Wheeled load transfer device

Abstract

A wheeled load transfer device comprising a load containing member, a handle assembly and a pair of wheels affixed at opposite sides of said load containing member; said load containing member open at a first loading end and provided with a rear discharge door; said device adapted for scooping movement along a ground surface.

Description

The present invention relates to load carrying devices and, more particularly, to wheeled, manually operated devices.

BACKGROUND

Various wheeled devices have been devised for transferring quantities of loose material, such as for example sand, soil, road base, gravel and compost, from one location to another. Probably the best known and most used is the common single wheeled wheelbarrow.

A disadvantage of the wheelbarrow is that the material to be transported in it must be raised to a level where it can be deposited into the body of the barrow. This requires considerable repetitive strain on the back of a user in shovelling the material over the rim of the barrow body.

Further disadvantages of a common wheelbarrow, include that a fully laden barrow is awkward to wheel, taking considerable skill and strength. Also, the emptying of the barrow, unless effected by laborious shovelling out of its contents, requires tilting the barrow load over the wheel centre to allow the contents to slide out. Again, this is an operation requiring strenuous effort from a user. Thus, particularly for people with weak, or lower back injuries, the effective use of a wheelbarrow for the purposes of transporting loads of material is virtually precluded.

It is an object of the present invention to address or at least ameliorate some of the above disadvantages.

Note

The term “comprising” (and grammatical variations thereof) is used in this specification in the inclusive sense of “having” or “including”, and not in the exclusive sense of “consisting only of”.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

Accordingly, in a first broad form of the invention, there is provided a wheeled load transfer device comprising a load containing member, a handle assembly and a pair of wheels affixed at opposite sides of said load containing member; said load containing member open at a first loading end and provided with a rear discharge door; said device adapted for scooping movement along a ground surface.

Preferably, said load containing member comprises opposing side portions, a bottom portion and a rear end; said rear end provided with said rear discharge door.

Preferably, said rear discharge door is pivotally hinged proximate an upper edge of said discharge door.

Preferably, each wheel of said pair of wheels is mounted to a respective wheel axle housing affixed to respective said opposing side portions; said wheels having a common axis.

Preferably, said handle assembly comprises first and second handle members and at least one cross member; said first and second handle members pivotally connected to respective said wheel axle housings.

Preferably, said handle assembly is pivotable about axes of said pair of wheels; said handle assembly pivotable between at least one fixed position latched to said load containing member and unlatched positions.

Preferably, said handle assembly is provided with a first latching mechanism; said first latching mechanism adapted to releasably lock said handle assembly into said at least one fixed position relative said load containing member.

Preferably, said rear discharge door is provided with a second latching mechanism; said second latching mechanism adapted to releasing said rear discharge door from a closed load retaining position to an open load discharge position.

Preferably, each said first latching mechanism and said second latching mechanism are operable by respective lever assemblies and respective first and second cables; said lever assemblies mounted to respective said handle members.

Preferably, when said first latching mechanism is released from engagement with said load containing member, a front lip of said load containing member is in contact with a supporting ground surface supporting said device, and wherein said bottom portion is at a slight upward inclination to said surface; said inclination sufficient to provide clearance between a rear lower edge of said load containing member and said supporting ground surface.

Preferably, said device may be urged into a scooping motion so as to load material from a volume of said material disposed on said ground surface, into said load containing member; loading of said material effected without need of hand held implements.

Preferably, said first latching mechanism may be brought into engagement with said load containing member by rotation upwardly of said handle assembly from said unlatched positions.

Preferably, said device is brought into an attitude for transporting said material in said load containing member by rotation downwardly of said handle assembly; outer ends of said handle assembly then at a height proximate the waist of an average user; said bottom portion of said load containing member then inclined downwardly so as to secure said material within said load containing member.

Preferably, said material is discharged from said load containing member by operating said second latching mechanism to release said rear discharge door from said closed load retaining position to an open discharge position.

