Abstract:
An industrial roll handling apparatus allows the user to lift and maneuver industrial rolls and other heavy objects without the aid of another individual. It is removably attached to a forklift or tow motor for maneuverability. It has a triangular truss body that provides strength and support and a barrel within a barrel system that allows an industrial roll to turn independently from the truss. Straps used in combination with a buckle fastening system secure the industrial roll to the apparatus. Once fastened, the industrial roll can be manually rotated in a complete circle.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   None 
   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates generally to industrial roll handling devices. More specifically, the present invention relates to a device that can easily maneuver and turn an industrial roll of material. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   It is often necessary in an industrial setting for an individual to handle, move, turn or otherwise maneuver a large roll of material. Often these rolls weigh between three hundred and eight hundred pounds making it extremely difficult for an individual to maneuver said rolls alone. Consequently, the need exists for an apparatus that allows an individual to maneuver heavy rolls of material alone. The present invention fulfills this need. 
   Several patents have issued that address the subject of roll handling. U.S. Pat. No. 5,947,407 issued in the name of Quigley discloses an in-line automated roll stand. U.S. Pat. No. 3,847,709 issued in the name of Martin also discloses a roll stand. Although portable, neither the invention disclosed in the &#39;407 Patent, nor the invention disclosed in the &#39;709 Patent allow an individual to move an industrial roll from one place to another. The devices disclosed therein merely hold the roll, automatically or manually lift the roll up off of the floor and turn the roll, but cannot transport the roll. The present invention allows a single person to not only lift a roll up off of the floor, but also turn the roll and move the roll from one place to another when used in combination with a forklift or tow motor. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 5,642,979 issued to Cullen et al., discloses a roll handling apparatus for fork lift trucks. The device disclosed therein utilizes a hoist cable system to lift the industrial roll and relies on a gripper system to hold the heavy roll. The present invention uses a strapping system in lieu of a gripper system to hold the industrial roll. The strapping system more completely retains the roll. Also, the present invention uses its body together with the body of the forklift in lieu of a cable system to more securely lift the industrial roll. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The industrial roll handling apparatus that is disclosed herein is a device used to move, turn and otherwise maneuver heavy rolls of industrial material. It allows a single individual alone to maneuver the rolls. The industrial roll handling apparatus has attachment legs that receive the tines of a forklift or tow motor. The industrial roll handling apparatus also has a triangular truss body that provides strength and support to the apparatus. Attached to the truss is a barrel within a barrel system that allows an industrial roll to turn independently from the truss. Straps used in combination with a buckle fastening system secure the industrial roll to the apparatus. Once the roll is securely fastened within the straps, the fork lift or tow motor can lift the apparatus/roll combination and move the roll to its intended destination. Also, the industrial roll can now be manually rotated in a complete circle allowing the roll to be turned from vertical to horizontal if necessary for use thereof. 
   It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus that can easily lift, move, turn and otherwise maneuver heavy industrial rolls of material with the use of a forklift or tow motor. 
   It is a further object of the present invention to provide an apparatus that can easily lift, move, turn and otherwise maneuver heavy industrial rolls of material and requires only one individual operator. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the apparatus for lifting and moving rolls of industrial material for use with a forklift or tow motor. 
       FIG. 2  is a front view of the apparatus for lifting and moving rolls of industrial material for use with a forklift or tow motor. 
       FIG. 3  is a side view of the apparatus for lifting and moving rolls of industrial material for use with a forklift or tow motor without the truss. 
       FIG. 4  is a side view of the apparatus for lifting and moving rolls of industrial material for use with a forklift or tow motor. 
       FIG. 5  is a side view of the apparatus for lifting and moving rolls of industrial material for use with a forklift or tow motor. 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the apparatus for lifting and moving rolls of industrial material for use with a forklift or tow motor in use. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   The preferred embodiment of the present invention, the apparatus for lilting and moving rolls of industrial material for use with a forklift or tow motor  10  is shown in  FIGs. 1-6 . As seen in FIGS  1  and  5 , the preferred embodiment of the apparatus for lifting and moving rolls of industrial material for use with a forklift or tow motor  10  has attachment legs  12  that receive the tines of a fork lift or tow motor allowing the apparatus for lifting and moving rolls of industrial material for use with a forklift or tow motor  10  to be maneuvered by the same. A “T” handle pin  14  is used to lock the attachment legs  12  to the fork lift or tow motor. A triangular truss  16  preferably forms the main body of the apparatus for lifting and moving rolls of industrial material for use with a forklift or tow motor  10 . It gives the apparatus  10  the strength needed to support heavy industrial rolls of material  40  as seen in  FIG. 6  Traveling through the truss  16 , as illustrated in the side view of the apparatus for lifting and moving rolls of industrial material for use with a forklift or tow motor  10  shown in  FIGS. 3 and 5 , is an axle  18 . The axle  18  is situated within the arms of the truss  16  such that it can freely rotate three hundred and sixty degrees. Front and back bearings  20 ,  22  placed between the arms of the truss  16  allow the axle  18  to turn freely. The front and back bearings are kept in place by concealment plates  21 ,  23  that hold front bearing casing  20  and rear bearing casing  22 . A collar  39  is attached to the end of the axle  18  to keep it in place. One of ordinary skill in the art would readily recognize that other methods can be used to keep the bearings  20 ,  22  in position. In the preferred embodiment, an inner barrel  24  attached to the face of the truss  16 . The inner barrel  24  does not rotate and is kept stationary in position with the truss  16 . Surrounding the inner barrel  24 , in the preferred embodiment, is an outer barrel  26  that does rotate. 
