A hand-operated truck comprises a frame having a base and an upstanding portion which includes two main wheels at its bottom side, a hand-operated lift assembly above the wheels and a top handle portion. An auxiliary wheel is mounted on the upstanding portion above the main wheel and can be grounded to cooperate with the main wheels to support a load when the upstanding portion is inclined. The lift assembly includes a reel and a rope for lowering and raising the load, and a brake assembly for controlling the lowering and lifting operation.

A lifter is constructed to include a hollow main upright, a frame pivoted to the main upright to carry a hand winch, a link coupled between the frame and the main upright, a hollow auxiliary upright axially movably mounted in the hollow main upright, a lifting upright axially movably mounted in the hollow auxiliary upright, two first pulley blocks coupled between the hand winch and the hollow auxiliary upright and adapted to lift the hollow auxiliary upright upon operation of the hand winch, and two second pulley blocks coupled between the hollow main upright and the lifting upright and adapted to lift the lifting upright upon operation of the hand winch after the hollow auxiliary upright has been extended out of the hollow main upright.

The invention comprises a panel lifting apparatus having at least three telescoping elongated sections telescoping into one another and all telescoping into a non-telescoping elongated frame member. Three separate chain length segaments not directly connected to one another act to raise and lower the telescoping sections. The first chain segament has its upper and lower end mounted to the upper and lower end of the first telescoping section. The second chain segament has its upper end connected to the upper end of the non-telescoping section and its lower end connected to the lower end of the second telescoping section. The third chain segament has its upper end connected to the upper end of the first telescoping section and its lower end connected to the lower end of the third telescoping section. The non-telescoping section has a gear drive with its output gear engaging the first chain segament to raise and lower the first chain segament to thereby raise and lower the first telescoping section. The raising and lowering of the first telescoping section raises and lowers simultaneously the second and third telescoping sections through the chain segament connections.

A mechanically operated, cable driven jack includes a base, a hollow upright support member secured to the base, a first hollow support tube telescopically received in the support member, and a second hollow support tube telescopically received within the first support tube. The first and second support tubes are interconnected by means of a cable and a series of sheaves and driven by a winch employing a worm gear drive principle so as to move the first and second support tubes from collapsed condition to an extended position. Safety means are also provided to limit the downward movement of the tubes and the arrangement of the pulley sheaves and the cable drive is such that upward movement is also controlled. Modifications of the jack include the provision of selected alternate attachment points for the free end of the cable so as to enable the jack to be modified for fast or slow movement, depending upon the precise engagement point of the free end of the cable. A further feature of the invention is the provision of an improved saddle capable of use with any of the forms of the invention and also capable of adjustment to accommodate varying sizes of transmissions and of tilting in several planes so as to facilitate removal of the transmission from particularly restricted environments, depending upon the make and model of the vehicle involved.

A panel hoist for raising sheet or panel materials such as sheet rock, plywood, rock lath and similar materials. The panel hoist is used to aid in installation of these panels, particularly when the installer is working singlehandedly. The panel hoist includes a telescoping mast assembly, preferably having three stage operation. A collapsible base framework is provided with casters so that the panel hoist can be rolled into position. The collapsible base framework is specially constructed so as to minimize the size of the unit in the collapsed. Two different head assemblies are provided, depending upon whether panels are being installed horizontally or upright. The head assemblies are also collapsible to provide compactness and easy portability.