GB2497557A - A hand truck with a rotatable barrel contacting the ground - Google Patents

Abstract

A hand truck 10 for transporting cargo, comprising: a frame 20 for supporting the cargo; a foot 30 arranged substantially perpendicular to the frame and substantially at one end of the frame; and a barrel 40 rotatably attached to the frame, and arranged for making rolling contact with a ground surface such that the hand truck is rollably movable thereon; wherein said barrel is configured to releasably hold liquid. The hand truck when loaded may be pivoted about the barrel, in the manner of a sack truck, so that the load supported by the foot and frame acts through the barrel. The barrel may be bowed or bulged such that a central diameter is larger than its end diameters, and said barrel may be held by an axle (80, figure 2) passing through the centre of said barrel. The barrel may be supported by two bearings, and may be removable from the hand cart.

Description

A Hand Truck The present invention rehites generally to a band truck and in particular, alihough not exclusively, to a multipurpose hand truck for the transport of different forms of cargo, and for use, for example, on campsites.

Conventional hand trucks comprise a frame, a foot, two wheels, and two handles. The foot is arranged at one end of the frame and perpendicular to the frame. The two wheels are attached to the one end of the frame and are free to rotate about a common axis. The two handles are attached to an opposing end of the frame body.

The foot may be manoeuvrcd horizontally beneath an object to be transported by an operator. Using the handles, the operator may tilt the frame about the common axis of the wheels such that the object to he transported comes to rest on both the substantially fiat foot and the substantially flat frame body. in order for the operator to expend a minimum of physical effort moving the load representing the hand truck and the object to he transported, the operator may further tilt the frame about the common axis of the wheels such that the load is directly over the common axis of die wheels.

llowever, when a load is placed on the relatively small diameter and narrow wheels of a conventional hand truck, a high pressure is experienced on a ground surface upon winch the conventional hand truck is intended to he movable thereon. On certain surfaces encountered at campsites and/or beaches (such as mud, sand, wood chipping, long grass, tussocky or uneven surfaces, and similar surfaces), movement of the conventional hand truck will become more difficult, and in some cases impossible. The wheels of a conventional band truck may for instance sink into a soft ground surface causing the conventional hand truck to beconm stuck.

Accordingly, there is a need for an improved hand truck, especially in circumstances where a user may need to move a large quantity of equipment frotn their car to a remote location, such as along a beach, or across a campsite.

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According to the present invention, there is provided a hand truck for transporting cargo, comprising: a frame for supporting the cargo; a foot arranged substantially perpendicular to the frame and substantially at one end of the frame; and a barrel rotatably attached to the frame, and arranged for making rolling contact with a ground surface such that the hand truck is rollably movable thereon; wherein said barrel is configured to releasably hold liquid.

The barrel provides a relatively wide surface on which the hand truck moves, reducing the pressure exerted on the ground surface, and thus preventing sinking that xvould lead to the hand truck becoming stuck. By using a barrel, the surface area of contact with the ground may he increased compared to prior art arrangements in which the surface area of their wheels that would be in contact with the ground is much smaller. This may allow for use of the present hand truck on surfaces upon which conventional wheels arc not suitable, for instance on sand, on mud, in long grass or on uneven terrain.

Also, the barrel can accommodate water. Therefore a user may move all of their gear and water in a single trip. An object to he transported may he loaded onto the frame in die manner discussed below, and liquid to be transported may he deposited into the barrel. In this way, the present invention may provide an additional mechanism for transport of cargo.

In order to load an object to he transported onto the hand truck, the foot may he manoeuvred horh'ontallv beneath the object by an operator. The operator may tilt the frame about the barrel such that the object conies to rest on both the foot and the frame. In order for the operator to expend a minimum of physical effort moving the hand truck, the operator may further tilt the frame about the barrel such that the load on the hand truck acts through the barrel.

The hand truck may he configured to behave as a class I lever. That is, the load on the hand truck may act on the opposite side of the barrel to the force applied by an operator on the frame. The hand truck tnay be configured to behave as a class 2 lever. That is, the load on the hand truck may act between the barrel and the force applied by an operator on the frame. The hand truck may be configured to behave as a class I and a class 2 lever, such that thc load on the hand truck may act over the barrel.

The barrel may be rotatahly attached to the end of the frame at the foot. The barrel may he free to rotate about an axis relative to the frame.

The frame may he substantially flat. The foot may be substantially flat.

The frame may he configured to hold an object having a volume larger than the internal volume of the hand. The frame may he contigured to hold an object having a maximum volume smaller than the internal volume of the barrel. The frame may he configured to hold an object having a weight larger than the maximum weight of water that the barrel is configured to hold therein. The frame may be configured to hold an object having a maximum weight smaller than the maximum weight of water that the barrel is configured to hold therein.

