Abstract:
A hand held device is disclosed which may be manipulated with a single hand of the user to engage, transport and release a piece of sod. Curved sod penetration members are pivotally displaced to enter and to leave the piece of sod from opposing directions. This pivotal displacement of the curved penetration portions of the sod penetration members act to minimize any disturbance to the piece of sod which might damage the piece of sod. A dual handle arrangement provides of easy use of the device. An upper handle is utilized to place the device and for the device to engage the piece of sod while a lower handle is then utilized to transport the device with the piece of sod attached thereto with a shifting of hand position from the lower handle to the upper handle causing release of the piece of sod from the device.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     Generally, the invention relates to devices to engage and retain for movement a piece of sod. More specifically, the invention relates to such hand held devices which may be readily manipulated by a user. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Sod is grass which is grown at one location, harvested and placed at another location to continue to grow at the second location. Sod is primarily used to instantly have a beautiful yard without having to wait for the normal growing cycle to be completed. Sod is the collection of the soil and roots of grass along with the exposed grass extending upward from the soil. 
     Numerous methods exist to manipulate sod from the time of cutting of the sod from the ground upon which is has been grown to the time of placement of the sod on the ground upon which it will subsequently grow. There exist two (2) generally styles of sod being a rolled style and a piece style. The rolled style is where the sod is harvested in a long row and stored in roll form for subsequent installation. The piece style is where the sod is harvested in squares, or more commonly rectangles, and stacked on pallets in a natural orientation with the grass facing upward and each of the pieces of sod generally flat. It is known to harvest sod in the roll form and then convert it later into the piece form. 
     Sod harvesting machines are well known in the art to uniformly slice, to a predetermined depth, under the soil having roots therein while cutting edges along at least two (2) sides to harvest sod from a grow field. At some point cuts are made to separate each piece of sod from the field or from adjacent pieces of sod. Such machines have features to manipulate the cut sod to an orientation for transport, either as a roll or as cut pieces. 
     In the area of handling sod cut into pieces U.S. Pat. No. 6,112,680 by Hummer discloses manipulating sod by penetrating the piece of sod with a plurality of actuator rods with each rod linearly penetrating the sod at an angle. The actuator rods penetrate the piece of sod from at least two opposing directional angles. The invention of Hummer is clearly intended for large scale machine use and would not be practical, nor an obvious variation, as a hand held sod handling device. 
     In the area of handling sod cut into pieces U.S. Pat. No. 3,326,592 by Pelton discloses manipulating sod by penetrating the piece of sod with teeth which extend downward from the frame for linear insertion into the piece of sod. Subsequent to such linear insertion of the totality of the teeth, half of the teeth are pivoted in one direction while the other half of the teeth are pivoted in the opposing direction. This arrangement tends to destroy the sod by ripping it apart at all places between each pair of teeth which are displaced away from each other. Additionally, the compression of sod between each pair of teeth which are displaced toward each other damage the piece of sod. The invention of Pelton is clearly intended for large scale machine use and would not be practical, nor an obvious variation, as a hand held sod handling device. 
     In the area of handling sod during harvesting into sod pieces, U.S. Pat. No. 7,407,362 by Brouwer and Milwain disclose manipulating sod by grasping the grass extending from the surface of the sod. In a brief mention in Brouwer and Milwain, see the paragraph at column 5, lines 23-33, and FIGS. 15 and 16, it is disclosed to penetrate the sod by “ . . . hooking part of the thatch of the sod or the soil portion of the slab.”. The invention of Brouwer and Milwain, including all possible variations disclosed, is clearly intended for large scale machine use and would not be practical, nor an obvious variation, as a hand held sod handling device. 
     In an apparent unrelated field, a grapple is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,572,499 by Light to hoist baled or loose hay, straw or the like, to a stack or in storing the same in barns or other buildings. 
     Your applicant is unaware of any simple hand held device which assists a user to readily and easily and safely engage, transport and release a piece of sod while minimizing any potential damage such handling might typically entail. 
