Abstract:
A heavy object transporting apparatus having at least one heavy object supporting surface supported by an axle located between two relatively large diameter inflated tires.

Description:
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/069,550 filed Dec. 12, 1997, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to apparatus used at construction sites, particularly to apparatus for transporting heavy, long objects such as lumber, steel beams, sliding glass doors, windows, and laminated wood beams. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     At new or remodeling construction sites heavy, long beams and other large, heavy objects are incorporated into the structure being built. These beams and other heavy objects must be moved from a truck to the point of use at the construction site. Typically, heavy, long beams and other heavy objects are lifted and carried by two or more workers from the truck or from a location where they have been unloaded from the truck to the area within the construction site where they are to be used. Up to six workers are required to move one 30 foot beam. Many times the location where the beam is to be used is deep within the construction site and requires the beam to be moved across rough, uneven terrain including grass, rocks, tree roots, scraps and other obstacles. Furthermore, it may be necessary to move the beam through a narrow pathway between a fence on the property line and the existing structure. Because of the length, and particularly the weight (for example, several hundred pounds) of the beams or other large objects, it is very difficult for two or more workers to carry the beam over the rough, uneven terrain. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention overcomes the disadvantages associated with prior art methods. of two or more employees lifting and transporting long, heavy beams and other heavy objects over uneven terrain. The present invention is comprised of at least one heavy object supporting surface attached to a cross member. The cross member and supporting surface are supported by an axle and two large inflated tires. Optionally, but preferably, the apparatus comprises a second heavy object supporting surface having a different width than the first supporting surface and being located on the opposite side of the axle from the first supporting surface. 
     In use, a long, heavy object is placed on one of the supporting surfaces between the two large inflated tires by one or two workers such that one worker can then grasp the end of the heavy, large object and push or pull the apparatus over uneven terrain and through narrow locations. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a upper left perspective view of the apparatus of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a right side view of the present invention with a beam loaded thereon. 
     FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a right side view of another embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the apparatus  10  of the present invention is comprised of two wheels  14  connected by an axle  16 . Mounted on the wheels  14  are inflated tires  15 . In one embodiment, the wheels are nine inches in diameter and the tires are 16 inches in diameter. An important aspect of the present invention is the rather large inflated tires  15 . It is within the scope of the present invention that other tires and/or wheels that are not inflated but which function equivalently as the inflated tires can be used. We have discovered that the flexibility of the tires, as opposed to solid tires, is important to the invention in that the flexibility allows the apparatus with a heavy load to pass over curbs, exposed roots, and scrap lumber at a construction site. The flexibility and large, heavy load capacity of the inflated tires (e.g., 400 pounds each) allow the apparatus to move easily over rough terrain and obstacles while carrying several hundred pounds of load. Other important features of the tires and wheels of the present invention is the rather significant ground clearance provided by the tires, the easy maneuverability of a loaded apparatus (including spinning around at one location) and, as will be discussed below, the location of the supporting surface above the axle of the tires and wheels and the supporting surface being centered along its length on the axle. 
     Axle  16  is located within cross member  17 . Attached to a top or first surface  13  of the cross member  17  is a first heavy object supporting surface or platform  18  comprised of the horizontal portions  24  and  25  of two elongated L-shaped members  19  and  20  welded to the cross member  17 . The vertical portions  21  and  22  of the L-shaped members  19  and  20 , respectively, are preferable so as to prevent a beam or large, heavy object located on the supporting surface  18  from contacting the wheels or tires during steering of the apparatus. The L-shaped members function as a tray holding the sides of a beam so the beam does not get wedged in the tires. The same function can be accomplished in other ways such as a post  23  (FIG. 4) located at the far ends at the outside corners of each horizontal portion  24  and  25 . 
     In a preferred aspect, the first supporting surface  18  is preferably spaced to accommodate 6 inch wide objects or narrower. The length of the first supporting surface  18  is sufficient to provide support for a long, heavy beam (for example, 12 or 14 feet long) and sufficient to extend beyond the diameter of the tires. In a preferred aspect, located at each end of the first supporting surface  18  are cross members  27  and  28  (FIG. 2) that provide greater stability to the distal ends of the supporting surfaces. 
     Optionally, but in a preferred aspect, on the bottom or second side  29  (FIG. 3) of the cross member  17  opposite of the first supporting surface  18  is a second heavy object supporting surface  26  which is comprised of two elongated L-shaped brackets  31  and  33  with the two vertical portions  35  and  37 , respectively, of the L-shaped brackets being spaced farther apart than the two vertical portions  21  and  22  of the first supporting surface  18  so as to be able to accommodate wider objects, (for example 6¾ inch or 7⅝ inch wide laminated beams). Likewise, the length of the second supporting surface  26  is slightly greater than the length of the first supporting surface  18  so as to provide support for a long beam (for example, 30 feet long). With the configuration of the two supporting surfaces opposite of each other on either side of the cross member  17 , the apparatus  10  can simply be inverted to accommodate wider objects. It is also within the scope of the present invention that the apparatus  10  comprises only one supporting surface which can be either the narrower width or the wider width configuration. It is also within the scope of the present invention that the width of either a single supporting surface or both of the supporting surfaces can be variable in the direction of the axis  16  by making the L-shaped brackets that form the supporting surface(s) slidable or otherwise moveable. 
     The component parts of the apparatus  10  are preferably constructed of metal, but can be formed from other materials that are sufficiently rigid to support the weight of long, heavy objects without significant deformation of the component parts. Preferably, the supporting surfaces have a non-slip surface, such as non-skid tape, for preventing a heavy object from sliding laterally along the supporting surfaces and soft protective surfaces for transporting windows or sliding glass doors. The soft protective surfaces can be provided by a padded insert that is placed on the supporting surface(s). 
     In an exemplary embodiment the apparatus  10  is constructed of 0.125 inch by 1.5 inch angle iron, 0.75 inch square tube, 0.625 inch rod and 16 inch pneumatic tires. The angle iron forms the supporting surfaces and the square tube acts as the cross members. There are three cross members with the center cross member housing the 0.625 inch rod as the axle. The pneumatic tire/wheel assemblies are held on the axle by 0.1875 inch cotter pins. The cross members are welded to the angle iron with a wire feed gas shielded welder. 
     In operation of the apparatus of the present invention, a long heavy beam  39  is placed on either the first or the second supporting surface and balanced over the axle  16 . Because the supporting surfaces  18  and  26  extend beyond the diameter of the tires, the apparatus  10  can be tipped forward or backward about the axis  16  such that the ends of either set of brackets  19  and  20  or  31  and  33  rest on the ground. Then, either one or two workers can lift one end of the beam  39  and place it on the supporting surface that is facing upward. By placing the apparatus  10  in the center of the beam  39  as seen in FIG. 2 the beam  39  is balanced like a see-saw providing excellent maneuverability over rough terrain. With the beam placed in this position, a single worker can then maintain the balance of the beam  39  on the tires  15  of the apparatus  10  with no portion of the beam  39  touching the terrain over which the beam is to be transported. The supporting surface is located above the axle of the tires and wheels during use and the tires have sufficient diameter to provide adequate clearance between the bottom of the beam and any uneven terrain or obstacles. The beam  39  is then easily transported by one worker over uneven terrain by pushing and steering the beam. 
     While the present invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments, it should be understood that modifications and variations of the invention may be constructed without departing from the scope of the present invention and such modifications and variations are encompassed by the appended claims.