GB2283945A

GB2283945A - Convertible handcart

Info

Publication number: GB2283945A
Application number: GB9323937A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Edwin Peter Willis
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1993-11-20
Filing date: 1993-11-20
Publication date: 1995-05-24
Also published as: GB9323937D0

Abstract

The handcart, which is suitable for gardening use, comprises a body 10 enclosing a removable container 20 having a inclined opening at its upper end, the inclined opening being accessible through openings in the top and front of the body. The handcart can be used for a variety of purposes by either removing the container 10 completely for use as a incinerator (figure 2E), replacing it with a sack (figure 2G), or by removing it and replacing it in a different disposition in the body (figures 2C, D, F). <IMAGE>

Description

Handcart This invention relates to a handcart, and more particularly but not solely to a handcart for gardeners.

Activities such as gardening involve the use of many different products for different purposes. Many of these products are expensive and are cumbersome to store when not in use.

I have now devised a handcart which can be used for a variety of purposes and therefore alleviates the need for a large number of different products for different purposes.

In accordance with this invention, there is provided a handcart comprising a body which encloses a removable container having an inclined opening at its upper end, the opening being accessible through openings in the top and front of the body.

In use, tools etc may be stored inside the container, or the handcart may be used to transport soil and the like which has been loaded into the container. Alternatively, the container may be removed so that a plastics bag can be fitted around its neck to the opening in the top of the body. The handcart can then be used as a refuse receptacle.

Preferably the body comprises a rectangular or square section compartment which encloses the container. The container preferably has a corresponding shape in section to the body.

Preferably the container has a side wall which projects through the opening in the top of the body. Thus the container may be inverted inside the body, so that its base projects through the opening in the top of the body: the base of the container may then be used as a support or as a work surface.

Alternatively, the container may be arranged inside the body so that its inclined opening is directed rearwardly. The handcart may then be inclined so that the front of the body is directed upwardly: the exposed rear surface of the container may then be used as a support.

Preferably the handcart comprises an elongate roller rotatably mounted to the base of the body. The roller primarily enables the handcart to be moved, but it also can be used for rolling or flattening lawns or particulate ground material when there is a substantial weight in the container.

Preferably the body comprises an open rectangular framework.

Preferably the base of the framework is provided with a wire grid which closes its bottom and the lower portion of its front, rear and sides. The base of the framework may be used as a basket for storing small articles when the container is removed.

Preferably the roller is removable, and preferably the body is formed from metal, so that the base of the framework can be used as an incinerator.

Preferably the sides of the body comprise wire grids of different gauges, the wire grids being pivotable to lie across the front of the body. The wire grids then may be used as sieves or as a riddler for particulate material which is being loaded into the container.

The handcart can thus be configured in a variety of different ways, so that it can perform a large number of different functions.

An embodiment of this invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a handcart in accordance with this invention; and FIGURES 2 A-G are side views of the handcart of Figure 1 when in use for a variety of different purposes.

Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, there is shown a handcart comprising a body 10 which encloses a removable container 20. The body 10 comprises a rectangular metal framework formed from several lengths of metal rod or wire.

The rear of the body 10 comprises an inverted U-shaped rod having parallel vertical uprights 11 and a horizontal cross member 12, which acts as a handle. The lower ends of the uprights 11 are folded rearwardly to form feet 13. The top, front and sides of the body 10 are formed by two L-shaped rods attached to the uprights 11 adjacent their upper ends. These L-shaped rods comprise parallel horizontal portions 14 which form the top of the body 10, and parallel vertical upright portions 15 which form the front of the body 10. The lower ends of the uprights 15 are folded forwardly to form feet 17.

A horizontal cross-member 16 extends between the two L-shaped rods adjacent the upper front corner of the body 10. A Ushaped rod 18 is attached at its corners to the lower ends of the front and rear uprights 15,11 respectively. An elongate plastics roller 21 is rotatably mounted to the opposite free ends of the U-shaped member 18, so that it lies along the lower rear corner of the body 10. A wire basket 19 is attached to the rear of the body 10 adjacent the horizontal cross-member 12. The bottom of the body 10 is closed by a wire grid attached around its edges to the U-shaped member 18. The lower portions of the front and sides of the body 10 are closed by a wire grid 23, and the entire rear of the body 10 is closed by a wire grid 22. The base of the body 10 thus forms a wire basket. Two wire grids 24,25 of different gauges are hinged to opposite front uprights 15 of the body, and snap engage onto the rear uprights 11.

The container 20 comprises a box-shaped plastic element which fits neatly inside the body 10. The container has an inclined opening which extends diagonally from an upper edge 26 of its rear wall to an edge 27 on its front wall which coextends with the upper edge of the wire grid 23. The upper edge 26 of the container projects slightly through the top of the body 10. The legs 13,17 project below the level of the roller, so that the roller is clear of the ground when the handcart is stood in its upright position.

Referring to Figure 2A of the drawings, the handcart may be inclined rearwardly from its upright position so that the roller 21 engages the ground. The container 20 can be filled with soil and the like, which is loaded into the container through the open front of the body 10. The handcart can then be used to transport the contents of the container.

Also, the downwards force as the roller may be used in flattening a lawn or bedding down a particulate ground surface.

Referring to Figure 2B of the drawings, the handcart may be laid in the horizontal position, so that its open front faces upwardly. One or both of the wire grids 24,25 may be hinged to extend across the front wall. The wire grids 24,25 then act as a riddler for soil is which is being loaded into the container 20.

Referring to Figure 2C of the drawings, the container 20 can be removed from the body 10, and replaced so that its inclined opening is directed rearwardly. Tools 40 can then be stored in the container, where they are held in the upright position by the framework of the body 10.

Referring to Figure 2D of the drawings, the handcart may be laid in the horizontal position, so that the inclined opening of the container 20 is directed downwardly. In this position, the rear surface of the container 20 can be used as a support e.g. for plant pots or seed trays 41.

Referring to Figure 2E of the drawings, the roller 21 and container 20 can be removed from the handcart, and the wire basket at the base of the body used as an incinerator for garden refuse. Preferably the body 10 is coated with a heat resistant paint or other coating which is not damaged by the flames, and which can be cleaned once the fire is over.

Referring to Figure 2F of the drawings, the container 20 can be inserted upside down into the body 10. The base of the container 20 may then be used as a support for plant pots and seed trays 42.

Referring to Figure 2G, the container 20 can be removed, and a plastics refuse sack 43 attached around its neck to the framework defining the top of the body 10. The sack may then be transported by inclining the handcart rearwardly, so that the roller engages the ground.

Claims

1) A handcart, comprising a body which encloses a removable container having an inclined opening at its upper end, said inclined opening being accessible through openings in the top and front of said body.

2) A handcart as claimed in claim 1, in which said body comprises a rectangular or square section compartment which encloses said container.

3) A handcart as claimed in claim 2, in which the container has a shape corresponding in section to the body.

4) A handcart as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the container has a side wall which projects through the opening in the top of said body.

5) A handcart as claimed in any preceding claim, comprising an elongate roller rotatably mounted to the base of said body.

6) A handcart as claimed in any preceding claim, in which said body comprises an open rectangular framework.

7) A handcart as claimed in claim 6, in which the base of said framework comprises a wire grid which closes its bottom and the lower portion of its front, rear and sides.

8) A handcart as claimed in claim 6 or 7, in which the sides of said body comprise wire grids which are pivotable to lie across the front of said body.

9) A handcart substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.