Abstract:
An apparatus for moving large objects such as nursery stock incorporate two elongated arms, each including a handling member with a horizontal portion and a downwardly extending portion being attached to the end of each arm. When the arms are moved in relation to one another the handling members can encircle and support a load thereby allowing stable movement and loading of large objects such as nursery stock.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/583,666 filed on Jun. 29, 2004, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND  
       [0002]     The landscaping business often requires that large shrubs, trees, and other nursery stock be moved and/or transplanted either within the nursery area itself, or to a customer&#39;s vehicle or property. It is desirable that equipment used to facilitate such nursery stock loading and/or movement do so in a secure and efficient manner, regardless of the size, shape or bulk of the object being moved or loaded.  
         [0003]     Loading equipment typically used for this purpose, such as skid steer loaders and fork trucks, are often unable to handle large nursery stock, e.g., trees having large root balls, without damaging the root ball and/or requiring help from additional persons. Due to the unique shape and uneven weight distribution of objects such as balled-trees, manual assistance is often needed in loading the object onto and off the equipment as well as loading and unloading the object from a transport vehicle, such as a truck or trailer. Ensuring that the object is securely held or maintained by the loading equipment often requires additional securing means, such as a strap or rope, to ensure that the object does not shift or fall during movement. Applying or using a strap or rope adds time and effort to the process which results in a less efficient, more expensive business operation. On the other hand, failure to use a strap or rope may result in damaged nursery stock.  
         [0004]     Additionally, the design of skid steer loaders and fork trucks limit the load placement ability to certain positions, such that manual placement must be performed to locate the object (e.g., tree) in its desired spot. Manual placement or help may be needed, for example, when placement of an object into a truck with high sides, a truck with a trailer attached, or when the vehicle or trailer being loaded is only accessible from the side.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0005]     In one embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus allows secure movement and placement of nursery stock without the need for manual assistance to avoid causing damage to the nursery stock. The apparatus includes arms which are securely mounted at one end and extend in a substantially parallel plane. The arms may be telescopic so as to increase the loading and unloading reach distance. The arms may be adapted to pivot such that the end of the arms furthest from the mounting point may be moved in relation to one another. A handling mechanism is coupled to the arms and comprises cooperating grippers that act to encircle and support nursery stock during movement.  
         [0006]     In another embodiment a handling apparatus permits placement of large nursery stock in vehicles or trailers from a greater number of locations and positions than was previously possible.  
         [0007]     Still other objects and advantages will become readily apparent to those skilled in this art from the following detailed description, wherein only the preferred embodiment of the invention is shown and described, simply by way of illustration of the best mode contemplated of carrying out the invention. As will be realized, the invention is capable of modifications in various obvious respects, all without departing from the invention. Consequently, the drawing and description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature, and not as restrictive.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]      FIG. 1  illustrates an object handling apparatus in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0009]      FIG. 2  illustrates an object handling apparatus in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0010]      FIG. 3  illustrates the operation of an object handling apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0011]     For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated herein, and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended. Any alterations and further modifications in the described processes, systems, or devices, and any further applications of the principles of the invention as described herein, are contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.  
         [0012]     Moving large objects, such as root-balled trees or shrubs, whether for landscaping or developing nursery stock, is difficult because of the size of the planting and the uneven distribution of weight between the root ball and the trunk and foliage. Equipment typically used for these purposes, such as skid-steer loaders or fork lift trucks are often ill-equipped to handle large plantings, and significant physical effort is often required of one or more on-ground individuals to steady or maintain balance of the planting during lifting or transporting from one location to another.  
         [0013]     One embodiment of the present invention provides an apparatus and method for easily handling large objects such as root-balled trees or other nursery plantings. An embodiment of the invention discloses attachment of the handling apparatus to equipment such as skid-steer loaders or fork trucks to allow easy transplanting or moving of large nursery stock, for example, without the need for additional help from on-ground individuals.  
         [0014]      FIG. 1  illustrates a handling apparatus  10  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Apparatus  10  is illustratively shown attached to a vehicle  12 , which is illustratively shown as a track loader, but other types of equipment, such as skid-steer loaders and fork trucks, are equally suitable for use of apparatus  10 . Apparatus  10  may be permanently, semi-permanently, or temporarily attached to vehicle  12 , depending upon how apparatus  10  is intended to be used. The degree of permanency will result from the means of attachment, which may be accomplished, for example, by welding to create an essentially permanent structure, or through the use of bolts or pins to permit easier removal and replacement.  
         [0015]     Apparatus  10  is shown as comprising a pair of arms  14  that extend outwardly, i.e., forward, from the front of vehicle  12 . Arms  14  may be of fixed length, such as is shown on  FIG. 1 , or they may be made to be telescopic in order to accommodate different sized objects, to leverage load weight, to increase the reach of apparatus  10 , or to provide a more compact structure for parking or storing vehicle  12  with apparatus  10  attached. The telescoping mechanism for arms  14  can be of any conventional design, including, but not limited to, hydraulic or gear-driven mechanisms, or arms  14  may be manually adjustable and held in their desired position by means such as cotter pins, for example. In  FIG. 1 , the ends of arms  14  closest to vehicle  12 , i.e., proximal ends, are illustratively shown as being attached to hinge  16  which is in turn attached to vehicle  12 , although other attachment mechanisms may also be used. Arms  14  are therefore movable in a horizontal plane via rotation about hinges  16  such that arms  14  may rotate or move toward or away from each other. Mechanism  18 , illustratively shown as a hydraulic device, is shown attached to each of arms  14 . Mechanism  18  is illustratively shown as being driven by the hydraulic system of vehicle  12  such that arms  14  can controllably be brought closer together or farther apart by the operator of vehicle  12 .  