Preferably, said load containing member is provided with an upper partial cover segment; said cover segment provided with a second latching element adapted to releasably engage with said first latching mechanism thereby to lock said handle assembly into a second fixed position relative said load containing member; said second fixed position adapted to provide a greater angle of downward inclination of said bottom portion of said load containing member during discharge of said material.

In a further broad form of the invention, there is provided a method for loading and transporting material by means of a wheeled load transfer device; said method not requiring use of a spade or shovel or other hand held implement; said method including the steps of:

• • (a) unlatching a load containing member of said device from a locked position relative a handle assembly so as to rotate said load containing member into a scooping position relative said handle assembly,
  • (b) urging said load containing member against a volume of material disposed on a supporting ground surface so as to load at least a portion of said material into said load containing member,
  • (c) rotating said handle assembly upwardly to a latched fixed position relative said load containing member,
  • (d) rotating said handle assembly downwardly to bring outer portions of said handle assembly proximate the waist of an average user,
  • (e) wheeling said transfer device to an unload destination,
  • (f) unlatching a rear discharge door from a first locked position to rotate to a second open discharge position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of a preferred embodiment of a wheeled load transfer device according to the invention in a first latched condition,

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the device of FIG. 1 in a second latched condition,

FIG. 3 is a rear elevation view of the device of FIGS. 1 and 2,

FIG. 4 is a front elevation view of the device of FIGS. 1 and 2,

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the device of FIGS. 1 and 2,

FIG. 6 is a side elevation view of the device of FIGS. 1 and 2 when in a preferred loading configuration,

FIG. 7 is a side elevation view of the device of FIGS. 1 and 2 when in a load transfer configuration,

FIG. 8 is a side elevation view of the device of FIGS. 1 and 2 when in a load discharge configuration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, a wheeled load transfer device 10 comprises a load containing member or bucket 12, a pair of coaxial wheels 14 and 15 (only one of which is visible in FIG. 1) disposed at opposite sides of bucket 12, and a handle assembly 13. Wheels 14 and 15 are preferably provided with pneumatic tyres.

As can be seen from FIGS. 1 and 7, the wheel mounting position on bucket 12 is such that the rear lower edge 23 of bucket 12 is clear of the supporting ground surface 50 when the bucket is in the loading attitude shown in FIG. 1 or in the transporting attitude shown in FIG. 7.

Bucket 12 comprises opposing, generally triangular-shaped sides 16 and 17, a bottom 18 and rear discharge door 20, as can be seen in FIGS. 3, 4 and 8. The front 22 of bucket 12 is open except for a short upper cover segment 24 (as best seen in FIGS. 4 and 5). Preferably, the leading front edge 48 is provided with a replaceable wear strip (not shown).

As best seen in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, wheels 14 and 15 are mounted to axles projecting from wheel axle housings 26 and 27, which in turn are affixed to the opposite sides 16 and 17 respectively of bucket 12. Pivotally mounted to wheel axle housings 26 and 27, and preferably pivoting about the axes of wheels 14 and 15, are handle members 28 and 29 of handle assembly 13.

Referring again to FIGS. 1, 2, 4 and 5, handle assembly 13 is provided with a first cable operated spring-loaded latching mechanism 30 mounted to cross member 32 of handle assembly 13. Short upper cover segment 24 of bucket 12 is provided with at least first and second latch blocks 34 and 35 respectively adapted for engagement by the tongue 36 of first spring-loaded latching mechanism 30.

First spring-loaded mechanism 30 is adapted to lock handle assembly 13 in a first latched position relative to bucket 12 as shown in FIG. 1 when engaged with first latch block 34, or a second latched position as shown in FIG. 2 when engaged with second latch block 35. First spring-loaded latching mechanism 30, is controlled by a first lever assembly 38 and a first cable 39, attached to first handle member 28. As can be seen in FIGS. 5 and 6, first spring loaded latching mechanism 30 may be disengaged from either of the two latch blocks 34 or 35 so as to allow bucket 12 and handle assembly 13 to assume the relative positions shown in FIG. 6.

