GB2416731A

GB2416731A - Device for wheeling or carrying sheet material

Info

Publication number: GB2416731A
Application number: GB0417044A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Anthony John Dennis
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-07-30
Filing date: 2004-07-30
Publication date: 2006-02-08
Also published as: WO2006010956A3; GB0417044D0; EP1773641A2; WO2006010956A2

Abstract

A device for wheeling or carrying one or more sheet-material articles, the device comprising a flexible carrying strap 10 extending between two support units 20, which are interconnected by a strut 30 forming a rigid unit which can be folded together, bringing the two support units 20 of the device together. The strut 30 may be telescope. The support units 20 may include wheels 24 enabling the device to be wheeled over the ground. The strap 10 mat have means for adjusting its effective length. A support member in each support unit 20 may comprise a channel-shaped member 26 into which the lower edge of the sheet-material article can be engaged.

Description

1 2416731 Device for moving or carrying sheet material The present

invention relates to a device for moving or carrying sheet material articles.

There are often occasions where an individual wishes to move or carry one or more articles of sheet material, where these articles are difficult to handle because of their size or weight. I have now devised a device which is of simple and inexpensive construction, yet is easy and effective to use for moving or carrying sheet-material articles and which, moreover, can be reduced to a convenient size when not in use.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a device for moving or carrying at least one article of sheet material, the device comprising first and second support units connected by a rigid element, the rigid element having an extended condition in which the support units are spaced apart for use of the device and having a contracted, out-ofuse condition in which the support units are closer together, the support units being arranged to support the article by its lower edge when the rigid element is in its extended condition.

The rigid element which interconnects the two support units is preferably arranged to fold, preferably to bring the two support units together. The rigid element may instead be telescopic.

Preferably the support units include wheels enabling the device, when supporting a sheet material article, to be wheeled over the ground, floor or other surface on which it is supported.

Preferably the device includes means by which it may be lifted in order to carry the sheet-material article.

Preferably this carrying means comprises a flexible strap having its opposite ends coupled to the respective support units. Preferably the strap is provided with means for adjusting its effective length. Preferably each end of the strap is coupled to the respective support unit in a manner enabling that end to pivot about an axis perpendicular to the plane of the article which, in use, the device supports.

Preferably the rigid element which interconnects the two support units comprises two elongate members which are pivotally coupled to each other and to the respective support units, and means are provided for locking these two members in alignment. This locking means may comprise a sleeve which is disposed on the rigid element and can be slid to a position in which it overlies the intercoupled ends of the two members to prevent these pivoting relative to each other.

Preferably each of the support units includes a member which supports the sheet-material article by its lower edge.

Preferably this support member comprises a channel-shaped member into which the lower edge of the sheet-material article can be engaged, in order to support the article. Preferably each support member is free to pivot, relative to its support unit, about an axis which is perpendicular to the plane of the article which, in use, it supports.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIGURE 1 is a view, from one side, of a device in accordance with the present invention, the device being shown in its folded, out-of-use condition; FIGURE 2 is a similar view of the device, from its opposite or load-carrying side; FIGURE 3 is a view of the device, from its load carrying side, shown extended for use but prior to being locked in this condition; FIGURE 4 is a similar view of the device, shown locked in its extended condition and ready for use; FIGURE 5 is a view of the device, shown supporting a sheet material article of oval or elliptical shape; and FIGURE 6 is a view of the device, shown supporting a sheet material article of rectangular shape.

Referring to Figures 1 to 4 of the drawings, there is shown a device for moving or carrying one or more sheet- material articles, the device comprising a flexible carrying strap 10 extending between two support units 20, which are interconnected by a folding strut 30.

The strap 10 comprises a flat strip of flexible material and its opposite ends are attached face-to-face to respective rigid connecting strips 12 of metal or plastics material. A pin 22 extends through each connecting strip 12, adjacent the end thereof opposite its attachment to the strap 10. A wheel 24 is rotatably mounted on one end of each pin 22, on one side of the strap 10 and respective connecting strip 12: a channel- shaped member 26 is rotatably mounted to the opposite end of each pin 22, on the opposite side of the strap 10 and respective connecting strip 12; this end of the pin 22 is coupled to one side of the channel-shaped member 26, intermediate the opposite ends of that member.

