Abstract:
A method and system are disclosed for moving material past an obstacle and/or for moving materials in areas of limited space. A user can move so that the area and space required to move an object is reduced. A user can utilize the system and method to load an object and then tilt the object to be moved so that the area needed to move an object is reduced. After the object has been tilted, a user can move the object in locations characterized by various physical restrictions such as limited height, width, and length dimensions that do not ordinarily allow for movement of larger sized objects.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
   The present invention relates, in general to material movement systems and methods, and more specifically to a system and method for moving material past an obstacle and/or for moving materials in areas of limited space. 
   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 in factories, warehouses, offices, outdoors, 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, large boxes and the like, a mover may move the large object and position the large object on the dolly or cart so that the mover 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 various cylindrical objects such as beverage kegs, liquid filled bottles, pressurized cylinders, and the like. In such a case, the hand dolly may include some type of wall member to prevent the cylindrical object from being dislocated from the hand dolly. 
   While hand carts, dollys, or trucks are often used to assist a mover in relocating objects, such carts are unable to help a user move objects around or past various obstacles. For example, movement of objects around a jobsite, such as a construction worksite, may be very difficult due to various restrictions imposed by the jobsite, and ordinary hand trucks, dollys and carts provide no solution to the problem. When a building is under construction, it is often difficult to move large items throughout the building, such as moving items from a first floor to an upper floor, due to physical restrictions of the building, such as wall heights, hall way dimensions, door openings, and the like. In such instances, individuals may attempt to move items up elevators that are designed to carry people and not large items. 
   When individuals attempt to use hand trucks, carts, and dollys to move large items through an area characterized by physical restrictions, such as a building under construction, the individual is presented with many roadblocks and restrictions. For example, the individual attempting to move large items from lower floors of a building to upper floors of a building characterized by limited spaces, may attempt to move the large items in an elevator designed for people. However, the individual will often discover that the large item can not be transported in the limited space, such as the elevator designed for people. Accordingly, the individual ultimately has to move the larger items, to the upper floors by physically carrying the item, without the assistance of a hand truck, dolly or cart, up the stairs, which is very labor intensive, time consuming and dangerous. 
   Accordingly, a need exists in the art for a system and method that allows individuals to move material past obstacles, and/or for moving materials in areas of limited space, such as those presented by various physical restrictions of the location where the material is being moved. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention is directed to a system and method for moving material past an obstacle and/or for moving materials in areas of limited space. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a tilting bed cart/truck capable of carrying a load neither perpendicular nor parallel to the ground so that the area and space required to move an object is reduced. The tilting bed cart/truck may tilt the object loaded upon it so that the area needed to move an object is reduced. In one embodiment, the present invention enables objects to be moved in locations characterized by various physical restrictions such as limited height, width, and length dimensions that do not ordinarily allow for movement of larger sized objects. In another embodiment, the present invention may be configured so that as objects on the tilting bed cart/truck are tilted or moved in an upward and/or elevated direction, the load center of the object on the tilting bed cart/truck is maintained in order to provide stability to the object as the object is tilted and moved. 
   In one embodiment of the present invention, the tilting bed cart/truck may be configured so that it includes two base members, wheels, a lifting cylinder, a sliding member, and a holding framework. In such an embodiment, the wheels may be mounted to the two base members to allow the embodiment to be moved around. The sliding member may be configured so that it joins the two base members and allows the base members to move towards one another and allows the base members to move away from one another to ultimately change the length layout of the cart. The holding framework is configured to hold objects to be moved. Accordingly, the holding framework may take the form of any number of shapes or sizes to accommodate the moving of any number of objects, such as furniture, office cubicles, doors, refrigerators, sheet rock, plywood, paneling, and the like. The lifting cylinder may be configured so that it can be mounted to one base member and mounted to the holding framework so that it can move the holding framework in an upward and backward direction, such as tilting the object located on the holding framework in order to reduce the area needed to move an object and de-tilting the object or moving the object in a backward direction when the object has been moved around the obstacle. 
