GB2068849A - Foldable barrow - Google Patents

Abstract

A foldable barrow comprises a frame made up of two substantially rectangular frame members 1 and 2 which are pivotally connected at 3 and a corresponding point on the opposite side of the barrow, and a collapsible bag 15 of flexible material removably attached to the frame. Means 10 are provided for releasably maintaining the frame in an open position and wheels 6 are also provided. The barrow is particularly suitable for transporting garden refuse. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Foldable barrow The present invention relates to a foldable barrow.

Foldable barrows of many different designs have been proposed for a variety of different purposes. However, up to the present time no completely satisfactory foldable barrow has been marketed. Accordingly an object of the invention is to provide a light barrow suitable for example, for transporting garden refuse which can be folded flat when not in use.

The present invention provides a foldable barrow comprising a frame and a collapsible bag of flexible material removably attached to the frame, the frame comprising two substantially rectangular frame members, two opposite sides of one frame member being pivotally connected to the corresponding sides of the other frame member in such a way that the frame can be folded substantially flat or can take up an open position with each set of corresponding pivotally connected sides forming an X, means being provided for releasably maintaining the frame in the open position and at least one of the substantially rectangular frame members being provided with wheels.

Preferably the frame is constructed of tubular aluminium which provides rigidity and strength without excessive weight. Preferably the collapsible bag is made of a reinforced plastics material and is resistant to tearing.

The barrow according to the invention has the advantages that the bag, together with contents can be removed from the frame and carried by hand and that the complete barrow folds flat for storage or carriage. The barrow is suitable for example for collecting garden refuse, which can then be carried in the bag to a collecting point or tip. The barrow can also be carried in the boot of a car of subsequent use to transport goods from the car for example to a campsite or boat.

The invention is described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawing which shows one example of a barrow according to the invention in the open position.

As shown in the drawing a frame is composed of two substantially rectangular frame members 1 and 2, two opposite sides of frame member 1 being pivotally connected to the corresponding sides of frame member 2.

One pivot is shown as 3, the other which is not shown being at a corresponding position on the other side of the barrow. The two substantially rectangular frame members are each constructed of four straight sections of tubular aluminium bolted together at appropriate points. The frame member 1 is provided at the top with extensions 4 bent in the form of handles with hand grips and at the bottom with extensions 5 carrying wheels 6. The frame member 2 is provided at the top with extensions 7 and at the bottom with extensions 8 capped with plastic balls 9 to form feet.

Means are provided for releasably maintaining the frame in the open position, these means taking the form of two retaining bars (one of which is shown as 10) pivotally connected at 11 and 1 2 to frame members 1 and 2. The retaining bars are formed in two parts pivotally connected in the centre at 1 3. When the frame is to be closed the retaining bar breaks in the centre and folds upwards. A stop 14 prevents folding of the two part retaining bar below the horizontal.

A collapsible bag 1 5 is releasably attached to the frame by any suitable means (not shown). For example material loops can be sewn to the bag for fastening around extensions 4 and 7, and around either or both of the bottom sections of frame members 1 and 2. Some or all of the material loops may be provided with catches to allow them to be undone. The bag may also be provided with webbing carrying handles (not shown) sewn to it at suitable places. The bag may be constructed of four panels attached along their edges, each panel having a substantially rectangular portion forming the sides of the bag and a tapering portion forming the bottom of the bag.

1. A foldable barrow comprising a frame and a collapsible bag of flexible material removably attached to the frame, the frame comprising two substantially rectangular frame members, two opposite sides of one frame member being pivotally connected to the corresponding sides of the other frame member in such a way that the frame can be folded substantially flat or can take up an open position with each set of corresponding pivotally connected sides forming an X, means being provided for releasably maintaining the frame in the open position and at least one of the substantially rectangular frame members being provided with wheels.

2. A foldable barrow as claimed in claim 1, wherein one of the substantially rectangular frame members is provided at the bottom with wheels and at the top with at least one handle.

3. A foldable barrow as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the means for releasably maintaining the frame in the open position is a retaining bar pivotally connected at each end to one of the sides of at least one of the X's formed by the pivotally connected sides of the rectangular frame members at positions above the pivot of the X, the retaining bar being formed in two parts pivotally connected at the centre.

