CA2130891A1 - Shoulder support-type of firewood carrier having built-in multiple handles and a hooking component - Google Patents

Abstract

SHOULDER SUPPORT-TYPE OF FIREWOOD CARRIER HAVING BUILT-IN
MULTIPLE HANDLES AND A HOOKING COMPONENT

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE

A firewood carrying device for carrying logs of wood. The firewood carrying device has a substantially "U"-shaped receptacle body. The receptacle body has a bottom wall, a front wall extending substantially upwardly from the bottom and a back wall also extending substantially upwardly from the bottom wall. A pair of shoulder supporting elements are rigidly fixed to the back wall. Each shoulder supporting element has a substantially "C"-shaped end which extends outwardly from the back wall. The substantially "C"-shaped ends are adapted to be placed over the user's shoulder. A
hooking slot extends through the front wall. The firewood carrying device is adapted to be hung to a wall surface. In order to hang the wood carrying device, a hooking pin must first be mounted on the wall surface. The firewood carrying device 10 can then be releasably hooked to the hooking pin by releasably inserting the hooking pin through the hooking slot. The firewood carrier can be loaded and unloaded while it is hung to the wall surface. This method of operation prevents the user from having to bend while holding a relatively heavy loaded firewood carrier. Once the firewood carrier is loaded with logs, it can be lifted off the hook by the user wearing the firewood carrier over his shoulder in an ergonomical fashion. A top handle extending across the upper portion of the firewood carrier between the front wall and the back wall allows the firewood carrier to be handled in a suitcase manner. A pair of side handles extending from the back wall facilitate the ergonomical handling of the firewood carrier.

Description

Patent Application o~
Michel Dusssault ~r SHC)ULDER SUPPORT-TYPE OF FIREWOOD CARRIER IIAVING BUIL~ IN
~RULTIPLE HANDLES AND A HOOKING COMPONENT

BACKGROUND - FIELD OF Tl IE INVENTION
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The present invention relates to the field of firewood carriers and is particularly - concerned with a shoulder support-type of firewood carrier having buil~-in components for facilitating ergonomical handling thereof.

10 BAGICGROUN!D - PRIOR ART

Firewood typically consists in three logs having a generally elongated configuration.
When the firewood is moved from one location to another, it is often carried in piles. For example, a user may wish to carry a dozen of wood Jogs from a location situat~d outside 15 a residence to a location positioned inside the residence adjacent a flre place.

Since the logs are typically unhewned and relatively cir~ular in cross-section, some users resort to pressing the pile of logs against their chests while carrying the latter.

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However, this type of practice can prove to be messy and may easily result in the dropping of some of the logs onto the ground surFace.

Accordingly, various types of log carrying devices have be developed in order to 5 facilitate the carrying operation of firewood from one location to another.

One of the iog carrying devices introduced over the years is the so-called shoulder support-type of firewood carrier. An example of such a device is disclosed in U.S. Patent 4,391,397 granted to William D. Taylor, Jr. on July 5~ 1983. This patent teaches a 10 firewood carrier having a pair of "S"-shaped carrying components made of tubular rigid supporting material and arranged spaced apart in parallel planes. The upper hook portion is covered with a padding material and is configured to be suspended from the wearer's shoulders. Both the upper and lower portion of the device are individually "C"-shaped.
The lower portions support and form part of the receptacle in which the firewood rests.
15 Crossbar elements space and brace the "S"-shaped members and complete ~he "S"-shaped members. The lower hook portion is preferably covered in canvas and positioned in front of the wearer. This arrangement leaves the wearer's arm free to stack firewood onto the carrier.

