IE83930B1 - A carrying device - Google Patents

Description

‘A carrying device" Introduction The invention relates to a carrying device to allow a person to lift, carry, and deposit heavy and compact items such as blocks, bricks, slabs, or bales of solid fuel. In this specification the term "block" is intended to cover any heavy masonry element including one or more bricks, blocks, paving slabs or kerbstones.

At present, bricklayers and other personnel working on building sites typically manually handle a block by gripping it with both hands and carrying it to a particular location.

This gives rise to the problem that the person is prone to back injury. Furthermore, the bricklayer can not simultaneously handle mortar and the block.

Carrying devices are described in patent specification numbers DE4125043, F R2593104, DE2352930, and DE40l5634. However, these devices appear to be complex and to be ineffective at gripping a block with sufficient gripping strength for safety. For example, in DE4l25043, gripping strength appears to be provided by leaf springs which could either be damaged or lose torsional strength during the life of the device. The device of FR2593104 appears to be particularly complex, with a large number of interconnected moving parts. It also appears that there is a limited extent of adjustment to suit blocks of different sizes. The device of DE2352930 appears to have little gripping force arising from tilting of two gripping plates. The device of DE40l5634 appears to be complex and to apply little gripping force. Also, a problem with many of the prior art devices is that they are heavy because of the number of parts and complexity, thus adding more weight to be carried by the user.

The invention is therefore directed towards providing an improved carrying device, which: is of simpler construction than heretofore, with fewer moving parts, and/or consistently applies an adequate gripping force in a reliable manner.

Statements of Invention A carrying device comprising: a rigid frame; a handle moveable vertically with respect to the frame; at least two opposed gripping elements, at least one of which is moveable in a sliding movement translationally towards an opposed gripping element; and the handle is linked with the or each moveable gripping element to transfer lifting force at the handle to a gripping force applied in the translational direction to the or each moveable gripping element.

In one embodiment, the frame comprises a rigid handle part located above the moveable handle so that both can be gripped together.

In another embodiment, the moveable handle part is connected to the moveable gripping element such that it pulls the moveable gripping element when it is moved upwardly in .

In a further embodiment, the moveable handle part is connected between a fixed anchorage on the frame and the moveable gripping element.

In one embodiment, the moveable handle part is flexible.

In another embodiment, the moveable handle part comprises tensile steel cable.

In a further embodiment, the moveable gripping element comprises a sliding member extending through a sleeve of the frame.

In one embodiment, said sliding member is integral with an item-contracting plate of the moveable gripping element.

In one embodiment, the system further comprises a levered handle comprising: a user handle at one end; means for engaging the moveable handle part at the other end; and means between the ends for pivoting about the frame whereby a lifting force applied at the handle applies a force in a leverage action to the moveable handle part.

In one embodiment, the device comprises two opposed levered handles.

Detailed Description of the Invention The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description of some embodiments thereof, given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:— Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a carrying device of the invention; Figs. 2 and 3 are perspective views showing the carrying device of Fig. 1 in use gripping a block; Figs. 4 and 5 are perspective views of an alternative carrying device in use, this device being for long items such as kerbstones and for use by two people; and Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a further carrying device.

Referring to Fig. 1, a carrying device 1 is particularly suitable for lifting and carrying a block of the standard 14" (350mm) size commonly used in Ireland, or groups of blocks or bricks having a dimension close to this. The device 1 comprises a rigid tubular steel frame 2 comprising a rigid handle part 3. The frame 2 is curved at both ends and terminates at one end with a sleeve 4 and at the other with a fixed projection 5.

A connecting link 10 is of solid steel bar material, comprising a hook 11 and a shank 12 extending through the sleeve 4. The shank 12 is threaded at its end 13. Nuts 14 and 15 are threaded to the end 13. A steel coil spring is fitted around the shank 12, and a protective plastics sleeve 16 fits around the spring 18.

A handle for the device 1 is completed by a flexible handle part 20 comprising a high- strength flexible steel woven cable 21 looped at one end to the frame 2 providing a fixed anchorage, and at the other end to the hook 11. A plastics sleeve 22 surrounds the cable for most of its length for comfortable user gripping.

The device 1 comprises two gripping elements 30, and 40. The gripping element 30 is fixed, being welded to one end of the frame 2. It is of L—shaped steel construction, one flange 3] welded to the frame 2 and the other flange 32 extending "vertically" and having studs 33 for gripping a block.

The gripping element 40 is moveable translationally in a sliding action for both (a) pre- adjustment to a desired initial separation from the gripping element 30, and (b) to move inwardly to grip a block in use. The gripping element 40 is also L-shaped, having a flange 41 welded to a sleeve 42 through which the link shank 12 extends. The second flange 43 is similar to the flange 32 of the fixed gripping element.

