Apparatus for carrying hay bales

A hay bale that can be carried, comprising:

• a. a substantially solid compressed hay bale having an interior region and a first exterior surface;
• and
• b. a first essentially permanent carrying device, secured within a substantially solid portion of the interior region of the compressed hay bale and extending from the first exterior surface of the compressed hay bale, for carrying said compressed hay bale, the first essentially permanent carrying device including:
• (1) a first handle extending from said first exterior surface of said compressed hay bale,
• (2) a first coupler disposed within said interior region of said compressed hay bale, said first coupler having a handle end and a stopper end, said first handle being located at said handle end of said first coupler, and
• (3) a first stopper, located at said stopper end of said first coupler, for essentially permanently securing said first coupler within said interior region of said compressed hay bale.

A process for producing a hay bale that can be carried, the process comprising the steps of:

• a. providing a high-density compressed hay bale that is difficult to penetrate with a manual hay bale carrying apparatus, the high-density compressed hay bale having an interior region and a first exterior surface;
• b. essentially permanently securing a carrying device within a substantially solid portion of the interior region of the high-density compressed hay bale;
• and
• c. extending a portion of the carrying device from the first exterior surface of the high-density compressed hay bale, such that the high-density compressed hay bale can be carried using the extending portion of the carrying device, the carrying device remaining secured within the interior region of the high-density compressed hay bale when a force is applied to the first essentially permanent carrying device at essentially any angle relative to the first exterior surface.

An apparatus for carrying a compressed hay bale, prepared by a process comprising the steps of:

• a. compressing hay to form a substantially solid compressed hay bale having an interior region and a first exterior surface, the substantially solid compressed hay bale being difficult to penetrate with a manual hay carrying apparatus;
• b. inserting a coupler through the exterior surface of the substantially solid compressed hay bale and into the interior region of the substantially solid compressed hay bale;
• c. locating a handle at an end of the coupler, such that at least a portion of the handle extends from the exterior surface of the compressed hay bale;
• and
• d. essentially permanently securing at least a portion of the coupler within the interior region of the compressed hay bale.

A hay bale that can be carried, comprising:

• a. a substantially solid compressed hay bale having an interior region and an exterior surface;
• b. a handle extending from the exterior surface of the substantially solid compressed hay bale for carrying the substantially solid compressed hay bale;
• c. a coupler disposed within the interior region of the substantially solid compressed hay bale by mechanically inserting the coupler through the exterior surface and into the interior region of the substantially solid compressed hay bale, the coupler having a handle end and a stopper end, the handle being located at the handle end of the coupler;
• and
• d. a stopper, located at the stopper end of the coupler, for essentially permanently securing the coupler within the interior region of the substantially solid compressed hay bale.