Carrier for membrane thermowelding device

Abstract

A wheeled carrier for a device for thermowelding a bituminous membrane to a target surface to transport the device from a first location to a location different from the first location before, during, or after the membrane installation process.

1 . A carrier for a wheeled device for thermowelding a covering layer to a surface comprising:
 a first base member;   a second base member;   a first elongated support member extending between the first base member and the second base member; and   at least one wheel movably engaged with each of the first base member and the second base member.   
     
     
         2 . The carrier of  claim 1 , wherein the first base member comprises a top wall having opposite facing first and second surfaces, a first edge, a second edge, an outer side edge, and inner side edge; and a side wall extending downwardly from the second surface from the inner side edge of the top wall comprising opposite facing first and second surfaces, a first edge, a second edge, and bottom edge. 
     
     
         3 . The carrier of  claim 2 , wherein the second base member comprises a top wall having opposite facing first and second surfaces, a first edge, a second edge, an outer side edge, and an inner side edge; and a side wall extending downwardly from the second surface of the top wall at the inner side edge of the of top wall comprising opposite facing first and second surfaces, a first edge, a second edge, and a bottom edge. 
     
     
         4 . The carrier of  claim 3 , wherein the first end of the first elongated support member is connected to the second surface of the side wall of the first base member; and wherein the second end of the first elongated support member is connected to the second surface of the side wall of the second base member. 
     
     
         5 . The carrier of  claim 4 , comprising an elongated interference member connected to said first and said second base members. 
     
     
         6 . The carrier of  claim 5 , comprising a mounting member connected to the elongated interference member. 
     
     
         7 . The carrier of  claim 6 , comprising a handle pivotably attached to the mounting member. 
     
     
         8 . The carrier of  claim 7 , comprising a rotatable wheel mounted to the mounting member. 
     
     
         9 . The carrier of  claim 8 , comprising at least one wheel moveably connected to the first base member and at least one wheel movably connected to the second base member. 
     
     
         10 . The carrier of  claim 9 , comprising a first set of wheels connected to the first base member and a second set of wheels movably connected to the second base member. 
     
     
         11 . The carrier of  claim 10 , wherein each of the first set and second set of wheels comprise a set of two wheels. 
     
     
         12 . The carrier of  claim 11 , wherein the two wheels of the first set of two wheels are aligned along an imaginary longitudinal axis; and the two wheels of the second set of two wheels are aligned along an imaginary longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         13 . The carrier of  claim 11 , wherein the wheels comprise undriven caster wheels. 
     
     
         14 . The carrier of  claim 13 , wherein each of the caster wheels comprises a wheel, a fork and a top mounting member. 
     
     
         15 . The carrier of  claim 14 , wherein the top mounting member of each of the caster wheel of the first set of two wheels is connected to the second surface of the top wall of the first base member of the carrier; and wherein the top mounting member of each of the caster wheel of the second set of two wheels is connected to the second surface of the top wall of the second base member of the carrier. 
     
     
         16 . The carrier of  claim 15 , comprising a set of elongated support members comprising the first elongated support member and a second elongated support member extending between the first base member and the second base member. 
     
     
         17 . The carrier of  claim 16 , wherein the first elongated support member includes opposite first and second ends and a length defined between the first and the second ends; and wherein the second elongated support member includes opposite first and second ends and a length defined between the first and the second ends. 
     
     
         18 . The carrier of  claim 17 , wherein the first and the second elongated support members are positioned in the same vertical plane in a spaced-apart and parallel configuration from one another. 
     
     
         19 . The carrier of  claim 18 , wherein the first and the second elongated support members extend horizontally from the second surface of the side wall of the first base member to the second surface of the side wall of the second base member. 
     
     
         20 . The carrier of  claim 19 , comprising a first gusset plate connected to the second surface of the top wall of the first base member and the first surface of the side wall of the first base member and a second gusset plate connected to the second surface of the top wall of the first base member and the first surface of the side wall of the first base member. 
     
     
         21 . The carrier of  claim 16 , comprising gusset plates for connecting the first and the second elongated support members to the side wall of the first base member and the side wall of the second base member. 
     
     
         22 . The carrier of  claim 21 , wherein the gusset plates comprise at least one set of spaced-apart gusset plates, wherein the gusset plates of the set of spaced-apart gusset plates each comprise gusset plate side edges, a bottom gusset plate edge, and a bevel edge. 
     
     
         23 . The carrier of  claim 22 , wherein the gusset plate side edges of gusset plates of at least one set are connected to the second surface of the side wall of the first base member and wherein the gusset plate side edges of gusset plates of at least one set are connected to the second surface of the side wall of the second base member. 
     
     
         24 . The carrier of  claim 23 , wherein the first end of the first elongated support member is positioned between the spaced-apart gusset plates of the gusset plate set connected to the second surface of the side wall of the first base member, and the second end of the first elongated support member is positioned between gusset plates of the gusset plate set connected to the second surface of side wall of the second base member, and wherein the first end of the second elongated support member is positioned between a second set of one of the spaced-apart gusset plates connected to the second surface of the side wall the of first base member; and wherein the second end of the second elongated support member is positioned between a second set of the spaced-apart gusset plates of one of the gusset plate sets connected to the second surface of the side wall of the second base member. 
     
     
         25 . A combination comprising a device for thermowelding a construction membrane to a surface and the carrier of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         26 . A method of moving a device for thermowelding a construction membrane to a surface from a first location to a second location, the method comprising:
 locating the carrier of  claim 1  at a first location;   engaging the device for thermowelding a construction membrane to a surface with the carrier at the first location; and   moving carrier with the device engaged therewith to a second location.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the roof surface is a low slope or zero slope roof surface. 
     
     
         28 . A method for thermowelding a bituminous membrane to a surface comprising:
 engaging a bituminous membrane with a wheeled device configured for thermowelding the bituminous membrane to the surface;   thermowelding a first length of the bituminous membrane to the surface with said wheeled device;   engaging the device with the carrier of  claim 1  after the length of bituminous membrane has been thermowelded to the surface;   moving the carrier with the device engaged therewith to a different location;   disengaging the device from the carrier; and   thermowelding at least one additional length of bituminous membrane to the surface.