CA2129309C - Wheelbarrow insert - Google Patents

Wheelbarrow insert

Info

Publication number
CA2129309C
CA2129309C CA002129309A CA2129309A CA2129309C CA 2129309 C CA2129309 C CA 2129309C CA 002129309 A CA002129309 A CA 002129309A CA 2129309 A CA2129309 A CA 2129309A CA 2129309 C CA2129309 C CA 2129309C
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
insert
panels
wheelbarrow
crease
bucket
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Fee Related
Application number
CA002129309A
Other languages
French (fr)
Other versions
CA2129309A1 (en
Inventor
John G. Keough
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to CA002129309A priority Critical patent/CA2129309C/en
Publication of CA2129309A1 publication Critical patent/CA2129309A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CA2129309C publication Critical patent/CA2129309C/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B62LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
    • B62BHAND-PROPELLED VEHICLES, e.g. HAND CARTS OR PERAMBULATORS; SLEDGES
    • B62B1/00Hand carts having only one axis carrying one or more transport wheels; Equipment therefor
    • B62B1/18Hand carts having only one axis carrying one or more transport wheels; Equipment therefor in which the load is disposed between the wheel axis and the handles, e.g. wheelbarrows
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B62LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
    • B62BHAND-PROPELLED VEHICLES, e.g. HAND CARTS OR PERAMBULATORS; SLEDGES
    • B62B1/00Hand carts having only one axis carrying one or more transport wheels; Equipment therefor
    • B62B1/18Hand carts having only one axis carrying one or more transport wheels; Equipment therefor in which the load is disposed between the wheel axis and the handles, e.g. wheelbarrows
    • B62B1/20Hand carts having only one axis carrying one or more transport wheels; Equipment therefor in which the load is disposed between the wheel axis and the handles, e.g. wheelbarrows involving parts being collapsible, attachable, detachable or convertible

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Transportation (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Cartons (AREA)
  • Handcart (AREA)

Abstract

A wheelbarrow enlargement insert comprising front, back and two side panels for mating insertion into a bucket of the wheelbarrow whereby volumetric capacity of the wheelbarrow is increased. The insert is made of semi-rigid creaseable sheet material, such as corrugated cardboard or plastic. Either each of the front and back panels, or each of the two side panels, includes a crease between side edges of each panel adapted cooperatively to enable selective opening of the insert for the mating insertion and folding of the insert to a substantially flat storage form.

Description

Wheelbarrow Insert 2 1 2 9 3 0 9 This invention relates to a removable insert for enlarging the carrying capacity of a wheelbarrow.
Wheelbarrow inserts or attachments for enlarging carrying capacity are known in the art. For example see U.S. Patent Nos.4,645,225 and 2,805,885, published PCT International Application No.PCT/GB90/01673 (Publication No.W0 91/06460), and U.S. Design Patent No. 269,335. However, each of these is for a device which requires fastener attachment to the wheelbarrow and/or is bulky for storage. The former means that the device is not quickly and easily installed or removed. The latter means that the device is not conveniently stored when not in use. None of the prior art devices is therefore considered to be so suitable for use in a setting where there is a variety of tasks for the wheelbarrow, some benefitting from an enlarged carrying capacity, eg. when collecting leaves in the fall, or cleaning debris from a construction area. Unless an enlargement device can be quickly and easily installed and removed, and conveniently stored, such is likely not to be used, especially if the task is not overly time consuming or if storage space is at a premium.
There is therefore a need for a wheelbarrow carrying capacity enlargement device which is light weight, easy to set-up and remove from the wheelbarrow and which can be easily stored without taking up very much space.

Summary of the Invention The invention therefore provides a wheelbarrow enlargement insert comprising front, back and two side panels for mating insertion into a bucket of the wheelbarrow, whereby volumetric capacity of the wheelbarrow is increased. The insert preferably is made of self-supporting semi-rigid creaseable sheet material, ~ q30C~

such as corrugated cardboard or corrugated plastic, which does not require a supporting frame. Either each of the front and back panels, or each of the two side panels, includes a crease between side edges of each panel adapted cooperatively to enable selective opening of the insert for the mating insertion, as well as folding of the insert to a substantially flat storage form. There is thus at least one pair of opposed creases, but preferably there are two pairs. One pair of opposed creases if present, ie. the pair formed from the crease on the front panel and the crease on the back panel, allows the opening or folding to occur along a substantially longitudinal, vertical plane.
The other pair of opposed creases if present, ie. the pair formed from the creases respectively on the side panels, allows for the opening and folding along a substantially transverse, vertical plane. Preferably, each crease extends along a mid-line from a top edge to a bottom edge of a given panel.
In another embodiment, the insert further comprises a bottom panel having one crease adapted to cooperate, with one of the above discussed pairs of creases, during the opening and folding. This crease is in-line with this pair of creases.
In another aspect, there is provided a method of manufacturing a wheelbarrow enlargement insert made of semi-rigid creaseable material in front, back and side panels. The method comprises fabricating the panels with dimensions in accordance with dimensions of a bucket of the wheelbarrow and a desired height of the panels above the base of the bucket, and provides either a crease between respective side edges of each of the front and back panels, or a crease between respective side edges of each of the side panels, such that there is thereby provided at least one pair of creases adapted cooperatively to enable selective opening of the insert for mating insertion into the bucket and folding of the insert to a substantially flat storage form.

