Abstract:
An oversized, break apart dolly for picking up and lifting massive articles such as snowmobiles. The dolly stands more than six feet tall. A typical operator of the dolly brings his arms over his head to reach the handle of the dolly, and then uses his weight to draw the handle down to in turn lift up the other end of the dolly that is engaging and lifting the heavy article. The oversized dolly can be adjusted in height and in width to receive articles of different height and width. The pick up of the dolly (the mechanism that engages the article) can be adjusted toward and away from a central axis of the dolly to be positioned as desired on the heavy article. The oversized dolly may be broken down to a relatively compact size by the legs being removably engagable with the handle, by the pick ups being removably engagable from the legs, and by the legs themselves being broken down into two pieces which are reassembled when needed.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates generally to a dolly, particularly to a oversized and massive dolly, and specifically to an oversized and massive dolly that may be disassembled for shipment, storage and safety.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     A soccer field is dangerous because it has two large dangerous objects that are attractive for a child: the soccer goals. A child may climb up to the crossbar or jump up to the crossbar. The soccer goal, if not properly anchored to the ground, may then tip under even the relatively small weight of a child, whereupon the crossbar may pin the child to the ground or hit and pin other children as it tips and topples.  
         [0003]     Like soccer goals, large man size tools are dangerous. One such tool is the oversized and massive dolly that is used to lift snowmobiles. The dolly includes a handle having a crossbar. The large dolly is attractive to children 1) who would enjoy jumping up to the crossbar to thereby immediately and dangerously tilt the dolly and/or 2) who would enjoy jumping up to the crossbar to bring the dolly into position to wheel one of their friends.  
         [0004]     Present dollies have handles that are removable and pick up means that are removable, but these dollies remain potentially deadly for children because the dolly remains “loaded.” In other words, the legs remain assembled and each of the legs may be used as a cart or in the nature of a wheelbarrow. Or the legs remain only one step removed from being used together as a complete working toy having two wheels, with or without the pick up means.  
         [0005]     Without improvement, the present snowmobile dolly is readily available to children in the summer when skateboarding and roller blading activities, are in full swing, exactly when their father works on his snowmobile or moves the snowmobile from place to place in the yard or to and from the garage.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     A feature of the present invention is an oversized and massive dolly that when in operation is more than six feet tall and that when broken down for shipment or storage or safety fits in a rectangular box measuring 26 inches by 40 inches by 7 inches.  
         [0007]     Another feature of the present invention is the provision in an oversized and massive dolly, of the legs being broken down into two nonoperable pieces that are removably engagable to each other.  
         [0008]     Another feature of the present invention is the provision in an oversized and massive dolly, of a pair of legs that may be disassembled for shipment or storage or safety and then reassembled for operation, wherein the legs maintain sufficient strength when reassembled to pick up even heavy articles such as snowmobiles.  
         [0009]     Another feature of the present invention is the provision in an oversized and massive dolly, of the upper and lower portions of the legs being fixedly engagable to each other at different locations from each other such that the legs and thus the dolly as a whole is adjustable in height and is therefore adjustable in the amount of leverage that can be provided to pick up an article.  
         [0010]     Another feature of the present invention is the provision in an oversized and massive dolly, of each of the two pieces of the disassembled leg measuring between about 25% and about 75% of the distance of the leg as a whole when it is assembled.  
         [0011]     Another feature of the present invention is the provision in an oversized and massive dolly, of each of the two pieces of the disassembled leg measuring between about 40% and about 60% of the distance of the leg as a whole when it is assembled.  
         [0012]     Another feature of the present invention is the provision in an oversized and massive dolly, of the lower portion of the leg being in one piece where the wheel is engaged, and wherein the lower portion of the legs includes two linear portions traveling away from the wheel and wherein the linear portions are disposed at less than a 90 degree angle relative to each other so as to provide for unitary leverage on either side of the wheel and between the handle and the pick up.  
         [0013]     Another feature of the present invention is the provision in an oversized and massive dolly, of the upper and lower portions of the legs being engagable to each other with an external connection.  
