Abstract:
A pair of handles is strapped or screwed to a load, such as a used furnace to allow it to be picked up and carried more readily. Each handle projects above the top edge of the load and is connected to an elongated member that is flat against one side of the load. The elongated members may also be screwed to the load. In one embodiment, the bars have an upstanding rib for reinforcement and three slots for threading webbing straps through. In another embodiment, the elongated members are essentially lengths of angle iron with handles attached to the upper ends and the two legs of the elongated members fit along a corner edge of the load.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     Not Applicable.  
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT  
       [0002]     Not applicable.  
       SEQUENCE LISTING  
       [0003]     Not applicable  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     The present invention is related to an apparatus and process for  
       DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART INCLUDING INFORMATION DISCLOSED UNDER 37 C.F.R. 1.97 and 1.98  
       [0005]     Moving awkwardly sized objects that have few or no natural gripping surfaces can be difficult, particularly when they must be moved up and down stairs, especially when it is not desired to use a hand truck or dolly, which typically gouge the stairs, causing unacceptable damage. A good example of such objects is a household furnace. When they need to be replaced, they often must be removed from basements and the replacement furnace moved into the basement. Usually, workers must carry the old furnace up the stairs and carry the new furnace down the stairs. A household furnace typically weights about 80-90 kilograms (175-200 pounds). Using a wheeled dolly or hand truck is not desirable because using these on stairs increases the risk of injury because the load can roll uncontrollably down the stairs; the bottom man must bend over near the stairs to have any effect on the moving; and dollies tear up the stairs. In moving a furnace down the stairs, it is important not to jar or jostle the unit because this can damage electronic circuitry and mechanical control systems. Therefore, it is preferable for workers to carry furnace manually.  
         [0006]     Typically, workers place one hand on each of two opposed sides of the furnaces and squeeze hard. This practice does not provide a sound grip, so the furnace can slip from the grip and it unnecessarily strains muscles.  
         [0007]     Efforts to address the problem of gripping and carrying awkwardly sized objects have led to numerous patents. For example, US 2005/0103813 A1, a published patent application disclosing an invention by Edwards and published on May 19, 2005, discloses an Adjustable Dual Strap Design for Lifting and Carrying Awkward or Heavy Loads, comprising an end loop on each end of a strap for passing over each shoulder of a worker. Another such strap includes a number of small loops extending a middle portion of the loop. The worker with the straight strap passes his strap through one of the smaller loops to determine easily the length of the whole strap system between the two workers.  
         [0008]     Other examples of apparatus designed to make lifting and carrying awkwardly sized objects include the following references.  
         [0009]     Another published patent application, US 2005/0263551 A1, a published patent application disclosing an invention by Dent, III and published on Dec. 1, 2005, discloses a Simplified Two-Man Lifting Harness comprising a shoulder harness having a pair of straps that cross across the back and taper from the shoulders to the waist so that they meet at a buckle at their lower front ends, with the buckle fastened to a lifting strap held by one worker at each end, with each worker being connected to a separate harness.  
         [0010]     U.S. Pat. No. 7,077,447 B1, issued to Betway on Jul. 18, 2006, discloses a Method for Manually Carrying a Load comprising a flexible ladder having a pair of parallel flexible cables fixed to a number of rungs fixed to the two cables and perpendicular to them, as shown in  FIG. 1 , with the load appropriately placed on the flexible ladder on the floor and then picked up by two workers using the rung members.  
         [0011]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,729,511 B2, issued to Dent, III on May 4, 2004, discloses a Lifting Harness comprising an over-the-shoulders harness that crosses in the back and falls straight down the worker&#39;s front, with a buckle at the lower font end of the straps and a waist belt that is joined to the shoulder straps at the front. Two workers wear a separate shoulder harness and connect a long belt to the harnesses, with a load placed on the long belt,  FIGS. 1-3 .  
         [0012]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,508,389 B1, issued to Ripoyla et al. on Jan. 21, 2003, discloses a Harness System for Lifting Objects comprising a separate shoulder harness, each worn by a different worker, with each harness including an outer loop, with the two loops joined together to place under the load.  
