A hoist system having a drum primarily self-contained within a batten, for raising and lowering lighting, sound equipment, curtains and the like in a performance environment. The hoist system may be adapted with safety mechanisms including an overload sensor and/or a slack line detector. The system may be provided in the form of a point hoist. The compact system is highly scalable to a variety of spaces and applications, including school and public theaters and concert halls, as well as some homes, private business, etc. Additional features include various cable management systems and trim adjustment mechanisms for use with the hoist system.

The apparatus for moving a load includes a carrier cable having a first end connected to the load, and a second end connected to a movement device, the movement device including an operating line connected to a movement carriage. An electric motor is configured to move the carriage as a function of a force exerted on the operating line.

A power assisted counterweight-balanced rigging device for raising and lowering a load including a sealed arbor, a sprocket driven by a driven gear and laterally adjacent first and second idler gears.

A system for positioning equipment comprises a hoist including an electric motor coupled to a pulley for exerting a pulling force upon a tension member that extends to a distal end configured to attach to an elevated structure. The system also comprises a portable power supply including a battery supplying DC power, and an inverter configured to generate and supply AC power to the hoist for driving the electric motor and thereby lifting the hoist toward the elevated structure. A method for pre-positioning a hoist comprises attaching a tension member of a hoist to an elevated structure; generating AC power from a DC source by an inverter of a portable power supply; and lifting the hoist using the portable power supply. Thus, the hoist can be pre-positioned in an elevated location before utility power is available.

A frontloading arbor apparatus for use in counterweight rigging operations configured to enable individual counterweight load adjustment within at least one of a plurality of discrete compartments while the remaining compartments are secured by one or more gate mechanisms, thereby limiting a potential inadvertent separation of the entire counterweight load during use. The frontloading arbor apparatus including a rigid support frame having a plurality of laterally oriented shelf members extending between a pair of sidewalls, a corresponding plurality of gate mechanisms for each of the plurality of discrete compartments, the plurality of gate mechanisms pivotably coupled to one of the sidewalls and configured to pivot between an open position and a closed position, and a corresponding plurality of latches for each of the plurality of gates, each of the plurality of latches configured to independently secure each of the corresponding plurality of gates in the closed position.

A lift assembly includes an article to be lifted between a lowered position and a raised position, a drive element coupled to the article, a power mechanism coupled to the drive element, and a power transfer mechanism coupled between the power mechanism and the drive element. The power transfer mechanism includes control electronics having a first upward limit switch adapted to deactivate the power mechanism when the article is lifted to a first upward height, and a second upward limit switch adapted to deactivate the power mechanism when the article is lifted to a second upward height higher than the first upward height.

A display panel system is provided and includes a plurality of planar polygonal display panels, each display panel removably connectible along at least one edge to an edge of an adjacent display panel with connectible zipper assemblies. Each display panel system may be composed of uniform material or of various materials. The display panel system may be draped as desired by use of suspension mechanisms and rigging lines.

A hoist system having a drum primarily self-contained within a batten, for raising and lowering lighting, sound equipment, curtains and the like in a performance environment. The hoist system may be adapted with safety mechanisms including an overload sensor and/or a slack line detector. The system may be provided in the form of a point hoist. The compact system is highly scalable to a variety of spaces and applications, including school and public theaters and concert halls, as well as some homes, private business, etc. Additional features include various cable management systems and trim adjustment mechanisms for use with the hoist system.

A lift system for lifting a load includes a counterweight, a base unit, a fly line, a load line, and pulleys. The base unit includes a movable cam assembly coupled to a fixed frame. The cam assembly includes a cam member that is rotatable relative to a carriage of the cam assembly. The cam assembly can be moved between first and second positions relative to the frame member, and prevents movement of the fly line through the base unit in the first position, while movement of the fly line through the base unit is allowed when the cam assembly is in the second position.

An apparatus for use in rigging stages includes a portable bar sized to extend across standard widths of a tower or a cross beam with a portion extending beyond the side of the tower or beam. A lifting mechanism, such as a block-and-tackle, is attached to the portion to allow a rigger to raise or lower heavy objects. In a method of use, a rigger carries the lifting bar to a desired location on a tower or beam and secures at least one end of the portable bar to one or more cross bars. Then the rigger can raise or lower heavy objects by attaching a flexible line from the lifting mechanism to the object and manipulating the lifting mechanism to assist in moving the heavy object to a desired location.