GB2182307A - Paving slab laying trolley - Google Patents

Abstract

A slab laying and transporting trolley has an L-shaped hinged metal frame (1) which grips and carries the slabs under the shorter limb of the L-shape and which can accommodate different sizes of slab by the use of telescopic members in the shorter limb. In use the slabs are gripped and held between grippers (3), (7) by a tension rod (8) which is adjustable in length and retained, in use, by a keeper (6) which is fixed on a sleeve on the wheel axle. When it has been transported to the laying site the slab is released onto the ground a similar kick on a spring-loaded mechanism (4), which releases the tension rod from the keeper and allows the frame to drop the slab. The thickness of gripper (7) determines the size of the grout channel between the slabs. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Paving slab laying trolley This invention relates to a paving slab laying trolley which is multipurpose in the sense that it can liftflagstones from a storage area,transportthem to the area to be paved and, if necessary, lift them outofthe horizontal plane again for removal or re-positioning, and on completion can fold upto fit a car boot.

Paving slabs are dense and concentrate a considerable amount of mass within a small volume and as a result they are difficult to handle and manipulate into the position for laying. Side-walks, carpark and garden situations are the areas in which the flagstones are used and invariably the work of placement is entirely manual and results in a large number of injuries being recorded each year by the Health and Safety Inspectorate in the UK.

The paving slab laying laying trolley, which is the subject of this invention, provides a two wheeled framework which has a general hinged L-shaped configuration which at first sight appears to be a common warehouse trolley with an extra-wide carrying platform, but such is not the case and the novel facility of the invention can be assessed by way of a specific embodiment which is described in the accompanying drawings in which: Figure lisa perspective view of the trolley in a position where it is about to lift a flagstone from a stock pilewheretheindividual slabsareina horizontal position, with wheels detached showing better view.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the trolley in a position where it is about to release the flagstones into position in the area to to be paved.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the trolley in a position where it has placed the flagstone in position and is about to release its grip ofthe slab edges.

Figure 4shows the trolley folded to fit car boot.

Referring to the drawings the flagstone laying trolley consists of a metal framework 1 which is generally hinged L-shaped and is rendered portable by the use of the wheels 2 which rotate on a raised axel.

The shorter limb ofthe L-fra m e co nsists of an Hshaped platform which houses an integral telescopic clamping device 3 which fully grips the flagstone 5.

This flagstone is held securely by the force which is applied to this telescopic clamp 3 via a springloaded/release mechanism 4which is connected to 3 by a solid metal adjustable rod as illustrated.

In use the flagstone is attached to the trolley by the clamp 3 and the applied force is locked into the system by downward foot pressure on a spring loaded mechanism 4which is safely held in the downward position by engagement in the keeper6thus allowing the loaded unitthe facility of safe move- ment and transportation.

An important feature of the embodiment is that the wheels 2 are above the plane of the slab plafform 3 thus allowing easy placement of the slab beside an other previously laid slab and the fixed angle iron slab grip 7 of Figure 2 leaves a constant space between theflagstonesforgrouting and good appearance. In practice when the slab has been placed in the desired position, by moving the trolley frame up- right, the flagstone is released from the carrying platform 3 by applying a sharp kick in a upwards direction so as to release the tension rod from its locked position at 6 in the keeper 4.

From these figures it will be obvious that the flagstones can be easily laid in position or re-positioned or lifted-up in a simple relatively effortless fashion by the use of the trolley described in this invention. Any common size of slab can be accommodated by the use of the knorled adjuster screw 8.

Figure 4 shows the trolley in folded position which will fit a car boot.

1. A paving slab laying trolley comprising a hinged L-shaped metal frame which is madetransport- able by the use of a pairofwheels on an axel and which can gripaflagstone at the shorter limb of the hinged L-shape in a variable telescopicvice arrangemenu which is held in tension by a downward foot movement on a spring loaded tension rod which locks into a simple keeper on the sleeve which turns on the axel.

2. A paving slab laying trolley as in Claim 1 wherein the wheels and axel of the frame are above the horizontal plane in which the slab platform lies when the trolley is viewed in the upright position.

3. A paving slab laying trolley as in Claim 1 wherein the slab carrying platform is both telescopic and locking so that all common sizes offlagstones can be accommodated and locked into position by the use of an extension accommodating hard screw which isformed at the centre of the tension rod which operates the telescopic grip on the carrying platform.