         [0013]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,102,462 B1, issued to Fields on Aug. 15, 2000, discloses a Mattress and Sheet Material Carrying Apparatus comprising a closed loop of webbing having a pair of spaced depending smaller U-shaped straps sewn onto the closed loop strap for retaining the bottom of a load when a separate worker picks up each end of the closed loop main strap, as shown in  FIGS. 1, 3 . The device is most suitable for narrow loads such as a mattress or stacked sheets of plywood or the like.  
         [0014]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,039,376 B1, issued to Lopreciato on Mar. 21, 2000, discloses Forearm Furniture Leverage Straps comprising a strap with three different small loops for receiving a worker&#39;s forearms on each end. The worker can select which loop to insert his arm into. Each of two workers places a strap under a load so that the two straps cross under the load and then the workers pick up the load with their hands assisted by the straps on their arms.  
         [0015]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,927,781 B1, issued to Lyons, Jr. on Jul. 27, 1999, discloses a Strap Apparatus for Carrying Relatively Large Objects comprising a system of interlocking strap loops, the length of each can be adjusted through use of a buckle. The strap loops allow a loop to be disposed across corners of boxes and the like, as shown in  FIGS. 1, 5 .  
         [0016]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,503,448 B1, issued to Dewey on Apr. 2, 1996, discloses a Strap Apparatus for Hauling Large Objects comprising a figure-8 shaped strap having an adjustment buckle at its center, with a pair of opposed semi-rigid handles at each outer end of the loops, with the center of the whole strap being placed in the middle of the bottom of a load and the handles projecting outwardly from the load to be picked up by two workers.  
         [0017]     U.S. Pat. No. 4,521,045 B1, issued to Hart on Jun. 4, 1985, discloses a Mattress Carrier comprising a fitted cover that a mattress is inserted into and secured by a long zipper along three sides, enclosing the mattress. The mattress cover is equipped with straps having loop handles for providing allowing workers to carry the mattress easily.  
         [0018]     These devices rely on flexible straps, which are themselves awkward and time consuming to install and adjust. Further, a substantial amount of room is needed to place the straps into position about the load. Further the space needed for workers to utilize the strap systems is significant in many cases, preventing their use in tight quarters, e.g., stairs. Finally, none provides a solid load bearing ability, increasing the risk of banging the load into a wall or the like through swinging of the load, an unacceptable risk in many moving situations. Such systems can increase the risk of injury inherent in moving large heavy objects due to load shifting and the additional stress placed on the shoulders and back.  
         [0019]     Therefore, there is a need for a device that provides a ready means for securely moving an awkwardly sized load without using a dolly; that can reduce back injuries and other injuries common to moving heavy objects, with or without the aid of sling device; that provides a rigid connection to the object being moved; that is easy to install onto the load and to remove from the load; that requires minimal work to install and to remove; that is relatively inexpensive to manufacture.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0020]     Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a device in the form of temporary handles for moving awkwardly sized objects that provides a ready means for securely moving an awkwardly sized load without using a dolly.  
         [0021]     It is another object of the present invention to provide device in the form of temporary handles for moving awkwardly sized objects that can reduce back injuries and other injuries common to moving heavy objects; that provides a rigid connection to the object being moved.  
         [0022]     It is another object of the present invention to provide device in the form of temporary handles for moving awkwardly sized objects that is easy to install onto the load and to remove from the load.  
         [0023]     It is another object of the present invention to provide device in the form of temporary handles for moving awkwardly sized objects that is relatively inexpensive to manufacture and that increases productivity.  
         [0024]     The present invention addresses and solves this problem by providing a pair of handles rigidly connected to elongated rails and are fastened to the furnace or other load, preferably with sheet metal screws (the old furnace is to be junked) and 2 inch wide fabric belts that are cinched tight. Alternatively, if desired, the screws may be omitted, reducing the time and effort needed to attach the handles to the load. In any case, it is not desirable to put screws into new furniture, in new furnaces, or the like. An important characteristic of the present invention is that there are no wheels because use of a dolly or the like is undesirable in this application.  