The so-called shoulder support-type of flrewood carrier suffers from a set of drawbacks. Firstly, these types of carriers must either be loaded while the user is wearing them as suggested in the previously mentioned patent or placed on the user's shoulder ~ .. . . -Y l when already loaded. If, on the one hand, a previous shoulder-type of wood carrier is loaded when the user is wearing it, the user will have to perform various twisting and bending movement with the firewood carrier mounted on his shoulder and partially loaded.
This type of operation ~an thus easily result in the dropping of some of the already loaded 5 firewood logs on~o the ground surface. Furthermore, this type of operation can potentially cause severe back injuries.

If, on the other hand, the previous type of firewood carrier is mounted onto the shoulders of the user while already loaded, the firewood carrier will need to be lifted and 10 supported while the upper hook portion is positioned on the wearer's shoulder. Again, this type of operation co~ld potentialiy cause severe back injuries.

SlJMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved shoulder-type of firewood carrier. The firewood carrier in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention will allow for an ergonomical handling thereof.

The firewood carrier in accordance with the present invention will provide the user 20 with a variety of carrying rnode options.

The firewood carrier in accordance with the present invention will allow the user . . ~ ~ . . - -. .
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to temporarily hang up ths firewood carrier on a hook mounted on a wall surface in order to allow the user to load and unload the firewood carrier while the latter is positioned at a height which facilitates its mounting over the shoulders of the wearer.

The firewood carri~r in accordance with tha present invention will conform to conventional forms of manufacturing in order to provide a firewood carrier which will be econGmically feasible.

In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a firewood carrier for carrying logs of wood, the firewood carrier being adapted to be reieasably hung to a wall surface, the firewood carrier being also adapted to be worn by a user on the shoulders of the user, the firewood carrier comprising, a substantially "U"-shaped receptacle body, the receptacle body having a bottom wall, a front wall extending substantially perpendicularly from the bottom wall and a back wall extending substantially perpendicuiarly from the bottom wall, the receptacle body having an upper peripheral edge, a pair of shoulder supporting elements, the shoulder supporting elements being rigidly fixecl to the back wall, the shoulder supporting elements individually comprising a substantially "C"-shaped end, the substantially "C"-shaped end extending outwardly from the back wall, the substantially "C"-shaped ends being adapted to rest on the shoulders 2û of the user, a hooking component for releasably hooking the front wall to the wall surface.

Preferrably a hooking pin is rigidly fixed to the wall surface, the hooking pin . ~, ~ , .... - .. .. - . .
. , ~ ~ , -~ . , . ,. ~ -.-, ., ~ . ~ - , :
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,, ~ ~ . . . -extending outwardly from the wall surface, the hooking component comprising a hooking slot extending through the frent wall, the hooking slot being positioned adjacent the upper peripheral edye, the hooking slot being configured and sized to receive the hooking pin.

Conveniently the hooking slot has a hooking slot upper peripheral edge, the hooking slot upper peripheral edge having an inYerted "V"-shaped configuration, the inverted "V"-shaped configuration defining a slot upper periperal edge apex.

Preferably the firewood carrier further comprises a top handle, the top handle having a substantially elongated configuration, the top handie having a top handle first end and a top handle second end, the top handle first end being rigidly fixed to the front wall adjacent the upper peripheral edge, the top handle second end being rigidly fixed to the back wall adjacent the upper peripheral edge.

1 i5 Conveniently, the firewood carrier further comprisesa pair of side handles, the side handles being individually fixed to the back wall adjacent the bottom wall, the side handlzs projecting substantially towards the front wall.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THiF DR~WINGS
An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by w~y of example,in reference to the following drawings in which:

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FIGURE 1: in a rear perspective, illustrates a firewood carrier in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIGURE 2: in a front perspective view, illustrates a firswood carrier in accordance with an embodirnent of the present invention;

FIGlJRE 3: in a perspective view, illustrates a hooking pin part of a flrewood carrier in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIGURE 4: in a schematic side view, illustrates a firewood carrier in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention mounted over the shoulders of a user and resting against the back of the user;

Fl~àl,lRE 5: in a schematic side view, illustrates a firewood carrier in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention mounted over the shoulders of a user and resting against the chest of the user.

