US20060042045A1

US20060042045A1 - Handle for wheelbarrow and method of producing thereof

Info

Publication number: US20060042045A1
Application number: US11/201,216
Authority: US
Inventors: Fong Lim
Original assignee: Prestar Manufacturing Sdn Bhd
Current assignee: Prestar Manufacturing Sdn Bhd
Priority date: 2004-08-24
Filing date: 2005-08-11
Publication date: 2006-03-02
Also published as: CA2511921A1

Abstract

The handle of wheelbarrow is commonly produced separately before they are welded together to form the entire handle. The process involves more steps and equipment, which has increased the producing cost relatively. The present invention provides a simpler process to fabricate the handle, where the narrow portion at the end portion part of the handle is integrally formed with the body portion of the handle for a wheelbarrow.

Description

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a wheelbarrow handle. In particular, the present invention is relates to a wheelbarrow handle in which the end portion part of the handle is formed integrally with the body of the handle and method of producing the handle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Wheelbarrows are known devices for moving heavy loads in short distances. The handle of the wheelbarrow is used to lift the device in order to unload materials in the bucket or bin. The handle is commonly a long shaft, made with wood or steel, to increase the force of lifting. The diameter of the shaft is commonly reduced at the end portion for the ease of steering.
In order to produce the end portion part of the handle, this portion is normally fabricated separately from the body of the handle. The prior art of producing the wheelbarrow handle includes of fabricating the narrow portion at the end part and the body of the handle separately using different profile moulds. Both parts are then welded together to form the entire wheelbarrow handle. The making process requires more steps, moulds and equipments. The producing cost is increased relatively. In addition, the bonding part of the handle may face with fracture problem if both parts are not welded appropriately.
Therefore, a wheelbarrow handle, which the end portion part of handle is formed integrally with the body of the handle, is proposed. There are no joints or welds on the handle. This will help to eliminate the fracture problems of inappropriate welding. Besides that, rusty problems, which may be found at the joints of the handle, can be avoided. The handle without joints is stronger and it is able to lift heavier loads. In addition, the fabricating process is much simpler. Welding process, which is dangerous and needs more safety precautions, is not required. Less fabricating moulds are needed and this helps to reduce the producing cost especially when large scaled production is involved.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a handle for wheelbarrow, in which the narrow portion at the end portion part of the handle is integrally formed with the body portion of the handle.
According to the first aspect of the invention there is provided a process for the making of the preferred embodiment, which comprises the steps of cutting the standard length of steel pipe to specific required length, using profile mould to make the shape of the end portion of the handle, and using roller to roll out the rectangular profile of steel handle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is described in greater details with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1 is a side view of the wheelbarrow handle of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a front view from the end portion of the wheelbarrow handle; and
FIG. 3 is a process flowchart for forming the handle of the wheelbarrow with the end portion integrally formed with the body portion of the handle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With references to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the handle (10) of the wheelbarrow of the present invention is made to lift the container of the wheelbarrow. The handle (10) is preferably fabricated using metal but it can be formed with wooden, plastic materials etc. It is possible to fabricate in various shape, preferably a long shaft with a specific length.
The end portion (11) of the handle (10) of wheelbarrow is preferably in narrow form which is integrally formed with a body portion (12) of the handle (10). A plurality of apertures (13) can be formed along the body portion (12) of the handle (10) for attachment of the handle (10) to other parts of the wheelbarrow. The plurality of apertures (13) is provided at a predetermined distance from each other according to the corresponding locations of the holes (not shown) of the container or other parts of the wheelbarrow. Additional attachment, for example handgrip (not shown), is possible to be added to the end part or any locations of the body portion (12) of the handle to ease and strengthen the lifting and unloading process. The attachment part can be an integral portion of the handle or added to the existing handle through any mounting mechanism.
The fabricating process of producing the handle (10) involves few steps as shown in FIG. 3. The preferable sequence of the process is herein discussed. The first step is to cut the standard length of material sheet (31), preferably steel pipe, to specific required length. The cutting process can be done using any cutting devices or equipments.
The second step is to make the shape (32) of the handle (10). Various equipments, preferably a profile mould, are used for shaping the end portion (11) of the handle (10). The embodiment can be fabricated into various shapes, preferably in long cylindrical pattern.
The third step is to fabricate (33) the body portion (12) of the handle (10). It can be done using various tools, preferably a roller, to roll out the body portion (12) of the handle (10). The body portion (12) of preferred embodiment can be fabricated into any shapes, preferably in rectangle profile.
Additional steps are possible to carry out in order to fabricate the wheelbarrow handle (10) into a finished product. The wheelbarrow handle (10) is possible to have a plurality of holes to enable the connection of the handle (10) and other parts of the wheelbarrow. For the preferred embodiments, several holes are punched using dedicated holes punching machine or other equivalent devices. The numbers and location of holes are depended on the position of the container.
The product may be undergoing additional finishing steps to polish (34) the final product. Spraying paints and polishing, or other equivalent processes, are possible to be done on the preferred embodiment.
It is to be understood that the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms and is not limited to the sole embodiment described above. However, modifications and equivalents of the disclosed concepts such as those which readily occur to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the claims which are appended thereto.

Claims

1. A method for forming a handle for a wheelbarrow comprising the steps of:

cutting the material sheet into a desired length of said handle to be formed, whereby said handle includes a end portion and a body portion;

forming the shape of said end portion of said handle; and

fabricating said body portion of said handle to enable said end portion of said handle to be integrally formed with said body portion of said handle into a single piece of wheelbarrow handle.

2. The method for forming a handle for a wheelbarrow as claimed in claim 1, wherein said material sheet is a shaft.

3. The method for forming a handle for a wheelbarrow as claimed in claim 2, wherein said shaft is a steel pipe.

4. The method for forming a handle for a wheelbarrow as claimed in claim 1, wherein said the step of forming the shape of said end portion is formed using a profile mould.

5. The method for forming a handle for a wheelbarrow as claimed in claim 1, wherein said the step of fabricating said body portion of said handle is fabricated using a roller.

6. The method for forming a handle for a wheelbarrow as claimed in claim 4, wherein said shape of the end portion of said handle is preferably in a cylindrical form.

7. The method for forming a handle for a wheelbarrow as claimed in claim 5, wherein said body portion of said handle is in a rectangular profile.

8. The method for forming a handle for a wheelbarrow as claimed in claim 1, wherein said further comprising the step of polishing said formed handle to be the finish product.

9. A handle for a wheelbarrow comprising a end portion integrally formed with a body portion of said handle as a single piece handle.

10. The handle for a wheelbarrow as claimed in claim 9, wherein said handle may be added with a plurality of holes along said handle for attaching with the container of the wheelbarrow.

11. The handle for a wheelbarrow as claimed in claim 10, wherein said holes are punched using holes punching machine.