Abstract:
A hand cart for gripping and transporting heavy or large pots and the like includes articulated jaws for gripping the pot. The jaws each include a front and rear section and are carried on base plates respectively while also supporting an optional bracket for engaging and supporting the rim of the pot during transport. A lever and cable mechanism control the opening and closing of the jaws.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims the priority of provisional U.S. application Ser. No. 60/529,188 filed on Dec. 12, 2003 and entitled “HAND CART/TRUCK FOR LIFTING AND MOVING ROUND CONTAINERS OR OBJECTS WITH VERTICAL TO TAPERING SIDES” by Peter T. Smith, the entire contents and substance of which are hereby incorporated in total by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The invention relates to a hand cart or truck having a pair of jaws adapted for lifting and moving containers or objects having a rim and/or vertical to tapered sidewalls.  
         [0004]     2. Description of Related Art  
         [0005]     Gardeners and landscapers frequently have to lift heavy pots which have cylindrical or tapered sidewalls and a rim. Such pots are frequently filled with heavy potting soil and plants. They are difficult to grip and pose a lifting hazard to the plant mover.  
         [0006]     There are devices known in the art to assist in the lifting of heavy objects. A tool suitable for assisting in the lifting of smaller pots is described in my co-pending application Ser. No. 10/364,576 entitled “A Tool for Gripping Flowerpots and Items of Similar Shape” filed on Feb. 10, 2003. That application describes a tool, preferably used in pairs, that assists in the gripping of the rim of a flowerpot so that it can be manually picked up. While the foregoing invention is useful for picking up relatively small objects, it is not suitable for substantially heavier objects.  
         [0007]     Traditionally gardeners and landscapers have used wheelbarrows or even motorized tractors for picking up and moving heavy pots including shrubbery and plants. Unfortunately, wheelbarrows tend to be clumsy and motorized tractor devices are expensive. There appears to be a clear need for a non-motorized, inexpensive device that a gardener or landscaper can use to pick up and move pots that are too heavy for an individual to otherwise lift without assistance.  
         [0008]     It was in the context of the foregoing prior art that the present invention arose.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0009]     Briefly described, the invention comprises a hand cart or truck including articulatable jaws that can pick up a heavy pot having tapered or cylindrical sidewalls and/or a rim. The jaws of the invention comprise a rear section and a front section that can adjust to the sidewall of the pot or container within a reasonable range of diameter. The rear jaw of the pair can swivel or rotate about an axis. The front jaw can also rotate about an axis but is assisted by a gas spring to provide an appropriate amount of tension to return it to the open position. A rim support bracket is carried by the jaws and engages the lower rim of the pot or container in order to help keep it upright and provide an additional point of support. The rim support bracket is selectively removable and adjustable to accommodate the particular pot or circumstances. The opposing jaws are carried on a pair of crossed arms the distal ends of which are connected to a cable and pulley system attached to a lever. Pulling backwards on the lever causes the jaws to close and engage the pot. A ratchet or guide mechanism holds the lever in its withdrawn position until the operator is ready to release it thereby causing the jaws to disengage and the pot to be released. The cart includes a pair of wheels and skids so that the cart can be taken from location to location and, when not in use, can be laid down horizontally resting on its skids.  
         [0010]     The invention may be better understood by reference to the following drawings. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the invention with the jaws shown in the open position and a pot shown in phantom lines.  
         [0012]      FIG. 2  is a front perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the invention shown in  FIG. 1  with the jaws shown clamped around a pot illustrated in phantom and, further, wherein the rim support brackets are in position supporting the rim of the pot.  
         [0013]      FIG. 3  is a partial side perspective view of the invention illustrating the manner in which the removable rim support brackets are attached to the jaw mechanism.  
         [0014]      FIG. 4  is a side perspective view of the invention showing the cart resting on its skid plates with the jaws disengaged.  
         [0015]      FIG. 5  is a side perspective view of the invention showing the cart resting on its skid plates and the jaws engaging a pot. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0016]     During the course of this description like numbers will be used to identify like elements according to the different views that illustrate the invention.  
         [0017]     The preferred embodiment  10  of the invention is illustrated in  FIGS. 1-5 .  FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of the invention  10  as it is about to grip a pot  12  shown in phantom. A typical pot  12  includes tapered sidewalls  10  and a rim  82 . While tapered sidewalls  14  are illustrated, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that the pot  12  could also have vertical, that is to say cylindrical, sidewalls  14 . It is very common for pots  12 , such as shown in  FIG. 1 , to be filled with heavy, moist potting soil and a plant. Such pots  12  can be very heavy and easily weigh up to 150 pounds.  
