Materials handling device

A materials handling device for handling sheets of plywood, sheet rock, plate glass or other flat materials. The device has a padded channel base, which supports the material, over a substantial length, thus eliminating problem of dents, and breakage in the material. At approximately the mid-point of the length of the channel base is affixed a padded broad clamp, which secures the material in the base channel. The securing of the material in the device, along the length of the base channel utilizes the inherent rigidity of the material to add to the rigidity of the device. The broad clamp is affixed to the base channel in such a manner that the broad clamp is high enough above the base channel to provide superior stability, minimizing tipping. At one end of the base channel is affixed a cross member, supporting floor engaging wheels, of sufficient width to insure stability. At the other end of the base channel is affixed, a handle to facilitate moving from one location to another. The device with the sheets of material therein can be easily moved by picking up one end of the material and rolling. The rigidity and stability of the device are sufficient to permit a carpenter to plane, saw, or otherwise on the upper edge of the material while the material is supported by the device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
This invention is directed to a device for handling flat materials such as 
plywood, sheetrock, masonite, and for holding said materials on edge while 
a carpenter planes, saws, or otherwise works on or shapes said material. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
At the present time there is no single device which has all of the desired 
characteristics and capabilities of the invention to enable a carpenter to 
support a plurality of sheet materials on edge so that the materials may 
be worked on prepared such as planning or cutting either singly or 
together; then moving the materials to the place where they will be 
finally used or stored; and to enable the carpenter or assistant to tip 
the materials on end for standing or stacking. 
The manner in which carpenters presently handle sheet materials which need 
to be worked or prepared for fitting is merely to place them on a horse or 
lean them against the horses and do the required work. Then the carpenter 
or his assistant manually carry the material to where it is to be stored 
or utilized. This often results in broken materials, if the material if 
fragile such as sut sheet rock or pressboard, or damaged edges if the 
material is substantial such as plywood. More than one sheet of such 
materials, heavy doors, or panes of glass, are difficult for one person to 
handle conveniently and safely. However, with the invention, all of the 
above functions can be accomplished by a single person without difficulty. 
MORSE, U.S. Pat. No. 3,861,662 described a door carrier and hanging 
device. MORSE, however, must of necessity have two clamps which is the 
only support of the materials. There is in MORSE no provision for 
supporting the door or other material between the clamps; consequently the 
materials break and edges are damaged when placed on the single point 
front and rear support member. In MORSE, the location of the clamps 
provides no stability to the material, and material damage can result from 
sideways forces when the material is being worked. In addition, the 
inherent rigidity of the materials does not aid in increasing the 
stability of the device or rigidity as does the use of the base channel in 
the present invention. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
A principal object of the present invention is provide a device for 
supporting, moving, and positioning flat materials such as plywood, sheet 
rock, masonite, plate glass and doors that permits a single person to 
readily, safely, and economically perform these functions. 
Another object of the present invention is to provide a materials handling 
device which is simple and economical to construct and readily permits the 
person to quickly and accurately position the materials for installation 
or storage. 
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a materials 
handling device that is a wheeled support that maintains the materials in 
either a horizontal or vertical position, permits the carpenter to work 
the materials, permits wheeling the materials to the installation site, 
and then permits the carpenter to position the materials quickly and 
accurately in a vertical or horizontal position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows the invention to comprise a base 
channel 1, and cross member 2, two wheels 3, and clamp support 4, a clamp 
back 5, a clamp 6, a handle support 7, and handle 8. The base channel 1 
has a front end designated F and a rear end designated R, and an 
approximate mid-point designated M. The base channel 1 consists of an 
angle iron 9 its full length from F to R; and another angle iron 10 
affixed such as by welding to the first angle iron, from the front end to 
the approximate mid-point M of the base channel 1 so that the cross 
section of the base channel 1 is a U at the front end F and a right angle 
at the rear end R. At the front end F of the base channel 1 rigidly 
attached, as if by welding, is a cross member 2 which consists of an angle 
iron. Cross member 2 is attached at right angles to the bottom and outside 
of the U shaped base channel 1 so that the right angle of the cross member 
2 is disposed upwardly. Cross member 2 has a wheel access notch 11 on each 
end, and an end plate 12 on each end. Cross member 2 also has a wheel 
Support 13 attached adjacent to each wheel notch 11. The end plates 12, 
and wheel supports 13 are rigidly attached such as by welding to the cross 
member 2. Through the end plates 12 and wheel supports 13 are drilled axle 
holes 14. Wheels 3 and axles 15 are of standard construction are installed 
therein. 
