GB2113620A

GB2113620A - Foldable hand trolley

Info

Publication number: GB2113620A
Application number: GB08201945A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jean Musslin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1982-01-23
Filing date: 1982-01-23
Publication date: 1983-08-10

Abstract

A hand trolley suitable for handling heavy and awkward loads such as outboard motors for boats has a rigid frame with tubular risers 1, (2) braced by cross-bars. Handles 11, (12) are provided at the upper part of the frame, and may be folded to lie within the frame plane. Ground-contacting rollers 15, (16) are provided at the lower part of the frame, and may be folded to lie parallel to the frame. Foldable cantilever members 7 with reinforcements 9 on the frame have folded and unfolded conditions, and in the latter position they support a load- bearing platform 18 which is foldable on the frame. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Foldable hand trolley The present invention relates to a two-wheeled hand trolley, its object being to provide an improved construction of foldable trolley suitable for both light and heavy cumbersome loads and more particularly for carrying and supporting outboard motors for boats.

According to the present invention a hand trolley comprises a rigid frame having tubular risers braced by cross-bars, handle means at an upper part of said frame, ground-contacting roller means at a lower part of said frame, foldable cantilever members with reinforcing struts carried by bearer members rotatable on said frame, and a load-bearing platform foldable on the frame into a position adjacent to the frame and into a position wherein it is supported by the extended cantilever members.

In a preferred embodiment, the roller means are carried by bearings rotatably mounted on the lower part of the risers and disposed at a height thereon which is such that in the vertical condition of the frame the wheels are out of contact with the ground.

The platform is advantageously mounted on bearings which are rotatable about one of said cross-bars, and a backplate is secured at the upper part of the risers.

The handle means may comprise sleeves on bent supports which are rotatable on an upper end portion of the risers.

The platform, and the backplate, may be of metal grille construction.

An embodiment of hand trolley in accordance with the invention is hereinafter particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figures 1 and 2 show respectively in side elevation and in front elevation the trolley in its unfolded position of use; Figure 3 is a rear elevation, on a reduced scale, of the trolley in its folded condition; Figure 4 is a rear elevation of a modified construction, in folded condition.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 3, a hand trolley comprises a frame formed by risers 1, 2 coupled at spaced points by cross-bars 3, 4.

Bearer members 5, 6 are rotatably mounted on the uprights 1, 2 and carry cantilever arms 7, 8 having reinforcing struts 9, 1 0.

Handles 11, 1 2 are provided in the form of sleeves positioned on mountings 13, 1 4 which can rotate on the upper end of the risers 1, 2.

The wheels 15, 1 6 are spaced from the risers 1, 2 and are fixed at a predetermined height which is such that the wheels are out of contact with the ground when the frame is vertical, i.e. when the cantilever arms 7, 8 touch the ground 1 7 at a small angle.

A load-bearing platform 1 8 of rigid material, having a full surface of light metal or laminate material is foldable and unfoldable in the directions of the arrows A and B, and can be supported on the struts 9, 10, when the latter are extended, and can be secured in the raised folded position by a catch 1 9.

A backplate 20 of the same material as the platform 1 8 is fixed between the risers 1, 2 at the upper part and likewise forms part of the frame.

In the modified construction seen in Fig. 4, the platform 1 8 and backplate 20 are replaced respectively by metal grilles 22 and 21.

To place the trolley into its position of use, it is only necessary to bring the handles 11, 1 2 into the position of Fig. 1, to deploy the horizontal cantilever arms 7, 8 into extended position to permit the struts 9, 10 to support the platform 1 8 folded down into the lowered position in the direction of the arrow A in Fig.

1.

The handling and transportation of loads, such as outboard motors, is much facilitated, e.g. outboard motors can be hooked onto the backplate 20. In this position they are then steady for washing and other servicing operations. Stacking them in vertical position is also facilitated.

It is likewise possible to use the improved trolley to load bottles of liquid gas or air, and other heavy and awkward loads. For storage purposes, it is only necessary to fold back the handles 11, 12, to lift the platform 18 in the direction of the arrow B, and to fold the wheels 15, 1 6 by rotation and displacement of the bearing members 5, 6 along the risers 1, 2.

