first end of said lift body;   pivoting said base adjacent and parallel to said lift body, resulting in a second end of said lift body being disposed near a ground surface;   placing an associated panel sheet against the lift body;   pivoting said second end of said lift body in upward toward said ceiling structure, resulting in said associated panel sheet being positioned substantially adjacent to said ceiling structure;   pivoting said base down to a support position substantially parallel to said sidewall, resulting in said base supporting said associated panel sheet adjacent to said ceiling structure; and   attaching the panel sheet to a ceiling member.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 releasing at least a first material stabilizer from a stored position to a working position;   releasing one or more of a first safety stop and a second safety stop;   extending a first leg member and a second leg member from said base resulting in said associated panel sheet to be supporting adjacent to said ceiling structure;   engaging said one or more of said first safety stop and said second safety stop;   un-attaching said support member attachment means from said supporting member; and   returning said device to said first position.