GB2129743A

GB2129743A - Flexible wheelbarrow extension

Info

Publication number: GB2129743A
Application number: GB08232152A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Williams Christopher Temp Sims
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1982-11-10
Filing date: 1982-11-10
Publication date: 1984-05-23
Also published as: GB2129743B

Abstract

A foldable frame 2 supports a flexible bag 3 and the assembly may sit on feet 7 inside the wheelbarrow pan to provide increased load accommodation. Holes 11 and 16 in the tubes forming the frame permit size adjustment by means of bolt 6 and rod 15. The bag itself may be adjustable in size by means of pleats, press studs (not shown). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Flexible wheelbarrow extension This invention relates to a wheel barrow extension.

For many years gardeners have used rigid wooden frames to extend the size of their wheelbarrows when needing to transport large quantities of light garden material such as leaves in autumn or grass cuttings in summer. More recently these have been replaced by steel or plastics extensions. However these are either heavy or large for keeping in a modern small garden shed or at the back of a garage.

It is the object of this invention to overcome these disadvantages but to retain the usefulness of such a device.

According to this invention a wheelbarrow extension comprises a frame and one or more sheets of a flexible material attached to the frame in such a way as to increase the capacity of a wheelbarrow.

In one embodiment of the invention the extension is constructed so that it may be adjusted to fit several wheelbarrows.

Preferably the frame and the flexible material may be folded.

In another embodiment of the invention the sheets of flexible material are attached to the frame so as to extend one or more of the side walls of a wheelbarrow pan.

In yet another embodiment the sheets of flexible material form a bag, open at the top, whose base is inside the wheelbarrow pan.

The construction may be such that the wheelbarrow extension can be attached to the wheelbarrow so that it remains attached when the contents are tipped out.

Alternatively, the construction of the frame may enable the wheelbarrow extension and its contents to be tipped or lifted off the wheelbarrow. This construction being preferable when the flexible material forms a bag.

The flexible material is preferably made of a synthetic substance, so that it will not rot, but it could also be made of a natural material such as canvas.

The frame is preferably formed from steel or aluminium but it may be made of wood or plastics.

The main members of the frame are made of round tubes, for lightness and to reduce wear, but solid rods could be used and these could be flat sided.

One or more stays, or other means, may be fitted to the frame to keep it in the open position when in use.

The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing which shows a wheelbarrow extension.

The drawing shows a wheelbarrow extension 1 having a metal frame 2 fitted with a bag 3 formed from sheets of a synthetic flexible material. The frame is formed from two plated mild steel tubes 4 and 5, each bent in a generally 'U' shape, and hinged together with a bolt 6 on one side, and similarly with another bolt (not shown) on the other side. The ends of the steel tubes 4 and 5 are fitted with rubber end-pieces 7, which prevent the ends from scratching the wheelbarrow. In use the end pieces 7 rest inside a wheelbarrow and the frame 2 supports the bag 3, which is made much higher than the pan of the wheelbarrow, but with its bottom part fitting the pan.

The sheets of flexible material which form the bag 3 are passed round the tubes 4 and 5 at the front end 8 and the rear end 9. At the front end a brass eyelet is fitted 10. The wheelbarrow extension can be folded by bringing the ends 8 and 9 together. When folded it can be hung up by passing the eyelet 10 over a hook or a nail on the wall of a shed. In order to keep the wheelbarrow extension open when in use, a stay 12 is fitted. This consists of a bar 13 bolted to the tube 4 at 14. The other end of this bar has a rod welded to it 15, which can be fitted in a hole 16 in tube 5. Other holes are also drilled to cater for adjustment. Another similar stay is fitted to the opposite corner of the wheelbarrow extension. The stays are fitted in this manner so that they will not prevent the bag being changed when the bolts 6 are removed.

So that the frame may be able to fit several sizes of wheelbarrow, a number of holes 11 are drilled in the tubes 4 and 5. The bolt 6 may then be fitted through different holes to alter the distance between the end pieces 7 in a front to rear direction. The tubes 4 and 5 may be slightly sprung or bent to adjust the distance between the end pieces 7 from one side to the other.

However, alterations can only be made over a small range and ideally each barrow has its own folding extension, the bottom part of which is made to fit the wheelbarrow pan.

The contents of the wheelbarrow extension may be tipped out by raising up the rear end 9, so that the frame pivots on the ends 7 of tube 5 resting inside the wheelbarrow. Alternatively when lightly filled, the whole frame and bag may be lifted off. In this way leaves and grass cuttings can be conveniently deposited exactly where they are required.

In a modified form the flexible material making up the bag 3 is fitted to the tubes 4 and 5 by means of press studs, so that the bag may be more easily removed or changed. These press studs may either form loops round tubes 4 and 5 at ends 8 and 9, or they may be used to join the flexible material directly to the tubes.

In another modified form the flexible material forming the sides and base of the bag is constructed so that the size and shape of the bag can be altered.

This can be accomplished by having pleats or overlaps in the material, which can be let out to shape the bag to suit a particular wheelbarrow.

Alternatively the pleats may be laced across or joined by press studs to form the shapes to suit a number of different wheelbarrows.

1. A wheelbarrow extension comprising a frame and one or more sheets of a flexible material attached to the frame in such a way as to increase the capacity of a wheelbarrow.