4. A foldable barrow as claimed in claim 3, wherein both X's are provided with two

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (7)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Foldable barrow The present invention relates to a foldable barrow. Foldable barrows of many different designs have been proposed for a variety of different purposes. However, up to the present time no completely satisfactory foldable barrow has been marketed. Accordingly an object of the invention is to provide a light barrow suitable for example, for transporting garden refuse which can be folded flat when not in use. The present invention provides a foldable barrow comprising a frame and a collapsible bag of flexible material removably attached to the frame, the frame comprising two substantially rectangular frame members, two opposite sides of one frame member being pivotally connected to the corresponding sides of the other frame member in such a way that the frame can be folded substantially flat or can take up an open position with each set of corresponding pivotally connected sides forming an X, means being provided for releasably maintaining the frame in the open position and at least one of the substantially rectangular frame members being provided with wheels. Preferably the frame is constructed of tubular aluminium which provides rigidity and strength without excessive weight. Preferably the collapsible bag is made of a reinforced plastics material and is resistant to tearing. The barrow according to the invention has the advantages that the bag, together with contents can be removed from the frame and carried by hand and that the complete barrow folds flat for storage or carriage. The barrow is suitable for example for collecting garden refuse, which can then be carried in the bag to a collecting point or tip. The barrow can also be carried in the boot of a car of subsequent use to transport goods from the car for example to a campsite or boat. The invention is described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawing which shows one example of a barrow according to the invention in the open position. As shown in the drawing a frame is composed of two substantially rectangular frame members 1 and 2, two opposite sides of frame member 1 being pivotally connected to the corresponding sides of frame member 2. One pivot is shown as 3, the other which is not shown being at a corresponding position on the other side of the barrow. The two substantially rectangular frame members are each constructed of four straight sections of tubular aluminium bolted together at appropriate points. The frame member 1 is provided at the top with extensions 4 bent in the form of handles with hand grips and at the bottom with extensions 5 carrying wheels 6. The frame member 2 is provided at the top with extensions 7 and at the bottom with extensions 8 capped with plastic balls 9 to form feet. Means are provided for releasably maintaining the frame in the open position, these means taking the form of two retaining bars (one of which is shown as 10) pivotally connected at 11 and 1 2 to frame members 1 and 2. The retaining bars are formed in two parts pivotally connected in the centre at 1 3. When the frame is to be closed the retaining bar breaks in the centre and folds upwards. A stop 14 prevents folding of the two part retaining bar below the horizontal. A collapsible bag 1 5 is releasably attached to the frame by any suitable means (not shown). For example material loops can be sewn to the bag for fastening around extensions 4 and 7, and around either or both of the bottom sections of frame members 1 and 2. Some or all of the material loops may be provided with catches to allow them to be undone. The bag may also be provided with webbing carrying handles (not shown) sewn to it at suitable places. The bag may be constructed of four panels attached along their edges, each panel having a substantially rectangular portion forming the sides of the bag and a tapering portion forming the bottom of the bag. CLAIMS

1. A foldable barrow comprising a frame and a collapsible bag of flexible material removably attached to the frame, the frame comprising two substantially rectangular frame members, two opposite sides of one frame member being pivotally connected to the corresponding sides of the other frame member in such a way that the frame can be folded substantially flat or can take up an open position with each set of corresponding pivotally connected sides forming an X, means being provided for releasably maintaining the frame in the open position and at least one of the substantially rectangular frame members being provided with wheels.

2. A foldable barrow as claimed in claim 1, wherein one of the substantially rectangular frame members is provided at the bottom with wheels and at the top with at least one handle.

3. A foldable barrow as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the means for releasably maintaining the frame in the open position is a retaining bar pivotally connected at each end to one of the sides of at least one of the X's formed by the pivotally connected sides of the rectangular frame members at positions above the pivot of the X, the retaining bar being formed in two parts pivotally connected at the centre.

4. A foldable barrow as claimed in claim 3, wherein both X's are provided with two part retaining bars.

5. A foldable barrow as claimed in claim 3 or 4, wherein one of the parts of the two part retaining bar is provided with a stop to prevent folding of the two part retaining bar below the horizontal.

6. A foldable barrow as claimed in any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the collapsible bag is made up of four panels attached along their edges, the panels each having a substantially rectangular portion and a tapering portion.

7. A foldable barrow substantially as described with particular reference to the accompanying drawing.