DET~ILFD DESCRIPTION

Referring to figure 1, there is shown a rear perspective view of a firewood carrier 10 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The firewood carrier 10 has an open top and open sides substantially "U"-shaped wood receiving body 12.

The wood receiving body 12 is preferably made of a substantially flat plate of self-supporting ma~erial which is bended so that its cross-sectional configuration assumes a generally "U"-shaped configuration. The substantially "U"-shaped wood receiving body 12 has a substantially arcuate bottom wall 14~ A substantially straight back wall 16 and 5 a substantially straight front wall 18 extend integrally from the bottom wall 14 on opposite sides of the latter.

A pair of substantially hook-shaped shoulder support elements 20 are rigidly fixed to the back wall 16. The shoulder support elements 20 individually comprise a 10 subs~antially curvilinear first portion 22 and a substantially straight second portion 24 which depends integrally from the curvilinear first portion 22.

The substantially curvilinear first portions 22 are substantially "C"-shaped and form a corresponding pair of hooks which project outwardly from the back wall 16.

A padding cushion 26 is fixed to a segment of each shoulder support element 20.
The padding cushions 26 are prsferably fixed to the interior surface of the curvilinear first portions 22 and a fraction of the substantially straight second portion 24 by an adhesive material such as glue. The padding cushions 26 are preferably made of a material having 20 substantially the same resiliency characteristics as rubber.

The shoulder support elements 20 are rigidly fixed to the back wall 16 by a set of "

fixing elements such as a set of fixing bolts 28 which extend through the substantially straight second portion 24 and into the back wall 16.

A gripping means is rigidly fixed to the substantially straight second portions 24 5 adjacent the bottom wall 14. The gripping means preferably takes the form of a pair of side handles 30. Each side handle 30 is formed by a bended rod made of relatively rigid material. Each side handle 30 has a substantially elongated spacing segment 32 and a substantially elongated gripping segment 34.

The spacing segn~ents are individually flxed at one of their ends to a corresponding substantially ~traight second portion 24. The spacing segments 32 may be fixed to the corresponding substantially straight second portion 24 by welding lines such as the welding lines 31.

The spacing segments 32 extend outwardly in a geometrical plane substan~ially parallel to the back wall 16. The spacing segments 32 individually extend integrally into the gripping segments 34. The gripping segments 34 extend outwardly, at an angle relatively to the spacing segments 32. The gripping segments 34 extend at an angle referred to by the reference letter A in figure 1 rela~ively to the spacing segments 32. The 20 angle A typically have a value of approximately 45 degrees.

A substantially cylindrical gripping sleeve 36 is slidably mounted over the distal end , - . . - , Y l portion of each gripping segment 34. The gripping sleeves 36 are adapted to facilitate the prehension of the side handles 30 by providing a larger grip for the hands of a user. The gripping sleeves 36 are preferably made of a relatlvely light and an~i-slip material such as wood.

A top handle 38 extends across the wood receiving body 12. The top handle 38 has a generally "V"-shaped configuration formed by a s~rip of substantially flat and bended material. The top handle 38 has a pair of dis~l top handle ends 40. The top handle ends 40 are fixed respectively to the back wali 16 and the front wall 18 adjacent 10 an upper peripheral edge 42 ~hereof. The upper peripheral edges 40 are located opposite the bottom wall 14.

A hooking slot 44 ~sxtends through the front wall 18 adjacent its upper peripherai edge 42. The hooking slot 44 generally has the shape of a flattened arrow head. The 15 hooking slot 44 defin~s a substantially linear slot lower edge 46 and a substantially inverted "V"-shaped slot upper edge 48. The inverted "V"-shaped slnt upper edge 48 defines a slot upper edge apex 49 centrally located relatively to the side edges of the firewood carrier 10.

