GB2466806A

GB2466806A - A fishing barrow with variable wheel positions

Info

Publication number: GB2466806A
Application number: GB0900209A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alan Barry Silverstein
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-01-07
Filing date: 2009-01-07
Publication date: 2010-07-14
Anticipated expiration: 2029-01-07
Also published as: GB2466806B; GB0900209D0

Abstract

A fishing barrow 2 comprising a body portion 4 for carrying a load, handle means 6, wheel means 8, mounting means 10 for enabling the wheel means to be moved between a wheelbarrow position and a cart position (figure 2), and locking means 12 for locking the mounting means in both positions, the wheelbarrow position being such that the barrow is movable by a person lifting one end by the handle and moving the barrow in the manner of a wheelbarrow, the cart position being such that the barrow is movable by the person lifting one end of by the handle and moving the barrow in the manner of a cart, where the wheel means is further from the body in the wheelbarrow position than in the cart position. Sides 48, 50, 62 of the barrow may be extended so as to adjustably increase the width, length and height of the body. The wheel means may comprise a single wheel, a pair of fixed wheels or a pair of adjustable wheels (figure 3), and the barrow may be collapsed to a storage position (figure 4).

Description

A FISHING BARROW

This invention relates to a fishing barrow.

Fishing barrows are well known. A first known type of fishing barrow comprises a body portion for carrying a load, handle means for lifting one end of the fishing barrow, and one or two wheels for enabling the fishing barrow to be moved when a person lifts one end of the fishing barrow by the handle means and moves the fishing barrow in the manner of a wheel barrow. This type of known fishing barrow has the advantage that it is easy to move over single tracks and/or rough and uneven terrain leading to a place where fishing is to take place. The disadvantage of this type of known fishing barrow is that one end of the fishing barrow has to be lifted to assume the wheel barrow position, and thereafter a person has to provide stabilising sideways forces to ensure that the fishing barrow does not tip to one side or the other. All of this requires considerable strength and can be very tiring if ills necessary to push the fishing barrow over more than a short distance and/or the fishing barrow is heavily loaded with fishing equipment.

A second known type of fishing barrow comprises a body portion for carrying a load, handle means, and a pair of spaced apart wheels for enabling the fishing barrow to be moved in the nature of a cart. Due to the fact that the wheels are spaced apart, there is no need for a person lifting one end of the fishing barrow to employ sideways forces to stop the fishing barrow tipping over on one side or the other. Also, in the cart position, the wheel means are positioned closer to the handle means than is the case with a fishing barrow constructed to operate solely in the wheel barrow position. In the cart position, the positioning of the wheels closer to the handle means has the advantage that lifting of the fishing barrow by the handle means is easier. A fishing barrow that is moved in the nature of a cart is very easy to push on even terrain such for example as may occur in established paths leading to fishing places. However, the fishing barrow is wider than the fishing barrow of the type that is moved as a wheel barrow, and the fishing barrow that is moved in the nature of a cart is often too wide to pass down single tracks. Also, the fishing barrow that is moved in the nature of the cart is often not able to be used over rough and uneven terrain.

Some anglers prefer fishing barrows of the type that are moved as wheel barrows. Some anglers prefer fishing barrows of the type that are moved as carts. Whichever fishing barrow is preferred by an angler, there will always be situations when the preferred fishing barrow is not appropriate and is often not usable at all.

It is an aim of the present invention to obviate or reduce the above mentioned problem.

Accordingly, in one non-limiting embodiment of the present invention there is provided a fishing barrow comprising a body portion for carrying a load, handle means, wheel means, mounting means for enabling the wheel means to be moved between a wheel barrow position and a cart position, and locking means for locking the mounting means in the wheel barrow position or the cart position, the wheel barrow position being such that the fishing barrow is movable by a person lifting one end of the fishing barrow by the handle means and moving the fishing barrow in the manner of a wheel barrow, the cart position being such that the fishing barrow is movable by the person lifting one end of the fishing barrow by the handle means and moving the fishing barrow in the nature of a cart, and the wheel barrow position and the cart position being such that the wheel means is further from the body portion in the wheel barrow position than in the cart position.

The fishing barrow of the present invention is able to be used in the wheel barrow position for passage over single tracks and/or rough and uneven terrain. The fishing barrow of the present invention is able to be used in the cart position for passage over even terrain and wider tracks. Thus the varying transportation requirements of anglers are able to be satisfied.

Preferably, the fishing barrow is one in which the mounting means is a strut which is pivotally mounted to the body portion. The strut may be pivotally mounted to the body portion by first and second pivots which are positioned on opposite sides of the body portion. Other types of mounting means may be employed.