         [0025]     In the first embodiment, the handles are fixedly connected to an upturned edge of a flat bar member, with the flat bar member being fastened to the load and the grip portion of the handle being presented to the user in a normal gripping position. The upright flange portion to which the handle member is attached includes three spaced slots that cinching straps are passed through. One handle member is a left-hand handle member, that is the upstanding rib portion to which the handle itself is connected lies along the right-hand edge of the handle member and is intended to be gripped by the user&#39;s left hand. Another handle member is a right-hand handle member, having the upstanding rib portion to which the handle itself is attached lying to the left of the flat base portion of the handle member. The upright flange portion of the right-handed handle member further includes three spaced slots that align respectively with the three spaced slots in the left-hand handle member and are also used for receiving cinching straps to fixe the handle members to the load. Thus the temporary handles for moving awkwardly sized objects according to the present invention come in mirror image pairs.  
         [0026]     In an alternative embodiment, each handle member includes a body consisting roughly of an angle iron-shaped member, with the handle portion connected to one flange member, so that the body of each handle member fits along a corner of a load having a right-angle edge, such as a furnace.  
         [0027]     Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein is set forth by way of illustration and example, the preferred embodiment of the present invention and the best mode currently known to the inventor for carrying out his invention.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING  
       [0028]      FIG. 1  is left-front isometric view of temporary handles for moving awkwardly sized objects according to the present invention attached to a load, which is a furnace.  
         [0029]      FIG. 2  is a left-front isometric view of a load illustrating the attachment of the temporary handles for moving awkwardly sized objects of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0030]      FIG. 3  is rear perspective view of a left-handed handle member of the temporary handles for moving awkwardly sized objects of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0031]      FIG. 4  is a right-hand side isometric view of the handle member of  FIG. 3 .  
         [0032]      FIG. 5  is a rear front right isometric view of an alternative embodiment of the handle member of  FIG. 3 , further including a hand-grip pad.  
         [0033]      FIG. 6  is an isometric view of the handle member of  FIG. 5 .  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0034]     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a set of two temporary handles for moving awkwardly sized objects (handle members)  10  is shown connected to a load  12  in the form of a furnace by an upper webbing strap  14  and a lower webbing strap  16 , both of which are cinched tight by well known means, such as a rachet tightening mechanism (not shown). The load  12  preferably has at least one flat side wall  18 , which is the rear side wall  18 , and may have four connected perpendicular side walls including the rear wall  18 , the right-hand side wall  20 , the front side wall  22 , and the left-hand side wall  24 , permitting ready attachment of the handle members  10  to any side wall  18 ,  20 ,  22 ,  24 . In most applications, one set of the handle members  10  is connected to the load with the handles  26  projecting above the top edge  28  of the top wall  30  of the load  12 . These two handles  26  will be gripped by a worker, who tilts the load back toward him, which typically exposes a ledge or bottom edge  32  of the bottom wall  34  of the load  12  that can be gripped by another worker, allowing the two workers to pick up the load  12  and carry it without the load&#39;s hitting any stairs, walls, bannisters or the like.  
         [0035]     Still referring to  FIG. 1 , top and bottom, left and right and so forth are as the load  12  is shown in  FIG. 1 . Because the load may conventionally be rotated, turned upside down or the like, these orientations may or may not be consistent with the orientation of the load  12  when the load  12 , whatever it may specifically be, is in normal use.  
         [0036]     Still referring to  FIG. 1 , left-hand side handle member  36  includes a flat elongated member or bar portion  38  having a left-hand edge  40 , and a right-hand edge  42 , a bottom edge  44  and a top edge  46 . Along the right-hand lengthwise edge  42  lies an upstanding rib member  48  that runs the entire length of the flat elongated bar portion  38  and lies at a 90° to it, such that the upstanding rib member  48  projects outwardly from the load  12 . The upstanding rib member  48  is joined to the flat elongated bar portion  38  by a radius  50  formed at the juncture of the two members  38 ,  48 , which runs the length of both members. Formed into the upstanding rib member  48  adjacent to the radius  50  joining the upstanding rib member  48  and the flat elongated bar portion  38 , that is, adjacent to the juncture of the elongated member and the upstanding rib member in either the left-hand side or right-hand side handle embers  10 , are a lower strap-receiving slot  52 , an upper receiving slot  54  and an intermediate strap receiving slot  56 . The upstanding rib member  48  may alternatively run only a portion, any desired portion, of the length of the flat elongated bard portion  38 , as its principal purpose is to increase the stiffness of the handle members  10 , whether left-hand side or right-hand side members. The upstanding rib member  48  can be fixed to the elongated member along a line other than an edge of the elongated member  36 ,  68  for example, the upstanding rib member  48  can be welded along the centerline of the member  
         [0037]     Still referring to  FIG. 1 , connected to the upper end  58  of the upstanding rib member  48  by the extension or neck  59  is a handle portion  60 , which is discussed in more detail in connection with  FIG. 2  below. A pair of horizontal spaced upper fastening apertures  62  are formed into the flat elongated bar portion  38  proximate to the top edge  46  of the flat elongated bar portion  38  and a pair of horizontally spaced lower fastening apertures  64  are similarly formed into the flat elongate bar portion  38  proximate to the bottom edge  44  of the flat elongated bar portion  38 .  