The hooking slot 44 is configured and sized in order to be able to receive a hooking pin 50. The hooking pin 50 is illustrated more specifically in figure 3. The hooking pin 50 has a generally elongated configuration. The hooking pin 50 has a hooking pin first .. ~ ~ ~ .: , - : :- -. . .

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end 52 and a hooking pin second end 54. The hooking pin first end 52 has a generally pointed configuration. The hooking pin 50 is bended adjacent the hooking pin second end 54.

In use, the firewood carrier 10 is adapted to be used ~or carrying logs of wood from one location to another such as tha logs indicated by the referenca numeral 56 in figures 4 and 5.

Typically, although not limitavely, the logs of wood ~6 have a rel~ively elongated configuration. The logs of wood 56 are adapted to be stacked in a pile. The logs of wood are kept in a staoked relationship to one another by the front wall 18, the back wall 16 and the bottom wall 14 forming the substantially "U"-shaped body 12.

Once the logs 56 are stacked inside the substantially "U"-shaped body 12, the firewood carrying device 10 is adapted to be carried by either one of two carrying methods.

According to a flrst carrying method, a user such as the user schematized in figures 4 and 5 and referred to by the referance numeral 58 merely grasps the top handle 38. Having grasped the top handle 3B, the user 58 then li~s the firewood carrying device 10 and carries the latter to a suitable location much like a conventional suitcase.

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It should be noted that the top handle 38 also serves as a reinforcement rib for reinforcing the structural rigidity of the firewood carrying device 10. The top handle 38 prevsnts the back wall 16 and the front wall 18 from being spaced-apart about the bottom wall 14 by the weight of the logs ~6.

According to a second carrying method, the substantially "C"-shaped curvilinear first portion of ~he shoulder support elements 20 are placed over the shoulders 60 of the user 58. The shoulder support elements 20 are adapted to be engaged over the shoulders 60 in either one of two configurations.

In a first configuration illustrated more specifically in figure 4, the shoulder support elements 20 are engaged over the shoulders 60 of the user 58 so that the back wall 16 abuts against the back side of the user 58. In a second configuration illustrated more specifically in figure 5, the shoulder support elements 20 are engaged over the shoulders 60 of the user 58 so that the back wall 16 abuts ~ainst the torso of the user 58.

In order to minimize the risk of injury imputable ~o the liFtin~ of a relatively heavy wood carrying device 10 loaded with logs, the firewood carrying device 10 may be suspended to a substantially vertical surface such as a wall indicated by the reference 2~ numeral 62 in figures 4 and 5.

In order to hang the firewood carrying device 10 on the wall 62, the hooking pin ~ -...... . ....................................... . . .
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-~ V c~ Y 1 50 must first have been secured to the wall 62 at a proper height relatively to the ground.
The hooking pin 50 is secured to the wall 62 by inserting the pointed hooking pin first end 52 into the wall 62. The hooking pin 50 is positioned so that the hooking pin second end 54 has its bended segment pointing substantially upwardly.

The firewood carrying device 10 is hung on the wall 62 by slidably inserting the hooking pin 50 into the hooking slot 44. When the hooking pin 50 is inserted in the hooking slot 44, the weight of the firewood carrying device 10 will cause the hooking pin 50 to abuttingly slide along the inclined periphery of the inverted "V"-shaped slot upper edge 48 until the hooking pin 50 reaches the slot upper edge apex 49. The inverted "V"-shaped configuration of the slot upper edge 48 thus allows self-centering of the firewood carrying device 10 under its own weight. The self-centering of the firewood carrying device 10 prevents the tilting of the latter and the consequence drop of the logs 56 which are loaded onto the firewood carrying device 10.

One of the main features of the present invention resides in the fact that the flrewood carrying device 10 can be loaded and unloaded while it is suspended to a wall surface such as the wall 62. By suspending the firewood carrying clevice 10, the user is allowed to lift individual logs and place the latter individually in the firewood carrying 20 device 10. The user is thus allowed to repetitively lift relatively light logs 56 instead of having to lift a firewood oarrying device loaded with a stack of logs 56. This method is thus ergonomical and less susceptible of causing injury.

