Abstract:
A log hauling hand truck that acts as a log transporter and lifter has a generally planar height adjustable platform in combination with a retained and adjustable hook. A hand brake has a releasing actuator and an alternative locking actuator for selective braking by an operator. When the load platform is parallel to the ground, the log hauling hand truck is stabilized by locked wheels, a fixed stand, and handle guards, each which independently contact the ground. Roll-off preventing guards may be provided adjacent to the load surface of the adjustable height platform. The platform is preferably open and comprises an expanded metal load surface.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention pertains generally to material handling apparatus, and more particularly to tilting vehicle handlers with an adjustable and movable jaw for securing a load, such as a large and heavy log, to an adjustable platform, so that the load may be easily moved by a single person between ground elevation and the elevation of a trailer or log splitter. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     For many persons, a controlled and recreational fire greatly enhances a social gathering, whether the gathering is very small and private or for a large group on a special occasion. The ambiance created by the warm and gentle glow of the fire combines with the mesmerizing flickering and lapping of the flames to enhance nearly all types and sizes of social gatherings. Many of these gatherings occur in the latter part of the evening or into the night, when ambient temperature will have dropped significantly from the daytime. Since each person may either move closer to or farther from the fire, each individual can effectively customize to their preferred ambient temperature as well. The warm radiance of the fire in the evening or night will then also help to keep everyone comfortably warm and relaxed. 
     To other persons, a fire is far more practical, and simply represents the conversion of a readily available fuel source, the wood, to heat that may be put directly to use, or that may be converted into yet other types of energy. In some cases, the wood may be burned in a fireplace that combines aesthetic benefits with utilitarian heat extraction, but the wood may alternatively simply be placed in a closed but ventilated fire chamber, and the heat may then be used for space heating, water heating, steam generation, or others of the many known utilitarian applications for the thermal energy that is generated during combustion. 
     Those familiar with wood fireplaces, stoves, bonfires, campfires, and the many other types of related wood combustion applications may already know that there are some important variables that must be controlled properly, depending upon the intended application and timing. For example, very small diameter twigs and sticks, such as would be smaller than a typical person&#39;s fingers in diameter, are quite light in weight. All persons, including young children and more frail individuals, can easily gather and carry this type of firewood. Twigs and small sticks also have a very large surface area to volume ratio, and when collected together, much air is entrapped between the various irregularly shaped twigs. This means that the twigs are relatively easy to ignite, and they tend to burn very bright and hot due to the readily available entrapped oxygen and large surface area. Unfortunately, the twigs and sticks will also only last for a few minutes before being entirely consumed in the flames. Consequently, this type of firewood must be gathered almost continuously to keep up with the rate of combustion. As a result, very small diameter wood is most commonly collected and used specifically for starting fires. 
     At the other extreme, very large diameter wood, such as the trunk from an old tree, is very hard to collect and move, and is quite difficult to ignite. However, owing to the much smaller surface area to volume ratio and almost no entrapped oxygen, such large diameter wood may burn for many hours or days. Large diameter logs may therefore be used to produce thermal energy through that same period of hours or days of combustion, without the need for any human intervention or tending. This has led to the reservation of a large diameter log or trunk which may be referred to as the night log for overnight use or other relatively unattended periods, since a large diameter log can be expected to burn through the duration of the night. 
     Medium diameter logs will burn for time measured as some significant fraction of an hour up to several hours, and so produce a generally preferred compromise between the twigs and large tree trunks. The aesthetic appearance of such fires is very good, and the few hours of combustion often corresponds reasonably closely with the duration of most social gatherings. Furthermore, these medium diameter logs can be lifted and moved about by most healthy individuals in the prime years of their lives. In most controlled combustion wood stoves, several of these medium diameter logs may be placed in the fire chamber, the air inlet restricted, and the wood allowed to burn again with little or no tending for hours. Consequently, the medium diameter logs are most preferred for most fire applications other than starting or long duration. 
