GB2366256A

GB2366256A - Folding wheelbarrow

Info

Publication number: GB2366256A
Application number: GB0021013A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Simon Wilfrid Blunt; Nigel Dane Quartano Candler
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-08-26
Filing date: 2000-08-26
Publication date: 2002-03-06
Anticipated expiration: 2020-08-26
Also published as: GB2366256B; GB0021013D0

Abstract

A folding wheelbarrow comprising two U shaped frame members (1, 2) pivotally attached to each other at end portions. Two pairs of legs (8, 9) are provided, one pair having at least one wheel (10) at a lower end, the pairs of legs (8,9) being pivotally joined to each other to form an X shape. The legs (8, 9) are pivotally joined to the frame members (1, 2). The frame members (1, 2) support a flexible container (13).

Description

<Desc/Clms Page number 1> FOLDING WHEELBARROW BackgIound of the Invention Various folding wheelbarrows are known. It is an object of the present invention to improve or at least provide an altemative to known folding wheelbarrows. The invention The present invention provides a folding wheelbarrow as set forth in Claim I to 12. Background The wheelbarrow of the invention can be extremely useful for garden tasks which involve transporting large quantities of bulky or long materials (such as lawn mowings, leaves or prunings), and can also be used for transporting loads such as a bale of hay or straw. Due to the X-shape of the legs and due to the tie member, which can be generally vertical, the wheelbarrow can be relatively rigid and robust, avoiding weakness in the centre part of the wheelbarrow. It is advantageous if the wheelbarrow is designed to be stable with one end on the ground for easy loading and emptying. Nonetheless, the wheelbarrow is easy to fold up for storage due to the design of the frame members and of the legs. In addition, the wheelbarrow, with the wheel or wheels removed, can be arranged to be folded flat for packing and shipment. Features The wheelbarrow can be very fight to handle, and if, which would be usual, it has two wheels, it can be moved by one hand. Hooks can be added to the outside of the frame members, for carrying tools such as long pruners, loppers, secateurs, a saw or rake, and one or more of such hooks can act as a member for holding the frame members together when the wheelbaffow is folded. Although the frame members are stated to be generally U-shaped, they can be formed of three pieces making 90 degrees with each other, without any significant curved portion. The "end portions" of the limbs of the U are the open end portions. Although the legs are stated to be pivoted together in their generally central portions, it is not necessary that these should be in the geometrical central portion. Likewise, although the legs are pivoted to the frame members in the generally central portions of the limbs of the frame members, the pivot points need not be by any means in the geometrical centres of the limb and will normally be about one third of the way from the geometrical centre to the open ends of the limbs. The wheelbarrow frame can be maintained rigidly in its working position by means of a tie member, which can be in the form of a bar. It is preferably generally vertical when it is engaged and preferably interconnects the zone of the frame members where they are pivoted together with the zone of the legs where they are pivoted together (the pivot axis between the frame members is preferably substantially vertically above the pivot axis

between the legs). The tie member may be pivoted about the pivot axes between the first and second legs and be swung up to lock the wheelbarrow in its open or working position and swung down to allow the wheelbarrow to be folded, or alternatively it could be pivoted about the pivot axes between the frame members. There is preferably a tie member on each side. The legs of the second pair (as defined in Claim 1) may be longer than the legs of thefirst pair by more than the radius of the wheel, so that when the wheelbarrow is open the top frame is generally horizontal, and when folded and generally vertical, the lower ends of the second pair of legs can rest on the ground with the wheel or wheels off the ground. In order to enable a frame member to be folded flat whilst having the pivot axis between the frame members in substantially the plane of each frame member, the limbs of each respective frame member can be offset, and in this way, the limbs of each respective frame member can be the same distance apart. In a preferred construction, the first legs are in substantially the same vertical plane as the limbs of the second frame member and the second legs are in substantially the same vertical plane as the limbs of the first frame member. Preferably, the flexible container is supported directly by the frame members, having upper wall portions directly carried by the limbs of the frame members and by the cross-pieces of the frame members. Introduction to the Drawings The invention will be further described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure I is a perspective view of the wheelbarrow in its working position; Figure 2 is a perspective view, showing the wheelbarrow being folded; Figure 3 is a perspective view, showing the wheelbarrow fully folded, but with the flexible container not shown for clarity-, Figure 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the pivot point between the frame members at A with the upper end of the fie bar about to engage therewith; The wheelbarrow Figure I has two generally U-shaped frame members 1, 2 having longitudinal limbs 4 and cross-pieces 3 formed of tubular metal such as steel, with the end portions flattened. As shown in Figure 4, the end portions of the limbs 4 are pivoted together so that the two frame members 1, 2 can be opened out so as to be generally coplanar and form a generally rectangular fi7ame (see Figure 1). As shown in Figure 4, a metal boss 5 is welded to each end portion and the pivot is formed by a screw 6 which carries a knurled locking knob 7, a gap being left between the bosses 5, into which the end of the tie bar I I engages. The pivot axis between the frame members 1, 2 is in the median plane of each frame member 1, 2, and the limbs 4 of each frame member 1, 2 are the same distance apart. In

