Patent Application
20240090651
The disclosed technology relates generally to carrying devices and more specifically, to a device for bundling and capping multiple objects for carrying.
A dual-ended cup based lumber carrier of embodiments of the disclosed technology has two hollow cylinders made of flexible material having a single open circular side, the single open circular side of each of the hollow cylinders proximal and spaced apart from each other. A strap extends around a distal side of each of the two hollow cylinders and is slidable or fixedly attached thereto the strap forming and adjustably sized closed loop.
In some embodiments two connecting mechanisms on the adjustably sized close loop are spaced apart from each of the two hollow cylinders. Therewise a second closed loop of flexible material can be attached to each of the connecting mechanisms. The second closed loop is within an identical plane (such as a vertical plane when looking in a direction which is through the loops or in the Z-axis when looking towards a back side of a cup) with the adjustably sized closed loop such that openings surrounded by the respective loops are facing in a same orientation.
A transverse loop can be fixedly connected to the strap equidistant between and parallel to each round side wall of each of the two hollow cylinders. In embodiments of the technology, a maximum distance between each of the two hollow cylinders is determined based on a length of the strap extending around the distal side of each of the two hollow cylinders. Each of the two hollow cylinders can be fixedly or slidably connected to said strap. “Fixedly” is defined as “retains connection and positioning during normal use of the device or is designed to do so” while “slidably” is defined as “able to move through a loop or have a strap move through a loop of a device.”
Describe another way, two end cups each with an open front side and closed back side face each other. Portals are on the front sides, such as only on the front side. The back side can have a loop creating a portal fixedly attached to the cup where an adjustable length flexible strap passes through each of the portals on the closed back side. “Flexible” is defined as “able to change shape with human force without breaking.” “Strap” is defined as “a length of material.” A transverse flexible strap (transverse to the prior-described strap around the cups) can be fixedly attached to the adjustable length flexible strap forming a loop equidistantly connected between each of the two end cups.
Each of the open front sides can have a circular cross-section. The adjustable length flexible strap, in some embodiments, extends around oppositely disposed sides of a side wall of each end cup. The “side wall” is a wall between the front and back sides of the cup, such as a cylindrical side made of multiple circular cross-sections. Prism-shaped lumber or other lumber can be placed between, and inserted into, each of the two end cups. The lumber can be any length of wood, metal, plastic (e.g. PVC pipe) or other material such as a commonly used 2×4 or 2×6 known in the industry. The lumber can be of any width or circumference which fits within the two end caps, being a single piece of lumber or multiple separate pieces in combination.
A handle, in embodiments of the disclosed technology, is slidably connected or fixed, at two spaced apart positions, to the adjustable length flexible strap. The adjustable length flexible strap is slidably connected to the oppositely disposed sides of the side wall of each end cap in such an embodiment. The circular cross-section is deformable by way of a circumferentially placed draw string adapted to tighten at least one of the end caps around the prism-shaped lumber.
A dual-ended cup based lumber carrier system using devices described above has two identical end cups with an open end opposite a closed end. Two adjustable length flexible straps fixed at a center point of each two adjustable length flexible straps in a transverse manner to each other form a first length of strap for placing around the end caps and a second length of strap for forming a circular loop around lumber. The dual-ended cup based lumber carrier is adapted to carry lumber placed within each open end of each of the two identical end cups when one of the two adjustable length flexible straps is passed through each loop fixed to the closed end of each of the two identical cups.
A first adjustable strap of the two adjustable length straps is attached to itself by way of a removable connector forming a length of substantially double of the length of lumber desired to be placed or placed within each open end of each said end cup. A second adjustable strap of the two adjustable length flexible straps is formable into a closed loop having a diameter substantially equal to each open end of each end cup. A single or multiple pieces of lumber can be placed therein the cups. Each of the two loops of the first adjustable strap is equidistant from the center point (relative to one another) in embodiments of the disclosed technology. The dual-ended cup based lumber carrier can have a vertical line of symmetry passing at a halfway point between the cups.
Any device or step to a method described in this disclosure can comprise or consist of that which it is a part of, or the parts which make up the device or step. The term “and/or” is inclusive of the items which it joins linguistically and each item by itself. “Substantially” is defined as “at least 95% of the term being described” and any device or aspect of a device or method described herein can be read as “comprising” or “consisting” thereof.
A dual-ended cup based lumber carrier has oppositely disposed cups for receiving an end of elongated pieces of lumber or other materials between the two oppositely disposed cups. The cups are removably attached to one another at a varying length thereto using a strap which extends through loops on a back/flat side of one or both of the cups. That is, the cups are slidably attached to each other via a strap which slides through a portal on a back (outer) side of one or both of the cups. This strap has an adjustable length to accommodate different length lumber. A transverse strap is removably or fixedly attached to the afore-described strap in a fixed manner at a 90 degree angle thereto with a removably connector on each end of the transverse strap. The removable connector can be used to secure the lumber carrier circumferentially around the lumber, the lumber simultaneously placed within the caps at either end of the lumber. The circumferential sections of each cap and the transverse strap can be in parallel planes to each other.
For purposes of this disclosure “fixed” or “fixedly” is defined as “designed to remain together during ordinary usage thereof and requiring structural damage or cutting to remove.” Conversely the term “removable” or “removably” is defined as “designed to attach and detach as often as desired during ordinary usage thereof without requiring structural damage or cutting to detach.”
Embodiments of the disclosed technology will become more clear in view of the following description of the figures.
It should be understood that while the term “lumber” is used, this applies not only to a board of wood. The terminology is a general term which applies to any elongated length of material or combinations thereof which each have a substantially equal length and whose ends, in combination, fit within an opening of an end cup 30. This can includes lengths of wood, metal, plastic, finished products, or a combination thereof.
Referring still to
The cups 30, described in more detail, have circumferential sides meaning that there are a plurality of adjoined circular cross sections with one cross section being filled or solid and the rest being open or empty forming a portal there-through on one side and a closed opposite side. It should be understood that “circle” can be “substantially circular” and this circular shape can be temporary or when the fabric/material is evenly stretched into the form shown in the figures or an otherwise non-collapsed version of the cup 30. The closed side 38 of the cup 30 is placed at a side furthest away from a corresponding closed side 38 of another substantially equally sized cup such that the openings face towards each other and each are positioned to hold one of two opposite ends of lumber. The loop 34 allows for slidable passage of the first strap 10 or a tie-down strap 40. A drawstring 32 can be used to collapse or deform the circular shape of the cup 30 by tightening/restricting/partially closing an opening into the cup. This allows the cup to be tightened over lumber which only partially fills the opening into the cup 30.
Any device or step to a method described in this disclosure can comprise or consist of that which it is a part of, or the parts which make up the device or step. The term “and/or” is inclusive of the items which it joins linguistically and each item by itself.
For purposes of this disclosure, the term “substantially” is defined as “at least 95% of” the term which it modifies.
Any device or aspect of the technology can “comprise” or “consist of” the item it modifies, whether explicitly written as such or otherwise.
When the term “or” is used, it creates a group which has within either term being connected by the conjunction as well as both terms being connected by the conjunction.
While the disclosed technology has been disclosed with specific reference to the above embodiments, a person having ordinary skill in the art will recognize that changes can be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and the scope of the disclosed technology. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. All changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope. Combinations of any of the methods and apparatuses described hereinabove are also contemplated and within the scope of the invention.
