Patent Abstract:
A tree moving device is provided that includes a plurality of points for interconnecting to a basket that contains the root structure of a tree. The tree moving device includes a plurality of arms that provide locations for hooks that are interconnected to chains that receive the basket. Thus a system is provided that provides 360° support of a root ball of the tree. It is envisioned that the tree moving device be lightweight, thereby facilitating transportation and reducing manpower required to transport and plant the tree.

Full Description:
[0001]    This application claims the benefit of pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/972,138, filed Sep. 13, 2007, the entire disclosure of which being incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention is generally related to a tree transportation device that is selectively interconnected to a fork lift or a front end loader. One embodiment of the present invention includes a three-point interconnection scheme for lifting and transporting a bundled tree or other item. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Young trees are harvested from a nursery wherein their root structure is bundled with burlap or a plastic sack to maintain any soil therearound. In addition, a basket is often employed around the root ball to provide additional structure and hard points for lifting the tree. The basket also reduces damage to the branches, trunk, roots, etc. of the tree during transportation. Baskets often have a plurality of pick points that allow for individuals or equipment to pick up to a tree. For example, the pick points may be interconnected to chains that are associated with the forks of a forklift or the bucket of a front end loader. 
         [0004]    As one skilled in the art will appreciate, however, when a fork lift is primarily used to move a tree without additional supporting apparatus, the tree will sway or tilt such that branches and/or the trunk of the tree will impinge upon the forks of the forklift, for example, which damages the tree. This instability can be attributed to uneven load distribution of the tree with respect to the device transporting the tree wherein the center of gravity of the tree may cause the tree to swing in an unsafe manner. To address this instability, it is often common to supplement the lifting apparatus. For example, individuals may be employed to lift and/or stabilize a tree in transport. Although this transportation scheme may lessen the amount of potential damage caused to the tree, one skilled in the art will appreciate that transporting large and uneven loads may cause injury to those individuals that are aiding in the transport. 
         [0005]    Thus it is a long felt need in the field of tree planting and landscaping to provide a system for easily removing a tree or other item and transporting it to another location. The following disclosure describes an improved method of moving a tree that reduces the manpower required and increases the stability provided to the tree during transport. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    It is one aspect of the present invention to provide a device for transporting a tree. One embodiment of the present invention includes a plurality of arms that are interconnected to a cross tube. The cross tube also provides location for interconnection of a plurality of tubes that receive forks of a forklift, for example. A plurality of attachment locations are also employed on the arms and/or cross tube for the interconnection to pick points included on a basket that is used to bundle the root structure of a tree. This lifting scheme provides load balancing wherein the transported tree is protected from damage. Embodiments of the present invention include chains that are used to interconnect the basket to the tree moving device. One skilled in the art will appreciate that cables may be used instead of chains. In addition, the cables may be interconnected to winches or pulleys that are associated with the tree moving assembly that allow for selective adjustment of cable length to accommodate odd shaped trees or items that have an eccentric center of gravity. Although as shown below, three attachment locations are provided by embodiments of the tree moving device. One skilled in the art will appreciate that more attachment locations may be provided which may also be selectively adjustable, thereby providing a robust system of picking up a tree or other item. 
         [0007]    It is yet another aspect of the present invention to provide a tree moving device that is adjustable. For example, it is contemplated that the arms and tubes may be rotatably or slidingly interconnected to the cross tube to provide selective width or angular adjustments to accommodate objects of various sizes. 
         [0008]    It is another aspect of the present invention to provide a tree moving device that is adapted to transport other items. More specifically, although a tree moving device is disclosed herein, one skilled in the art will appreciate that other items such as signs, stones, fountains, yard ornaments, statues, bushes, etc. are contemplated for transport by the inventions disclosed herein as well. 
         [0009]    It is another aspect of the present invention to provide a lightweight device for transporting trees. More specifically, embodiments of the present invention weigh about 69 lbs. Thus it is contemplated that embodiments of the present invention may be easily transported within a pick-up truck, for example. Furthermore, it is envisioned that the tree moving device may be used by a single individual wherein the individual towing a trailer with a small forklift or Bobcat® would travel to a worksite, remove the lightweight tree moving device from his or her truck and use it with the forklift or Bobcat® to transport a tree. Thus the manpower needed to remove, transport, and plant trees is dramatically reduced by the invention described herein, which reduces cost and time. 
         [0010]    It is yet another aspect of the present invention to provide a tree moving device that may be disassembled into its component pieces, thereby facilitating transportation of the tree moving device. That is, embodiments of the present invention, which will be outlined in more detail below, are preferably welded. One skilled in the art, however, will appreciate that the tree moving device may employ component parts that are interconnected via bolts or other mechanisms which would further facilitate its transportation. In addition, a plurality of handles may be integrated onto the tree moving device. One skilled in the art will appreciate that the tree moving device may also be made foldable such that its external envelope may be selectively reduced to facilitate transportation as well. 
         [0011]    It is another aspect of the present invention to provide a tree moving device that includes a plurality of wheels that facilitates transportation. The wheels may be adjustable (i.e. fold out of the way during normal operations) or be detachable. Further, a related aspect of embodiments of the present invention is to provide jacks or other lifting devices that allow for selective height adjustment of the tree moving device. 
         [0012]    It is another aspect of the present invention to provide a tree moving device that is constructed from common materials. More specifically, embodiments of the present invention are constructed entirely, or at least partially, of aluminum, carbon steel, steel, composite materials, wood, plastic, iron, etc. The tree moving device may be painted or coated with materials to make them more aesthetically pleasing, indicate the source of manufacture (John Deere® green, for example), to reduce corrosion and/or to enhance safety. 
         [0013]    It is yet another aspect of the present invention to provide a tree moving device that includes at least one reflector or light for low-light operations. More specifically, one skilled in the art will appreciate that the tree moving device may include lights that are interconnected to the power system of the fork lift (or to an internal battery of the device, for example), thereby providing power thereto. The lights would facilitate transportation or location of a tree during low-light times and would enhance safety. 
         [0014]    The Summary of the Invention is neither intended nor should it be construed as being representative of the full extent and scope of the present invention. The present invention is set forth in various levels of detail in the Summary of the Invention as well as in the attached drawings and the Detailed Description of the Invention and no limitation as to the scope of the present invention is intended by either the inclusion or non-inclusion of elements, components, etc. in this Summary of the Invention. Additional aspects of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the Detail Description, particularly when taken together with the drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0015]    The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the general description of the invention given above and the detailed description of the drawings given below, serve to explain the principles of these inventions. 
           [0016]      FIG. 1  is a top rear perspective view of a tree moving device of one embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the tree moving device weldment shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  is a front bottom perspective view of the tree moving device shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 4  is a right elevation view of the tree moving device shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 5  is a detailed view of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 6  is a detailed view of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0022]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the tree moving device interconnected to a fork lift; and 
           [0023]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the tree moving device interconnected to a front end loader. 
       
