US3138265A

US3138265A - Dolly for handling doors and the like

Info

Publication number: US3138265A
Application number: US173181A
Authority: US
Inventors: Clifford M Hansen
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1962-02-14
Filing date: 1962-02-14
Publication date: 1964-06-23
Anticipated expiration: 1981-06-23

Description

June 23, 1964 c. M. HANSEN DOLLY FOR HANDLING DOORS AND THE LIKE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 14, 1962 w R w m m a V H m E w. m 3 d m r wm w 2 mm. m 6 w Q Q C W QM. W\ W MN 3 %\V 7 mm N 2 Q h RN Q a MM S \Q h w a mm M 5 N B w w G a Q MM a m n mm mm S v 8 N V WM MW w 3 mm .Qh g N a. N an flTTORNEY June 23, 1964 c. M. HANSEN DOLLY FOR HANDLING DOORS AND THE LIKE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 14, 1962 Vm AN F & mm

A adia & m

INVENTOR.

y/fforo /7Z f/anren WZW ATTORNEY June 23, 1964 c. M. HANSEN 3,138,265

DOLLY FOR HANDLING DOORS AND THE LIKE Filed Feb. 14, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

Clifford I. Ha nsen ATTORNE Y 7 through a door opening.

United States Patent 3,138,265 DOLLY FGR HANDLHNG DOGRS AND THE LHKE Clifford M. Hansen, 104) N. 14th St, Clear Lake, Iowa, assignor of one-half to Qarl 3'. Fox, Clear Lake, Iowa Filed Feb. 14, 1962, Ser. No. 173,181 Claims. (Ql. 214-1) The present invention relates to a dolly for assisting carpenters or other workers in fitting and/ or hanging and removing doors.

For example, the doors used in commercial buildings, institutions, and the like, are too heavy for one person to handle safely, and one or more assistants are required to lift such doors into and out of a doorway as when fitting a door to the frame, applying the hinges, removing or inserting the hinge pins, or performing other operations. In fact, some doors such as the lead covered doors in hospital or clinical X-ray rooms may weigh as much as six hundred pounds. Also, most fire doors and doors used in public buildings are too heavy for one man to handle without assistance.

It is, therefore, the principal object of the present invention to provide a dolly for handling such doors, so that a single mechanic can quickly and easily handle such doors without other assistance.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a dolly of relatively simple and light weight but strong construction; to provide a dolly with a tiltable door carrier that can be moved from a tilted position with the center of gravity over the dolly to and from a vertical position within a door opening, as when fitting a door into a frame or when removing a door for transportation to an out of way position; to provide a dolly that may be used as a bench in combination with a sawhorse, as when working on, parts of the door; to provide a dolly capable of handling a door without marring thereof; to provide a dolly with means for'supporting the hinge pins in convenient position when they are removed from the hinges of the door; and to provide a dolly whereby a door may beeasily raised or lowered to register or match the hinge ele FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the'dolly carrying a.

door thereon, and showing howthe door can be carried FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the dolly showing support of a door in position for inserting the hinge pins.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the dolly when carrying a door in horizontal position in combination with a sawhorse to facilitate work to be performed onparts of the door. r v f FIG. ,6 isa vertical section through thedolly and door supported thereby, withthe door in tilted position ready for transportation by the dolly. v a I FIG. 7 is a horizontal section on the line 7.-7 of Referring more in detail to the drawings: -1 designates a dolly for handling 'heavydoors andthe 3,138,265 Patented June 23, 1964 horizontal flanges 9, ill and 11, coextensive with the rear and

side flanges

6, 7 and 8. The angle member forming the base frame may be a continuous member, with the inturned flanges cut on miters and the upstanding flanges bent as at 12 to bring the miters together, so that they may be suitably welded to make a rigid structure.

