GB2384755A

GB2384755A - A wheelbarrow with a removable body

Info

Publication number: GB2384755A
Application number: GB0202062A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter Melvin Semper
Original assignee: P&G Industries PLC
Current assignee: P&G Industries PLC
Priority date: 2002-01-30
Filing date: 2002-01-30
Publication date: 2003-08-06
Also published as: GB0219449D0; GB2384757A; GB0202062D0

Abstract

A wheelbarrow comprises a main frame 12 providing rearwardly extending handle means 18, ground engaging means 20, a wheel 26 mounted via an axle 28 on the main frame, a body 16 for receipt of a load, and a body support frame 14 secured to the main frame 12 into which the body 16 is inserted and removably retained without the use of tool operated removable fasteners. Preferably, the body 16 has a rim (38, Fig 4) and a protrusion in the front (40, Fig 4) and rear (42, Fig 4) facing walls which support and retain the body 16. The main frame 12 and body support frame 14 may be formed from a length of steel tube and the body 16 from sheet steel with a rolled rim. Advantageously the wheelbarrow is easily assembled and disassembled without tools, provides a smooth internal surface for the body which in use, will not snag tool, is cheap to manufacture and is easy to transport and store.

Description

Title: Wheelbarrow Description of Invention The invention relates to a wheelbarrow and to a modification to the kind of wheelbarrow generally used on building sites and in domestic gardens.

Conventionally wheelbarrows for such uses comprise a main frame which provides ground engaging legs, handles and support for an axle and wheel (or in some cases wheels), and upon which is mounted a pan, or body, either directly, or in some cases via a secondary frame for added strength. The pan is secured to the secondary frame (if any) by some permanent method such as welding, or riveting, or by tool operated removable fasteners, and that in turn is secured to the main frame by some permanent method (e. g. welding or riveting) or by further tool operated removable fasteners.

Although the tool operated removable fasteners used are simple, generally being threaded bolts and nuts, assembly of the components of the wheelbarrow requires the use of tools and takes a few minutes. Thus on a production line making large quantities of wheelbarrows of this kind large numbers of fasteners have to be bought in, and significant man hours are used in the assembly of the products. Alternatively, if the wheelbarrow is sold in kit form (which is advantageous due to ease of storage and shipping), the final retailer or buyer as appropriate, has to find the correct tools and attend to the assembly. It has been found that buyers of wheelbarrows are reluctant to have to do this, even if it presents them with a purchase which is easier to transport and with cost savings. In addition prior art wheelbarrows which have been

purchased in kit form have tended to lack the rigidity of conventional wheelbarrows and thus to be inferior in use.

A relatively minor irritation with conventional wheelbarrows is a result of the body being secured to the frame by fasteners, with the heads of those fasteners being present in the body, such that when trying to use a shovel to unload such a wheelbarrow the shovel tends to snag on the heads of the fasteners.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an alternative wheelbarrow which mitigates the above identified problems.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a wheelbarrow comprising: a main frame providing rearwardly extending handle means and ground engaging means; a wheel rotatably mounted via an axle on the main frame towards the front thereof ; a body for receipt of a load, wherein the wheelbarrow further comprises a body support frame secured to the main frame into which the body is inserted and removably retained therein without the use of tool operated removable fasteners.

The wheelbarrow according to the present invention provides the main advantage that it is easily assembled and disassembled without tools, and in some embodiments without any fasteners. This presents cost savings during manufacture due to the reduced number of manufacturing operations and hence reduced man hours used in assembly, and for some embodiments due to the reduced number of components as fewer fasteners are needed. The invention also provides a wheelbarrow which is much easier to transport and store as it can be demounted into it's main parts and they in turn can be stacked and palletised much more readily than is the case for conventional wheelbarrows.

This advantage also applies to point of sale display as the products can be displayed using far less space then with conventional wheelbarrows.

Furthermore such a wheelbarrow is expected to be liked by purchasers who are known to dislike the need for tools to assemble products. The invention also makes it more viable to sell separately the main frame and pan of the wheelbarrow, as the purchaser can readily replace one part if broken and reassemble the complete wheelbarrow without tools. This will provide purchasers with the ability to save money.

The invention also provides a wheelbarrow with a body which is smooth on it's internal surfaces and thus does not snag tools during emptying thereof, which can be a very significant irritation with conventional wheelbarrows if they are not emptied by tipping.

Preferably the body is of a particular cross section just below it's upper edge, and the support frame is shaped to fit closely around that cross section.

Conveniently the cross section of the body just below it's upper edge is substantially rectangular as is the body support frame.

Generally the body has a rim around it's upper edge.

The body may further comprise front and rear walls, and a laterally extending ridge protruding outwardly therefrom adjacent the top of each.

