US 12,330,926 B2
Multi-armed lifting accessory
John Morris, Chillicothe, IL (US)
Assigned to ROCKFORD RIGGING, INC.
Filed by Rockford Rigging, Inc., Rockford, IL (US)
Filed on Mar. 16, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/203,697.
Application 17/203,697 is a continuation of application No. 16/595,174, filed on Oct. 7, 2019, granted, now 10,947,096.
Application 16/595,174 is a continuation of application No. 15/590,007, filed on May 8, 2017, granted, now 10,435,281, issued on Oct. 8, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/333,147, filed on May 6, 2016.
Prior Publication US 2021/0198091 A1, Jul. 1, 2021
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. B66F 9/12 (2006.01); E02F 3/04 (2006.01); E02F 3/34 (2006.01); B66F 9/00 (2006.01); E02F 3/00 (2006.01)
CPC B66F 9/12 (2013.01) [E02F 3/04 (2013.01); E02F 3/3402 (2013.01); E02F 3/3414 (2013.01); B66F 9/00 (2013.01); E02F 3/00 (2013.01)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A Multi-Armed Lifting Accessory for use in lifting operations of irregular shaped or balanced loads comprising:
a) a lifter body having an upper end and a lower end, the upper end configured for engagement with a working end of a lifting device, the lower end configured as a base allowing independent support of the lifter body;
b) a first loading arm having a first section having a first end and a second end, the first end of the first section of the first loading arm attached to the lifter body, a second section having a first end and a second end, the second end of the first section is connected to the first end of the second section of the first loading arm via a first pivot joint;
c) a first support arm having a first end and a second end, the first end of the first support arm connected to the lifter body proximate the upper end, the second end of the first support arm attached to the first section of the first loading arm between the first end and the second end of the first section of the first loading arm;
d) a second loading arm having a first section having a first end and a second end, the first end of the first section of the second loading arm attached to the lifter body, a second section having a first end and a second end, the second end of the first section is connected to the first end of the second section of the second loading arm via a first pivot joint;
e) a second support arm having a first end and a second end, the first end of the second support arm connected to the lifter body proximate the upper end, the second end of the second support arm attached to the first section of the second loading arm between the first end and the second end of the first section of the second loading arm;
f) a third loading arm having a first section having a first end and a second end, the first end of the first section of the third loading arm attached to the lifter body, a second section having a first end and a second end, the second end of the first section is connected to the first end of the second section of the third loading arm via a first pivot joint;
g) a third support arm having a first end and a second end, the first end of the third support arm connected to the lifter body proximate the upper end, the second end of the third support arm attached to the first section of the third loading arm between the first end and the second end of the first section of the third loading arm;
h) a fourth loading arm having a first section having a first end and a second end, the first end of the first section of the fourth loading arm attached to the lifter body, a second section having a first end and a second end, the second end of the first section is connected to the second section of the fourth loading arm via a first pivot joint; and,
i) a fourth support arm having a first end and a second end, the first end of the fourth support arm connected to the lifter body proximate the upper end, the second end of the third support arm attached to the first section of the fourth loading arm between the first end and the second end of the first section of the fourth loading arm wherein the first, second, third and fourth support arms are configured with a spring tube attached to each loading arm to enhance the Multi-Armed Lifting Accessory capacity to flex in response to a shift in the load during a lifting operation.