AU3681699A - Load carrier with ground engaging means - Google Patents

Description

P/00/01 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT B S Invention Title:

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*5 Load Carrier With Ground Engaging Means

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S *5 S S. S B B *5 C S. S B a

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The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us: FHPMELC6991 80003.3 CD/99079001 1 1A LOAD CARRIER WITH GROUND ENGAGING

MEANS

Field of the Invention This invention relates to a load carrier or transporter with ground engaging means. The carrier is especially suited for carrying heavy and/or bulky loads for long distances. The invention is described herein with regard to defence force applications but is not so limited.

Definitions Throughout this specification reference to a ground engaging means is to be taken as including any appropriate means to enable the carrier to travel over the ground such as, for example, wheels, continuous tracks, skis, and the like.

Background to the Invention o* When it is necessary to transport large and bulky equipment from one place to another, road vehicles are usually employed. When the areas are remote or rough terrain is involved, it is often necessary for the equipment and/or supplies to be manually carried.

This is especially the case in the army, for example, where in most situations, soldiers are called upon to carry all their equipment. The equipment and supplies are typically heavy, bulky, and large distances often need to be

SOC.

traversed, quite often under difficult and/or adverse conditions. This can have a *e S- 20 exhausting effect on the soldiers, which is particularly undesirable in combat situations when they are required to be fresh and have their strength reserves intact. The effect on the energy reserves of the soldiers may also reduce the distance able to be covered by the soldiers daily.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide means by which large and/or bulky materials can be transported easily over large distances with reduced manual exertion.

CD/9907901.1 2 Summary of the Invention In a first embodiment, the invention accordingly provides a manually operated transporter including: substantially planar base support means having a first and second end; handle means hingedly connected to said base support means; secondary support means hingedly connected to the first end of said base support means; said base support means being provided with at least one ground engaging means attachment point at one of the first end or the second end.

10 More preferably, a pair of wheel attachment points is provided at both the oo r first and second end of the base support means.

;Preferably, said secondary support means extends substantially 900 to said base support means in use.

S°SAdvantageously, said base support means, said secondary support means, and said handle means are in the form of a rigid framework.

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Preferably, said handle means and said secondary support means are lockable in their in use position. More preferably, the locking positions are variable.

In a second embodiment, the invention accordingly provides a manually operated wheeled transporter including: substantially planar handle means having a first end and a second end; front base support means hingedly connected to said first end of said handle means; CD/99079o.1 3 rear base support means hingedly connected to said first end of said handle means; foot support means hingedly connected to said front base support means at the end opposite the handle means; rear secondary support means hingedly connected to said rear base support means at the end opposite said handle means; said handle means being provided with a pair of wheel attachment points at one end.

More preferably, a pair of wheel attachment points is provided at both the first and second end of the handle means.

The handle means is preferably telescopic, folding, or curved to enable use *q*of the transporter by people of different heights.

•oe° Preferably, said front base support means extends at an obtuse angle to the handle means and said rear base support means extends at an acute angle to S 15 said handle means when in use. Advantageously the front support means and the rear support means are, in use, co-planar and are substantially parallel to the surface the transporter is on.

More preferably, said rear secondary support means extends substantially 2 900 to said rear base support means when in use. The foot support means may S° 20 also extend at 900 to said front base support means when in use.

Advantageously, said front and rear base support means, said rear secondary support means, said foot support means, and said handle means are in the form of a rigid framework.

Preferably, said front and rear base support means, said foot support means, and said secondary support means are lockable in their in use position.

CO/99079001.1 4 More preferably, the locking positions are variable.

Advantageously, in each of the first and second embodiments, said transporter is collapsible to a substantially planar state to enable it to be stored easily, or carried easily by a person.

More preferably, in each of the embodiments, axles extend between each of the pairs of wheel attachment points enabling wheels to be mounted to the transporter. Advantageously the wheels are connected to said transporter by means of a lock pin. Each of the wheels may be provided with brake means.

Advantageously, connection means are provided on the transporter to enable one or more transporters to be connected together to form a "train".