     As those familiar with fireplaces and the other various wood combustion applications also already know, the wood does not itself grow and sever when at the right diameter and length, nor does it happen to fall right next to the fireplace. Consequently, wood must be gathered or harvested, prepared by drying, splitting or cutting to size, sometimes stored, and ultimately delivered to the location where the fire will be. Many land owners will maintain their wooded land by regularly harvesting downed trees and thinning overcrowded areas. In such cases, the wood is commonly cut to desired length, and then often moved and loaded manually onto a waiting truck or trailer. From the forest, the length-cut wood is then typically transported to a wood pile or other storage area, unloaded from the transport vehicle, and then dry stacked until required for a fire. Some persons will split the wood immediately, particularly where due to circumstances the wood is already dry such as a dead tree that has had plenty of drying time, but others will first stack and dry the wood, and then split it. This means that in many instances the length-cut wood will be raised from the ground to an elevated trailer or truck, transported, removed from the trailer or truck and placed onto either the stack or a splitter followed by stacking. Later, the wood will again be moved, either from the stack to a splitter and then to the fireplace, or directly from the stack to the fireplace. This means that there will be significant handling, including raising and lowering each of the large logs several times prior to gaining the benefits of the fire. 
     In some cases, a large tract of wooded area will be cleared, and during such a process the quantity of wood is sufficiently great to justify the use of large machinery for harvesting, cutting to length, and splitting. Nevertheless, there will still be significant manual lifting and lowering required, even in the best of circumstances. 
     Raising and lowering heavy and awkward objects is the cause of an enormous number of back injuries each year. Unfortunately, even with the best of modern forest harvesting equipment, there is still much heavy lifting of large and awkward logs. As may be appreciated, there is even more heavy lifting required without the modern forest harvesting equipment. Either way, there is a substantial need in the industry for better apparatus to assist in the gathering, storing, and final distribution of firewood to ease the effort required to gain the benefits that a fire has to offer, and to reduce accidental injuries associated therewith. 
     One way that various artisans have attempted to ease the manual handling of logs is through the use of apparatus or machinery designed to grab the logs for transport on a cart. Several of these, the contents of each which are incorporated herein by reference, are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,375,935 by Miller, entitled “Lifting and transporting apparatus”; U.S. Pat. No. 4,583,904 by Maxwell, entitled “Firewood handler”; and U.S. Pat. No. 2,998,151 by Sampson, entitled “Carts for moving logs into fireplaces”. Each of these patents provide leveraged lifting of logs and facilitate transport. However, none may be adjusted to accommodate widely varying log dimensions, or to adjust to match the elevations of surrounding surfaces that the log might desirably be transferred to, such as a log splitter or trailer. 
     Other carts designed to facilitate the support and transfer of logs are illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 4,341,393 by Gordon et al, entitled “Hand cart”; U.S. Pat. No. 4,453,876 by Arpin, entitled “Fireplace log and coal feeder”; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,637,769 by Thorndike, entitled “Log carrier”, the teachings and contents of each which are incorporated herein by reference, though these prior art log carts lack many desirable features and benefits. 
     Additional hand trucks having adjustable hooks are incorporated herein by reference for their teachings and contents, including U.S. Pat. No. 757,793 by Vickers, entitled “Adjustable hook for hand trucks”; U.S. Pat. No. 851,164 by Davenport, entitled “Hand truck”; and U.S. Pat. No. 1,470,526 by Cade, entitled “Truck”. While these adjustable hooks represent substantial advancement over fixed hooks, the Vickers hook is relatively difficult to use and may be prone to part slippage and accidental release. The Davenport hook has an exposed release that, if accidentally pressed during operation of the present log hauling hand truck, would be very detrimental and potentially seriously harmful. Finally, the Cade apparatus, while simple and effective, is free to separate from the hand truck, making it somewhat more awkward to adjust and easier to misplace than desired herein. 
     The teachings and contents of a number of additional hand trucks not specifically designed for handling logs are incorporated herein by reference, including U.S. Pat. No. 31,741 by Humes, entitled “Hand truck”; U.S. Pat. No. 70,303 by Whipple, entitled “Hand truck”; U.S. Pat. No. 167,221 by Carter, entitled “Trucks for moving rails, etc.”; U.S. Pat. No. 345,467 by Williams, entitled “Barrel truck”; U.S. Pat. No. 1,436,173 by Hoxie, entitled “Dumping truck”; U.S. Pat. No. 1,437,971 by Gakle, entitled “Truck”; U.S. Pat. No. 1,446,799 by Hunziker, entitled “Truck”; U.S. Pat. No. 1,460,266 by Monroe, entitled “Hand truck”; U.S. Pat. No. 1,510,456 by Cadwalader, entitled “Truck”; U.S. Pat. No. 1,525,451 by Kurtz, entitled “Method and apparatus for transferring cylindrical glass sections”; U.S. Pat. No. 2,576,048 by Schum, entitled “Truck for handling cylinders of compressed gas or the like”; U.S. Pat. No. 2,775,465 by Swingler, entitled “Portable cart”; U.S. Pat. No. 3,913,762 by Alexander, entitled “Combination hand and lift cart”; U.S. Pat. No. 4,286,800 by Lomas, entitled “Trailer”; U.S. Pat. No. 4,375,113 by Ewert, entitled “Beehive superstructure transport apparatus”; U.S. Pat. No. 6,086,310 by Lujan et al, entitled “Wheeled multipurpose keg handler”; U.S. Pat. No. 6,364,596 by Spencer et al, entitled “Hay bale cart”; and U.S. Pat. No. 7,172,207 by Henry, entitled “Collapsible cart”. 