     The vast majority of sod installation at a location being sodded occurs with the installer grasping a piece of the sod with both hands and physically picking it up with their hands and carrying it with their hands and releasing it from their hands. Most such installers utilize gloves to protect their hands. Depending upon the length of the exposed grass and the quality of the sod being installed, the installer may grasp the exposed grass within clenched fist and pick up the sod from the top. This technique tends to damage the sod as it exerts the entire weight of the piece of sod to the small areas being engaged by the installer. At other times the installer may grasp the side from opposing edges, typically the short sides of the piece of sod, with their finger tips under the sod and their thumbs above. This technique tends to permit bending of the piece of sod which has the tendency to damage the sod. This technique also applies the entire weight of the piece of sod to the areas being engaged by the installer. A major drawback of the manual installation method involves the installer only being able to manipulate one (1) piece of sod at a time from a stacked location of the sod pieces to be installed to the placement location of the sod being installed. Some installers, in an effort to be more productive, have attempted to convey two (2) pieces of sod at once in a stack. This either involves getting their hands under opposing edges of the lower piece of sod in the stack of two (2) pieces of sod or allowing the stack of two (2) pieces of sod to rest on their forearms. These techniques have proven to fail. In the first instance the weight of the two (2) pieces are too much to retain without damaging the sod at the point of contact with the installer&#39;s hands. In the second instance, it is difficult to manipulate their hands and forearms under the two (2) pieces of sod and impossible to place them on the ground at the location of installation unassisted without doing serious damage to the sod. The rare occasions where the second instance works is where another installer remains at the installation location, moving along the ground as installation occurs, and takes the top piece from the installer conveying the two (2) pieces and placing it then taking the second piece from the installer conveying the two (2) pieces and placing it while the installer conveying the sod returns for two (2) more pieces of sod. When this technique is employed often multiple installers will convey sod to the one (1) installer that actually places each piece of sod on the ground. 
     Various deficiencies exist with all of the known methods of handling pieces of sod during an installation. As can be seen various attempts have been made to provide for large scale machines to handle the pieces of sod while minimizing damage to the piece of sod. These attempts have been less efficient than desired. As such, it may be appreciated that there continues to be a need for a hand held device with engagement members to penetrate the piece of sod from opposing directions with minimal disturbance of the sod, to evenly distribute the weight of the piece of sod over the engagement members during manipulation of the piece of sod and to release the piece of sod cleanly with minimal disturbance of the sod by the engagement members. Additionally, there continues to be a need for a hand held device which an installer may use two (2) of at a time to install two (2) pieces of sod during each cycle of motion from a stacked location of the sod to be installed to the placement location of the two (2) pieces of sod. The present invention substantially fulfills these needs. 
     SUMMARY 
     In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known methods of handling individual pieces of sod, your applicant has devised a sod handling device to provide for a user of the device to engage, to transport and to release a piece of sod all while the piece of sod is in a generally natural horizontal orientation. Applicable pieces of sod have an upper surface and a base layer. The upper surface of the piece of sod has grass thereat while the base layer of the piece of sod is generally formed of soil and roots from the grass. The sod handling device has a handle, a plurality of sod penetration members, engagement means and release means. The handle permits the user to carry the sod handling device about. Each of the sod penetration members have a neutral orientation and a sod engagement orientation relative to the overall sod handling device. The orientations are generally at opposing ends of a movement range for the respective sod penetration member. Structural components provide for the engagement means which provide for an engaging displacement of the plurality of sod penetration members generally from their respective neutral orientations to their respective sod engagement orientations subsequent to a placement of the sod handling device relative to the piece of sod. This provides for the sod penetration members to penetrate and engage the piece of sod through the grass of the upper surface and into the base layer to secure the piece of sod relative to the sod handling device. Structural components provide for the release means which provide for a releasing displacement of the plurality of sod penetration members generally from their respective sod engagement orientations to their respective neutral orientations. This provides for the sod penetration members to disengage from the piece of sod to release the piece of sod from the sod handling device. The sod handling device may be operated by a user using just one (1) hand thus permitting the user to use two (2) sod handling devices simultaneously to double the installation capacity of the user. 