Fixed to the under side of the flanges 1t) and 11 at the forward ends of the arms 4 and 5 are

casters

13 and 14. Similarly mounted at the midpoint of the horizontallydis posed rear flange 9 is a similar caster 15, cooperating with the

casters

13 and 14 to provide a tripoint rolling support for the base frame 2. The rear portions of the arms 4 and 5 are also provided with rockers lo and 17, which may be formed from rods 18 bent to the shape of the rocker and having flattened ends 19 and 250 secured to the

side flanges

7 and 8 of the arms 4 and 5 by fastening devices 21. The rockers are of a size relatively to the casters so that they clear the floor when the casters are rolling thereon. However, the rockers are so positioned that they will engage and rock upon the floor when the base frame is turned backwardly, as later described.

Fixed to the outer ends of the arms on the outer sides of the

side flanges

7 and 8 near the forward ends of the arms 4 and 5 are plates 22 and 23 having outwardly set forward ends 24 and 25 to cooperate with the ends of the

flanges

7 and 3 in forming yokes 26 and 27. The offset portions 24 and 25 of the plates and the

flanges

7 and 8 have registering openings 28 for pivotally attaching a door-carrying frame 3t) by pins 29.

If desired, the rods which form the rockers may have sheaths 31 and the wheels 32 of the casters may be of a material that does not mark thefloor. i

The frame 39 includes laterally spaced

upright angle members

33 and 34 positioned with one of the flanges35 and 36 thereof facing rearwardly to engage withinthe forks of the yokes 26 and 27, while the

other flanges

37 and 38 extend inwardly to provide backing for longitu: dinal stiles 39 and all that are suitably attached thereto by fastening devices 41. The forward faces of the

stiles

39 and 46 are covered with afab'ric ar like facing 42 for contacting a door, as later described. The lower ends of the flanges 37-38 are turned outwardly to provide foot or ledge portions 43 and 4-4, for engaging the under edge of a door, as later described. The angle members are spaced apart in parallel relation by

diagonal braces

45 and 46 having their upper ends fixed to the'inturned flange 37 of one of the

members

33 and 34 and their lower ends at- V tachedto the lower portions of the inturned flanges 370i like and which includesa, mobile base frame 2 comprising a transversetmember 3' provided at the ends thereof with forwardly extending, arms 4 and 5 that are suitably spaced apart to balance the 'weightlof a door thereon. The

the opposite member by fastening devices 47. Fixed to the upper ends of the

angle members

33 and 34 is a'trans verse member 48 cooperating with the

diagonal brace members

45 and 46 for maintaining lateral stability of the

anglernembers

33 and 34.

Fixed to. the underside of the transverse member 48 and extending outwardly and dQwnWardIyof'the angle 5 Q members33 and 34 are stay braces or props 49' andSt). f The stay bracesfl? and 50 may also be formed of angle" iron having

side flanges

51 and 52 lapping the upper ends of the side fianges 35 and% and having inturnedfianges 53 and 54 interconnected by upper and lower transversev members '55 and 56-,The stay braces may also belcon nected by diagonal braces 57 and 58' having thei'rfrespec- 5 tive ends attached to the upper portion of one stay;brace' adjacent the upper transverse member 57 and their lower ends fixed "to the intur ned flanges of the opposite stay brace at points adjacent the eiids of the lower transverse member 56. The side flangesv 51 and 52; of the

props

49 and 5%) project downwardly below theends ofthe transverse member 56 is provide guides 59am 60'ifor overlapping the yertical side'flanges -7 and 8 of the base. frame 2, as later' described; The lower transverse 'in'eni-" I .ber 56 may also comprise an angle havingone'flange 3 extending rearwardly to seat upon the

side flanges

7 and 8. The stay braces or

props

49 and 50 are also connected near their lower ends with the

uprights

33 and 34 by

stays

62 and 63 which are preferably secured by fastening devices such as bolts 64.

Fixed to and extending rearwardly from the

stay braces

49 and 50 at a point adjacent the transverse member 55 are handle bars 65 and 66, carrying hand grips 67.

The transverse member 48 that connects the upper ends of the

upright members

33 and 34 is provided with a row of openings 68 for placing the pins 69 of door hinges, as later described, so that they are readily available.

