GB2289026A

GB2289026A - Convertible handcart

Info

Publication number: GB2289026A
Application number: GB9408926A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Keith Samuel Ambler
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1994-05-05
Filing date: 1994-05-05
Publication date: 1995-11-08
Also published as: GB9408926D0

Abstract

The handcart is provided with legs 15 pivotally mounted on side members 14 such that with the legs in a deployed position as in figure 5, the handcart can be used as a wheelbarrow, and supported in a prostrate position. When in use as a wheelbarrow, a polyethylene bag 20 can be attached by means of pockets and a flap 21, 22. The legs 15 can be pivoted to an out of use position in which they lie alongside the members 14. An "L" shaped support plate 13 is pivotally mounted at 16 and mounts the wheels 12. Pivoting of the plate moves the wheels into a position beneath the side members 14 (figure 4, not shown) and in this compact configuration the handcart may be easily stored. <IMAGE>

Description

HANDCART The present invention relates to a handcart.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a handcart comprising at least one wheel, a load bearing member and at least one handle, the handcart being provided with support means which is moveable between a first position in which in use it is arranged to support the handcart in a substantially prostrate configuration, and a second position in which it is arranged not to support the handcart.

The support means may comprise at least one leg.

Preferably, the at least one leg is arranged in use to extend substantially transverse to the load bearing member when in the first position, and is arranged to extend substantially parallel with the load bearing member when in the second position.

The at least one leg may be arranged in use to support the handcart such that the or each handle of the handcart is spaced from a ground surface in use, when the leg is in the first position and the handcart is substantially prostrate.

Preferably, the handcart is arranged in use to be convertible to a wheel barrow by moving the or each leg to the first position.

In a preferred arrangement the handcart is provided with a support member arranged in use to support a load when the handcart is a substantially upright configuration. The support member may comprise a support plate.

Preferably, the support member is located in the proximity of the or each wheel, at a first end of the handcart. The or each handle is preferably located at a second, substantially opposed end of the handcart.

Preferably, the load bearing member extends between the or each handle and the support member. The load bearing member may comprise at least two elongate members extending from the or each handle to the support member.

There are preferably two handles. Preferably there are two wheels.

At least one of the handles may be integral with at least one of the load bearing members.

There may be two elongate members.

In a preferred arrangement, each handle is integral with a respective elongate member. The support member may be arranged to extend between the elongate members.

There may be two legs. Preferably, each of the two legs is attached to a respective elongate member. The legs may be pivotally attached to the respective elongate members.

In a preferred arrangement the support comprises at least one bracket arranged in use to support at least one wheel. Preferably the support member comprises two brackets, each of which is arranged in use to support a respective one of the wheels.

The support member may comprise first and second integral portions which are angularly disposed with respect to each other. The first portion may be arranged in a first configuration to extend transverse to the plane of the elongate members to support a load in use. The second portion may be arranged in a first configuration to extend substantially parallel to the plane of the elongate members in use, and to support the wheels.

The support member may be pivotally mounted on at least one of the elongate members. Preferably, the support member is pivotally moveable between the first configuration and a second configuration in which the first portion extends substantially parallel to the plane of the elongate members, and the second portion extends substantially transverse to the plane of the elongate members.

Preferably, the or each bracket comprises one or more parts of the second portion which are bent substantially transverse to the plane of the second portion.

Preferably, the brackets are press-formed from the second portion.

Preferably, the or each leg is arranged in use such that, when in the first position, the or each leg extends beyond the load bearing member in two substantially opposed directions.

The handcart may be provided with a container arranged, in use, to be supported on the load bearing member and/or on the support member.

The container may comprise a bag.

Preferably, the container in use is retained on the load bearing member by co-operation of one or more engagement portions of the container with the or each leg.

Alternatively or additionally, the container may be arranged, in use, to be retained on the load bearing member by co-operation of one or more engagement portions of the container with one or more portions of the support member.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a wheelbarrow having at least one wheel, a handle, and support means moveable between a first position in which the support means is arranged in use to support the wheelbarrow in a substantially prostrate configuration, and a second position in which it does not support the wheelbarrow.

