GB2135249A - Wheelbarrows - Google Patents

Abstract

A wheelbarrow comprises a body 11 which is detachable from an assembly comprising a single wheel 15, handles 19 and legs 18, the arrangement being such that once the body is removed the assembly is collapsible by moving the handles and legs to reduce the volume defined by the assembly, e.g. by pivoting the handles and legs at opposite sides of the wheelbarrow towards each other about pivotal connections 28. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in wheelbarrows The present invention relates to improvements in wheelbarrows.

According to the present invention there is provided a wheelbarrow comprising a body, a single wheel, handles and legs, characterised in that the wheel, handles and legs form an assembly which is separable from the body, and the arrangement is such that, once the body has been separated from the assembly, the handles and legs can be moved, without detachment from the assembly, to reduce the volume defined by the assembly.

In a preferred embodiment the wheel is rotatably mounted in a wheel support and the legs are pivotably connected to the said wheel support.

Advantageously the legs and handles are formed from steel tubing, a single piece of tubing being shaped to form a support for the body, a leg and a handle.

The invention will now be described, by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a wheelbarrow according to the invention from above,, Figure 2 is a view of the assembly that remains when the body is detached, and Figure 3 is a view of the underside of the body of the barrow of Figure 1.

In the wheelbarrow illustrated in the drawings the body 11, which forms the container in which a load is carried, is designed as a scuttle having hand holes 12 on opposite walls 13 and 14thereof.

The body 11 is supported on an assembly comprising a wheel 15 rotatably mounted in a support 16, and two pieces of steel tubing pivotally connected to the support 16, each piece of tubing being bent to form a support 17 for the base of the body 11, a leg 18 and a handle 19. A grip 20 is attached to the handle portion 19 of the tubing on each side.

The base of the scuttle carries two spring clips 21 which clip on to respective ones of the supports 17 and serve both to hold the body on the assembly and also to provide some assistance in holding the legs at the correct distance apart for use.

At the back end of the scuttle on each side there is a fixing bracket comprising two parallel lugs 22 each having holes 23 positioned to receive a locating dowel 24. For convenience the locating dowel may be attached to the adjacent leg by a chain 25. Each leg 18 has an inwardly directed lug 26 attached thereto which is also appertured at 27 to receive the dowel 24. Once the body 11 has been located on the assembly with the clips 21 hooked over the supports 17, the lug 26 on each side will lie between the two lugs 22 of the fixing bracket. With the holes 23,27 aligned the dowel 24 can be passed through all three apertures to hold the body in position for use.

To fold the barrow, the dowel is removed so that the body can be separated from the assembly. Once this is achieved the legs can be folded towards one another by virtue of the pivotable connection 28 between the legs and the wheel support 16.

It will be appreciated that with the provision of hand holes 12, the scuttle can be removed from the assembly with great ease, and if necessary the load can be transported to an area, such as indoors, where one would either prefer not to take the barrow, or to a place where the barrow could not be wheeled, such as upstairs.

Thus there is provided a foldable wheelbarrow which could be of great use in a situation where storage or transportation space is at a premium, with the additional advantage of extension of the application of a known wheelbarrow.

1. A wheelbarrow comprising a body, a single wheel, handles and legs, characterised in that the wheel, handles and legs form an assembly which is separable from the body, and the arrangement is such that, once the body has been separated from the assembly, the handles and legs can be moved, without detachment from the assembly, to reduce the volume defined by the assembly.

2. A wheelbarrow according to claim 1 wherein the wheel is rotatably mounted in a wheel support and the legs are pivotably connected to the said wheel support.

3. Awheelbarrow according to claim 1 or2 wherein a single length of rigid material is shaped to form a supportforthe body, a leg and a handle.

4. A wheelbarrow according to any of the preceding claims wherein the body is in the form of a scuttle having handle means on opposite walls thereof.

5. A wheelbarrow according to any of the preceding claims wherein means is provided for retaining the legs in the open position.

