Portable apparatus for applying a pulling force to structures

Claim 3

The apparatus for applying a pulling force as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for applying a pulling force to said flexible member in response to extension of said extensible member includes: a. a leverage arm having an intermediate portion pivotally mounted on said standard, one end of said leverage arm having the other end of said extensible member pivotally connected thereto; b. a guide member rotatably mounted on the other end of said leverage arm, said guide member being positioned below said flexible member therefrom; and c. means on said leverage arm for engaging a portion of said flexible member and holding said engaged portion against movement during extension of said extensible member, said flexible member holding means being spaced from said guide member.

Claim 4

The apparatus for applying a pulling force as set forth in claim 2 wherein: a. said flexible member is a chain having interconnected links with adjacent links being in normal relation; b. said flexible member guiding means mounted on said standard and said guide member mounted on said leverage arm are sprockets; and c. each of said sprockets has a pair of laterally spaced planar members each having a plurality of circumferentially spaced projections extending from the periphery thereof, said projections defining link supporting surfaces between adjacent projections.

Claim 5

The apparatus for applying a pulling force as set forth in claim 3 wherein: a. said projections on said spaced planar members are arranged in aligned pairs; b. each of said sprockets has a planar center member between said spaced planar members; and c. said center member has a recess in the peripheral edge thereof for each pair of aligned projections, said recesses each defining a link supporting surface.

Claim 6

The apparatus for applying a pulling force as set forth in claim 1 wherein: a. said base is an elongate planar member; b. said standard is formed of a pair of laterally spaced parallel frames; c. each of said frames has a side member mounted adjacent each end of said base and extending upwardly therefrom and converging at an intersection above the longitudinal center of said base; and d. each of said frames has a post extending upwardly from the intersection of said side members.

Claim 7

The apparatus for applying pulling force as set foRth in claim 2 wherein: a. a line extending between the pivotal mounting of said leverage arm and the pivotal mounting of the other end of said extensible member is substantially normal to a line extending between the pivotal mounting of said leverage arm and said guide member; and b. said guide member is rotatably mounted on an upper portion of said leverage arm and said other end of said extensible member is pivotally connected to a lower portion of said leverage arm whereby extension of said extensible member lowers said guide member and the portion of said flexible member in engagement therewith.

Claim 8

The apparatus for applying a pulling force as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for applying a pulling force to said flexible member in response to extension of said extensible member includes: a. a movable member mounted on said standard and having the extensible member connected thereto to effect movement thereof; b. means on said moveable member and on said standard to be selectively engaged by a portion of said flexible member for holding said engaged portion against movement during extension of said extensible member whereby each holding means for said flexible member effects a different magnitude of the pulling force for equal extension of said extensible member.

Claim 9

A portable apparatus for applying a pulling force to structures comprising: a. an elongate planar base member adapted to engage a surface for support thereon; b. a standard mounted on said base and upstanding therefrom; c. roller means mounted on said base and normally positioned above same for movably supporting said base and standard when said base and standard are moved to engage said roller means with the support surface; d. an extensible member having one end thereof pivotally connected to a fixed point relative to said base; e. a flexible member adapted to be connected to a structure to receive a pulling force; f. means actuated by said extensible member and having a portion engaging said flexible member to apply a pulling force thereto in response to extension of said extensible member; g. means mounted on said standard above said pulling force applying means for guiding said flexible member into engagement therewith; h. means mounted on said standard and engageable with said flexible member to hold same against retractive movement upon contraction of said extensible member and to permit said flexible member to move in one direction and limit movement in the opposite direction; i. and anchor fixedly mounted in the support surface; and j. a second flexible member adapted to be connected to said anchor and to said standard at a point alignable with said guiding means for said first named flexible member to hold said standard against movement toward the structure to receive the pulling force when said extensible member is extended to effect said pulling force.

Claim 10

A portable apparatus for applying a pulling force to structures comprising: a. an elongate planar base member adapted to engage a surface for support thereon; b. a standard mounted on said base and upstanding therefrom; c. roller means mounted on said base and normally positioned above same for movably supporting said base and standard when said base and standard are moved to engage said roller means with the support surface; d. an extensible member having one end thereof pivotally connected to a fixed point relative to said base; e. a flexible member adapted to be connected to a structure to receive a pulling force; f. means actuated by said extensible member and having a portion engaging said flexible member to apply a pulling force thereto in response to extension of said extensible member; g. means mounted on said standard above said pulling force applying means for guiding said flexible member into engagement therewith; h. means mounted on said standard and engageable with said flexible member to hold same against retractive movement upon contraction of said extensible member and to permit said flexible member to move in one direction and limit movement in the opposite direction; i. and anchor fixedly mounted in the support surface; and j. a second flexible member adapted to be connected to said anchor and to said standard at a point alignable with said guiding means for said first named flexible member to hold said standard against movement toward the structure to receive the pulling force when said extensible member is extended to effect said pulling force.

Claim 11

The apparatus for applying a pulling force as set forth in claim 8 including: a. means on said standard positioned between said guiding means for said first named flexible member and said pulling force applying means for engaging a portion of said first named flexible member and holding said engaged portion thereof against movement during extension of said extensible member; and b. means associated with said means for applying a pulling force to said first named flexible member for engaging a portion of said first named flexible member and holding said engaged portion thereof against movement during extension of said extensible member whereby each holding means for said first named flexible member effects a different magnitude of the pulling force.

Claim 12

The apparatus for applying a pulling force as set forth in claim 9 wherein: a. said first named flexible member is a chain having interconnected links with adjacent links thereof being in normal relation; and b. said means to hold said flexible member against retractive movement is a Dog guidably mounted on said standard for movement into and out of engagement with the links of said chain, said dog is movable down an inclined surface to be engaged by said chain and said dog is moved upwardly along said inclined surface in response to downward movement of said chain.

Claim 13

The apparatus for applying a pulling force as set forth in claim 10 wherein: a. said standard is formed of a pair of laterally spaced parallel frames longitudinally centered on said base; b. each of said frames has a side member mounted adjacent each end of said base and extending upwardly therefrom and converging at an intersection above the longitudinal center of said base to form a triangular lower portion; c. each of said frames has a post extending upwardly from the intersection of said side members; d. said means for applying a pulling force to said first named flexible member is a leverage arm having an intermediate portion pivotally mounted between said frames, one end of said leverage arm having the other end of said extensible member pivotally connected thereto, the other end of said leverage arm having a guide member rotatably mounted thereon, said guide member being positioned below said means for guiding said first named flexible member to receive said first named flexible member therefrom, said leverage arm being between said frames; and e. said one end of said extensible member is positioned between said frames.