2. Awheelbarrow extension according to Claim 1

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

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Flexible wheelbarrow extension This invention relates to a wheel barrow extension. For many years gardeners have used rigid wooden frames to extend the size of their wheelbarrows when needing to transport large quantities of light garden material such as leaves in autumn or grass cuttings in summer. More recently these have been replaced by steel or plastics extensions. However these are either heavy or large for keeping in a modern small garden shed or at the back of a garage. It is the object of this invention to overcome these disadvantages but to retain the usefulness of such a device. According to this invention a wheelbarrow extension comprises a frame and one or more sheets of a flexible material attached to the frame in such a way as to increase the capacity of a wheelbarrow. In one embodiment of the invention the extension is constructed so that it may be adjusted to fit several wheelbarrows. Preferably the frame and the flexible material may be folded. In another embodiment of the invention the sheets of flexible material are attached to the frame so as to extend one or more of the side walls of a wheelbarrow pan. In yet another embodiment the sheets of flexible material form a bag, open at the top, whose base is inside the wheelbarrow pan. The construction may be such that the wheelbarrow extension can be attached to the wheelbarrow so that it remains attached when the contents are tipped out. Alternatively, the construction of the frame may enable the wheelbarrow extension and its contents to be tipped or lifted off the wheelbarrow. This construction being preferable when the flexible material forms a bag. The flexible material is preferably made of a synthetic substance, so that it will not rot, but it could also be made of a natural material such as canvas. The frame is preferably formed from steel or aluminium but it may be made of wood or plastics. The main members of the frame are made of round tubes, for lightness and to reduce wear, but solid rods could be used and these could be flat sided. One or more stays, or other means, may be fitted to the frame to keep it in the open position when in use. The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing which shows a wheelbarrow extension. The drawing shows a wheelbarrow extension 1 having a metal frame 2 fitted with a bag 3 formed from sheets of a synthetic flexible material. The frame is formed from two plated mild steel tubes 4 and 5, each bent in a generally 'U' shape, and hinged together with a bolt 6 on one side, and similarly with another bolt (not shown) on the other side. The ends of the steel tubes 4 and 5 are fitted with rubber end-pieces 7, which prevent the ends from scratching the wheelbarrow. In use the end pieces 7 rest inside a wheelbarrow and the frame 2 supports the bag 3, which is made much higher than the pan of the wheelbarrow, but with its bottom part fitting the pan. The sheets of flexible material which form the bag 3 are passed round the tubes 4 and 5 at the front end 8 and the rear end 9. At the front end a brass eyelet is fitted 10. The wheelbarrow extension can be folded by bringing the ends 8 and 9 together. When folded it can be hung up by passing the eyelet 10 over a hook or a nail on the wall of a shed. In order to keep the wheelbarrow extension open when in use, a stay 12 is fitted. This consists of a bar 13 bolted to the tube 4 at 14. The other end of this bar has a rod welded to it 15, which can be fitted in a hole 16 in tube 5. Other holes are also drilled to cater for adjustment. Another similar stay is fitted to the opposite corner of the wheelbarrow extension. The stays are fitted in this manner so that they will not prevent the bag being changed when the bolts 6 are removed. So that the frame may be able to fit several sizes of wheelbarrow, a number of holes 11 are drilled in the tubes 4 and 5. The bolt 6 may then be fitted through different holes to alter the distance between the end pieces 7 in a front to rear direction. The tubes 4 and 5 may be slightly sprung or bent to adjust the distance between the end pieces 7 from one side to the other. However, alterations can only be made over a small range and ideally each barrow has its own folding extension, the bottom part of which is made to fit the wheelbarrow pan. The contents of the wheelbarrow extension may be tipped out by raising up the rear end 9, so that the frame pivots on the ends 7 of tube 5 resting inside the wheelbarrow. Alternatively when lightly filled, the whole frame and bag may be lifted off. In this way leaves and grass cuttings can be conveniently deposited exactly where they are required. In a modified form the flexible material making up the bag 3 is fitted to the tubes 4 and 5 by means of press studs, so that the bag may be more easily removed or changed. These press studs may either form loops round tubes 4 and 5 at ends 8 and 9, or they may be used to join the flexible material directly to the tubes. In another modified form the flexible material forming the sides and base of the bag is constructed so that the size and shape of the bag can be altered. This can be accomplished by having pleats or overlaps in the material, which can be let out to shape the bag to suit a particular wheelbarrow. Alternatively the pleats may be laced across or joined by press studs to form the shapes to suit a number of different wheelbarrows. CLAIMS

2. Awheelbarrow extension according to Claim 1 which may be adjusted to fit several wheelbarrows.

3. A wheelbarrow extension according to Claim 1 or 2 in which the frame and the flexible material may be folded.

4. Awheelbarrow extension according to any of Claims 1 to 3 in which the sheets of flexible material are attached to the frame so as to extend one or more of the side walls of the wheelbarrow pan.

5. Awheelbarrow extension according to any of Claims 1 to 3 in which the sheets of flexible material form a bag open at the top whose base is inside the wheelbarrow pan.

6. Awheelbarrow extension according to any of Claims 1 to 5 in which the wheelbarrow extension can be attached to the wheelbarrow so that it remains attached when the contents are tipped out.

7. Awheelbarrow extension according to any of Claims 1 to 3 or Claim 5 in which the construction of the frame enables the wheelbarrow extension and its contents to be tipped or lifted off the wheelbarrow.

8. A wheelbarrow extension according to any of Claims 1 to 7 in which one or more stays or other means are fitted to the frame to keep it in the open position when in use.

9. A wheelbarrow extension according to Claim 1 constructed and arranged substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.