GB2345670A

GB2345670A - Container for a wheelbarrow

Info

Publication number: GB2345670A
Application number: GB9900893A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alan William Seabrook
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-01-15
Filing date: 1999-01-15
Publication date: 2000-07-19
Anticipated expiration: 2019-01-15
Also published as: GB2345670B

Abstract

A unit for fitting into the receptacle of a wheelbarrow (10) to increase its depth and thereby its capacity, the unit comprising opposed side wall panels and opposed front and rear panels, the front panel being formed with an opening which is provided with a closure (30), pivotally mounted adjacent its top edge.

Description

WHEELBARROW The present invention relates to wheelbarrows and more particularly to a unit for fitting to a wheelbarrow to increase its capacity.

It is known to provide a unit which fits onto the top of a wheelbarrow to increase the height of its receptacle and so increase its capacity. However, when such a wheelbarrow is filled to its increased capacity, it becomes top heavy and therefore difficult to maintain stability, especially when tipping the wheelbarrow to discharge its contents.

I have now devised a unit, for fitting to a wheelbarrow to increase its capacity, which overcomes the above-noted problem.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a unit for fitting into the receptacle of a wheelbarrow to increase its depth and thereby its capacity, the unit comprising opposed side wall panels and opposed front and rear wall panels, the front wall panel being formed with an opening which is provided with a closure.

It will be appreciated that the unit of the present invention effectively increases the depth of the wheelbarrow receptacle and accordingly its capacity. However, the contents of the wheelbarrow can be discharged easily, simply by opening the closure in the front wall of the unit and then tipping the wheelbarrow up.

Preferably the closure comprises a flap which is pivotally mounted, adjacent its top edge, to the front wall panel of the unit. Preferably the front wall panel slopes outwardly, towards the top of the unit, so that the closure flap swings open under gravity.

Preferably the opening in the front wall panel extends from the top edge, or adjacent the top edge, of the panel to a level adjacent its bottom edge. Preferably the opening extends from a line adjacent one side edge of the front panel, to a line adjacent the opposite side edge of the front panel.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIGURE 1 is a side view of a wheelbarrow fitted with a unit, in accordance with the present invention, for increasing its capacity; FIGURE 2 is an isometric view of the unit, shown removed from the wheelbarrow and with its discharge closure or flap closed; FIGURE 3 is a similar view of the unit, shown with its discharge closure or flap open; and FIGURE 4 is a front view of the unit, shown removed from the wheelbarrow.

Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, there is shown a wheelbarrow of conventional form, comprising an open-top receptacle 10 mounted to a support frame 12. The frame 12 has a ground-engaging wheel 14 mounted to it at its forward end, projecting forwardly of the receptacle 10, and a pair of spaced-apart handles 16 (one shown) projecting rearwardly of the receptacle 10. A unit 20 is fitted into the top of the receptacle 10 of the wheelbarrow, to increase the capacity of the receptacle.

Referring to Figures 1 to 4 of the drawings, the unit 20 is in the form of a rectangular box which is open at its top and open at its bottom. The unit 20 comprises an opposed pair of side wall panels 22,24 which slope outwardly towards the top of the unit. The unit 20 also comprises opposed front and rear wall panels 26,28 which also slop outwardly towards the top of the unit, the front wall 26 being at a greater angle of inclination. Adjacent wall panels of the unit 20 are secured together by elongate L-section members e. g. 25.

The front wall panel 26 is formed with an opening 27 extending from the top edge of the panel to a level adjacent the lower edge of the panel, and also extending from a line adjacent one side edge of the panel to a line adjacent the opposite side edge of the panel.

A flap 30 is provided for closing the opening 27 in the front wall panel 26. The flap 30 is mounted, adjacent it s top edge, to a cross bar 32 which has pins 34 projecting from its opposite ends and engaged in bearing blocks 36 secured to the front face of the front wall panel 26. A catch 38 (Figure 4) is pivotally mounted to the front face of the front wall panel 26, for retaining the flap 30 in a position in which it closes the opening 27 in the panel 26. It will be appreciated that when the catch 38 is turned to a position at which it releases the flap 30, the flap will pivot under gravity to an open position, as shown in Figure 1.

In use, the unit 20 fits with its lower margin only seated into the open top of the receptacle 10 of the wheelbarrow, the remainder of the unit projecting upwardly therefrom. The unit 20 is held in position by a strap 40 the ends of which are fixed to the opposite side wall panels of the unit, the strap 40 extending underneath the receptacle 10 of the wheelbarrow and being adjustable for tightening.

The unit 20 effectively increases the depth of the receptacle 10 and so increases the capacity of the wheelbarrow, so long as the flap 30 is in its position closing the opening 27. However, in order to discharge the contents of the wheelbarrow, the catch 38 of the flap 30 is simply released in order that the flap will open: the required amount of the contents of the wheelbarrow can then be discharged by tipping the wheelbarrow in normal manner, i. e. by gripping and raising the handle 16 of the wheelbarrow to pivot it about the wheel 14.

Claims

Claims 1) A unit for fitting into the receptacle of a wheelbarrow to increase its depth and thereby its capacity, the unit comprising opposed side wall'panels and opposed front and rear wall panels, the front wall panel being formed with an opening which is provided with a closure.

2) A unit as claimed in claim 1, in which said closure comprises a flap which is pivotally mounted, adjacent its top edge, to said front wall panel of the unit.

3) A unit as claimed in claim 2, in which said front wall panel slopes outwardly, towards the top of the unit, so that said closure flap swings open under gravity.

4) A unit as claimed in claim 3, further comprising a catch for retaining said closure flap in a position in which it closes said opening.

5) A unit as claimed in any preceding claim, in which said opening extends from the top edge of said front wall panel, or from adjacent the top edge of said front wall panel, to a level adjacent the bottom edge of said front wall panel.

6) A unit as claimed in any preceding claim, in which said opening extends from a line adjacent one side edge of said front wall panel, to a line adjacent the opposite side edge of said front wall panel.

7) A unit as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising a strap for passing under the wheelbarrow to hold said unit in position. 8) A unit substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings, for fitting into the receptacle of a wheelbarrow to increase its depth and thereby its capacity.

9) A wheelbarrow fitted with a unit as claimed in any preceding claim.