Patent Application
20070228679
The present invention relates a transportation dolly and more particularly to a tilt dolly for tilting a large tree during transportation.
Carts and dollies used for transporting heavy objects are well known in the art. Dollies are particularly used in the landscaping trade in view of the heavy weight of trees, plants and shrubs that are often transported from place to place on a job site. Prior art
The problem associated with the prior art dolly 100 is that it is difficult to use during the tree transplantation process. Moving trees either on the ground or to a transportation trailer can require multiple laborers using this device. Those skilled in the art will recognize that once a tree is positioned on the base 101, it is cumbersome to move to another location, In some cases it may not even fit within the dolly 100. With regard to tree transplantation, not only is it difficult to push great amounts of weight but the tree and root ball must be balanced in the dolly in order to prevent it from tipping side to side. In situations where the tree is tall, it can inadvertently catch on overhead wires and tree limbs. When it is used in connection with a vehicular trailer, the prior art dolly has no means that allow it to be tilted during transport. For example, if a deciduous tree is not tilted downwind at high transport speeds, the wind forces can pull all the leaves from the tree, not to mention the high stresses put on the tree branches. Accordingly, the need exist to provide a dolly that can easy be pushed or pulled onto a transportation trailer and can be positioned in both an upright or tilted position during transport.
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 to explain various principles and advantages all in accordance with the present invention.
Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of embodiments of the present invention.
Before describing in detail embodiments that are in accordance with the present invention, it should be observed that the embodiments reside primarily in combinations of method steps and apparatus components related to a tilt dolly used for transporting large trees. Accordingly, the apparatus components and method steps have been represented where appropriate by conventional symbols in the drawings, showing only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present invention so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein.
In this document, relational terms such as first and second, top and bottom, and the like may be used solely to distinguish one entity or action from another entity or action without necessarily requiring or implying any actual such relationship or order between such entities or actions. The terms “comprises,” “comprising,” or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. An element preceded by “comprises . . . a” does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of additional identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises the element.
In operation, the tilt dolly 200 is used with a root ball carrier device such as a U-BALL or the like which acts to surround a tree root ball enabling the roots and surrounding ball to be wrapped and contained. Once contained within the carrier device it can be positioned with the tilt dolly 200 enabling it to be moved and/or positioned in a tilted positioned during transport. In order to fasten the root ball carrier device inside the tilt dolly 200, the side tilt rails 207, 209 and the side braces 219, 221 may include one or more attachment fasteners or loops 224, 226 which can be used to hold the dolly into a fixed position. A plurality of handles 225 are used to move or tie down the dolly into a fixed position. Additionally, the top brace 223 faces downwardly from the top rails 201, 203 which also works to prevent the root ball carrier device from moving in a rearward direction during transport.
Thus, the invention describes a framed tilt dolly used for transporting and transplanting substantially large conifer and deciduous trees. The tilt dolly includes a plurality of wheel casters which are positioned in a predetermined position for allowing the tilt dolly to be tilted into a partially tilted and fully tilted position. This allows the tilt dolly to be used to prevent stress on the trees during transportation as well as allowing the dolly to be easily removed during the tree transplantation process.
In the foregoing specification, specific embodiments of the present invention have been described. However, one of ordinary skill in the art appreciates that various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention as set forth in the claims below. Accordingly, the specification and figures are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of present invention. The benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any element(s) that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become more pronounced are not to be construed as a critical, required, or essential features or elements of any or all the claims. The invention is defined solely by the appended claims including any amendments made during the pendency of this application and all equivalents of those claims as issued.
