Patent Application
20170361858
The present invention relates generally to devices and methods to transport glass and, more particularly, relates to devices and methods of transporting sheets of glass for windows and other construction purposes.
Using glass, whether for windows, doors, or other applications, is prevalent in most buildings and other structures. Generally, most of these pieces or “sheets” of glass are framed with metal or other material for ease of installation and transportation. With or without the frame, however, they are generally very heavy and prone to damage if struck by outside objects. As such, most of these sheets of glass are transported at the manufacturing or retail facility using assemblies similar to those shown in
Those known apparatuses do not provide users the ability effectively and efficiently transport sheets of glass in a safe and quick manner. Specifically, with reference to one known apparatus shown in
With reference now to
Therefore, a need exists to overcome the problems with the prior art as discussed above.
The invention provides a glass transportation apparatus and method of use that overcomes the hereinafore-mentioned disadvantages of the heretofore-known devices and methods of this general type and that provides users an easy, effective, efficient, and safe way to transport glass all the way from the retail facility, to the construction site, and up until the last step of the user installing the piece of glass.
With the foregoing and other objects in view, there is provided, in accordance with the invention, a glass transportation assembly that includes a plurality of wheels operably configured to roll on a ground surface with movement of the glass transportation assembly, a lower glass-resting portion having a frame with the plurality of wheels coupled to a bottom surface of the frame, and an upper glass-resting portion having an upright member defining a glass-resting surface substantially orthogonal to the glass-resting surface of the lower glass-resting portion. The frame of the lower glass-resting portion has a rear end of the frame, a front end of the frame opposing the rear end, a left end of the frame, and a right end of the frame opposing the left end of the frame. The frame also includes a first plurality of discontinuous strap holders, each defining a channel with channel openings oriented in respective directions facing the rear and front ends of the frame, wherein the channel and channel openings sized to receive a 4 inch strap, are substantially aligned with one another, and disposed at the left end of the frame. The frame also includes a second plurality of discontinuous strap holders, each defining a channel with channel openings oriented in respective directions facing the rear and front ends of the frame, wherein the channel and channel openings sized to receive a 4″ strap, are aligned with one another, and disposed at the right end of the frame. The frame also includes a glass-resting surface.
In accordance with a further feature of the present invention, one of both the first and second plurality of discontinuous strap holders is disposed at the rear end of the frame and another of both the first and second plurality of discontinuous strap holders is disposed at the front end of the frame.
In accordance with yet another feature of the present invention, the first and second plurality of discontinuous strap holders are coupled to the bottom surface of the frame.
In accordance with an additional feature of the present invention, the first and second plurality of discontinuous strap holders are coupled to, and extend downwardly away from, the bottom surface of the frame.
In accordance with another feature, an embodiment of the present invention includes the frame further comprising a terminal edge at the rear end, a terminal edge at the front end, a terminal edge at the left end of the frame, and a terminal edge at the right end, wherein one of the first plurality of discontinuous strap holders is substantially adjacent to the terminal edge of the rear end of the frame and terminal edge of the left end of the frame and another of the first plurality of discontinuous strap holders is substantially adjacent to the terminal edge of the front end of the frame and terminal edge of the left end of the frame.
In accordance with a further feature of the present invention, one of the second plurality of discontinuous strap holders is substantially adjacent to the terminal edge of the rear end of the frame and terminal edge of the right end and another of the second plurality of discontinuous strap holders is substantially adjacent to the terminal edge of the front end of the frame and terminal edge of the right end.
In accordance with a further feature of the present invention, the upper glass-resting portion of the glass transportation assembly has a first end coupled to the terminal edge of the frame and the upright member of the upper glass-resting portion extends upwardly in a direction away from the from the glass-resting surface.
In accordance with yet another feature of the present invention, the glass-resting surface of the frame spans and slopes downwardly in direction front end of the frame to the rear end of the frame.
In accordance with yet another feature of the present invention, the glass-resting surface is substantially planar.
In accordance with an additional feature of the present invention, the frame is of a metallic material.
In accordance with another feature, an embodiment of the present invention also includes the first and second plurality of discontinuous strap holders each having a space between one another of at least approximately 2 inches.
In accordance with a further feature of the present invention, the first plurality of discontinuous strap holders define a first distance between one another and the second plurality of discontinuous strap holders also define a second distance between one another, wherein the first and second distances between the respective strap holders of an equal length.
In accordance with yet another feature of the present invention, the frame is of a rectangular shape defining four corners, wherein each of the four corners respectively have one of the first and second plurality of discontinuous strap holders.
