Field of Invention

The pictured embodiment of the invention provides a load moving device for aiding in movement of large or heavy items, such as appliances.

Background

It is often necessary to move heavy and/or bulky items from one location to another. Often moving such items may require specialist lifting equipment and a number of people to safely achieve movement. In some locations access may be limited and therefore large lifting equipment or having a number of people involved may not be possible. Also in some situations it may not be possible to easily reach an area on the item from where it can be easily listed.

The present invention provides a quick and easy lifting system that is suitable for use in any area.

Summary of Invention

According to the present invention there is provided a load moving device comprising: an inflatable load carrying unit which is adapted to be connected to an inflation means by means of a delivery channel through which a fluid is pumped to inflate the inflatable load carrying unit when deployed below an item to be moved.

In this way heavy items and large items can be arranged on the inflatable load carrying unit, the unit can be inflated to lift the item off the surface, and the inflatable load carrying unit that is supporting the item can be slid across the surface in order to move the item without having to lift it. Typically the load moving device is used to move large items such as appliances that have a small space underneath into which the load carrying unit can be positioned prior to inflation.

In a preferred embodiment the inflation means comprise a manually operated pump. The pump may be operated by hand or by foot. For example, the manual pump may be a flexible bulb that can be squeezed, or another user activation means such as a lever and/or pump mechanism.

Such pumping means may be operated by a user so as to drive fluid such as air towards or into the load carrying unit.

In some embodiments the inflation means comprise an electrically driven pump connected to a power source. Advantageously in this way inflation requires no user effort to inflate the load carrying unit. For example, the inflation means comprising the electrically driven pump may be activated and deactivated by a switch.

In some embodiments the power source for the electrically driven pump is at least one battery, preferably one or more rechargeable battery. In some embodiments the power source is a wired mains supply.

In a preferred embodiment the device includes a deflation mechanism which is operative to deflate the inflatable load carrying unit. The deflation mechanism may include a valve that is opened to enable deflation.

In some embodiments the deflation mechanism may be combined with the inflation means. For example, a load moving device with an electric pump may include a switch that can be toggled between states to inflate and to deflate the inflatable load carrying unit. In this way in a first state the load carrying unit is inflated by the inflation means and in a second state the load carrying unit is deflated by the deflation mechanism. In some embodiments the load moving device includes a pressure gauge to determine fluid pressure within the load carrying unit. In this was a user is able to determine when the desired pressure is reached to safely move an item and over or under inflation is prevented. It is appreciated that optimal pressure may vary depending upon the item to be moved and therefore the unit may be filled to different pressures.

Preferably, for devices including a pressure gauge, at least one sensor is provided to sense a pre-set pressure detected by the pressure gauge and this causes inflation or deflation to cease.

For load moving devices including an electric pump there may be provided a pressure gauge operatively connected to a switch so that inflation and deflation can be automated by means of activation of the electric pump. For example, the switch can be toggled between an inflation setting in which air is pumped into the load carrying unit and a deflation setting in which air is released from the load carrying unit by automated opening of a valve. When a switch is activated to inflate, the pump may operate until a pre-set pressure detected by the pressure gauge is reached, at which point the pump will cease to continue inflation. When the switch is activated to deflate, air is released from the load carrying unit. In this way inflation and deflation can be automated so that a user uses a switch to initiate inflation once the load carrying unit has been located in the desired position, and the user uses the switch to initiate deflation when the moving of the item is completed and the load carrying unit can be removed.

In some embodiments the electric pump may be connected to a controller that enables a user to select from a range of inflation settings that have pre-set pressure levels that relate to different items, so a user can select a setting based upon the item to be lifted. For example settings may include different pressure settings that correspond to different items such as: a washing machine, a tumble drier, a fridge, a combined fridge-freezer. Alternatively a user may be able to program the controller by manually inputting the weight of an item to be lifted and the controller includes a microprocessor that analyses the input against a database to determine the required pressure to be achieved. For example, the controller may be operatively connected to a manual input means such as keypad, display panel or dial to enable a user to select a pressure level.

In some embodiments of load moving device the controller may be a remote controller that communicates with the inflation means wirelessly. For example, the inflation means, or combined inflation means and deflation mechanism, may include a transceiver to enable signals to be received from the remote controller and signals to be sent from the inflation means to the remote controller. In some embodiments the remote controller may be a smartphone or tablet.

Preferably the delivery channel is a tube extending between the inflatable load carrying unit and the inflation means. In this way air is pumped from the inflation means, along the delivery channel to the load carrying unit. This enables the load carrying unit to be positioned and the inflation means to be held or positioned away from the item to be moved. In some embodiments the delivery channel connects to the load carrying unit and the inflation means by separable connectors so that parts can be easily connected and disconnected.

