Heavy-duty lifting sling apparatus and methods for using the same

Abstract

A lifting sling apparatus for lifting, holding, and transporting materials. More particularly, the invention relates to a lifting sling comprising a reinforced heavy-duty fabric body, such as, for example, a geotextile fabric, i.e., a synthetic fabric made from polypropylene, polyester, or other like synthetic materials, having heavy-duty sling webbing loops and reinforcement webbing on the body.

Claims

1. A lifting sling apparatus comprising: a base layer comprising a fabric; a first webbing strap having a first segment stitched along its length to the base layer and extending from a first side of the base layer to a second side of the base layer, the first webbing strap extending outwardly from the second side of the base layer and looping back to the base layer to form a first sling loop, the first webbing strap further having a second segment stitched along its length to the base layer and extending from the second side of the base layer to the first side of the base layer, the first webbing further extending outwardly from the first side of the base layer and looping back to the base layer to form a second sling loop, wherein the first webbing strap is a first single and continuous loop of polymeric webbing; a second webbing strap having a first segment stitched along its length to the base layer and extending from a third side of the base layer to a fourth side of the base layer, the second webbing strap extending outwardly from the fourth side of the base layer and looping back to the base layer to form a third sling loop, the second webbing strap further having a second segment stitched along its length to the base layer and extending from the fourth side of the base layer to the third side of the base layer, the second webbing strap further extending outwardly from the third side of the base layer and looping back to the base layer to form a fourth sling loop, wherein the second webbing strap is a second single and continuous loop of polymeric webbing, wherein the first segment of the first webbing strap overlaps and is stitched to the first and second segments of the second webbing strap forming first and second intersections, respectively, the second segment of the first webbing strap overlaps and is stitched to the first and second segments of the second webbing strap forming third and fourth intersections, respectively; and a first short loop extending from an edge of the base layer, the first short loop formed from a short webbing strap, the short webbing strap having a first segment stitched to and extending from the first intersection and stitched along its length to the base layer, a second segment extending from the first segment and forming the first short loop by extending out from the edge of the base layer and looping back to the edge of the base layer, and a third segment extending from the second segment and stitched along its length to the base layer.

2. The lifting sling apparatus of claim 1 wherein the base layer is made from a woven synthetic material.

3. The lifting sling apparatus of claim 2 wherein the base layer is made from polypropylene or polyester.

4. The lifting sling apparatus of claim 1 wherein the base layer comprising a plurality of layers.

5. The lifting sling apparatus of claim 1 wherein the base layer comprises a fluid absorbing layer.

6. The lifting sling apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first sling loop, the second sling loop, the third sling loop, and the fourth sling loop are configured to be lifted forming an interior compartment for holding material therein.

7. A method of lifting material comprising the steps of: providing the lifting sling apparatus of claim 1; providing material to be lifted; placing the material on the base layer; lifting the first sling loop, the second sling loop, the third sling loop and the fourth sling loop forming an interior compartment; and holding the material within the interior compartment.

8. The lifting sling apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: a third webbing strap extending from the first side of the base layer to the opposing second side of the base layer and stitched along its length to the base layer.

9. The lifting sling apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: a third webbing strap extending from the first side of the base layer to the opposing second side of the base layer and stitched along its length to the base layer; and a fourth webbing strap extending from the third side of the base layer to the opposing fourth side of the base layer and stitched along its length to the base layer.

10. The lifting sling apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: a second webbing strap short loop extending from a sixth side of the base layer.

11. The lifting sling apparatus of claim 10 further comprising: a third webbing strap short loop extending from a seventh side of the base layer; and a fourth webbing strap short loop extending from an eighth side of the base layer.

12. The lifting sling apparatus of claim 11 wherein the first webbing strap short loop comprises a first webbing strap segment stitched along its length to the base layer, wherein the second webbing strap short loop comprises a second webbing strap segment stitched along its length to the base layer, wherein the third webbing strap short loop comprises a third webbing strap segment stitched along its length to the base layer, and wherein the fourth webbing strap short loop comprises a fourth segment stitched along its length to the base layer.