     My invention resides not in any one of these features per se, but rather in the particular combinations of them herein disclosed and it is distinguished from the prior art in these particular combinations of these structures for the functions specified. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide for a hand held sod handling device to engage, move and release a piece of sod without inflicting any apparent damage to the piece of sod. 
     Other objects include; 
     a) to provide for an arching penetration and withdrawal of the piece of sod by a plurality of sod penetration members of the sod handling device. 
     b) to provide for the sod penetration members to be distributed in two direction sets to enter and to leave the sod in opposing directional orientations to secure and release the piece of sod relative to the sod handling device. 
     c) to provide for the sod penetration members to operate in widely distributed pairs with each of the sod penetration members of a respective pair operating in an opposing directional displacement. 
     d) to provide for a simple dual handle arrangement where an upper handle is utilized to carry the sod handling device until the sod is engaged on the sod handling device where a lower handle is then utilized to carry the sod handling device during transport of the piece of sod and where a retention of the upper handle while releasing lower handle causes a clean release of the piece of sod from the sod handling device. 
     e) to provide for the user to fully operate the sod handling device using only one of their hands. 
     f) to provide for the user to convey a piece of sod utilizing the sod handling device with the device and the piece of sod at the user&#39;s side in a far less stressful orientation than that orientation currently utilized by installer carrying the piece of sod in front of the user using both hands. 
     g) to provide for the user to alternate use of the sod handling device with each of their arms during installation of the sod to reduce fatigue and improve productivity. 
     h) to provide for the user to operate two (2) sod handling devices simultaneously to convey and install two (2) pieces of sod during each installation cycle. 
     These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated the preferred embodiments of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein; 
         FIG. 1   a  and  FIG. 1   b  are perspective views of a sod handling device in opposing operational orientations. 
         FIG. 2   a  and  FIG. 2   b  are side elevational views of the sod handling device in the orientations depicted in  FIG. 1   a  and  FIG. 1   b  respectively. 
         FIG. 3   a  and  FIG. 3   b  are end elevational views of the sod handling device in the orientations depicted in  FIG. 1   a  and  FIG. 1   b  respectively. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of fixed portions of a frame of the sod handling device. 
         FIG. 5  is an exploded perspective view of portions of a fixed handle assembly of the sod handling device. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a sliding upright member. 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of an upper handle. 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a main control linkage. 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a coupling linkage. 
         FIG. 10   a  and  FIG. 10   b  are perspective views of a first and second side of a sod penetration member. 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view of various pivotal couplings assemblies. 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view an upright member frame anchor. 
         FIG. 13  is a perspective view an upper handle anchor. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION 
     Many different devices having features of the present invention are possible. The following description describes the preferred embodiment of select features of those devices and various combinations thereof. These features may be deployed in various combinations to arrive at various desired working configurations of devices. 
     Reference is hereafter made to the drawings where like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various views. 
     Overview 
     A sod handling device  20 , shown complete in  FIG. 1   a  through  FIG. 3   b , provides for a user, not shown, of sod handling device  20  to engage, to transport and to release a piece of sod  22 , shown in  FIG. 2   a  and  FIG. 2   b . The engagement, transport and release of piece of sod  22  occurs while piece of sod  22  is in a generally natural horizontal orientation  24 . 
     Piece of sod  22  has an upper surface  26  and a base layer  28 . Upper surface  26  of piece of sod  22  has grass  30  thereat. Base layer  28  of piece of sod  22  is generally formed by soil  32  and roots  34  from grass  30  therein. Piece of sod  22  is a standard piece of sod, as conventionally known in the art, which has a thickness  36  of base layer  28 . 
     Sod handling devices having features of the present invention may be formed by various manufacturing methods and from various materials. Ideally, the parts will be of a suitably strong and durable nature which will resist the adverse effects of the outdoors operating environment to which devices having features of the present invention will be exposed. 
