GB2362631A

GB2362631A - Appliance moving sledge

Info

Publication number: GB2362631A
Application number: GB0028846A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Roger Harold Francis Virgo
Original assignee: W4 Ltd
Current assignee: W4 Ltd
Priority date: 2000-04-10
Filing date: 2000-11-27
Publication date: 2001-11-28
Also published as: GB0008775D0; GB0028846D0

Abstract

A thin largely T-shaped sledge for moving an appliance with a base support is disclosed. The sledge 1 has a main body portion which extends beneath the appliance and has means 2 for locating against the rear of the supports. The sledge has a hand grip 3 and means to receive 4 a handle (5 fig. 3). The sledge can also slide over an associated mat (figs. 4 & 5). The mat has carrying handles (21 fig. 5) and hinges (19 & 20 fig. 5) so that the mat can be folded and carried.

Description

2362631 A SLEDGE AND APPARATUS FOR MANIPULATING AN APPLI CE This invention

relates to a sledge and apparatus for manipulating an appliance, for example a washing machine of refrigerator.

when manoeuvring such domestic appliances, particularly washing machines, damage often occurs to floor coverings and maintenance engineers frequently suffer back injuries through attempting to lift and move the heavy appliances.

The present invention is intended to overcome the difficulties referred to above.

According to the present invention a sledge for manipulating an appliance provided with a base support or i-,supports comprises a main body portion adapted to extend beneath said appliance and provided with means for locating zgainst.the rear side of the base support or supports, and handle and/or means to receive an operating handle.

f- Thus, the sledge can be slid beneath the appliance to be moved, the appliance can be rocked forward and the locating means moved to a position beyond the rear of the base or the base support or supports. The base or support or supports can now be lowered onto the sledge and the appliance can be moved by pulling on the operating handle.

The sledge can be made from a substantially flexible material, for example a synthetic plastics material, and this will enable the handle to be raised when pulling.

Preferably the main body portion is substantially T-shaped with said locating means extending across the arm of the T and the handle or means to receive an operating handle being at the base of the T.

The invention also includes apparatus for manipulating an appliance provided with a base support or supports comprising a sledge as set forth above and an elongate operating handle having an engagement portion at one end adapted to engage the appliance and/or sledge.

In a preferred construction the engagement portion on the elongate manipulating handle is in the form of a hook and a hand grip can be provided at its end remote from the engagement portion.

Thus, the elongate operating handle can be used in combination with the sledge to not only assist in tipping the appliance to enable the sledge to be placed in position but it can also be used to engage the sledge to assist in pulling it along without the operator having to bend down.

The apparatus can also include a mat adapted to fit beneath the appliance and over which the sledge is adapted to slide.

With this additional component the mat can be slid beneath the appliance and provide means to enable the appliance to be easily moved from its initial position.

The mat can be shaped to engage the rear base supports on the appliance, for example by the provision of notches to engage the rear supports.

In a convenient arrangement the mat is hinged at one or more places to allow it to be folded to facilitate carriage.

The invention can be performed in various ways and some embodiments will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a plan view of a sledge according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a side elevation of the sledge shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a side elevation of an elongate operating handle; Figure 4 is a plan view of a mat for use in the invention; Figure 5 is a plan view of an alternative form of mat; Figure 6 is a diagrammatic illustration of the various phases of operation of the device and apparatus; Figure 7 shows another method of operation employing a mat as shown in Figures 4 or 5; and Figure 8 shows an alternative method of operation.

As shown in Figure 1 the sledge for manipulating an appliance provided with a base support or supports comprises a main body portion 1 which is adapted to extend beneath the appliance to be moved and which is provided with means 2 for locating against the rear side of said base support or supports. The means 2 is provided by a raised portion on the surface of the main body portion 1. As will be seen from Figure 1 the main body portion 1 is substantially T-shaped with locating means 2 extending across the arm of the T and a lifting handle 3 is provided at the base of the T. A opening 4 is also formed in the base portion to receive an elongate operating handle to be described below.

The thickness of the base portion is thick enough to provide the necessary strength and the sledge can be made from any suitable relatively flexible material, for example a suitable synthetic plastics material.

Figure 3 shows an elongate operating handle for use with the sledge shown in Figure 1. The handle 5 has an engagement portion 6 in the form of a hook which is adapted to engage over the edge of the appliance to be moved and, in the example described, is shaped to engage in the opening 4. A hand grip 7 is provided at the end of the handle remote from the hook 6 and this hand grip can be covered in a suitable synthetic plastics material.

