Abstract:
The improved moving dolly system is provided having a pair of opposing carts along a bottom surface of an article of furniture in order to move the article. Each cart receives opposing bottom edges of the article. A strap is used in conjunction with each cart allowing two operators to guide and/or lift the article during transportation. The moving dolly system allows for articles to be rolled or lifted above obstacles, easily maneuvered, and reduces injuries related to poor lifting/carrying posture.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
   The present invention relates to a furniture moving dolly and particularly to a two person moving dolly system with a strap. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1A  is a top view of the moving dolly system according to one embodiment; 
       FIG. 1B  is a side view of the moving dolly system of  FIG. 1A ; 
       FIG. 2  is a top view of a pair of opposing moving dolly carts; 
       FIG. 3  is a side view of a moving dolly cart of  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIG. 4  is a rear view of the moving dolly cart of  FIG. 3 ; 
       FIG. 5  is a top view of the platform of the moving dolly cart of  FIG. 3 ; 
       FIG. 6  is a rear view of the platform of  FIG. 5 ; 
       FIG. 7A  is a top view of the right backrest of the moving dolly cart of  FIG. 3 ; 
       FIG. 7B  is a sectional view of the right backrest of  FIG. 7A  taken along line B-B; 
       FIG. 8A  is a top view of the left backrest of the moving dolly cart of  FIG. 3 ; 
       FIG. 8B  is a sectional view of the left backrest of  FIG. 8A  taken along line B-B; 
       FIG. 9  is a top view of the right backrest ( FIG. 7A ) and left backrest ( FIG. 8A ) fastened to the top surface of the platform of  FIG. 5 ; 
       FIG. 10A  is a top view of the non-skid pad; 
       FIG. 10B  is a side view of the non-skid pad of  FIG. 10A ; 
       FIG. 11  is a top view of the platform and backrests of FIG  9  with the non-skid pad of  FIG. 10A ; 
       FIG. 12  is a top view of the moving dolly cart of  FIG. 3 ; 
       FIG. 13  is a rear, partial sectional view of the moving dolly cart of  FIG. 3  with the fastening arrangement partially shown; 
       FIG. 14A  is a top view of the strap of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 14B  is a side view of the strap of  FIG. 14A . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   As shown in the  FIGS. 1A-14B , one embodiment of a moving dolly system  20  is provided having a pair of opposed carts  30 ,  40  with a lifting or guiding strap  50  which facilitates the moving of furniture, appliances, or similar articles of manufacture. Moving dolly system  20  is designed to facilitate the moving and lifting of heavy objects and maneuvering them about obstacles and narrow turns. 
   As illustrated in  FIGS. 1A ,  1 B, moving dolly system  20  may include a first cart  30  and a second cart  40  with a strap  50  positioned beneath each of first and second carts. First cart  30  and second cart  40  are opposed to serve as a ledge to place the article thereon. First cart  30  is positioned and engages a forward edge of a piece of furniture (not shown) or load, while a substantially identical cart  40  is positioned and engages a rear edge of the same load, with second cart being reversed 180 degrees in orientation for receiving the rear edge of the load. Strap  50  is placed under carts  30 ,  40  with the received piece of furniture and used to guide and lift the article during the moving process. 
   As shown in  FIGS. 1A-6 ,  9 , and  11 - 13 , each of first cart  30  and second cart  40  has a lateral platform  60  having a top surface  62  for receiving the article (not shown). Top surface  62  of the carts  30 ,  40  may have a pad or non-skid pad  70  located parallel with a front end  65  of the platform. Non-skid pad  70  abuts a pair of braces or backrests  80 ,  82 . A left backrest  80  ( FIGS. 8A and 8B ) and a right backrest  82  ( FIGS. 7A and 7B ) extend perpendicular to top surface  62  of platform  60  a sufficient distance for bracing the edge of a piece of furniture resting upon platform  60 . Each respective backrest  80 ,  82  maintains a contact surface  81 ,  83  which the furniture edge (not shown) braces against. Left backrest  80  is separated from right backrest  82  by a notch  90  removed from a back end  66  of platform  60 . Notch  90  aids in the alignment of strap  50  once the strap is placed taut against a bottom surface  63  of platform  60  upon moving the furniture. Notch  90  may terminate adjacent contact surfaces  81 ,  83  of left backrest  80  and right backrest  82 . Platform  60  as best seen in  FIGS. 5 and 6  may also contain a series of broken corners or chamfered edges. Chamfered edges  67 , along back end  66  of platform  60 , allows for each cart  30 ,  40  to make narrower turns, unlike 90 degree corners which may extend out and come in contact with walls upon turning dolly system  20 . Chamfered edges  68 , along front end  65  of platform  60 , allow for each cart to be more readily placed under the furniture and also minimize the likelihood of front end  65  from catching an edge on obstacles that are encountered while moving the article. Platform  60  may be generally triangular in shape after the corners have been chamfered. 
   As shown in  FIG. 9 , platform  60  and backrests  80 ,  82  may be made from wood, plastic, metals or any other materials known in the art and still fall within the scope of the invention. Furniture is placed upon a portion of non-skid pad  70  to minimize the slipping of the furniture upon the cart. Pad  70  seen in  FIGS. 10A and 10B  may also protect the contacted surfaces of the furniture. Pad  70  is typically made from, but is not limited to, SBR-Friction surface belting. Non-skid pad  70  may be attached to top surface  62  of platform  60  by staples, screws, or any other fastening means known in the art. The combination of the backrests  80 ,  82  and non-skid pad  70  placed on platform  60  minimizes the slippage of the articles as they are moved or lifted. 