More advantageously, the width of the transporter is variable. The width may be adjusted by means of telescopic cross-bars and axles, for example.

Brief Description of the Drawings

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The invention will now be described by way of a non-limitative example, 15 with reference to the accompanying illustrative drawings, in which: oS.

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a transporter in 2-wheel load carrying mode; Figure 2 is a side elevational view of a transporter in 4-wheel load carrying mode; Figures 3a and 3b are plan and side views, respectively, of a transporter; Figure 4 is a side elevational view of a transporter in a different 2-wheel load carrying mode; Figure 5 is a side elevational view of a transporter in stretcher mode; CD/99079001.1 Figures 6a and 6b are plan and side views, respectively, of the transporter.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of a transporter in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 8 is a plan view of the transporter of Figure 7 in its folded condition.

Figure 9 is an enlarged partial perspective view of the connection point of the transporter of Figure 7.

In the drawings, illustrating various embodiments of the invention, for convenience only, like components are given the same numerical reference.

Description of Preferred Embodiments The transporter 10 illustrated in Figure 1 has base support 12 in the form of oO a substantially planar frame. The base frame 12 has first and second ends 14,16 respectively at which are located ground engaging means attachment points 24, o 26 respectively. As illustrated, the ground engaging means may be wheels 28. In this embodiment, one pair of wheels 28 are connected to the base support 12 at S 15 attachment points 24. A second pair of wheels may be attached at attachment points 26 as will described below.

A handle 18 is hingedly connected to the second end 16 of the base 12 and enables the transporter 10 to be moved manually. The handle 18 may be pivotable about connection 19, but can also be locked in position. The handle 18 o 20 is illustrated as a fixed length but it may be extendable (as in a telescoping extension, or by inserts) to allow for use by people of different heights.

At the other end 14 of the base 12, a second handle 20 is hingedly connected at connection 21. In this embodiment, handle 20 serves to secure the load 29 to the transporter 10. Handle 20 may also be locked in position. As will be described below, handle 20 is used to move the transporter when the transporter 10 is in four-wheel mode.

CD/99079001 i 6 A secondary support 22 is provided in the form of a rigid, substantially planar frame member. Secondary support 22 is pivotally connected to the first end 14 of base 12 and, in use, extends substantially perpendicularly from the base 10 and is locked in position. Support 22 provides support to the load 29 when the transporter is being used.

When not in use, the transporter is easily stored in its collapsed condition.

To enable the transporter to be used, wheels 28 are connected to the base 12 at the attachment points 24; and handle 18 and secondary support 22 are pivoted to their respective in use positions. Secondary support 22 is preferably locked in position before load 29 is placed on base 12. Handle 20 is then pivoted such that it surrounds the load 29 and serves to secure the load to the base 12. A person can then grip handle 18 and move the transporter.

Referring to Figure 2, two pairs of wheels 28, 30 are connected to the base support 12 at attachment points 24, 26. In this manner, the base 12 of transporter 15 10 is substantially parallel to the ground. In this embodiment, it is not necessary *to use handle 18 and it remains folded within the frame of the base support 12. In a this embodiment, handle 20 serves as the handle for moving the transporter.

0* Figure 4 illustrates the transporter 10 in an alternative two-wheeled configuration. In this embodiment, base support 12 as illustrated in Figures 1 and 20 2 is replaced by front and rear base support means 32 and 34 respectively. A ••oo single handle 36 is provided having a first and second end 38,40. Front and rear supports 32, 34 are hingedly connected to the handle 36 at the first end 38 :thereof. The second end 40 of the handle 36 is provided with an extendable position 42. The extendable portion may be a supplementary handle that is joined to the handle 36, or handle 36 may be telescopic thereby allowing easy adjustment of the length of the handle. One pair of attachment points 24 for ground engaging means is provided at the first end of the handle 36. As illustrated, wheels 28 are connected to the first end of the handle 36 at attachment points 24.

A second pair of attachment points 26 is provided at the end of the rear OD/99079001.1 7 base support 34 remote from the handle 36. Secondary rear support 44 is hingedly connected to the rear support 34 and, in use, extends at a right angle thereto. Foot or like supports 46 are likewise hingedly connected to front support 32. Both the secondary rear support 44 and foot support 46 are lockable in their respective in use positions. Secondary rear support 44 is preferably adapted to connect to the handle 36 at connection point 48.

