Abstract:
An apparatus for carrying landscaping objects, the apparatus comprising a pair of lifting bodies, each lifting body having: a pair of substantially parallel elongated bars connected by a plurality of vertical supports, two lifting ends, two handles with one handle located near each of the two lifting ends, a joint, and a bracket; a pair of cross-assemblies, each cross-assembly having a first connecting end, a second connecting end, an inner bar, and an outer bar, wherein the first connecting end is attached substantially perpendicular to the joint of one lifting body and the second connecting end is attached substantially perpendicular to the bracket of the other lifting body; and a flexible net that is adapted for carrying attached to the pair of lifting bodies; wherein for each cross-assembly, the inner bar is adapted to slidably engage the outer bar to allow expanding and collapsing of the cross-assembly.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/786,835, filed Mar. 15, 2013. 
     
    
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    An improved landscaping carrier for transporting pots, planters, balled-and-burlapped trees, boulders, and other landscaping objects too large or bulky for a single person to move. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0003]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a carrier. 
           [0004]      FIG. 2  is a side elevation view of a carrier. 
           [0005]      FIG. 3  is an end elevation view of a carrier. 
           [0006]      FIG. 4  is a top plan view of a carrier. 
           [0007]      FIG. 5  is a perspective section view of a carrier&#39;s cross-assembly. 
           [0008]      FIG. 6  is a perspective section view of a carrier&#39;s cross-assembly bracket. 
           [0009]      FIG. 7  is a perspective section view of a carrier&#39;s cross-assembly joint. 
           [0010]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of a carrier&#39;s netting. 
           [0011]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a carrier in an expanded configuration. 
           [0012]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a carrier in an expanded configuration, with detached netting and detached cross-assembly brackets. 
           [0013]      FIG. 11  is a perspective section view of a carrier&#39;s cross-assembly positioned at non-perpendicular angle. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0014]    The invention may be generally described as a carrier or lifter for moving or transporting landscaping objects, typically objects too large or bulky for a single person to easily move. The objects to be lifted or moved may include pots, planters, balled-and-burlapped trees, and boulders. 
         [0015]      FIGS. 1-7  and  9 - 11  show one embodiment of a carrier  100  of the present invention. As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , carrier  100  may comprise a frame having pair of lifting bodies  200  connected via a pair of cross-assemblies  300 . Netting  400  attaches to the lifting bodies  200  and hangs approximately in the center of carrier  100 . Objects may be placed within the netting  400  for transportation. 
         [0016]    Each lifting body  200  may be comprised of one or more elongated bars or beams. Each bar or beam may be tubular with a circular or square cross-section. Alternatively, each bar or beam may be solid with a circular, square, or I-shaped cross-section. If two or more bars or beams are present in the lifting body  200 , the bars or beams may be arranged in a parallel manner. The lifting body  200  may have a linear shape. Alternatively, the lifting body  200  may have a bent or curved shape or include bent or curved components. 
         [0017]    Referring now to  FIG. 2 , each of the lifting bodies  200  includes a lifting body upper bar  210 , a lifting body lower bar  220 , a pair of handles  240 , and a pair of lifting body vertical supports  230 . The lifting body upper bar  210  is linear in shape, while the lifting body lower bar  220  includes two bent ends forming handles  240 . The lifting body upper bar  210  attaches to the lifting body lower bar  220  near the handles  240 . 
         [0018]    The pair of lifting body vertical supports  230  attach to both the lifting body upper bar  210  and lifting body lower bar  220 . The lifting body vertical supports  230  serve to stabilize and strengthen the lifting body  200 , and may be located near the cross-assemblies  300 . The lifting body vertical supports  230  may be mounted between the lifting body upper bar  210  and lifting body lower bar  220  (as in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ), or to the side or sides of the lifting body upper bar  210  and lifting body lower bar  220 . In one configuration, the lifting body vertical supports  230  may be tubular with a circular or square cross-section. In another configuration, the lifting body vertical supports  230  may possess a flat shape, such as a square or rectangular plate. Although  FIG. 2  shows only two lifting body vertical supports  230 , additional lifting body vertical supports  230  may be included to improve strength and stability of carrier  100 . 
         [0019]    As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the handles  240  of each lifting body  200  are located at the ends of the lifting body  200 . In an alternative configuration, one or more handles  240  may be positioned at various locations along the length of a lifting body  200 . Each handle  240  may include rubber, plastic, or other material to facilitate gripping. For example, the handles  240  may include yellow gripping tape wrapped around the handles  240 . 
