Equipment mover pad

A device for pulling heavy equipment across a supporting surface such as a floor. It includes a composite pad of generally rectangular shape having lengthwise and crosswise edges. The composite pad includes a lower, flexible sheet of plastic and an upper backing of rubber. The plastic sheet has a smooth lower surface for engaging the floor. The upper rubber backing has a ribbed surface for engaging the equipment. A pair of straps attached to the composite pad extend lengthwise beyond at least one crosswise edge of the composite pad. Each of the pair of straps is attached to the composite pad between the plastic sheet and the rubber backing along a lengthwise edge of the composite pad. Each of the straps terminates in a distal end located remotely of the composite pad and a handle is formed in each distal end of each strap. Each strap may extend beyond each crosswise edge of the pad. An accessory pad of the same size and shape as the composite pad is formed of a synthetic carpet fabric and is intended to be positioned below the smooth lower surface of the plastic sheet of the composite pad to assist in moving the composite pad over a flat vinyl, wooden or rubberized floor.

TECHNICAL FIELD 
My invention relates to equipment handling. The mover pad enables heavy 
items to be moved easily and safely without the need for lifting. 
Wheeled trucks, trolleys and kick boards are usually employed to move heavy 
objects. There may be difficulties and dangers inherent in their use, for 
example tall and/or bulky objects tend to be unstable and may topple. 
When lifting gear is not available, physical strength is required for the 
process of lifting heavy goods or a person onto a conveyance, and is 
therefore a potential cause of back and other industrial injuries. 
BACKGROUND ART 
The prior art, U.S. Pat. No. 650,703, provided a method of handling 
material which comprised placing a load upon a flat sheet, usually of 
solid fibre board, with an extension of 4" for pull tabs at the edges. 
This sheet served as a base for stacking boxes or packages of a uniform 
rectangular shape. 
A lift truck carrying a platen, had a gripper bar to pull the loaded sheet 
by its tab onto the platen. The load was then transported by the truck to 
its destination, i.e. the warehouse or the shipper. On its arrival the 
sheet with its load was pushed by the truck's gripper bar off the platen 
onto the floor or a stack of other goods. 
Unlike the slip sheet, the Pad is very versatile, enabling a person to pull 
objects of all shapes and sizes along flooring with the Pad's straps and 
handles. Its ribbed rubber backing enables heavy equipment to be 
manoeuvred onto it without lifting. Its lower face of smooth, tough 
commercial vinyl surface allows it to slide over carpets, and its 
accessory pad enables the Pad which to work on all types of indoor 
flooring. 
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION 
In accordance with the present invention, I provide a completely new 
concept consisting of a mover pad of tough, smooth reinforced vinyl 
commercial flooring material with ribbed rubber backing, and having firmly 
attached nylon straps handles. 
This pad is easily inserted underneath the equipment to be moved by tilting 
the equipment slightly and then returning it to its upright position. With 
the object sitting squarely on the pad it can then be pulled by the 
handles and moved smoothly to wherever required.

Referring to the drawing the mover pad comprises a tough reinforced 
commercial vinyl flooring material, with a slightly dimpled yet smooth 
surface 1 and with ribbed rubber 2. The vinyl used is to be resistant to 
the feet of furniture, equipment, etc, and to have a high scuff 
resistance. It will be seen that the pad is basically rectangular, and its 
size is of such dimensions as required for the equipment or goods being 
transported. Suitable dimensions for general purposes would be 72 
cm.times.106 cm.times.7 mm thick. 
Nylon webbing of 5 cm width is stitched with nylon buttoning twine along 
the two longer margins of the pad 3, between the vinyl and the ribbed 
rubber. This webbing is extended from both margins to form straps of 
approximately 103 cm length 4. Towing handles 5 are stitched at each end 
of these. Webbing is also stitched between the vinyl and the ribbed rubber 
to the two shorter margins of the pad 6 as shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 2 and 
FIG. 3. 
The vinyl material of the mover pad has a low enough coefficient of 
friction to slide smoothly over a flat carpeted floor when moving heavy 
equipment. 
To move the mover pad over a flat vinyl, wooden or rubberized floor, an 
accessory pad consisting of two light polypropylene cord carpet pieces are 
used as shown in FIG. 4. These are both of the same size, and the same 
size of the mover pad. They are stitched with nylon buttoning twine back 
to back, together with nylon webbing of 5 cm width between them along the 
two longer margins 10. 
This webbing is of a different colour to distinguish it from the webbing of 
the mover pad, and is extended from both margins to form straps of 
approximately 103 cm length 7. Towing handles 8 are stitched at each end 
of these. Webbing is also stitched between the two carpet pieces to the 
two shorter margins of the pad 9. Self-adhesive tape of 5 cm width is used 
to bind the edges. 
In order to move the equipment, an assistant tilts the equipment slightly 
as shown in FIG. 5. The pad is then positioned underneath the equipment as 
shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 14. With the help of an assistant, the equipment 
is then manoeuvred squarely onto the mover pad as shown in FIG. 7. This is 
done by slightly tipping it onto one front corner, and using this corner 
as a pivot, the diagonally opposite corner is gently swivelled onto the 
pad as shown in FIG. 15. This procedure is then repeated with the other 
front corner as shown in FIG. 16. 
The equipment can then be pulled along on a flat floor safely and easily, 
through doorways and round obstacles and corners as shown in FIG. 8. 
Expensive flooring and door frames are also protected from damage. 
With the manoeuvre completed, the pad is easily retrieved by carrying out 
the process in reverse as shown in FIG. 16, FIG. 15, FIG. 14 and FIG. 6. 
The pad may be pulled lengthways in either direction as shown in FIG. 9 and 
FIG. 10. It may also be pulled sideways in either direction as shown in 
FIG. 11 and FIG. 12, and rotated to any position required as shown in FIG. 
13. 
To manoeuvre the equipment on the mover pad 11 from carpet 13 to uncarpeted 
flooring 14, the accessory pad 12 is placed on the uncarpeted flooring 
alongside the carpet edge as shown in FIG. 17. The mover pad is then 
pulled squarely onto the accessory pad as shown in FIG. 18 and in FIG. 19. 
The mover pad handles are then pulled together with the accessory pad 
handles and then both pads slide easily over the flooring. 
To manoeuvre in the reverse sequence, the mover pad and the accessory pad 
are pulled together alongside the carpet edge. Now by pulling only the 
mover pad handles, the mover pad is slid off the accessory pad and onto 
the carpet. 
To greatly assist in pulling a weighty object, more horizontal force may be 
used by straightening the back and leaning backwards slightly, until the 
limiting frictional force caused by the extra weight is overcome. 
Both mover pad and accessory pad are light and portable. They can be rolled 
up with the straps and handles tucked inside, and they can easily be 
stored away as shown in FIG. 6. 
The market in which the innovation would be used is anywhere where the 
moving of equipment, furniture, objects, persons or packages is required 
indoors. This market would be in homes, offices, shops and stores, removal 
firms, light industry, hospitals and nursing homes, hotels and guest 
houses all over the world. 
The Pad is so straightforward and uncomplicated that there could be no 
adverse factors to affect the future of its market. 
There is a definite market growth capability because the mover pad fills a 
need for safe and easy indoor moving.