System and method for moving objects

A method and system are disclosed for moving objects, such as large potted plants, large oval shaped objects and objects of various other shapes. A user can utilize the present invention to move large potted plants and other objects without exerting a large amount of physical force thereby reducing the chance of a user suffering an injury resulting from moving large objects. A user can slide a large potted plant onto the present invention and then proceed in moving the large potted plant without exerting a large amount of force.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates, in general to a material movement system and method, and more specifically to a system and method for moving objects, such as large potted plants and other similarly shaped objects.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

Moving objects from one location to another location can be simplified with the use of some type of device, such as a hand cart, a hand truck, a dolly and the like. Such devices are often used everyday in a variety of locations for a variety of purposes, such as use at, in, or near factories, warehouses, offices, outdoor environments, homes and the like. These hand trucks and carts come in different sizes and shapes, depending on the nature of the object to be moved. For example, when large objects are moved, such as refrigerators, stoves, and the like, individuals may move a large object and position the large object on the dolly or cart so that the individual can move the large object to the desired destination with the use of the dolly or cart.

Various types of dollys may be used to move objects depending on the object to be moved. For example, a special hand dolly may be used to assist in moving large objects, such as refrigerators, and the like. In such a case, the hand dolly may include some type of member to prevent the object from being dislocated from the dolly.

While hand carts, dollys, or trucks are often used to assist individuals in relocating objects, such carts are unable to help individuals move specifically shaped objects, such as large plants, large vases, and other similarly shaped objects. For example, movement of such objects may be very difficult due to various restrictions imposed by current structures. Often, because currently existing dollies do not accommodate large and various shaped objects, such as those listed above, individuals often end up moving the objects without the use of any hand held carts and/or dollies. The result of having to move said objects without the assistance of a dolly and/or hand cart often results in injury to the individual and/or damage to the object from the process of being dragged, dropped, and the like.

Accordingly, a need exists in the art for a system and method that allows individuals to move large objects and objects of various shapes so that these objects can be moved as needed without having to worry about damaging the object and/or becoming injured during the moving process.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a system and method for moving objects. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a tilting dolly capable of carrying large shaped objects and objects of various shapes so that it enables an individual to move objects, such as large circular shaped objects. One objective of one embodiment of the present invention is to allow for the transportation and/or movement of potted plants from one location to another location with limited and/or minimal effort required from a user of the present invention. The present invention may be configured so that a user may not have to lift an object to be moved with the present invention. Thus, an object to be moved with the present invention can be moved by a user wherein the user is not required to completely lift the object in order for the object to be moved. In one embodiment, the tilting dolly may include a lip base that is configured so that it can be slid underneath an object thereby simplifying the process of having to lift objects prior to moving the object with the present invention. In addition, the present invention may be configured with multiple wheels to enable and provide for ease of movement of an object that is to be moved with the present invention.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the tilting dolly is configured so that the weight of the tilting dolly enables the tilting dolly to either sit in a back position or sit in a forward position. The tilting dolly may also include a portion/section that is configured so that the application of a downward force to this portion/section will enable the tilting dolly to sit back whereby the weight of an object on the tilting dolly will enable the tilting dolly and object to stay in the “sit back” position so that the tilting dolly and object can be easily moved via a plurality of wheels.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A preferred embodiment of a tilting dolly adapted according to the present invention is shown generally as tilting dolly100inFIGS. 1,2and3.FIG. 1illustrates a side overview of an embodiment of the present invention;FIG. 2illustrates close up view of a portion of an embodiment of the present invention with a potted plant located on the embodiment in a “sitting-back” position;FIG. 3illustrates a close up view of another portion of an embodiment of the present invention; andFIG. 4illustrates a flowchart representing one method for moving objects according to one embodiment of the present invention. Tilting dolly100includes base member110, frame member120, wheel support frame member125, frame member130, stabilizer bar140, support wheels145, and side wheels150. Base member110, frame member120, wheel support frame member125, frame member130, and stabilizer bar140may be made of any number of various materials, such as metal, plastic, chrome, iron, stainless steel, aluminum, wood, any combination thereof, and the like.