The frame may he a lattice-work of members. For instance, the frame may he constructed from rigid structural members. Alternatively or additionally, the frame may he a solid structure. The frame and the foot may he constructed of individual members, or may he integrally formed as a single unit.

The frame mas further comprise a container for holding cargo. in this way, accidental damage of cargo during tmnsport can be prevented. The container may he a box, hag, case anti/or similar container. The container may have dimensions of approximately 75cm x 50cm x 45cm, although other dimensions are envisaged. The container may comprise insulation. In this way, the container may function as a cool box and/or bag.

Alternatively,.the frame may comprise a platform for placing cargo thereon.

The hand truck may further comprise straps, cords, hungee cords and/or similar for securing cargo to the frame. The frame may further comprise attachment points for attaching straps, cords and/or bungee cords to the frame. In this way, an object may he secured to the frame for transport, thus preventing accidental damage.

The frame may further comprise pockets. The pockets may he side pockets. In this way, small items may be maintained on the frame during transport, and/or protected from damage.

The barrel may have a substantially cylindrical shape. The barrel may be configured to contact a substantially flat surface along its entire axial length. For instance, the barrel may have a purely cylindrical shape. In this way, weight can he distributed over a larger contact area, such that passage over soft surfaces, such as sand and/or mud, can be eased.

The barrel may have a bowed and/or a bulging shape, such that a central diameter of the barrel may be larger than its end diameters. In this way, manoeuvrahility of the barrel may be increased compared to a purely cylindrical barreL The barrel may have an axial length greater than a diameter. The barrel may have an axial length of 60cm and a diameter of 50cm. The barrel may he of any size, for instance, the barrel may be a 5, 10 or 15 litre barrel.

The barrel may he substantially rigid. In this way, the hand truck can he used when the contents of the barrel are at an ambient pressure and/or when the barrel does not contain any liquid, or is only partially filed with liquid.

The barrel may comprise a hole for emptying and fifing the barrel wnth liquid, via pouring. The hole may be configured to allow an un-pressurised flow of liquid therethrough. In this way, the barrel may be easily emptied and filled without requiring specialist equipment such as pressurised hoses. The hole may he between 2cm and 10cm in diameter, and in particular 5-6cm in diameter. The barrel may comprise a hole provided with a cap, for the emptying and refilling of the barrel. The hole may he provided in one axial end of the barrel, although other locations tor the hole are envisaged. The hole may be configured to allow filling of the barrel by pouring, such as from a tap or other container. The hole may he configured to allow emptying of the barrel by pouring, such as by tipping the barrel until a flow of water passes through the hole.

The liquid may he water. The liquid may he drinking water. The barrel may he configured to contain drinking water therein for later consumption.

The cargo for being supported on the frame may he a separate and/or distinct cargo from the liquid for being held within the barrel.

The barrel may be coupled to the frame via at least one bearing. The barrel may be coupled to the frame via two hearings. The bearing(s) may he disposed axially on the barrel.

The hand truck may further comprise an axle arranged to pass through the axis of the barrel. The internal volume of the barrel may he substantially annular in form, substantially toroidal, and/or substantially donut-shaped. The axle may be removably insertahlc into the barrel. In this way, removal and replacement of the barrel may be effected. Alternatively, the barrel may have no axle therethrough. In this way, the internal volume of the barrel may be substantially cylindrical in form.

The barrel may be detachable from the frame. In this way, the barrel may he removed from the frame for easy filling and emptying of the barrel. In addition, a worn, damaged or old barrel can he replaced.

The hand truck may further comprise two opposed hearings arranged to i-eleasahly hold the barrel therehetween.

The barrel may be attached to the frame such that rotation about a non-rolling axis may he enabled. In particular, the hearing(s) may he part of a hearing system that may he rotatahly attached to the frame, independent of the rotatable attachment of the harrel to the frame.

The hand truck may further comprise at least one handle attached to an opposing end of the frame from the Foot.

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The handle(s) may allow a force by an operator to he applied about the barrel's axis.

The handle(s) may he arranged for facilitating pushing and/or pulling of the hand truck by an operator. The handle(s) may he arranged for facilitating rt)tatlon of the frame about the barrel's axis by an operator.

The at least one handle may he hingeably attached to the frame such that said at least one handle may be movable between a first position with respect to the frame and a second position with respect to the frame.

The handles may he movable between the first and second positions by sliding. The first position may he a retracted position, arid the second position may he an extended position. Tn the retracted position, the handle(s) may be retracted toward and/or into the frame to reduce the space occupied by the hand truck when not in use.