The wheelbarrow may comprise a handcart according to any statement herein.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which: Figure 1 is a front view of a handcart according to an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 2 is a side view of the handcart of Figure 1, Figure 3 is a detailed rear view of part of the handcart of Figures 1 and 2, Figure 4 is a side view of the handcart of Figures 1 to 3 in an alternative configuration and, Figure 5 is a side view of the handcart of Figures 1 to 4 in another alternative configuration.

Referring particularly to Figures 1 and 2, these show generally at 10 a handcart comprising a pair of handles 11, a pair of wheels 12, a support plate 13 and two elongate load bearing members 14 which are integral with the handles 11. The handles 11 and load bearing members 14 are formed from rectangular section hollow steel tube which is bent at an upper end to form the handle. Two rectangular section hollow steel legs 15 are pivotally mounted on the load bearing members 14 at upper ends thereof. The support plate 13 comprises a sheet of steel which is bent at right angles and secured pivotally to the load bearing members at pivot points 16. In the configuration shown in Figures 1 and 2 a portion 13a is substantially upright and bent over at its edges for mounting on the load bearing members 14. Portions of the support plate 13a are partly cut out and bent outwardly to form brackets 17 on which is mounted an axle 12a of the wheels 12. Between the load bearing members are secured two substantially parallel steel stabilising members 18 which maintain ridigity of the handcart.

Figure 3 shows from the rear in more detail one of the brackets 17 which supports the axle 12a of the wheels 12.

Figure 4 shows an alternative configuration of the handcart. The support plate 13 has been made to pivot about point 16 so that the wheels 12 are below the load bearing members 14 and the load bearing portion of the support plate 13 is substantially parallel with the load bearing members 14. To release the support plate from the configuration shown in Figures 1 and 2 so that it can adopt the configuration shown in Figure 4, a retaining pin (not shown) is removed from hole 19 whereupon the plate 13 is free to pivot about point 16. The configuration of Figure 4 is to enable convenient storage of the handcart when not in use, since the overall depth of the cart from front to back is reduced in this configuration.

Figure 5 shows the handcart in another configuration in which it may be used as a wheelbarrow. In this configuration the legs 15 have been pivotally moved such that they project downwardly to support the handles 11 above a ground surface (not shown) when the handcart 10 is in a prostrate configuration. For use as a wheelbarrow, a substantially rectangular bag 20 of woven polyethylene is supported on the load bearing members 14 and is retained in place with a pair of integral corner pockets 21 which fit over the ends of the load bearing members 14 at a first end, and an integral flap 22 which extends over the support plate 13 along the full length of the plate 13 at a substantially opposed end of the bag 20.

The handcart 10 may thus be conveniently converted into a wheelbarrow with the aid of the bag 20. The provision of the pivoting legs 15 enables the conversion, and legs 15 may be locked in either of their positions by retaining means (not shown). For convenient storage, the support plate 13 may be pivoted into the configuration shown in Figure 4 and then the handcart may hung on hooks or the like, for example on the wall of a garage or shed.

In addition, the construction of the handcart 10 is conveniently such as to make the handcart light in weight whilst retaining rigidity and strength. The provision of the fold-back brackets 17 obviates the need for the manufacture of separate bracket components and thereby reduces the cost of manufacture.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made to the invention without departing from its scope. For example, the bag 20 may be some other form of container and may be retained on a handcart by means other than those shown.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A handcart comprising at least one wheel, a load bearing member and at least one handle, the handcart being provided with support means which is moveable between a first position in which, in use, it is arranged to support the handcart in a substantially prostrate configuration, and a second position in which it is arranged not to support the handcart.

2. A handcart according to claim 1, wherein the support means comprises at least one leg.

3. A handcart according to claim 2, wherein the at least one leg is arranged, in use, to extend substantially transverse to the load bearing member when in the first position, and is arranged to extend substantially parallel with the load bearing member when in the second position.

4. A handcart according to claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the at least one leg is arranged, in use, to support the handcart such that the or each handle of the handcart is spaced from a ground surface in use, when the leg is in the first position and the handcart is substantially prostrate.