   The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technical advantages of the present invention in order that the detailed description of the invention that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the invention will be described hereinafter, which form the subject of the claims of the invention. It should be appreciated that the conception and specific embodiment disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. It should also be realized that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the invention as set forth in the appended claims. The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the invention, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages will be better understood from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying figures. It is to be expressly understood, however, that each of the figures is provided for the purpose of illustration and description only and is not intended as a definition of the limits of the present invention. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     For a more complete understanding of the present invention, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying figures, in which: 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a rear view of an embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a side/frontal view of an embodiment of the present invention with a door located on the embodiment; 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a close up view of a portion of an embodiment of the present invention; and 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a flowchart representing one method for moving objects around obstacles and/or in limited areas according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   A preferred embodiment of a tilting bed-cart/truck adapted according to the present invention is shown generally as tilting bed-cart/truck  100  in  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  3 .  FIG. 1  illustrates a rear view of an embodiment of the present invention,  FIG. 2  illustrates a side/frontal view of an embodiment of the present invention with a door located on the embodiment, and  FIG. 3  illustrates a close up view of a portion of an embodiment of the present invention. Tilting bed-cart/truck  100  includes base member  110 , wheels  111 , base member  120 , wheels  121 , lift mechanism  130 , framework support  135 , mounts  136 , mounts  138 , sliding mechanism  140 , framework  150 , framework mount  151 , mount member  152 , lifting mechanism-framework mount  153 , pump  160 , power supply  170 , and control station  180 . 
   As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , base members  110  and  120  are rectangular shaped. However, the present invention is not limited to this configuration as base members  110  and  120  may take the form of any number of shapes. Wheels  111  mount to base member  110  and wheels  121  mount to base member  120 . Wheels  111  and  121  may be swivel wheels, fixed position wheels, or any combination thereof. Such wheels may be of any size, such as three (3) inch diameter, four (4) inch diameter, and the like that are mounted to base members  110  and  120  by any fastening means, such as a screw, bolt, socket, cotter pin, and the like. Wheels  111  and  121  allow tilting bed-cart/truck  100  to move. The present invention may also be configured so that wheels  111  and/or wheels  121  are provided with a brake mechanism to help control movement of tilting bed-cart/truck  100  and some type of motorized device that will automatically move the wheels and thereby moving tilting bed-cart/truck  100 . 
   Base members  110  and  120  may also include mount blocks  112  and  122 , respectively. Mount blocks  112  and  122  may be a hollow block of material mounted to base members  110  and  120  which provide a mounting location for various items of the present invention. Mount blocks  112  provide a mounting location for mounts  136  to fasten to and mount blocks  122  provide a location for mount members  152  to fasten to. The present invention is not limited to this configuration as an embodiment may be configured without mount blocks  112  and  122  whereby mounts  136  and mount members  152  would mount directly to base members  110  and  120 . 
   Framework  150  is a tray like device that can receive and hold a variety of objects, such as doors, furniture, office cubicles, sheet rock, building materials, and the like that may be moved by the present invention. Framework  150  is generally a planar surface with an underside and a ledge  155  extending outward that helps keep objects from moving off of framework  150 . Framework  150  may be made of any number of various materials, such as metal, plastic, chrome, iron, stainless steel, aluminum, wood, any combination thereof, and the like. Objects that are to be moved by the present invention are placed upon framework  150  and remain on framework  150  throughout the moving process. The present invention may also include a variety of safety belts, clips, straps, and the like that are located near framework  150 , so that when an item is placed on framework  150 , the straps, belts, and or clips may be used to secure the item to framework  150  and prevent the item from inadvertently sliding off of framework  150 . For example, if the present invention were used to move a door, the door would be placed upon framework  150  whereby the door would rest upon framework  150  and may be secured to framework  150  with a safety belt, strap, and or clip until movement of the door is complete. 
   Framework mount  151  and mount member  152  provide a means in which framework  150  may be mounted to base member  120 . Framework mount  151  may be mounted to base member  120  with the use of mount member  152  which may be mounted to base member  120  through mount block  122 , and connecting rod  154 . Mounting member  152  may be mounted directly to base member  120  or to mount block  122  by any number of fastening means, such as a screw, bolt, socket, cotter pin, and the like. Framework mount  151  may be mounted to framework  150  by any number of fastening means, such as a screw, bolt, socket, cotter pin, and the like. In one embodiment, framework mount  151  may be a mount comprising a base that is physically attached to framework  150  with an upper portion located above the base that has a circular member that allows cylindrical devices, such as rod  154 , to fit into the circular member to allow the framework mount  151  to be attached to other objects. Mounting member  152  may be configured so that it comprises a hole to allow cylindrical devices, such as rod  154 , to slide through mounting member  152 . In one embodiment, rod  154  may be positioned through the hole in mounting member  152  and through the circular member of framework mount  151  thereby connecting mounting member  152  to framework mount  151  which in turn connects framework  150  to base member  120  with the use of rod  154 , framework mount  151 , and mounting member  152 . Framework mount  151  may also include some type of tightening device that functions to secure rod  154  within framework mount  151  so that the connection provided by rod  154 , framework mount  151 , and mounting member  152  is stable. 