         [0014]     Another feature of the present invention is the provision in an oversized and massive dolly, of the upper and lower portions of the legs being engagable to each other with an internal connection.  
         [0015]     An advantage of the present invention is safety. Like many large tools, the present invention is attractive to children. One feature contributing to the advantage of safety is that the legs may be disassembled. The chance that any part of the dolly may be used as a toy is thereby minimized. Another feature contributing to the safety advantage is that when the legs are disassembled, when the handle is removed from the legs, and when the pick up means is removed, the dolly may be placed in a smaller box that is more convenient—and therefore more safe—for the father to store in an out-of-the-way location in the garage. Without disassembly of the legs, each of the legs as a whole is an odd object that takes up a relatively great amount of space that proves difficult for the father to tuck away.  
         [0016]     Another advantage of the present invention is that the amount of leverage required to lift a heavy article may be adjusted. By providing a connection between the upper and lower portions of the legs that may fix the upper and lower portions at varying distances from each other, the height of the crossbar (or gripping portion of the handle) may be raised or lowered. A taller woman may wish to have greater leverage for her snowmobile. A shorter stronger man may desire a shorter and more accessible crossbar.  
         [0017]     Another advantage is cost. The present invention is relatively inexpensive to manufacture, ship and store. The present invention further minimizes the potential health costs of accidents to children and the potential health cost of back injuries to adults because the amount of leverage required may be customized to the adult using the dolly.  
         [0018]     Another advantage is that the dolly may be customized for the article that is being picked up and carried. Since the legs are adjustable in height, taller and smaller objects may be received within the dolly.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0019]      FIG. 1  is a perspective environmental view showing the oversized and massive dolly of the present invention picking up and carrying a snowmobile.  
         [0020]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the oversized and massive dolly of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0021]      FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the oversized and massive dolly of  FIG. 1  being taken from the same perspective as  FIG. 2 .  
         [0022]      FIG. 4  is a front view of the oversized and massive dolly of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0023]      FIG. 5  is a side view of the oversized and massive dolly of  FIG. 1  and shows that the dolly is taller than an adult male of average size.  
         [0024]      FIG. 6  is a top view of the oversized and massive dolly of  FIG. 1  disassembled in a box.  
         [0025]      FIG. 7  shows an external height adjustable connection between the legs of the oversized and massive dolly of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0026]      FIG. 8  shows an internal height adjustable connection between the legs of the oversized and massive dolly of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION  
       [0027]     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the present oversized and massive dolly  10  generally includes a rigid metal frame  12  having a handle  14 , a pair of legs  16  and a pair of pick ups  18 . The dolly  10  further includes a pair of wheels  20  and a strap  22 . The dolly  10  is an oversized and massive dolly for picking up and carrying relatively large and relatively heavy articles or objects such as the snowmobile  24 . With the snowmobile, the pick ups  18  engage a frame portion  26  of the snowmobile  24  and the strap  22  engages another frame portion  28  of the snowmobile  24 . The dolly  10  lifts the snowmobile  24  entirely off the ground such that the skis  30  and belt drive  32  of the snowmobile are lifted entirely off the ground. The pick ups  18  are preferably placed at or close to the center of balance of the snowmobile  24 , which has an engine under the hood  34 .  
         [0028]     More particularly, as shown in  FIGS. 2-5  with particular reference to  FIG. 3 , the handle  14  includes a square tubular portion  36  with a pair of receptor ends or connections  38  for receiving cooperating portions of the legs  16 . Pins  40 , such as set screws, threadingly engage the square tubular portion  36  for being driven into outer surfaces of the legs  16  for fixing the legs  16  in the handle  14 . Via the pins  40 , the legs  16  may be set at incrementally varying distances from each other such that the dolly  10  may pick up and carry relatively narrow or relatively broad articles. The handle  14  further includes a U-shaped portion  42  rigidly engaged, such as by welding, to the ends or end portions  38  of the square tubular portions  36  such that the handle  14  is one-piece. The U-shaped portion  42  includes a gripping portion or crossbar  44  that is grabbed by the hand to pick up and wheel an article. The crossbar  44  lies six feet, three inches from a surface on which the wheels  20  rest and provides a leverage of great amount relative to the square tubular portion  36 , which is inoperable as a hand tool to pick up a heavy article as a snowmobile since the square tubular portion  36  is not set sufficiently high for the leverage that is required to pick up a snowmobile.  