5. A handcart according to any of claims 2 to 4, wherein the handcart is arranged, in use, to be convertible to a wheelbarrow by moving the or each leg to the first position.

6. A handcart according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the handcart is provided with a support member arranged, in use, to support a load when the handcart is in a substantially upright configuration.

7. A handcart according to claim 6, wherein the support member comprises a support plate.

8. A handcart according to claim 6 or claim 7, wherein the support member is located in the proximity of the or each wheel, at a first end of the handcart.

9. A handcart according to claim 8, wherein the or each handle is located at a second, substantially opposed end of the handcart.

10. A handcart according to any of claims 6 to 9, wherein the load bearing member extends between the or each handle and the support member.

11. A handcart according to any of claims 6 to 10, wherein the load bearing member comprises at least two elongate members extending from the or each handle to the support member.

12. A handcart according to any of claims 1 to 11, wherein the handcart comprises two handles.

13. A handcart according to any of claims 1 to 12, wherein the handcart comprises two wheels.

14. A handcart according to any of claims 1 to 13, wherein at least one of the handles is integral with at least one of the load bearing members.

15. A handcart according to claim 11, wherein each handle is integral with a respective elongate member.

16. A handcart according to claim 11, wherein the support member is arranged to extend between the elongate members.

17. A handcart according to claim 2, wherein the handcart comprises two legs.

18. A handcart according to claim 17 and claim 11, wherein each of the two legs is attached to a respective elongate member.

19. A handcart according to claim 18, wherein the legs.

are pivotally attached to the respective elongate members.

20. A handcart according to claim 6, wherein the support member comprises at least one bracket arranged, in use, to support at least one wheel.

21. A handcart according to claim 20 and claim 13, wherein the support member comprises two brackets each of which is arranged, in use, to support a respective one of the wheels.

22. A handcart according to claim 6, wherein the support member comprises first and second integral portions which are angularly disposed with respect to each other.

23. A handcart according to claim 22, wherein the first portion is arranged in a first configuration to extend transverse to the plane of the elongate members to support a load in use.

24. A handcart according to claim 22, claim 11 and claim 13, wherein the second portion is arranged in a first configuration to extend substantially parallel to the plane of the elongate members in use, and to support the wheels.

25. A handcart according to claim 6 and claim 11, wherein the support member is pivotally mounted on at least one of the elongate members.

26. A handcart according to claim 23 and claim 25, wherein the support member is pivotally moveable between the first configuration and a second configuration in which the first portion extends substantially parallel to the plane of the elongate members, and the second portion extends substantially transverse to the plane of the elongate members.

27. A handcart according to claims 20 and 22, wherein the or each bracket comprises one or more parts of the second portion which are bent substantially transverse to the plane of the second portion.

28. A handcart according to claim 27, wherein the brackets are pressed-formed from the second portion.

29. A handcart according to claim 2, wherein the or each leg is arranged, in use, such that when in the first position, the or each leg extends beyond the load bearing member in two substantially opposed directions.

30. A handcart according to any of claims 1 to 29, wherein the handcart is provided with a container arranged, in use, to be supported on the load bearing member.

31. A handcart according to claim 6, wherein the handcart is provided with a container arranged, in use, to be supported on the support member.

32. A handcart according to claim 30 or claim 31, wherein the container comprises a bag.

33. A handcart according to any of claims 30 to 32 and claim 2, wherein the container in use is retained on the load bearing member by co-operation of one or more engagement portions of the container with the or each leg.

34. A handcart according to any of claims 30 to 33 and claim 6, wherein the container is arranged, in use, to be retained on the load bearing member by co-operation of one or more engagement portions of the container with one or more portions of the support member.

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

36. A wheelbarrow having at least one wheel, a handle, and support means moveable between a first position in which the support means is arranged, in use, to support the wheelbarrow in a substantially prostrate configuration, and a second position in which it does not support the wheelbarrow.

37. A wheelbarrow according to claim 36 which comprises a handcart according to any of claims 1 to 35.

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