The handles may he movable between the first and second positions by rotation and/or folding. The first position may he a first orientation and the second position may be a second orientation. The first orientation may he substantially perpendicular to the second orientation. The handle(s) may be lockable in at least one orientation. J:'or instance, the handle(s) may he lockable in the first orientation, the second orientation and/or any orientation in between. The handle(s) may he lockable in at least two orientations. In this way, the hand truck tiny he moved by an operator in more than one ergonomic manner. For instance, the handle(s) may he lockable in a first orientation in which the handle(s) reside substantially within a plane of the frame, and/or a second orientation in which the handle(s) extend out of a plane of the frame.

In one orientation, the handle(s) may be folded against the frame to reduce the space occupied by the hand truck when not in use.

The handles may he movable between the first and second positions by a combination of sliding and rotation/folding.

The hand truck may further comprise at least one auxiliary wheel rotatahly attached to the frame, and arranged for making rolling contact with a ground surface such that the hand truck may be rollably movable thereon.

The at least one auxiliary wheel may be attached to the frame at an end substantially opposite the foot. In this war, the auxiliary wheel(s) may he used on some surfaces and not others. For instance, the auxiliary wheel(s) may be used for rolling the hand truck on a substantially flat concrete surface, but nay he lifted out of contact with a grass and/or sand surface. The auxiliary wheel(s) may he hfted out of contact with the flat surface by rotation of the frame about the axis of the barrel. The auxiliary wheel(s) may he of any si2e, for instance having a diameter of 10cm and width of 5cm, although other sues are envisaged.

The above and other characteristics, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the Pr1tc1Ples of the invention. This description is given for the sake of example only, without limiting the scope of the invention. The reference figures quoted below refer to the attached drawings.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of tile present Invention.

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment shown in figure t.

The presetit invention will he described with respect to particular cinhodinients and with reference to certain drawings but the invention is not limited thereto hut only by the claims. The drawings described are only schematic and are non-limiting. In the drawings, the size of some of the elements may be exaggerated and not drawn to scale for illustrative purposes. The dimensions and the relative dimensions do not correspond to actual reductions to practice of the invention.

Furthermore, the terms first, second, third and the hke in the description and in the claims, are used for distinguishing between similar elements and not necessarily for describing a sequence, either temporally, spatially, in ranking or in any other manner. Tt is to be understood that the tenns so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances and that the embodiments of the invention described herein are capable of operation in other sequences than described or illustrated herein.

Moreover, the terms top, bottom, over, under and the like in the description and the claims are used for descriptive purposes and not necessarily for describing relative positions. It is to he understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances and that the embodiments of the invention described herein are capable of operation in other orientations than described or illustrated herein.

Tt is to he noticed that the term "comprising", used in the claims, should not he interpreted as being i-estricted to the means listed thereafter; it does not exclude other elements or steps. Tt is thus to be interpreted as specifying the presence of the stated features, integers, steps or components as referred to, but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps or components, or groups thereof. Thus, the scope of the expression "a device comprising means A and 13" should not be limited to devices consisting only of components A and B. It means that with respect to the present invention, the only relevant components of the device are A and 13.

Reference throughout this specification to "one embodiment" or "an embodiment" means that a particular feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases "in one embodiment" or "in an embodiment" in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment, but may refer to different embodiments. Furthermore, the particular features, structures or characteristics of any embodiment or aspect of the invention may he combined in any suitable manner, as would he apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art from this disclosure, in one or more embodiments.

Similarly it should he appreciated that in the description of exemplary embodiments of the invention, various features of the invention are sornetitnes grouped together in a single embodiment, figure, or description thereof for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure and aiding in the understanding of one or more of the various inventive

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aspects. This method of disclosure, however, is not to he interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed invention requires more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive aspects lie in less than all features of a single foregoing disclosed embodiment. Thus, the claims following the detailed description are hereby expressly incorporated into this detailed description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment of this invention.

Furthermore, while some embodiments described herein include some features included in other embodiments, combinations of features of different embodiments are meant to be within the scope of the invention, and form yet further embodiments, as will he understood by those skilled in the art. For example, in the following claims, any of the claimed embodiments can be used in any combination.

In the description provided herein, numerous specific details are set forth. However, it is understood that embodiments of the invention may he practised without these specific details. In other instances, \vell-known methods, structures and techniques have not been shown in detail in order not to obscure an understanding of this description.