As illustrated inFIG. 1, frame member120may include handle121. Handle121assists a user in operating the present invention. It provides a location in which a user may grip the present invention with his/her hands so that the user may then have control over moving and/or operating the present invention. While handle121is illustrated inFIG. 1as a circular-oblong shaped handle, the present invention is not limited to this configuration as handle121may take any number of shapes and configurations, such as square shaped, loop shaped, rectangular shaped, and the like.

As illustrated inFIGS. 1,2, and3, frame member120extends down from handle121towards frame member130. Frame member120provides a mounting location for frame member130. Frame member120extends down past frame member130to wheel support frame member125and continues to extend down to flat member111of base member110as illustrated inFIGS. 1,2, and3.

In one embodiment, as illustrated inFIGS. 1,2, and3, base member110comprises flat member111, side walls112, and curved frame member113. Base member110, as illustrated inFIGS. 1 and 2, may be circular and/or round shaped to accommodate objects that are odd shaped and/or large, such as circular objects, trapezoidal objects, large oblong objects, drums, plants, large potted plants, large plant pots, circular pots, and the like. However, the present invention is not limited to this configuration as base member110may take the form of any number of shapes.

In one embodiment, frame member120may extend down past frame member130and mount to flat member111of base member110as illustrated inFIG. 3. Wheel support frame member125provides a mounting location for side wheels150and side walls112, as illustrated inFIG. 3. In one embodiment, as illustrated inFIG. 3, the outer edges of the back of side walls112of base member110mount to wheel support frame member125. Side walls112of base member110may connect to wheel support frame member125through any number of connection mechanisms, such as a permanent welded connection, a screw, a bolt, a cotter pin, and the like. Wheel support frame member125maintains the position of side wheels150relative to each other. In addition, wheel support frame member125bears a portion of the weight of the present invention and a portion of the weight of any object that may be moved on the present invention.

In one embodiment of the present invention, wheel support frame member125is a shaft on which side wheels150revolve thereby enabling side wheels150to move so that the present embodiment may move, via side wheels150, when in use. The present embodiment may be configured so that wheel support frame member125functions as an axle that is configured in a fixed position in which a bearing or bushing may sit inside of a hole in side wheels150to allow side wheels150to rotate around wheel support frame member125. In an alternative embodiment, wheel support frame member125may be configured with an internal rod that may be configured to connect to side wheels150to enable side wheels150to rotate while wheel support frame member125is stationary.

In one embodiment, wheel support frame member125may provide a mounting location for frame member130. As illustrated inFIG. 3, frame member130may extend out from frame member120and continue down to wheel support frame member125whereby frame member130may be mounted and/or attached to wheel support frame member125. However, the present embodiment is not limited to this configuration as the present embodiment may be configured in any of number of ways so that side wheels150may rotate thereby enabling the present invention to easily move. In an embodiment in which wheel support frame member125rotates as side wheels150move, the present embodiment may be configured so that a hole is cut in frame member120wherein wheel support frame member125slides into said hole and may rotate and/or move as side wheels150move. In an embodiment in which wheel support frame member125does not move as side wheels150move, wheel support frame member125may be connected to and/or attached to frame member120by any number of connections, such as a permanent welded connection, a bolt, screw, cotter pin, and the like. For example,FIG. 3illustrates wheel support frame member125in a configuration in which wheel support frame member125does not move as wheels150move and is permanently welded to frame member120.

As described above, frame member120may extend down past frame member130to wheel support frame member125and continue to extend past wheel support frame member125to base member110. Frame member120may stop at base member110and may provide a mounting location for base member110whereby flat member111of base member110may connect, mount, and/or attach to frame member120.

