GB2282098A

GB2282098A - Compression moulded wheelbarrow

Info

Publication number: GB2282098A
Application number: GB9417637A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Leslie Smith
Original assignee: EUROPALITE Ltd
Current assignee: EUROPALITE Ltd
Priority date: 1993-09-02
Filing date: 1994-09-02
Publication date: 1995-03-29
Also published as: GB9318169D0; GB9417637D0

Abstract

A wheelbarrow is manufactured from a plastics material using a compression moulding technique and comprises a load carrying container 10, preferably having integrally moulded handles 24, and a chassis comprising a ground engaging assembly 32 and an axle carrying assembly 42. <IMAGE>

Description

Improvements in or relating to Wheelbarrows The present invention concerns improvements in or relating to wheelbarrows.

In the past wheelbarrows have been made from metal or wood or, in certain instances, from a metal frame with a plastics load carrying container.

It has long been recognised that a wheelbarrow with the frame and load carrying container manufactured from plastics would be advantageous but, in view of the sizes involved, this has not proved to be economically practicable as it has been recognised that to mould either an entire wheelbarrow (less its wheel), or even the traditional chassis of a wheelbarrow, from plastics material would involve a very large injection moulding machine which would give rise to uneconomic costs.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a wheelbarrow manufactured predominantly from plastics material at relatively low cost.

According to the present invention there is provided a wheelbarrow manufactured from a plastics material using a compression moulding technique.

Further according to the present invention there is provided a wheelbarrow manufactured from a plastics material using a compression moulding technique from at least two components.

Preferably one of the components comprises a combined load carrying container and handle and the other comprises a combined wheel mounting assembly and ground rest.

Preferably the load carrying container is formed by compression moulding from reconstituted plastics material and has formed integrally therewith a pair of rearwardly projecting handles. Preferably reinforcing fillets are formed integrally between the handles and the rear side of the load carrying container.

Preferably the chassis comprises two similar but opposite handed components manufactured by a compression moulding technique from reconstituted plastics, each comprising an axle carrying assembly and a ground engaging assembly.

Preferably each assembly comprises two struts joined together at one of their ends and provided at their other ends with mounting means for attachment to the load carrier.

Preferably the free end of one of the struts of the axle assembly is joined to the free end of one end of the struts of the ground engaging assembly.

Preferably the mounting means for engaging the load carrier at the free ends of the struts are provided with locating means to locate them relative to the load carrier. Preferably the locating means comprise spigot and socket means.

Preferably means are provided to fix the mounting means to the load carrier, said means comprising pop rivets, nuts and bolts, screws or any other suitable fastenings.

Preferably an extension member extends forwardly from the axle carrying assembly and means are provided for attaching the extension member of one chassis member to the extension of the other chassis member.

Preferably strengthening fillets are provided between the forward strut of the axle carrying assembly and the extension.

Strengthening fillets may be provided between the mounting means and struts.

In another embodiment the other component is a chassis assembly preferably comprising a rear leg assembly, two spaced apart, cranked arms and a front yoke, the arms and yoke combiing to provide mounting means for an axle for the wheel of the barrow.

Preferably the rear leg assembly is arched to define two ground engaging legs and includes a top for attachment to the load carrying container.

Preferably the rear leg assembly includes stiffening ribs.

Preferably the cranked arms extend forwardly and upwardly from the base of the rear leg assembly to the underside of the load carrying container then forwardly thereof, terminating in a wheel axle half bush.

Preferably means is provided for attaching the cranked arms to the rear leg assembly at the lower end thereof and to the underside of the load carrying means.

Preferably the yoke comprises a rear member attachable to the load carrying assembly, a pair of spaced side members attachable to the forward end of the cranked arms and each including an axle half bush to complete the axle bush at their rear end and a bowed member interconnecting the forward ends of the side members.

Preferably the rear member, side members and bowed front member of the yoke are moulded integrally as a single component from reconstituted plastics material.

Preferably the yoke member is fixed to the forward end of the cranked arms on either side of the wheel axle and to the forward upper end of the load carrying container.

Preferably the wheel of the wheelbarrow comprises a hub moulded by compression moulding from reconstituted plastics material and fitted with a pneumatic tube and tyre.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 shows a side elevation of a first embodiment of a wheelbarrow; Fig. 2 shows a front elevation partially in section with part cut away for clarity of the embodiment of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 shows a side elevation of a second embodiment of a wheelbarrow; and Fig. 4 shows a front perspective view of components of the embodiment shown in Fig. 3.

A wheelbarrow comprises a load carrying container 10 which is of conventional shape and is moulded from plastics material, being provided with a flat base 12, an upwardly inclined front side 14, a rear side 16 which is upwardly inclined at an angle greater than the front side and two opposite sides 20 which are also upwardly inclined from the base at an angle which lies between the angle of inclination of the front side 14 and the angle of inclination the rear side 16.