At mid-point M, clamp support 4 is welded to the base channel 1. Clamp 
support 4 consists of three pieces angle iron welded together at right 
angles. The clamp support 4 has a foot section 16 oriented such that the 
outer surface of one flange of the angle iron contacts the underneath side 
of the base channel 1, and the edge other flange of the angle iron rests 
on the floor. The foot section 16 is welded to the underneath side of the 
base channel 1. Welded or rigidly attached to the foot section 16, at 
right angles thereto is the long support arm 17. The long support arm 17 
is affixed to the end of the foot section 16 which is adjacent to the 
vertical flange of the angle iron forming the base channel 1 at the rear 
end R. The long support arem 17 is oriented so that the outer surface of 
one flange of angle iron of the long support arm 17 is parallel to 
vertical sides of the base channel 1. Attached rigidly to the long support 
arm 17, parellel to the base channel 1 are two flat plates, a clamp back 5 
and a material support 18. Both the clamp back 5 and material support 18 
have substantial face area so that pressures against the material held in 
the device are spread across a large area on the material to minimize the 
possibility of denting or marking the materials. The material support 18 
is high enough above the base channel 1 to be near the center of gravity 
of the material to provide support against bending of material, and typing 
of the material and the invention. 
Rigidly affixed to the other end of the foot section 16 is the third piece 
of the clamp support 4, designated the short support 19. The short support 
19 is affixed similar to the long support arm 17 in that the outer surface 
of one flange of the angle iron is parallel to the vertical sides of the 
base channel 1. Mounted and rigidly attached to the top of the short 
support 18 is the clamp 6. The clamp 6 consists of two clamp holders 20 
rigidly attached to the short support 19. The clamp holders 20 have three 
holes, on in the center being threaded to accomodate the clamp screw 21, 
and that other two sized to accomodate clamp guide posts 22. The clamp 
screw 21 is rotatably attached to the clamp face plate 23 while the clamp 
guide posts 22 are fixedly attached to the clamp face plate 23 and 
restrain the clamp face plate 23 to its proper position. By turning the 
clamp screw 21, the clamp face plate 23 is moved toward or away from the 
material. The clamp face place 22 and the clamp back 6 are disposed to be 
opposing each other and are of identical shape to distribute pressures 
evenly. 
At the rear end R of the base channel 1 a handle support 7 is attached to 
the base channel 1. The handle support 7 is a piece of strap iron bent to 
have a vertical surface which has a handle hole 24, through which a handle 
8 passes and is thereby attached by bolting or other convenient and 
standard means. 
The surfaces of the invention which will contact the materials to be 
handled, can be covered with a pliable member 25 such as carpeting. The 
pliable member 25 can be attached by suitable means such as epoxy glue. 
The sides and bottom of the base channel 1, the clamp face plate 23, the 
clamp back 6, and the material support 18 are all covered with pliable 
member 25. 
In usual usage of the invention, a person such as carpenter places the 
invention on the floor and then loads the desired number of sheets of 
material or doors into the base channel, and secures the material into the 
invention by turning the clamp screw 21, which presses the clamp face 
plate 22 against the material. The material is squeezed between the clamp 
face 22 and the clamp back 6, and is supported by the vertical face of the 
base channel 1, the clamp back 6, and the material support 18. The 
material is then held securely in a vertical position as shown in FIG. 2 
so that the carpenter can work the edge of the material if desired. To 
move the materials the carpenter picks up the free end of the materials, 
so that on the wheels 3 of the invention are contacting the floor, and 
wheels the materials to the proper location. At the proper location, the 
materials can be set down in a horizontal position or in a vertical 
position as desired and the invention remaining secured to the stack of 
material provides wheels 3 for easy movement, precise positioning, and 
gentle safe handling. 
It is readily noted that the invention provides a means for quickly, 
easily, economically, and safely handling sheets of flexible material such 
as masonite, fragile material such as panes of glass, heavy materials such 
as metal or wooden doors and soft materials such as sheet rock, by one 
person, thus minimizing labor costs and loss by breaking or damaging.