Preferably the tube is flexible so that it can easily be positioned, moved, and stored during use.

Preferably the tube may be elongate, flexible, and formed from a robust material such as rubber.

In some embodiments the load moving device may include a retractable winder around which a flexible tube is stored and can be deployed to extend or retract the flexible tube therefrom. In this way the delivery tube can be easily stowed when not in use to ensure it does not obstruct movement. In some embodiments the load carrying unit includes a flexible bladder that is within the load carrying unit, or integrally formed as part of the load carrying unit. In this way the bladder is protected by an outer layer of the load carrying unit.

The bladder is filled by pressurised fluid by means of the pump of the inflation means which increases the height of the load carrying unit in order to lift the item being moved from the surface upon which it is located.

The bladder(s) is/are flexible to allow for the unit to increase in size and the load carrying unit may be adapted to be expanded in size or dimensions below an appliance or other item which the user intends to move. For example, the bladders may be configured to provide different levels of inflation and to be located at different regions of the load carrying unit.

In some embodiments the load carrying unit has two or more separate compartments or bladders that can be separately inflated to provide redundancy should one compartment fail. In this way if a compartment or bladder becomes punctured, it may still be possible for the item to be lifted. Furthermore having separate compartments may improve the overall strength and thereby pressure capacity of the load carrying unit. Having separate compartments may also enable only part of the lead carrying unit to be inflated to adjust the size of the unit for different uses. For example, a load carrying unit may have two adjacent separate compartments that each define half the volume of the unit. One compartment may be inflated for lifting a small item and the other uninflated compartment can be folder or rolled during use to fit within a smaller area. When lifting a large item, both compartments may be inflated.

The bladders may be envisaged to be provided in a heavy duty rubber or synthetic plastic, with or without elasticity, wherein the inflation means is arranged to increase size and fluid pressure within the unit, so as to accept the item’s weight and maintain some height from a lower surface. In preferred embodiments at least one valve is provided to control release of fluid from the inflatable load carrying unit. At least one valve may be provided on one or more of: the delivery channel, the inflation means, the deflation mechanism and/or the load carrying unit.

The at least one valve is intended to prevent escape of fluid from the load carrying unit so that it remains inflated during use and control release of fluid from the load carrying unit. It is appreciated that the valve(s) may be selectively openable to enable the load carrying unit to be deflated.

In some embodiments the load carrying unit is substantially square. Advantageously this corresponds to many common appliances such as ovens, washing machines or tumble driers.

For example, the load carrying unit may be formed from two substantially square sheets joined around the edges so that inflation between the two sheets is permitted to form a unit that has greater height at a central point and less height at the edges. Advantageously this provides a load carrying unit that is substantially planar when not inflated so as to easily be slid under an item.

In another embodiment the load carrying unit is substantially parallelepiped so that the inflated height is consistent across the width of the load carrying unit. It is appreciated that side panels of the parallelepiped load carrying unit may collapse so that the load carrying unit is substantially planar when not inflated so as to be easily inserted under an item.

It is appreciated that the load carrying unit may be provided in different shapes and sizes for use with different items. For example, the shape of the load carrying unit may be shaped and dimensioned to correspond to specific items to be lifted. In some embodiments a range of different shaped load carrying units may be provided so that the delivery channel and inflation mean (pump) can be connected to different load carrying units depending on use.

Preferably the load carrying unit is formed from a heavy duty rubber or from synthetic plastics.

Preferably a lower face of the load carrying unit that interfaces a surface in use has a low friction surface to enable the load carrying unit to easily slide under an item to be lifted and moved across the surface.

In some embodiments a low friction layer of material is provided on a lower face of the load carrying unit to assist with movement over the surface and to prevent damage to the surface.

In some embodiments the low friction layer of material is a separate piece of material that is laid upon the floor and the load carrying unit is placed on the piece of material before both the layer of material with the load carrying unit atop are slid under the item to be lifted and moved.

The low friction layer may be a thin, durable layer of fabric.

In some embodiments the upper face of the load carrying unit has a high friction surface, such as including raised and lowered or textured surface to limit slippage of the item being carried over the upper face. The upper face is thereby adapted to provide a grip on the item in use.

In some embodiments the load moving device includes an outer casing that is arranged to encase the load carrying unit so that the unit is protected from the ground and item being lifted.

Preferably the outer casing has a lower face with a low friction surface and an upper face with a raised and lowered or textured surface. For example, the lower surface may include a low friction coating, such as Polytetrafluorethylene (PTFE) such as Teflon (RTM) to permit the outer casing to slide easily over the ground/flooring and the upper surface may include raised and lowered regions, and/or textured regions.

