GB2503921A

GB2503921A - Wheelbarrow assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2503921A
Application number: GB1212431.9A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Mark George Arrowsmith
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2012-07-12
Filing date: 2012-07-12
Publication date: 2014-01-15
Anticipated expiration: 2032-07-12
Also published as: GB2503921B; GB201212431D0

Abstract

A wheelbarrow assembly with a wheelbarrow frame 2 and at least two wheelbarrow attachments, such as a wheelbarrow pan, a flat bed, a water bowser or a hay soaker, which can be used interchangeably with the wheelbarrow frame 2 to allow a number of separate functions to be carried out by the wheelbarrow assembly that would previously have required separate pieces of equipment to be purchased, stored and maintained. Each attachment has an attachment connector, such as location pegs, that cooperates with a frame connector, such as location plates 22,24 with slots26,28,30 to releasably secure the attachment to the frame with a quick release mechanism having a release handle 32.

Description

WHEELBARROW ASSEMBLY

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to a wheelbarrow assembly of a wheelbarrow frame and at least two wheelbarrow attachments.

BACKGROUND

Many wheelbarrows consist of a tubular fime with a wheel mounted thereon towards the front and the frame forming a pair of handles at the rear. Mounted on the frame is a barrow bucket having a generally rectangular base with sloping sides. Such known wheelbarrows are ideal for carrying and tipping particulate material such as sand or soil or loose material such as leaves.

However, if it is attempted to carry large objects such as paving slabs or building blocks, these are often larger than the rectangular base and so need propping up against the side walls leading to an uneven distribution of the load and a limitation to the volume of the load. Also, if it is attempted to carry onç or more bags of particulate material, such as cement or sand, which are generally larger than the rectangular base, the bags wedge against the sloping sides and it is difficult for the user's hands to get under the bag to remove it.

GB 2331048 describes a wheelbarrow having a frame with a platform on the frame. The platform has a planar base with a releasable connection to secure a barrow bucket to the platform. This arrangement enables the wheelbarrow to be used with the barrow bucket attached to the frame in a conventional manner, and also with the barrow bucket removed in order more easily to carry larger objects such as the paving slabs or bags of compost or sand.

The present invention seeks to provide a novel wheelbarrow assembly.

SUMMARY

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided a wheelbarrow assembly, comprising a wheelbarrow frame shaped to provide support for a wheelbarrow attachment and having a frame connector, at least one wheel secured to the frame, at least one handle secured to the frame; and at least two wheelbarrow attachments, each of the wheelbarrow attachments having a corresponding attachment connector that co-operates with the frame connector to secure a wheelbarrow attachment supported by the frame to the frame in a releasable manner.

In some embodiments, the frame connector and the attachment connector co-operate to locate the wheelbarrow attachment on the frame.

In some embodiments, the attachment connector of each of the wheelbarrow attachments provides a number of securing points in the same orientation and configuration as the other wheelbarrow attachments.

In some embodiments, the frame connector incorporates a quick release mechanism.

In some embodiments, the attachment connector of each of the wheelbarrow attachments comprises a plurality of location pegs and the frame connector comprises at least one location plate provided with location slots corresponding with the location pegs.

In some embodiments, the frame connector incorporates a release mechanism that co-operates with at least one location peg to secure the wheelbarrow attachment to the frame in a releasable manner.

In some embodiments, the release mechanism is a spring-loaded lever operable by a user to disengage with a location peg of the attachment connector.

In embodiments of the invention the wheelbarrow attachments may be two or more attachments selected from: a flat bed; a water bowser; a hay soaker; and a wheelbarrow pan.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which; Figure 1 shows a wheelbarrow frame of one embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a schematic diagram showing a view from below of an exemplary attachment connector; Figure 3 shows an exemplary wheelbarrow attachment; Figure 4 shows the exemplary wheelbarrow attachment of Figure 3 mounted to the wheelbarrow frame; Figure 5 shows another exemplary wheelbarrow attachment; Figure 6 shows another exemplary wheelbarrow attachment; and Figure 7 shows another exemplary wheelbarrow attachment mounted to the wheelbarrow frame.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the present invention provide a wheelbarrow assembly comprising a wheelbarrow frame and at least two wheelbarrow attachments for the wheelbarrow frame.