~1 ~ q3(~ 7 Brief Description of the Drawings Preferred embodiments of the present invention are shown in the accompanying Figures, in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a wheelbarrow including an enlargement insert according to the present invention;
FIG. 2 is an overhead view of an unfolded enlargement insert according to the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an enlargement insert according to the present invention which is being folded flat;
FIG. 4 is an overhead view of one method of assembly of an enlargement insert according to the present invention;
FIG. 5 is a side view of an enlargement insert according to the present invention which has been folded flat using creases on front and back panels of the insert;
FIG. 6 is a top view of unassembled pieces of an enlargement insert according to the present invention which includes an optional bottom panel;
FIG. 7 is a side view of an enlargement insert according to the present invention which has a bottom panel, and which has been folded flat using creases on front, back and the bottom panels; and, FIGS. 8a and 8b respectively show end (front or back) and side views of an unfolded enlargement insert according to the present invention with references for use in construction, and FIG. 8c is a view of a side panel of an alternate enlargement insert according to the present invention, in which the slopes of the front and back of said insert differ substantially, with reference for use in calculating the position of the side creases as part of construction.

Description of Preferred Embodiments 3c~

The enlargement insert 1 preferably sits in the bucket 2 of a wheelbarrow without fasteners or other security aids. The insert gains its stability and tightness of fit as it is filled, as the weight of the filling material 3 pushes the sides of the insert outward and downward against the sides of the bucket.
Optionally, the insert may be tied in with string (not shown) wrapped around the wheelbarrow handles and through holes in the insert provided for that purpose, eg. to help prevent the insert from falling out when dumping off ledges.
The insert has substantially the same base dimensions as the base of the wheelbarrow's bucket, and has substantially the same slope to its side, front and back panels as corresponding panels of the bucket. However, the insert has higher side, front and back panels than the corresponding panels of the bucket. It is the case that the insert of the present invention fits most conventional wheelbarrows, regardless of bucket size:
in larger buckets the insert wedges more deeply, and vice versa in smaller buckets. The insert is not intended to create a precision fit, thereby facilitating easy placement in the bucket and avoiding the complications that can arise with precision assemblies. A bottom panel 9 is optional to the insert. Flaps 8 are preferably provided for adhesive attachment of the bottom panel to the side panels.
A pair of creases 6,7 may be provided upwardly along the respective middles of the side panels. A pair of creases 4,5 may also be provided upwardly along the respective middles of the front and back panels. One pair of creases must be provided, but preferably, both of such pairs of creases are provided. Both pairs of creases allow, if present, for selective folding of the insert along a lateral (side to side) or longitudinal (front to back) plane. The latter is illustrated in FIG. 3. Such folding results in a substantially flat storage form of the insert. The creases also allow for the insert to flex outwardly and tightly against the bucket walls o q during filling. Furthermore, it has been found that partial collapse of the insert may occur during dumping of a load, which appears to assist in the dumping.
In manufacturing a preferred embodiment of the insert, initial measurements are obtained of the base, and slopes of the sides, front and back of a wheelbarrow bucket for which inserts according to the invention are to be mass produced. In referring to FIG. 2, both sides of the insert preferably are identical, having a base length Lsb and top length Lst. The front and back panels of the insert preferably have equal base lengths and equal top lengths, denoted by LEb and LEt respectively. In referring to FIG. 8a, which is an end (front or back) view of an unfolded insert, it can be seen that both sides of the insert preferably have an equal slope (measured as an angle in degrees upward from the base horizontal), denoted by 0s~ The front and back panels may have different slopes, 0F and 0B respectively, as shown in FIG. 8b. The widths of the sides, front and back panels of the insert are denoted by Ws~ WF and WB respectively.
To the extent that the base dimensions and the side, front and back panel slopes are predetermined by the bucket, it is the height, h, measured as the vertical component of the distance between the top and bottom edges of the insert, which gives it the increased carrying capacity. Therefore, to build the insert the following figures should be supplied: Lsb, LEb, 05, 0F' 0B' and h. The above figures may be used to determine the widths and top lengths under the following formulae:

Widths:
Side, Ws = h/sin 0s Front, WF = h/sin 0F
Back, WB = h/sin 0B

Lengths:

~ laq3~s Side Panel Top, LSt LSb + WFCOS0F + WBCOS0B
Front and Back Panel Tops, LEt = LEb + 2(Wscos05) The positions of the creases for use in folding the insert for storage are preferably determined as follows (refer to Fig.
8c):

