BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention is concerned with wheelbarrows, and in particular with wheelbarrows that can be reconfigured for storage.

[0002] The wheelbarrow is of course a very familiar tool used in gardens, on building sites and in a multitude of other situations where a load of some form needs to be moved. A conventional wheelbarrow has a load tray carried by a rigid frame. At the front of the frame is a wheel which is typically journalled between a pair of forks. At the rear of the frame is a parallel pair of handles for the user to grasp, one in each hand. A pair of legs projects downwardly from the frame, one on each side, forming a tripeda l arrangement with the wheel to stably support the load tray when the wheelbarrow is at rest. When the tray has been loaded and the wheelbarrow is to be moved, the user grasps and lifts the handles to raise the legs from the ground, the load then being shared between the user's arms and the wheel to enable the barrow to be trundled from place to place.

[0003] The term "load tray" as used herein does not imply any particular shape for this item, beyond the fact that it forms a receptacle for receiving the load and is upwardly open, to enable the load to be deposited in it. The terms "wheelbarrow" and "barrow" are used interchangeably herein and are to be understood to have the same meaning.

[0004] Wheelbarrows often have a rigid frame fabricated from tubular steel, and a rigid tray, which may for example be sheet metal (e.g. galvanised steel), or may be a rigid plastics moulding, e.g. of polyethylene. While robust and effective, conventional wheelbarrows are bulky items which take up considerable floor space if stored inside, and which are difficult to store in any other manner, e.g. by hanging on a wall, due to their depth and weight. As a result they are often left out of doors. But conventional steel barrows are prone to rust if exposed to the elements. Any surface finish applied to the barrow's steelwork is subject to damage by the rough usage to which such tools are typically subjected, and once the finish has been compromised, exposed steel begins to corrode. This shortens the barrow's working lifetime but it also makes it unsightly, which may be an important factor for domestic users. Fixed-frame wheelbarrows are also difficult to transport, being typically too large to be accommodated in a car (automobile).

[0005] Collapsible wheelbarrows are widely commercially available. Typically these have a load tray which is membranous, and can thus be folded flat when the wheelbarrow is collapsed for storage, and a tubular steel frame comprising two pivotally coupled parts from which the tray is suspended. The tray may be formed from sheet PVC material. The two parts of the frame can be arranged in a common plane for storage and then opened out to form an "X" formation in use, one of the lower limbs of the "X" carrying the wheel and the other forming the barrow's legs, while the upper limbs of this shape support the tray and one of them also forms the handles. Such wheelbarrows have a somewhat makeshift appearance not contrived to appeal to domestic users. The capacity and longevity of the suspended membranous tray is questionable. And even when collapsed they are moderately bulky items, especially since the handles project from the frame in the collapsed state, and the wheel is perpendicular to the plane of the frame parts, increasing the depth needed for storage.

[0006] The prior art contains various other examples of collapsible wheelbarrows. Reference is directed in this respect to US2015/0042055, Higgins; US 2422331, Bates; US2005/0062245, Tomchak ef al as representative examples. They are typically somewhat elaborate and complex in construction and operation.

[0007] US 2013/0214501 discloses a cooler box with a corrugated side wall extending from a wheeled base. The configuration is such though that a force applied to a rim of the side wall, causes collapse thereof. [0008] An object of the invention is to provide a wheelbarrow which is easily adjustable between a stable use configuration, and a stable storage configuration.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] In a first aspect the present invention provides a wheelbarrow comprising a load tray carried by a wheeled frame, the load tray comprising a material which is formed such that it is reversibly reconfigurable by application of manual force to a central region of the load tray between two stable and ordered configurations:

a. a stowage configuration in which depth of the load tray is minimised; and

b. a use configuration in which the load tray provides a dished, upwardly open receptacle for receiving material to be transported in the wheelbarrow. [0010] Preferably the material is an elastomer.

[0011] In a second aspect the present invention provides a wheelbarrow which is configured to be reversibly reconfigurable between a stowage configuration and a use configuration, comprising:

a. a girdle;

b. a collapsible load tray whose periphery is secured to the girdle; c. a pair of legs each movable between a use position in which the legs project downwardly from the girdle to support it, and a stowage position in which the leg lies in or alongside and generally parallel to the girdle;

d. a wheel carrier at the girdle's front which carries a wheel and is rotatable between a use position in which the wheel carrier projects downwardly from the girdle to enable the wheel to engage with the ground, and a stowage position in which the wheel carrier lies in or alongside the girdle; and

e. at least one handle at the girdle's rear, the handle being rotatable between a use position in which it projects rearwardly from the girdle to be grasped by a user, and a stowage position in which it lies in or alongside the girdle.

