AU2006213945B1 - Wheeled Load Transfer Device - Google Patents

Description

13-Sep. 2006 15:54 Wal ington-Dummer Sydney No 6651 P 3 P/00/009 Regulation 3 Co,

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION WHEELED LOAD TRANSFER DEVICE Invention Title: The invention is described in the following statement, including the best method of performing it known to us: Our Ref: 062034 COMS ID No: SBMI-04744390 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:00 Date 2006-09-13 13.Sep. 2006 15:55 Wal inglon-Dummer Sydney No.6651 P. 4

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HEELED LOAD TPAJSFER DEVICE 0 The present invention relates to load carrying devices ci and, more particularly, to wheeled, manually operated o devices.

BACKGROUND

Various wheeled devices have been devised for ci transferring quantities of loose material, such as for o example sand, soil, road base, gravel and compost, from one ci 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.

COMS ID No: SBMI-04744390 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:00 Date 2006-09-13 13.Sep. 2006 15:55 Wallinglon-Dummer Sydney No-6651 P. -2 SN It is an object of the present invention to address or ci at least ameliorate some of the above disadvantages.

C) Not.

enThe term "comprising" (and grammatical variations thereof) is used in this specification in the inclusive sense of "having" or "including", and not in the-exclusive Mn sense of "consisting only of".

ci BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF TrVENTION 0N o 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 uLpper 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.

COMS ID No: SBMI-04744390 Received by IP3 Australia: Time 16:00 Date 2006-09-13 13.Sep. 2006 15:55 Wal ngton-Dummer Sydney No.6651 P. 6 3 SO Preferably, said handle assembly comprises first and second handle members and at least one cross member; said Sfirst and second handle members pivotally connected to

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Cc 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 INO 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.

COMS ID No: SBMI-04744390 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:00 Date 2006-09-13 13.Sep. 2006 15:55 Wall inston-Dummer Sydney No.6651 P. 7 4 O Preferably, when said first latching mechanism is C-i released from engagement with said load containing member, Sa front lip of said load containing member is in contact Swith a supporting ground surface supporting said device, and wherein said bottom portion is at a slight upward V) inclination to said surface; said inclination sufficient to Sprovide clearance between a rear lower edge of said load Ci containing member and said supporting ground surface.

0 0- 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 COMS ID No: SBMI-04744390 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:00 Date 2006-09-13 13.Sep. 2006 15:55 Wal I in ton-Dummer Sydney No.6651 P. 8 S as to secure said material within said load containing ri member.

C)

C) 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.

ci o 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: unlatching a load containing member of said device from a locked position relative a handle assembly so as to rotate said load containing COMS ID No: SBMI-04744390 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:00 Date 2006-09-13 12.Sep. 2006 15:56 WallIinglon-Dummer Sydney No-6651 P. 9 member into a scooping position relative said (N handle assembly, urging said load containing member against a volume of material disposed on a supporting S ground surface so as to load at least a portion of said material into said load containing member, o(c) rotating said handle assembly upwardly to a latched fixed position relative said load containing metber, rotating said handle assembly downwardly to bring outer portions of said handle assembly proximate the waist of an average user, wheeling said transfer device to an unload destination, unlatc-hing a rear discharge door from a first locked position to rotate to a second open discharge position.

BRIEF D)ESCRIPTION OF DEMIINGS Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: COMS ID No: SBMI-04744390 Received by IF Australia: Time 16:00 Date 2006-09-13 13.Sep. 2006 15:56 WalIington-Dummer Sydney No.6651 P. 16 -7oD Figure 1 is a side elevation view of a preferred (Nq embodiment of a wheeled load transfer device according to Cthe invention in a first latched condition, Co nFigure 2 is a side elevation view of the device of Figure I in a second latched condition, IFigure 3 is a rear elevation view of the device of eFigures I and 2, Figure 4 is a front elevation view of the device of

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o Figures I and 2, ci Figure 5 is a plan view of the device of Figures 1 and 2, Figure 6 is a side elevation view of the device of Figures 1 and 2 when in a preferred loading configuration, Figure 7 is a side elevation view of the device of Figures 1 and 2 when in a load transfer configuration, Figure 8 is a side elevation view of the device of Figures 1 and 2 when in a load discharge configuration..

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS With reference to Figures 1 and 2, a wheeled load transfer device 10 comprises a load containing member or bucket 22, a pair of coaxial wheels 14 and 15 (only one of which is visible in Figure 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 Figures 1 and 7, the wheel mounting position on bucket 12 is such that the rear lower COMS ID No: SBMI-04744390 Received by 1P Australia: Time 16:00 Date 2006-09-13 13.Sep. 2006 15:56 Wal ngton-Dummer Sydney No .6651 P. I IND edge 23 of bucket 12 is clear of the supporting ground ciq surface 50 when the bucket is in the loading attitude shown in Figure 1 or in the transporting attitude shown in Figure

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en 7.

Bucket 12 comprises opposing, generally triangularshaped sides 16 and 17, a bottom 18 and rear discharge door as can be seen in Figures 3, 4 and 8. The front 22 of ciq bucket 12 is open except for a short upper cover segment 24

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o (as best seen in Figures 4 and Preferably, the leading ci front edge 48 is provided with a replaceable wear strip (not shown).