In accordance with the present invention, a method of transporting glass sheets that includes the steps of (1) providing a glass transportation assembly having a lower glass-resting portion including a frame with a glass-resting surface and a first and a second plurality of discontinuous strap holders and having an upper glass-resting portion with an upright member defining a glass-resting surface substantially orthogonal to the glass-resting surface, wherein each of the respective first and second plurality of discontinuous strap holders are substantially aligned with one another and define a channel with channel openings oriented in respective directions facing a rear end of the frame and a front end of the frame, (2) providing at least one piece of construction material, (3) providing at least one crane strap, (4) placing the at least one piece of construction material on the glass-resting surface of the frame, (5) inserting the at least one crane strap through the channel and channel openings of each of the first and a second plurality of discontinuous strap holders; and (6) transporting the glass transportation assembly and the at least one piece of construction material by applying a lifting force, through a lifting assembly, to the at least one crane strap.
In accordance with another feature, an embodiment of the present invention also includes fastening the sheet of glass to the upright member using a glass-retention strap or transporting the glass transportation assembly and the at least one piece of construction material by applying the lifting force at corners of the frame, wherein the corners of the frame respectively correspond to a location of the first and second plurality of discontinuous strap holders.
Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in a glass moving apparatus and method of use, it is, nevertheless, not intended to be limited to the details shown because various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims. Additionally, well-known elements of exemplary embodiments of the invention will not be described in detail or will be omitted so as not to obscure the relevant details of the invention.
Other features that are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims. As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which can be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one of ordinary skill in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. Further, the terms and phrases used herein are not intended to be limiting; but rather, to provide an understandable description of the invention. While the specification concludes with claims defining the features of the invention that are regarded as novel, it is believed that the invention will be better understood from a consideration of the following description in conjunction with the drawing figures, in which like reference numerals are carried forward. The figures of the drawings are not drawn to scale.
Before the present invention is disclosed and described, it is to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. The terms “a” or “an,” as used herein, are defined as one or more than one. The term “plurality,” as used herein, is defined as two or more than two. The term “another,” as used herein, is defined as at least a second or more. The terms “including” and/or “having,” as used herein, are defined as comprising (i.e., open language). The term “coupled,” as used herein, is defined as connected, although not necessarily directly, and not necessarily mechanically. The term “providing” is defined herein in its broadest sense, e.g., bringing/coming into physical existence, making available, and/or supplying to someone or something, in whole or in multiple parts at once or over a period of time.
As used herein, the terms “about” or “approximately” apply to all numeric values, whether or not explicitly indicated. These terms generally refer to a range of numbers that one of skill in the art would consider equivalent to the recited values (i.e., having the same function or result). In many instances these terms may include numbers that are rounded to the nearest significant figure. In this document, the term “longitudinal” should be understood to mean in a direction corresponding to an elongated direction of the apparatus extending from the lower glass-resting section to the upper glass-resting section.
The accompanying figures, where like reference numerals refer to identical or functionally similar elements throughout the separate views and which together with the detailed description below are incorporated in and form part of the specification, serve to further illustrate various embodiments and explain various principles and advantages all in accordance with the present invention.
While the specification concludes with claims defining the features of the invention that are regarded as novel, it is believed that the invention will be better understood from a consideration of the following description in conjunction with the drawing figures, in which like reference numerals are carried forward. It is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which can be embodied in various forms.
The present invention provides a novel and efficient glass-transportation apparatus and method of use that provides users an effective and safe way to transport one or more pieces of construction material(s), particularly glass sheets, from a point-of-sale or storage location all the way through installation at a construction or installation location.
Referring now to
The process begins as step 500 and then proceeds to step 502 of providing a glass transportation assembly 300. The first example of the glass transportation assembly 300, as shown in
The frame 312 can be seen having a rear end 400, a front end 402 opposing the rear end 400, a left end 404, and a right end 406 opposing the left end 404. The frame 312 can also be seen having a glass-resting surface 332 where the piece of glass 310 is supported. In one embodiment, to effectuate an equal distribution of force in transport on the frame 312, the frame 312 may also be formed in lattice-based configuration (as exemplified in
The first and second plurality of discontinuous strap holders 306a-b, 308a-b can be seen defining a channel 314 with channel openings 316, 414 oriented in respective directions facing the rear and front ends 400, 402 of the frame 312. The strap holders 306a-b, 308a-b are “discontinuous” in that there is a gap (illustrated with an arrow 318) separating each of the strap holders in the first and second plurality of strap holders 306a-b, 308a-b. Being discontinuous, the user is able to effectively and quickly route one or more straps through the strap holders 306a-b, 308a-b. In one embodiment, the gap or space 318 between each of the strap holders 306a-b is at least approximately 2 inches. Further, the gap or space between each of the strap holders 308a-b may also be equal to the first gap 318, or at least approximately 2 inches. In other embodiments, the space 318 may vary.
