Material or article handling – Vertically swinging load support – Tilting carrier
Patent
1994-12-13
1996-11-19
Merritt, Karen B.
Material or article handling
Vertically swinging load support
Tilting carrier
187233, 414470, 414917, B60P 134
Patent
active
055756093
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a device for tilting, carrying and transporting a grand piano comprising a frame provided with wheels on which are fitted elements for gripping, lifting and tilting the grand piano.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Such a device is known from U.S. Pat. No. 4,913,614. In this case the wheeled frame is moved under the grand piano. The L-shaped gripping elements are placed under the bottom face of the grand piano and the adjacent end face. By means of two lifting and tilting devices fitted laterally at the ends of the frame, the grand piano is first raised and then tilted to almost 90.degree.. In this tilted position an auxiliary vehicle is manoeuvred against the frame, so that the grand piano can be transferred from the gripping elements to the auxiliary vehicle. Apart from the fact that this is a very complex construction, it is not ensured that the grand piano will be moved without damage, or it is necessary to carry out the fixing of the grand piano a number of times. During the transfer of the grand piano from the gripping elements to the auxiliary vehicle there is a great risk of damage from an uncontrolled tilting movement of the grand piano, which weighs up to 500 kg. This can be avoided by first fastening the grand piano to the gripping elements with the aid of holding straps or the like, and then fastening the grand piano to the auxiliary vehicle with the aid of holding straps, and removing the holding straps from the gripping elements. It is clear that this is very laborious. Besides, there is in each case the problem that the end face of the grand piano is not protected. This problem could be eliminated by extending the gripping elements, but it is not possible to protect the top face of the grand piano adjacent thereto, so that damage could occur relatively simply to this part on the underside during transportation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the present invention is to provide a device which does not have the above-mentioned disadvantages, i.e. is cheap to produce and simple to handle, and with it damage is guaranteed to be prevented.
This object is achieved with a device of the type described above and including U-shaped gripping elements so as to grip a part of the top side of the grand piano. The gripping elements are detachably connected to the lifting and tilting devices, and are provided with wheels.
The invention is based on the idea of connecting the gripping elements in a detachable manner to the lifting and tilting devices. The result is that the step of transferring the gripping elements to the auxiliary vehicle, as known from U.S. Patent Specification 4,913,614, is unnecessary. Such a design can be achieved only by fitting detaching devices and wheels on the gripping elements. Through this idea it is also possible to produce the gripping elements in such an optimum manner that the grand piano is positioned particularly well and is protected against damage during transportation. This can be achieved by making the gripping elements U-shaped. For, it is no longer necessary to move the grand piano over the body of the U-shape, as was the case in the state of the art.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the gripping elements form part of a container for transportation of the grand piano. For this purpose, these gripping elements are provided with fastenings. It is possible for the gripping elements to be accommodated in a container but, in view of their sturdy design, it is more effective if they form part of the external construction of such a container.
According to a further advantageous embodiment, the devices for lifting and tilting comprise a single lifting/tilting element fitted in the centre of the frame. Problems relating to synchronisation of two opposite-lying lifting and tilting elements are avoided in this way. All this is made possible through the particularly stable fixing of the grand piano in the U-shaped gripping elements.
According to a special embodiment of the above, the liftin
REFERENCES:
patent: 4122958 (1978-10-01), Thayer
patent: 4491334 (1985-01-01), Tarbell
patent: 4913614 (1990-04-01), O'Rarden
patent: 5387074 (1995-02-01), Brown
Monkhorst Ronald E. J.
Roodenburg Diemer J.
Merritt Karen B.
Monkhorst Ronald Edward Jan
Morse Gregory A.
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