order to enable the frame members 1, 2 to be folded flat, the limbs 4 are offiet and the bosses 5 are provided to maintain this offset.

The upper end portions of two pairs of legs 8, 9 are pivoted to the limbs 4 of the fi-ame members 1, 2 at points in the generally central portions of the limbs 4 but closer to the open ends of the limbs 4 than to the closed ends. The legs 8 are in the same vertical planes as the limbs 4 of the frame member I and the legs 9 are in the same vertical plane as the frame member 2. The legs 8 are straight (with flattened ends) and carry wheels 10 at their lower ends. In the example, the legs 8 terminate at their lower end in a transverse axle member 16 having the wheels 10 mounted on either end. The legs 9 are in the form of a generally U-shaped member, with flattened ends, and act as supports for the subject wheelbarrow when the wheelbarrow is at rest. The legs 8, 9 can be made of tubular metal such as steel, Bosses can be welded to the flattened ends to separate the ends from the limb 4 and allow the legs 8, 9 to pivot freely. The legs 8, 9 are pivoted together in their generally central portions so as to form an X-shape in side view when the wheelbarrow is open (Figure 1).

On each side, there is a tie bar I I which interconnects the pivot axis between the frame members 1, 2 and the legs 8, 9, each tie bar I I having its lower end between the respective legs 8, 9 and pivoted to the pivot between the legs, As shown in Figure 4, the tie bar I I has a detent 12 near its upper end, and the upper end is arranged so that it can flt between the metal bosses 5 (Figure 4) and the detent 12 engage over the screw 6. In this position, the knurled knob 7 can be tightened and the tie bars I I maintain the frame members 1, 2 coplanar with each other and forming the generally rectangular frame. A flexible container 13 made of stout plastic or canvas has loops and/or pockets formed along its top margin by folding over protruding flaps, the flaps being fastened back to the body of the fle)dble container 13 by means of welds, rivets, press studs or tumbuckles. The frame members 1, 2 pass through the loops and/or pockets so that the flexible container 13 is directly supported by the frame members 1, 2, having upper wall portions directly carried by the limbs 4 and by the cross-pieces 3. The legs 9 are longer than the legs 8 by more than the radius of the wheel 10 so that when the wheelbarrow is folded and leaning against a wall, the lower ends of the legs 9 can rest on the ground with the wheels 10 off the ground. On the outside of the limbs 4 of the frame members 1, 2, there may be hooks 14 for carrying garden tools. As shown in Figure 2, the hooks 14 are generally U-shaped, and of these hooks one or two can be arranged so that when the wheelbarrow is folded, they can be pivoted from the limb 4 of a frame member 1, 2, engaging the other frame member or leg 8, 9 to provide a clip to retain the wheelbarrow in the folded position. Alternatively, the hook or hooks may be fixed in position and arranged to spring into engagement with the opposite frame member 1, 2, or leg 8, 9, as indicated in Figure 3.

When the wheelbarrow is open, the tie bars I I prevent substantial upwards or downwards movement of the ends of the frame members 1, 2 relative to the pivot axes between the legs 8, 9. In order to fold up the wheelbarrow, the tie bar I I is released, the frame members 1, 2 are swung downwards as shown in Figure 2, until they are generally vertical, when the upper and lower ends of the legs 8, 9 approach one another until the legs 8, 9

themselves are also generally vertical, as shown in Figure 3. For packaging, the wheels H can be removed, reducing the thickness of the carton for shipment.