     A number of additional patents that are exemplary of prior art limitations with elevating heavy loads onto trailers or other elevated platforms are also incorporated herein by reference in entirety, including U.S. Pat. No. 493,598 by Psota, entitled “Wagon loading device”; U.S. Pat. No. 661,904 by Browne, entitled “Truck loading machine”; U.S. Pat. No. 1,341,904 by Hubbard, entitled “Loading skid”; U.S. Pat. No. 1,423,887 by Stewart, entitled “Truck loading and unloading mechanism”; U.S. Pat. No. 1,467,504 by Sabarros, entitled “Apparatus for the mechanical handling of goods”; U.S. Pat. No. 1,770,640 by Beasley, entitled “Loading apparatus”; and U.S. Pat. No. 2,492,364 by Levy, entitled “Self-loading vehicle”. Webster&#39;s New Universal Unabridged Dictionary, Second Edition copyright 1983, is additionally incorporated herein by reference in entirety for the definitions of words and terms used herein. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Exemplary embodiments of the present invention solve inadequacies of the prior art by providing, in a first manifestation, a log hauling hand truck having a generally planar platform in combination with a contained and adjustable hook. In a second manifestation, the invention is a log transporter and lifter having an adjustable height platform. In further manifestations, the invention has a stable unload position, including locked wheels, fixed leg and handle guards; a hand brake including a releasing brake and a locking brake; roll-off preventing guards; and an expanded metal platform that bites into logs and discharges moisture and debris. 
     OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
     A first object of the invention is to enable a level transfer between a log hauling hand truck and a diverse apparatus such as a trailer or log splitter. A second object of the invention is to enable adjustment of the platform surface of the log hauling hand truck to be co-planar with or closely correspond to the plane of the diverse apparatus. A further object of the invention is to enable adjustment of a log hook to accommodate widely diverse log diameters, without the need for tools and without the chance of lost parts or accidental slip or disengagement. Another object of the present invention is to enable alternative braking methods, one a locking brake and the other a force-sensitive releasing brake. Yet another object of the invention is to facilitate rapid and yet physically more safe manual movement, loading, and unloading of large logs from diverse apparatus. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The foregoing and other objects, advantages, and novel features of the present invention can be understood and appreciated by reference to the following detailed description of the invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a preferred embodiment log hauling hand truck, having the support platform parallel to the ground, from projected view. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates the preferred embodiment log hauling hand truck of  FIG. 1  rotated such that the support platform is perpendicular to the ground, and with a log supported thereon, from a side elevational view. 
         FIGS. 3 and 4  illustrate a preferred locking brake apparatus from an inside elevational view looking outwards, in alternative unlocked and locked postilions, respectively. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates the preferred embodiment log hauling hand truck of  FIG. 1  in further combination with an adjacent trailer, and with a log supported thereon, from a side elevational view. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Log hauling hand truck  1  has a base  10  that may traverse a ground surface through wheel set  20 . Handles  30  couple with base  10  and allow base  10  to be pivoted in a vertical plane about axle  26 , allowing hand truck  1  to be lifted for transport by grasping handles  30  at each hand grip  32 ,  33  and lifting. A pintle, bushing or wheel bearing  24  is preferably provided, allowing pneumatic, semi-pneumatic, or solid tires  22  to rotate thereabout relative to axle  26 , or, if so desired, allowing tires  22  and axle  26  to rotate relative to base  10 . Either way, base  10  will rotate relative to tires  22  about an axis defined by axle  26 . 