The at least two wheelbarrow attachments for the wheelbarrow frame can be used interchangeably with the wheelbarrow frame to allow a number of separate fimotions to be carried out by the wheelbarrow assembly that previously have required separate pieces of equipment to be purchased, stored and maintained. Embodiments of the invention therefore can be seen as providing a flexible wheelbarrow kit that enables a plurality of different functions to be carried out using the basic wheelbarrow frame together with the plurality of specialised wheelbarrow attachments of the claimed invention.

The wheelbarrow attachments are provided with corresponding attachment connectors. In embodiments of the invention there will typically be more than one securing point between the wheelbarrow frame and the wheelbarrow attachment. As a result in embodiments of the invention generally the attachment connector for each of the wheelbarrow attachments will be provided with the appropriate number of attachment points in the same configuration and orientation as each other. In embodiments of the invention, the attachment connector of each wheelbarrow attachment co-operates with the frame connector having attachment points in a corresponding configuration and orientation to secure the wheelbarrow attachments to the wheelbarrow frame.

In some embodiments of the invention the frame connector incorporates a quick release mechanism.

In some embodiments the wheelbarrow attachments are provided with a plurality of location pegs and the frame connector is provided with at least one location plate having location slots corresponding with the location pegs. A release mechanism of the frame connector may co-operate with at least one location peg to secure the wheelbarrow attachment to the frame in a releasable manner. In some embodiments the release mechanism is a spring-loaded lever operable by a user to disengage with a location peg of the attachment connector.

In the illustrative embodiment four attachments are provided with the wheelbarrow frame, but it will be clear to a skilled person that other attachments may be designed for use with the wheelbarrow frame to provide additional functionality in different embodiments of the invention.

One wheelbarrow attachment provided in the exemplary embodiment is a wheelbarrow pan.

When this attachment is secured to the wheelbarrow frame, the wheelbarrow assembly can fulfil the function of a conventional wheelbarrow, for example by moving soil or rubble around a garden.

One wheelbarrow attachment provided in the exemplary embodiment is a water bowser.

When this attachment is secured to the wheelbarrow, thc wheelbarrow assembly can carry water to a required spot for dispensing, for example to enable easy watering of a flower bed or vegetable patch that is remote from a tap or hosepipe.

One wheelbarrow attachment provided in the exemplary embodiment is a hay soaker, into which can be placed hay and water. This is a very useful attachment for equestrian and agricultural uses.

One wheelbarrow attachment provided in the exemplary embodiment is a flat bed. When this attachment is secure to the wheelbarrow frame, the wheelbarrow assembly can carry large and awkward loads such as bags of cement or sand, or pieces of metal, wood or fencing materials, for example.

In addition, it is clear that the wheelbarrow frame may be used on its own for carrying large items exemplified by but not limited to hay bales, horse bedding or bags of cement.

An exemplary embodiment of the wheelbarrow assembly will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

S

Figure 1 shows a wheelbarrow frame 2 of one embodiment of the invention.

The wheelbarrow frame 2 in the exemplary embodiment is a tubular metal frame. The wheelbarrow frame 2 has a front end 4 together with two backwardly extending handle portions 6 and 8. In the exemplary embodiment the handles are formed in one piece with the rest of the wheelbarrow frame 2, but in other embodiments they may be provided in other ways, for example by welding. In the exemplary embodiment two wheels 10. 12 are provided and are rotatably supported on the wheelbarrow frame 2. In some embodiments only a single wheel or another rotatable might be used.

In the exemplary embodiment the frame 2 is also provided with leg portions 14, 16 that, together with the wheels 10, 12, support the weight of the wheelbarrow frame 2 and any wheelbarrow attachment (not shown in Figure 1) while the wheelbarrow is stationary. Again the exact arrangement of leg portions is not crucial and may be selected using the judgement of a skilled persOn.

In the exemplary embodiment shown in Figure 1, the wheelbarrow frame 2 is also provided with support arms 18, 20 that provide support for a wheelbarrow attachment (not shown in Figure 1) when a wheelbarrow attachment is used in conjunction with the wheelbarrow frame 2. In the exemplary embodiment, the support arms 18, 20 are generally horizontal to facilitate the locating of the wheelbarrow attachment on the wheelbarrow frame 2 and the securing of the wheelbarrow attachment to the wheelbarrow frame 2 In the exemplary embodiment shown in Figure 1, the wheelbarrow frame 2 is provided with location plates 22, 24 that are built into the frame. In the exemplary embodiment the location plates 22, 24 are welded to the support arms 18, 20 The front location plate 22 is provided with location slots 26 and 28 that co-operate with location pegs of wheelbarrow attachments, as will be explained in more detail in the following description. The rear location plate 24 is provided with location slot 30 and a spring loaded release handle 32. as will be explained in more detail in the following

description.