13. The lifting sling apparatus of claim 1 wherein the base layer is in the shape of an octagon.

14. The lifting sling of claim 1 wherein the first sling loop and second sling loop are configured to be lifted forming an interior compartment for holding material therein.

15. A method of lifting material comprising the steps of: providing the lifting sling apparatus of claim 1; providing material to be lifted; placing the material on the base layer; lifting the first sling loop and the second sling loop forming an interior compartment; and holding the material within the interior compartment.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The drawing figures depict one or more implementations in accord with the present concepts, by way of example only, not by way of limitations. In the figures, like reference numerals refer to the same or similar elements.

(2) FIG. 1 is a top view of a lifting sling apparatus in an embodiment of the present invention.

(3) FIGS. 2A-2B illustrate a lifting sling apparatus lifting debris in an embodiment of the present invention.

(4) FIG. 3 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a lifting sling apparatus showing a plurality of layers in an embodiment of the present invention.

(5) While the invention is susceptible of various modifications and alternative constructions, a certain embodiment is shown in the drawings and described in detail below. It should be understood, however, that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific form disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions and methods, and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(6) The present invention relates to a lifting sling for lifting, holding, and transporting materials. More particularly, the invention relates to a lifting sling comprising a reinforced heavy-duty fabric body, such as, for example, a geotextile fabric, i.e., a synthetic fabric made from polypropylene, polyester, or other like synthetic materials, having heavy-duty sling webbing loops and reinforcement webbing on the body.

(7) Referring now to FIG. 1, a lifting sling apparatus 10 is shown and described herein. Lifting sling apparatus 10 comprises a base 12 of flexible fabric, such as a synthetic, woven fabric formed from, preferably, one or more polymeric materials, in the form of a flat tarp that may be utilized for holding objects therein, as described in more detail below.

(8) For example, the base 12 may be made from woven polypropylene and/or polyester, or any other material apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art. Preferably, the base 12 may be a geotextile material. Preferably, the base 12 may be impervious or resistant to tears from material carried within the lifting sling apparatus 10, and may further preferably be impervious to fluids. As such, the base 12 may comprise a plurality of layers of synthetic fabric for enhanced strength and tear-resistance. In addition, the base 12 may comprise an absorbent layer for fluids, such as aqueous fluids and/or oil-based fluids. Specifically, FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of an exemplary base 12, showing a first layer 100 of a polymeric material that is impervious to fluids and a second layer 102 of a fluid absorbent layer that is fastened to the first layer, such as by stitching, adhesive, or other like fastening means. The absorbent layer may be stitched, glued or otherwise fastened to the other layers of fabric, either as an external layer of a multiple layer base, or an internal layer thereof. In a preferred embodiment, the base layer may have stitching running around a periphery of the base 12 to add extra strength and resilience to the base layer. Preferably, the base 12 may have webbing disposed around the periphery of the base 12 and stitched thereto to provide further strength and resilience. More preferably, the webbing may be a strap that is folded over the peripheral edge of the base 12, roughly half of which is stitched to one side of the base 12 and the other half stitched to the other side of the base 12.

(9) As illustrated in FIG. 1, the base 12 may be configured as an octagon, although the precise shape of the base 12 may not be so limited. For example, the base 12 may be a square, rectangle, circle, oval, hexagon, or other like geometric shape. As shown in FIG. 1, the base 12 is preferably an octagon, as an octagon provides a plurality of sides for various elements to extend therefrom, such as a plurality of loops, as described in more detail below.

(10) Extending from the sides of the base 12 may be a plurality of sling loops 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d. The sling loops 14a-14d may preferably be made from reinforced polymeric webbing or straps that may extend from the sides of the base 12 but further may be sewn or stitched to the base 12 on a continuous path along their lengths over the surface of the base 12, thereby traversing the entirety of the base 12 from one end thereof to another, each webbing strap forming a pair of sling loops disposed on opposite sides of the base 12. Specifically, sling loops 14a, 14c may be made from a single webbing strap 16a that is stitched onto the base 12 on one side of the base 12 from corner 18a to corner 18b forming webbing segment 20a, loops around from corner 18b to corner 18c of the base 12 to form sling loop 14a, is further stitched to the base 12 from corner 18c to corner 18d forming segment 20b, and loops around from corner 18c back to 18a forming sling loop 14c.

