Abstract:
A three piece lifting system for lifting loads such as furniture during a move. The system has a first elongated strap that has a plurality of loops at its first and second ends that receive second and third elongated straps. The second and third elongated straps each have shoulder loops that go on the shoulders of workers such that when assembled the first elongated strap engages the load so that the workers are enabled to lift the load off the ground.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention is related to lifting systems. More specifically, this invention is related to a three piece lifting system for moving furniture and the like. 
         [0002]    Many pieces of equipment have been provided in an attempt to help individuals move furniture and their belongings during a move. Included is a hand dolly that can be placed under a piece of furniture such that an individual may roll the piece of furniture into a moving truck. While this allows one person to move furniture problems exist in that larger pieces of furniture are often too heavy for a single individual to handle using just a hand dolly. Additionally, problems with getting pieces of furniture in and out of doorways remain. 
         [0003]    Another apparatus that has been used to help with individuals moving include several devices that use nylon straps that can be used between two individuals wherein the strap is placed underneath a piece of furniture and an individual at either end of the strap lifts the strap in order to lift the piece of furniture. A first type of system using straps can be seen in U.S. Pat. No. 6,729,511 to Dent, III. Described is a device that uses shoulder loops that can be worn by an individual wherein the shoulder loops are adjustably attached to a lift strap that can be placed underneath an object. This allows two people to move the furniture. 
         [0004]    Despite some advantages problems remain with the Dent device. For example, the device is very expensive as the tension buckle that is utilized as an adjusting mechanism is complex. The buckle can also be a hazard that can swing and hit someone causing injury. Additionally, when going up stairs the strap tends to slip out of the buckle for the person on top because there is not adequate weight at the end to keep the locking mechanism engaged causing a safety hazard, especially to the individual at the bottom of the stairs. 
         [0005]    A second type of strap system utilizes straps that criss-cross underneath a device and go on the forearms of an individual for lifting. Many problems are associated with this type of device as the device forces weight to be placed on one&#39;s forearms. Having weight distributed on a person&#39;s forearms is both bad for that individual&#39;s forearms and shoulders and arms and does not properly utilize a person&#39;s legs during lifting. This can cause many undesired injuries. Additionally, when using one&#39;s forearms to lift an object an individual&#39;s hands are not free to help balance and move the object. Further, oftentimes in use the object ends up being held at a high level that is difficult to balance thus also making for difficulties during the moving process. 
         [0006]    Therefore, a principle object of the present invention is to provide a lifting system that is easy to adjust to ensure that a strap is centered. 
         [0007]    Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an affordable lifting system. 
         [0008]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a lifting system that minimizes risk of injury during lifting. 
         [0009]    These and other objects, features, or advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the specification and claims. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    A three piece lifting system having first, second and third elongated straps. The first elongated strap extends from a first end having a plurality of spaced apart loops to a second end that also has a plurality of spaced apart loops. The second elongated strap extends from a first end having a first shoulder loop to a second end having a second shoulder loop. The second elongated strap is disposed through one of the plurality of spaced apart loops at the first end of the elongated strap to connect the straps together. The third elongated strap also extends from a first end having a first shoulder loop to a second end having a second shoulder loop and is disposed through one of the plurality of spaced apart loops at the second end of the first elongated strap. Thus, the first elongated strap can be placed underneath and engage a load so that when two workers that are wearing a second and third elongated straps lift they are able to carry the load. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is a side plan view of a three piece lifting system is use by workers; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a side plan view of the components of a three piece lifting system; and 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a side plan view of an assembled three piece lifting system. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0014]      FIG. 1  shows a lifting system  10  having first, second, and third elongated straps  12 ,  14 , and  16  that can be used by two workers  18  in order to lift a load  20 . Each of the elongated straps  12 ,  14 , and  16  are flexible straps that in one embodiment are made of a poly-propylene material. While in one embodiment poly-propylene may be used any other fabric that can constitute a strap such as nylon or the like that is flexible to accommodate a load  20  can be used without falling outside the scope of this invention. Also, while generically described as a load  20  the load  20  can represent any item that may need be moved or hauled by a worker such as a couch, dresser, desk, another piece of furniture or the like. 
