GB2240749A - Folding wheelbarrow - Google Patents

Abstract

The wheelbarrow comprises tubes 1 and 2 and polymer fabric container 3. Tube 1 is bent to comprise axle 1a for wheel 8, sides 1b and handles 1c. Tube 2 is bent to comprises central transverse upper fabric support 2a, two rearwardly erected portions 2b sides 2c and divergent termination portions 2d each ending in a respective foot portion 2e. Container 3 stretches over 2a and 2b to give an upwardly open planar mouth secured at 4 and 5 near handles 1c. If desired, bar 6 can be incorporated to fix the rear container edge. Axle 7 acts as a folding pivot for portions 1 and 2, and also provides a lower fixing point for the container fabric. Rigidifying strut 10 can also be incorporated if desired. <IMAGE>

Description

IMPROVED WHEELBARROW This invention relates to wheelbarrows and similar garden trolleys.

A wheelbarrow is conventionally formed as a rigid body mounted on a frame supported on one or two forward wheels and held by two rearwardly directed handles. It is typically fabricated so that it can carry either dense heavy refuse or lightweight garden refuse such as clippings, cuttings etc. A disadvantage of the conventional design of wheelbarrow is its bulk. The wheel barrow is bulky to store. either in its normal standing position or when tilted against a wall, and is therefore not untypically left outside of any storage shed, whereby it can deteriorate or is liable to theft.

We have realised that the inconvenient bulk of an empty wheel barrow has its origins in the dual-purpose nature of such an article, that is to say, in the provision of carrying facilities for either lightweight rubbish or heavy dense materials such as sand or gravel.

The present invention therefore sets out to provide a lightweight wheelbarrow structure which is suitable for lightweight garden refuse or the like and which can be folded into a small volume for storage.

The present invention consists in a wheelbarrow or like wheeled container having a foldable tubular framework to which is attached an area of polymer fabric or like lightweight sheet material in such a configuration that when the wheel barrow is erected the fabric takes up the shape of a wheel barrow structure but when the tubular configuration is folded the fabric remains attached to the tubes and becomes folded into a compact volume; in which the tubular framework comprises (a) a first metal tube bent to exhibit (i) a central transverse axle for at least one rolling member, continued at the ends by (ii) two upwardly and rearwardly directed mutually divergent side members each terminating in a rearwardly directed handle member and (b) a second metal tube bent to exhibit (i) a central transverse upper fabric support bar (ii) two generally rearwardly directed fabric support continuation portions (iii) two downwardly and rearwardly directed mutually convergent side members and (iv) two mutually divergent termination portions one for each side member.

Preferably, there is a transverse folding and unfolding axis joining the side members (a) and (b) in pairs towards their lower ends.

As an additional safety feature a rigidifying bar can attach, parallel to said axis, to one or other of said tubes.

Typically, the rearwardly directed handle members and the rearwardly directed fabric support continuation portions are all generally coplanar with each other and with the opening of the wheelbarrow. The edges of the polymer fabric or like sheet material, such as for example heavy-duty polymer film, are located across the central transverse fabric support portions, back along each rearwardly directed fabric support portion, across between the side members. Usually a transverse additional tube member is present at the back to improve overall tensioning.

The wheel of such a structure may be internally sprung e.g. as shown in our corresponding European Patent Application 82305292.

The invention will be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of wheelbarrow in accordance with the invention, Figure 2 is a side view of the embodiment of Figure 1 when folded and hanging against a wall, Figure 1 shows a wheel barrow comprising three main portions namely a first metal tube 1, a second metal tube 2, and a polymer fabric container 3.

Tube 1 is bent to exhibit a transverse axle la, two upwardly and rearwardly directed sides lb, and rearwardly directed handle portions ic.

Tube 2 is bent to exhibit a central transverse upper fabric support 2a, two generally rearwardly directed fabric support portions 2b, two downwardly and rearwardly directed side portions 2e, and two mutually divergent termination portions 2d each ending in foot portion 2e.

The polymer fabric container 3 is attached over central support 2a, and support portions 2b, and is stretched from there to define a horizontal opening1 with its rearward edge parallel to the upper portion la of the first trapezoidal frame and stretched, between points 4 and 5. If desired, a metal bar 6 may be fixed between these points, over which bar the rearward edge of the container can be turned and fastened.

