Abstract: A load carrying apparatus (10) comprising a body (12) and a roller arrangement (18, 22) to allow the apparatus to be moved along the ground. The load carrying apparatus includes a bearer arrangement (34, 36) movable relative to the body between a ground engaging condition in which the bearer arrangement can engage the ground and a retracted condition in which the bearer arrangement is retracted. The load carrying apparatus includes shielding members on the body, separate from the bearer arrangement, the shielding members (28) extending around the roller arrangement. In one embodiment, the load carrying apparatus comprises a combination dolly-pallet.

Abstract: A method of handling a load comprising a plurality of articles (100) is disclosed. The method comprises providing a lifting assembly (10) comprising a plurality of carrying arrangements (12) arranged one above another. The carrying arrangements are movable between proximate and separated conditions, whereby adjacent carrying arrangements are spaced from each other by a greater distance in the separated condition than in the proximate condition. The method further includes disposing the articles on the carrying arrangements when the carrying arrangements are in the proximate condition, and moving the carrying arrangements to the separated condition, thereby moving the articles to a spaced configuration. With the carrying arrangements in the separated condition, the method includes delivering the articles to a support assembly (104) to dispose the articles at the support assembly in the spaced configuration.

Abstract: A load carrying apparatus (10) comprising a body (12) and a roller arrangement (18, 22) to allow the apparatus to be moved along the ground. The load carrying apparatus includes a bearer arrangement (34, 36) movable relative to the body between a ground engaging condition in which the bearer arrangement can engage the ground and a retracted condition in which the bearer arrangement is retracted. The load carrying apparatus includes shielding means on the body, separate from the bearer arrangement, the shielding means (28) extending around the roller arrangement. In one embodiment, the load carrying apparatus comprises a combination dolly-pallet.