1. A hand trolley comprising a rigid frame having tubular risers braced by cross-bars, handle means at an upper part of said frame, ground-contacting roller means at a lower part of said frame, foldable cantilever members with reinforcing struts carried by bearer members rotatable on said frame, and a loadbearing platform foldable on the frame into a position adjacent to the frame and into a position wherein it is supported by the extended cantilever members.

2. A hand trolley, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the roller means are carried by bearings rotatably mounted on the lower part of the risers and disposed at a height thereon which is such that in the vertical condition of the frame the wheels are out of contact with the ground.

3. A hand trolley, according to either of claims 1 and 2, wherein the platform is mounted on bearings which are rotatable about one of said cross-bars, and wherein a backplate is secured at the upper part of the risers.

4. A hand trolley, as claimed in any one

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Foldable hand trolley The present invention relates to a two-wheeled hand trolley, its object being to provide an improved construction of foldable trolley suitable for both light and heavy cumbersome loads and more particularly for carrying and supporting outboard motors for boats. According to the present invention a hand trolley comprises a rigid frame having tubular risers braced by cross-bars, handle means at an upper part of said frame, ground-contacting roller means at a lower part of said frame, foldable cantilever members with reinforcing struts carried by bearer members rotatable on said frame, and a load-bearing platform foldable on the frame into a position adjacent to the frame and into a position wherein it is supported by the extended cantilever members. In a preferred embodiment, the roller means are carried by bearings rotatably mounted on the lower part of the risers and disposed at a height thereon which is such that in the vertical condition of the frame the wheels are out of contact with the ground. The platform is advantageously mounted on bearings which are rotatable about one of said cross-bars, and a backplate is secured at the upper part of the risers. The handle means may comprise sleeves on bent supports which are rotatable on an upper end portion of the risers. The platform, and the backplate, may be of metal grille construction. An embodiment of hand trolley in accordance with the invention is hereinafter particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figures 1 and 2 show respectively in side elevation and in front elevation the trolley in its unfolded position of use; Figure 3 is a rear elevation, on a reduced scale, of the trolley in its folded condition; Figure 4 is a rear elevation of a modified construction, in folded condition. Referring to Figs. 1 to 3, a hand trolley comprises a frame formed by risers 1, 2 coupled at spaced points by cross-bars 3, 4. Bearer members 5, 6 are rotatably mounted on the uprights 1, 2 and carry cantilever arms 7, 8 having reinforcing struts 9, 1 0. Handles 11, 1 2 are provided in the form of sleeves positioned on mountings 13, 1 4 which can rotate on the upper end of the risers 1, 2. The wheels 15, 1 6 are spaced from the risers 1, 2 and are fixed at a predetermined height which is such that the wheels are out of contact with the ground when the frame is vertical, i.e. when the cantilever arms 7, 8 touch the ground 1 7 at a small angle. A load-bearing platform 1 8 of rigid material, having a full surface of light metal or laminate material is foldable and unfoldable in the directions of the arrows A and B, and can be supported on the struts 9, 10, when the latter are extended, and can be secured in the raised folded position by a catch 1 9. A backplate 20 of the same material as the platform 1 8 is fixed between the risers 1, 2 at the upper part and likewise forms part of the frame. In the modified construction seen in Fig. 4, the platform 1 8 and backplate 20 are replaced respectively by metal grilles 22 and 21. To place the trolley into its position of use, it is only necessary to bring the handles 11, 1 2 into the position of Fig. 1, to deploy the horizontal cantilever arms 7, 8 into extended position to permit the struts 9, 10 to support the platform 1 8 folded down into the lowered position in the direction of the arrow A in Fig. 1. The handling and transportation of loads, such as outboard motors, is much facilitated, e.g. outboard motors can be hooked onto the backplate 20. In this position they are then steady for washing and other servicing operations. Stacking them in vertical position is also facilitated. It is likewise possible to use the improved trolley to load bottles of liquid gas or air, and other heavy and awkward loads. For storage purposes, it is only necessary to fold back the handles 11, 12, to lift the platform 18 in the direction of the arrow B, and to fold the wheels 15, 1 6 by rotation and displacement of the bearing members 5, 6 along the risers 1, 2. CLAIMS

4. A hand trolley, as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the handle means comprise sleeves on bent supports which are rotatable on an upper end portion of the risers.

5. A hand trolley, as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the platform, and the backplate where provided, are of metal grille construction.

6. A hand trolley substantially as described herein with reference to Figs. 1 to 3, or Fig. 4 of the accompanying drawings.