   Lift mechanism  130  includes cylinder  130   a  and rod  130   b . Lift mechanism  130  operates to lift framework  150  and any object that may be located on framework  150 . Lift mechanism  130  may be a hydraulic lift cylinder. However, the present invention is not limited to this configuration as lift mechanism  130  may be any number of devices or systems that are capable of lifting framework  150 , such as a manual screw lift device, an air lift device, a chain operated lift device, a hand operated lift device, and the like. 
   In one embodiment, the present invention also includes lower lift frame  131  and upper lift frame  132  as shown in  FIG. 2 . Lower lift frame  131  and upper lift frame  132  provide attachment points for lift mechanism  130  that enables lift mechanism  130  to tilt framework  150  when lift mechanism  130  is operated. In one embodiment, the cylinder  130   a  portion of lift mechanism  130  mounts to lower lift frame  131  and the rod  130   b  portion of lift mechanism  130  mounts to upper lift frame  132  shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3 , which enables the tilting of framework  150  via lift mechanism  130 . 
   In one embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 1 , lower lift frame  131  is a rectangular shaped device comprising right member  131   a , left member  131   b , bottom member  131   c , and top member  131   d . Lower lift frame  131  may be mounted to base member  110  through bracket  113 . In one embodiment, bottom member  131   c  of lower lift frame  131  may include a rod or other similar part that is mounted to base member  110  through bracket  113 . For example, bracket  113  may contain slots so that a rod member located near the bottom of lower lift frame  131  is mounted within slots of bracket  113  thereby enabling lower lift frame  131  to move when lift mechanism  130  is operated and functioning to move framework  150 . However, the present invention is not limited to the use of slots, as lower lift frame  131  may mount to base member  110  in any number of ways, such as the use of a bolt, screw, cotter pin, and the like. 
   In one embodiment of the present invention, lower lift frame  131  is configured so that it provides a location for lift mechanism  130  to mount to lower lift frame  131 . As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the cylinder  130   a  portion of lift mechanism  130  mounts to bottom member  131   c  of lower lift frame  131  with the use of some type of attachment device or method, such as a screw, a bolt, a permanent fixation by welding, and the like. 
   Lower lift frame  131  may also be configured in an embodiment so that top member  131   d  of lower lift frame  131  includes a rod shaped member, such as rod member  131   e  shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 , and  3 , that connects right member  131   a  and left member  131   b . Lower lift frame  131  may also include link member  131   f , illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , link member  131   f  may be an oblong shaped cylindrical member that connects to rod shaped member  131   e  and rod shaped member  133  that is connected to upper lift frame  132  as shown in  FIG. 3 . Link member  131   f  operates to connect lower lift frame  131  to upper lift frame  132  as shown in  FIG. 3  and allows lower lift frame  131  and upper lift frame  132  to move relative to one another when lift mechanism  130  is operating, such as when it is used to move, tilt and/or de-tilt framework  150 . 
   In one embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 1 , upper lift frame  132  may comprise connecting member  132   a , side members  132   b , and cylindrical member  132   c . Connecting member  132   a  connects rod  130   b  of lift mechanism  130  to upper lift frame  132  so that when lift mechanism  130  is operated, any movement by rod  130   b  will result in movement to connecting member  132   a  that will ultimately result in movement to any member connected to connecting member  132   a , such as upper lift frame  132  and framework  150 . Rod  130   b  of lift mechanism  130  connects to one area of connecting member  132   a , and another area of connecting member  132   a  connects to side members  132   b  of upper lift frame  132 . Rod  130   b  may be connected to connecting member  132   a  by any number of ways, such as permanent welded connection, a bolt, screw, cotter pin, and the like. 
   As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , side members  132   b  may be configured so that a rod shaped member, such as rod shaped member  133 , connects side members  132   b  to one another and provides a manner in which link member  131   f  can connect lower lift frame  131  to upper lift frame  132 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 1 , side members  132   b  may run parallel to framework  150  and connect to cylindrical member  132   c . In one embodiment, cylindrical member  132   c  may be a hollow cylindrical member that is arranged so that rod member  132   d  is positioned inside of cylindrical member  132   c  and may extend out of cylindrical member  132   c . Rod member  132   d  mounts to lifting mechanism-framework mount  153  in order to hold rod member  132   d  and to keep  132   c  connected between lifting mechanism-framework mounts  153 . Cylindrical member  132   c  is configured so that it has a diameter larger than the diameter of rod member  132   d  so that cylindrical member  132   c  can move around rod member  132   d , such as when lift mechanism  130  is moving framework  150 , and so that rod member  132   d  can be easily removed from cylindrical member  132   c.    