The bodies are generally formed from pressed steel in any event, and thus the addition of two ridges to the body is readily accommodated into the manufacturing process with few if any additional operations and little if any additional cost.

Preferably the body is retained in the body support frame by means of the laterally extending ridges locating below the rim.

In an alternative embodiments the formations comprise brackets secured to the front and rear walls. Conveniently the brackets comprise an upwardly opening bracket on the front wall and a downwardly opening bracket on the rear wall, each bracket being adapted for receipt of the body support frame

therein. The brackets may be resilient, and open to permit the body support frame to enter or be removed, but in use retain the body support frame therein.

In a further alternative the formations comprise a laterally extending ridge on the front wall and a spring clamp on the rear wall. In such embodiments the spring clamp is conveniently downwardly opening and resilient, opening to permit the body support frame to enter or be removed, but in use retaining the body support frame therein.

In further alternatives the body comprises a pair of side walls and a formation protruding outwardly therefrom adjacent the top of each. The formations may comprise longitudinally extending ridges.

In yet further alternatives the wheelbarrow further comprises at least one resilient spring clip which engages the body and the body support frame to removably retain the body within the body support frame. Conveniently the resilient spring clip engages over the rim of the body and the under the body support frame.

Examples of a wheelbarrows according to the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a side view of a wheelbarrow according to the invention: Figure 2 is a plan view of the wheelbarrow of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a perspective view of the main frame and body support frame of the wheelbarrow of Figures 1 and 2 with the body removed; Figures 4,5 and 6 are side, underneath plan and end views respectively of the body of the wheelbarrow of Figure 1; Figures 7 and 8 are details of the front and rear respectively of the body of the wheelbarrow of Figure 1; Figures 9 to 11 show in sequence the steps for inserting the body into the body support frame;

Figure 12 shows a side view of a first alternative body for use in a wheelbarrow according to the invention; Figures 13 and 14 are side and perspective rear views of a second alternative body for use in wheelbarrows according to the invention; Figures 15,16 and 17 are a side view, a rear view and a perspective front view of a third alternative body, and Figures 18 and 19 are side and front views of a fourth alternative body.

Referring to Figures 1 to 11, a wheelbarrow 10 comprises a main frame 12, a body support frame 14 and a body 16. The main frame 12 provides two rearwardly extending handles 18, and two ground engaging legs 20. In addition it provides, towards the front 22 thereof, brackets 24 for rotatably mounting a wheel 26 via an axle 28. Between the rearwardly extending handles 18 and the ground engaging legs 20 the main frame 12 provides rear top portions 30, and between the ground engaging legs 20 and the front portion 22 of the main frame it provides front top portions 32 which are coplanar with the rear top portions 30. The main frame 12 is conveniently formed from a single length of metal tube, normally steel, bent to provide the required shape.

The body support frame 14 is substantially planar rectangular in shape, and is also conveniently formed from a single length of metal (preferably steel) tube bent to provide the required shape. The body support frame 14 is located on the main frame 12 such that it rests on the rear and front top portions 30,32.

The body support frame 14 is secured to the main frame 12 by any appropriate means, which if the frames 12,14 are both of metal, is conveniently welding.

The body 16 is largely of conventional shape, being generally rectangular in substantially horizontal cross section, with a forwardly sloping front wall 34 and an approximately vertical rear wall 36, and having a rim 38 around it's top edge. Features of the body 16 which are not conventional are two formations in the form of laterally extending ridges 40,42 formed towards the tops of the front and rear walls 34,36 respectively and extending outwardly

therefrom. Also no holes are made in the body for receipt of fastenings, as would be the case in a conventional wheelbarrow, both on the base portion thereof (for securing to the frame) and in some cases on the front wall thereof (for securing to bracing straps for added strength). The body 16 is generally made by pressing from sheet steel, with a rolled rim around the top edge, in the conventional manner.

The body 16 is inserted into the frames 12,14 as shown in sequence in Figures 9 to 11. First the body 16 is positioned such that it is angled downwardly and forwardly with the front wall 34 within the body support frame 14, and the front portion of the rim 38 resting on the front portion of the body support frame 14, with the ridge 40 below the body support frame 14, as shown in Figure 9. The rear of the body 16 is then lowered until the ridge 42 on the rear wall 36 of the body 16 is resting on the rear portion of the body support frame 14, as shown in Figure 10. The body 16 is then given a sharp impact in the direction of arrow A in Figure 10, which forces the body 16 forwards sufficiently for the ridge 42 to fall below the body support frame 14 into the position shown in Figure 11. The body is thus retained within the body support frame 14 and the wheelbarrow 10 is ready for normal use, including emptying by lifting the handle members upwards in the normal way.

If it is desired to remove the body 16 from the frames 12,14 the sequence described above is simply reversed.