The method of operating the apparatus is shown in Figure 6. In this Figure the appliance to be moved, for example a washing machine, is indicated by reference numeral 10. The appliance has base supports in the form of front feet 11 and rear feet 12.

As shown in Figure 6 the appliance 10 is first tilted backwards by hand or by utilising the elongate handle 5 and the sledge 1 is now pushed under the front feet 11. The front feet 11 are now lowered to the ground and the sledge is pushed further under until it engages the rear feet 12.

Using the elongate handle 5 the rear of the appliance is tilted forwards and the sledge 1 is pushed under the rear feet 12 until the locating means 2 is beyond then. The rear feet are now once again lowered, this time onto the main body portion of the sledge 1.

The protruding end of the main body portion 1 can now be lifted, either by hand employing the handle 3 or, in order to avoid bending, by inserting the hook 6 of the handle through the opening 4 in the sledge so that the front of the appliance and the front feet 11 and the appliance moved on the sledge.

This method of moving the appliance is best suited for carpeted and tiles floors where friction is unlikely to cause damage although it will work on all kinds of floors.

Figure 4 shows a mat 14 which can be used in conjunction with the sledge and elongate handle. This mat 14 has handles 15 at each end, notches 16 at one end and a hinge 17 to enable it to be folded for transit.

Figure 5 shows another form of mat indicated by reference numeral 18 which also has notches 16 but is provided with two hinges 19 and 20. Appropriately placed handles 21 are suitably located so that when the mat is folded into three the handles are aligned and can assist in transit.

This mat can be slightly longer than the double folding mat shown in Figure 4.

Figure 7 shows how the mat is used in conjunction with the sledge and operating handle. The same reference numerals are used in Figure 7 to indicate similar parts, as shown in Figure 6.

In this method of operation the appliance 10 is first tilted backwards, either by hand or using the elongate handle 5 and the mat 14 or 18 is pushed under the front supports towards the rear as far as possible, ideally just touching the rear feet 12. The front feet 11 are again raised and the sledge 1 is pushed under the front feet 11 towards the rear feet and is halted just before reaching them. The handle 5 is now used to tilt the appliance forwards to raise the rear feet 12. The sledge 1 is now pushed rearwards and the rear feet 12 are then lowered.

Either by hand or with use of the handle 5 the sledge is now pulled across the mat to the required access position.

The procedure is reversed to withdraw the sledge and the mat.

This method is best suited for fragile and sensitive floors where any friction would cause damage, for example soft wood, but it can be used on all floors.

In the methods of operation described above the sledge is located under the rear feet 12 of the appliance but an alternative method of operation is also provided and which is shown in Figure 8. The same reference numerals are used to describe the same parts as in Figures 6 and 7 but in this method the appliance 10 is first tilted backwards by hand or by utilising the elongate handle 5 and the sledge is pushed under the front feet 11. The front feet 11 are now lowered onto the sledge with the locating means 2 behind the front feet. The handle 5 is now used to tilt the appliance forwards to raise the rear feet 12 and the sledge is now pulled across the mat to the required access position utilising the handle 5 to retain the rear feet 12 off the ground during the process.

This method of operation can also be employed with a mat 14 or 18.

It will be appreciated that the invention provides apparatus and a method of moving heavy appliances without damaging floors and reducing the physical strain on the operator.

Claims

1. Apparatus for manipulating an appliance provided with a base support or supports comprising a sledge having a main body portion adapted to extend beneath said appliance and provided with means for locating against the rear side of the base support or one of the base supports, and including an operating handle or means to receive an operating handle.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 which the sledge is made from a substantially flexible material.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 in which.the sledge is made from a synthetic plastics material.

4. Apparatus as claimed in any one of preceding claims 1 to 3 in which the body is substantially T-shaped with said locating means extending across the arm of the T.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 in which the operating handle or means to receive the operating handle are provided at the base of the T.

6. Apparatus as claimed in any one of preceding claims 1 to 5 including an elongate operating handle having an engagement portion at one end adapted to engage the appliance and/or sledge.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 in which the elongate operating handle is in the form of a hook.

Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 or claim 7 in which the elongate operating handle is provided with a hand grip at its end remote from the engagement portion.

i 9. Apparatus as claimed in any one of preceding claims including a mat adapted to fit beneath the appliance and over which the sledge is adapted to slide.

10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 9 in which said mat is shaped to engage the bear base supports of the appliance.

11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 9 or claim 10 in which the mat is hinged at one or more positions to allow it to be folded to facilitate carriage.

12. Apparatus for manipulating an appliance provided with a base support or supports substantially as described herein with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.