     The purpose of the present invention is to permit a person handling the sod handling device to securely engage a single piece of sod with the sod handling device, readily and comfortably manipulate the piece of sod using the sod handling device from a first location to a second location and to accurately position the piece of sod at the time of release of the piece of sod from the sod handling device. All of this ideally will occur without concern for premature release of the piece of sod from the sod handling device and without the sod handling device unduly damaging the piece of sod at any time, including during engagement, transport and release. The release of the piece of sod from the sod handling device may occur subsequent to placement of the piece of sod on the ground at a desired position or with the piece of sod elevated above the ground. In either instance it is necessary that release of the piece of sod from the sod handling device occur rapidly where little or no trauma, or other damage, will be inflicted upon the piece of sod. 
     The person installing the sod will not have to hold the piece of sod in front of them during conveyance of the piece of sod but rather will hold the piece of sod at their side in a much less stressful body orientation. The person installing the sod may utilize a single sod handling device during installation or may utilize a pair of sod handling devices to improve efficiency and productivity. 
     The term engagement means refers to any method, and any structural arrangement of parts, to provide for an engaging displacement of a plurality of sod penetration members generally from neutral orientation of sod handling device to sod engagement orientation of sod handling device subsequent to a placement of sod handling device relative to piece of sod. This provides for sod penetration members to penetrate and engage the piece of sod through the grass of the upper surface and into the base layer to secure the piece of sod relative to sod handling device. 
     The term release means refers to any method, and any structural arrangement of parts, to provide for a releasing displacement of the plurality of sod penetration members generally from sod engagement orientation of sod handling device to neutral orientation of sod handling device. This provides for the sod penetration members to disengage from the piece of sod to release the piece of sod from sod handling device. 
     Frame 
     Sod handling device  20  has a fixed frame  38 , various control linkages and various couplings. Fixed frame  38 , see  FIG. 4 , has a pair of opposing longitudinal mounting members  40  and a pair of opposing end coupling members  42 . Each longitudinal mounting member  40  has a plurality of mounting passages  44  therethrough. Each mounting passage  44  provides for mounting of a respective sod penetration member  46 . As depicted, end coupling members  42  preferably extend beyond the extent of longitudinal mounting members  40  to provide for a plurality of blocking stops  48  which act with select sod penetration members  46  to limit an operational range of motion of sod handling device  20 . These limits are best shown in  FIG. 2   a  for a neutral orientation  50  of sod handling device  20  and in  FIG. 2   b  for a sod engagement orientation  52  of sod handling device  20 . Orientations  50  and  52  for sod handling device  20  place the plurality of sod penetration members  46  generally at their opposing ends of a respective pivotal movement range. Fixed frame  38  has a sod contact surface  54  for placement against upper surface  26  of piece of sod  22 , see  FIG. 2   b . Extending upward from a generally central location on each longitudinal mounting member  40  is a fixed upright member  56 , best shown in  FIG. 4 , which extends through a passageway therethrough, not shown. Each fixed upright member  56  is secured therein utilizing an opposing pair of upright member frame anchors  58 , best shown in  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 12 . Each longitudinal mounting member  40  has a containment cavity  60 , see  FIG. 4 . A lower fixed handle  62 , also referred to herein as lower member of handle, has opposing securing passages  64 , see  FIG. 5 , which each receive one (1) fixed upright member  56 . Lower fixed handle  62  is secured to each of the opposing fixed upright members  56  utilizing opposing fixed handle anchors  66 , see  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5 . Lower fixed handle  62  has a user contact area  68  which will be engaged by the user in a weight bearing manner while sod handling device  20  is transporting piece of sod  22 . 
     Fixed frame  38  has at a lower extent a sod contact plane  70 , see  FIG. 2   a , which generally contacts upper surface  26  of piece of sod  22  during placement of sod handling device  20  relative to piece of sod  22 . The operational limits of sod contact plane  70  have a longitudinal orientation  72 , see  FIG. 4 , with a first perimeter  74  and a second perimeter  76  positioned on opposing side of longitudinal orientation  72 . The plurality of sod penetration members  46  can be defined as having a first operational set  78  and a second operational set  80 . First operational set  78  is positioned generally along first perimeter  74  while second operational set  80  is positioned generally along second perimeter  76 . 