   Framework support  135  is a support device that adds additional support to framework  150  and helps to enable framework  150  to be moved, raised, lowered, tilted, de-tilted, and the like with the use of lift mechanism  130 , lower lift frame  131 , and upper lift frame  132 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 3 , framework support  135  includes a right member  135   a  and a left member  135   b . In one embodiment, one end of framework support  135  is mounted to member  110  through mounts  136  and the opposite end of framework support  135  is mounted to framework  150  through framework mounts  138 . Mounts  136  and  138  are preferably pivot mounts that allow the items connected into the mounts to pivot or move in mounts  136  and  138 . However, the present invention is not limited to this configuration as mounts  136  and/or mounts  138  may be non-pivoting mounts. 
   As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 , and  3 , the present invention may be configured so that framework support  135  includes rods  137  and  139  that are located at each end of framework support  135 . Rods  137  and  139  may be configured to provide a mounting location for framework support  135  so that rod  137  fits into mounts  136  and rod  139  fits into mounts  138 . In one embodiment, mounts  136  and  138  are pivot mounts so that rods  137  and  139  can pivot or move in mounts  136  and  138 . 
   Although  FIG. 1  illustrates rods  137  and  139  as extending longitudinal from one mount to another mount, the present invention is not limited to this configuration. The present invention may also be configured so that rods  137  and  139  do not extend from one mount to the other mount but the rods may be configured so that it can fit into mounts  136  and  138  but the rods do not continually extend longitudinal between mounts  136  and between mounts  138 . 
   An embodiment of the present invention may also include sliding mechanism  140 , clearly shown in  FIG. 2 . Sliding mechanism  140  is a device that may be configured so that part of sliding mechanism  140  is connected to base member  110  and another part of sliding mechanism  140  is connected to base member  120 . Sliding mechanism  140  can expand and/or retract depending on the operation of lift mechanism  130 . Sliding mechanism  140  may comprise a sliding member  140   a , illustrated in  FIG. 2 , and a receiving member  140   b , illustrated in  FIG. 1 . In one embodiment sliding member  140   a  and receiving member  140   b  may be two separate pieces and in another embodiment sliding mechanism  140  may be configured so that sliding member  140   a  and receiving member  140   b  are one piece that may collapse into one another in a telescoping fashion. Sliding member  140   a  may be connected to base member  120  and receiving member  140   b  may connect to base member  110 . The sliding member  140   a  may be an object, either hollow or solid, of any number of different shapes, such as cylindrical, rectangular, octagonal, triangular, and the like that is capable of moving into receiving member  140   b . Sliding member  140   a  is not limited to any particular type of material as it may comprise any number of different materials, such as metal, wood, plastic, iron, aluminum, and the like. 
   Receiving member  140   b  is preferably a hollow object that is capable of receiving sliding member  140   a  as lift mechanism  130  operates to move framework  150 . Receiving member  140   b  may also take the form of any number of shapes, such as cylindrical, rectangular, octagonal, triangular, and the like and is not limited to any particular type of material as it may comprise any number of different materials, such as metal, wood, plastic, iron, aluminum, and the like. In a preferred embodiment, receiving member  140   b  will be a hollow member that is the same shape as sliding member  140   a  so that when lift mechanism  130  moves framework  150 , sliding member  140   a  can move into or out of receiving member  140   b  with little to no friction. However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment, as any number of configurations is permissible as long as sliding member  140   a  and receiving member  140   b  can move into or out of or away from one another as lift mechanism  130  operates. For example, in one embodiment, sliding member  140   a  may be a hollow member that is larger than receiving member  140   b  and receiving member  140   b  may be a solid member smaller than sliding member  140   a  whereby sliding member  140   a  will slide over or outside of receiving member  140   b  when lift mechanism  130  operates. 
   In one embodiment, when lift mechanism  130  is activated so that rod  130   b  extends out of the cylinder  130   a  and elevates framework  150  in an outward or titled manner, wheels  111  and  121  will move towards one another so that the length between base members  110  and  120  will decrease and sliding mechanism  140  will retract with sliding member  140   a  moving into receiving member  140   b  or sliding member  140   a  moving over or outside of receiving member  140   b.    