         [0020]    The upper bar  210 , lower bar  220 , pair of handles  240 , and lifting body vertical supports  230  are typically connected or attached together though welding or bolting, but they may also be connected or attached though other manner of securely joining or fastening. 
         [0021]    The lifting body  200  may include a lip, ridge, flange, or hook to support or stabilize objects carried in netting  400 . For example, referring to  FIGS. 2 and 4 , each lifting body  200  includes an L-shaped lip  270  mounted to the upper surface of the upper bar  210 . The lip  270  can be used to hold or support the straps of a ball-and-burlapped tree or the lip of a pot. Each lifting body  200  may include one or multiple hooks or lips  270 . 
         [0022]    For the cross-assemblies  300  of carrier  100 , each cross-assembly  300  may be formed of one or more beams or bars. Like the lifting bodies  200 , each bar or beam of a cross-assembly  300  may be tubular with a circular or square cross-section, or alternatively, solid with a circular, square, or I-shaped cross-section. If two or more bars or beams are present in the cross-assembly  300 , the bars or beams may be arranged in a parallel manner. The cross-assembly  300  may have a linear shape, or it may have a bent or curved shape or include bent or curved components. 
         [0023]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , each cross-assembly  300  includes a cross-assembly upper bar  310  parallel to a cross-assembly lower bar  320 , connected by three cross-assembly vertical supports  330 . 
         [0024]    The three cross-assembly vertical supports  330  serve to stabilize and strengthen the cross-assembly  300 . In one configuration, the cross-assembly vertical supports  330  may be tubular with a circular or square cross-section. In another configuration, the cross-assembly vertical supports  330  may possess a flat shape, such as a square or rectangular plate. Although  FIG. 5  shows three cross-assembly vertical supports  330 , additional cross-assembly vertical supports  330  may be included to improve strength and stability. 
         [0025]    The cross-assemblies  300  may be connected or attached to the lifting bodies  200  though welding or bolting, or they may also be connected or attached though other manner of securely joining or fastening. Additionally, the cross-assemblies  300  may be secured to, but removable from, the lifting bodies  200 . 
         [0026]    Referring to  FIGS. 5 ,  6 , and  7 , the pair of lifting bodies  200  may include one or more brackets or joints adapted to engage the two cross-assemblies  300 .  FIGS. 5 and 7  show that each lifting body  200  may include one joint  250  adapted to engage a first end of cross-assembly  300 . To secure the cross-assembly  300  to the lifting body  200  using joint  250 , a bolt  340  is fitted through openings in both the cross-assembly  300  and joint  250 . A nut  341  engages the threaded end of bolt  340 .  FIGS. 5 and 6  show that each lifting body  200  may also include one bracket  260  adapted to engage a second end of cross-assembly  300 . The bracket  260  includes an upper receptacle  260   a  and lower receptacle  260   b  adapted to engage the cross-assembly upper bar  310  and cross-assembly lower bar  320 , respectively. To secure the cross-assembly  300  to the lifting body  200  using bracket  260 , a pin may be used. For example, a locking pin  360  may secure the cross-assembly  300  to the bracket  260 .  FIG. 10  shows locking pin openings or holes  365  in cross-assembly  300  and bracket  260  adapted to receive locking pin  360 . 
         [0027]    The two cross-assemblies  300  may also be adapted to collapse and expand to accommodate objects of varying sizes in the carrier  100 . The cross-assemblies  300  may include two or more concentric components or elements of different sizes or diameters, adapted so that the elements are capable of sliding into one another, to allow expansion and collapse. Referring now to  FIG. 9 , each cross-assembly upper bar  310  includes an inner bar  310   a  and an outer bar  310   b.  The inner bar  310   a  of the cross-assembly upper bar  310  is adapted to slide within the outer bar  310   b  of the cross-assembly upper bar  310 . Specifically, inner bar  310   a  has the same cross sectional shape as outer bar  310   b,  but a smaller size or diameter, allowing inner bar  310   a  to slide within outer bar  310   b.  Similarly, each cross-assembly lower bar  320  includes an inner bar  320   a  and an outer bar  320   b.  The inner bar  320   a  of the cross-assembly lower bar  320  is adapted to slide within the outer bar  320   b  of the cross-assembly lower bar  320 . In this manner, carrier  100  may be expanded or collapsed along the two cross-assemblies  300  by pulling apart or pushing together the inner and outer bars. 