With the dolly constructed as described, it is easily pushed over the floor from one place to another, as may be required. Now assuming that a door 70 is to be fitted within a door opening 71: With the door leaning against a wall, the dolly is wheeled up to the door and the operator places one foot upon the base frame at the rear of the

caster wheels

13 and 14 to prevent tilting of the base frame on the caster wheels. The pivoted frame 30 is swung forwardly on the pivots 29 a sufficient amount for the padded faces of the

stiles

39 and 40 to be brought into face contact with a face side of the door. Now with the feet or ledges 43 and 44 engaging under the lower edge of the door, a downward pressure is applied to one of the handle bars 65 or 66 to pivot the door carrying frame 30 rearwardly. At the same time the operator with his other hand assures that the door follows the pivotal frame carrying through a vertical position to an inclined position where the flange 61 of the cross member 56 again seats upon the

flanges

7 and 8 of the arms 4 and 5. In this position the door rests flatly upon the

padded stiles

39 and 40 and the center of gravity of the door is disposed over the mobile frame 2 so that the entire weight thereof is carried upon the

caster wheels

13, 14 and 15. The dolly, with the door thereon, can now be easily rolled over the floor by grasping the grips 67 of the handle bars 65 and 66 and applying pressure thereon to steer the dolly as desired. The dolly readily responds to the steering pressure because the casters easily swivel and roll in the desired direction. If the door is to be moved through a door opening the mobile frame is turned sidewise, as shown in FIG. 3, whereupon the dolly, carrying the door, may be pushed through the door opening. In this way the door may be easily transported from one room to another where the door is to be fitted or installed in a door frame.

When the door is in juxtaposition with the door frame in which it is to be installed, the operator again places his foot on the base frame to assure that it cannot tilt and by simply lifting on the handle bars, the upper frame 30 is pivoted forwardly to bring the door into a vertical plane with the door frame. The door may then be marked, if it is to be shortened or the sides planed to provide a proper fit in the door opening. The door can then be returned to an inclined position on the mobile frame simply by holding the frame with the foot and pushing down on the handle bars until the flange 61 again seats upon the

flanges

7 and 8. This movement of the upper frame 30 lifts the door so that there is ample clearance above the floor as the dolly with the door thereon is transported to a location where the required work on the door may be performed.

If the door has already been fitted to the opening and the parts of the hinges 72 have been applied to the edge of the door and to the jamb of the door frame, and it is only necessary to hang the door that is carried on the dolly, the dolly is-maneuvered to a position where the door can be brought to a vertical position by holding the base frame with the foot and lifting on one of the handle bars to pivot the upper frame 30 with the door thereon until the hinge parts on the door are in close relation with the hinge parts on the frame. The hinge parts may then be matched vertically so that they will slide into engagement with each other. If the hinge parts 4 on the door are too high relatively to the hinge parts on the frame, the foot pressureon the base frame will be slightly released to allow some forward tilting of the base frame under weight of the door. This tilting movement of the base frame lowers the door until the hinge parts are in registry. If the hinge parts on the door are too low relatively to the parts on the frame, the door can be raised until the parts are in registry. This can be easily accomplished by placing the foot on the corner of the frame 2 opposite the hinged side of the door and pressing downwardly until the hinge parts are in registry, whereupon they are slid into engagement. When the door is thus raised and the hinge parts on the door interengage the hinge parts on the door frame, the door will hold its position through interengagement of the hinge parts while the hinge pins 69 are removed from the transverse member 48 and placed within the hinges. After hinging of the door is completed, the dolly may be with drawn therefrom by pulling on the handle bars 65 and 66 and Wheeling it away from the door.

To remove the door from its frame, the empty dolly is pushed up to the door and the stiles come into contact with the door so that the

foot portions

43 and 44 are in position to engage under the door, after which the hinge pins are removed and placed in the holes 33. The foot is again placed upon the base frame to hold it steady and the frame 30 is then pivoted on the pivot pins 29 until the

stiles

39 and 40 make contact with the face side of the door. With the foot still pressing upon the base frame, the door, together with the frame 30, is pivoted back- Wardly until the flange 60 again contacts the

flanges

7 and 8 of the mobile frame, whereupon the door is inclined on the dolly and ready for movement away from the door opening.