6. A wheelbarrow according to any of the preceding claims including clips on the underside of the body for releasably gripping the assembly.

7. A wheelbarrow according to claim 5 or 6 including releasable locking means for locking the assembly in the open position.

8. A wheelbarrow substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

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

Claims (8)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Improvements in wheelbarrows The present invention relates to improvements in wheelbarrows. According to the present invention there is provided a wheelbarrow comprising a body, a single wheel, handles and legs, characterised in that the wheel, handles and legs form an assembly which is separable from the body, and the arrangement is such that, once the body has been separated from the assembly, the handles and legs can be moved, without detachment from the assembly, to reduce the volume defined by the assembly. In a preferred embodiment the wheel is rotatably mounted in a wheel support and the legs are pivotably connected to the said wheel support. Advantageously the legs and handles are formed from steel tubing, a single piece of tubing being shaped to form a support for the body, a leg and a handle. The invention will now be described, by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a wheelbarrow according to the invention from above,, Figure 2 is a view of the assembly that remains when the body is detached, and Figure 3 is a view of the underside of the body of the barrow of Figure 1. In the wheelbarrow illustrated in the drawings the body 11, which forms the container in which a load is carried, is designed as a scuttle having hand holes 12 on opposite walls 13 and 14thereof. The body 11 is supported on an assembly comprising a wheel 15 rotatably mounted in a support 16, and two pieces of steel tubing pivotally connected to the support 16, each piece of tubing being bent to form a support 17 for the base of the body 11, a leg 18 and a handle 19. A grip 20 is attached to the handle portion 19 of the tubing on each side. The base of the scuttle carries two spring clips 21 which clip on to respective ones of the supports 17 and serve both to hold the body on the assembly and also to provide some assistance in holding the legs at the correct distance apart for use. At the back end of the scuttle on each side there is a fixing bracket comprising two parallel lugs 22 each having holes 23 positioned to receive a locating dowel 24. For convenience the locating dowel may be attached to the adjacent leg by a chain 25. Each leg 18 has an inwardly directed lug 26 attached thereto which is also appertured at 27 to receive the dowel 24. Once the body 11 has been located on the assembly with the clips 21 hooked over the supports 17, the lug 26 on each side will lie between the two lugs 22 of the fixing bracket. With the holes 23,27 aligned the dowel 24 can be passed through all three apertures to hold the body in position for use. To fold the barrow, the dowel is removed so that the body can be separated from the assembly. Once this is achieved the legs can be folded towards one another by virtue of the pivotable connection 28 between the legs and the wheel support 16. It will be appreciated that with the provision of hand holes 12, the scuttle can be removed from the assembly with great ease, and if necessary the load can be transported to an area, such as indoors, where one would either prefer not to take the barrow, or to a place where the barrow could not be wheeled, such as upstairs. Thus there is provided a foldable wheelbarrow which could be of great use in a situation where storage or transportation space is at a premium, with the additional advantage of extension of the application of a known wheelbarrow. CLAIMS

1. A wheelbarrow comprising a body, a single wheel, handles and legs, characterised in that the wheel, handles and legs form an assembly which is separable from the body, and the arrangement is such that, once the body has been separated from the assembly, the handles and legs can be moved, without detachment from the assembly, to reduce the volume defined by the assembly.

2. A wheelbarrow according to claim 1 wherein the wheel is rotatably mounted in a wheel support and the legs are pivotably connected to the said wheel support.

3. Awheelbarrow according to claim 1 or2 wherein a single length of rigid material is shaped to form a supportforthe body, a leg and a handle.

4. A wheelbarrow according to any of the preceding claims wherein the body is in the form of a scuttle having handle means on opposite walls thereof.

5. A wheelbarrow according to any of the preceding claims wherein means is provided for retaining the legs in the open position.

6. A wheelbarrow according to any of the preceding claims including clips on the underside of the body for releasably gripping the assembly.

7. A wheelbarrow according to claim 5 or 6 including releasable locking means for locking the assembly in the open position.

8. A wheelbarrow substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.