         [0038]     Still referring to  FIG. 1 , right-hand side handle member  66  includes a flat elongated member or bar portion  68  having a left-hand edge  70 , and a right-hand lengthwise edge  72 , a bottom edge  74  and a top edge  76 . Along the left-hand edge  70  lies an upstanding rib member  78  that runs the entire length of the flat elongated bar portion  68  and lies at a 90° to it, such that the upstanding rib member  78  projects outwardly from the load  12 . The upstanding rib member  78  is joined to the flat elongated bar portion  68  by a radius  80  formed at the juncture of the two members  68 ,  78 , which runs the entire length of both members. Formed into the upstanding rib member  78  are a lower strap-receiving slot  82 , an upper receiving slot  84  and an intermediate strap receiving slot  86 . Connected to the upper end  88  of the upstanding rib member  78  by the extension or neck  89  is a handle portion  90 , which is discussed in more detail in connection with  FIG. 2  below. A pair of horizontal spaced upper fastening apertures  92  are formed into the flat elongated bar portion  68  proximate to the top edge  76  of the flat elongated bar portion  68  and a pair of horizontally spaced lower fastening apertures  94  are similarly formed into the flat elongate bar portion  68  proximate to the bottom edge  74  of the flat elongated bar portion  38 .  
         [0039]     Still referring to  FIG. 1 , the left-hand side handle member  36  and the right-hand side handle member  66  are mirror images of each other, with the upstanding rib members  48 ,  68  respectively both lying toward the interior of the rear side wall  18 . The upper webbing strap  14  is threaded through the upper strap receiving slot  54  in the upstanding rib member  48  of the left-hand side handle member  36  and through the aligned and corresponding upper strap receiving slot  84  in the upstanding rib member  78  of the right-hand side handle member  66  and is wrapped about the load  12 . The lower webbing strap  16  is similarly threaded through the lower strap receiving slot  52  in the upstanding rib member  48  of the left-hand side handle member  36  and through the aligned and corresponding lower strap receiving slot  80  in the upstanding rib member  78  of the right-hand side handle member  66  and is wrapped about the load  12 . Then both webbing straps  14 ,  16  are tightened to secure the handle member  36 ,  66  rigidly to the load  12 . To facilitate holding the handles  36 ,  66  to the load  12  while the webbing straps  14 ,  16 , are fitted and tightened, the handles  36 ,  66  may be attached to the load by fasteners, such as self-tapping sheet metal screws or the load may be placed on a side such that the handles  36 ,  66  are horizontal and will therefore be held in place by gravity while the webbing straps  14 ,  16  are fitted and adjusted. In this case, the webbing straps  14 ,  16  should be placed under the load  12  prior to setting the handle members  36 ,  66  on the then upper surface of the load  12 . Alternatively, fasteners, such as the sheet metal screws  81  inserted through the apertures  62 ,  64 ,  92  and  94  and fastened into the load  12  can alone be used to secure the handle members  36 ,  66  to the load  12 , in which case the webbing straps  14 ,  16  are not needed at all. The number of screws  81  used in either the embodiment of  FIG. 1  or of  FIG. 2  may be the same as the number of screw receiving apertures or may be less, as the load and the user desire or need. Again, however, in many cases, such as with a new furnace, inserting fasteners such as the sheet metal screws  81  into the load  12  may not be desirable and in this case, only the webbing straps  14 ,  16  should be used. Alternatively, a few sheet metal screws  81  can be used to locate and secure the handles  36 ,  66  to the load  12  to facilitate attachment of the webbing straps  14 ,  16 .  