         [0015]      FIGS. 2 and 3  show the lifting system  10  wherein  FIG. 2  shows the individual components of the lifting system  10 . The first elongated strap  12  extends from a first end  22  to a second end  24 . At the first and second ends  22  and  24  are a plurality of loops openings  26  that can receive the second and third elongated straps  14  and  16 . The length of the first elongated strap  12  is adjustable depending on the size of load  20 . Specifically, the second and third elongated straps  14  and  16  may be placed in different loop openings  26  to adjust to the proper size. The plurality of loop openings are evenly spaced from one another and the first and second ends  22  and  24  are symmetric to one another so that an individual can dispose the second and third elongated straps  14  and  16  through opposite loop openings  26  to ensure that the first elongated strap  12  is properly centered between the two workers  18  under the load  20 . This prevents one worker  18  from bearing an unusually high load. 
         [0016]    The second elongated strap  14  extends from a first end  28  that has a first shoulder loop  30  and extends to a second end  32  that has a second shoulder loop  34 . The first and second shoulder loops  30  and  34  have a diameter greater than the diameter than the plurality of the loop openings  26  and are used to rest the second elongated strap  14  on the worker&#39;s shoulders. In one embodiment, each shoulder loop  30  and  34  have shoulder pads  36  wherein the shoulder pad  36  has a material that increases the friction between the pad  36  and the shoulder of the worker  18  minimizing the chance that the shoulder pad  36  slips off of the individual&#39;s shoulder causing the load  20  be dropped. In another embodiment the strap  14  may have a back brace or vest that can be worn by the workers  18 . Either helps minimize the risk of injury. 
         [0017]    The third elongated strap  16  is similar to the second elongated strap  14 . Specifically, the third elongated strap  16  has a first end  38  with a first shoulder loop  40  and a second end  42  with a second shoulder loop  44 . The third elongated strap  16  also can have shoulder pads  36  therein made of a material that increases the friction between the third elongated strap  16  and the shoulder of the worker  18 . In one embodiment the strap  16  may have a back brace or vest that can be worn by the workers  18 . Either helps minimize the risk of injury. 
         [0018]    In operation, when an individual wants to move a load  20  such as a piece of furniture a worker  18  takes the first strap  12  and runs it underneath the load. Then, depending on the size of the load  20  the workers  18  determine which loop  26  of the plurality of loops the second and third elongated straps  14  and  16  should be disposed through for proper lifting. If the load  20  is symmetrical the workers  18  can choose symmetrically opposed loops  26  to ensure that the first elongated strap  12  is centered underneath the load  20  to ensure even lifting. Alternatively, if the load is not symmetrical and varied to one side the workers may offset which openings  26  they use in order to attempt to evenly distribute the weight of the load  20 . 
         [0019]    Once the second and third elongated straps  14  and  16  are in the desired openings  26  of the first elongated strap  12  the workers  18  bend and place the first and second shoulder loops  30 ,  34 ,  40  and  44  respectively on their shoulders and then lift in order to lift the load. In an embodiment wherein the second and third elongated straps  14  and  16  have shoulder pads  36  the shoulder pads create friction between the shoulders of the workers  18  and the shoulder loops  30 ,  34 ,  40  and  44  to ensure that the loops remain in place at all times. Once the load  20 , or piece of furniture, has been moved to the correct location the second and third elongated straps  14  and  16  may be removed from the plurality of openings  26  within the first elongated strap  12 . Then the elongated strap  12  may be removed for additional use. 
         [0020]    Thus, presented is an improved lifting system  10 . The lifting system  10  eliminates the need for expensive buckles and tensioning devices that not only cause the system to be more expensive but additionally present a hazard. Additionally, by using symmetrically opposed loops  26  a worker  18  can easily ensure that the first elongated strap is centered underneath a load  12  to provide for easy and quick lifting. Also, by utilizing shoulder loops an individual isolates and uses their leg muscles to lift minimizing the chances of injuries to an individual&#39;s back, arms, or forearms. The shoulder pads  36  also prevent slippage of the shoulder loops also presenting a safer system  10 . Thus, at the very least all of the stated objectives have been met. 
         [0021]    It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that other various modifications could be made to the device without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention. All such modifications and changes fall within the scope of the claims and are intended to be covered thereby.