After unfolding the transporter from its folded condition, wheels 28 are connected to attachment points 24. The front and rear supports 32, 34 are then locked into position, as are the secondary rear support 44, and foot support 46.

Handle extension 42 may be connected to existing handle 36. A load can then be transported.

Referring now to Figure 5, the transporter 10 is illustrated in stretcher *o0* mode. The configuration of the transporter 10 in this embodiment is substantially identical to that shown in Figure 4 except that now wheels 30 have been attached S. 15 to attachment point 26 instead of wheels 28 attached at 24. Handle 36 remains o. operable to move the transporter. The action of shifting the wheels to a more °°°rearwardly position with respect to the transporter, correspondingly shifts the centre of gravity and makes the transporter especially suitable for use as a mobile stretcher.

20 In use, webbing 50 of any suitable type is attached to the framework of the

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S transporter 10 as shown in Figure 5. Straps and buckles, or the like, may be used to attach the webbing to the transporter, for example.

Referring to Figures 7 to 9, an alternative form of transporter is illustrated.

Transporter 50 includes handle 52 in the form of a substantially planar frame.

Handle 54 has a first end defined by cross-bar 56 and a second end defined by the ends 68, 69 of the side members of handle 52.

Wheel attachment points 60 are provided at each of the ends 68, 69 and serve to attach a pair of wheels 61 by passing the stub axles to which the wheels are attached through attachment points 61 and securing with a pin 72 as shown.

CD/99079001 1 8 The first end 56 of handle 52 is illustrated as integrally formed with the side members of the handle 52, but it may be a separate component that is adapted to be connected to handle 52 in any conventional manner, eg telescopic.

Transporter 50 further includes base support 54 also in the form of a substantially planar frame. Base support 54 has a first end 57 defined by crossbar 57 and a second end defined by the ends 70, 71 of the side members of the base support 54. While the first end 57 is shown as integrally formed with the side members of the base support 54, it will be appreciated that it may be formed as a separate component.

oaoo "i 10 Additional cross-bars 58 and 59 are also provided on transporter 50 and in addition to strengthening the frame members, may be used as attachment points for a fabric stretcher, as described earlier.

As illustrated in Figure 7, cross-bar 55 extends between and is securely connected, at each end, to a pair of substantially shaped slots 62, 63. Wheel attachment points 60 are connected to the base of the "U"-shaped slots, thereby forming the connection between cross-bar 55 and handle 52. The connections °00.0 between the "U"-shaped slots, cross-bar 55, and wheel attachment points 60 are by welding.

S°The connection between the base support 54 and cross-bar 55 is via substantially circular holes (not shown) formed in ends 70, 71 of the side members of the base support. During assembly of the transporter 50, before welding crossbar 55 to the slots 62, 63, the ends of cross-bar 55 are passed through each of the circular holes. Base support 54 is thereby able to pivot about the ends of cross-bar 55 between a folded condition as illustrated in Figure 8 and an operative position as illustrated in Figure 7. A pair of lock pins 64,65 are provided and cooperate with openings 66 formed in each of the side walls of slots 62, 63. Lock pins 64, 65, when in position in openings 66, serve to prevent the base support 54 from returning to the folded condition during use of the transporter.

It will be appreciated that the transporter of the invention conserves the CD/99079001 1 9 soldier's strength reserves, thereby allowing a greater range of travel in the field while still retaining reserves of energy to engage in combat. It will also be recognised that while the transporter of the invention has been described essentially in relation to its use by the army, it also has valuable use for farming and other remote primary industries and can also be used by companies to move their products from one area to another to be processed, for example.

Furthermore, by use of larger diameter wheels, traversal of rough or uneven terrain should be possible.

It will be understood that the invention disclosed and defined in this specification extends to all alternative combinations of two or more of the individual features mentioned or evident from the text or drawings. All of these different combinations constitute various alternative aspects of the invention.