As best seen in Figures 3, 4 and 5, wheels 14 and 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 Figures 1, 2, 4 and 5, handle assembly 13 is provided with a first cable operated springloaded 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 COMS ID No: SBMI-04744390 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:00 Date 2006409-13 13.Sep, 2006 15:56 WallIinglon-Oummer Sydney No.6651 P. 12 o First spring-loaded mechanism 30 is adapted to lock (N handle assembly 13 in a first latched position relative t& bucket 12 as shown in Figure 1 when engaged with f irst enlatch block 34, or a second latched position as shown in Figure 2 when engaged with second latch block 35. First In spring-loaded latching mechanism 30, is controlled by a rfl first lever assembly 38 and a first cable 39, attached to first handle member 28. As can be seen in Figures 5 and 6, O 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 Figure 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 Figure 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 f rom Figure 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 COMS ID No: SBMI-04744390 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:00 Date 2006-09-13 13-Sep, 2006 15:56 Waillinglon-Dummer Sydney No.6651 P. 13 o inclined to surface 50, sufficient to leave rear lower edge (N 23 of bucket 12 clear of surface 50. By applying a forward force at handle assembly 13, bucket 12 acts as a scoop to enat least partially fill the bucket from a heap of material 52. Alternatively, or additionally, material 52 may be V) readily scraped or raked into the bucket 12 without the en need for any lifting or shovelling of the material to be transported.

o 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. Tn 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 Figure 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 Figure COMS IDNo: SBMI-04744390 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:00 Date 2006-09-13 13-Sep. 2006 15:57 13.Sep 200615:5] Wall inston-Dummer Sydney o65 .1 N o 6 6 5 1 P 14 11 INO 8. Because of the slope of the bottom 18 of bucket 12, the 0 material it contains will readily slide rearward and discharge through door To aid in discharging the material if required, the second latching position of the handle assembly 13 relative to budket 12 afforded by secondc latch block 35, may be utilised as shown in Figure 8 to increase further the slope Ci of bottom 18. It will be obvious that the slope of the o bottom 18 of bucket 12 may be made quite steep by inclining the handle assembly 13 further downward from that shown in Figure The device 10 can simply be wheeled forward as the discharge proceeds to allow all the material 52 to exit through rear discharge door When all material has been discharged, the device is tilted back to a position approximating that of Figure 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.

COMS ID No: SBMI-04744390 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:00 Date 2006-09-13 13.Sep. 2006 15:57 Wal I nston-Dummer Sydney No.6651 P. 12 ,O For example whilst only a first spring loaded latching 0 C(N 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 In shown in Fig 5 could, for example, be replaced by a first Sand second latching mechanism mounted in spaced apart Va relationship mounted on cross member 32 and adapted for

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0 o engaging with corresponding spaced apart latch blocks 34.

ci COMS ID No: SBMI-04744390 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:00 Date 2006-09-13

Claims (2)

13-Sep. 2006 15:57 Waillinglan-Dummer Sydney o65 P.1 N o 6 6 5 1 P 16 -13 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 INO a ground surface. 2- 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. 3. The device of claim 1 or 2 wherein said rear discharge door is pivotally hinged proximate an upper edge of said discharge door. 4. The device of claim 2 or 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. 5. The device of claim 4 wherein said handle assembly comprises first and second handle members and at least one cross member; said first and second handle members COMS ID No: SBMI-04744390 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:00 Date 2006-09-13 13.Sep. 2006 15:57 Wal ington-Dummer Sydney No.6651 P. 17 14 NO pivotally connected to respective said wheel axle C< housings. C) 6. The device of any one of claims 1 to 5 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. ci o 7. The device of any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein said ci 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. 8. The device of any one of claims 1 to 7 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. 9. 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. COMS ID No: SBMI-04744390 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:00 Date 2006-09-13 13.Sep. 2006 15:57 Wal I ngton-Dummer Sydney No-6651 P. 18 15 8O 10. The device of any one of claims 7 to 9 wherein, when C-i said first latching mechanism is released from engagement with said load containing member, a front C) en lip of said load containing member is in contact with a supporting ground surface supporting said device, 'f and wherein said bottom portion is at a slight upward ON inclination to said surface; said inclination (C sufficient to provide clearance between a rear lower VO ID o edge of said load containing member and said ci supporting ground surface. 11. The device of any one of claims 1 to 10 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. 12. The device of any one of claims 7 to 11 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. 13. The device of any one of claims 2 to 12 wherein said device is brought into an attitude for transporting said material in said load containing member by COMS ID No: SBMI-04744390 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:00 Date 2006-09-13

18.Sep. 2006 15:58 Wallinston-Dummer Sydnev No.6651 P. 19 16- NO rotation downwardly of said handle assembly; outer (N ends of said handle assembly then at a height proximate the waist of an average user; said bottom en portion of said load containing member then inclined downwardly so as to secure said material within said V) load containing member. 14. The device of any one of claims 8 to 13 wherein said o material is discharged from said load containing (N member by operating said second latching mechanism to release said rear discharge door from said closed load retaining position to an open discharge position. The device of any one of claims 7 to 14 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. 16. A method for loading and transporting material by means of a wheeled load transfer device; said method OOMS ID No: SBMI-04744390 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:00 Date 2006-09-13 13-Sep. 2606 15:58 Wall ington-Dummer Sydney No-6651 P. -17 v.0 not requiring use of a spade or shovel or other hand 0 held implement; said method including the steps of: 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,. 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, rotating said handle assembly upwardly to a latched fixed position relative said load containing member, rotating said handle assembly downwardly to bring outer portions of said handle assembly proximate the waist of an average user, Ce) wheeling said transfer device to an unload destination, unlatching a rear discharge door from a first locked position to rotate to a second open discharge position. COMS ID No: SBMI-04744390 Received by IP Australia: lime 16:00 Date 2006-09-13 13SeP. 2006 15:58 Wallinston-Dummer Sydney N o 6 5 P- 2 1 18 Va c 17. A wheeled load transfer device as herein described and with reference to the accompanying drawings. COMS ID No: SBMI-04744390 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:00 Date 2006-09-13