         [0040]     Still referring to  FIG. 1 , a handle webbing strap is threaded through the intermediate strap receiving slots  56 ,  86  and formed into a closed loop to keep the left-hand side handle member  36  and the right-hand side handle member  66  together as a set during storage and transportation. Alternatively, the intermediate strap receiving slots  56 ,  58  could be used for a third load securing strap, but this is unnecessary in most applications.  
         [0041]     Referring to  FIG. 2 , there is shown an alternative embodiment of the set of two temporary handles for moving awkwardly sized objects (handle members)  10 , in which the handle members are basically elongated members comprising lengths of angle iron with handles attached at their upper ends. The left-hand handle  98  includes a left-hand side member  100  lying flat along the right-hand side wall  20  of the load  12  and a right-hand side member  102  lying flat along the rear flat side wall  18  or the load  12 . The left-hand side member  100  and the right-hand side member  102 , both of which can be viewed as flat bar stock elongated members connected along their length by a radius and that meet at the 90° angle  104 , which runs from the length of the two members  100 ,  102  from their bottom edges  106  to the top edge  108  of the right-hand member  102  and an imaginary line extending from the top edge  108  across the left-hand member  100 . A pair of spaced apart lower left-hand side apertures  10  and a pair of spaced apart lower right-hand side apertures  112  are formed in the respective side members  100 ,  102  in the vicinity of the bottom edges  106 . A pair of spaced apart upper left-hand side apertures  114  and a pair of spaced apart upper right-hand side apertures  116  are formed in the respective side members  100 ,  102  in the vicinity of the top edge  108 . A member extension, or neck,  118  flows upward from the left-hand member  100  and is connected to a handle  120 , which includes the grip portion  122 , which is arcuate for comfortable gripping.  
         [0042]     Still referring to  FIG. 2 , The right-hand handle  124  includes a left-hand side member  126  lying flat along the rear side wall  18  of the load  12  and a right-hand side member  128  lying flat along the left-hand side wall  24  of the load  12 . The left-hand side member  126  and the right-hand side member  128 , both of which can be viewed as flat bar stock members connected along their length by a radius and that meet at the 90° angle  130 , which runs from the length of the two members  126 ,  128  from their bottom edges  132  to the top edge  134  of the left-hand side member  126  and an imaginary line extending from the top edge  134  across the right-hand member  128 . A pair of spaced apart lower left-hand side apertures  136  and a pair of spaced apart lower right-hand side apertures (not seen) are formed in the respective side members  124 ,  128  in the vicinity of the bottom edges  132 . A pair of spaced apart upper left-hand side apertures  138  and a pair of spaced apart upper right-hand side apertures (not seen) are formed in the respective side members  126 ,  128  in the vicinity of the top edge  134 . A right-hand side member extension, or neck,  140  flows upward from the right-hand side member  128  and is connected to a handle  142 , which includes the grip portion  144 .  
         [0043]     Still referring to  FIG. 2 , the handles  98 ,  124  are secured to the load  12  with the screws  146  inserted into the apertures  110 ,  112 ,  114 ,  116 ,  136 ,  138  and the unseen apertures in the right-hand side member  128  of the right-hand handle  124  that correspond to the apertures  136 ,  138 . The screws  146  are preferably self-tapping sheet metal screws. Alternatively, the left-hand side member  98  and the right-hand side member  128  can be secured to the load with the webbing straps  14 ,  16 , or a few screws  156  can be inserted to hold the left-hand side member  98  and the right-hand side member  128  to the load  12  for easy installation and tightening of the webbing straps  14 ,  16 . This embodiment does not include any slots for web straps because it is intended primarily for use with the screws  156  for attachment, which is quite a fast way to attach the handles  98 ,  124  when a power electrical screw driver or the like is used.  