Each respective strap holders 306a-b, 308a-b are also substantially aligned with one another so that one or more of their respective openings face one another. For example, with brief reference to
The channel 314 and channel openings 316 are preferably sized, in width (represented by arrow 322), to receive a 4″ strap, similar to the strap 320 shown in
Beneficially, for a more balanced force distribution, the first plurality of strap holders 306a-b can be seen disposed at the left end 404 of the frame 312, while the second plurality of strap holders 306a-b can be seen disposed at the right end 404 of the frame 312. The strap holders 306a-b, 308a-b may be generally of a rectangular shape in one embodiment. In other embodiments, the trap holders 306a-b, 308a-b may be of another shape sufficient to hold and retain the one or more straps 320. The first and second plurality of discontinuous strap holders 306a-b, 308a-b may be coupled to the bottom surface 412 of the frame 312 and, more particularly, may extend downwardly away from, the bottom surface 412 of the frame 312 so as to not affect the egress and entry of the construction material 310.
The upper glass-resting portion 304 can be seen having one or more upright, i.e., vertical, members 328 defining a glass-resting surface 330 substantially orthogonal, or 90°+/−15°, to the glass-resting surface 332. The upper glass-resting portion 304 may also have a first end 334 coupled to a terminal edge (as described below) of the frame 312 and the upright member 328 extends upwardly in a direction away from the from the glass-resting surface 332. To facilitate in the retention of the construction material(s), the glass-resting surface 332 may span and slope downwardly in direction front end 402 of the frame 312 to the rear end 400 of the frame 312 as shown in
In one embodiment, the frame 312 includes a terminal edge at the rear end 400, a terminal edge at the front end 402, a terminal edge at the left end 404, and a terminal edge at the right end 406, wherein respective strap holders 306a-b, 308a-b are disposed substantially adjacent, i.e., within approximately 2-3 inches, to said terminal edges as shown in
The process shown in
Next, the process continues to step 508 of placing the at least one piece of construction material 310 on the glass-resting surface 332 of the frame 312 or glass-resting surface 330 of the upright member 328. The user may then strap or fasten the at least one piece of construction material 310 to the one or more upright member(s) 328 using, for example, another strap 336. Next, the process continues to step 510 of inserting the at least one crane strap 320 through the channels and channel openings of each of the first and a second plurality of discontinuous strap holders 306a-b, 308a-b as shown in
Lastly, the process continues to step 512 of transporting the glass transportation assembly 300 and the at least one piece of construction material 310 by moving the glass transportation assembly 300 via the wheels 410a-n or applying a lifting force (depicted with arrow 338), through a lifting assembly (not shown), to the at least one crane strap 320. The lifting assembly transports the glass transportation assembly 300 and the at least one piece of construction material 310 by applying a lifting force through the one or more straps 320, that is transferred to the frame 312. The lifting assembly may be a crane, a truck, a sports utility vehicle, or any other machine suitable for transporting the glass transportation assembly 300 and the at least one piece of construction material 310 as would be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art.
The amount of lifting force applied by the lifting assembly may vary depending on the weight of the glass transportation assembly 300 and the at least one piece of construction material 310. Lifting the glass transportation assembly 30 and the at least one piece of construction material 310 necessarily entails applying a force away from and greater than the combined weight of the glass transportation assembly 300 and the at least one piece of construction material 310. As such, the user is able to effectively store and transport construction materials 310, particularly glass, at the manufacturing plant, and then maneuver and transport said assembly 300 and construction material 310 to the construction site, and ultimately to its desired location. The process terminates in step 514.
In one exemplary application of transporting the glass transportation assembly 300 to the installation site, the assembly 300, with the construction material 310, is lifted to a raised platform typically found on buildings that are being renovated. These elevated one or more platforms project outside of the building on one or more floors of the building, similar to a cantilever beam, are supported with brace that extends from an upper surface of the platform—at an end opposite to the an extending outside of the building—to a ceiling or upper surface of the particular floor the platform is located, and are used to support the assembly 300 as it is delivered to the platform and wheeled inside to the particular location of installation. Other applications of using the assembly 300 are contemplated and within the skill of an ordinary person in the relevant art.
In light of the above, a glass transportation assembly and method of use is disclosed that provides users an effective and safe way to transport one or more pieces of construction material(s), particularly glass sheets, from a point-of-sale or storage location all the way through installation at a construction or installation location.