In use, the wheelbarrow has no separate handle; the cross-piece 3 of the frame member 2 can be used as a handle, one or more cut outs 15 being provided in the flexible container 13 to permit a secure grip. The wheelbarrow is described when open as though it were positioned for use, and when folded as though it were positioned with the two frame members vertical - naturally, it can be in other attitudes when open or folded. Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the description and the claims, the words 'comprise', 'comprising', and the like, are to be construed in an inclusive as opposed to an exclusive or exhaustive sense, that is to say, in the sense of "including, but not limited to". The present invention has been described above purely by way of example, and modifications can be made within the spirit of the invention. The invention also consists in any individual features described or implicit herein or shown or implicit in the drawings or any combination of any such features or any generalisation of any such features or combination.

Claims

CLAIMS: I A folding wheelbarrow, comprising: a first generally U-shaped ftame member'. a second generally U-shaped ftame member the end portions of whose limbs are pivoted to the respective end portions of the limbs of the first frame member, so that the two ftame members can be opened out so as to be generally coplanar and form a generally rectangular ftame; a first pair of legs whose upper end portions are pivoted to respective limbs of the first frame member at points in the generally central portions of the limbs, the first pair of legs mounting at least one wheel at their lower ends-, a second pair of legs whose upper ends are pivoted to respective limbs of the second frame member at points in the generally central portions of the limbs, and whose generally central portions are pivoted to the generally central portions of the respective first pair of legs, the second pair of legs acting as supports for the wheelbarrow when the wheelbarrow is at rest; at least one tie member for interconnecting the portions of the first and second pair of legs adjacent the pivot between them and the end portions of the frame members to maintain the frame members generally co-planar and forming said generally rectangular ftame; and a fle)dble container whose upper portion is supported by the frame members; the arrangement being such that when the wheelbarrow is open, the U-shape frame members are generally co-planar and form said generally rectangular frame, the first and second legs on each side form an X-shape as seen in side view so that the wheel and the second pair of legs can rest on the ground, and the tie member prevents any significant upwards or downwards movement of the ends of the frame members relative to the pivot a3ds between the first and second legs, and that in order to fold up the wheelbarrow, the tie member is released, the frame members are swung downwards until they are generally vertical, and the upper and lower ends of the respective first and second pairs of legs approach one another until the first and second pairs of legs are generally vertical. 2. The wheelbarrow of Claim 1, wherein the tie member is generally vertical in its operative position. 3, The wheelbarrow of Claim I or 2, wherein the pivot axis between the frame members is substantially vertically above the pivot axis between the legs. 4. The wheelbarrow of Claim 2 or 3, wherein the tie member is pivoted about the pivot axis between the first and second legs, and is swung into engagement to lock the wheelbarrow in its open position and swung away to allow the wheelbarrow to be folded. 5. The wheelbarrow of any of the preceding Claims, wherein the legs of the second pair of legs are longer than the legs of the first pair by more than the radius of the wheel so that when the wheelbarrow is folded and vertical, the lower ends of the second pair of legs can rest on the ground with the wheel or wheels off the ground,

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6. The wheelbarrow of any of the preceding Claims, wherein the pivot axis between the frame members is substantially in the plane of each frame member, and the limbs of each respective frame member are the same distance apart, the frame members being slightly offset so that they can be folded up. 7. The wheelbarrow of Claim 6, wherein the first legs are in substantially the same vertical plane as the limbs of the second frame member and the second legs are in substantially the same vertical plane as the limbs of the first frame member. 8. The wheelbarrow of any of the preceding Claims, and having at least one member on one of the frame members for holding the wheelbarrow folded. 9. The wheelbarrow of Claim 8, wherein said holding member also acts as a carrier for an implement carried on the side of the wheelbarrow. 10. The wheelbarrow of any preceding Claims, wherein the cross-piece of one of the frame members acts as the handle. 11. The wheelbarrow of any of the preceding Claims, wherein the flexible container is supported directly by the frame members, having upper wall portions directly carried by the limbs of the frame members and by the cross-pieces of the frame members. 12. A wheelbarrow, substantially as herein described with reference to, and as shown in, the drawings.