     Base  10  may be relatively open as illustrated in the preferred embodiment hand truck  1 , comprising the two opposing vertical panels  12 ,  14 . This open design allows excellent discharge of matter, dirt and moisture, and improved access for inspection, cleaning, and maintenance. Alternatively, a more extensive box of four vertical panels or any other arrangement may be provided, so long as base  10  provides sufficient strength to support any load placed upon log support platform  40 . Platform  40  in the preferred embodiment hand truck  1  has an expanded metal platform surface  41  which will engage with any logs pressed there against or carried thereupon. Those familiar with expanded metal know that the surface combines openings with edges that will bite into softer materials, ensuring good engagement between platform surface  41  and any transported logs, such as log  2  illustrated in  FIG. 2 . Furthermore, the openings inherent within expanded metal will ensure that any water, dirt or debris that might otherwise accumulate may be shed easily. 
     Platform  40 , when parallel to the ground as illustrated for exemplary purposes in  FIG. 1 , will preferably be sufficiently large to easily support even the largest logs  2  that may be expected. However, the ground that hand truck  1  rests upon may not always be level, and so a border stop  42  may be provided adjacent to one or more edges of platform surface  41 , most preferably only along the edge most nearly adjacent to hand grips  32 ,  33 . Further elongated border stops  43  may also be provided. These border stops  42 ,  43  prevent a log from rolling across platform surface  41  and falling onto handles  30 , and thereby prevent any chance of operator injury due to an unexpected log roll. 
     The height of platform surface  41  is adjustable relative to the ground by selecting which holes  46  in vertical platform support members  45  to pass fasteners  48  through. As illustrated, platform  41  is set as close to the ground as available, leaving two open holes  46  below the two holes  46  having fasteners  48  passing through. By removing fasteners  48  and raising platform surface  41  until the bottom two holes  46  come in line with fasteners  48 , the platform may be raised by an amount equal to twice the spacing between holes  46 . It will be understood herein that while four holes  46  are illustrated in each vertical platform support member  45 , the exact count and spacing of holes is not critical to the present invention. Nevertheless, the ability to adjust the height of platform  41  is very beneficial, whether by the fasteners illustrated or other means or methods which will be understood herein to include any of the myriad of mechanical devices known in the hardware and fastener arts to accomplish such support and positional adjustment. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , a log  2  may be picked up from the ground by pivoting adjustable grappling and retention hook  50  down and around log  2 , and engaging piercing tooth  52  in log  2 . This position illustrated in  FIG. 2  allows handles  30  to next be pivoted, clockwise in the illustration of  FIG. 2 , about wheel bearing  24  and axle  26 , thereby lifting log  2  off of the ground. Handles  30  may be rotated clockwise until they contact the ground at hand grips  32 ,  33 , which also preferentially causes base fixed leg  16  to engage the ground, if log  2  only requires elevating. Should log  2  also need to be transported, the operator will preferably support handles  30  at some angle between parallel and normal to the ground, or some intermediate point between the illustrations of  FIGS. 1 and 2 . In so doing, the entire hand truck  1  and log  2  will be supported upon the two wheels  22 , and so hand truck  1  and log  2  may easily be rolled across the ground to another location. The force required to lift log  2  is reduced by the ratio of length of handle extensions  31  between hand grips  32 ,  33  and wheel bearing  24  to the distance between wheel bearing  24  and log  2  on platform surface  41 . Consequently, great mechanical advantage is available, allowing a person who could never lift log  2  to raise it without dangerous physical stress or risk of injury. 
     Adjustable grappling and retention hook  50  is coupled through pintle  57  to vertical platform connection member  44  and pivots about pintle  57 . Furthermore, bifurcated member  54  surrounds notches  53 , and a generally cylindrical fastener  55  passes first through a first fork of bifurcated member  54 , then through notch  53 , and then through the second or other fork of bifurcated member  54 . A second fastener  56  passes through both forks of bifurcated member  54 , and between u-shaped handle  58  and notches  53  of hook arm  51 . Since handle  58  is connected at both ends to hook arm  51 , fastener  56  will remain therein, ensuring that bifurcated member  54  always stays coupled to hook arm  51 . However, there is preferably enough space between fasteners  55  and  56  that fastener  55  will only fall into notches  53  when arm  51  adjacent to bifurcated member  54  is nearly parallel therewith, such as in the illustrations of  FIGS. 2 and 5 . When hook arm  51  is shifted to more perpendicular to bifurcated member  54 , such as in the illustration of  FIG. 1 , then the particular notch  53  that fastener  55  passes through may easily be changed. Consequently, the distance between piercing tooth  52  and pintle  57  is adjustable depending upon which notch  53  fastener  55  passes through, thereby allowing retention hook  50  to accommodate larger or smaller diameter logs  2 . 