4. A paving slab laying trolley as in Claim 1 in which the tension rod of Claim 3 can be locked and released, as required, by a upwards and downwards kick movement of the operator's foot.

5. A paving slab laying trolley as in any of the above Claims in which the fixed rear grip ofthe slab carrying platform is designed in such a thickness that it sets the grout spacing of the entire flagged area.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (5)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Paving slab laying trolley This invention relates to a paving slab laying trolley which is multipurpose in the sense that it can liftflagstones from a storage area,transportthem to the area to be paved and, if necessary, lift them outofthe horizontal plane again for removal or re-positioning, and on completion can fold upto fit a car boot. Paving slabs are dense and concentrate a considerable amount of mass within a small volume and as a result they are difficult to handle and manipulate into the position for laying. Side-walks, carpark and garden situations are the areas in which the flagstones are used and invariably the work of placement is entirely manual and results in a large number of injuries being recorded each year by the Health and Safety Inspectorate in the UK. The paving slab laying laying trolley, which is the subject of this invention, provides a two wheeled framework which has a general hinged L-shaped configuration which at first sight appears to be a common warehouse trolley with an extra-wide carrying platform, but such is not the case and the novel facility of the invention can be assessed by way of a specific embodiment which is described in the accompanying drawings in which: Figure lisa perspective view of the trolley in a position where it is about to lift a flagstone from a stock pilewheretheindividual slabsareina horizontal position, with wheels detached showing better view. Figure 2 is a perspective view of the trolley in a position where it is about to release the flagstones into position in the area to to be paved. Figure 3 is a perspective view of the trolley in a position where it has placed the flagstone in position and is about to release its grip ofthe slab edges. Figure 4shows the trolley folded to fit car boot. Referring to the drawings the flagstone laying trolley consists of a metal framework 1 which is generally hinged L-shaped and is rendered portable by the use of the wheels 2 which rotate on a raised axel. The shorter limb ofthe L-fra m e co nsists of an Hshaped platform which houses an integral telescopic clamping device 3 which fully grips the flagstone 5. This flagstone is held securely by the force which is applied to this telescopic clamp 3 via a springloaded/release mechanism 4which is connected to 3 by a solid metal adjustable rod as illustrated. In use the flagstone is attached to the trolley by the clamp 3 and the applied force is locked into the system by downward foot pressure on a spring loaded mechanism 4which is safely held in the downward position by engagement in the keeper6thus allowing the loaded unitthe facility of safe move- ment and transportation. An important feature of the embodiment is that the wheels 2 are above the plane of the slab plafform 3 thus allowing easy placement of the slab beside an other previously laid slab and the fixed angle iron slab grip 7 of Figure 2 leaves a constant space between theflagstonesforgrouting and good appearance. In practice when the slab has been placed in the desired position, by moving the trolley frame up- right, the flagstone is released from the carrying platform 3 by applying a sharp kick in a upwards direction so as to release the tension rod from its locked position at 6 in the keeper 4. From these figures it will be obvious that the flagstones can be easily laid in position or re-positioned or lifted-up in a simple relatively effortless fashion by the use of the trolley described in this invention. Any common size of slab can be accommodated by the use of the knorled adjuster screw 8. Figure 4 shows the trolley in folded position which will fit a car boot. CLAIMS

1. A paving slab laying trolley comprising a hinged L-shaped metal frame which is madetransport- able by the use of a pairofwheels on an axel and which can gripaflagstone at the shorter limb of the hinged L-shape in a variable telescopicvice arrangemenu which is held in tension by a downward foot movement on a spring loaded tension rod which locks into a simple keeper on the sleeve which turns on the axel.

2. A paving slab laying trolley as in Claim 1 wherein the wheels and axel of the frame are above the horizontal plane in which the slab platform lies when the trolley is viewed in the upright position.

3. A paving slab laying trolley as in Claim 1 wherein the slab carrying platform is both telescopic and locking so that all common sizes offlagstones can be accommodated and locked into position by the use of an extension accommodating hard screw which isformed at the centre of the tension rod which operates the telescopic grip on the carrying platform.

4. A paving slab laying trolley as in Claim 1 in which the tension rod of Claim 3 can be locked and released, as required, by a upwards and downwards kick movement of the operator's foot.

5. A paving slab laying trolley as in any of the above Claims in which the fixed rear grip ofthe slab carrying platform is designed in such a thickness that it sets the grout spacing of the entire flagged area.