1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to wheelbarrows. More specifically, the present invention provides a wheelbarrow having three wheels, and a brake for at least one of the three wheels.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventional wheelbarrows typically include a single wheel and a pair of legs. When the legs are resting on the ground, the legs resist movement of the wheelbarrow. To move the wheelbarrow, the legs must be lifted off the ground throughout the entire movement. This constant lifting causes operator fatigue and increases the risk of injury to the operator. Additionally, the single wheel of such a wheelbarrow can increase the difficulty in moving the wheelbarrow if the load therein is off balance.
The presently available three-wheeled wheelbarrow is presently offered by Prestar Manufacturing, and is disclosed in U.S. Patent Application No. US 2004/0041361 A1, published on Mar. 4, 2004. One embodiment of this wheelbarrow includes a pair of plates having J-shaped channels mounted on each leg. An axle having a wheel at each end passes through the J-shaped channels. Placing the axle in the shorter portion of the J-shaped channel allows the wheelbarrow to roll along three wheels. Placing the axle in the longer portion of the J-shaped channel permits the legs of the wheelbarrow to touch the ground, thereby resisting movement of the wheelbarrow. This wheelbarrow still requires some lifting prior to moving the wheelbarrow, and then to prevent movement of the wheelbarrow after it is pushed to the desired location.
Accordingly, there is a need for a wheelbarrow having at least three wheels so that it does not to be lifted in order to be pushed. Additionally, there is a need for a wheelbarrow having a braking mechanism that does not require lifting the wheelbarrow.
The present invention provides a wheelbarrow or other wheeled cargo-carrying cart having three wheels, and having a brake mechanism for resisting movement of the wheelbarrow.
For the purpose of this description, a wheeled cargo-carrying cart is defined as any wheeled implement having a platform, bucket, bed, seat, or any other cargo-holding means secured to a frame, having a plurality of wheels secured thereto, and being structured to be manually pushed or pulled from one location to another. A wheelbarrow is a preferred embodiment of a wheeled cargo-carrying cart with which the present invention may be used, and the invention is described and illustrated herein based on this example. In other embodiments, the wheeled cargo-carrying cart may be structured to transport human or other living cargo, as in the example of a wheelchair.
A wheelbarrow of the present invention includes containers secured within a frame. The frame includes a front wheel and a pair of rear legs depending downward therefrom, and a pair of handles extending rearward therefrom. A pushbar extends upward from the handles.
An axle is rotatably secured to the legs, with a wheel disposed on each end of the axle. At least one of the wheels includes a brake mechanism for resisting movement of the wheelbarrow. The brake includes a lever pivotally secured to the frame, and having one end structured to engage one of a plurality of cutouts within a sprocket that is secured to at least one of the wheels. The other end of the lever is structured to be moved towards and away from the sprocket by either the operator's hand or foot. The handle also includes means for securing the handle in either a braking position or a released position, with one preferred means being a nylock nut as part of the handle's pivot, for providing friction to the pivoting of the handle.
The present invention therefore provides a wheelbarrow having three wheels, that may be pushed from one location to another without lifting it. The present invention further provides a wheelbarrow having a braking means for resisting movement of the wheelbarrow when such movement is not desired, and which does not require lifting of the wheelbarrow.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a wheelbarrow having at least three wheels, so that it may be pushed without being lifted.
It is another object of the invention to provide a wheelbarrow having a braking mechanism to resist movement of the wheelbarrow when such movement is not desired.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a wheelbarrow having a braking mechanism that may be configured for operation by the user's hand or foot.
These and other objects of the invention will become more apparent through the following description and drawings.
Like reference characters denote like features throughout the drawings.
The present invention provides a wheelbarrow having at least three wheels, and having a braking means for resisting movement of at least one of the wheels when desired.
Referring to
Referring to
The wheel 38 includes a sprocket 58 defining a plurality of notches 60, with each notch being dimensioned and configured to receive the pin 54. When the brake lever 46 is pulled away from the bucket 14, the pin 54 is moved into one of the notches 60, thereby resisting movement of the wheel 38, and securing the wheelbarrow 10 in place. Moving the brake lever 46 towards the bucket 14 removes the pin 54 from the notch 60, thereby permitting movement of the wheel 38 and the wheelbarrow 10. A stop 62 depending outward from the brake lever bracket 48 resists undesired movement of the brake lever 46 substantially farther than that necessary to disengage the pin 54 from the notch 60.
Referring to
The present invention therefore provides a brake for a three-wheeled wheelbarrow that may, depending upon the embodiment selected, by operated by the user's hand or foot. The brake resists movement of at least one wheel when engaged, and permits the wheelbarrow to be pushed when disengaged. The present invention therefore minimizes or eliminates the need to lift the wheelbarrow 10 during use, because the wheelbarrow may be pushed to a desired location and then secured at that location through manipulation of the brake instead of by lifting the wheelbarrow. Fatigue and injuries to the user are thereby made less likely to occur.
While a specific embodiment of the invention has been described in detail, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various modifications and alternatives to those details could be developed in light of the overall teachings of the disclosure. Accordingly, the particular arrangements disclosed are meant to be illustrative only and not limiting as to the scope of the invention which is to be given the full breadth of the appended claims and any and all equivalents thereof.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/573,887, filed May 24, 2004, entitled “Three-Wheeled Braking Wheelbarrow.”
Number | Date | Country | |
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60573887 | May 2004 | US |