-At its lowest part the fabric 3 is tied to, or permanently looped about and axle 7 on which the ribs ib and side portions 2c mutually pivot.

Transverse strut 10 moreover provides a valuable rigidifying effect at the axis of pivoting.

The device as shown provides a lightweight wheelbarrow structure in which the flexible container is fastened to the structure at all times so as to preserve and define an opening at all times when the wheelbarrow is in use.

The device is therefore not to be confused with trolleys of tubular metal framework which can receive and support a separate bag of polymer or like fabric, for lifting in and out of the trolley. In the present invention the fabric member is fixed to the trolley being tied or looped at the base, and stretched over and held open by the portions 2a and 2b and bar 6 is present.

The wheel barrow as shown in Figure 1 can readily be folded into a minimal size when not in use. This is shown in Figure 2, in which the second tube is tiLted in such a way that portion 2a approaches handles lc and the divergent portions 2d approach the axle la of the wheel 8 and fit outside of the wheel. The configuration when hung up is as shown in Figure 2, wherein like reference numerals have the same meaning as in Figure 1. Attention is drawn to the folding of the flexible bag, which is at all times a component part of the wheelbarrow and which is not removed either in use or during storage.

Moreover, permanent straps 9 can be tied to form a loop for hanging up the wheel barrow when not in use.

It will be apparent therefore that there is provided a wheelbarrow structure of particular lightweight and of adequate carrying capacity and strength for light garden refuse. Although the wheel 13 is positioned well forward of the centre of gravity, the use for light refuse is not thereby prejudiced.

Wheel member 8 is a particular valuable feature of this embodiment of the present invention. We have found that when using a lightweight wheel barrow full of lightweight refuse there is a tendency for the refuse to become jerked or thrown about ( possibly leaving the wheel barrow altogether), if the wheel barrow is pushed over a discontinuity in height such as a kerb. This problem could be overcome by incorporation of a sprung mounting for the wheel, but this would increase the complication and expense and is moreover unnecessary in most normal use since the contents of the wheelbarrow are expected to be light in weight. Accordingly, it is preferred to provide a wheel 13 as shown which has an internally sprung configuration so that the axis can adopt different distances from the rim to accommodate sudden impact or discontinuity in height. We have found that the use of an internally sprung wheel in this manner is of particular value in the provision of a lightweight wheel barrow of the type defined above.

Further details of such wheels can be established from our European Application No. 81305292.

Claims (7)

CLAIMS:

1. A wheelbarrow or like wheeled container having a foldable tubular framework to which is attached an area of polymer fabric or like lightweight sheet material in such a configuration that when the wheel barrow is erected the fabric takes up the shape of a wheel barrow structure but when the tubular configuration is folded the fabric remains attached to the tubes and becomes folded into a compact volume; in which the tubular framework comprises (a) a first metal tube bent to exhibit (i) a central transverse axle for at least one rolling member, continued at the ends by (ii) two upwardly and rearwardly directed mutually divergent side members each terminating in a rearwardly directed handle member and (b) a second metal tube bent to exhibit (i) a central transverse upper fabric support bar (ii) two generally rearwardly directed fabric support continuation portions (iii) two downwardly and rearwardly directed mutually convergent side members and (iv) two mutually divergent termination portions one for each side member.

2. A wheelbarrow or the like as claimed in claim 1 in which there is a transverse folding and unfolding axis joining the side members (a) and (b) in pairs towards their lower ends.

3. A wheelbarrow or the like as claimed in claim 2 in which a rigidifying bar attaches to one or other of said tubes parallel to said axis.

4. A wheelbarrow or the like as claimed in claims 1, 2 or 3 in which the rearwardly directed handle members and the rearwardly directed fabric support continuation portions are all generally coplanar with each other and with the opening of the wheelbarrow.

5. A wheelbarrow or the like as claimed in any one preceding claim in which the edges of the polymer fabric or like sheet material are located across the central transverse fabric support portions, back along each rearwardly directed fabric support portion, and across between the side members.

6. A wheelbarrow or the like as claimed in claim 5 in which a transverse additional tube member is present at the back to improve overall tensioning.

7. A wheelbarrow or the like as claimed in claim 1 and substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.