Furniture handling strap

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11814253-B2
Application number	US-202117456111-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 22, 2021
Priority date	Nov 23, 2020
Publication date	Nov 14, 2023
Grant date	Nov 14, 2023

Abstract

A furniture handling strap assembly may be used to aid in lifting and carrying a furniture item such as a chair, sofa, or loveseat, for example. The handling strap assembly may include a strap, a bracket, and a fastener. The strap may include a first handling loop and a second handling loop. The first and second handling loops may be flexible. The bracket may be attached to the strap. The fastener may be configured to be received through an aperture in the bracket and may engage the furniture item. A person may insert his/her hand through one or both of the handling loops and gasp a portion of the strap. The person may use his/her other hand to support and stabilize the furniture member as the person lifts the furniture item. Another person may assist in lifting the furniture item using another one of the handling strap assemblies.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A furniture handling strap assembly comprising:
a strap including a first handling loop and a second handling loop, wherein the first and second handling loops are flexible;
a bracket attached to the strap; and
a fastener configured to be received through an aperture in the bracket,
wherein:
the second handling loop extends further away from the bracket than the first handling loop,
the first and second handling loops extend parallel to each other,
the strap includes a bracket loop attached to the bracket,
the strap is a single, continuous length of material that is folded into a plurality of layers to form the first handling loop, the second handling loop, and the bracket loop, wherein the plurality of layers includes a first layer, a second layer, a third layer, a fourth layer, and a fifth layer,
the first layer and second layer define the second handling loop,
the third layer and the fifth layer define the first handling loop,
the fourth layer and the fifth layer that define the bracket loop,
the plurality of layers are stacked on top of each other and secured in a stack by a stitching,
the first and second handling loops both extend from the stitching in a first direction, and
the bracket loop extends from the stitching in a second direction that is opposite the first direction.

2. The furniture handling strap assembly of claim 1 , wherein the fastener includes a head and a threaded shaft, and wherein the threaded shaft is configured to threadably engage a threaded aperture in a furniture item.

3. The furniture handling strap assembly of claim 2 , wherein the strap is a webbing of thread.

4. The furniture handling strap assembly of claim 3 , wherein the thread is a polyester thread.

5. The furniture handling strap assembly of claim 3 , wherein the bracket is a rigid member including a slot that receives the bracket loop of the strap.

6. A method of transporting a furniture item, the method comprising:
removing a first foot and a second foot from a first location and a second location, respectively, of an underside of the furniture item;
attaching a first handling strap assembly to the first location of the underside of the furniture item;
attaching a second handling strap assembly to the second location of the underside of the furniture item;
inserting a first hand of a first person through a selected one of first and second handling loops of the first handling strap assembly;
inserting a first hand of a second person through a selected one of first and second handling loops of the second handling strap assembly;
supporting the furniture item with a second hand of the first person, wherein the second hand of the first person is spaced apart from the first and second handling strap assemblies while supporting the furniture item;
supporting the furniture item with a second hand of the second person, wherein the second hand of the second person is spaced apart from the first and second handling strap assemblies while supporting the furniture item; and
lifting the furniture item and carrying the furniture item.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein removing the first and second feet from the furniture item includes unscrewing the first and second feet from apertures in the furniture item.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein attaching the first and second handling strap assemblies to the first and second locations includes threadably engaging fasteners of the first and second handling strap assemblies into the apertures at the first and second locations of the furniture item.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the first and second handling strap assemblies each include a bracket through which the fasteners extend, and wherein the second handling loop extends further away from the bracket than the first handling loop.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the first and second handling loops extend parallel to each other.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the first and second handling loops are formed from a webbing of thread.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the thread is a polyester thread.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the first and second handling loops are formed from a single, unitary length of the webbing of thread.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein:
the first and second handling loops are attached to each other by a stitching,
the first and second handling loops both extend from the stitching in a first direction,
the webbing of thread includes a bracket loop that extends from the stitching in a second direction that is opposite the first direction, and
the bracket loop engages the bracket.

Assignees

• La Z Boy Inc

Inventors

• Baker Jason M
• Rains Jason D

Classifications

• B65G7/12 Primary

  Load carriers, e.g. hooks, slings, harness, gloves, modified for load carrying · CPC title

• A45F3/14

  Carrying-straps; Pack-carrying harnesses · CPC title

• A45F2003/142

  Carrying-straps · CPC title