Methods and Apparatus for Transport of Objects

Abstract

A apparatus and method for transporting oversized objects, particularly substantially flat or planar objects. In certain embodiments the object is a material in sheet form, such as a wood sheet, metal sheet, dry wall, and the like, or a narrow object such as bed mattresses, tabletops, mirrors and plate glass, doors and the like. Preferably the object is capable of being transported by a single person. In certain embodiments the apparatus is structured to be capable of transporting a mattress through an open doorway without unloading the object.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A method of transporting a substantially flat shaped object through a door, comprising:
 a) arranging said substantially flat shaped object to stand on a narrow edge thereof,   b) introducing a front portion of said narrow edge of the flat object along a rear flat shelf of a wheeled dolly having a maximum width of about 3 feet or less, wherein the dolly comprises a wheeled rear component having said rear flat shelf extending rearward therefrom; a front component; and a horizontal support component joining the rear component to the front component;   c) sliding the flat or planar object between a pair of vertically extending rigid members of said rear component and along the horizontal support component, said vertically extending rigid members structured to laterally support said object placed therebetween,   d) placing the front portion of said narrow edge of the flat or planar object between at least a pair of lateral supports joined to a vertically extending pedestal of said front component, said lateral supports extending rearward in a substantially common plane to define an open U-shaped structure to restrain lateral movement of the front potion of said object; and said pedestal having a handle affixed thereto and extending from the front side therefrom, and   e) using said handle to wheel said dolly through said doorway without unloading the object from the dolly.   
     
     
         2 ) The method of  claim 1  wherein the object is selected from the group consisting of a mattress, plate glass, dry wall, a wood sheet, a metal sheet, a mirror, a door and a table top. 
     
     
         3 ) The method of  claim 1  further comprising removing said object from said dolly after transporting the object through the doorway by reversing steps a)-e). 
     
     
         4 ) The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of securing said object to the dolly after step c) using fastening means located on said dolly. 
     
     
         5 ) The method of  claim 4  wherein said securing step comprises fastening a retaining means to a loop located on at least one of the vertically extending members. 
     
     
         6 ) The method of  claim 5  wherein said retaining means is selected from the group consisting of a strap, rope, twine and or bungee-type cord. 
     
     
         7 ) The method of  claim 1  comprising adjusting the height of said vertically extending rigid members the fit said object. 
     
     
         8 ) The method of  claim 1  comprising adjusting the width between said lateral supports to secure said object. 
     
     
         9 ) The method of  claim 1  comprising adjusting the length of the horizontal support component to secure said object. 
     
     
         10 ) The method of  claim 1  wherein the front component comprises a wheel to facilitate transport of the object. 
     
     
         11 ) The method of  claim 1  wherein the horizontal support component comprises a flat shelf affixed thereto to help support the object to be transported. 
     
     
         12 ) The method of  claim 4  wherein said securing step comprises fastening a retaining means to a loop located on at least one of the lateral support members. 
     
     
         13 ) The method of  claim 12  wherein said retaining means is selected from the group consisting of a strap, rope, twine and or bungee-type cord. 
     
     
         14 ) The method of  claim 1  wherein the wheeled rear component comprises two wheel assemblies, each comprising a wheel guard which is flat on an inside surface to protect the object to be transported from the wheel, said wheel guard comprising fitting on the outside vertical surface, such as an axle rod or pin which connects the wheel securely and rotatably to the wheel guard. 
     
     
         15 ) The method of  claim 1  wherein the rear component comprises a shelf housing and one or more frame segment slidably adjustable and securable along said shelf housing so as to permit adjustment of the distance between the vertically extending members thereof. 
     
     
         16 ) A method permitting a single person to transporting a substantially flat object from a first room to a second room comprising:
 a) arranging said substantially flat shaped object to stand on a narrow edge thereof,   b) introducing a front portion of said narrow edge of the flat object along a rear flat shelf of a wheeled dolly having a maximum width of about 3 feet or less, wherein the dolly comprises a wheeled rear component having said rear flat shelf extending rearward therefrom; a front component; and a horizontal support component joining the rear component to the front component;   c) sliding the flat or planar object between a pair of vertically extending rigid members of said rear component and along the horizontal support component, said vertically extending rigid members structured to laterally support said object placed therebetween, and wherein distance between the vertically extending members is slidably adjustable and securable so as to secure the object therebetween,   d) placing the front portion of said narrow edge of the flat or planar object between at least a pair of lateral supports joined to a vertically extending pedestal of said front component, said lateral supports extending rearward in a substantially common plane to define a rearward facing open U-shaped structure to restrain lateral movement of the front potion of said object; and said pedestal having a handle affixed thereto and extending from the front side therefrom, and   e) using said handle to wheel said dolly from a first room to a second room without unloading the object from the dolly.   
     
     
         17 ) The method of  claim 16  further comprising the step of securing said object to the dolly after step c) using fastening means located on said dolly. 
     
     
         18 ) The method of  claim 17  wherein said securing step comprises fastening a retaining means to a loop located on at least one of the vertically extending members. 
     
     
         19 ) The method of  claim 17  wherein said securing step comprises fastening a retaining means to a loop located on at least one of the lateral support members. 
     
     
         20 ) The method of  claim 16  wherein the front component comprises a wheel to facilitate transport of the object.