   When lift mechanism  130  is activated so that rod  130   b  retracts into cylinder  130   a , framework  150  will move in a downward direction. In such a case, wheels  111  and  121  will move apart from one another so that the length between base members  110  and  120  will increase and sliding mechanism  140  will protract with sliding member  140   a  moving away from or out of receiving member  140   b . Sliding mechanism  140  will expand thereby causing base members  110  and  120  to move apart from one another. 
   The present invention may also include pump  160 , as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . Pump  160  is utilized to operate lift mechanism  130 . Pump  160  is preferably a hydraulic pump that is used to operate lift mechanism  130 . The present invention is not limited to any particular type or size of pump as pump  160  may be any size or type of pump that can operate lift mechanism  130 . 
   In another embodiment, the present invention may include another machine or device instead of or in addition to pump  160  that can be used to activate lift mechanism  130 . For example, the present invention may include a motor, a self cranking device, a foot pedal, and the like that can be used to activate lift mechanism  130 . 
   An embodiment of the present invention also includes a power supply, such as power supply  170  illustrated in  FIG. 2 . Power supply  170  may be utilized to provide power to any number of devices that may be part of, installed on, or used with tilting bed-cart/truck  100 . In one embodiment, power supply  170  provides a source of power to operate pump  160 . Power supply  170  may be a battery. However, the present invention is not limited to this configuration as power supply  170  may be any number of power supplies capable of providing power, such as a battery, a solar power supply, an electrical cord for connection to an outlet, and the like. 
   In one embodiment, the present invention may be configured to include carriage  165 , as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . Carriage  165  is a device utilized to hold pump  160 , power supply  170 , and any number of additional devices, to tilting bed-cart/truck  100 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , carriage  165  may be a half-box shaped device that functions to hold various items, such as pump  160  and power supply  170 . Carriage  165  is not limited to the illustrations show in  FIGS. 1 and 2  as it may take the form of any number of shapes and may be made of any number of materials, such as wood, steel, iron, aluminum, chrome, plastic, and the like. Pump  160  and power supply  170  may be mounted to carriage  165  or may simply sit in carriage  165 . 
   The present invention may also include control station  180  as illustrated in  FIG. 2 . Control station  180  may provide a means for a user to control the present invention. In one embodiment, control station  180  may include a start button and a stop button that may be used to start and stop the operation of lift mechanism  130 , to activate or de-activate any braking mechanism that may be installed on wheels  111  and  121 , to activate any motor mechanism that may move wheels  111  and  121 , and/or to activate or de-activate any braking mechanism that may be installed on lift mechanism  130  to prevent it from moving any further. Control station  180  may also be configured such that it is mounted to one of members  110  and  120  for use by a user&#39;s foot. In another embodiment, control station  180  may be configured so that it is a remote control device. In such an embodiment, the remote control may be hard wired or wireless. In a wireless configuration, control station  180  may comprise a remote device that a user may uses to send control signals and a signal receiving device for receiving the signals sent by the remote device. The signal receiving device may also operate to receive the signals and pass the signals on, either as the same signal or as a new signal, so that a user can operate and control the present invention. However, the present invention is not limited to this configuration, as the control station may be configured in any number of ways so that a user is able to control tilting bed-cart/truck  100 . 
   One embodiment of the present invention may also include various safety devices to assist in keeping use of the present invention safe. For example, a buzzer may be installed to make noise when framework  150  is moved, either in an elevated or de-elevated direction. A buzzer may also be installed to make a sound when tilting bed-cart/truck  100  is in the process of being rolled in either a forward or backward direction. The present invention is not limited to the foregoing safety devices as any number of safety devices may be used to increase safety, such as blinking lights, wheel brakes, brakes on lift mechanism  130  to ensure that framework  130  does not fall, a weight sensor to detect when the objects placed upon framework  150  are too heavy, a power indicator to indicate when power is low, and the like. 
   The present invention is not limited to any range of movement or elevation of an object on framework  150 . For example, the present invention may be configured so that lift mechanism  130  and the surrounding components can operate to move, lift, elevate, tilt, de-elevate, and/or de-tilt framework  150  and any objects on framework  150  to any number of degrees of movement, such as 30 degrees movement, 45 degrees movement, 60 degrees movement, 90 degrees of movement, 180 degrees of movement (so that framework  150  and any objects located on framework  150  are laying flat and parallel to the ground, and the like. 
