Portable carrying device

2,399,786

May 7, 1946. h. a. caton

PORTABLE CARRYING DEVICE . Filed Nov. 23, 1944

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Patented May 7, 1946

2,399,786

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE

2,399,786

PORTABLE CARRYING DEVICE Harley A. Caton, Omaha, Nebr.

Application November 23, 1944, Serial No. 564,869

Claims. (CI. 224—45)

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in carrying devices such as one-man portable carrying devices adapted particularly for carrying bulky or elongated articles as, for example, bed springs or mattresses. 5

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a portable carrying device which shall be foldable to occupy a minimum of storage space when not in use, simple in construction, comparatively light in weight, comparatively inex- 10 pensive, and which will facilitate the carrying, of bulky and comparatively heavy articles by One man.

An important feature of design and construction resides in the provision of a carrying device 15 which comprises a comparatively narrow, and preferably elongated article-receiving tray or support having a preferably rigid handle pivotally connected to one side of the tray-like article support and a flexible handle connected to the oppo- 20 site side of the article support; the rigid handle being adapted to be grasped by one hand, the flexible handle being preferably in the form of a strap and adapted to be passed upwardly and over the top of the article while the free end of 25 the strap is held by the other hand of the person carrying the device so that the combined weight of the article and the carrying device is carried by both hands of the carrier while the load is readily balanced by means of the flexible handle. 30

With the above and other objects in view which will readily become apparent to those skilled in the art to which my invention appertains upon perusal of the attached drawing and following specification, my invention consists in the novel 35 combination and construction of the members and parts shown in preferred embodiment in the attached drawing, described in the following specification, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims. ⁴⁰

Referring to the drawing:

Fig. 1 illustrates the manner by which my improved carrying device may be carried by a person to balance and conveniently carry a bulky load such as, for example, a bed spring or mat- 45 tress;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of my improved carrier embodying my invention;·

Fig. 3 shows an end view of the lower portion of the carrier shown in Fig. 2; and 50

Fig. 4 is a vertical section through the carrying device showing my invention embodied in a device made up from angle irons and plate members.

As shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the device com- 55 prises a support, generally designated by numeral 10, adapted to support the article to be carried by the device; a preferably rigid frame handle, generally designated by numeral ί I, preferably hingedly connected to one side of the comparatively 60 narrow but elongated support 10; and a flexible handle 12 connected to the other side of the support 10.

The preferably narrow and elongated support 10 as shown consists of a pair of transverse end bars 13 having upwardly right-angulariy bent longitudinally aligned end portions 14. Extending longitudinally of the device and riveted, as at 15, to the horizontal portions and to the vertically bent portions 14, is a bent plate constituting a bottom 16 and an integral side 17 upon which bottom plate portion the article to be carried may readily be deposited or slidably inserted.

The opposite ends of the bars 13 are formed with longitudinally aligned loops IS for reception of the hinge rods 19.

The handle 11, which is preferably constructed in the form of a rigid frame, as shown, consists of a pair of transverse end bars 20 looped at longitudinally aligned ends about the hinge rods 19, as at 21, and secured in any suitable manner to the longitudinal side bars 22 and 23, as by rivets 24.

A hand grip 25, preferably elongated and of wood, is suitably secured to and at the central portion of the upper side bar 22, as by bolts 26. To strengthen and render the frame handle rigid, particularly if the device is constructed of any very light weight material such as aluminum or magnesium, the frame may be provided with a suitable diagonal bracing as, for example, the braces 27.

While I prefer to employ a rigid framerlike handle II, it is obvious, that the device could readily be provided with a flexible handle by substituting for the bars 20, 22 and 27, the wood hand grip 25 with canvas or leather straps shown by dot and dash lines and designated by the numeral 28 and each having one end connected to the bar 23 and the opposite end to the hand grip 25.

The device also includes a flexible handle, generally designated by numeral 12, preferably of canvas, cotton fabric or leather, and suitably secured to the upstanding side 17. Since I prefer to connect the flexible handle 12 at two points near the ends of the side 17 and to provide adjustable means for facilitating the balancing cf comparatively long articles such as, for example, a bed spring or mattress, the flexible handle 12 is made preferably in two parts, a flexible part 29 consisting of the free end having secured to its inner end a loop 30, and a flexible part 31 having a medial portion slidably inserted through the loop 30 and its ends secured in any suitable manner to the side 17, .

So that the frame 11 and the support 10 may be maintained in a right-angular position, relatively one to the other, I rivet to the bar 23 a pair of short clip angle irons 32 the horizontal legs of which extend beneath the end bars 13.

In the modified construction illustrated in Fig. 4, I show how my device may readily be constructed in rigid form from standard structural angle irons of light weight material such as aluminum or magnesium, or even steel of comparatively thin gauge. For example, the angle iron 13', 14' could be substituted for the bar 13, 14; the angle iron 23' could be substituted for the bar 23; and the angle iron frame 20', 22' could be substituted for the bars 20 and 22.

As shown in Fig. 4, the plate 16' may be of aluminum or magnesium, or thin gauge steel and flanged as at the side 17' and the plate 16' may extend the full width of the support 10 or only partially of the full width thereof, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

From the above description and attached drawing, it will readily be apparent that the carrying device herein disclosed may be made of light weight material at comparatively low cost of manufacture, that bulky or long articles may easily be balanced on the support, and that the balancing of same is afforded while carrying of such articles like a bed spring or mattress, which are difficult to handle due to the fact that the length of the arms of the person attempting to carry either of them without my device would be far too short to embrace such articles about their medial portions, whereas carrying same with my device will be to a great advantage and that less effort will be required since in effect the flexible handle 12 acts as an extended arm whereby the far side and top of either of such articles may be securely embraced by the flexible handle 12 and at the same time, by means of the looped connection 30, a rearrangement or adjustment for enhanced balancing is readily provided.

In the event it might be desired to slide the device upon a polished or carpeted floor, the lower face of each of the transverse bars 13 may be provided with a pair of semi-spherical or domed glides 32 as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

It will be observed that the device is actually provided with two handles adapted to be grasped by the hands of the person carrying same and that one handle is fixed relatively to the support for the article to be carried but that the other handle is flexible so as to extend from the opposite side of the device to the side of the first named handle and that said other handle, in the case of carrying a bulky article such as a bed spring or mattress, also extends over the upper side of the spring or mattress and engages same to retain and balance same and to permit both handles to be held by the person carrying the device while such person is positioned on one side of the device and the article supported on the device.