A strengthening rim 22 is formed at the upper open end of the load container 10 and a pair of handles 24 extend rearwardly therefrom the handles and load container being formed integrally by a compression moulding technique from reconstituted plastics material.

A strengthening fillet 26 extends between the rear side 16 of the load container and the underside of the handle 24, each handle 24 having a hand grip 28 moulded into it at its end.

The load carrying container is mounted on a chassis assembly comprising a pair of side chassis members 30 arranged equi-spaced on either side of the fore-and-aft longitudinal axis of the container. Each chassis member is similar but opposite handed and is formed by a compression moulding technique from reconstituted plastics material.

Each comprises a ground engaging assembly 32 having two solid, square cross-section struts 34,36 joined together at their lower end and provided with mounting means 38 at their free upper ends. The chassis comprises also an axle carrying assembly 42 comprising two solid, square cross-section struts 44,46 joined together at their outer ends, the free ends being provided with mounting means 48. A forward extension member 50 extends forwardly and outwardly from the joined ends of the struts 44 and 46 and a strengthening fillet 52 extends between the extension member 50 and the forward strut 44 of the axle carrying assembly 42.

An axle carrying boss 58 is formed at the outer ends of the struts 44,46 of the axle carrying assembly and a connection boss 60 is formed at the outer free end of the extension strut 50.

Reinforcing fillets 54 are provided between the mounting means 38,48 and the respective struts.

All the components of the chassis member 30 described above, that is those components references 32 to 60 are moulded as a single component and conveniently the cross-section of the struts 34,36 44.46 and 50 is of a T-shaped configuration as can be seen from Fig. 2.

The chassis members 30 are fixed to the load carrier 10 by fastenings 62 which may be in the form of nuts and bolts or pop rivets and to assist in the assembly of the wheelbarrow locating means may be provided on the load carrier 10 and mounting means 48,38 respectively. These means, which are not shown in the drawing, can be neatly comprised of spigot and socket assemblies, for example a projecting spigot can be formed integrally on the base and inclined front of the load container and be adapted to be accomodated within sockets moulded into the mounting means 38,48.

A traditional wheel 64 is mounted to the wheelbarrow on an axle 66 which passes through the axle mounting bosses 58 formed in the chassis members. An assembly of washers and split pins 68 holds the axle in position. The wheel 64 comprises a hub portion 70 moulded by a compression moulding technique from reconstituted plastics material on which is mounted a standard pneumatic tube and tyre assembly 72.

A front tube 73 with a central resilient bumper 74 is fitted between the ends 60 of the extension members 50 and accomodates a metal tie bar 76 (Fig. 2).

It will be realised that the wheelbarrow according to the present invention can be stored and transported in a knocked down condition and assembled at the point of use by the purchaser. Additionally of the barrow according to the present invention is corrosion free and, in view of its construction, as robust as a conventional wheelbarrow manufactured from metal or wood.

The formation of handles separate from the chassis is a departure from tradition design techniques and facilitates the plastics moulding operation in that the maximum size of the components is reduced.

It will be realised that many modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

For example, the wheel mounting assembly can take any convenient form. The cross-section of the various struts can take any convenient form and the relative arrangement and disposition of struts can be varied.

Moreover it is possible to provide load spreading members by incorporating additional struts extending between the mounting means.

In a further modification the handles can be moulded as separate members and fixed to the load carrier by mounting assemblies similar to the mounting means 38,48 described above.

A second embodiment of a wheelbarrow manufactured by compression moulding fron reconstituted plastics material is illustrated in Fig. 3. The load carrying container and handle assembly 110 of this embodiment is similar to the load carrying container 10 described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2 and, as a result, the container and handle assembly 110 will not be described in further detail.

The chassis of the second embodiment is, however, different. It comprises a first hollow box section rear leg assembly 112 moulded from reconstituted plastics material.

Fig. 4 shows that the rear leg assembly 112 is a hollow box section member which diverges upwardly and has a central arch 114 defining two ground engaging legs 116, 118, each of which are hollow. A top 120 extends across the top of the box section member 112 which incorporates also a central internal strengthening rib 122. Fixing means 124 are provided in the top 120 to co-operate with fastening means 126 (shown diagrammatically in Fig. 3) which attach the rear leg assembly 112 to the bottom of the loading carrying container 110. To provide a saving in material and a weight reduction in the rear of the box section may be ommitted.

Extending forwardly from each leg member 116,118, there is provided a cranked arm 130 which extends from the base of the leg assembly up to the underside of the load carrying container 110 and then forwardly thereof.

Fastenings 132 (illustrated diagrammatically in Fig. 3) fix each cranked arm 132 to the base of the load carrying container 110 and further fastenings 134 fix the rear lower end of the cranked arm to the rear leg assembly 112. The forward free end of the cranked arm 130 defines the lower bushing for the axle 138 of the wheel barrow 140.