     Control Linkages 
     The various control linkages provide for control over manipulation of sod handling device  20  by the user. Numerous configurations of control linkages may be employed to provide this feature on devices having features of the present invention. The control linkages depicted operate in a synchronized manner to control movement of all deployed sod penetration members  46  simultaneously. 
     The control linkages include two (2) opposing sliding upright members  82 , an upper handle  84 , four (4) main control linkages  86 , four (4) coupling linkages  88  and eight (8) sod penetration members  46 . Each main control linkage  86  has an upper pivotal aperture  90  and a lower pivotal aperture  92 . Each coupling linkage  88  has an inner pivotal aperture  94  and an outer pivotal aperture  96 . Each sliding upright member  82  has a contained portion  98  and an anchoring aperture  100 . Each contained portion  98  of sliding upright member  82  is retained in a sliding manner within containment cavity  60  of a respective longitudinal mounting member  40 . Upper handle  84 , also referred to herein as upper member of handle, has a user contact area  102  and opposing securing shafts  104 . Each securing shaft  104  penetrates anchoring aperture  100  of a respective sliding upright member  82 , along with two (2) upper pivotal apertures  90  of two (2) main control linkages  86 , and is secured thereto utilizing various upper handle anchors  105 , see  FIG. 3   a ,  FIG. 3   b  and  FIG. 13 . 
     Couplings 
     The various couplings provide for non binding coupling of the various moving components of sod handling device  20 . Numerous configurations of couplings may be employed to provide this feature on devices having features of the present invention. The couplings depicted include various lengths, see coupling assemblies  106 ,  108  and  110  shown in  FIG. 11 , to accommodate non binding, relatively loose, securement of the various moving parts relative to each other and the various moving parts relative to various fixed parts. This non binding securement ensures uniform operation of sod handling device  20  throughout a work life. It being recognized that sod handling devices having features of the present invention will operate in dirty and damp environments during use to move and lay sod. One example of such a coupling is coupling assembly  106  having a bolt  112  which receives a locking nut  114 . Bolt  112  is configured, as conventionally known in the art, to receive locking nut  114  to a maximum depth. Coupling assemblies  106 ,  108  and  110 , see  FIG. 1   a  and  FIG. 1   b , secure various of the portions of sod handling device  20  together. Spacers, conventionally known and not shown, may be positioned between the various secured portions to ensure proper spacing to prevent binding or rubbing of parts adjacent their respective couplings, if desired. 
     Connections 
     Referring now specifically to  FIG. 4 ,  FIG. 1   a  and  FIG. 1   b , fixed frame  38  has secured thereto eight (8) sod penetration members  46  in four (4) directional pairs with each directional pair connected by one (1) coupling linkage  88 . Each coupling linkage  88  also has secured thereto a respective main control linkage  86 . Each securing shaft  104  of upper handle  84  also has attached thereto a respective sliding upright member  82  and two (2) main control linkages  86 . This provides for displacement of the four (4) main control linkages  86  during movement of upper handle  84  toward and away from lower fixed handle  62 . Therefore, movement of upper handle  84  toward and away from lower fixed handle  62  controls movement of main control linkages  86  which in turn controls movement of coupling linkages  88  which in turn control movement of sod penetration members  46 . 
     Range of motion of sod handling device  20  may be limited in various manners. As depicted, blocking stops  48  and contacting sod penetration members  46  may be employed to limit the range of motion. Alternatively, structural limits may be imposed between fixed upright member  56  and sliding upright member  82  to limit the range of motion. Numerous other structural arrangements on sod handling device  20  may be employed to provide this desired feature. 