In the discussion of the invention, unless stated to the contrary, the disclosure of alternative values for the upper or lower limit of the permitted range of a parameter, coupled with an indication that one of said values is more highly preferred than the other, is to he construed as an imphed statement that each intermediate value of said parameter, lying between the more preferred and the less preferred of said alternatives, is itself preferred to said less preferred value and also to each value lying between said less preferred value and said intermediate value.

The use of the term "at least one" may, in some embodiments, mean only one.

The inventton will now he described by a detailed description of several emhodiments of the invention. It is clear that other embodiments of the invention can he configured according to the knowledge of persons skilled in the art without departing from the true or technical teaching of the invention, the invention being lhnited only by the terms of the appended claims.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a hand truck 10 according to the present invention.

Hand truck 10 comprises a substantially flat frame 20, shown as part solid and part constructed from rigid structural members 25. I-lard truck 10 also comprises a substantially fiat Loot 30, located at one end of the frame 20 and arranged perpendicular to the frame 20.

A substantially cylindrical barrel 40 is attached to the frame 20 adjacent the end of the frame to which the foot 30 is connected. The barrel 40 is attached to the frame 20 via elongate members 45. The barrel 40 is free to rotate about an ats, relative to the frame 20, by virtue of two sets of bearings 50 each located at a respective axial end of the barrel.

A hole with a cap 60 is provided in the barrel 40 for emptr-ing and tilling the barrel with liquid, via pouring.

Two handles 70 are provided at an opposing end of the frame 20 to the foot 30.

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the hand truck 10, in the plane indicated by IJ\f in figure!.

Axle 80 is connected at both ends to the elongate members 45, and is supported by the bearings 50. The internal volume of the barrel 40 is substantially toroidal/donut-shaped.

In order to load an object to he transported onto the hand truck 10, the foot 30 may he rnanoeuvred horizontally beneath the object by an operator. The operator may tilt the frame 20 about the barrel 40 such that the object comes to rest on both the foot 30 and the frame 20. The operator may further tilt the frame 20 about the barrel 40 such that the load on the hand truck 10 acts through the barrel 40.

The barrel 40 is arranged for making rolling contact with a ground surface such that the hand truck 10 is rollablv movable on the ground surface. For instance, a user may push or pull the hand truck 10 using the handles 70, in order to roil the hand truck 10 over the ground surface by means of the barrel 40.

The hand truck 10 is suitable for transporting cargo. Specifically, the frame 20 is suitable for supporting cargo and the barrel 40 is configured for to releasably hold liquid.

Although figure 2 shows an axle passing through the entire length of the barrel, in one embodiment (not shown) the barrel is only connected to the frame at either axial end.

Claims (1)

1. <claim-text>Claims I. A hand truck for transporting cargo, comprising: a frame Lot-supporting the cargo; a Loot arranged substantially perpendicular to the frame and substantially at one end of the frame; and a barrel rotataby attached to the frame, and arranged for making rolling contact with a ground surface such that the hand truck is rollably movable thereon; wherein said barrel is configured to releasably hold liquid.</claim-text> <claim-text>2. The hand truck of claim I, wherein the band truck is configured to behave as a class I sever.</claim-text> <claim-text>3. The hand truck of either of claim I and daim 2, wherein the frame further comprises a container for holding cargo.</claim-text> <claim-text>4. The hand truck of any preceding claim, further comprising straps for securing cargo to the frame.</claim-text> <claim-text>5. The hand truck of any preceding claim, wherein the barrel has a substantially cylindrical shape.</claim-text> <claim-text>6. The hand truck of any preceding claim, wherein the hare) has a bowed and/or a bulging shape, such that a central diameter of the barrel is larger than its end diameters.</claim-text> <claim-text>7. The hand truck of any preceding claim, wherein the barrel is substantially rigid.</claim-text> <claim-text>8. The hand truck of any preceding claim, wherein the barrel is coupled to the frame via at least one bearing.</claim-text> <claim-text>9. The hand truck of any preceding claim, further comprising an axle arranged to pass through the axis of the harrel.</claim-text> <claim-text>10. The hand truck of any prcceding claim, wherein the barrel is detachable from the frame.</claim-text> <claim-text>11. The hand auek of any preceding claim, further comprising two opposing hearings arranged to releasably hold the barrel therehetween.</claim-text> <claim-text>12. The hand truck of any n ceding claim, further comprising at least one handle attached to an opposing end of the frame from the foot.</claim-text> <claim-text>13. The hand truck of claim 12, in which the at least one handle is hinge-ably attached to the frame such that said at least one handle is movable between a first position with respect to the frame and a second position with respect to the frame.15. A hand-truck substantially as hereinhefore described with reference to the 1 5 accompanying drawings.</claim-text>