GB2368316A

GB2368316A - Wheelbarrow with pivotal load container

Info

Publication number: GB2368316A
Application number: GB0022532A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ivan Patrick Williams; John Hepworth
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-09-14
Filing date: 2000-09-14
Publication date: 2002-05-01
Anticipated expiration: 2020-09-14
Also published as: GB2368316B; GB0022532D0

Abstract

A wheelbarrow (10), has a frame (12) comprising a pair of opposed frame elements (12A, 12B), between which a bucket (14) is pivotally mounted, the frame elements providing a pair of forward struts (18,20), a pair of rear ground engaging legs (32,34; 38, 40) and handle means (28,30) by which the barrow can be manipulated. The frame is constructed and arranged so that bucket is suspended between the frame elements.

Description

WHEELBARROW This invention relates to a handbarrow which preferably takes the form of the well

known"wheelbarrow"having a single front wheel but which may also take the form of I some other type of load carrying handbarrow.

An aspect of the invention is concerned with a wheelbarrow having a pivotal load receiving or load containing part. Another aspect of the invention is concerned with a frame and wheel assembly for one such type of wheelbarrow.

Yet another aspect of the invention is concerned with a container for pivotal attachment to one such type of wheelbarrow. A still further aspect of the invention is concerned with a wheelbarrow in which the centre of gravity of the load, when the wheelbarrow is raised for support on its wheel for use substantially passes through the diametrical extent of the wheel and preferably substantially through the wheel axis.

To this end, said one aspect of the invention provides a wheelbarrow comprising a frame including handle means by which the barrow may be manipulated and ground engaging means by which the barrow can stand at rest, said frame including a load receiving or containing part of the barrow such as a container and rolling means by which the handbarrow can be moved over the ground, said container being pivotally connected to

'd f said frame so that a loaded container will remain substantially level when the barrow is s conveyed. Preferably, the container is pivotally suspended from upper parts of the frame structure. Locking means may be provided to fix the container relative to the frame.

In order to give an improved load to lifting effort ratio to the user when lifting said ground engaging means of the frame out of contact with the ground, it is preferred that the pivotal connections between the load receiving or containing part of the barrow and the frame are substantially at the highest part of the frame relative to the ground and that those pivotal connections are disposed rearwardly, ie in a direction towards said handle means, of a vertical plane passing through the wheel axis when the barrow is free standing with said ground engaging means in contact with the ground.

Preferably, the pivotal connection between the load receiving or containing part and the frame is releasable such that the load receiving or containing part readily is detachable from the frame.

The said other aspect of the invention provides a frame and wheel assembly for a handbarrow, for example as defined in any of the three immediately preceding paragraphs, which assembly comprises a pair of opposed frame elements, each of which includes a forward strut from which a cross member extends and links said frame elements together said cross member carrying attachment means for the wheel or other rolling means of the handbarrow, a ground engaging leg having a ground engaging end disposed rearwardly of a junction between said forward strut and said leg, and having

handle means extending rearwardly of said ground engaging legs, wherein said frame 0 elements and wheel are constructed and arranged so that the load receiving or containing part of the barrow is disposed for pivotal movement between the frame elements. Means preferably are provided uppermost of said forward upright struts pivotally to receive said load receiving or containing device such as a large bucket to be suspended between said frame elements. Preferably, said means provide a readily detachable connection between the frame and the bucket or other load bearing container. Locking means may be provided to fix said pivotal means and thereby the container relative to said frame elements.

Preferably said handle means and said ground engaging end of each frame element are continuous parts of that frame element. Preferably said handle means and said ground engaging continuous parts are integral. In one form of this arrangement tipping of the container part of the barrow is facilitated because a user is able to keep a hold on the frame element at all times while the frame is being up-ended so that the users hands shift from the parts of the frame normally providing the handle means to parts of the frame normally providing the ground engaging ends.

Wheel axles are provided by forks extending from a cross member linking said struts at the lowermost ends thereof Wheelbarrows embodying the invention will now be described, by way of example, with

reference to the accompanying drawings, in which. C > Figure I is a perspective view of a first wheelbarrow according to the invention at rest and as seen from one side, Figure 2 is a perspective view of the first wheelbarrow shown in Figure 1 but as seen from a more forward position, Figure 3 is a side view of the first wheelbarrow with its ground engaging end raised out

of contact with the ground in a first position for movement ; I Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 but with the ground engaging legs raised out in contact with the ground into a second position for movement ; Figure 5 shows the container grounded after having been swung over the wheel whereafter the frame can be detached, Figure 6 is a perspective view of a second wheelbarrow according to the invention at rest and as seen from one side ; Figure 7 is another side view of the second wheelbarrow with its ground engaging end

raised out of contact with the ground for normal forward movement ; I Figure 8 shows the container grounded after having up-ended the frame so that the container is swung over the wheel and into contact with the ground ; Figure 9 is a perspective sketch of a third wheelbarrow according to the invention, at rest and as seen from above and to one side ; and

Figure 10 is a side view of the similar embodiment to that shown in Figure 9 but Fia incorporating an enlarged pivot boss.

