Carrying apparatus, device and method for use

• US 6,742,973 B1
• Filed: 05/14/2002
• Issued: 06/01/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Carl M. Hendrix, Keith A. Hendrix
• Original Assignee: Carl M. Hendrix, Keith A. Hendrix
• Inventors: Hendrix, Keith A., Hendrix, Carl M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dayoan, D. Glenn
• Assistant Examiner(s): GUTMAN, HILARY L
• Application Number:
  US10/144,967
• Time in Patent Office: 749 Days
• Field of Search: 410/101, 410/106, 410/110, 410/31, 410/32, 410/34, 410/36, 410/42, 410/77, 410/89, 296/3, 248/227.15, 248/229.25, 248/227.1, 248/227.2, 248/227.4, 248/228.6, 248/228.8, 248/503, 224/403, 224/405, 224/309, 224/329, 224/331, 224/545
• US Class Current: 410/106
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 3/40 for carrying long loads, e.g. with separate wheeled load supporting elements E04G21/14 takes precedence; signal devices to be attached to overhanging load B60Q7/02
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 7/0807 Attachment points
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 7/12 the load being tree-trunks, beams, drums, tubes, or the like

Abstract

A device for anchoring and safely transporting equipment in land or water vehicles is described. The device comprises a metal hanger that is welded on one side to a flat steel bar that is bent into an offset U-shape whose top extends further than its bottom and allows the top to support a load. The device includes a metal bolt that clamps and anchors the material being transported. Other parts of the device include a metal bolt as clamping means, a movable metal rod in a T configuration on the bottom of the bolt, elastomeric fastening means, and a swivel head crimped to the top of the bolt such that the bolt and rod securely attach the hanger to a rail of a vehicle to secure the device in place. Elastomeric fastening means attach to the hanger device which a user laterally stretches across an item being transported to securely hold it in place during transport.

Claims

1. A carrying apparatus for the safe transportation of items in a vehicle comprising

a) a hanger device that is U-shaped with a horizontal span and two vertical spans of approximately equal lengths;

b) said hanger device, having a top and a bottom, that is welded on one side to a flat steel bar that is bent into an offset U-shape whose top extends further than its bottom that allows the top to support a load;

c) a hole drilled into the bottom of said flat steel bar to receive a threaded metal bolt as clamping means;

d) said threaded metal bolt is attached at its bottom perpendicularly to a movable metal rod in a T configuration on the bottom of the bolt and a swivel head is crimped to the top of the bolt such that the bolt and rod securely attach the hanger device to a vertical rail inside of the vehicle to secure the device in place;

e) a stretchable elastomeric fastening means that is attached to an inner portion of the horizontal span of the hanger device and is laterally stretched across the items being transported to securely hold the items in place during transport.

2. The carrying apparatus of claim 1 wherein the hanger device is manufactured from a durable metal that is strong enough to support the items being transported in sizes that range from about two inches to about three inches long and with a diameter from ⅛

(″

) inch to ½

(″

) inch.

3. The carrying apparatus of claim 2 wherein the metal bolt is compatible with the metal of the hanger device, is protected from rust in ordinary use, and is up to four inches in length and whose securing movable metal rod is about two inches in length.

4. The carrying apparatus of claim 3 wherein the metal bolt is protected from rust from treatments selected from the group consisting of zinc coating, zinc impregnation, coating with a rust inhibitor, and fabrication from a non-ferrous metal.

5. The carrying apparatus of claim 2 wherein the hanger device and clamping means are coated with a protective coating which provides protection from rust and other environmental degradation.

6. The carrying apparatus of claim 1 wherein the items that are transported are elongated items selected from the group consisting of fishing rods, fishing rods with reels, archery bows, and construction tools and building equipment such as levels, conduit, pipe used for irrigation purposes, power cords, rope, shovels, hoes, rakes, pitch forks, post hole diggers, ladders, string trimmers, sledge hammers, and pry bars.

7. The carrying apparatus of claim 1 wherein the items that are transported are coiled items selected from the group consisting of power cords, rope, extension cord, hose, electric wires, and plastic or copper tubing used in plumbing.

8. The carrying apparatus of claim 1 wherein, to further ensure the safe transport and damage protection of the items being transported, a foam-filled rubber tube is wrapped around the bottom of the hanger device which supports the items being transported.

9. The carrying apparatus of claim 1 wherein an elongated elastomeric fastening means that is firmly fitted to one side of the bottom of the hanger device is pulled by a user in a direction lateral to the item being transported and attaches to the top of the hanger device thereby stretching over the items being transported to hold them securely in place during transport.

10. The carrying apparatus of claim 1 wherein attachment to the rail bed of the vehicle is accomplished by manually adjusting the swivel head crimped to the top of the bolt to tightly fit the underside of the rail.

11. The carrying apparatus of claim 1 wherein the items being transported in a vehicle are attached in a temporary manner in locations selected from the group consisting of the inside of the rail bed of a pickup truck, an automotive roof rack, and an upper edge of the side of a boat to protect said items while being transported in the vehicle.

12. An anchoring device for safely holding items being transported comprising

a U-shaped hanger with one horizontal span and two vertical spans of approximately equal lengths that is welded on one side to a flat steel bar that is bent into an offset U-shape, said flat steel bar has a top and a bottom, said top extends further than the bottom and allows the top to support a load;

the flat steel bar is attached to clamping means that is attached to both said hanger and a separate threaded metal bolt and is attached at the bottom perpendicularly to a movable metal rod in a T configuration on the bottom of the bolt and a swivel head crimped to the top of the bolt such that the bolt and rod securely attach the anchoring device to an inside rail of a vehicle to secure the device in place and a stretchable rubber fastening means that is attached to an inner portion of the horizontal span of the hanger that securely holds said load being transported.

13. The anchoring device of claim 12 wherein a foam-filled rubber tube is wrapped around the horizontal span to further protect the load being transported.

14. The anchoring device of claim 12 wherein the stretchable rubber fastening means on the bottom of the hanger is pulled by a user in a direction lateral to the load held and is manually attached to the top of the hanger.

15. The anchoring device of claim 13 wherein the foam-filled rubber tube and rubber fastening means may be removed by a user from the hanger for replacement as needed.

16. A method for safely transporting an elongated item in a vehicle which comprises

attaching a pair of devices, each comprising clamping means attached to a vehicle rail by a swivel head of a metal bolt, said clamping means permanently attached to a U-shaped hanging means, said hanging means comprising a flexible fastening device, on opposite ends of the rail;

placing the elongated item in the U-shaped hanging means such that each end of said item lies in one of the U-shaped hanging means;

fastening said item into place by pulling the flexible fastening device laterally across the elongated item which has been placed in the U-shaped hanging means; and

transporting the elongated item safely.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the vehicle containing the rail to which the devices are fastened is selected from the group consisting of a pickup truck, an automobile with a roof rack, and a boat.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein the step of attaching the devices that hold and transport the elongated items that are attached to the rail of the vehicle is done manually by a user by adjusting the swivel head of the metal bolt.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein the vehicle to which the devices are attached is a pickup truck equipped with a pair of said rails;

each of said rails simultaneously utilized for transporting two groups of the elongated items using four devices, two on each rail.