Side Panel creases:
Because the front and back slopes of the insert may not be equal, the method of calculating the position of the side panel creases is not straightforward. Two temporary angles, called ~SF
and ~SB~ must first be calculated. If an enlargement insert is folded through the creases in its sides to its flat storage form and then ~stood up" against a wall so that the top edges of the front and back panels are horizontal, then ~SF represents the inside angle between a vertical line and the top edge of the side panel where it meets the front, and similarly ~SB represents the inside angle between a vertical line and the top edge of the side panel where it meets the back.
~SF = 90 - tan 1 [WSCOS05 / WF] ~ tan 1 [WFCOS0F / W5]
~SB = 90 - tan~1[Wscos05 / WB] ~ tan~1[WBcos0B / Ws]
Factor FB is a ratio, expressed as a fraction of 1. Here 1 represents the entire length of the top or bottom edge of the side panel. Factor FB represents, in relative terms, how far along the top or bottom edge of the side panel, as measured from the back edge of the side panel, the crease intersects this top or bottom edge.
FB = sin a5F / (sin ~SF + sin ~SB) Therefore along the bottom edge of each side panel the crease is dSBb units from the back, where:
dSBb = FB x LSb-~/as~

Similarly, the crease intersects the top edge of each side dSBt units from the back, where:
dSBt = FB x Lst If the front and back slopes, 0F and 0B' are equal then factor FB
= 1/2 and the crease is up the middle of the side, equidistant from the front and back.

Front and back panel creases:

Because both sides always have equal slopes, a crease may always be up the middle of each of the end panels, equidistant from the sides of the end panels. Therefore, at the base of the front and back panels, the crease preferably is 1/2 ~b units from either side. Similarly, at the top the crease preferably is 1/2 ~t units from either side of the end panels.

When laying out a side panel for construction, the following measurement sequence may be applied to a piece of semi-rigid material of width equal to Ws the width of the side panel. Decide which edge of the material represents the top, then (see FIG. 8c):

1. Start at upper back corner of side:
2. Add WBCOS0B to obtain the point of the bottom back corner;
3. Add Lsb to obtain the point of the bottom front corner;
4. Add WFCOS0F to arrive at the upper front corner of side.

Similarly, the front and back panels' layouts may be achieved.
Each panel, if made separately, may be attached to an adjacent panel by means of a two-inch side flap 8, using adhesive. It is contemplated that the insert may be made in combining individual panels for attachment in a sequence as ~/aq~o~

shown in FIG. 4, or in combining sections of two or more panels, or in one section from one piece of material.

Claims (9)

1. A wheelbarrow enlargement insert comprising front, back and two side panels for mating insertion into a bucket of the wheelbarrow whereby volumetric capacity of the wheelbarrow is increased, said insert made of semi-rigid creaseable sheet material, wherein either each of the front and back panels, or each of the two side panels, includes a crease between side edges of each panel adapted cooperatively to enable selective opening of the insert for said mating insertion and folding of the insert to a substantially flat storage form.
2. The insert of claim 1 wherein each of the front and back panels, and each of the two side panels, includes said crease such that the insert may be selectively folded flat for storage either along a substantially longitudinal, vertical plane, or along a substantially transverse, vertical plane.
3. The insert of claim 1 wherein the crease extends along a mid-line from a top edge to a bottom edge of each panel.
4. The insert of claim 1 further comprising a bottom panel having a crease adapted to cooperate with one of the other creases during said opening and folding.
5. The insert of claim 1 wherein the sheet material is cardboard.
6. The insert of claim 1 wherein the sheet material is corrugated plastic.
7. A method of manufacturing a wheelbarrow enlargement insert made of semi-rigid creaseable material in front, back and side panels, the method comprising fabricating the panels with dimensions in accordance with dimensions of a bucket of the wheelbarrow and a desired height of the panels above a base of the bucket, and providing either a crease between respective side edges of each of the front and back panels, or a crease between respective side edges of each of the side panels, such that there is thereby provided at least one pair of creases adapted cooperatively to enable selective opening of the insert for mating insertion into the bucket and folding of the insert to a substantially flat storage form.
8. The method of claim 7 wherein said crease is provided in said front and back panels, and in said side panels.
9. The method of claim 7 wherein a bottom panel is also fabricated.
CA002129309A 1994-08-02 1994-08-02 Wheelbarrow insert Expired - Fee Related CA2129309C (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA002129309A CA2129309C (en) 1994-08-02 1994-08-02 Wheelbarrow insert

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA002129309A CA2129309C (en) 1994-08-02 1994-08-02 Wheelbarrow insert

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA2129309A1 CA2129309A1 (en) 1996-02-03
CA2129309C true CA2129309C (en) 1998-04-07

Family

ID=4154105

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA002129309A Expired - Fee Related CA2129309C (en) 1994-08-02 1994-08-02 Wheelbarrow insert

Country Status (1)

Country Link
CA (1) CA2129309C (en)

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB201314342D0 (en) * 2013-08-09 2013-09-25 Higgins Patrick Collapsible Wheelbarrow

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CA2129309A1 (en) 1996-02-03

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