Rear discharge door 20 is hinged proximate its upper edge 21 about pivots 40 and 41 mounted in respective opposite sides 16 and 17 of bucket 12. A second cable operated spring-loaded latching mechanism 42 (best seen in FIG. 3) mounted at the lower edge 44 of rear discharge door 20, is adapted to allow the release of rear discharge door 20 from a normally closed position locked to the bottom 18 of the bucket 12, and is controlled similarly by a second lever assembly 46 and second cable 47 attached to second handle member 29.

In Use

It will be seen from FIG. 6 that when bucket 12 is unlatched from handle assembly 13, front lip 48 rests on the ground surface 50 and bottom 18 is only slightly inclined to surface 50, sufficient to leave rear lower edge 23 of bucket 12 clear of surface 50. By applying a forward force at handle assembly 13, bucket 12 acts as a scoop to at least partially fill the bucket from a heap of material 52. Alternatively, or additionally, material 52 may be readily scraped or raked into the bucket 12 without the need for any lifting or shovelling of the material to be transported.

Once a desired load has been gathered into bucket 12, the handle assembly 13 is rotated upwardly about the pivot axes of wheels 14 and 15 and the handle assembly 13 latched to the bucket 12 by engagement of the first spring-loaded latching mechanism 30 with the first latch block 34. In this position, relatively little downward force applied at the end of the handle assembly 13 will bring the bucket 12 into the attitude shown in FIG. 7. The handle assembly 13 is then approximately horizontal so that the outer ends of handle members 28 and 29 are adjacent the waist level of an average user, with the bottom 18 of bucket 12 inclined so as to securely retain the material in bucket 12. In this position the device allows the load of material to be easily wheeled to a point of destination.

When it is desired to discharge the load in bucket 12, the second spring-loaded mechanism 42 is activated to release rear discharge door 20 from its locked closed position, allowing it to swing rearward as shown in FIG. 8. Because of the slope of the bottom 18 of bucket 12, the material it contains will readily slide rearward and discharge through door 20.

To aid in discharging the material if required, the second latching position of the handle assembly 13 relative to bucket 12 afforded by second latch block 35, may be utilised as shown in FIG. 8 to increase further the slope of bottom 18. It will be obvious that the slope of the bottom 18 of bucket 12 may be made quite steep by inclining the handle assembly 13 further downward from that shown in FIG. 8. The device 10 can simply be wheeled forward as the discharge proceeds to allow all the material 52 to exit through rear discharge door 20.

When all material has been discharged, the device is tilted back to a position approximating that of FIG. 1 which allows the rear discharge door 20 to resume its locked closed position, for example by pushing the door closed with a foot of the user, and the device is ready for a next loading and transporting cycle.

The above describes only some embodiments of the present invention and modifications, obvious to those skilled in the art, can be made thereto without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.

For example whilst only a first spring loaded latching mechanism 30 is illustrated it may be required that more than one such mechanism is utilised in order to spread the latching load eg where the anticipated loading will be high. In this instance the single latching mechanism 30 shown in FIG. 5 could, for example, be replaced by a first and second latching mechanism mounted in spaced apart relationship mounted on cross member 32 and adapted for engaging with corresponding spaced apart latch blocks 34.