     Particularly when loading or unloading logs  2  from platform surface  41 , there will be many times where hand truck  1  will preferably stay put relative to the ground. While hand grips  32  and  33  and base fixed leg  16  will each engage the ground, a brake assembly  60  will also preferably be provided to prevent rotation of wheels  22  about wheel bearing  24 . In the preferred embodiment, brake assembly  60  includes a manual, force sensitive handle  61  that pivots about pintle  62  and thereby pulls rod  63  up when squeezed.  FIG. 3  shows rod  66 , to which rod  63  is coupled, in the released position of  FIGS. 1-3 . In this position, coupling member  71  is essentially horizontal. Coupling member  71  is coupled through pintle  72  to rod  66 , but is rigidly coupled to brake axle  68  such as by welding or other suitable technique. Consequently, when brake handle  61  is squeezed and rotated about pintle  62 , this causes coupling member  71  to rotate, similar to the rotation illustrated in  FIG. 4 . This in turn causes tire brake  69  to engage with tire  22 , similar to that illustrated in  FIG. 5 . As may be apparent, as soon as brake handle  61  is released, tire brake  69  will release from tire  22 . 
     Brake handle  61  is useful when an operator is holding handles  30  and moving hand truck  1  about. However, when loading and unloading log  2 , a brake lock is preferred that maintains tire brake  69  engaged with tire  22 . This is accomplished using over center brake lock  64 , the motion which is best illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . Brake lock  64  is supported upon handle extension  31  and pivots with respect thereto on pintle  65 . Rod  66  is pivotally coupled to brake lock  64  at a termination of rod  66  distal to coupling member  71 . Finally, a pivot stop  67 , which may for exemplary purposes be a protruding bolt, rod or the like, interferes with or engages with handle extension  31  at two opposed extremes of rotation of brake lock  64 . In the illustration of  FIG. 3 , brake lock  64  is released, and pivot stop  67  is generally between pintle  72  and pintle  65 . In the other brake lock rotation extreme illustrated in  FIG. 4 , pivot stop  67  is no longer between, and is instead beyond pintle  65 . Since, in the extreme rotation of  FIG. 4 , the termination of rod  66  is now to the right or forward of pintle  65 , any tension thereon holds brake lock  64  in this position. Likewise, in the other extreme rotation of  FIG. 3 , any tension on rod  66  will hold brake lock  64  in that position. In other words, there are two naturally stable positions for brake lock  64 , the two positions illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . This means that brake lock  64  may be set in the brake release position of  FIG. 3 , or the brake engaged position of  FIG. 4 , and brake lock  64  will remain as set until an operator manually changes the position by intentionally rotating brake lock  64 . 
       FIG. 5  illustrates the loading or unloading of a log  2  from platform surface  41  to a trailer  3 , as illustrated, though it will be understood that a log splitter or any other elevated surface may be substituted for trailer  3 . Most preferably, platform surface  41  is height adjusted through vertical platform support members  45 , holes  46 , and fasteners  48  to be very close in elevation to the top surface of trailer  3 . There are no bumps, protrusions or any other obstacles between the immediately adjacent platform surface  41  and generally planar surface of trailer  3 . In this way, log  2  may be directly rolled from platform surface  41  to trailer  3  or from trailer  3  to platform surface  41 , with minimal or without any manual lifting or with very minimal pushing or rolling force required. 
     From  FIG. 5  it is also more apparent that should log  2  roll towards border stops  42 ,  43 , border stops  42 ,  43  will prevent log  2  from rolling off. Furthermore, as log  2  gets more nearly adjacent to border stops  42 ,  43 , the load of log  2  will shift from entirely upon wheels  2  to divided between wheels  22 , base fixed leg  16 , and hand grips  32 ,  33 . 
     While the foregoing details what is felt to be the preferred embodiment of the invention, no material limitations to the scope of the claimed invention are intended. Further, features and design alternatives that would be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art are considered to be incorporated herein. The scope of the invention is set forth and particularly described in the claims herein below.