Base member110is preferably configured so that flat member111, side walls112, and curved frame member113are all connected to one another. For example, as illustrated in the embodiments shown inFIGS. 1,2and3, side walls112of base member110may be configured so that side walls112may connect to flat member111of base member110and extend upward and connect to curved frame member113of base member110, and extend backward and connect to wheel support frame member125as illustrated inFIG. 3. However, the present invention is not limited to this configuration, as side walls112may be configured to not extend and not connect to wheel support frame member125. In one embodiment, side walls112may be sized to extend back toward frame member120and connect to frame member120. As illustrated by the embodiments ofFIGS. 1 and 2, side walls112and frame member120may be configured and positioned so that tilting dolly100provides an open-back area around frame member120to prevent restriction of objects to be moved and to prevent any possible damaging of objects moved with tilting dolly100.

A configuration of the present invention to provide for an open-back area around frame member120is advantageous as it prevents unwanted damage to objects that may be moved with tilting dolly100. For example, when moving a large potted plant with tilting dolly100, side walls112and curved frame member113will preferably only extend up to a certain distance, such as the top of a flower pot/planter of a potted plant to be moved, so that the plant will not be damaged by side walls112of base member110and/or curved frame member113of base member110. Any types of plants, trees, vegetation and the like may be moved with the present invention, and plants, trees, and/or vegetation comprise several branches, leaves and/or flowers that are often damaged when forced up against objects and/or barriers, such as side walls112. Yet, when the branches of plants, trees, and/or vegetation are not obstructed, do not sit up against, and do not rub against barriers, such as side walls112, these portions of the plants, such as branches, leaves and/or flowers and like, will not be damaged. In one embodiment, with side walls112not extending all the way up along frame member120, the open-back area around frame member120will prevent damage to plants, trees, and/or vegetation being moved with the present invention because when plants and/or vegetation are transported with tilting dolly100, the plants are not forced up against, obstructed by, and/or bent or disfigured by any barriers, such as side walls112.

AlthoughFIGS. 1 and 2illustrate side walls112and curved frame member113configured to only extend up a small distance, such that there is an open-back area around frame member120, the present invention is not limited to such configuration. Base member110may be configured so that side walls112and curved frame member113may be configured in any number of sizes to accommodate any number of objects. For example, in one embodiment, side walls112and curved frame member113may be configured so that they are adjustable and can expand and collapse depending on the object that is being moved with the present invention. In such an embodiment, side walls112and curved frame member113may extend upward along frame member120as needed. For example, if the present invention is being used to move large cylindrical bottles and/or tanks, then side walls112and curved frame member113may extend upward along frame member120so that side walls112may extend all the way up to the top of the cylindrical bottles and/or tanks being moved. The present invention may also be configured so that the portion of side walls112and curved frame member113that extends upward along frame member120are made of one material, while the base portion of side walls112and curved frame member113are made of a second material.

In an embodiment, flat member111of base member110is a planar sheet member, made of any number of materials, such as metal, plastic, steel, stainless steel, wood, chrome, aluminum, iron, and the like. Flat member111of base member110functions as a bottom plate and holding member in which objects to be moved by the present invention are placed upon and sit on flat member111so that an object placed on flat member111will sit on flat member111and may then be moved with the present invention. Flat member111may take the form of any number of shapes, such as circular, triangular, trapezoidal, rectangular, square shaped, and the like. In one embodiment, flat member111may be configured with a plurality of holes to provide for drainage of any number of substances, such as dirt, water, rocks, gravel, sand and the like. For example, if the present embodiment is in use moving a large potted plant whereby sand, dirt, and/or other debris spills out of the potted plant onto flat member111, a plurality of holes in flat member111may provide for drainage of the debris away from tilting dolly100.