Claims

1. A wheeled load transfer device comprising a load containing member, a handle assembly and a pair of wheels affixed at opposite sides of said load containing member; said load containing member open at a first loading end and provided with a rear discharge door; said device adapted for scooping movement along a ground surface. The device of claim 1 wherein said load containing member comprises opposing side portions, a bottom portion and a rear end; said rear end provided with said rear discharge door.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said rear discharge door is pivotally hinged proximate an upper edge of said discharge door.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein each wheel of said pair of wheels is mounted to a respective wheel axle housing affixed to respective said opposing side portions; said wheels having a common axis.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein said handle assembly comprises first and second handle members and at least one cross member; said first and second handle members pivotally connected to respective said wheel axle housings.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein said handle assembly is pivotable about axes of said pair of wheels; said handle assembly pivotable between at least one fixed position latched to said load containing member and unlatched positions.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein said handle assembly is provided with a first latching mechanism; said first latching mechanism adapted to releasably lock said handle assembly into said at least one fixed position relative said load containing member.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein said rear discharge door is provided with a second latching mechanism; said second latching mechanism adapted to releasing said rear discharge door from a closed load retaining position to an open load discharge position.

8. The device of claim 8 wherein each said first latching mechanism and said second latching mechanism are operable by respective lever assemblies and respective first and second cables; said lever assemblies mounted to respective said handle members.

9. The device of claim 7 wherein, when said first latching mechanism is released from engagement with said load containing member, a front lip of said load containing member is in contact with a supporting ground surface supporting said device, and wherein said bottom portion is at a slight upward inclination to said surface; said inclination sufficient to provide clearance between a rear lower edge of said load containing member and said supporting ground surface.

10. The device of claim 1 wherein said device may be urged into a scooping motion so as to load material from a volume of said material disposed on said ground surface, into said load containing member; loading of said material effected without need of hand held implements.

11. The device of claim 7 wherein said first latching mechanism may be brought into engagement with said load containing member by rotation upwardly of said handle assembly from said unlatched positions.

12. The device of claim 2 wherein said device is brought into an attitude for transporting said material in said load containing member by rotation downwardly of said handle assembly; outer ends of said handle assembly then at a height proximate the waist of an average user; said bottom portion of said load containing member then inclined downwardly so as to secure said material within said load containing member.

13. The device of claim 8 wherein said material is discharged from said load containing member by operating said second latching mechanism to release said rear discharge door from said closed load retaining position to an open discharge position.

14. The device of claim 7 wherein said load containing member is provided with an upper partial cover segment; said cover segment provided with a second latching element adapted to releasably engage with said first latching mechanism thereby to lock said handle assembly into a second fixed position relative said load containing member; said second fixed position adapted to provide a greater angle of downward inclination of said bottom portion of said load containing member during discharge of said material.

15. A method for loading and transporting material by means of a wheeled load transfer device; said method not requiring use of a spade or shovel or other hand held implement; said method including the steps of: (a) unlatching a load containing member of said device from a locked position relative a handle assembly so as to rotate said load containing member into a scooping position relative said handle assembly, (b) urging said load containing member against a volume of material disposed on a supporting ground surface so as to load at least a portion of said material into said load containing member, (c) rotating said handle assembly upwardly to a latched fixed position relative said load containing member, (d) rotating said handle assembly downwardly to bring outer portions of said handle assembly proximate the waist of an average user, (e) wheeling said transfer device to an unload destination, (f) unlatching a rear discharge door from a first locked position to rotate to a second open discharge position.

16. (canceled)

17. The device of claim 2, wherein said rear discharge door is pivotally hinged proximate an upper edge of said discharge door.

18. The device of claim 3 wherein each wheel of said pair of wheels is mounted to a respective wheel axle housing affixed to respective said opposing side portions; said wheels having a common axis.

19. The device of claim 2, wherein said handle assembly is pivotable about axes of said pair of wheels; said handle assembly pivotable between at least one fixed position latched to said load containing member and unlatched positions.

20. The device of claim 3, wherein said handle assembly is pivotable about axes of said pair of wheels; said handle assembly pivotable between at least one fixed position latched to said load containing member and unlatched positions.

21. The device of claim 4, wherein said handle assembly is pivotable about axes of said pair of wheels; said handle assembly pivotable between at least one fixed position latched to said load containing member and unlatched positions.