     Operation 
     Upper handle  84  and lower fixed handle  62  cooperate to form a handle assembly. Handle assembly has a first hand contact portion  120  and a second hand contact portion  122 . At various times of use of sod handling device  20  the user engages first hand contact portion  120 , at other times the user engages second hand contact portion  122  and at other times the user engages both first hand contact portion  120  and second hand contact portion  122 . First hand contact portion  120  and second hand contact portion  122  have a neutral spacing orientation  126 , see  FIG. 2   a  and  FIG. 3   a , where handle assembly positions the control linkage assembly in an orientation where sod penetration members  46  are maintained in neutral orientation  50 . First hand contact portion  120  and second hand contact portion  122  have a sod engagement spacing orientation  126 , see  FIG. 2   b  and  FIG. 3   b , where handle assembly positions the control linkage assembly in an orientation where sod penetration members  46  are maintained in sod engagement orientation  52  of sod handling device  20 . While being manipulated without sod engaged by sod handling device  20 , upper handle  84  is normally utilized by the user to bear the weight of sod handling device  20 . This arrangement provides for sod handling device  20  to be in neutral orientation  50 , see  FIG. 1   a ,  FIG. 2   a  and  FIG. 3   a . While being manipulated with piece of sod  22  engaged by sod handling device  20 , lower fixed handle  62  is normally utilized to bear weight of sod handling device  20  and piece of sod  22 , with surrounding engagement of upper handle  84 , if desired. This arrangement provides for sod handling device  20  to be in sod engagement orientation  52 , see  FIG. 1   b ,  FIG. 2   b  and  FIG. 3   b.    
     Referring now generally to  FIG. 1   a  through  FIG. 3   b ,  FIG. 10   a  and  FIG. 10   b , each sod penetration member  46  has a first side  128  and second side  130 . Each sod penetration member  46  further has a sod penetration portion  132 , an extension portion  134 , a pivotal aperture  136  and a controlling aperture  138 . Sod penetration portion  132  has a distal tip portion  140  and a curvature  142 . Distal tip portion  140  penetrates piece of sod  22  during engagement of piece of sod  22 . Preferably, each sod penetration member  46  penetrates base layer  28  of piece of sod  22  to a depth generally less than thickness  36  of base layer  28  of piece of sod  22 . 
     While each sod penetration member  46  will have a neutral orientation and a sod engagement orientation, in the preferred embodiment the collection of sod penetration members  46  will move together in a synchronized manner on sod handling device  20 . 
     Distal tip portion  140  of each sod penetration member  46  will have a definable directional orientation while in at least sod engagement orientation  52  of sod handling device  20 . Preferably a portion of each sod penetration member  46  at, or near, their respective distal tip portion  140  will be generally parallel to upper surface  26  of piece of sod  22  while in sod engagement orientation  52  of sod handling device  20  with piece of sod  22 . It being understood that the term generally parallel is being applied to a curved member without loss of understanding of the principle. Due to the preferred pivotal movement of sod penetration members  46  the movement range of each sod penetration member  46  occurs generally in an arcing displacement motion, see change from  FIG. 1   a  to  FIG. 1   b  and change from  FIG. 2   a  to  FIG. 2   b.    
     In the most preferred embodiment depicted, four (4) counteracting pairs of sod penetration members  46  will be positioned relative to corners of fixed frame  38  about sod contact surface  54 . This arrangement provides for several definable sets of sod penetration members. A first and second definable set of sod penetration members involve those defined by their directional displacement of the sod penetration members. Each pair of adjacent sod penetration members  46  which act in opposing directional displacement directions on piece of sod  22 . Four (4) of these sets is ample to handle sod of conventional size, thickness and weight. 
     Referring now to directional displacement of the plurality of sod penetration members  46 , a first set of sod penetration members  142  and a second set of sod penetration members  144  exist. First set of sod penetration members  142  operate in a first movement direction  146  while second set of sod penetration members  144  operate in a second movement direction  148 . First movement direction  146  is generally opposed to second movement direction  148 . 