In use, the user rotates the nuts 14 and 15 to adjust the device to set the maximum span of the elements 30 and 40 according to the desired use.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 3, in operation the user holds the device 1 by gripping both the rigid handle part 3 and the flexible handle part 20. He or she places the device 1 over a block B with the gripping elements 30 and 40 on opposed sides. The user pulls the flexible handle part 20 towards the rigid handle part 3, thus pulling the link 10 through the sleeve 4 by action of the cable 21 on the hook 11. The gripping element 40 is retained by the nuts 14 and 15 on the link shank 12 and so it is also pulled in a sliding translational movement towards the fixed element 30. When both elements 30 and 40 are in contact with the block B, further lifting / pulling of the flexible handle part 20 causes a gripping force to be applied to the block B. Because the lifting force on the flexible handle part 20 is directly transferred to a sliding motion of the gripping element 40, the gripping force is directly proportional to the lifting force. As the block B is lifted, the lifting force is the weight of the block B. Thus, the gripping force is directly proportional to the weight of the block B.

Therefore, the device 1 grips the block B in an action requiring very few moving parts, and with an adequate gripping force which is directly proportional to the item’s weight.

This gripping force is therefore consistently adequate for safe lifting. It is only limited by the strength of the parts such as the tensile strength of the cable 21, chosen to have more than adequate strength for any intended lifting situation.

The user may then carry the block B to the desired location using only one hand. It is also envisaged that some users can use one hand to hold the block B and the other to apply mortar for blocklaying.

To release the block at the desired location, the user simply releases pressure on the flexible handle part 20, and the spring 18 assists outward movement of the moveable gripping element.

Referring now to Figs. 4 and 5 an alternative carrying device 100 is illustrated. The device 100 is similar to the device 1 in terms of operating principles and parts similar to those of the device 1 are indicated by the same reference numerals.

The device 100 is longer than the device 1, having a frame element 101 of sufficient length to span a kerbstone (c. lm). A frame 101 has a rigid handle part 102. A flexible handle part 103 is connected in a manner similar to the flexible handle part of the device 1. The device 100 also comprises two levered handles 105 and 106, each having a hook and 108 respectively.

The device 100 operates in a manner similar in principle to that of the device 1.

However, in this case, the flexible handle part 103 is pulled up towards the rigid handle part 102 using the levered handles 105 and 106. Two users hold the levered handles 105 and 106 with the hooks 107 and 108 gripping the flexible handle part 103.

The device 100 is placed over a kerbstone K and the users lift the handles 105 and 106, which pivot about the rigid handle part 102 to pull the flexible handle part 103 upward with a large leverage force. The two users can then carry the kerbstone between them, holding the lever handles 105 and 106. In this case there is an even higher gripping force because of leverage about a fulcrum where each levered handle contacts the rigid handle part 102.

Referring to Fig. 6, a further carrying device 150 comprises a rigid frame 151 and a flexible handle part 152. In this embodiment the flexible handle part 152 is directly connected to a moveable gripping element 155, having an integral rod 156 extending through a sleeve 154 of the frame 151. In use, the user holds the device 150 in a manner similar to the device 1 to grip a block between the moveable gripping element 155 and a fixed gripping element 153. While the device 150 does not have a return spring, the flexible handle part 152 comprises a gauge of steel cable providing sufficient resilience to avoid the need for a separate spring.

It will be appreciated that the invention provides a device which is of very simple and robust construction because it has few moving parts and operates with direct transfer of force to a gripping element. Also, the device is very safe and reliable in use because the gripping force is directly proportional to the weight of the item being lifted.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments described but may be varied in construction and detail. For example, the gripping force may be applied to two or more moveable gripping elements. Other mechanisms for transferring lifting forces at a handle to a gripping force will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art. Also, the configurations of the gripping elements may be different, to suit the configuration of the item being carried. For example, the vertical flange may be more shallow for lifting items such as paving slabs. Also, the studs may be omitted for some applications.

Claims (1)

1. Claims A carrying device comprising: a rigid frame; a handle moveable vertically with respect to the frame; at least two opposed gripping elements, at least one of which is moveable in a sliding movement translationally towards an opposed gripping element; and the handle is linked with the or each moveable gripping element to transfer lifting force at the handle to a gripping force applied in the translational direction to the or each moveable gripping element. A carrying device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the frame comprises a rigid handle part located above the moveable handle so that both can be gripped together. A carrying device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the moveable handle is connected to the moveable gripping element such that it pulls the moveable gripping element when it is moved upwardly in use. A carrying device as claimed in claims 2 or 3, wherein the moveable handle is connected between a fixed anchorage on the frame and the moveable gripping element. A carrying device as claimed in any of claims 2 to 4, wherein the moveable handle is flexible. A carrying device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the moveable handle comprises tensile steel cable. A carrying device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the moveable gripping element comprises a sliding member extending through a sleeve of the frame. A carrying device as claimed in claim 7, wherein said sliding member is integral with an item-contracting plate of the moveable gripping element. A carrying device as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising a levered handle comprising: a user handle at one end; means for engaging the moveable handle at the other end; and means between the ends for pivoting about the frame whereby a lifting force applied at the handle applies a force in a leverage action to the moveable handle. A carrying device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the device comprises two opposed levered handles. A carrying device substantially as described with reference to