Referring first to Figures I to 4, a wheelbarrow 10 has a barrow frame 12, comprising similar opposed tubular metal frame elements 12A, 12B, a detachable barrow container or bucket 14 and a wheel 16 on which the wheelbarrow is conveyed along the ground.

In this specification the term"wheel"is to be given a broad interpretation so as to include any suitable form of rolling element. For example, a ball type wheel may be utilized.

The frame 12 comprises a pair of parallel front struts 18 and 20 interconnected at their

lowennost ends by an integral transverse bar 22 ; from which a, pair of front forks 23, 1 23A extend, a pair of ground engaging legs 24 and 26 and a pair of handle-bars 28 and 30.

The ground engaging leg 24 comprises a backwardly swept connecter bar 32 and an

upright rear strut 34, the connector bar having one of its ends integral with the C > uppermost end of front strut 18 and the other of its ends integral with the lowermost end of upright rear strut 34 thereby forming between them a generally"N"-shaped frame element 12A. The junction between the connector bar and the upright rear strut provides a ground engaging knee 36 for frame element 12A. Likewise, the ground engaging leg 26 comprising a backwardly swept connector bar 38 parallel to bar 32 and an upright rear strut 40 parallel to strut 34. The connector bar has one of its ends integral with the uppermost end of front strut 20 and the other of its ends integral with the lowennost end of upright rear strut 40 thereby forming between them the"N"shaped frame element 12B. The junction between the connector bar 38 and upright rear strut 40 provides a ground engaging knee 42 for frame element 12B.

The uppermost ends of the upright rear struts 34 and 40 are interconnected by an integral transverse bar 44 parallel to the lower transverse bar 22. Handle bar 28 extends rearwardly of the barrow from the junction between the upright rear strut 34 and transverse bar 44. Likewise, handle bar 30 extends rearwardly of the barrow from the junction between the upright rear strut 40 and transverse bar 44 parallel to handle bar 28. Both the handle bars 28 and 30 extend downwardly relative to a notional horizontal plane so that when the barrow is raised in use, the hand grips of the handlebars (ie the free ends thereof) are brought into a satisfactory position for use. In order to carry the ground engaging wheel 16 the front transverse struts 18,20 are furnished with a pair of

forwardly projecting front forks 21 each having stub axles such as axle 25 to which the 01 1 wheel 16 of the barrow is rotatably journalled The front of the frame is reinforced by a U-piece wheel arch 29 which is connected to transverse bar 22 and each of the front forks 21. The barrow container which is opentopped, may be formed from metal, a moulded plastics material or comprise a wireframed canvas receptacle and is slung intermediate the two frame elements 12A, 12B. The container 14 is suspended from pivot shafts S. The pivot shaft S shown extends from the junction between fork 18 and connector bar 32 inwardly from its associated frame element 12A towards the opposite frame element 12B and, likewise the opposed pivot shaft (not shown) extends from the junction between fork 20 and connector bar 38 inwardly from its associated frame element 12B towards the opposite frame element 12A. Thus the pivot shafts are substantially at the highest point of the frame.

Container 14 is formed with a bearing socket B centrally of each of its uppermost longitudinal edges. Bearing sockets B pivotally suspend the barrow container in the frame 12 by the pivot shafts S. It is envisaged that the frame may be formed to provide the sockets and the container to provide the pivot shafts rather than the arrangement shown.

A s ! idab ! e locking pin 31 is provided along the rearward transverse edge of the container to lock the container relative to the frame by engagement with the transverse bar 44.

When the pin and bar are disengaged then the container is pivotally suspended with respect to the frame intermediate frame members 12A and 12B. It is envisaged that alternative locking means might be provided. For example, locking means may be incorporated in the bearing sockets B Figures 1 and 2 show the wheelbarrow in its normal free-standing position in which the ground engaging knees 36 and 42 and the wheel 16 are in contact with the ground G. It will be seen that in this position the pivot shafts S are located well behind a notional vertical plane"X-X"passing through the wheel axis whereby the notional downward projection of the centre of gravity of any container load beneath the pivot locations is initially behind the wheel Referring now to Figure 3, when the ground engaging legs are raised by lifting the handle-bars thereby bringing the knees 36 and 42 out of contact with the ground, the frame pivots about the bearing sockets B and about the wheel axles at the stub shafts 25, of the front forks so that pivot shafts S shift forwardly. The barrow is shown in Figure 3 at one first optimum attitude for conveying it in which the handle bars 28,30 are contained in a generally horizontal plane. It will be seen that the container has of course shifted forwardly so that the notional downward projection of the centre of gravity of any container load is now substantially at (or within) the diametric extent of wheel 16 as shown by arrow"Y"Therefore raising the barrow from its free standing position shown in Figure 2 to its raised attitude shown in Figure 3 causes the container and hence the load to shift forwardly and a reduction in effort over a like static container is experienced by the person handling the barrow. Thus, the load to lifting effort ratio is improved In figure 4, the barrow is shown in a second optimum position of use in which the handle bars are raised higher than is shown in Figure 3. In this position the container load is shifted even further forwardly over the wheel and indeed the notional downward projection (arrow"Y") of the centre of gravity of any container load passes substantially through the wheel axis, assuming of course that the load is evenly distributed within the container.