The locking means is preferably a pair of locking bars. The fishing barrow may be one in which the locking bars are pivotally mounted at one end to the body portion, and in which the other ends of the locking bars have a connecting formation for connecting to the mounting means. The connecting formation is preferably a slot. Other types of locking means may be employed. Thus, for example, the locking means may be demountable struts which are demountable from the body portion in the cart position and which are then mountable forwardly for the wheel barrow position.

The fishing barrow may be one in which the wheel means is a two-system wheel means comprising a first wheel system having at least one wheel and a first axle and for use of the fishing barrow in the wheel barrow position, and a second wheel system having at least two wheels and a second axle and for use of the fishing barrow in the cart position, the second axle being longer than the first axle and the first and second wheel systems being interchangeable on the fishing barrow so that only one wheel system is used at a time. The two system wheel means is able easily to be used with the first wheel system and the second wheel system easily being interchangeable.

The first wheel system may have one wheel. Alternatively, the first wheel system may have two wheels which are mounted side by side.

The second wheel system will usually have two wheels. The two wheels are preferably spaced apart by a distance greater than the width of the body portion.

The two-system wheel means may include locking collets for sliding along the first and second axles and positioning the wheel or wheels on the first and second axles.

The fishing barrow may alternatively be one in which the wheel means comprises a single axle, at least one wheel for use of the fishing barrow in the wheel barrow position, and at least two wheels for use of the fishing barrow in the cart position. The wheel means may then include locking collets for sliding along the axle and positioning the wheel or wheels on the axle.

The body portion is preferably an open framework body portion. The body portion may however have closed sides, for example flat panels, if desired.

Advantageously, the body portion includes first and second side portions which extend upwardly to define opposite sides of the body portion, and in which the first and second side portions are slidably mounted such that they are movable away from and towards each other to increase or decrease the width of the body portion. The fishing barrow may include first securing means for securing the first and second side portions in their chosen positions. The first securing means are preferably finger screws but other types of securing means may be employed.

The fishing barrow may be one in which the body portion includes an end portion which extends upwardly to define an end of the body portion opposite the handle means, and in which the end portion is slidably mounted such that it movable away from and towards the handle means to increase or decrease the length of the body portion The fishing barrow may include second securing means for securing the end portion in its chosen position.

Preferably the second securing means are finger screws but other types of securing means may be employed.

Advantageously, the body portion includes a tray for providing extra carrying capacity for the fishing barrow.

Preferably, the tray is a pivotable tray. The tray is preferably such that it pivots upwardly.

Preferably, the fishing barrow is foldable between a use position and a storage position. This enables the fishing barrow easily to be transported to and from a fishing site, for example in the boot of a car or in a small van.

The handle means will usually be a pair of spaced apart handles.

Other types of handle means such for example as a single bar may however be employed.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a first fishing barrow with wheel means in a wheel barrow position, and with the wheel means comprising a single wheel; Figure 2 shows the first wheel barrow of Figure 1 but with wheel means in a cart position, and with the wheel means comprising two spaced apart wheels; Figure 3 shows a second wheel barrow with wheel means in a wheel barrow position, and with the wheel means comprising two wheels; and Figure 4 shows the second wheel barrow of Figure 3 in a folded condition.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, there is shown a fishing barrow 2 comprising a body portion 4 for carrying fishing equipment (not shown), handle means 6, and wheel means 8. The fishing barrow 2 also comprises mounting means 10 for enabling the wheel means 8 to be moved between a wheel barrow position as shown in Figure 1 and a cart position as shown in Figure 2. Locking means 12 are provided for locking the mounting means 10 in the wheel barrow position shown in Figure 1 or in the cart position shown in Figure 2.

The wheel barrow position shown in Figure 1 is such that the fishing barrow 2 is movable by a person lifting one end of the fishing barrow 2 by the handle means 6 and moving the fishing barrow 2 in the manner of a wheel barrow. The cart position shown in Figure 2 is such that the fishing barrow 2 is movable by the person lifting one end of the fishing barrow 2 by the handle means 6 and moving the fishing barrow 2 in the nature of a cart. The wheel barrow position shown in Figure 1 and the cart position shown in Figure 2 are such that the wheel means 8 is further from the body portion 4 in the wheel barrow position shown in Figure 1 than in the cart position shown in Figure 2.