         [0029]     As further shown in  FIGS. 2-5  with particular reference to  FIG. 3 , each of the legs  16  is broken down into an upper leg portion or piece  46  and a lower leg portion or piece  48 . Portion  46  is a square tubular L-shaped piece having a brace  49  rigidly welded to and between linear sections of the L-shaped piece  46 . Portion  46  includes a male section  50  insertable into female receptor end  38  of the handle  14  and fixed therein by pin  40 . Square tubular male section  50  is fabricated to fit with minimal play into square tubular end  38  so as to minimize rotation between the two parts. Opposite of male section  50 , portion  46  further includes a female receptor or connection  52 . Female receptor  52  is a square tubular piece that is rigidly fixed on an end of portion  46  with set screws  54 , as shown in  FIG. 7 . Or if desired, female receptor  52  may be welded to such end of the portion  46 . In either case, the two pieces  46  and  52  engage each other with minimal play so as to minimize rotation therebetween. Female receptor  52  removably engages the other portion  48  of the leg  16 .  
         [0030]     As shown in  FIGS. 2-5  with particular reference to  FIG. 3 , the other leg portion  48  is a square tubular V-shaped piece having a brace  56  rigidly welded to and between linear sections of the V-shaped piece  48 . V-shaped lower leg portion  48  includes a male section  58  insertable into female receptor  52  of the upper leg portion  46 . The square tubular male section  58  and female receptor  52  are fabricated to fit to each other with minimal play so as to minimize rotation between the two parts. As shown in  FIG. 7 , an absolute end  60  of the upper leg portion  46  abuts an absolute end  62  of the lower leg portion  48 . However, via the pair of set screws  54  of the upper leg portion  46  and a pair of set screws  64  of the lower leg portion  48 , the absolute ends  60  and  62  may be fixed apart from each other so as to lengthen the legs  16 , thereby increasing the distance of the crossbar  44  from the floor, which in turn increases the amount of leverage available for lifting a heavy article. Such lengthening or shortening of the legs  16  further increases the height of portion  36  and the respective horizontally extending male portions  50  such that the dolly  10  may receive relatively tall or relatively short objects between the legs  16  and underneath portions  36  and  50  and braces  49 . Opposite of the male portion  58 , the lower leg portion  48  includes a pick up connection or receptor  66  and the pick up  18  which is engaged in the receptor  66 . Receptor  66  is welded to an end of lower leg portion  48 . Receptor  66  is cylindrical and tubular. Pick up  18  includes a cylindrical tube  68  selected to slidingly engage the receptor  66  with minimal play transversely of the axis along which the pick up  18  slides. Pick up  18  further includes a pair of rubber or elastomeric ribbed pads  70 ,  72  (as shown in  FIG. 6 ) that are mounted on the cylindrical tube  68 . The resilient pads  70 ,  72  directly engage the frame portion  26  of the snowmobile. The pads  70  and  72  fit on the tube  68  with some friction. The pads  70  and  72  rotate on the tube  68  independently of each other. Opposite of the pads  70 ,  72 , the outer end of the tube  68  includes holes for a cotter pin  74  (as shown in  FIG. 6 ) so that the pick up  18  does not inadvertently slide off of the leg  16 . The pick ups  18  of the respective legs  16  may be drawn to and away from each other so as to fit relatively wide articles or snowmobiles and so as to fit relatively narrow articles or snowmobiles. The lower leg portion  48  further includes an axle mount  76  that takes the form of a capped cylindrical tube. An axle  78  of the wheel  20  is rotatably engaged in the mount  76 .  