The location slots 26 and 28 of the front location plate 22 and the location slot 30 and the spring loaded release handle of the rear location plate 24 together form a frame connector that co-operates with an attachment connector on the wheelbarrow attachment to secure the wheelbarrow attachment supported by the frame to the frame in a releasable manner.

Figure 2 is a schematic diagram showing a view from below of an exemplary attachment connector on a wheelbarrow attachment.

A bottom portion 34 of a wheelbarrow attachment is shown in Figure 2. The bottom portion 34 in the exemplary embodiment is shown as being rectangular and although it is expected that the bottom portion 34 of wheelbarrow attachments will be generally rectangular, other shapes may be used without affecting the operation of the invention.

The bottom portion 34 is provided with a front location plate 36 having first and second location pegs 38, 40, and a rear location plate 42 having a rear location pegs 44. Together, the location pegs 38, 40 44 form the securing points for an attachment connector on the wheelbarrow attachment.

The attachment connector of each of the wheelbarrow attachments provides a number of securing points in the same orientation and configuration as the other wheelbarrow attachments so that the wheelbarrow attachments are interchangeable with each other.

In use of the wheelbarrow assembly, the wheelbarrow attachment is placed on the support arms 18, 20 that provide support for the wheelbarrow attachment, with the location pegs 38, 44 aligned with the location slots 26, 28, 30, and with a forward motion the location pegs 38, 40 44 are guided into the location slots 26, 28, 30, and held in position by a mechanical spring loaded mechanism.

The release handle is a spring loaded device which is opened by manually pivoting the handle forward in order to disengage the rear location peg 42. Once the rear location peg 42 is released, the wheelbarrow may be slid backwards so releasing the attachment from the wheelbarrow frame 2.

Figure 3 shows an exemplary wheelbarrow attachment 46. Wheelbarrow attachment 46 is a rotational moulded plastic water bowser attachment with a plastic drain tap 48 and screw top thread lid 50. In the exemplary embodiment the water bowser attachment has a volume of litres.

Figure 4 shows the exemplary water bowser attachment 46 mounted to the wheelbarrow frame 2. Elements that are the same as elements in the previous drawings have been given the same reference numerals for clarity.

Figure 5 shows another exemplary wheelbarrow attachment 52. Wheelbarrow attachment 52 is a rotational moulded plastic hay soaker with removable bung 54.

Figure 6 shows another exemplary wheelbarrow attachment 56. Wheelbarrow attachment 56 in the exemplary embodiment is a 255 litre pan Figure 7 shows a wheelbarrow frame 2 with an exemplary metal flat bed attachment 58.

Claims

SCLAIMS1. A wheelbarrow assembly, comprising a wheelbarrow frame shaped to provide support for a wheelbarrow attachment and having a frame connector, at least one wheel rotatably supported by the frame, at least one handle provided for the frame: and at least two wheelbarrow attachments, each of the wheelbarrow attachments having a corresponding attachment connector that co-operates with the frame connector to secure a wheelbarrow attachment supported by the frame to the frame in a releasable manner.
2. The wheelbarrow assembly as claimed in claim wherein the frame connector and the attachment connector co-operate to locate the wheelbarrow attachment on the frame.
3. The wheelbarrow assembly as claimed in claim wherein the attachment connector of each of the wheelbarrow attachments provides a number of securing points in the same orientation and configuration as the other wheelbarrow attachments.
4. The wheelbarrow assembly as claimed in claim in which the frame connector incorporates a quick release mechanism.
5. The wheelbarrow assembly as claimed in claim wherein the attachment connector of each of the wheelbarrow attachments comprises a plurality of location pegs and the frame connector comprises at least one location plate provided with location slots corresponding with the location pegs.
6. The wheelbarrow assembly as claimed in claim in which the frame connector incorporates a release mechanism that co-operates with at least one location peg to secure the wheelbarrow attachment to the frame in a releasable manner.
7. The wheelbarrow assembly as claimed in claim wherein the release mechanism is a spring-loaded lever operable by a user to disengage with a location peg of the attachment connector.
8. The wheelbarrow assembly as claimed in any preceding claim in which one of the attachments is a flat bed.
9. The wheelbarrow assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, in which one of the attachment is a water bowser.
10. The wheellwrrow assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, in which one of the attachments is a hay soaker.
11. The wheelbarrow assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, in which one of the attachments is a wheelbarrow pan.