         [0018]     The hand cart  10  includes a frame  16  which supports the elements of the invention. Frame  16  supports right and left wheels  18   a  and  18   b , respectively and further includes right and left handle sections  20   a  and  20   b . A pair of cross pieces  22  brace the frame  16  at the top, while a cradle arm  26  provides support in the center and a base plate  24  provides support at the bottom. A pair of right and left legs  28   a  and  28   b , bent at right angles in the center, are attached to the handle sections  20   a  and  20   b , respectively of the frame  16 . Right and left skid plates  30   a  and  30   b  are attached respectively near the elbow bend sections of the right and left legs  28   a  and  28   b  and provide support to the invention  10  when not in use as shown in  FIG. 4 . Wheel axle  32  is attached to and mounted on base plate  24  and provides support for wheels  18   a  and  18   b.    
         [0019]     The primary purpose of the frame  16  and wheels  18   a  and  18   b  is to support the gripping system  36 . Gripping system  36  includes right and left jaws  38   a  and  38   b , respectively. The right and left jaws  38   a  and  38   b  each include right and left rear jaws  40   a  and  40   b  and right and left front jaws  42   a  and  42   b . A jaw carrier base plate  46   a  supports the right rear jaw  40   a  and right front jaw  42   a . Rear jaw  40   a  is preferably attached by a pin or bolt to the jaw carrier base plate  46   a  and the right front jaw  42   a  is also attached in a similar manner to the jaw carrier base  46   a . Likewise, the left rear jaw  40   b  is attached to the jaw carrier base  46   b  in a pivotal manner with a bolt or rivet and the front jaw  42   b  is attached is jaw carrier plate  46   b  with a bolt or rivet. In this manner jaws  40   a ,  40   b ,  42   a  and  42   b  can rotate as they grab the sidewalls  14  of a pot  12 . A gas spring  46   a  is attached is the front jaw  42   a  at one end and at the other end to arm  58   a . Similarly, gas spring  56   b  is attached to front jaw  42   b  and to arm  58   b . Arms  56   a  and  56   b  cross each other approximately mid-frame and are attached by pins or bolts  60   a  and  60   b  to base plate  24  so that they can rotate or pivot about those points. A pair of extension springs  62   a  and  62   b  are attached respectively to arms  58   a  and  58   b  at one end and at the other end to base plate  24 . The purpose of extension springs  62   a  and  62   b  is to normally bias the jaws  38   a  and  38   b  in a normally open position as shown  FIGS. 1 and 4 . The distal end of arms  58   a  and  58   b  from the jaws  38   a  and  38   b , include hooks  64   a  and  64   b , respectively, which tie into a pulley and cable system  66 . Cable  68   a  is connected to hook  64   a  and passes through pulleys  70   b  and  92   b  and is attached to lever  74 . Similarly, cable  68   b  is attached to hook  64   b  and passes through pulley  70   a  and  92   a  and is likewise attached to lever  74 . Lever  74  has one end attached to lever mount bar  78  about which it can freely rotate. A lever ratchet/guide mechanism  76  allows the lever  74  to be pulled backward and set in one of the teeth of the guide so it stays locked in that position. The jaws  38   a  and  38   b  include a bracket post  48   a  and  48   b , respectively that selectively engage the vertical rim support bracket posts  52   a  and  52   b  of rim support brackets  50   a  and  50   b , respectively. Rim support brackets  50   a  and  50   b  also include a horizontal rim engaging or support section  54   a  and  54   b  which are intended to engage the underside of the rim of a pot  12 .  
         [0020]      FIG. 2  illustrates the invention  10  when it is in the jaws closed or pot gripping mode. In order to grip a pot  12 , the lever  74  is pulled backwardly in the direction of arrow  84 . This in turn pulls on cables  68   a  and  68   b  moving them in the direction of arrows  86  and causing the distal portions of arms  58   a  and  58   b  to move in the direction of arrows  88  towards each other. This, in turn, causes the lower portion of the arms  58  a and  58   b  to move in the direction of arrows  90  towards each other which, in turn, causes the right and left jaws  38   a  and  38   b  to move in the direction of arrows  92  as they grab the tapered sidewalls  14  of the pot  12 . Simultaneously the horizontal rim support members  54   a  and  54   b  engage the underside of the rim  82  of the pot  12  thereby further stabilizing the pot  12  and preventing it from tipping over. At this point the user can push down on the handles and move the pot  12  to another location. After the user does so, he or she lets the pot  12  down on the ground and releases lever  74 , where upon arrows  84 ,  86 ,  88 ,  90  and  92  reverse each other and the pot  12  is thereby released.  