The body 16 and body support frame 14 are of relative dimensions such that the body support frame 14 is a close but not tight fit around the body 16. The body 16 is retained in place in the body support frame 14 by the ridges 40, 42 and not by tightness of the fit between the components. The formations which retain the body 16 within the body support frame 14 need not be laterally extending ridges 40,42 as described above. They may take other forms, for example, they may comprise a number of shorter or even round formations protruding outwardly from the body walls in a line which extends laterally

across the walls. In the extreme these would be two small formations spaced well apart across the width of the respective wall of the body 16.

The wheelbarrow 10 provides the advantage that no fasteners at all are used, except those necessary to mount the axle 26 and the wheel 28 in the brackets 24. These are conveniently quick release fastenings as described in UK Patent Application No. 0124533.1, thus making the entire wheelbarrow 10 very easy to assemble and disassemble, for transport, storage, repair or whatever reason. It also means that the number of operations to manufacture the wheelbarrow 10 is reduced when compared with conventional wheelbarrows, thus reducing manufacturing costs. Not having to buy in fasteners also helps to reduce manufacturing costs.

Despite the above advantages the wheelbarrow 10 according to the invention has all the structural and functional rigidity of conventional wheelbarrows and can be used in exactly the same ways. In particular, loads can still be emptied from the body 16 by lifting the handles 18 upwardly, pivoting the wheelbarrow 10 on the 28 in the normal manner, such that the load can slide out of the pan 16 along the front wall 34 thereof.

Although the frames 12,14 and the body 16 are described above as being made from metal, generally steel, they may be made from any appropriate materials. In particular the body 16 may conveniently be moulded in a plastics material. Furthermore, although the body support frame 14 is described as being generally rectangular and planar, it could take other forms as appropriate, and in particular need not have full sides if the means for retaining the body 16 within it are ridges on the front and rear walls as in the above described embodiment.

The means described above for retaining the body 16 in the body support frame 14 are an example only of possible options. Alternative bodies, with alternative forms of retention are illustrated in Figures 12 to 19, and described briefly below.

Referring to Figure 12, a body 50 has a rim 52 around its top edge as for the rim 38 of body 16. The body 50 also incorporates a pair of longitudinally extending ridges 54 which protrude outwardly from the sides of the body 50.

The body 50 is adapted for use with a main frame 12 and body support frame 14 as illustrated in Figures 1 to 3. When the body 50 is inserted into the body support frame 14 (by lowering one side in first and then pivoting the body 50 to lower the second side in, giving a sharp lateral tap to the side of the body 50 if necessary) the ridges 54 are located just below the body support frame 14. The ridges 54 act similarly to the ridges 40 and 42 in the body 16 to retain the body 50 within the body support frame 14 when the wheelbarrow is in use.

Referring now to Figures 13 and 14, another alternative body 60 is illustrated in position in body support frame 14. The body 60 has a rim 62 around its upper edge and a laterally extending ridge 64 protruding outwardly from front wall 66. However, rear wall 68 does not have a protruding ridge but rather has affixed to it a spring clamp 70. The spring clamp 70 is resilien and shaped for receipt of a rear portion of the body support frame 14 at its upper end, with an open lower end through which the body support frame 14 enters. The body 60 is inserted into the body support frame 14 in a similar manner to that shown in Figures 9 to 11, but rather than requiring a sharp tap in a generally forward direction, as shown by arrow A in Figure 10, in order to get the second ridge 42 below the body support frame 14, the body 60 requires a downward impact as shown by arrow B in Figure 13 such that the body support frame 14 is forced up into the spring clamp 70 to a position shown in Figures 13 and 14. If it is desired that the spring clamp 70 may be retained in its closed position as shown in Figures 13 and 14 by insertion of a split pin through holes (not shown) in side pieces 72, thus preventing the resilient spring clamp 70 from opening out to allow the body support frame 14 to exit.

Referring now to Figures 15 to 17, a third alternative body 80 is illustrated in position within a body support frame 14. The body 80 has a rim

82 around its upper edge and front and rear walls 84,86 respectively. The front wall 84 has secured to it by some permanent method (e. g. welding or riveting) an upwardly opening bracket 88 in which the body support frame 14 is located.

The rear wall 86 has secured to it by an appropriate permanent method (e. g. welding or riveting) a downwardly opening bracket 90 in which the body support frame 14 is also received. The body 80 is inserted into the body support frame 14 by first lowering the body 80 to engage the body support frame 14 in the front upwardly opening bracket 88. The body 80 is then pivoted around that portion of the body support frame 14 within the bracket 88 such that the rear portion of the body 80 is lowered into place and the rear portion of the body support frame 14 is received in the rear downwardly opening bracket 90. Either or both of the brackets 88 and 90 may be resilient, requiring to spring open to permit entry of the body support frame 14, and closing around the body support frame to retain it therein.