   In the preferred embodiment, the outer barrel  26  has a single aperture  29  located on its outer circumference. The inner barrel  24  has several apertures  25  therethrough that are evenly spaced around its circumference. The apertures  25  are sized such that pins  27  can be inserted partially therethrough. The pins  27  work to keep the outer barrel  26  stationary with the inner barrel  24  when necessary. As the outer barrel  26  rotates, a different pair of apertures  25  and  29  are constantly being aligned. 
   Attached to the face of the outer barrel  26 , in the preferred embodiment, is a plate  28 , most clearly viewed in  FIGs. 1 and 2 . The plate  28  serves as a backbone to any industrial rolls being fastened thereto. The axle  18  is attached to the plate  28  through an aperture  28 A and the plate  28  is attached to the outer barrel  26 , such that when the plate  28  and any roll  40  attached thereto is manually rotated by the user, both the axle  18  and the outer barrel  26  turn with the plate  28 . 
   In the preferred embodiment, four rectangular metal partitions  30  are hinged to the plate  28 . The metal partitions  30  are preferably positioned such that they stem from the sides of the plate  28  when the plate  28  is positioned vertically with the ground, with two partitions  30  stemming off of one side of the plate  28  and two partitions  30  stemming off of the opposite side of the plate, one each at the top and bottom of each side. Attached to each of the two metal partitions  30  positioned on one side of the plate  28  are threaded bolts  32 . The threaded bolts  32  are used for fine adjustments of the tightness of the straps  34  used to secure the industrial rolls  40  to the apparatus for lifting and moving rolls of industrial material for use with a forklift or tow motor  10 . Attached to each of the two metal partitions  30  positioned on the opposite side of the plate  28  are straps  34 . The straps  34  are preferably constructed from leather, although one of ordinary skill in the art would readily recognize that a number of other materials, including, but not limited to, nylon, can be used to construct the straps  34 . Screwed onto the threaded bolts  32  are buckle mechanisms  36  for receiving the straps  34 . Each of the buckle mechanisms  36  of the preferred embodiment, have a notch  38  for inserting through the nearest aperture  35  in the straps  34  after the straps  34  have been wrapped around an industrial roll  40  or when the apparatus  10  is empty. The buckle mechanism  36  of the preferred embodiment also has a handle  37  for tightening the hold of the straps  34  after the notch  38  has been secured. The handle  37  is flipped to its opposite position pulling the straps  34  tighter than just the notch  38  alone. One of ordinary skill in the art would readily recognize that a different means for securing the straps  34  other than the buckle mechanism  36  described herein can be used to secure the industrial roll of material  40  to the apparatus for lifting and moving rolls of industrial material for use with a forklift or tow motor  10 , including, but not limited to, a simple buckle. 
   To secure a roll of material  40 , a fork lift or tow motor is inserted and locked into the attachment legs  12  of the apparatus for lifting and moving rolls of industrial material for use with a forklift or tow motor  10 , as seen in FIG.  6 . Using the fork lift or tow motor, the apparatus for lifting and moving rolls of industrial material for use with a forklift or tow motor  10  is then moved to the position of the roll  40  that needs to be maneuvered. Assuming that said roll is on the ground, the apparatus for lifting and moving rolls of industrial material for use with a forklift or tow motor  10  is then placed on the ground, again using the fork lift or tow motor, as close to the roll  40  as possible. The roll  40  is then strapped to the apparatus for lifting and moving rolls of industrial material for use with a forklift or tow motor  10  using the straps  34  and the buckle mechanism  36 . The roll  40  is now ready to be moved where it is needed. In an instance where the roll  40  needs to be rotated, the user merely removes the pins  27  from the barrel apertures  25  and  29  and manually rotates the roll  40  into position. Once the desired position is achieved, the user reinserts the pins  27  into the aligned barrel apertures  25  and  29  to hold that position. 
   Although this invention has certain preferred embodiments, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the invention, and all such changes and modifications are intended to fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.