[0012] A further aspect of the present invention is addressed to the separate problem of carrying tools on a wheelbarrow. A user often needs to carry a tool such as a rake, spade, broom etc. along with the material in the barrow itself. This can be done simply by laying the tool in the load tray of the wheelbarrow along with other material, but since such tools are typically long enough to project a good distance out of the load tray, they are often unstable when so arranged, and may slip about as the wheelbarrow is tipped.

[0013] According to this aspect of the present invention, there is a tool support for attachment to a wheelbarrow, the tool support comprising a clamp arrangement configured to embrace and clamp upon a member of the wheelbarrow to mount the tool support to the wheelbarrow, and a body provided with at least one upwardly open groove to receive and support a shank or handle of a tool laid in or on the wheelbarrow.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] Specific embodiments of the present 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 embodying the present invention, configured for use;

Figure 2 is a view of the same wheelbarrow from the front;

Figure 3 shows the wheelbarrow configured for stowage, viewed from beneath;

Figure 4 shows the wheelbarrow configured for stowage, viewed from above;

Figure 5 shows the same wheelbarrow from one side, its frame being configured for use but its tray being shown collapsed ready for stowage;

Figure 6 shows a load tray and girdle of the same wheelbarrow, configured for use; Figures 7a and 7b show, schematically and in section, a part of a leg and the girdle of the wheelbarrow, with a leg locking mechanism being open in Figure 7a and locked in Figure 7b;

Figure 8 shows the load tray and girdle of the wheelbarrow in plan, with the legs being shown in phantom; and

Figure 9 is a plan view of a tool support embodying an aspect of the present invention. DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Major components of the wheelbarrow

[0015] The wheelbarrow 10 depicted in the drawings comprises:- a load tray 12 carried by a relatively rigid girdle 14;

a handle arrangement 16 pivotally coupled to the girdle 14;

a wheel carrier 18 and wheel 20, the wheel carrier 18 being attached to the girdle through a pivotal and lockable coupling 22; and

a pair of legs 24 arranged on opposite sides of the girdle and configured to move between a stowed configuration in which they lie substantially parallel to a plane defined by the girdle, and a use configuration in which they project downwards to support the load tray 12 in use.

[0016] The term "girdle" is used herein to refer to a structure from which the load tray is supported. This term implies no particular shape or form in the structure in question, beyond the fact that it lies around the load tray.

[0017] The wheelbarrow 10 forms, when configured for stowage, a compact and roughly flat unit which is much easier to store than a conventional wheelbarrow. It may for example be placed on a large shelf or hung on a wall. It can be constructed from attractive materials such as plastics. It is rapid and straightforwa rd to reconfigure ready for use. So as well as being well suited to domestic customers it is ideal for use by site workers needing to transport their tools in a vehicle.

[0018] The components of the wheelbarrow 10 will now be described in more detail. Load tray

[0019] The girdle 14 and the load tray 12 are in the present embodiment circular in plan although different shapes may be used. They may for example be oval. The girdle 14 forms a ring from which the load tray 12 is supported. It is sufficiently rigid to resist substantial deformation under normal loading. [0020] The load tray 12 is reversibly reconfigurable between a use configuration and a near-flat stowage configuration. When configured for use, as in Figure 1, the load tray 12 extends downwardly out of the plane defined by the girdle 14 to form an upwardly open, dished receptacle. The upper surface of the load tray 12 is concave, in this configuration. It is thus able to be loaded with material to be transported. In the stowage configuration (Figure 5) the depth of the load tray 12 along the direction perpendicular to the plane defined by the girdle 14 is minimised. In Figure 5 the load tray 12 is not seen below the girdle 14, being wholly contained within the depth of the girdle.

[0021] The use and stowage configurations of the load tray 12 are each stable, in the sense that having been placed in one configuration or the other the load tray will remain in that configuration until acted upon (especially by a user) in such a manner as to cause it to change. The change from one configuration to the other is effected simply by applying a suitable force (e.g. manually) to a central region of the load tray 12 - pushing this region upward changes the tray 12 to the stowage configuration shown in Figure 5 and pushing it downward changes it to the use configuration shown in Figure 1.

[0022] The transformation from one configuration to the other involves elastic deformation of the load tray 12, and its intermediate states - between the use and stowed configurations - are typically unstable, in the sense that the load tray 12 will not remain in such intermediate states unless maintained by application of an external force. The load tray 12 operates with a "pop" action - once pushed far enough from one state toward the other it will pop into the new state. If pushed less far and then released, it will return to its original state.

[0023] The material of the load tray 12 is elastomeric. In the present embodiment it specifically comprises silicone, although other elastomers including polyurethane, rubber or rubber derivatives may be used in other embodiments. Either material is tough, in the proper sense of being able to sustain large deformation and loading without failure, making it well suited to the rough usage a wheelbarrow is likely to encounter. The load tray 12 is thus a unitary component formed by a single moulding of a plastics material.