Besides any apparent load reduction effect which the pivoted mounting of the container provides it is of considerable advantage where the barrow is being used on sloping or stepped ground since the contents of the container are held in substantially the same generally level attitude.

In the embodiments shown, the barrow container in each case can be detached from the frame, and the frame then wheeled away leaving the container behind. This is illustrated in Figures 5 and 8 where the barrow is shown after having been tipped forwardly to an extent such that the container is swung over the top of the wheel until one (flat) face of the container engages the ground. Thereafter, a downward and rearward movement of the frame uncouples the container so that the frame can be detached and wheeled away leaving the container alone to be emptied and/or refilled That container or another similar container may be collected by attaching the frame to the container simply by reversing the detaching procedure In the embodiment shown in Figures 6 to 8 each of the side frame elements are continuous and hence the ground engaging ends and the handle means are continuous parts and are integral. By this arrangement tipping of the container part of the barrow is

facilitated because a user is able to keep a hold on the frame elements at all times while the frame is being up-ended so that the users hands shift from the parts of the frame normally providing the handle means to parts of the frame normally providing the ground engaging ends.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 9, each of the side frame elements are continuous and provided by a steel or other metal pressing. There are two like frame elements (Fl, F2) which are mirror images of one another. The side frame elements are connected together by the wheel (W) disposed between the front forks, by the detachable and pivotal container (C) and preferably by a transverse spar (not shown) interconnecting the handles (H). Figure 10 shows a like embodiment to that described with reference to Figure 9 in which the pivotal bosses (B) are enlarged and seat in arcuate recesses (R) formed in an upper part of the side frame elements The enlarged bosses reduce the swing of the container (C) by creating a damping effect.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A wheelbarrow comprising a frame structure including handle means by which the barrow may be manipulated and ground engaging means by which the barrow can stand at rest, said frame being adapted to receive a load receiving or containing part of the barrow such as a container and rolling means by which the barrow can be moved over the ground, said container being pivotally suspended from an upper part of the frame structure so that a loaded container will remain substantially level when the barrow is conveyed.
2. A wheelbarrow according to claim 1 wherein the ground engaging means and the

handle means are integral and continuous parts whereby the handle means are endless. hereby the handle means are endless.
3. A wheelbarrow according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein locking means is provided to fix the container relative to the frame.
4. A wheelbarrow according to any of the preceding claims wherein said container is readily detachable with respect to the frame.
5 A wheelbarrow according to any of the preceding claims wherein the pivotal connections between said container and the frame are substantially at the highest part of the frame relative to the ground and wherein said pivotal connections are disposed rearwardly, ie in a direction towards said handle means, of a vertical plane passing through the wheel axis when the barrow is free standing with said ground engaging means in contact with the ground.
6. A wheelbarrow according to claim 4 wherein said pivotal connection between the container and the frame is releasable such that the container readily is detachable from the frame.
7. A wheelbarrow according to claim I wherein a pair of like side frame elements 0 are provided said elements being substantially mirror images of one another and being formed by pressed metal
8. A frame assembly for a handbarrow which assembly comprises a pair of opposed frame elements, each of which includes a forward strut from which a cross member extends and links said frame elements together said cross member carrying attachment means for the wheel or other rolling means of the handbarrow, a ground engaging leg having a ground engaging end disposed rearwardly of a junction between said forward strut and said leg, and having means extending rearwardly of said ground engaging legs, and wherein said frame elements and wheel are constructed and arranged so that the load receiving or containing part of the barrow is disposed between the frame elements.
9. An assembly according to claim 8 wherein means are provided uppermost of

said forward upright struts pivotally to receive said load receiving or containing part to al s be suspended between said frame elements.
10. An assembly according to claim 8 or claim 9 wherein said means provide a readily detachable connection between the frame and the load bearing container.
11. An assembly according to any of claims 8 to 10 wherein locking means are 0 provided to fix said pivotal means and thereby the container relative to said frame elements.
12. A load receiving platfonn or container for a wheelbarrow having pivotal attachment means by which said platfonn or container can be pivotally connected to complementary means provided by a frame or chassis of the wheelbarrow.
13. A wheelbarrow substantially as herein before described with reference to and as shown in Figures 1 to 5 or Figures 6 to 8 or Figures 9 or 10 of the accompanying drawings.
14 A frame assembly for a wheelbarrow, substantially as herein before described with reference to and as shown in Figures I to 5 or Figures 6 to 8 or Figures 9 or 10 of the accompanying drawings
15. A container for a wheelbarrow, substantially as herein before described with reference to and as shown in Figures 1 to 5 or Figures 6 to 8 or Figures 9 or 10 of the reference to and a I I-l accompanying drawings.