Abstract:
A machine for lifting and moving heavy slabs includes two channels connected only by a cable. The channels are placed against opposite edges of a slab. Each channel has a lower flange which is beveled so that the flange will scoop under the edge of the slab when moved toward the opposing channel. The channels are moved by attaching the cable to one channel and pulling the cable upward from the sheave on the other channel. Further lifting of the cable lifts the channels and the slab for moving.

Description:
REFERENCE TO PROVISIONAL PATENT APPLICATION  
       [0001]    The applicant claims the benefit of his U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/295,390, filed May 31, 2001. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    Field of the Invention  
           [0003]    This invention relates to moving large slabs. A typical slab to be moved is a stone slab 9 inches thick measuring 60 inches wide and 80 inches long. A typical operation would be placing stone slabs in a garden or in walkways.  
           [0004]    This machine, with its combination of mechanisms, can be used for the purpose of handling heavy dimensional slabs of stone, concrete, steel, or other massive materials such as boxes, packages, and crates, in the following (but not limited to) operations: loading, unloading, placing dry walls, transporting, placing in stacks, placing in storage, and tilt-up operations. Landscape gardeners have ordinary skill in the art.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    (1) Progressive Contribution to the Art  
           [0006]    The principle of operations is grabbing the slab by moving cuffs together. Two cuffs are moved together by tightening a cable horizontally by vertically pulling on the cable. The cable is attached to the top portion of a travel cuff, then passed under a pulley attached to a lift cuff, then up through a guide ring which is attached to the upper portion of a stabilizing mast, which is attached to the lift cuff.  
           [0007]    Gravity plays an important factor in the operation of this machine. The heavier the slab to be lifted and transported; the tighter the grip on the slab.  
           [0008]    The aforementioned pulley allows the vertical lift energy to be directed from a vertical pull to a horizontal pull, thus tightening the grip of the lift cuff and the opposing travel cuff.  
           [0009]    (2) Objects of this Invention  
           [0010]    An object of this invention is to fasten a lift unit to a heavy slab; then lift, move, and place the slab in a new location.  
           [0011]    Another object is to provide equipment to fasten, lift, and release a slab as described above.  
           [0012]    Further objects are to achieve the above with devices that are sturdy, compact, durable, simple, safe, efficient, versatile, ecologically compatible, low maintenance, energy conserving, and reliable, yet inexpensive and easy to manufacture, install, operate, and maintain.  
           [0013]    Other objects are to achieve the above with a method that is rapid, versatile, ecologically compatible, energy conserving, efficient, and inexpensive, and does not require highly skilled people to install, operate, and maintain.  
           [0014]    Further objects are to achieve the above with equipment that is easy to store, has a long storage life, is safe, versatile, efficient, stable and reliable, yet is inexpensive and easy to manufacture and operate.  
           [0015]    The specific nature of the invention, as well as other objects, uses, and advantages thereof, will clearly appear from the following description and from the accompanying drawings, the different views of which are not necessarily scale drawings. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0016]    [0016]FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of equipment of this invention with parts broken away to show construction.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 2 shows the equipment as described in this invention in the compact storage confirmation.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 3 is a side elevational view, similar to FIG. 1, showing the equipment with a slab engaged in the equipment in a position ready to be transported.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the equipment with a slab fastened with the equipment and slab being lifted by a forklift vehicle.  
     
    
     CATALOGUE OF ELEMENTS  
       [0020]    As an aid to correlating the terms of the claims to the exemplary drawing(s), the following catalog of elements and steps is provided:  
                                                8:   Lifting Unit   26:   Lower Lip, Travel        9:   Gravity Grip   28:   Beveled Scoop, Travel       10:   Lift Unit   30:   Travel Plate       12:   Eye   32:   Sheave       14:   Cable   34:   Support Plates       16:   Mast   36:   Hand Hold       18:   Lift Cuff   38:   Cable Tube       19:   Lift Plate   40:   Stop       20:   Bottom Lip, Lift   42:   Slab       22:   Beveled Scoop, Lift   44:   Supporting Surface       23:   Travel Unit   46:   Loop       24:   Travel Cuff                  
 
       DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0021]    Referring to FIG. 4, there may be seen a lifting unit  8  in the form of a forklift raising slab  42  of cut stone or any other extremely heavy material. Usually the thinnest portion of the slab would be at least 60% of the thickest portion of the slab.  
         [0022]    The invention is gravity grip  9  which connects cable  14  to the slab. It will be understood that once the cable is attached to the slab, the gravity grip may be lifted by any convenient lifting unit; for example, a tripod with block and tackle or an elevated winch or a boom extending from the rear of a truck.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIGS. 1 and 2 show the gravity grip  9 . A major part of the gravity grip is lift unit  10 . The lift unit  10  includes guide ring or eye  12  on top of mast  16  to guide the cable  14  to the lifting unit. The lower part of the lift unit  10  includes lift cuff  18 . Bottom lip  20  of the lift cuff has beveled scoop  22 .  
         [0024]    The lift cuff  18  is basically a channel with a web connecting an upper flange identified as lift plate  19  and a lower flange identified as the lift bottom lip  20 .  
         [0025]    As seen in both FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the lift cuff  18  with the bottom lift lip  20 , lift plate  19 , and mast  16  are fabricated from a single plate of metal in this embodiment.  
         [0026]    Travel unit  23  includes travel cuff  24  which also includes travel plate  30 , travel lower lip  26 , and travel beveled scoop  28 . As explained above, the travel cuff  24  is also basically a channel. Travel plate  30 , which forms upper flange of the travel cuff  24 , extends for a distance equal to or slightly greater than the height or thickness of the travel cuff  24  which is the same as the height of lift cuff  18 .  
         [0027]    The cable  14  extends downward from its top loop  46  through the eye  12  to between the mast and sheave  32 . The sheave forms a turn unit for the cable. The sheave is attached to the mast  16  by support plates  34  which are welded to the mast  16 . The cable  14  extends from under the sheave through hand hold  36  attached to the top of the travel plate  30 . Cable tube  38  is securely attached to the travel plate  30  under the center of the hand hold  36 . The cable  14  extends through the tube  38  to stop  40  on the end of the cable, thus the cable is fixed to the travel unit  23 .  
         [0028]    Referring to FIG. 3, there may be seen the gravity grip  9  engaged with the slab  42 . It will be understood that with the lift unit  10  and travel unit  23  placed with the lips  20  and  26  upon supporting surface  44  and against the slab  42 ; that the slab  42  may be lifted into the cuffs by the movement of the scoops  22  and  28  against the slab; that with tension on the cable, the slab is caught or captured. The travel unit  23  may be maneuvered by hand hold  36  to an opposite side of the slab  42  from lift unit  10 . With the slab  42  thus engaged, the cable  14  and slab  42  may be lifted by loop  46 .  
         [0029]    Although the sheave  32  is the desired method of changing the direction of tension of the cable, other turn units are available.  
         [0030]    The FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the total gravity grip  9  in its collapsed or storage position.  
         [0031]    In greater detail, the slabs to be lifted are primarily stone slabs in standard thickness: specifically 4″,6″,9″,12″,16″ and 24″. The thickness may vary by ±{fraction (1/2)}″. For example the gravity grip for 9″ slabs would have a space from the lower lip  26  to the plate  30  of 9¾. Thereby, the cuffs could grab or capture a slab of either 8½″ to 9½ ″thick with ease.  
         [0032]    The 9″ gravity grip could also handle a 6″ slab, although using 6″ gravity grip is preferable. Each gravity grip  9  would have a space {fraction (3/4)}″ greater from lip to plate (the channel flanges) than the designated unit. Also, each gravity grip  9  may be used to lift a slab one step thinner than the designated slap. For example, the 16″ gravity grip could lift a 12″ slab or a 6″ gravity grip could lift a 4″ slab. The preferred use is to lift each standard thickness with a gravity grip made for that standard size. The cable tube  38  has its attachment about 1″ from the edge of the travel plate  30 . This permits easier handling.  
         [0033]    Referring to FIG. 4 of the drawings, it may be seen that the center of gravity of the slab and gravity grip is vertically below the eye  12 . Analysis will show the deviation from horizontal of the lifted slab will depend upon the distance the eye  12  is above the plane of the slab and the position of eye  12  on a line parallel to the plane of the slab.  
         [0034]    The embodiment shown and described above is only exemplary. I do not claim to have invented all the parts, elements or steps described. Various modifications can be made in the construction, material, arrangement, and operation, and still be within the scope of my invention.  
         [0035]    The restrictive description and drawings of the specific examples above do not point out what an infringement of this patent would be, but are to point out the advantages and the progressive contribution to the slab handling arts and to enable one skilled in the art to make and use the invention. The limits of the invention and the bounds of the patent protection are measured by and defined in the following claims.