         [0031]     As to each of the legs  16  as a whole, portion  50  is a proximal end of leg  16  and pick up receptor  66  is a distal end. Leg  16  runs from portion  50  to and beyond axle  78  of the wheel  20  to the receptor  66 . Upper leg portion  46  is removably engagable to lower leg portion  48  via the connection  52 .  
         [0032]     As a whole, leg  16  stands about 40 inches high when measured from the altitude of the receptor  66  to the altitude of portion  50 . Along its length, upper leg portion  46  runs about 30 inches. Along its length, lower leg portion  48  runs about 30 inches. Accordingly, along its length as a whole, leg  16  runs about 60 inches. To render leg  16  inoperable as a toy for children, it is preferable that each of the pieces or portions  46  and  48  runs from about 25% to about 75% of the length of the leg  16  and more preferably about 40% to about 60% of the length of the leg  16 .  
         [0033]     It can be appreciated that male portion  58  of the lower leg portion  48  is linear and runs toward the wheel  20  and that the lower leg portion  48  includes a second linear portion  80  that runs from distal end or receptor  66  towards the wheel  20 . These two linear portions  58  and  80  are set at less than a 90 degree angle relative to each other to provide leverage for the dolly  10 . As best shown in  FIG. 5 , when the dolly  10  is at rest, it can be seen that linear portion  80  is generally parallel to the surface on which the dolly  10  is placed, that linear portion  58  and much of the leg  16  is set at less than a 90 degree angle to linear portion  80 , that the legs  16  are on one side of the axle mount  76  and thus axle  78 , and that the handle  14  extends from such side of the axle or pivot point  76  to the other side of the axle or pivot point  76  to the relatively high crossbar  44  or point  44  where leverage is applied six feet and three inches above the surface on which the dolly  10  is placed. Such a “Z” shape to the dolly  10  provides a great amount of leverage.  
         [0034]     Whereas  FIG. 7  shows an external connection  52 ,  FIG. 8  shows an internal connection  82  that includes an internal square tubular linear piece  84  slideably engagable within portion  50  of lower leg portion  48  and slidingly engagable within a like portion  86  of upper leg portion  46 . With the embodiment shown in  FIG. 8 , the female connection  52  is preferably removed. A pair of set screws  88  and a second pair of set screws  90  fix the internal piece  84  in place and thereby fix the upper and lower leg portions  46  and  48  to each other. Portion  50  includes a pair of second holes  92  for another pair of set screws, if desired, and portion  86  includes a pair of second holes  94  for another pair of set screws. With internal piece  84 , the upper and lower leg portions  46  and  48  may be set to abut each other or may be set at varying distances from each other to increase the length of leg  16  and thereby to increase the amount of leverage. Also, the dolly  10  may accommodate articles of greater size because portions  50  and  36  are set at a greater distance from the pickups  18 .  
         [0035]     It should be noted that via portions  50  and set screws  40 , the legs  16  may be set at incrementally varying distances from each other. Further, via the external connection  52  or the internal connection  82 , leg  16  may be set at incrementally varying heights. Also, via receptor  66  and its cooperating pick up tube  68  with fits with some friction in receptor  66 , the pick ups  18  may be drawn to and away from each other to be set at incrementally varying distances from each other to engage relatively broad or relatively narrow articles.  
         [0036]     It should be noted that crossbar or handle distal portion  44  is preferably between about six feet and about ten feet from a surface on which the wheels  20  rest and more preferably between about six feet and eight feet from a surface on which the wheels  20  rest.  
         [0037]     It can be appreciated that dolly  10  may pick up and carry a great number of articles. One such article is the snowmobile. Another such article is the massive tote bag used in manufacturing plants to transport objects from site to site. With the leg  16  having external connection  52  or the internal connection  84 , the present dolly  10  may carry between about 300 pounds and about 1000 pounds. A typical snowmobile weighs between about 400 pounds and about 600 pounds, although some extreme lightweight snowmobiles do exist and although some heavy duty or older snowmobiles do exist that weigh more than 600 pounds.  