         [0016]     At the ends of arms  14  remote or distal from vehicle  12  are mounted grippers  20  in positions such that they face each other. Grippers  20  each comprise an elongated member or component  22  disposed in a horizontal plane parallel to the extended dimension of arm  14 . Member or component  22  is illustratively shown as being formed of tubular material that is bent or formed into the desired shape. Member  22  may be formed of a continuous piece of tubing, or it may be made up of several lengths of tubing attached together, such as by welding. Member  22  may be formed by other means as well, including being machined from a solid piece of material. Arms  14  and grippers  20  are preferably formed of a strong, durable material, such as steel, wrought iron, or any other suitable material that can withstand that weight and stresses that are applied during operation of apparatus  10 .  
         [0017]     Member  22  is shown as being curved or arcuatly formed such that corresponding oppositely positioned members  22  together form a partial circle or enclosure, although other shapes or contours are possible. The curved shape of members  22  cooperate with each other to at least partially encircle or embrace the load being moved. The shape of members  22  also allows apparatus  10  to accommodate objects, e.g. tree root balls, of different sizes merely by adjusting the spacing between member  22  by use of mechanism  18 . Members  22  may be formed of different shapes as well, such as by increasing or decreasing the length or amount of curvature, so that grippers  20  may be configured to accommodate different ranges of object sizes. Grippers  20  are illustratively shown in  FIG. 1  as being attached to arms  14  by attachment, e.g., cotter, pins  24 . The use of attachment pins  24  allows grippers  20  to be removed for repair or replacement, or to permit different sized or shaped grippers, or even other devices, to be installed in place of grippers  20 .  
         [0018]     Grippers  20  also comprise load stabilizing members  26 , illustratively shown in  FIG. 1  as extending downward from, and generally perpendicular to, members  22 . Load stabilizing members  26  are also shown as being angled and/or curved slightly inwardly toward each other, such that as arms  14  are brought closer together, grippers  20  form the appearance of a basket, with members  22  and members  26  cooperating to provide both side and bottom support for the load. Other shapes of members  26  are also possible, such as enlarging the lower portion of members  26  to provide even more underside support. Members  26  are preferably made from the same material as members  22  in order to simplify construction and provide a uniform appearance of grippers  20 . Grippers  20  may therefore be made of a single piece of tubular material, or be formed from a single piece of material, or be made or formed of multiple pieces that are attached together during manufacture of apparatus  10 .  
         [0019]      FIG. 3  illustrates one embodiment of apparatus  10  in operation. As can be seen, arms  14  are positioned such that grippers  50  are in contact with the root ball  30  of a representative object, in this case tree  32 . Members  22  of grippers  20  partially encircle the equatorial circumference of root ball  30  while members  26  at least partially encircle the polar circumference of root ball  30 . Trunk  34  of tree  32  is shown angled away from apparatus  10 , such that trunk  34  and foliage  36  exert a significant leveraged force at the contact points of root ball  30  and grippers  20 . The unique shape of grippers  20 , however, act to stabilize tree  32  so that it can be lifted and/or moved in the position shown without twisting or falling, or without exerting so much pressure on root ball  30  that tree  32  is damaged. As can be seen in  FIG. 3 , whatever angle or position tree  32  is in while it is being carried or moved, a portion of gripper  20  will encircle root ball  30  and another portion of gripper  20  will support or cradle the underside of root ball  30 . In this way, root ball  30  is always supported in two perpendicular planes so that tree  32 , or whatever type of object is being maneuvered or moved, is always stabilized when being lifted or moved by apparatus  10 , regardless of the size or positioning of the object. Root ball  30  is therefore not distorted or damaged even when vehicle  12  is traveling over rough terrain. The design of grippers  20  also permits the easy removal of nursery stock that has healed-in to its display or growing location. When removing nursery stock in this healed-in condition, grippers  20  are positioned and moved so that members  26  can penetrate the soil around the root ball of the tree or shrub that is desired to be moved. Arms  14  can then be brought toward each other until grippers  20  are in position to support the underside of the planting&#39;s root ball, thereby permitting a supported lifting of the tree, shrub, or other planting.  
         [0020]     Apparatus  10  may also be used to lift or move objects other than trees or nursery plantings. Boulders or other heavy articles that are matched with the size and shape of grippers  20 , and within the lifting specifications of vehicle  12  may also be lifted and/or transported.  
         [0021]     In one particular embodiment, the weight of apparatus  10  is approximately 370 pounds. Arms  14  are capable of telescoping such that the reach of grippers  20  is between 61 and 85 inches. With arms  14  fully retracted, apparatus  10  is capable of lifting objects up to 1800 pounds. In another embodiment, apparatus  10  weights of the order of 330 pounds and has fixed arms, which provide a reach of between 62 and 72 inches. In this embodiment, apparatus  10  is capable of lifting or moving objects of up to 2500 pounds. The use of apparatus  10  therefore allows trees and boulders, for example, to be moved by one person, without the need for any on-ground help.  
         [0022]     While the invention or inventions described herein have been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that all changes, modifications and equivalents that come within the spirit of the invention or inventions disclosed are desired to be protected. The present invention contemplates modifications as would occur to those skilled in the art. It is also contemplated that processes embodied in the present invention can be altered, rearranged, substituted, deleted, duplicated, combined, or added to other processes as would occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the present invention.  
         [0023]     While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is considered to be illustrative and not restrictive in character, it is understood that only the preferred embodiments have been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the invention are desired to be protected.