In one embodiment, flat member111may be configured so that a plurality of wheels, rollers, and/or spherical balls are mounted to and/or in flat member111whereby the plurality of wheels, rollers, and/or spherical balls assist in moving objects onto flat member111. For example, the plurality of wheels, rollers, and/or spherical balls may be sized and placed in a section of flat member111so that as an object is being loaded on flat member111, any portion of the object can be placed on any portion of the plurality of wheels, rollers, and/or spherical balls in flat member111so that the object may be pushed and rolled onto flat member111by being pushed on and/or over any of the plurality of wheels, rollers, and/or spherical balls in flat member111thereby reducing the amount of energy and force needed to load an object onto flat member111. In a preferred embodiment, any wheels and/or rollers in flat member111may be configured so that the wheels and/or rollers will also help to unload any objects that have been placed upon flat member111. In another embodiment, the rollers and/or wheels of flat member111may be configured so that when the present invention is being used to move an object, the wheels and/or rollers in flat member111may lock up and prevent objects from moving on flat member111while the present invention is in use thereby preventing the possibility of any objects rolling and/or moving off of flat member111due to any rollers and/or wheels that may be located and/or configured in flat member111, while tilting dolly100is being moved.

Flat member111may be configured in any number of sizes. For example, the present invention may be configured to accommodate movement of smaller objects, and in such a configuration, flat member111may be sized accordingly to accommodate movement of smaller objects. In other embodiments of the present invention, flat member111may be large to accommodate movement of large objects. In an embodiment where flat member111is wide, the remaining components of the present invention may also be sized accordingly to line up with the size of flat member111. However, the present embodiment is not limited to this configuration. For example, wheel support frame member125may be longer in embodiments that have a wide flat member111as the width of flat member111may be constrained by the length of wheel support frame member125. In embodiments with a narrow flat member111, wheel support frame member125may be shorter to account for the narrowness of flat member111. In other embodiments, the present invention may be configured so that the size of flat member111is adjustable. For example, the present invention may be configured so that flat member111may expand into a larger flat member111or collapse into a smaller flat member111to account for the size of the object to be moved with the present invention. The adjustability discussed above is not limited to flat member111, as the present invention may be configured so that any of the members comprising tilting dolly100are adjustable and may be adjusted to account for the size and layout of the object to be moved on tilting dolly100. For example, if a large wide object is to be moved with tilting dolly100, then flat member111, wheel support frame member125, curved frame member113, frame member130, and stabilizer bar140may all be adjusted and/or resized to account for the size of the large wide object to be moved with tilting dolly100.

In an embodiment of the present invention, side walls112are planar members, which may comprise any number of materials, such as metal, plastic, steel, stainless steel, wood, chrome, aluminum, iron, and the like. Side walls112may be connected between curved frame member113and flat member111. In one embodiment, side walls112may be configured so that one side of side walls112connects to curved frame member113at the top of side walls112, an opposite side of side walls112connects to flat member111and a back side of side walls112may connect to frame member120or may connect to wheel support frame member125, as illustrated inFIG. 3. However, the present invention is not limited to this configuration as, side walls112may be configured to connect to the various members of the present embodiment in any number of configurations so that side walls112are stabilized and can act as a barrier and assist in preventing objects from falling off of the present invention. In one embodiment, the present invention may be configured so that side walls112are removable and can slide in and out of base member110. For example, the present invention may be configured so that side walls of various sizes and shapes can be interchanged to account for the size of an object that is being transported on the present invention. When a small object is being transported on the present invention, side walls112may be small and when a large object is being transported, side walls112may be large. Side walls112may also be interchangeable for various other reasons. For example if a wet object were being moved with the present invention, waterproof side walls112may be installed so that the wet object will not affect side walls112, and if a delicate object, such as an antique vase were being moved with the present invention, then soft padded sidewalls112may be installed so that the delicate object will not be scratched or damaged by a non-padded set of side walls112. In another embodiment, the present invention may be configured so that side walls112may be expandable and/or adjustable so that depending on the object to be moved with the present invention, side walls112may be extended to provide some support and/or side support for the object being moved on tilting dolly100.

