US2131426A

US2131426A - Material handling truck

Info

Publication number: US2131426A
Application number: US160651A
Authority: US
Inventors: Milford L Croff
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1937-08-24
Filing date: 1937-08-24
Publication date: 1938-09-27
Anticipated expiration: 1955-09-27

Description

Sept. 27, 1938. CROFF 2,131,426

MATERIAL-HANDLING TRUCK Filed Aug 24, 1937 iii Z Y; z 4525:...-

24 INVENTOR,

ATTORNEY.

Patented Sept. 27, 1938 MATERIAL HANDLING TRUCK Milford L. Croff, Morley, Mich.

Application August 24,

Claims.

This invention relates to trucks and more specifically to a hand-truck for handling kegs of nails, barrels, bales of barbed wire and similar products.

One of the prime objects of the invention is to design a very simple, practical and inexpensive truck which is adapted to pick up, carry, and set down such articles as kegs, barrels, or bales of various size, quickly and easily, without the neces- 101 sity of the user tilting such articles by hand preparatory to placing it upon, or removing it. from the truck, as is usual with the conventional truck at present on the market.

Another object is to provide a hand-truck of simple and pleasing design, having engaging means on the lower end of the frame which prevents the article being moved from shifting on said truck after it is loaded, so that itmay readily and easily be wheeled to the desired location with a minimum of time and effort.

A further object is to design a hand-truck having trigger actuated article engaging means for engaging and securing the upper end of the barrel, keg or bale, so that when the engaging means is hooked onto or into the article to be handled, and the upper end of the handle swung downwardly, said article will be brought to proper position upon the truck preparatory to wheeling it to the desired spot or location.

A still further object is to design a hand-truck which is light in weight, which can be economically manufactured, and which requires a minimum of upkeep and maintenance.

With the above and other objects in view, the present invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the form, size, proportion and minor details of the construction, without departing from the spirit, or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of my improved hand-truck, the broken lines showing a keg in position thereon; the solid lines showing the claw engaging the upper end of the keg, the broken lines showing the claw in raised position.

Fig. 2 is a plan view.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary front view.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail plan view illustrating the claw and finger construction and arrangement.

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view thereof.

193 },v Serlfl' NO. 160,651

Fig; 6is an enlarged detail side elevational view of the finger.

Fig. 7 is a plan view thereof.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary part sectional view of. the handle.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing inv which I have shown the preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 5 indicates an axle member. on which a pair of ground engaging wheels 6 are journaled in the usual manner. 10 These wheels can be of any desired design, and are preferably ball bearing mounted to insure easy and smooth operation. A bracket 1 is mounted on the axle 5, and straps 8 serve to secure it in position, said bracket being curved as shown to suit the curvature of the kegs, barrels or other articles to be handled and prongs 9 are mounted in this bracket in spaced apart relation, the projecting end being sharpened so as topierce and/ or engage the articles to be carried, and prevent its shifting on the truck.

A preferably tubular hollow handle member H) is secured to the bracket 1 in any approved manner, the outer end being bent as. shown at H to provide a suitable hand grip, and a claw member I2 is mounted on said handle at a point intermediate its length, said claw being formed of bar iron, the inner end I3 being bent U-shaped to straddle the handle l0, and is pivotally secured thereto by means of the pin l4, thence the free ends, or legs, of the claw diverge, the extreme ends being shaped to form hooks [5 which readily engage the rim or upper end of a keg B or other article. A trigger member I6 is mounted on the handle it), the upper end being formed with an eye I l to facilitate easy manipulation thereof, thence the trigger extends downwardly through the hollow handle and is bent as at l8, this bent section projecting through .a slot l9 provided in the handle, the lower end of the trigger being hingedly connected to a. rivet 20, which is mounted on the claw.

The claw member above described is designed for use with kegs, casks, and similar articles, but when handling bales of barbed wire, I use a finger 2| formed as clearly shown in Figs. 6 and '7 of the drawing, this finger being preferably formed of bar iron, the inner end being mounted on the claw by means of the rivet 20 and is bent as at 22, said bent section serving as a spacer for holding the finger in proper alignment. The end of the trigger fits in the yoke formed by the bent portion of the finger, and the rivet 20 serves to secure the claw, finger and trigger in assembled relation, the outer end of the finger being shaped to form a hook 24 which is adapted to engage the wire (not shown) when bales are being handled. When kegs or casks are being handled this finger is swung up to position as shown in broken lines in Fig. 7 of the drawing where it is secured in any desired manner.

The device is simple, practical and economical, kegs, barrels, bales and other articles can be moved wherever desired and with a minimum or" physical effort, it can be operated in close quarters and limited space, and inasmuch as the kegs, barrels or bales do not require tilting preparatory to loading or unloading they can be placed tight against a wall or removed from such location, which cannot be done with the conventional hand-truck.

From the foregoing description it will, therefore, be obvious that I have perfected a very simple hand-truck, which is light in weight, which is composed of few parts, all of sturdy construction, which is easy to handle, and which is economical to manufacture.

What I claim is:

1. A hand-truck of the character describe-d including an axle, ground engaging wheels mounted thereon, a pronged, curved bracket mounted directly on said axle, a single upwardly extending hollow handle secured thereto, a claw pivotally mounted on the handle and adapted to releasably engage the article to be handled, and a trigger member extending through said handle with its one end pivotally connected to said claw, the opposite end of said trigger projecting from the handle and being disposed in close relationship therewith to permit actuation thereof Without releasing the hand from said handle.

2. A hand-truck of the character described including an axle having ground engaged wheels journaled thereon, a curved bracket mounted directly on the axle and provided with spaced apart prongs mounted therein, a hollow handle secured to said bracket, a claw member pivotally mounted on the handle at a point intermediate its length and formed with hooks on the free end thereof, and a trigger member mounted in said hollow handle with its one end pivotally attached to said claw at a point spaced from the pivoting point of the claw member for swinging said claw about its pivot point on the handle.

3. A hand-truck comprising a curved bracket provided with ground engaging wheels and having spaced apart prongs in the face thereof, a hollow handle, a claw pivotally mounted on the handle and formed with spaced apart diverging legs, the outer ends of which form hooks, a finger hingedly connected to the claw, and a trigger mounted on the handle with its lower end hingedly connected to a common pivot with the claw and finger, and at a point spaced from the claw pivot for controlling the swinging movement of the claw and finger.

4. A two wheeled hand-truck of the character described and including a pronged bracket having a hollow handle secured thereto, a claw pivotally mounted on the handle at a point intermediate its length and formed with outwardly diverging overhanging legs having hooks on the extreme outer ends thereof, a finger mounted on said claw, the inner end being turned to form a spacer and rest, and a trigger mounted on said handle with its lower end pivotally connecting the finger and claw at a point spaced from the pivoting point of said claw.

5. A hand-truck of the class described comprising a wheeled bracket provided with spaced apart prongs in the face thereof, a hollow tubular handle secured to said bracket, a one piece claw pivotally mounted on the handle at a point intermediate its length and formed with overhanging outwardly diverging legs, having hooks on the free ends thereof, a finger mounted on said claw and formed with a reduced turned end forming a spacer, a trigger mounted on the handle with its lower end extending over said turned end and having pivotally connections with the claw, said turned end forming a rest to hold the finger in proper alignment with the claw.

MILFORD L. CROFF.