   A technical advantage of the present invention is that as an object on framework  150  is moved, in either an elevated/tilted direction or in a de-elevated or de-tilted direction through the activation of lift mechanism  130 , the center of the load of the object on framework  150  will continue to stay between base members  110  and  120  and between wheels  111  and  121 . The present invention will function to maintain the load center between the wheels because as an object on framework  150  is tilted and/or moved in an upward or elevated direction, base members  110  and  120  move towards one another through wheels  111  and  121  whereby the center of the load of an object on framework  150  will stay between base members  110  and  120  and wheels  111  and  121 . In addition, as an object on framework  150  is de-tilted and/or moved in an downward or de-elevated direction, base members  110  and  120  move away from one another through wheels  111  and  121  whereby the center of the load of an object on framework  150  will stay between base members  110  and  120  and wheels  111  and  121  By maintaining the load center between the base members  110  and  120 , the present invention provides load stability throughout the entire range of movement of an object on framework  150 . 
   Another advantage is that the overall length of tilting bed-cart/truck  100  when framework  150  is elevated to an upright limit is shorter than the overall length of tilting bed-cart/truck  100  when framework  150  and any object on framework  150  is moved to its lowest non-elevated position. By decreasing the overall length of tilting bed-cart/truck  100 , it is easier to move objects with the present invention in areas characterized by dimension restrictions, such as an elevator designed for people, hallways, door entry ways, and the like. For example, in several instances, the only way to get large flat objects, such as sheet rock, doors, plywood and the like, to the upper floors of a building is to carry these objects up the stairs. The present invention helps solve this problem as the large flat objects can be placed upon framework  150  and then framework  150  can be tilted with lift mechanism  130  so that the large flat objects are not carried parallel nor perpendicular to the ground when the objects are in the process of being moved. In tilting and/or elevating framework  150 , the floor space required to carry the large objects is reduced thereby allowing various large flat objects to be transported in, around, and through limited spaces. For example, the present invention can be utilized to tilt a 3 foot by 9 foot door so that the door can be transported in an area that only requires 7 feet of length as opposed to 9 feet of length. 
   The present invention may also include a locking mechanism that may increase the safety of users moving objects with the present invention. A locking mechanism may operate to lock sliding mechanism  140  to prevent sliding member  140   a  and receiving member  140   b  from moving into or away from one another. For example, if the present invention were in use and a door was on framework  150  and lift mechanism was unable to hold the framework in its present tilted position, a locking mechanism could be used to prevent the sliding member  140   a  and receiving member  140   b  from moving into or away from one another so that the present invention would be able to keep the door in its present (tilted) position. 
     FIG. 4  illustrates a flowchart representing one method for moving objects around obstacles according to one embodiment of the present invention. Flow  40  represents a method for moving objects around obstacles. A tilting bed-cart/truck is provided in block  400 . The tilting bed-cart/truck may comprise tilting bed-cart/truck  100  illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . After the tilting bed-cart/truck is provided, flow  40  proceeds to block  410 , where an object is loaded on the tilting bed-cart/truck. For example, the object may be a door or a piece of sheet rock that is loaded on the tilting bed-cart/truck. 
   After the object is loaded, flow  40  proceeds to block  420 . In block  420 , the object is tilted. The object may either be tilted in either an upward or downward direction. For example, a user may be using the tilting bed-cart/truck to move large flat objects to an upper floor of a building by using an elevator designed for people. The user will load the object, such as a door or piece of sheet rock, and then tilt the object to a desired angle of elevation so that the object can be moved in the elevator. After block  420 , flow  40  proceeds to block  430 . When flow  40  proceeds to block  430 , the object may be moved to its final location where it may then be moved off of the tilting bed-cart/truck. For example, after the object, such as the door, is loaded and tilted, a user will use the tilting bed-cart/truck to move the object, via the wheels on the cart, to the desired location. When the object, such as a door, is moved via the tilting bed-cart/truck to its final destination, then the object may be unloaded and/or moved off of the tilting bed-cart/truck. 
   Although the present invention and its advantages have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made herein without departing from the invention as defined by the appended claims. Moreover, the scope of the present application is not intended to be limited to the particular embodiments of the process, machine, manufacture, composition of matter, means, methods and steps described in the specification. As one will readily appreciate from the disclosure, processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps, presently existing or later to be developed that perform substantially the same function or achieve substantially the same result as the corresponding embodiments described herein may be utilized. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to include within their scope such processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps.