WO2001094178A1

WO2001094178A1 - A wheeled barrow

Info

Publication number: WO2001094178A1
Application number: PCT/GB2001/002260
Authority: WO
Inventors: Henry Roddom Derek
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-06-05
Filing date: 2001-05-22
Publication date: 2001-12-13
Anticipated expiration: 2002-12-05
Also published as: GB2363099A; GB0013451D0; GB0112284D0; GB2363099B; AU6043801A

Abstract

The wheelbarrow comprises a hopper (1) attached to a sub-frame (2), the said sub-frame being pivotally attached to a main frame (3) at a point rearward of the barrow wheel axle (5), with a pair of shafts (9) at the rear for steering. The sub-frame (2) is linked at the rear of the barrow wheel axle (5) by means of two fabricated hinges (4). On the rear of the sub-frame (2) there is provided a handle (6) for the purpose of lifting the hopper (1) to offload the contents. When the hopper (1) is raised from the main frame (3) a stabilising foot-bar (7) simultaneously drops to the ground to allow the operator more stability when the wheelbarrow is in the offloading position. When the hopper (1) is returned to loading position, sitting between the relocating lugs (8) the foot-bar (7) returns at the same time to its original position under the sub-frame (2).

Description

A WHEELED BARROW

This invention relates to an improved wheelbarrow or wheeled barrow.

The traditional wheelbarrow is a common implement, which comprises a hopper mounted in a frame, having a road wheel at one end and terminating in a pair of shafts a the opposite end. It is used in the main for gardening, farming, in the construction industry, etc. A common problem encountered by the operator of a traditional wheelbarrow is that of the difficulty encountered in the operation to offload its contents in the exact location where the operator desires to tip the load. This is mainly due to the weight of the contents, wet or dry, shifting during the tipping motion when the whole wheelbarrow is lifted by its handles a full 90 degrees, whilst at the same time balancing the whole weight on the front part of the tubular sub-frame. It is also extremely difficult to balance a traditional wheelbarrow whilst changing the position of the hands whilst raising the hopper the full 90 degrees.

According to the present invention there is provided a wheelbarrow or wheeled barrow, herein after referred to as a wheelbarrow, comprising a main frame having at least one wheel at a front end thereof and at least one handle at the opposite end or rear end thereof; and a hopper for containing material to be transported pivotally mounted at its front end to the said main frame and having a tipping handle or tipping handles at the rear end thereof and said handle or handles being attached to the front end of the said hopper for pivoting the hopper towards a vertical orientation in order to tip the contents thereof over the front end portion of the said main frame.

To overcome the difficulty of changing the position of the hands from the palms downward grip to palms upward grip for tipping, there is preferably provided a "tipping handle" attached to the front of the hopper and extending to the rear thereof where it is formed into a U -shape. This facility allows the hopper to be raised by the operator by providing a transverse gripping portion and at the same time the operator controls his grip by rotating his hand around the "tipping handle" thus preventing injuries and back strain. There is also preferably provided a preferably pivotally retractable foot or "stabilising bar" which by being retractable eliminates the risk of the operator treading on it whilst pushing the wheelbarrow. The present invention is a very user-friendly wheelbarrow operable by all adult age groups.

There is in existence a design lodged in the Australian Patent Office, Document O. AU-A- 37810/89, International Patent Classification B62B001/24. In this invention the inventor has made the error in his design of using the wheelbarrow axle as a pivoting point for tipping of the hopper. This means that the operator has too far to stretch when tipping the contents of the wheelbarrow. Also should the pivoting assembly jam on the wheel axle, the sub-frame could lift, causing injury to the operator. A further fault is that the fixed stabilising bar could cause injury to the operator should s/he accidentally tread on it when striding out and likewise there is the possibility of the fixed stabilising bar catching obstacles protruding from the ground.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 - shows a side view

Figure 2- shows a perspective view of the wheelbarrow in use from horizontal to vertical Figure 3- a plan view of the wheelbarrow

The wheelbarrow comprises a hopper (1) attached to a sub-frame (2), the said sub-frame being pivotally attached to a main frame (3) at a point rearward of the barrow wheel axle (5), with a pair of shafts (9) at the rear for steering.

Referring to figure 1, the sub-frame (2) is linked at the rear of the barrow wheel axle (5) by means of two fabricated hinges (4). On the rear of the sub-frame (2) there is provided a handle (6) for the purpose of lifting the hopper (1) to offload the contents. When the hopper (1) is raised from the main frame (3) a stabilising foot-bar (7) simultaneously drops to the ground to allow the operator more stability when the wheelbarrow is in the offloading position. When the hopper (1) is returned to loading position, sitting between the relocating lugs (8) the foot-bar (7) returns the same time to its original position under the sub-frame (2).

Claims

1. A wheeled barrow comprising a main frame having at least one wheel at a front end thereof and at least one handle at the opposite or rear end thereof and a hopper for containing material to be transported, mounted on the main frame; wherein the front end of the hopper is pivotally mounted on the main frame for discharging the said transportable - material.

2. A wheeled barrow as claimed in claim 1 and wherein further handles; or a further or tipping handle or handles are or is attached to the said front end of the hopper and extends or extend respectively to the rear end thereof.

3. A wheeled barrow as claimed in claim 2 and wherein the said further or tipping handle is U-shaped to provide a transverse gripping portion with the free ends of the said U-shaped further or tipping handle attached to the said hopper.

4. A wheeled barrow as claimed in any preceding claim wherein a retractable foot or stabilising bar is provided for maintaining the said hopper in its discharging orientation.

5. A wheeled barrow as claimed in claim 4 wherein the said retractable foot or stabilising bar is pivotally retractable.

6. A wheeled barrow as claimed in claim 5 wherein the said retractable foot or stabilising bar is arranged to pivot about a transverse axis.

7. A wheeled barrow as claimed in claim 1 and substantially as herein described and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.