Curved frame member113of base member110attaches and/or connects to frame member120at connection point114as illustrated inFIGS. 1,2, and3. Curved frame member113may connect and/or attach to frame member120by any number of ways, such as a permanent welded connection, a bolt, screw, cotter pin, and the like. As illustrated inFIGS. 1 and 2, curved frame member113of base member110extends from connection point114out on both the right and left sides of frame member120so that curved frame member113extends out in a circular shape. Although only one side is illustrated inFIGS. 1 and 2, curved frame member113extends out and down on both the left and right sides. Curved frame member113extends out and eventually curves downward toward flat member111. Curved frame member113of base member110may stop at flat member111or it may curve under back toward frame member120at flat member111forming a bottom curved frame member113bthat may extend all the way back toward frame member120as illustrated inFIG. 2. However, the present invention is not limited to this configuration, as curved frame member113of base member110may simply stop at flat member111so that there is no bottom curved frame member113b.

As illustrated in the embodiments ofFIGS. 1 and 2, the present invention may be configured so that frame member130mounts to frame member120at connection point115. From connection point115, frame member130preferably extends outward from frame member120to both the right and left sides of frame member120and is configured to extend down to stabilizer bar140and curve at stabilizer bar140and extend to and connects to wheel support frame member125, as illustrated inFIG. 3. However, the present invention is not limited to this configuration, as frame member130may not connect to wheel support frame member125as frame member130may be configured in alternative embodiments to extend either over or under wheel support frame member125and connect to flat member111of base member110.

Frame member130is advantageous because it is configured to assist in distributing the weight from tilting dolly100and any object loaded on flat member111so that the weight is distributed between wheels145and150. Frame member130is also configured to provide a sufficient mounting location and framework for stabilizer bar140. Stabilizer bar140, as illustrated inFIGS. 1,2, and3may be mounted to frame member130. Stabilizer bar140may be mounted to frame member130by any means of connection, such as permanent welded connection, a bolt, screw, cotter pin, and the like. Frame member130in connection with stabilizer bar140and wheels145assist in improving and adding stability to the present invention. For example, when an object is placed upon flat member111and the present invention is then pushed and/or leaned back to a tilted position, so that the present invention with an object resting on flat member111can be moved, frame member130provides stability so that the present invention will not tilt over and/or fall while the present invention is in motion.

Stabilizer bar140is also configured to provide a mounting location for wheels145. Wheels145mount to stabilizer bar140and help maintain the stability of the present invention when in use. When tilting dolly100is a forward position, flat member111rests upon the ground and/or surface and the combination of wheels150and flat member111resting on the ground and/or surface help maintain the stability of tilting dolly100in the forward position. Wheels145are advantageous to the present invention because wheels145enable tilting dolly100to easily move and assists in keeping tilting dolly100stable when tilting dolly100is in a tilted back position. In a tilted back position, the weight of tilting dolly100and of any object located on flat member111will rest between wheels145and150.

Wheels145may mount to stabilizer bar140by any number of ways, such as a screw, bolt, cotter pin, and the like. In addition, wheels145may be any size and may comprise any number of types of wheels, such as rubber wheels, plastic wheels, caster wheels and the like. The present invention may also be configured so that wheels145may be quickly changed depending on the size of the object being moved and/or depending on where the present invention is being used. For example, if the present invention were being used to move objects through dirt, gravel and the like, wheels145may be large wheels that can easily operate through such terrain. The present invention may also be configured to include brakes that prevent wheels145from moving. In addition, wheels145are preferably configured so that wheels145can rotate and/or pivot 360 degrees, so that turning the present invention is user friendly and maneuvering tilting dolly100in restricted areas of limited space can easily be accomplished. However, the present invention is not limited to this configuration.