         [0028]    Although  FIG. 9  illustrates the use of elements with the same cross-sectional shape to permit expansion and collapse, this can be accomplished with elements having differing cross-sectional shapes. For example, a circular inner bar can slide within a square or triangular outer bar. Likewise, a square or triangular inner bar can slide within a circular outer bar. 
         [0029]    If the two cross-assemblies  300  are collapsible and expandable, a pin may be used to secure each cross-assembly at a particular length. As shown in  FIGS. 6 and 10 , an expansion pin  350  may be used to secure the inner bar  310   a  to the outer bar  310   b.  More specifically, the expansion pin  350  passes through expansion pin openings or holes  355  in the inner bar  310   a  and in the outer bar  310   b.  Although not shown in the figures, the expansion pin  350  and expansion pin openings or holes  355  may also be located in the lower bar  320 . Additionally, the inner bar  310   a  or outer bar  310   b  may include multiple openings or holes  355  to secure the cross-assembly  300  at varying lengths. 
         [0030]    Referring now to  FIG. 6 , it is seen that the cross-assemblies  300  and lifting bodies  200  may be attached together at a fixed angle. For example, each cross-assembly  300  may attach to a bracket  260  of a lifting body  200  in an approximately perpendicular position, preventing rotation between the cross-assembly  300  and lifting body  200 . Fixed angles other than 90° may also be used. 
         [0031]    Alternatively, the cross-assemblies  300  and lifting bodies  200  may be attached together to form a movable joint or hinge. Referring to  FIGS. 7 and 11 , each cross-assembly  300  may attach to a joint  250  of a lifting body  200 , allowing the cross-assembly  300  to rotate perpendicular or parallel to the lifting body  200 , and to all angles in between. The cross-assembly  300  may also include a cross-assembly stop. The cross-assembly stop may be used to limit or restrict movement of the cross-assembly  300 . For example, in  FIGS. 7 and 11 , an L-shaped cross-assembly stop  348  is attached to the outside of cross-assembly  300 , preventing movement beyond the perpendicular. In an alternative configuration not shown in the figures, cross-assembly stop  348  may be positioned on the inside of cross-assembly  300 . The cross-assembly stop need not be L-shaped at a 90° angle, but may be V-shaped with an angle other than 90° (e.g., a 45° V-shape). Additionally, the cross-assembly stop may be formed as a flat plate attached to the outside of cross-assembly  300 , with only a side of the cross-assembly stop contacting the lifting body  200 . 
         [0032]    The netting  400  may be made of braided or woven nylon or polyester fabric, or other durable materials for carrying objects. Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the netting  400  attaches to each lifting body  200  with a pair of straps  410 . Thus, for two lifting bodies  200 , netting  400  will have a total of four straps  410 . Each strap  410  partially wraps around a lifting body  200 , and a netting pin  440  secures the strap  410  to the lifting body  200 , as shown in  FIG. 8 . More specifically, each netting pin  440  passes through the lifting body lower bar  220  and through two eyelets sewn or placed in the strap  410 , with one eyelet positioned on each side of the lifting body lower bar  220 . 
         [0033]      FIG. 8  shows an alternate embodiment of the netting  400  with additional hardware to allow adjustment of the netting  400 . For example, netting  400  may include one or more adjustable buckles  420  to allow a user to change the size or shape of netting  400 . The buckles  420  may be cam buckles, side release buckles, or metal slides. Similarly, the netting  440  may also incorporate hooks  430  adapted to engage grommets  415 . The addition of the hooks  430  and grommets  415  permits users to open and close the netting  440  around objects. 
         [0034]    Carrier  100  may be composed of steel, aluminum, or other lightweight, sturdy material, although the netting  400  will typically use the materials described above. The cross-sections of the various parts of carrier  100 , including the bars, brackets, and supports, may be square, circular, rectangular, T-shaped, or I-shaped. The carrier  100  may be coated with a rust-proof or rust-resistant paint or coating to preserve carrier  100  from environmental wear and tear. 
         [0035]    When used, the carrier  100  may be lifted by two people, each positioned at one end of the carrier  100  with each person using a pair of handles  240 . Alternatively, the carrier may be lifted by four people, with each person positioned at one end of a lifting body  200  using a single handle  240 .