If work is to be done on the door, the dolly, with the door thereon, may be withdrawn from the opening and rocked on the

rockers

16 and 17 to a horizontal position where the upper end of the door is supported on a sawhorse 73 while the bottom portion of the door is supported on the rocked-over dolly, as shown in FIG. 5.

While I have particularly described the dolly for handling doors, it may be used for handling any slablike objects that are too heavy to be manipulated by hand.

It is also obvious that the dolly may be used for transporting factory assembled door units where the doors are already hung-in their frames and fitted with locks, so that the assembly may be placed on the dolly, wheeled to the i door opening in the wall, and the frame set therein.

From the foregoing it is obvious that I have provided a dolly whereby a single workman may readily handle heavy doors such as used in public buildings, hospitals and the like, and hang them in position without other assistance.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A dolly for handling doors and the like, including a base frame having a rear transverse member and spaced apart arm members extending forwardly of said rear transverse member,

a front caster supporting the forward end of each arm member,

a single caster fixed under a midportion of the rear member to cooperate with the first named casters to provide a three point rolling support for the dolly,

yokes carried on forward ends of the arm members,

an upper frame including laterally spaced upright members having forwardly projecting foot portions to engage under the lower edge of a door,

stiles extending along the uprights for seating the face side of a door thereon when the lower edge of the door is supported on said foot portions,

means for pivoting the upright members in said yokes,

prop members fixed to upper ends of the upright members,

a transverse member connecting the lower ends of the prop members and seated on said arms of the base frame at a point to the rear of the front caster wheels to support said upright members in a rearwardly inclined position over the base frame,

and means on the prop members to facilitate steering of the dolly and pivoting of the upright frame forwardly to move the door into an upright position, said rear transverse member providing foot-engaging means for a foot of the operator to facilitate tilting of the base frame upon the single rear caster wheel and one of the front caster wheels to raise one side of the door when in said upright position.

2. A dolly for handling doors and the like, including a base frame having a rear transverse member and spaced apart arm members extending forwardly of said rear transverse member,

a caster supporting the forward ends of the arm members,

a transverse member connecting upper ends of the upright members and having means for carrying hinge pins,

means on the upright members for seating the face side of a door thereon when the lower edge of the door is supported on said foot portions,

means for pivoting the upright members to the forward ends of said arms,

prop members fixed to upper ends of the upright members below the transverse member,

a transverse member connecting the lower ends of the prop members and seated on said arms of the base frame to support said upright members in an inclined position over the base frame,

and means on the prop members to facilitate steering of the dolly and pivoting of the upright frame forwardly to move the door into an upright position.

3. A dolly to transport and facilitate hangingof a door in a door opening, said dolly including a base having front and rear portions,

laterally spaced caster wheels supporting the front of the base,

a single caster wheel supporting the rear of the base and cooperating with the spaced caster wheels in providing a tripoint rolling support for the base in various directions,

a frame movable on the base and having spaced apart stiles and transverse ledge means at lower ends of the stiles for engaging the bottom edge of the door and cooperating with the stiles in resting the door thereon,

means pivotally connecting said movable frame to the front portion of the base to carry the stiles of the frame in rearwardly inclined position on the frame with the center of gravity of the door over the center of the base to transport the door through the door opening in a sidewise direction andto pivot the frame on the base for bringing the door to a vertical position for fitting into the door opening,

means extending rearwardly from said pivoted frame to facilitate steering of the dolly on said caster wheels and pivoting of said frame to its respective positions,

said base having rear portions overhanging sides of the single caster wheel for providing a foot rest by which an operator of the dolly controls tilting of the base under weight of the door and facilitates adjusting the door to the door opening, and

rockers depending from said overhanging portions of the base to tip the dolly rearwardly in bringing the stiles of the movable frame to near horizontal position to facilitate work upon the door and to limit tilting of the base under foot pressure applied to said overhanging portions.