In another embodiment of the present invention, a foot pedal may be installed to the present invention, such as installed to frame member130, to stabilizer bar140, or some other location whereby the foot pedal may enable a user to apply force to the foot pedal to assist in leaning tilted dolly100back in the tilted position. For example, when a large object is sitting on flat member111, a user can apply force to the foot pedal, to assist in tilting the present invention back so that it rests on wheels145and150, as opposed to trying to pull and/or push the present invention to its backwards/tilted position. In an alternative embodiment, stabilizer bar140may be utilized as a foot pedal. In such an embodiment, stabilizer bar140may be altered so that it is sized to accommodate force applied by a user's foot.

In using stabilizer bar140instead of and/or in addition to a foot pedal, a user may apply force to stabilizer bar140by pressing down on stabilizer bar140and using stabilizer bar140as a leverage point to assist in tilting the present invention in a backward direction. For example, if tilting dolly100is used to transport a large potted plant and/or cylindrical object, a user may first position the large potted plant and/or cylindrical object on flat member111. After the object is located on flat member111, a user may then move tilting dolly100in a tilted position so that tilting dolly100will rest on wheels150and145. In order to position the tilting dolly100in a tilted position, a user may use his/her foot to apply force to stabilizer bar140to move tilting dolly100in a tilted position so that tilting dolly100sits back and rests on wheels150and145. Once tilting dolly100is sitting back on wheels150and145, a user can then easily move tilting dolly100and any objects on tilting dolly100.

FIG. 4illustrates a flowchart representing one method for moving objects according to one embodiment of the present invention. Flow40represents a method for moving objects. A tilting dolly is provided in block400. The tilting dolly may comprise tilting dolly100illustrated inFIGS. 1 and 2. After the tilting dolly is provided, flow40proceeds to block410, where an object is loaded on the tilting dolly. For example, the object may be a large potted plant, large cylindrical object, a trash can, a 5-gallon bottle/jug of water and the like.

In loading an object on the tilting dolly, such as tilting dolly100ofFIGS. 1 and 2, a user preferably moves tilting dolly100close to and/or next to the object to be moved so that the edge of flat member111of tilting dolly100is positioned next to and/or near the object to be moved. With flat member111positioned near the object to be moved, a user may then slide the object onto flat member111without performing any heavy lifting of the object to the be moved. For example, if a large potted plant is being moved, then a user may move the tilting dolly100next to the potted plant so that flat member111is next to and/or touching the potted plant. A user may then slide the potted plant onto flat member111without having to perform any heavy lifting of the entire potted plant off of the surface.

After the object is loaded onto flat member111, flow40proceeds to block420. In block420, the tilting dolly and the object to be moved, located on the tilting dolly, is then moved to a tilted position. For example, to move the tilting dolly, such as tilting dolly100, to a tilted position, a user can apply leverage and/or force to one or more of stabilizer bar140, any foot pedals, and/or handle121of tilting dolly100to assist in moving tilting dolly100to a tilted position so that the tilting dolly and any object loaded on the tilting dolly rests on wheels150and145. Once the tilting dolly with the object loaded upon it is positioned in a tilted back position, a user is ready to move the object via the tilting dolly.

After block420, flow40proceeds to block430. When flow40proceeds to block430, the tilting dolly and the object to be moved may be moved to its final location where it may then be moved off of the tilting dolly. For example, after the object, such as a large potted plant has been loaded on the tilting dolly, and the tilting dolly has been moved to a tilted position so that some of the weight of the tilting dolly and object is distributed on and/or between wheels150and145, a user can use the tilting dolly to move the potted plant to the desired location. After block430, flow40proceeds to block440. When flow40proceeds to block440, the object is unloaded. In unloading an object from the tilting dolly, such as tilting dolly100, the tilting dolly is moved to a non-tilted/upright position so that wheels145are not touching the ground/surface. After titling dolly100is in an upright position, a user may then slide the potted plant/object off of flat member111without having to perform any heavy lifting of the plant and/or object. Thus, the present invention may be used to move objects without requiring any heavy lifting of the objects to be moved.