   As shown in  FIGS. 1A ,  2 ,  4 ,  12 , and  13 , platform  60  of each cart  30 ,  40  is supported upon three, equal sized, swivel casters mounted on bottom surface  63  of the platform. A first caster  11  is located in an adjacent and substantially centered location relative to front end  65  of platform  60 . A second caster  12  and a third caster  13  are located in each corner of back end  66  of platform  60 . Second caster  12  and third caster  13  are on opposite sides of notch  90  of platform  60 . As shown in  FIGS. 1A ,  2 , and  12 , casters  11 ,  12 ,  13  are symmetrically located about bottom surface  63  of platform  60 , creating a substantially triangular orientation of the casters. The first  11 , second  12 , and third  13  casters maintain platform  60  in its horizontal plane to receive an item of furniture upon top surface  62  of the platform and branched against each relative contact surfaces  81 ,  83  of backrests  80 ,  82 . All casters  11 ,  12 ,  13  may be the same diameter, for example three inch diameter, bearing type casters. The larger diameter of casters facilitates negotiation over uneven surfaces. Also, cart  30  as best seen in  FIGS. 12 and 13  illustrates the fastening arrangement between the caster  11 ,  12 ,  13 , backrests  80 ,  82 , and platform  60 . 
   Strap  50 , as shown in  FIGS. 1A ,  1 B,  14 A, and  14 B, is formed with hand and wrist loops  52  located at each end thereof. Loops  52  are used to guide and lift furniture or other heavy articles. Strap  50  is typically made from, but is not limited to, nylon to provide the functionality and durability required by the nature of its use. Strap  50  may have a plurality of hand or wrist loops  52  or handles located at proximate terminating end of the strap. Each loop  52  may be about seven inches in diameter to loop around the wrist, and may be formed by looping strap back upon itself and using a heavy stitch line between each loop. The overall length of the guide strap  50 , inclusive of loops  52 , may be about 144 inches. 
   During normal usage moving dolly system  20  during normal usage is capable of moving and lifting heavy articles and maneuvering them about obstacles and narrow turns. Once the article of manufacture to be moved is tipped onto one edge, the user will push first cart  30  under the article to the point where the stop edge or backrests  80 ,  82  abut the side of the article and rests upon pad  70 . The article to be moved is subsequently tipped up upon the edge previously placed onto first cart  30 . While tipped up, the user will push second cart  40  under the raised edge of the article to the point where the stop edge or backrests  80 ,  82  abut the side of the article and the bottom surface of the article rests upon pad  70 . Both carts  30 ,  40  may be pushed or rolled under the article conveniently by the user&#39;s foot, preventing the user from bending over. Strap  50  may be placed onto the ground next to the two carts  30 ,  40  now holding the article. The user may then roll the article over the strap and draw out the slack. Strap  50  may also be snaked by hand underneath the carts. As shown in  FIGS. 1A and 1B , strap  50  is positioned from back end  66  of each cart  30 ,  40  between second caster  12  and third caster  13  and passed along each relative first caster  11  under the article being moved. Strap  50  passes up through each notch  90  of the carts  30 ,  40 , wherein the notch maintains the strap in a substantially centered location relative to the carts and the article, which may also be substantially centered upon the carts. As a person on both ends of strap  50  tightens the strap, the article will be drawn up tight against each respective backrest  80 ,  82  of carts  30 ,  40  creating one interconnected maneuverable load. The load is now easy to roll, turn, twist, lift and guide, even through tight spaces or around corners. The user on each end of strap  50  may place his/her wrist or haul in loop  52  and the other hand vertically on the article in order to balance the load during horizontal movement or vertical movement. Once the article is in close proximity to its final destination, the user may reverse the procedure for moving the article as described above to place the article in its new location. 
   Another benefit of moving dolly system  20  is the maneuverability of the article and the minimized adverse effects upon the users. The system allows users to transition from rolling the article immediately to carrying the article in order to maneuver about obstacles such as steps, uneven grades, or ramps. The system may also minimize injuries, such as back strains, due to improper lifting. Strap  50  minimizes the user from bending over to grasp the bottom of the article in order to lift. By using moving dolly system  20 , the user may place his hand into the desired loop  52  and lock the arm to lift and carry the article. Thus, the user need only use the desired loop  52  and raise the article to the necessary level of clearance of an obstacle by using the arms, thereby minimizing the stress to the back. By using the moving dolly system  20 , the center of gravity of the article may be maintained closer to the ground which minimizes the dangers of the article falling a substantial distance. Injuries to the user caused by a sudden fall of the article from an unnecessary height are also minimized. Injurious bending to return the article to the ground is also reduced. Moving dolly system  20  is capable of use with articles of furniture with or without legs and articles of various dimensions. The system also may be rolled in all directions due to the casters and straps to guide the one maneuverable piece. 
   It is understood that while certain embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it is not limited thereto except insofar as such limitations are included in the following claims and allowable functional equivalents thereof.