         [0044]     Still referring to  FIG. 2 , the embodiment first shown in  FIG. 2  works best when the load has at least three flat side walls and each meeting or intersection of side walls forms a 90° or edge, such as the 90° edge  148  between the rear side wall  18  and the left-hand side wall  24  of the load  12  and the 90° edge  150  between the rear side wall  18  and the right-hand side wall  20  of the load  12 .  
         [0045]     Referring to  FIGS. 3, 4  the handle portions  60 ,  90  each include an outermost gripping portion  152 , which is arcuate for comfortable gripping. Each gripping portion  152  is connected to the respective handle member  36 ,  66  by a forward projecting handle attachment member  154 , with forward being defined as the direction an operator would be looking when gripping the handles  36 ,  66  of  FIG. 1  or the handles  98 ,  124  of  FIG. 2 . The forward projecting handle attachment member  154  rises at an angle to the plane of the rear wall  18  such that the handle attachment members  154  projects inwardly of the top edge of the  28  of the load  12  sufficiently that the gripping portions  152  are located inwardly of the top edge  28  of the rear side wall  18  when the handles  36 ,  66  are installed on the load  12 . This arrangement provides the most secure style of gripping for a user. The angle between the attachment members  154  and the rear side wall  18  of the load  12 , which is also the angle between the handle portion  60  and the elongated bar portion  38  of the left-hand side handle member  36  or the handle portion  90  and the elongated bar portion  68  of the right-hand side handle member  66  lies in a range of 30°-60°, with the preferred angle being the 45° angle  156 .  
         [0046]     Still referring to  FIGS. 3, 4 , a rear handle attachment member  158  projects upward from the upper end of the respective member to which it is attached basically along the same line as the edge of the member, but slightly angled backward toward the operator at an angle lying in a range of 5°-25°, with the preferred angle being the 15′ angle  160 . Each handle portion  60 ,  90  has a hand grip opening  162 , which is basically triangular in shape, having a straight rear edge  164  parallel to the line of the outer rear edge  166 , a straight front edge  168  parallel to the line of the outer front edge  170 . The straight rear edge  162  has a rear edge bottom end  172  that intersects with the corresponding front edge bottom end  174  of the front edge  168 . An arcuate upper portion  176  of the opening  162  is parallel to the outer curved edge  178  of the handle portions  60 ,  90  and includes a left-hand end  180  that intersects an upper end  182  of the straight front edge  168 . More particularly, the handle portion  60  of the left-side handle member  36  projects forward of the flat elongated bar portion  38 , with forward being defined inward of the top edge  28  of the load  12  and the handle portion  90  of the right-side handle member  66  projects forward or the flat elongated bar portion  68 , with forward being defined inward of the top edge  28  of the load  12 .  
         [0047]     Referring to  FIGS. 5, 6 , the alternative embodiment of the handle members  10  are shown again. The handle portions  98 ,  124  of  FIGS. 5, 6  are identical to the handle portions of  FIGS. 3, 4 , and the disclosure regarding them above applies wholly to the handle portions of  98 ,  124  of  FIGS. 5, 6 . More particularly, the handle gripping portion  122  of the left-hand handle  98  projects forward of the right-hand side member  102  of the left-hand handle  98  and the handle gripping portion  144  of the right-hand handle  124  projects forward of the left-hand side member  126  of the right-hand handle  124 , with forward defined as inwardly of the top edge  28  of the load  28 . The arcuate handle portions  120 ,  142  are each covered with a protective handgrip cushion  184  to reduce pressure on the user&#39;s hands. These same handgrip cushions can be used on the handle portions  60 ,  90  of  FIGS. 1, 3 ,  4  for the same purpose.  
         [0048]     The handle members  10  are preferably each made of molded fiberglass in one piece each, which results in a scratch resistant, strong, light-weight handle member  10 . Alternatively, the handle members  10  may be made of welded bent steel, aluminum or the like; may be made from bar stock with welded seams and so forth. The handle members  10  may also be coated with a plastic covering, such as tool dip so that they do not mar the surfaces they are attached to, making the handle members  10  suitable for use with loads that are not to be marred. In any case, the handle members  10  are rigid and the connection between the portion that contacts the load and the handles themselves is strong.  
         [0049]     While the present invention has been described in accordance with the preferred embodiments thereof, the description is for illustration only and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention. Various changes and modifications may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.