Finally, referring to Figures 18 and 19 a fourth alternative body 100 is illustrated in place within a body support frame 14. The body 100 has no particular formations on it in the way of ridges, clamps or brackets. The body 100 is simply lowered into the body support frame 14 and retained there by spring clips 104 which locate over the rim 102 and underneath the body support frame 14. The spring clips 104 are resilient, and may be made of any appropriate material such as plastic or metal. If required small indentations can be provided in the body 100 internally thereof and just below the rim 102 to provide locations for the spring clips 104 to engage when in use.

As can be seen, all the alternative bodies, 50,60, 80 and 100 can be inserted into the body support frame 14, and retained therein, without the use of tool operated removable fasteners. In particular, bodies 50,60 and 80 are all inserted and retained without the use of any separate fasteners, whilst body 100 does require fasteners but these do not require tools to be put in place or

removed. Hence, all of these alternative bodies provide the advantages previously described in respect of wheelbarrow 10 incorporating body 16.

The embodiment of wheelbarrow 10 described above, and shown in particular in the Figures 1 to 3, is designed to provide a somewhat different geometry to a conventional wheelbarrow, in that the body 16 is mounted lower to the ground than is normally the case. To achieve this the ground engaging legs 20 are shorter than normal and the rearwardly extending handles 18 are longer than normal. This geometry provides some advantages over conventional wheelbarrows, particularly when loading the wheelbarrow, as the load being put into the body does not have to be lifted so high. Also when pushing the wheelbarrow 10 along the load is closer to the ground providing greater stability. However, wheelbarrows in accordance with the invention can be manufactured to a more conventional geometry, or indeed any geometry required.

In the present specification"comprises"means"includes or consists of and"comprising"means"including or consisting of'.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following claims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may, separately, or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A wheelbarrow comprising: a main frame providing rearwardly extending handle means and ground engaging means; a wheel rotatably mounted via an axle on the main frame towards the front thereof; a body for receipt of a load, wherein the wheelbarrow further comprises a body support frame secured to the main frame into which the body is inserted and removably retained therein without the use of tool operated removable fasteners.
2. A wheelbarrow according to claim 1 wherein the body is of a particular cross section just below it's upper edge, and the support frame is shaped to fit closely around that cross section.
3. A wheelbarrow according to claim 2 wherein the cross section of the body just below it's upper edge is substantially rectangular as is the body support frame.
4. A wheelbarrow according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the body has a rim around it's upper edge.
5. A wheelbarrow according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the body comprises front and rear walls, and a formation protruding outwardly therefrom adjacent the top of each.

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6. A wheelbarrow according to claim 5 as dependent upon claim 4 wherein the body is retained in the body support frame by means of the formations locating below the body support frame.
7. A wheelbarrow according to claim 5 or 6 wherein the formations comprise a laterally extending ridge on each of the front and rear walls.
8. A wheelbarrow according to claim 5 or 6 wherein the formations comprise a laterally extending line of protruding formations on each of the front and rear walls.
9. A wheelbarrow according to claim 5 wherein the formations comprise brackets secured to the front and rear walls.
10. A wheelbarrow according to claim 9 wherein the brackets comprise an upwardly opening bracket on the front wall and a downwardly opening bracket on the rear wall, each bracket being adapted for receipt of the body support frame therein.
11. A wheelbarrow according to claim 10 wherein the brackets are resilient, and open to permit the body support frame to enter or be removed, but in use retain the body support frame therein.
12. A wheelbarrow according to claim 5 wherein the formations comprise a laterally extending ridge on the front wall and a spring clamp on the rear wall.
13. A wheelbarrow according to claim 12 wherein the spring clamp is downwardly opening and resilient, opening to permit the body support

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frame to enter or be removed, but in use retaining the body support frame therein.
14. A wheelbarrow according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein it further comprises a pair of side walls and a formation protruding outwardly therefrom adjacent the top of each.
15. A wheelbarrow according to claim 14 wherein the formations comprise longitudinally extending ridges.
16. A wheelbarrow according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein it further comprises at least one resilient spring clip which engages the body and the body support frame to removably retain the body within the body support frame.
17. A wheelbarrow according to claim 16 as dependent upon claim 4 wherein the resilient spring clip engages over the rim of the body and the under the body support frame.
18. A wheelbarrow substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 11, or Figures 1 to 3 and 12, or Figures 1 to 3,13 and 14, or Figures 1 to 3 and 15 to 17, or Figures 1 to 3,17 and 18, of the accompanying drawings.
19. Any novel feature or novel combination of features described herein and/or in the accompanying drawings.