GB2246545A

GB2246545A - Article carrying apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2246545A
Application number: GB9116155A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Willian Roberts; Phyllis Marion Jean Shipman
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1990-07-31
Filing date: 1991-07-26
Publication date: 1992-02-05
Anticipated expiration: 2011-07-26
Also published as: GB9116155D0; GB9016738D0; GB2246545B

Abstract

A wheeled body 14 has a plurality of spring clips 26 enabling a range of garden tools to be carried. A container 32 is provided usable to close the body 14 and has wheels 39 and casters 46 so that when removed from the body it can be used as a trolley or wheelbarrow. Handles (42 and 54, Fig 5) are provided on the container to facilitate use in the transport mode. The body may be provided with a spreader for granular material (Fig 6) or lawn spiking apparatus (Fig 7). <IMAGE>

Description

Article Carrying Apparatus This invention relates to article carrying apparatus and particularly but not exclusively to apparatus for carrying garden tools.

Persons with small gardens often do not have sufficient space for a shed to store tools and the like.

Further, with a relatively large garden persons may have to carry out work requiring a number of tools at quite a distance from their shed.

According to the present invention there is provided article carrying apparatus comprising a body mounted on ground engaging wheels and including means for detachably mounting tools on the body, and a removable cover for substantially sealingly closing the body, the cover being open on one side and having ground engagable wheels such that when removed from the body the cover may be used to transport articles or material.

The body is preferably shaped to shield at least some of any tools mounted thereon thereby providing protection from the weather.

The ground engaging wheels on the body may be provided about a single axis such that the apparatus may be moved when pivotted about the axis but when standing freely is prevented from moving by a part of the body engaging the ground.

The tool mounting means may comprise spring clips.

The cover is preferably constructed so as to adopt a generally vertical orientation when closing the body and a generally horizontal orientation for transporting.

The cover is preferably provided with two spaced sets of wheels.

One of the sets of wheels may comprise casters.

One or more handles are preferably provided on the cover and desirably a first handle is provided which is usable when both sets of wheels are engaging the ground and a second is provided which is usable when one set of wheels is lifted clear off the ground.

The one handle is preferably pivotally mounted on the cover to be movable between a first position extending away from the cover permitting the cover to be pulled along thereby and a second position contained within the cover. The one handle may be removably mounted on the cover. The apparatus may be constructed such that the cover can be fitted on the body without requiring any substantial lifting of the cover.

The cover may include a set of wheels adjacent to the lower end thereof when fitted on the body, of a size to position the cover at the required height to fit on the body when tipped from a transporting orientation to require no further substantial lifting.

A loop of material may be provided on the body to permit mounting of a refuse sack. The loop may be of a relatively rigid material and may be pivotally mounted to the body to be movable between a substantially horizontal in-use position and a substantially vertical out-of-use position.

Means for spreading granular material may be provided in the body. The spreading means may comprise a feeder bar extendable across the base of the body and drivable by a one of the body's wheels to urge granular material to a plurality of openings extending through the body. The openings are preferably arranged so as to be substantially vertically aligned when the body is in a normal working position.

The apparatus preferably also includes lawn spiking means. The spiking means is preferably detachably mountable on the body and preferably comprises a plurality of spaced rotatable spiking elements each presenting a plurality of radial spikes. The spiking elements are preferably slidably mounted on an elongate member and spring urged apart whereby to permit lateral movement when necessary.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view from the front and side of tool carrying apparatus according to the invention in a closed condition; Fig. 2 is a rear view of the apparatus of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a side view of the tool carrying apparatus of fig. 1 is an open condition; Fig. 4 is a front view of part of the apparatus of Fig. 1 loaded with tools; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of another part of the apparatus of fig. 1; Fig. 6 is an exploded perspective view of a further part of the apparatus of fig. 1; and Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a still further part of the apparatus of fig. 1 including an attachment according to the invention.

The drawings show a garden tool carrier 10 suitable for carrying tools 12 such as a spade 12A, fork 128, trowel 12C, shears 12D, hoe 12E, rake 12F, secateurs 12G and hand fork 12H. The carrier 10 comprises a generally 'L' shaped body 14 which mounts an axle adjacent the apex of the 'L' bearing freely rotatable wheels 16. A handle 18 is provided extending above the free end of the upright of the 'L' . Side walls 20 are provided on the body which increase in size downwardly from the free end of the stem of the 'L' . A downwardly sloping lip 24, without side walls, extends from the free end of the base of the 'L' A top wall 22 extends from the free end of the stem of the 'L' to close the side walls thereat. A sealing flange 28 is provided on the free ends of the side walls 20 and top wall 22, and around the base of the 'L' at the commencement of the lip 24.