    
    
       [0024]    To assist in the understanding of the present invention the following list of components and associated numbering found in the drawings is provided herein: 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 # 
                 Component 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
                  2 
                 Tree moving device 
               
               
                   
                  6 
                 Tree 
               
               
                   
                 10 
                 Cross tube 
               
               
                   
                 14R 
                 Right lift arm tube 
               
               
                   
                 14L 
                 Left lift arm tube 
               
               
                   
                 22 
                 Fork tube 
               
               
                   
                 26 
                 Fork 
               
               
                   
                 30 
                 Fork lift 
               
               
                   
                 34A 
                 Eye hook 
               
               
                   
                 34B 
                 Clevis hook 
               
               
                   
                 38 
                 Chain 
               
               
                   
                 42 
                 Basket 
               
               
                   
                 46 
                 Cross plate 
               
               
                   
                 50 
                 Threaded stud 
               
               
                   
                 54 
                 Wing nut 
               
               
                   
                 58 
                 Upper surface 
               
               
                   
                 62 
                 Bucket 
               
               
                   
                 66 
                 Front end loader 
               
               
                   
                 70R 
                 Right outer end 
               
               
                   
                 70L 
                 Left outer end 
               
               
                   
                 74 
                 Inner surface 
               
               
                   
                 78 
                 Aperture 
               
               
                   
                 82L 
                 Left inner end 
               
               
                   
                 82R 
                 Right inner end 
               
               
                   