(11) Likewise, sling loops 14b, 14d may be made from a single webbing strap 16b that is stitched onto the base 12 on the one side of the base 12 from corner 18e to corner 18f forming webbing segment 20c, loops around from corner 18f to corner 18g of the base 12 to form sling loop 14b, is further stitched to the base 12 from corner 18g to corner 18h forming segment 20d, and loops around from corner 18h back to 18e forming sling loop 14d.

(12) The sling loops 14a-14d are therefore heavily reinforced since they are formed from continuous webbing straps that are sewn or stitched to the base 12 over the entirety of the base 12 from side to side, and further overlap each other providing further strength. The sling loops 14a-14d may preferably be used as lifting slings, so that the lifting sling apparatus 10 may be lifted via heavy machinery, such as a crane, forklift, or other like machine. Of course, the sling loops 14a-14d may be used for any other purpose as apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art.

(13) Alternately, the sling loops 14a-14d may be made from other materials and may be connected to the sides and/or corners of the base 12. For example, the sling loops 14a-14d may be made from chain that provides strength and resilience during lifting, especially of very heavy objects. In an embodiment, webbing straps may be stitched to and extend across the surface of the base 12 and terminate at rings on the sides and/or corners of the base 12, whereas chains may extend therefrom and loop around to form the sling loops 14a-14d.

(14) Reinforcing webbing straps 22a, 22b may extend from side to side without looping around to form loops. Specifically, webbing strap 22a may extend from side 24a to side 24e, whereas webbing strap 22b may extend from side 24c to side 24g. These webbing straps provide additional reinforcement to the lifting sling apparatus 10.

(15) Finally, short loops 26a, 26b, 26c, 26d may be made from webbing straps that extend from sides 24b, 24d, 24f, 24h, respectively. These short loops 26a-26d may be made from webbing straps that are stitched from intersections of the loop webbing straps 20a, 20b forming segments 28a, 28b, 28c, 28d, respectively, and form the short loops 26a-26d by looping back over themselves to be stitched to the base 12. These short loops 26a-26d may be used for other purposes, such as running line therethrough for tying down or closing the sides toward each other, or for any other purpose apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art. Moreover, it should be noted that any number of short loops may extend from the sides of the base 12, and the present invention should not be limited as described herein. The short loops may provide a place for chain, rope or other like material to be disposed therethrough, providing either additional lifting locations or to allow the base 12 to be cinched together, especially when containing material or debris therein.

(16) FIGS. 2A-2B illustrate lifting sling apparatus 10 utilized to lift an amount of debris 50 in an embodiment of the present invention. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2A, an amount of debris 50 may be placed on the lifting sling apparatus 10 for lifting and carrying the same, as illustrated in FIG. 2B. The debris may be any material, but may include construction material, waste material, and other like material, whether wood, concrete, wire, or any other material. Specifically, FIG. 2B illustrates a crane 52 having a lifting line 54 connected to the lifting straps 14a-14d of the lifting sling apparatus 10. The crane 52 is illustrated lifting the lifting sling apparatus 10 and carrying the debris 50 contained therein for disposal of the same. The lifting sling apparatus 10 is sufficiently strong to hold the amount of debris therein and to be lifted by the sling loops 14a-14d without tearing or separating the lifting straps from the main body thereof. Likewise, the lifting sling apparatus 10 may be sufficiently resilient to prevent rips, punctures, or tears that may occur when lifting material having sharp edges, spikes, or other like elements that may rip, puncture or tear the lifting sling apparatus 10.

(17) It should be noted that various changes and modifications to the presently preferred embodiments described herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention and without diminishing its attendant advantages. Further, references throughout the specification to “the invention” are nonlimiting, and it should be noted that claim limitations presented herein are not meant to describe the invention as a whole. Moreover, the invention illustratively disclosed herein suitably may be practiced in the absence of any element which is not specifically disclosed herein.