The strut 30 comprises two rigid members 32,34 of metal or plastics material strip, each having one end pivoted on the pin 22 of a respective support unit 20, with the respective member 32 or 34 of the strut lying between the connecting strip 12 and either the channel-shaped member 26 or the wheel 24 of that support unit. The opposite ends of the members 32,34 of the strut are pivoted to the opposite ends of a coupling strip member 36. A rectangular- section sleeve 38 is disposed on one of the members 32,34 of the strut and is free to be slid along the strut, as will be described below.

Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings show the device in a folded condition, when out of use: the two members 32,34 of the strut 30 are folded together, bringing the two wheels 24 of the device together with the two strut members 32,34 directed upwardly. In this condition, the device is compact and takes relatively little space for storage. When required for use, however, it is an easy matter to move the two wheels 24 apart and bring the two members 32,34 of the strut into alignment, as shown in Figure 3: then, the sleeve 38 is slid along the strut to overlie the coupling member 36 and end portions of the two strut members 32,34, so locking these two members in a straight line, to form a single rigid strut, as shown in Figure 4.

For moving or carrying an article of sheet material, the two channelshaped members 26 of the device are turned, on their pins 22, so that the open tops or slots face upwardly, as shown in Figures 3 and 4. With the wheels 24 of the device resting on the ground or floor or other support surface, the sheet-material article to be moved or carried is engaged, at its lower edge, into the channel-shaped members 26 of the device: Figure 5 shows a sheet-material article M1 of oval shape engaged into the channel-shaped members 26 of the device and it will be appreciated that these members are free to turn and adopt an inclined orientation appropriate to the profile of the lower edge of the article M; Figure 6 shows a sheet material article M2 of rectangular shape engaged into the channel-shaped members 26 of the device, these members in this case adopting or maintaining a horizontal orientation corresponding to the horizontal orientation of the lower edge of the article M2.

Once the article of sheet material is engaged into the channel-shaped members of the device, the article can be moved over the ground, floor or other support surface, with the two wheels 24 running over that surface and the support units 20 of the device supporting the article. Alternatively, the article can be lifted and carried, using the strap 10.

Although not shown in the drawings, the strap 10 may be provided with means for adjusting its effective length.

It will be appreciated that the device which has been described is easy yet effective to use in moving or carrying one or more articles of sheet material.

Claims

Claims 1) A device for moving or carrying at least one article of sheet

material, the device comprising first and second support units connected by a rigid element, the rigid element having an extended condition in which the support units are spaced apart for use of the device and having a contracted, out-of-use condition in which the support units are closer together, the support units being arranged to support the article by its lower edge when the rigid element is in its extended condition.
2) A device according to claim 1 wherein the rigid element is arranged such that the two support units can be brought together.
3) A device according to claim 2, whereas the rigid element which interconnects the two support units is arranged to fold to bring the two support units together.
4) A device according to claim 2 wherein the rigid element is telescopic.
5) A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the support units include wheels enabling the device, when supporting a sheet material article, to be wheeled over the ground, floor or other surface on which it is supported.
6) A device according to any preceding claim including carrying means by said device may be lifted in order to carry the sheet-material article.
7) A device according to claim 6, whereby the carrying means comprises a flexible strap having its opposite ends coupled to the respective support units.
8) A device according to claim 7, wherein the strap is provided with means for adjusting its effective length.
9) A device according to any of claims 6 to 8 wherein each end of the strap is coupled to the respective support unit in a manner enabling that end to pivot about an axis perpendicular to the plane of the article which, in use, the device supports.
10) A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the e A:: :: .:. :: a.
rigid element which interconnects the two support units comprises two elongate members which are pivotally coupled to each other and to the respective support units 11) A device according to claim 10, including locking means for locking these two members in alignment.
12) A device according to claim 11, wherein the locking comprises a sleeve which is disposed on the rigid element and can be slid to a position in which it overlies the intercoupled ends of the two members to prevent these pivoting relative to each other.
13) A device according to claim 12, wherein each of the support units includes a support member which supports the sheet-material article by its lower edge.
14) A device according to claim 13, wherein the support member comprises a channel-shaped member into which the lower edge of the sheet-material article can be engaged, in order to support the article.
15) A device according to any preceding claim, wherein each support member is free to pivot, relative to its support unit, about an axis which is perpendicular to the plane of the article which, in use, it supports.
16) A device as substantially described herein, with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying figures. c ä.