A front yoke 142, at its bottom rearward end 143 provides the upper half of the bushing for the axle 138 and is fixed to each cranked arm 130 by fixings 144 and to the load carrying container 110 at its forward upper end by fixings 146. The yoke 142 comprises an arched rear member 150 having a cross-bar 152, which accepts the fixings 146 in holes 154. Extending forwardly of the rear member 150 are two spaced apart side members 156, the lower rear ends of which define the half-bushing 143. The legs 156 are joined by a bowed interconnection member 158. It is to be appreciated that the front yoke is formed as a single moulding from reconstituted plastics material.

The embodiment illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 provides a wheelbarrow having rear legs of considerable strength which feature is advantageous, bearing in mind the use of reconstituted plastic, the integrity and strength of which can never be fully guaranteed, so that the stronger the construction of the chassis member the more robust the barrow will be. Additionally, the construction described above provides a rigid and readily assembled mounting for the front wheel of the wheelbarrow.

Claims

1. A wheelbarrow manufactured from a plastics material using a compression moulding technique.

2. A wheelbarrow manufactured from a plastics material using a compression moulding technique from at least two components.

3. A wheelbarrow as claimed in claim 2, in which one of the components comprises a combined load carrying container and handle.

4. A wheelbarrow as claimed in claim 3, in which the load carrying container is formed by compression moulding from reconstituted plastics material and has formed integrally therewith a pair of rearwardly projecting handles.

5. A wheelbarrow as claimed in claim 4, in which reinforcing fillets are formed integrally between the handles and the rear side of the load carrying container.

6. A wheelbarrow as claimed in any one of the claims 3 to 5, in which the other component in a chassis comprising two similar but opposite handed components manufactured by a compression moulding technique from reconstituted plastics, each component comprising an axle carrying assembly and a ground engaging assembly.

7. A wheelbarrow as claimed in claim 6, in which each assembly comprises two struts joined together at one of their ends and provided at their other ends with mounting means for attachment to the load carrier.

8. A wheelbarrow as claimed in claim 7, in which the free end of one of the struts of the axle assembly is joined to the free end of one end of the struts of the ground engaging assembly.

9. A wheelbarrow as claimed in claim 8, in which the mounting means for engaging the load carrier at the free ends of the struts are provided with locating means to locate them relative to the load carrier.

10. A wheelbarrow as claimed in claim 9, in which the locating means comprise spigot and socket means.

11. A wheelbarrow as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 10, in which means are provided to fix the mounting means to the load carrier, said means comprising pop rivets, nuts and bolts, screws or any other suitable fastenings.

12. A wheelbarrow as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 11, in which an extension member extends forwardly from the axle carrying assembly and means are provided for attaching the extension member of one chassis member to the extension of the other chassis member.

13. A wheelbarrow as claimed in claim 12, in which strengthening fillets are provided between the forward strut of the axle carrying assembly and the extension.

14. A wheelbarrow as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 13, in which strengthening fillets are provided between the mounting means and struts.

15. A wheelbarrow as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 5, including a chassis assembly comprising a rear leg assembly, two spaced apart, cranked arms and a front yoke, the arms and yoke combining to provide mounting means for an axle for the wheel of the barrow.

16. A wheelbarrow as claimed in claim 15, in which the rear leg assembly is arched to define two ground engaging legs and includes a top for attachment to the load carrying container.

17. A wheelbarrow as claimed in claim 16 in which the rear leg assembly includes stiffening ribs.

18. A wheelbarrow as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 17 in which the cranked arms extend forwardly and upwardly from the base of the rear leg assembly to the underside of the load carrying container then forwardly thereof, terminating in a wheel axle half bush.

19. A wheelbarrow as claimed in claim 18, in which means is provided for attaching the cranked arms to the rear leg assembly at the lower end thereof and to the underside of the load carrying means.

20. A wheelbarrow as claimed in any one of claims 15 to 19, in which the yoke comprises a rear member attachable to the load carrying assembly, a pair of space side members attachable to the forward end of the cranked arms and each including an axle half bush to complete the axle bush at their rear end and a bowed member interconnecting the forward ends of the side members.

21. A wheelbarrow as claimed in claim 20, in which the rear member, side members and bowed front member of the yoke are moulded integrally as a single component from reconstituted plastics material.

22. A wheelbarrow as claimed in claim 21, in which the yoke member is fixed to the forward end of the cranked arms on either side of the wheel axle and to the forward upper end of the load carrying container.

23. A wheelbarrow as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the wheel of the wheelbarrow comprises a hub moulded by compression moulding from reconstituted plastics material and fitted with a pneumatic tube and tyre.

24. A wheelbarrow substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2 or Figs. 3 and 4 on 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.