The upper and lower faces of the outer casing may be adapted to provide low or high friction faces by addition of a layer or sections of a material, or the upper and lower faces may be formed from a material with the desired properties. For example, a layer of low friction material may be adhered to the lower surface and strips of textured tape may be adhered to an upper face to create a high friction face. In this way the outer casing is adapted to easily slide across the floor and the upper surface is adapted to grip to the item. The use of an outer casing also provides the option for the load carrying unit to not have modified surfaces that engage with the ground or item being lifted since the load carrying unit is enclosed within the casing which has the adapted faces.

In a preferred embodiment the outer casing is a flexible pouch formed from two layers attached at edges with an opening for receiving the load carrying unit. In this way the load carrying unit is inserted into the pouch and the delivery channel extends from the opening.

In some embodiments the outer casing may include a collapsible wall region so that the casing has a substantially constant depth.

It is appreciated that the outer casing may be adapted for use with different items, for example the outer casing may be provided in different shapes and sizes. For example, an outer casing may be shaped to accommodate the leg or foot spacing of an item to be lifted for maximum stability during lifting. In this way a range of outer casings may be provided for use with the same load carrying unit. In some embodiments the outer casing may be arranged on a layer of low friction material to further enhance how easily the device can be slid across the floor upon which the item is being moved across.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the Figures in which:

Brief Description of Figures

Figure 1 shows isometric detail views of an embodiment of the device according to the present invention in a second position;

Figure 2 shows an isometric view of the embodiment of the device shown in Figures 1 , in a second position;

Figure 3 shows an isometric detail view of the embodiment of the device shown in Figures 1 , in the second position;

Figure 4 shows an isometric detail view of the embodiment of the device shown in Figures 1 , in the first position;

Figures 5 show isometric detail views of the embodiment of the device shown in figures 1 , in use; and

Figures 6A, 6B and 6C show a load carrying unit being received within an outer casing.

Detailed Description of the Embodiment

With reference to the figures there is shown a preferred embodiment 99 of the load moving device. The load moving device 99 has an inflation means 1 , an elongate delivery means 7 and an inflatable load carrying unit 2. The pictured load carrying unit 2 is a substantially square flat bladder in a first position, with a long connected tube 7 forming the delivery means, such tube connected to a side of the bladder at a reinforced end 6.

The upper face 3 of the pictured embodiment comprises diagonal raised ribs 4. The lower surface 5 comprises a layer 10 (see Figure 4) which provides a low friction surface. A preferred material for the low friction surface may be polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE).

The PTFE layer may additionally prevent or reduce elasticity of the lower surface, for example stretching when under load, such that the lower face remains substantially planar whilst the upper surface deforms under input of fluid (air) into the bladder so as to expand the height of the load carrying unit by raising the upper face away from the lower face.

The load carrying unit 2 in general is made from a heavy duty rubber, and the upper and lower sheets that are bonded perimetrically to provide an edge that is not inflated in use in the second position.

The delivery means 7 is provided by an elongated rubber tube, which is permanently connected to the unit and has a distal end 1 1 that includes a reinforced collar.

The distal end 1 1 of the tube connects in use with a one-way valve 9 on a manual pumping balloon 8 in the embodiment pictured in Figure 1 .

In further embodiments such as shown in Figures 5, further pumping mechanisms may be envisaged, for example a balloon 18 with integrated valves or a foot pump or electrically driven pumping means, wherein in the pictured embodiment it may be envisaged that the pictured balloon may be disconnected and replaced as required. Figures 6A, 6B and 6C show an example of an outer casing 20. The outer casing 20 is a square pouch with three closed side edges 21 A, 21 B, 21 C and an opening 22. The load carrying unit 2 is received through the opening 22. The load carrying unit 2 is positioned in the casing so that the elongate delivery tube (not shown in Figures 6A, 6B, 6C) extends through the opening 22. In the pictured embodiment a connecting nozzle 2A is provided on the load carrying unit 2 that receives the elongate delivery channel (not shown).

The pictured outer casing 20 is formed from an upper layer 23 and a lower layer 24 that are joined at the closed side edges 21 A, 21 B and 21 C.

The upper layer 23 has a high friction finish 25 formed by lengths of textured tape that are adhered to an outer face of the upper layer 23.

The load carrying unit 2 shown in Figures 6A, 6B and 6C does not have modified upper or lower faces as the low friction and high friction surfaces are provided by the outer casing.

The invention has been described by way of examples only and it will be appreciated that variation may be made to the above-mentioned embodiments without departing from the scope of invention as defined by the claims.