                 86 
                 Pick point 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0025]    It should be understood that the drawings are not necessarily to scale. In certain instances, details that are not necessary for an understanding of the invention or that render other details difficult to perceive may have been omitted. It should be understood, of course, that the invention is not necessarily limited to the particular embodiments illustrated herein. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0026]    Referring now to  FIGS. 1-8 , a tree moving device  2  that facilitates the transportation of trees  6  or other items is shown. More specifically, embodiments of the present invention include a cross tube  10  that provides a location for the interconnection of a left lift arm tube  14 L and a right lift arm tube  14 R. The cross tube  10  is also interconnected to at least one fork tube  22  that is designed to receive the forks  26  of a forklift  30 , for example. The tree moving device  2  of one embodiment of the present invention preferably includes a plurality of welded components. As briefly mentioned above, these components may be alternatively interconnected by other methods such as bolts, clamps, adhesives, etc. The left lift arm tube  14 L and the right lift arm tube  14 R include a plurality of lifting points such as hooks  34  and chains  38  that are adapted for interconnection to a basket  42  of a tree  6 . The hooks  34  that are interconnected to the arm tubes  14  and/or cross tube  10  via welding or by devises (not shown). For example, eyehooks  34 A or clevis hooks  34 B are preferably employed for interconnection to the basket  42  of a tree  6 . 
         [0027]    The left lift arm tube  14 L and the right lift arm tube  14 R preferably include an arcuate portion to generally provide 360° support of the tree  6 . However, one skilled in the art will appreciate that the arm tubes may be straight. Inner ends  82  of the arm tubes  14  are preferably offset from the cross tube  10 . The inner ends  82  may also be interconnected by a cross plate  46  to provide enhanced structural stability thereto. A threaded stud  50  that interconnects to a nut  54  or other device, such as a knob, may be incorporated into this end  82  of arm tubes  14  as well, which will be described in further detail below. 
         [0028]    The cross tube  10  also provides a location for the interconnection of at least one fork tube  22  that are designed to primarily receive the forks  26  of a forklift  30 . Alternatively, an upper surface  58  of the fork tube  22  may be positioned beneath a bucket  62  of a front end loader  66  wherein the inner ends  82  are positioned within the bucket  62 . One of skill in the art will appreciate that alternatively the fork tube  22  may be positioned beneath the cross tube  10  and the arm tubes  14  may be positioned above the cross tube  10  wherein the fork tube  22  would be positioned within the bucket  62 . As the bucket  62  is raised and lowered, the tree moving device  2  is moved up and down, which will be apparent with the review of  FIG. 8  presented herein. In order to facilitate the interconnection between the tree moving device  2  and the bucket  62 , the threaded stud  50  is transitioned downwardly so that it abuts the inner surface of the bucket  74 . The nut  54  would then be tightened onto the cross plate  46 , thereby providing the necessary force needed to ensure that the tree moving device  2  does not move off the bucket  62 . Although one threaded stud  50  is shown in the figures, one skilled in the art will appreciate that the right lift arm tube  14 R may also include the same type of interconnection mechanism. It is also contemplated that the bucket  62  may include an aperture  78 , either threaded or non-threaded, for interconnection to the interconnecting mechanism  50  that securely fastens the tree moving device  2  to the bucket  62 . 
         [0029]    Referring now to  FIG. 7 , one embodiment of the present invention is used in conjunction with a fork lift  30  wherein the forks  26  of the fork lift  30  are inserted within the fork tubes  22  of the tree moving device  2 . This configuration, since it provides the most stability and desired orientation of the tree moving device  2 , is a preferred method of using embodiments of the present invention. When the tree  6  is placed between the left lift arm tube  14 L and the right lift arm tube  14 R, the plurality of chains  38  will be located approximately 120 degrees about the perimeter of the root structure, thereby providing even load distribution as the tree  6  is lifted and moved. As discussed above, the chains  38  may be selectively adjustable or cables may be used to increase the robustness of the device. One skilled in the art will appreciate also that the fork tubes  14  may be selectively movable or telescopingly extendable and retractable with respect to the cross tube. 
         [0030]    Referring now to  FIG. 8 , in another method of using the tree moving device  2 , the lower surface of the bucket  62  is positioned between the left lift arm tube  14 L and the right lift arm tube  14 R and the fork tubes  22 . As the bucket  62  is lifted and lowered, an outer end  70 L of the left lift arm tube  14 L and an outer end  70 R are accordingly moved up and down. In order to ensure that the tree moving device  2  does not slide along the length of the bucket  62  or fall off the bucket  62 , the threaded stud  50  is tightened onto the bucket  62  and the nut  54  is used to maintain the threaded stud  50  onto the cross plate  46 . Again, as in the first way of using the tree moving device  2 , when the tree moving device  2  is placed adjacent to the tree  6 , pick points  86  are positioned at about 120 degrees relative to each other to provide a stable lifting platform. 
         [0031]    While various embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail, it is apparent that modifications and alterations of those embodiments will occur to those skilled in the art. However, it is to be expressly understood that such modifications and alterations are within the scope and spirit of the present invention, as set forth in the following claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 1