         [0038]     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the heavy duty strap  22  includes a hook  96  for engaging snowmobile frame portion  28  and a buckle  98  for forming a loop  100  for engaging the crossbar  44  of the dolly  10 . The strap  22  further includes a handle  102  for drawing the crossbar  44  down. The buckle  98  may be alternately open and closed while the strap  22  is shortened via the handle  102  so as to bring the crossbar  44  and the rear end of the snowmobile toward each other.  
         [0039]     As shown in  FIG. 6 , the dolly  10  when disassembled fits in a rectangular box  104  measuring 26 inches wide by 40 inches across by 7 inches deep. The handle  14  has been separated from the upper leg portion  46 , which has been separated from the lower leg portion  48 , which has been separated from the pickup means  18 . When re-assembled, the crossbar  44  is about six feet, three inches when measured at a 90 degree angle from the surface on which the wheels  20  rest. When re-assembled, the legs  16  are about 39 inches apart at lower leg portions  58 .  
         [0040]     It should be noted that each of the wheels  20  is tubeless, is filled with air under pressure, and includes a tread.  
         [0041]     It should further be noted that external connection or splice  52  and that the internal connection or splice  84  can be variously fixed to the upper and lower leg portions  46  and  48 . For example, splice  52  or splice  84  can be permanently fixed, such as by welding, to one of the leg portions  46 ,  48 , and the other of the leg portions  46 ,  48  can be removably fixed, such as with set screws or through bolts, to the splice  52  or splice  84 . Such through bolts extend through both the splice  52 ,  84  and the respective leg portions  46 ,  48 . Also if desired, through bolts, instead of set screws, may be used at both ends of the splices  52 ,  84 , to fix the upper and lower leg portions  46  and  48  to each other. As with the set screws, a pair of through bolts running at right angles to each other may be used at each of the ends of the splices  52 ,  84  such that four through bolts may be used with each of the splices  52 ,  84  to minimize any play among the upper leg portion  46 , the lower leg portion  48 , and the splice that is used.  
         [0042]     In operation, the dolly  10  is maneuvered so that the wheels  20  roll on either side of the snowmobile  24  and so that the handle portion  36  floats over a seat  106  of the snowmobile  24 . Prior to the handle portion  36  reaching a steering handlebar  108  of the snowmobile  24 , the pick ups  18  reach a location disposed outside of the frame portion  26 . At this location, the dolly  10  is set on the ground, and the pick ups  18  are slid into the frame portions  26 . The strap  22  is then engaged to the frame, portion  28  at the rear end of the snowmobile  24 . The strap  22  is then shortened incrementally by the buckle  98  to draw the crossbar  44  and rear end of the snowmobile  24  toward each other. At some point during this process, or after the strap  22  has been tightened sufficiently, the crossbar  44  may be drawn down and the snowmobile  24  may be lifted entirely off the ground or surface so that the snowmobile may be wheeled to another location. When being lifted and wheeled, a center of balance of the snowmobile  24  may be over an axis defined by the axles  78  of the wheels  20 , or somewhat behind such an axis in the direction of the strap  22 . After being wheeled to the desired location, the crossbar  44  is slowly permitted to be raised by the weight of the snowmobile  24  and the snowmobile  24  is thereby slowly lowered to the ground. During such a lowering of the snowmobile  24 , the buckle  98  may be incrementally operated to lengthen the effective distance of the strap  22 . After the snowmobile  24  again rests on the ground or surface, the pick ups  18  may be drawn out a sufficient distance, so that the dolly  10  can be wheeled rearwardly out of position and away from the snowmobile  24 , whereupon the dolly  10  can be disassembled and placed in the box  104  for storage and safety.  
         [0043]     Thus since the invention disclosed herein may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or general characteristics thereof, some of which forms have been indicated, the embodiments described herein are to be considered in all respects illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is to be indicated by the appended claims, rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalents of the claims are intended to be embraced therein.