During use of the fishing barrow 2, the wheel barrow position shown in Figure 1 can be adopted for passage of the fishing barrow 2 over single narrow tracks and/or rough terrain. With such narrow tracks and/or rough terrain, the use of the fishing barrow 2 in the cart position shown in Figure 2 would either not be possible or would not be suitable. For wider tracks and sufficiently even terrain, the fishing barrow 2 can be used in the cart position shown in Figure 2. In the cart position shown in Figure 2, the wheel means 8 are nearer to the body portion 4 and thus it is easier to lift the fishing barrow 2 by the handle means 6. Also, with the wheel means 8 shown in Figure 2, it is not necessary for a person lifting and moving the fishing barrow 2 constantly to apply sideways correcting forces to the handle means 6 in order to avoid the fishing barrow 2 tipping over on one side or the other. Thus, anglers having a fishing barrow 2 are able to use the most appropriate design for the terrain in question, and thereby always be able to use a fishing barrow in its easiest and simplest mode of movement.

The mounting means 10 is a strut 14 which is pivotally mounted to the body portion 4 by first and second pivots 16 which are positioned one on opposite sides of the body portion 4. The strut 14 comprises a pair of arms 20, 22 which are spaced apart by a connecting arm 24 and which extends one on either side of the wheel means 8 as shown.

The locking means 12 comprises a pair of locking bars 26. The locking bars 26 are pivotally mounted at one end to the body portion 4 by pivots 28.

The locking bars 26 have a connecting formation in the form of a slot 30 at their other ends. The slot 30 is for connecting to the mounting means 10.

As can be appreciated from a comparison of Figures 1 and 2, the wheel means 8 is a two-system wheel means comprising a first wheel system 32 as shown in Figure 1, and a second wheel system 34 as shown in Figure 2. The first wheel system 32 comprises a wheel 36 and a first axle 38. The first axle 38 extends between the arms 20, 22 as shown in Figure 1.

The second wheel system 34 comprises two wheels 40, 42 and a second axle 44 and for use of the fishing barrow 2 in the cart position shown in Figure 2. The second axle 44 is longer than the first axle 38. The first and the second wheel systems 32, 34 are interchangeable on the fishing barrow so that only one wheel system is used at a time. The interchanging of the first and the second wheel systems 32, 34 is simply done by undoing the finger screws 46 that hold the first and the second axles 38, 34 in position on the arms 20, 22.

Figure 1 shows that the first wheel system 32 has one wheel 36.

Figure 2 shows that the second wheel system 24 has two wheels 40, 42. The two wheels 40, 42 are spaced apart by a distance greater than the width of the body portion 4.

The body portion 4 is an open framework body portion 4.

The body portion 4 includes first and second side portions 48, 50 which extend upwardly to define opposite sides of the body portion 4. The first and second side portions 48, 50 are slidably mounted in tubes 52 such that the first and second side portions 48, 50 are movable away from and towards each other to increase or decrease the width of the body portion 4. The first and the second side portions 48, 50 are locked in their chosen positions by finger screws 54.

The first and the second side portions 48, 50 are each formed in two parts comprising a first part 56 and a second part 58. The second part 58 slides in the first part 56 so that the first part 58 can slide upwards or downwards with respect to the first part 56 and thus increase or decrease the height of the first and second side portions 48, 50. The position of the second part 58 in the first part 56 is secured by means of first securing means in the form of finger screws 60.

The body portion 4 includes an end portion 62 which extends upwardly to define an end of the body portion 4 opposite the handle means 6. The end portion 4 is slidably mounted in tubes 64 such that the end portion 62 is movable away from and towards the handle means 6 to increase or decrease the length of the body portion 4. The desired position of the end portion 62 in the tubes 64 is secured by means of second securing means in the form of finger screws 66.

The end portion 62 is formed of a first part 68 and a second part 70 in the same manner as the first and second side portions 48, 50. Thus the height of the end portion 62 can be adjusted and secured in position by finger screws 72.

The body portion 4 includes a lower tray 74 for providing extra carrying capacity for the fishing barrow 2. The lower tray 74 is a pivotable lower tray which pivots upwardly about pivots 76 on either side of the body portion 4.

The fishing barrow 2 has feet 78 which extend out of tubes 80 forming part of the body portion 4. The feet 78 are secured in a desired position by finger screws 82.

The handle means 6 is an extendable handle means 6 comprising a first part 84 and a second part 86 which slides in the first part 84. The first and the second parts 84, 86 are secured together in their desired position by finger screws 88. The second part 86 has a hand grip portion 90.