A plurality of spring clips 26 are provided on the body 14 to mount the tools 12 in any required suitable configuration.

The clips 26 are provided on the interior of the body 14 and also the exterior thereof to mount long handle tools such as a hoe 12E and a rake 12F. A projection 30 is provided extending across the outer side of each of the side walls 20 just above the wheels 16 to prevent tools 12 mounted on said outer walls 12 from interfering with the wheels 16.

The carrier 10 includes a removable cover for the body 14 in the form of an open topped container 32 which closes off the opening presented by the side and top walls 20 and 22 and base of the body 14. The container 32 can be secured to the body by a clip 34 engageable with a corresponding projection on the top wall 22. A pair of freely rotatable wheels 39 are provided on the corners of the base at the rear end 40 of the container 32, which when fitted on the body 14 locate uppermost and spaced from the body 14. A handle 40 is provided by a recess in the underside of the floor of the container 32.

The container 32 may be used as a trolley or as a wheelbarrow. The container 32 comprises a rectangular base 36 with four upstanding side walls 38. The side walls 38 increase in height towards the rear end 40 of the container 32. A caster 46 is provided on the underside of the base 36 towards the front end 44 of the container 32 substantially centrally thereof. A handle 42 is pivotally detachably mountable towards the front end 44 of the container 32 on a mounting 46 on the upper side of the base 36. The handle 42 can be pivotted to extend beyond the front end 44 of the container so as to permit the container 32 to be used as a trolley. When not in use the handle 42 may either be removed from the mounting 46 or stored in the container 32, and a spring clip 48 is provided on the base 36 to hold the handle 42 in such a position.

A further handle 52 is provided on the container 32 in the form of a U-shaped bar 52. The handle 52 is mounted by its free ends 54 to the base 36 adjacent the front end 44, to extend therebeyond inclined upwardly relative to the base 36 and parallel to the longitudinal direction of the container 32. The free ends 54 are inclined relative to the remainder of the handle 52 so as to lie parallel to the base 36 permitting a strong mounting thereon. The handle 52 permits the container 32 to be used as a wheelbarrow by lifting the handle 52 such that only the wheels 39 contact the ground. The width of the handle 52 is such as to providing a sliding fit between the sealing flanges 28 on the two side walls 20 of the body 14.

The caster 46 permits steering of the container 32 when used as a trolley. The caster 46 is of a size such that when the container 32 is tipped to be fitted onto the body 14 the lower edge of the container 32 is at the correct height to fit onto the carrier 30 by simply pivoting the container 32 initially about the caster 46 on the ground and then on the lip 24. The handle 52 provides lateral guidance for the container 32 relative to the body 14. This arrangement permits the container 32 to be easily fitted and removed from the body 14 without any substantial lifting being required.

The body 14 includes an arrangement which permits granular material such as fertilizer or seeds to be spread on the ground. The arrangement comprises providing a bulge 54 in the base of the body 14 adjacent the apex of the 'L' . A plurality of openings 56 are provided through the bulge 54 and are orientated so as to extend substantially perpendicular to the ground when the body is in a normal walking position, i.e. when the body 14 is tipped backwards about the wheels 16 and the body 14 is pushed forwards using the handle 18.

Rotatably mounted across the body 14 extending partially into the bulge 54 is a spreader bar 58. The spreader bar 58 has a cruciform section and is mounted to provide a limited required clearance in the bulge 54 to substantially prevent the granular material passing between the bar 58 and the walls of the bulge 54. The spacing between adjacent splines on the bar 58 is such as to provide a required feed of granular material. The bar 58 is mounted on and extending between two spacers 60 which are located outside of the body 14 and extending thereinto through respective coaxial holes 62 in the body 14 above the bulge 54. The spacers 60 each mount a stub axle 64 upon which a respective one of the wheels 16 is mounted by a clip 66. A one of the axles 64 is provided with splines 68 which cause the respective spacer 60 and hence bar 58 to rotate with the respective wheel 16.The other wheels 16 is freely rotatable relative to said wheel.

This permits the body 14 to turn corners without skidding and hence damaging the ground. The one wheel 16 driving the bar 58 causes granular material within the body 14 to be drawn to the openings 56 and hence onto the ground.

Fig. 7 shows a lawn spiking arrangement 70 detachably mountable on the rear of the body 14 to extend behind the wheels 16. The arrangement 70 comprises two spaced triangular plates 72. A first bar 74 extends between a first apex of the plates 72. The bar 74 is detachably mountable on a pair of spaced spring clips 76 provided on the rear of the body 14 immediately above the apex of the 'L' . On a second apex of the plates 72 is a further bar 70. Rotatably mounted on the bar 80 are five star shaped spiking disks 82. Each pair of adjacent disks 82 is separated by a respective spring 84 mounted around the bar 80. The springs 84 maintain a required spacing between the disks 82 particularly when the body 14 is being turned, thereby preventing tearing of the lawn.

