This invention relates to improvements in a known type of convertible barrow for ground level loading and more particularly to an improved placement of the pivoting carriage in an optimum location along with an improved retaining gate which is easy to manipulate. A known type of convertible barrow for ground level loading is disclosed in reexamined U.S. Pat. No. 5,593,271 issued Jan. 14, 1997, and in U.S. Pat. No. 5,810,543 issued Sep. 22, 1998, both in the name of John R. Hall. In the foregoing Hall patents, a pivoting wheel carriage is mounted so as to pivot from a first position in which the wheels rest on the ground behind a flat platform to a second position in which the wheel carriage cross member is disposed at the midsection of the flat platform so as to support the load. The location of the pivot point body of the Hall convertible barrow is such that the barrow is tilted at a rather large angle in order for the wheels to pivot. Also in the Hall patent, a retaining gate is used to close the open end of the barrow, sliding between channel members mounted on opposing sidewalls. This sliding gate requires the user difficulty to manipulate it into the channels. A number of devices are shown in the prior art that are convertible between a snow scoop, which also has wheels so as to be convertible into a handcart. In the snow-scooping mode, handles are used to push up the shovel against the snow so that it enters the open end of the container. When converted into a garden cart, these devices include wheels that are moved into position to support the contents of the cart. U.S. Pat. No. 3,594,932 issued Jul. 27, 1971 to Eriksson discloses a container with to a pivotably mounted carriage in which the wheel axle contacts the rear wall of the container so that it can be transported by tilting the handles downwardly to lift it slightly off of the ground. Eriksson has no retaining gate nor do the wheels pivot to rest under the flat section of the body that rests on the ground.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,123,187 issued in Jun. 23, 1992 to Zamaria describes a combined snow scoop and multipurpose handcart with a pivoting gate operated by a tether attached to the handle. A pair of wheels are foldable on hinges attached to the sidewalls. When the scoop is resting flat on the ground, the wheels are suspended in the air. There is no cross member beneath the platform supporting the load, so that the load is carried in torsion by the hinges. U.S. Pat. No. 2,930,152 issued Mar. 29, 1960 to Pipkin describes a wheeled shovel with a pivoting wheel carnage mounted on a pivot bracket attached beneath the handle, so that the wheels can unfold from a retainer on the handle to a location beneath the container. A pivoting gate mounted on arms attached to the side of the container swings between a closed position in front of the container to an open position at the rear of the container. The wheel carriage along with the wheels is entirely below the container platform and the device is unsuitable for ground level loading.
It would be desirable have a convertible barrow which requires the minimum amount of tilting in order to swing the wheels to a location at the midpoint of the body so that the carriage cross member supports the body.
It would also be desirable to have a convertible barrow with improved means for transporting the barrow in an unloaded condition and to more effectively unload the barrow. It would also be desirable to have a convertible barrow with a retaining gate for the load that is easily closed and opened before the barrow is tilted for loading or unloading.
Briefly stated, the invention comprises a convertible barrow comprising a body having a substantially flat platform arranged to rest flat on the ground, the platform having a toe end and a heel end and arranged to receive a load at the toe end from substantially ground level, opposed side walls, and a rear wall extending upwardly from the heel end of the flat platform, a handle attached to the body and extending upwardly and rearwardly from the body and arranged such that a user may tilt the body on either the toe end or the heel end of the platform, a wheel carriage having at least two spaced wheels rotatably mounted on a cross member, a pair of wheel pivot arms each pivotably connected to the cross member at one end thereof and pivotably connected to the opposed side walls at first pivot points at the other end thereof and spaced apart by a width greater than the width of the platform, and a gate for retaining the load when the platform is tilted, said convertible barrow being characterized in that:
said rear wall is inclined rearwardly from the heel end of the platform to define a rear support section and in that the barrow carriage is pivotable from a first position where the wheels and barrow platform are both resting on the ground and said cross member is adjacent said rear support section, through a second position in which said cross member closely passes the heel end of the platform to a third position in which said cross member is adjacent the midpoint of said platform, said first pivot points on the body being located substantially equidistant from the carriage cross member in each of the first, second and third positions, and said convertible barrow being further characterized in that the gate comprises a closure member arranged to extend between the opposed side walls at the toe end of the platform and a pair of pivot arms each being connected to the closure member at one end thereof and pivotably disposed at second pivot points in the opposed side walls at their other ends, said gate being pivotable from an open position toward the rear wall to a closed position on the toe end of the platform with the closure member extending between the opposed side walls to retain the load.
The invention will be better understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:
Referring now to
Attached to body 12 is a handle 26 comprising two spaced longitudinal members 28, 30 extending upwardly and rearwardly from body 12 and joined by a cross member 32. The lower ends of the longitudinal members 28, 30 are inserted into sockets molded into sidewalls 14, 16 of the body, one such socket being shown at 34. The lower ends are also bolted to the sidewalls by bolts 29, 31.
A pivotable wheel carriage, shown generally at 36, comprises a pair of wheels 38, 40 rotatably mounted on an axle 42. Axle 42 comprises a carriage cross member, and could also be a channel, I-beam, or similar load supporting member upon which wheels 36, 38 are rotatably mounted. The wheel carriage 36 includes a pair of pivot arms indicated in
The wheel carriage 36 is pivotable as best seen in
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the preferred construction employs a rear wall 18 that is inclined so as to form an included angle with platform 20 about the heel 24 on the order of 120°. See
The sidewalls 14, 16 of the body may be flared out from the platform toward the front part of the body as indicated in the end elevation view of
Referring to the cross section of
Operation of the invention will be understood by reference to the simplified schematic views of
The carriage 36 swings from the first position shown in
Upon reaching the dumping site, pivotable gate 54 is pivoted to the open position. If desired, latch 74 may retain it in the open position, but this is not absolutely necessary. The load is dumped by the operator elevating the handle 26 so that the body tips forward on the toe end of platform 20. Thus, the load is discharged from the open end of the body.
While there has been described what is considered to be the preferred embodiment of the invention, other modifications will occur to those skilled in the art, and it is desired to secure in the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.
The present application claims priority of U.S. Patent application Ser. No. 60/547,515 filed Feb. 25, 2004.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
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PCT/US05/04958 | 2/16/2005 | WO | 8/23/2006 |