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~ tJ 3 ~ 1 Once the suspended firewood carrying device 10 has been properly l~aded with logs 5~ stacked in the substantially "U"-shaped body 12, ~he firewood carrying device 10 can be ergonomically lifted off the hooking pin 50 and carried to a suitable location. In order to lift the firewood carrying device 10 off the hooking pin 50, the shoulders 60 of the 5 user 58 are engaged against the shoulder support el*rnents 20. The user then lifts the firewood carrying device 10 off the hooking pin 50 in a controlled manner with his body in a substantially upright position and the weight equally distributad on each of the shoulders 60. This method prevents the user 5~ from having to bend while carrying a heavy load. When the firewood carrying device 10 has reached a proper destination, the 10latter can be hung once again to a wall 62 on a hooking pin 50 prior to the logs 66 being unloaded individually. By hanging the wood carrying device 10 loaded with logs 56 prior to the unloading of the latter, the user is once again prevented from bending with a relatively heavy load and thus prevented from sustaining back injuries.

15The side handles 30 are adapted to facilitate ergonomical handling of the flrewood carrying device 10 when it is suspended over the shoulders ~0 of the user 58. The side handles 30 allow the user 58 to momentarily take some of the weight off his shoulders 60 while keeping user 58. As illustrated in figures 4 and 5, the side handles 30 are positioned in order to be readily available to the user 58 wether the latter has positioned 20 the firewood carrying device 10 in abutting relation with his torso or his back portion.
The side handles 30 can be used to tilt the firewood carrying device 10 so as to facilitate insertion of the hooking pin 50 into the hooking slot 44. The side handles 30 are also :~ ' ' : ' adapted to b~ used to stabilize the loaded firewood carrying device 10.

Claims (5)

1. A firewood carrier for carrying logs of wood, said firewood carrier being adapted to be releasably hung to a wall surface, said firewood carrier being also adapted to be worn by a user on the shoulders of said user, said firewood carrier comprising:
- a substantially "U"-shaped receptacle body, said receptacle body having a bottom wall, a front wall extending substantially perpendicularly from said bottom wall and a back wall extending substantially perpendicularly from said bottom wall, said receptacle body having an upper peripheral edge, - a pair of shoulder supporting elements, said shoulder supporting elements being rigidly fixed to said back wall, said shoulder supporting elements individually comprising a substantially "C"-shaped end, said substantially "C"-shaped end extending outwardly from said back wall, said substantially "C"-shaped ends being adapted to rest on said shoulders of said user, - a hooking component for releasably hooking said front wall to said wall surface.

2. A firewood carrier as recited in Claim 1 wherein a hooking pin is rigidly fixed to said wall surface, said hooking pin extending outwardly from said wall surface, said hooking component comprising a hooking slot extending through said front wall, said hooking slot being positioned adjacent said upper peripheral edge, said hooking slot being configured and sized to receive said hooking pin.

3. A firewood carrier as recited in Claim 2 wherein said hooking slot has a hooking slot upper peripheral edge, said hooking slot upper peripheral edge having an inverted "V"-shaped configuration, said inverted "V"-shaped configuration defining a slot upper periperal edge apex.

4. A firewood carrier as recited in Claim 1 further comprising a top handle, said top handle having a substantially elongated configuration, said top handle having a top handle first end and a top handle second end, said top handle first end being rigidly fixed to said front wall adjacent said upper peripheral edge, said top handle second end being rigidly fixed to said back wall adjacent said upper peripheral edge.

5. A firewood carrier as recited in Claim 1 further comprising a pair of side handles, said side handles being individually fixed to said back wall adjacent said bottom wall, said side handles projecting substantially towards said front wall.