Referring now to Figure 3, there is shown a fishing barrow 92 which is similar to the fishing barrow 2. Similar parts have therefore been given the same reference numerals for ease of comparison and understanding. The fishing barrow 92 has wheel means 8 in the form of a pair of wheels 94, 96 which are closely mounted together as shown in Figure 3.

Figure 4 shows the fishing barrow 92 in a folded condition for ease of transportation to and from a fishing place.

It is to be appreciated that the embodiments of the invention described above with reference to the accompanying drawings have been given by way of example only and that modifications may be effected. Thus, for example, the handle means 6 may be a single bar rather than two separate handles as shown. The body portion 4 may be of a design other than that shown.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A fishing barrow comprising a body portion for carrying a load, handle means, wheel means, mounting means for enabling the wheel means to be moved between a wheel barrow position and a cart position, and locking means for locking the mounting means in the wheel barrow position or the cart position, the wheel barrow position being such that the fishing barrow is movable by a person lifting one end of the fishing barrow by the handle means and moving the fishing barrow in the manner of a wheel barrow, the cart position being such that the fishing barrow is movable by the person lifting one end of the fishing barrow by the handle means and moving the fishing barrow in the nature of a cart, and the wheel barrow position and the cart position being such that the wheel means is further from the body portion in the wheel barrow position than in the cart position.
2. A fishing barrow according to claim 1 in which the mounting means is a strut which is pivotally mounted to the body portion.
3. A fishing barrow according to claim 2 in which the strut is pivotally to the body portion by first and second pivots which are positioned one on opposite sides of the body portion.
4. A fishing barrow according to any one of the preceding claims in which the locking means is a pair of locking bars.
5. A fishing barrow according to claim 4 in which the locking bars are pivotally mounted at one end to the body portion, and which the other ends of the locking bars have a connecting formation for connecting to the mounting means.
6. A fishing barrow according to claim 5 in which the connecting formation is a slot.
7. A fishing barrow according to any one of the preceding claims in which the wheel means is a two-system wheel means comprising a first wheel system having at least one wheel and a first axle for use of the fishing barrow in the wheel barrow position, and a second wheel system having at least two wheels and a second axle and for use of the fishing barrow in the cart position, the second axle being longer than the first axle, and the first and second wheel systems being interchangeable on the fishing barrow so that only one wheel system is used at a time.
8. A fishing barrow according to claim 7 in which the first wheel system has one wheel.
9. A fishing barrow according to claim 7 in which the first wheel system has two wheels which are mounted side by side.
10. A fishing barrow according to any one of claims 7 -9 in which the second wheel system has two wheels.
11. A fishing barrow according to claim 10 in which the two wheels are spaced apart by a distance greater than the width of the body portion.
12. A fishing barrow according to any one of claims 7 -11 and including locking collets for sliding along the first and second axles and positioning the wheel or wheels on the first and second axles.
13. A fishing barrow according to any one of claims 1 -6 in which the wheel means comprises a single axle, at least one wheel for use of the fishing barrow in the wheel barrow position, and at least two wheels for use of the fishing barrow in the cart position.
14. A fishing barrow according to claim 13 and including locking collets for sliding along the axle and positioning the wheel or wheels on the axle.
15. A fishing barrow according to any one of the preceding claims in which the body portion is an open framework body portion.
16. A fishing barrow according to any one of the preceding claims in which the body portion includes first and second side portions which extend upwardly to define opposite sides of the body portion, and in which the first and second side portions are slideably mounted such that they are movable away from and towards each other to increase or decrease the width of the body portion.
17. A fishing barrow according to claim 16 and including first securing means for securing the first and second side portions in their chosen positions.
18. A fishing barrow according to claim 17 in which the first securing means are finger screws.
19. A fishing barrow according to any one of the preceding claims in which the body portion includes an end portion which extends upwardly to define an end of the body portion opposite the hand means, and in which the end portion is slidably mounted such that it is movable away from and towards the handle means to increase to decrease the length of the body portion.
20. A fishing barrow according to claim 19 and including second securing means for securing the second end portion in its chosen position.
21. A fishing barrow according to claim 20 in which the second securing means are finger screws.
22. A fishing barrow according to any one of the preceding claims in which the body portion includes a tray for providing extra carrying capacity for the fishing barrow.
23. A fishing barrow according to claim 22 in which the tray is a pivotable tray.
24. A fishing barrow according to any one of the preceding claims in which the entire fishing barrow is foldable between a use position and a storage position.
25. A fishing barrow according to any one of the preceding claims in which the handle means are a pair of spaced apart handles.
26. A fishing barrow substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 or Figures 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.