Importance

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Abstract

A building block placement apparatus is disclosed for facilitating the placement of a building block at a work site. The apparatus includes a pedestal which defines an opening. An elongate support has a proximal end and a distal end. The proximal end of the support is inserted within the opening of the pedestal for support therein. The elongate support extends upwardly from the pedestal. A telescopic extension has a first end and a second end, the first end of the telescopic extension being hingedly supported by the distal end of the elongate support. An adjustable jacking device has a first extremity and a second extremity, the first extremity being pivotally secured to the elongate support between the proximal end and the distal end thereof. The second extremity is pivotally secured to the telescopic extension between the first end and the second end thereof such that when the jacking device is adjusted, an angle defined between the elongate support and the telescopic extension is changed. A hoist is secured to the telescopic extension. The hoist includes a flexible line which has an outboard end. A building block moving device is secured to the outboard end of the flexible line for facilitating placement of the building blocks at the work site. The building block moving device includes a first elongate arm having a first termination supported by the outboard end of the line. A second elongate arm has a first edge pivotally secured to the first termination of the first arm. The first arm and the second arm define respectively a second termination and a second edge disposed remote from the outboard end of the line. A third elongate arm has a further termination pivotally secured to the second termination. A fourth elongate arm has a further edge pivotally secured to the second edge. The third elongate arm and the fourth elongate arm have a remote first end and remote second end respectively. The third arm and the fourth arm are pivotally secured relative to each other between the further termination and the remote first end of the third arm and between the further edge and the remote second end of the fourth arm. A building block engaging device extends from the remote first end of the third arm. A further building block engaging device extends from the remote second end of the fourth arm such that in the absence of any tension in the line, the block engaging device and the further block engaging device are free to move away from each other so that at least a portion of the building block is disposed between the block engaging devices, but when tension is applied to the line by the hoist, the block engaging devices move towards each other for firmly and securely engaging therebetween the at least a portion of the building block for facilitating lifting, transportation and accurate placement of the building block without any need for manual lifting of the building block and the possibility of any back injury that could result from such manual lifting, transportation and accurate placement of the building block.

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First Claim