When the arrangement 70 is to be used, after fitting thereof on the body 14, the body 14 is pulled backwards and downwards by the handle 18 until it rests on the disks 82. The body 14 is then pulled backwards to spike the lawn. Extra weights may be placed in the body 14 to provide a required depth of spiking.

There is thus described apparatus which permits garden tools to be neatly stored and readily transported to where they are required. The apparatus is of relatively simple construction and can thus be robustly and inexpensively manufactured. The apparatus also provides a cover which may be used as a wheelbarrow for carrying garden waste and soil, or as a trolley to carry plants and the like. The sealing flange provides a very good weather seal.

Various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. A loop of material may be provided for mounting a refuse sack and the loop may comprise a strip of relatively rigid material which may be movable between a substantially horizontal in-use position and a substantially vertical out-of-use position.

Whilst the above described example is made from a plastics material by rotational moulding, different materials and methods of manufacture could be used. A different number of spiking disks may be provided on the lawns spiking arrangement.

Claims

1. Article carrying apparatus comprising a body mounted on ground engaging wheels and including means for detachably mounting tools on the body, and a removable cover for substantially sealingly closing the body, the cover being open on one side and having ground engagable wheels such that when removed from the body the cover may be used to transport articles or material.

2. Apparatus according to Claim 1, in which the body is shaped to shield at least some of any tools mounted thereon thereby providing protection from the weather.

3. Apparatus according to Claims 1 or 2, in which the ground engaging means on the body are provided about a single axis such that the apparatus may be moved when pivotted about the axis but when standing freely is prevented from moving by a part of the body engaging the ground.

4. z Apparatus according to any of the preceding Claims, in which the tool mounting means comprises spring clips.

5. Apparatus according to any of the preceding Claims, in which the cover is constructed so as to adopt a generally vertical orientation when closing the body and a generally horizontal orientation for transporting.

6. Apparatus according to any of the preceding Claims, in which the cover is provided with two spaced sets of wheels.

7. Apparatus according to Claim 6, in which one of the sets of wheels comprises one or more casters.

8. Apparatus according to any of the preceding Claims, in which one or more handles are provided on the cover.

9. Apparatus according to Claim 8, in which a first handle is provided which is usable when both sets of wheels are engaging the ground.

10. Apparatus according to Claim 9, in which the first handle is pivotally mounted on the cover to be movable between a first position extending away from the cover permitting the cover to be pulled along thereby and a second position contained within the cover.

11. Apparatus according to Claim 9 or 10, in which the first handle is removably mounted on the cover.

12. Apparatus according to Claims 8 to 11, in which a second handle is provided which is usable when one set of wheels is lifted clear off the ground.

13. Apparatus according to any of the preceding Claims, in which the apparatus is constructed such that the cover can be fitted on the body without requiring any substantial lifting of the cover.

14. Apparatus according to Claim 13, in which the cover includes a set of wheels adjacent to the lower end thereof when fitted on the body, of a size to position the cover at the required height to fit on the body when tipped from a transporting orientation to require no further substantial lifting.

15. Apparatus according to any of the preceding Claims, in which a loop of material is provided on the body to permit mounting of a refuse sack.

16. Apparatus according to Claim 15, in which the loop is of a relatively rigid material and is pivotally mounted to the body to be movable between a substantially horizontal in-use position and a substantially vertical out-of-use position.

17. Apparatus according to any of the preceding Claims, in which means for spreading granular material are provided in the body.

18. Apparatus according to Claim 17, in which the spreading means comprises a feeder bar extendable across the base of the body and drivable by a one of the body wheels to urge granular material to a plurality of openings extending through the body.

19. Apparatus according to Claim 18, in which the openings are arranged so as to be substantially vertically aligned when the body is in a normal working position.

20. Apparatus according to any of the preceding Claims, in which the apparatus includes lawn spiking means.

21. Apparatus according to Claim 20, in which the spiking means is detachably mountable on the body.

22. Apparatus according to Claims 20 or 21, in which the spiking means comprises a plurality of spaced rotatable spiking elements each presenting a plurality of radial spikes.

23. Apparatus according to Claim 22, in which the spiking elements are slidably mounted on an elongate member and spring urged apart whereby to permit lateral movement when necessary.

24. Article carrying apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

25. Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter herein disclosed, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding claims.