4. A dolly to transport and facilitate hanging of a door in a door opening, said dolly including a base having front and rear portions, 7

laterally spaced caster wheels supporting the front of the base,

means pivotally connecting said movable frame to the front portion of the base to carry the stiles of the frame in rearwardly inclined position on the frame with the center of gravity of the door over the center of the base to transport the door through the door opening in a sidewise direction and to pivot the frame on the base for bringing the door to a vertical position for fitting into the door opening,

means on said pivoted frame to facilitate steering of the dolly on said caster wheels and pivoting of said frame to its respective positions on said base, and

rockers depending from the base at the sides of the single caster wheel to tip the dolly rearwardly to bring the stiles of the movable frame to near horizontal position to facilitate work upon the door.

5. A dolly to transport and facilitate hanging of a door in a door opening, said dolly including a base having front and rear portions,

laterally spaced caster wheels supporting the front portion of the base,

a single caster wheel supporting the rear portion of the base and cooperating with the spaced caster wheels in providing a tripoint rolling support for the base,

a frame carried on the base and having spaced apart stiles and transverse ledge means at lower ends of the stiles for engaging the bottom edge of the door and cooperating with the stiles in resting the door thereon,

means pivotally connecting said frame to the base forwardly of said spaced caster wheels,

said frame means having prop means extending downwardly and rearwardly relatively to said stiles for seating upon the base rearwardly of said spaced caster wheels to carry the frame with the door thereon in a rearwardly inclined position with the center of gravity of the door located between the said front and rear caster wheels when the prop means is seated on the base frame, and

means extending rearwardly from said prop means to facilitate steering of the dolly and pivoting of said frame to move the door into a substantially vertical position at the door opening,

said base having rear corner portions overhanging said single caster wheel for providing a foot rest by which the operator controls tilting of the base frame on the front caster wheels under weight of the door and to facilitate tilting of the base on one of the front and the rear caster wheels for registering hinge elements on the door with hinge elements at the side of the door opening.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

Claims

1. A DOLLY FOR HANDLING DOORS AND THE LIKE, INCLUDING A BASE FRAME HAVING A REAR TRANSVERSE MEMBER AND SPACED APART ARM MEMBERS EXTENDING FORWARDLY OF SAID REAR TRANSVERSE MEMBER, A FRONT CASTER SUPPORTING THE FORWARD END OF EACH ARM MEMBER, A SINGLE CASTER FIXED UNDER A MIDPORTION OF THE REAR MEMBER TO COOPERATE WITH THE FIRST NAMED CASTERS TO PROVIDE A THREE POINT ROLLING SUPPORT FOR THE DOLLY, YOKES CARRIED ON FORWARD ENDS OF THE ARM MEMBERS, AN UPPER FRAME INCLUDING LATERALLY SPACED UPRIGHT MEMBERS HAVING FORWARDLY PROJECTING FOOT PORTIONS TO ENGAGE UNDER THE LOWER EDGE OF A DOOR, STILES EXTENDING ALONG THE UPRIGHTS FOR SEATING THE FACE SIDE OF A DOOR THEREON WHEN THE LOWER EDGE OF THE DOOR IS SUPPORTED ON SAID FOOT PORTIONS, MEANS FOR PIVOTING THE UPRIGHT MEMBERS IN SAID YOKES, PROP MEMBERS FIXED TO UPPER ENDS OF THE UPRIGHT MEMBERS, A TRANSVERSE MEMBER CONNECTING THE LOWER ENDS OF THE PROP MEMBERS AND SEATED ON SAID ARMS OF THE BASE FRAME AT A POINT TO THE REAR OF THE FRONT CASTER WHEELS TO SUPPORT SAID UPRIGHT MEMBERS IN A REARWARDLY INCLINED POSITION OVER THE BASE FRAME, AND MEANS ON THE PROP MEMBERS TO FACILITATE STEERING OF THE DOLLY AND PIVOTING OF THE UPRIGHT FRAME FORWARDLY TO MOVE THE DOOR INTO AN UPRIGHT POSITION, SAID REAR TRANSVERSE MEMBER PROVIDING FOOT-ENGAGING MEANS FOR A FOOT OF THE OPERATOR TO FACILITATE TILTING OF THE BASE FRAME UPON THE SINGLE REAR CASTER WHEEL AND ONE OF THE FRONT CASTER WHEELS TO RAISE ONE SIDE OF THE DOOR WHEN IN SAID UPRIGHT POSITION.