US3367674A - Wheelbarrow attachment - Google Patents

Description

Feb.6,1968 H.E.PUHL 3,367,674

WHEELBARROW ATTACHMENT File d Dec. 8, 1965 INVENTOR.

HENRY E. PUHL United States Patent 3,367,674 WHEELBARROW ATTACHMENT Henry Erwin Puhl, Kendall, Wis. 54638 Filed Dec. 8, '1965, Ser. No. 513,659 Claims. (Cl. 280-13) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A wheelbarrow ski attachment having a wheel cradling loop and specific connecting means for connecting the loop to the ski runner to permit the wheelbarrow to be dumped without removing the wheel from the attachment and specific ski runner construction.

My invention is directed toward wheelbarrows and more particularly relates to attachments therefor.

It is an object of my invention to provide a new and improved device adapted for detachable engagement with a wheelbarrow whereby when the wheelbarrow is used therewith, the wheelbarrow can be moved or pushed over ice, snow and the like without skidding and without any loss of control.

Another object is to provide a new and improved device of the character indicated which, when in use, converts the wheel of the barrow into a sled runner.

Still another object is to provide a new and improved device of the character indicated which can be manufactured easily and inexpensively.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of my invention will now be explained with reference both to this specification and to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side view of my attachment in use as secured to a wheelbarrow;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of my attachment per se;

FIG. 3 is a top view of my attachment; and

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of my attachment.

Referring first to FIGS. 2-4, my attachment, which is made of metal is provided with a sled runner identified generally at having its front end 12 curved upward with a metal ribbon 14 extending upward and backward to form a vertical closed loop. Runner 10 has a curved rear end 16 terminating in a metal ribbon 18 curving upward and then extending horizontally forward above and along the main body of the runner to support one end of a horizontal rectangular hollow loop 20. A U- shaped support member 22 has the free upper ends of its upwardly extending legs secured to opposite sides of the loop in diametrically opposite positions.

The runner itself is formed from two pieces of right angle brackets 24, the vertical legs 26 of these brackets being welded together to form a vertical rail, the two horizontal legs 28 extending outward to form the bottom surface or ribbon for the runner.

In use, as shown in FIG. 1, the wheel 30 of the wheelbarrow 32 is placed within loop with the bottom peripheral portion of the wheel resting on the bottom portion of member 22 which in turn is supported by and extends transversely of the rail. The vertical plane of the wheel is coincident with that of the rail.

The wheelbarrow can then be pushed over ice or snow 3,367,674 Patented Feb. 6, 1968 with the runner preventing skidding or loss of control. The loop 22 is sufficiently longer than the wheel diameter to permit the barrow to be dumped without having first to remove the wheel from the attachment.

While I have described my invention with particular reference to the drawings, my protection is to be limited only by the terms of the claims which follow.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A wheelbarrow ski attachment comprising: an elongated sled runner having a front end and a rear end; a generally horizontal annular loop disposed above and intermediate the ends of said runner adapted to cradle the wheel of a wheelbarrow; connecting means providing clearance space immediately in front of and immediately below the forward portion of said loop for connecting said loop to said runner and permitting the forward transverse frame member of the wheelbarrow to pass immediately in front of and below the forward portion of said loop to clear said connecting means whereby the wheelbarrow may be tilted forward for discharge without removal from said ski attachment.

2. The apparatus as defined by claim 1 wherein said sled runner includes an elongated generally horizontal ribbon portion adapted to contact on the underside thereof the surface on which the wheelbarrow is to slide; and an elongated upstanding web disposed intermediate the sides of said runner and extending longitudinally along the top side of said ribbon portion whereby said runner is open at the sides and will not retain debris on the upper side of said ribbon portion.

3. The apparatus as defined by claim 2 wherein said loop includes a U-shaped member, said U-shaped member having legs spaced a greater distance one from the other than the Width of said ribbon portion and connected to said loop on the opposite sides thereof; and means supporting the intermediate portion of said U- shaped member on said upstanding web substantially above said ribbon whereby said U-shaped member sufficiently clears the surface on which the runner is to slide despite being wider than said ribbon.

4. The apparatus as defined by claim 2 wherein said runner includes two elongated right angle members each having an upstanding leg secured in back-to-back relation to the upstanding leg of the other member and each having a horizontal leg in coplanar relation with the horizontal leg of the other member.

5. The apparatus as defined by claim 1 wherein the sole means for connecting said loop to said runner is fastened to said runner only rearwardly of said forward portion of said loop.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,733,774 10/1929 Brye 280-13 1,810,042 6/ 1931 Gerth 280l3 2,321,561 6/1943 Bircher 28013 LEO FRIAGLIA, Primary Examiner.

BENJAMIN HERSH, Examiner.

L. D. MORRIS, Assistant Examiner.

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