     Preferably each sod penetration member  46  is positioned in close proximity to sod contact surface  54  to provide for a cooperation to occur between sod contact surface  54  and each sod penetration member  46  to ensure a proper penetration of piece of sod  22  by each sod penetration member  46  during an engaging displacement of the plurality of sod penetration members  46  by ensuring proper placement of each sod penetration member  46  prior to sod handling device  20  seizing piece of sod  22 . Due to a tendency of sod penetration members  46  during insertion into piece of sod  22  to draw portions of piece of sod  22  upward and secure contact is ensured between sod contact surface  54  and piece of sod  22  near each sod penetration member  46 . Preferably, each pair of sod penetration members  46  which move in opposing movement directions during displacement will be offset from each other, shown in  FIG. 1   a  and  FIG. 1   b , while moving along parallel pivotal movement ranges. This is accomplished by positioning the pair of sod penetration members  46  on opposing sides of the structure forming sod contact surface  54 . 
       FIG. 1   a ,  FIG. 2   a  and  FIG. 3   a  depict sod handling device  20  in neutral orientation  50  which will be the orientation while sod handling device  20  is being carried about utilizing upper handle  84 . While in neutral orientation  50  sod handling device  20  may be positioned on piece of sod  22  and an engaging displacing movement of upper handle  84  toward piece of sod  22  causes an engaging displacement of the plurality of sod penetration members  46 , see difference between  FIG. 1   a  and  FIG. 1   b  and between  FIG. 2   a  and  FIG. 2   b , to secure piece of sod  22  relative to sod handling device  20 . This provides for a fluid and natural use of sod handling device  20  where the user carries sod handling device  20  to piece of sod  22  then places sod handling device  20  on piece of sod  22  then secures piece of sod  22  relative to sod handling device  20  by continuing movement of the hand carrying sod handling device  20  downward while the user continues to contact upper handle  84 . Following this fluid and natural engagement the user engages lower fixed handle  62  and lifts sod handling device  20  and piece of sod  22  utilizing lower fixed handle  62 . As lower fixed handle  62  is fixed on sod handling device  20 , and as a balancing of the moveable parts exist, sod penetration members  46  remain in their securement orientation to retain piece of sod  22  while the user bears the weight on lower fixed handle  62 . A natural positioning of the hand of the user around both lower fixed handle  62  and upper handle  84  ensures that sod handling device  20  remains in sod engagement orientation  52  during conveyance of piece of sod  22  utilizing sod handling device  20 . Thus during engagement of piece of sod  22  by sod handling device  20  upper handle  84  and lower fixed handle  62  are retained in a close proximity to each other by the user to retain the plurality of sod penetration members  46  in sod engagement orientation  52  of sod handling device  20  during transport of piece of sod  22  utilizing sod handling device  20 . 
     While in sod engagement orientation  52 , see  FIG. 1   b ,  FIG. 2   b  and  FIG. 3   b , sod handling device  20  will retain piece of sod  22  and a releasing displacing movement of upper handle  84  away from piece of sod  22  causes a disengaging displacement of the plurality of sod penetration members  46 , see difference between  FIG. 1   b  and  FIG. 1   a  and between  FIG. 2   b  and  FIG. 2   a , to release piece of sod  22  relative to sod handling device  20 . This movement of upper handle  84  away from piece of sod  22  during the releasing displacement of the plurality of sod penetration members  46  causes the releasing displacement of the plurality of sod penetration members  46  to release piece of sod  22  relative to sod handling device  20 . This provides for a fluid and natural use of sod handling device  20  where the user carries sod handling device  20  with piece of sod  22  secured thereat then releases lower fixed handle  62  while retaining upper handle  84 . Following this fluid and natural disengagement the user is free to re-engage piece of sod  22  just released or to engage another piece of sod  22 . 
     Preferably the release means will utilize a gravity biased release of piece of sod  22  from sod handling device  20  utilizing from a weight of piece of sod  22  to assist the releasing displacement of the plurality of sod penetration members  46  from sod engagement orientation  52  of sod handling device  20  to neutral orientation  50  of sod handling device  20 . 
     With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, material, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.