Detachable Dolly Cradle and Handle for Balanced Load Transport
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Solution Overview
Problem
Manually lifting and transporting heavy landscaping materials like potted or balled trees or shrubs is laborious and cumbersome, and existing solutions such as ball carts and front-loaders have limitations like requiring user balance, site access restrictions, and potential turf damage.
Innovation Solution
A dolly with a cradle and handle system, where the cradle has an upstanding rail and wheels, and the handle has a lever arm and second mounting portion that can detachably engage with the cradle, allowing for easy lifting and balanced transport of heavy loads.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If ball carts and dollies are used to transport heavy loads, then the lifting capacity is increased, but the user must balance the load during transport which makes the operation cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of positioning the load towards the user as in conventional dollies, this invention inverts the approach by providing a cradle that cradles the load from below, with the handle extending forward and upward. The cradle's base is positioned beneath the load's center of gravity, allowing the user to pull the handle without needing to balance the load manually during transport.
2Weight of moving object
If front-loaders are used to move large loads, then the lifting capacity is sufficient for the largest loads, but the equipment is expensive and has site access limitations
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the heavy-duty lifting function into a simple, modular dolly system consisting of a cradle, base, and handle. This segmented design allows the system to handle large loads equivalent to front-loader capacity while being inexpensive and maneuverable in tight spaces where full-size front-loaders cannot access.
Solution Approach 2:
The dolly is designed as a self-contained unit where the cradle and handle work together as an integrated system. The cradle's base positioned beneath the load provides automatic support and stability, eliminating the need for expensive external equipment like front-loaders while maintaining the capability to move large loads.
3Device complexity
If conventional dollies position the load towards the user, then the lifting mechanism is simplified, but the user must balance the load which increases labor intensity
Solution Approach 1:
The invention inverts the conventional dolly configuration by positioning the cradle's base beneath the load rather than having the load rest on a platform in front of the user. This inversion automatically centers the load's weight on the cradle's support structure, eliminating the need for the user to manually balance the load while maintaining operational simplicity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables efficient and balanced transport of heavy landscaping materials, reducing user effort and minimizing turf damage, as the dolly allows for single-user operation with optimal leverage and easy steering, making it easier to move large loads without the need for expensive equipment.
Implementation Method 1
A pair of wheels are rotatably mounted to the rearward portion of the cradle
Implementation Method 2
The handle comprises at least one wheel rotatably mounted thereto, a lever arm and a second mounting portion
Data Source
AI summary
A dolly for transporting a load comprises a cradle detachably mounted to a handle. The cradle comprises a base having an upstanding rail extending upwardly from the perimeter of the base and terminates at a forward portion of the base to define an opening, a first mounting portion mounted to the front portion of the cradle and a pair of wheels rotatably mounted to the rear portion of the cradle. The handle comprises a least one wheel, a lever arm and a second mounting portion positioned at non-parallel angle with respect the lever arm. The first and second mounting portions are configured to detachable engage so that the handle and cradle can be moved as one unit.