         [0021]      FIG. 3  is a perspective front view of the hand cart  10  showing the removable pot rim support brackets  58   a  and  58   b  separated from their mounting posts  48   a  and  48   b . This is the position that the cart  10  might be in prior to moving a pot.  
         [0022]      FIG. 4  illustrates the cart  10  in the horizontal position with its weight being supported on skid plates  30   a  and  30   b . This is the position that the cart  10  might be in when it is being stored.  
         [0023]      FIG. 5  is similar to  FIG. 4  except that it shows the hand cart  10  in the horizontal position while it is still gripping a pot  12 . This might be the position of the cart  10  just prior to transport.  
         [0024]     A major of advantage of the hand cart  10  is that it enables one person to easily lift and move round, cylindrical or conical objects such as pot  12 . The cart  10  helps the user, by himself or herself, grasp, lift and move containerized plants and balled or burlaped plants of multiple diameters. It is intended to help to (i) alleviate the possibility of fatigue and stress caused by repetitive chores involving the hands, arms and back, (ii) protect one&#39;s hands and arms from cuts and abrasions, (iii) make such chores more productive by making the labor less strenuous and intensive, and (iv) lessen the possibility of damage to the plants being moved.  
         [0025]     In horticultural applications, the cart  10  can be used in nurseries and garden centers to move containerized or balled and burlaped plants, shrubs and trees, as well as large, heavy containers. It can lift these items both into and off from a 6″ high pallet. Standard prior art carts, presently in use, require the operator to lean the object being moved frontward in order to position the cart under the object. Then, the object being moved is leaned backwards often requiring a second person to help. This labor intensive process, however, is unnecessary if one uses the new cart  10  according to the present invention. The new hand cart  10  picks up items in a nearly vertical direction, thereby lessening the chances of damaging the plants and spilling the contents.  
         [0026]     The cart  10 , according to the preferred embodiment, is capable of lifting and moving round containers and other similar objects of up to (i) 150 pounds, (ii) a twenty (20) gallon plant pot, (iii) a diameter of not less than 12″ or more than 20″. A maximum diameter of 20″ is a bit misleading, however, since potted and balled plants are wider at the top than at the bottom. Therefore, the cart  10  is capable of lifting a containerized or a balled or burlaped plant having at least a 24″ diameter at the top.  
         [0027]     A medium to large sized plant, either potted or burlaped, is heavy and awkward for anyone to move, since it seldom has handles, and usually requires two people to move. Many plants with a wide-branching habit are even more difficult to move without causing damage to a person&#39;s eyes, or other body parts, or to the plant being moved. The cart  10 , according to the preferred embodiment, functions well not only for operation by one person, but also for those people who have lesser body strength.  
         [0028]     The jaws  38   a  and  38   b , which grip the object  12 , being picked up and moved are padded with rubber  44  to decrease the changes of slippage and abrasion. The handles  20   a  and  20   b  are covered with soft rubber grips for comfort and to improve grippage.  
         [0029]     The cart  10  is light, strong and easily maneuvered. Its total width is about 33″, enabling it to pass through narrow openings such as gates and paths. The gas springs  56   a  and  56   b  hold the jaws  38   a  and  38   b  in an open position in normal use. In order to use the cart  10 , the user simply raises the cart&#39;s handles  20   a  and  20   b , positions the gripping jaws  38   a  and  38   b  around the object  12 , and pulls back and locks the clamping mechanism lever  74 , which squeezes the jaws  38   a  and  38   b  snuggly around the object  12 . By lowering the cart&#39;s handles  20   a  and  20   b , the object  12  is raised off the surface or ground is ready to be moved. This takes only a few seconds to accomplish. Upon moving the object to a new desired location, one lowers and releases the plant or container  12  into its new spot by raising the handles  20   a  and  20   b  and releasing the gripper jaws  38   a  and  38   b  by moving the lever  74  forward. When moving certain large plastic containers  12 , it may be necessary to install the optional rim support brackets  50   a  and  50   b , which are stored on the cart  10  when not needed.  
         [0030]     While the invention has been described reference to the preferred embodiment thereof, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that various modifications can be made to the various parts of the invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as a whole.