[0024] In the present embodiment the load tray 12 is formed in such a manner as to adopt a concertina cross-sectional shape when in the stowage configuration. The tray thus has a zig-zag shape in cross section. The principle will be familiar to the skilled person since it is widely used in small collapsible items such as funnels and cups, although its application in this context is believed to be novel. The precise formation of the load tray 12 that enables it to adopt its concertina formation may vary from one embodiment to another but one suitable form can be understood with reference to Figure 6 in which the profile of the tray in its use configuration is seen to comprise a plurality of frusto-conical, downwardly convergent, invertable rings 26 alternating and concentric with non-invertable rings 28, which in the present embodiment have a roughly constant diameter over their depth. An upward force 30 applied to the centre of the load tray 12 causes each of the reversible rings 26 to resiliently pop into a reverse state in which it is upwardly convergent, producing the concertina form of the stowage configuration. The rings 26 bound successive areas of decreasing size; and adjacent rings are connected to each other by respective hinge lines which, with the load tray in the stowage configuration, cause the load tray to take up a concentric or zig-zag configuration in which the rings are substantially co-planar and, with the load tray in the use configuration, cause the load tray to assume an upwardly facing concave configuration. Material between each of the inverting/non- inverting rings may be relatively flexible to form a hinge ring or hinge line which accommodates this transformation. Each hinge line may be defined by a line of weakness which facilitates such flexibility.

[0025] Whereas the plastic sheeting used in prior art collapsible wheelbarrows adopts a random creased or crumpled state when collapsed, the two states of the load tray are ordered. In each, the shape adopted by the elastomer material is predetermined by the manner in which it is formed.

[0026] The load tray 12 incorporates a drain hole at its lowermost extremity, this being normally covered by a removable plug 32 (see Figure 4) which is a press fit in the drain hole. In this way any water collected in the tray can easily be released.

[0027] The load tray 12 may be employed in its stowed configuration (Figure 5), in which case it forms a convenient roughly flat surface for carrying small loads.

[0028] In the present example the front of the wheelbarrow 10 carries a headlight 70, which may be a battery driven unit using LEDs, arranged to illuminate the ground ahead of the barrow as it is trundled, to assist when work is carried out in low light conditions.

Handle arrangement

[0029] The wheelbarrow has a pair of handles 34 which, in the barrow's use configuration (Figure 1), project rearwardly, and each of which terminates in a respective economically shaped grip 36 to be grasped respectively by the left and right hands of the user. In the present embodiment the two handles 34 are formed by a unitary handle part arrangement 16, each handle 34 being inwardly elbowed to meet a respective stem 38 (see Figure 4). Curved bridge parts 40 couple the two stems 38 to one another and each terminates in a respective pivotal coupling 42 through which the handle part 34 is coupled to the girdle 14. The pivotal couplings 42 permit the handle part 16 to be turned about a lateral, horizontal axis and so to be moved from the use configuration of Figure 1 to a stowed configuration in which the handles 34 project forwardly and the handle part 16 lies in a plane parallel to the plane defined by the girdle 14 (the plane of the paper in Figure 4).

[0030] The pivotal couplings 42 provide for rotational locking of the handles 34 at least in the use configuration. In the present embodiment they comprise a ratchet mechanism, so that the handles are automatically locked when placed in the use configuration. The ratchet mechanism is releasable, e.g. by depression of a button, to enable the handles 34 to be subsequently returned to the stowage configuration. Suitable pivotal couplings are commercially available and the details of their mechanisms will not be described herein.

Wheel carrier

[0031] The wheelbarrow 10 has a single wheel 20 carried by the wheel carrier 18, which in the present embodiment comprises a single limb which depends from a front part of the girdle 14 in the use configuration. A lower part of the wheel carrier 18 is forwardly curved as indicated at 44 in Figure 1.

[0032] The lockable pivotal coupling 22 provides for rotation of the wheel carrier 18 with respect to the girdle 14 about (a) a lateral axis 48 and (b) a second axis 50 (see Figure 3). The second axis 50 is perpendicular to the lateral axis 48 in the illustrated example. It is depicted in Figure 3 extending fore-and- aft, but this axis turns as the wheel carrier rotates about its lateral axis, being upright when the wheel carrier is deployed in its use position. Hence in moving from the use configuration to the stowage configuration, the wheel carrier is both (a) rotated about the lateral axis 48, to bring the carrier into a plane roughly parallel to the plane defined by the girdle 14 and (b) rotated about the second axis 50 to bring the radial plane of the wheel 20 parallel to the same plane defined by the girdle 14. In this way the wheel is neatly folded away, minimising bulk. The wheel 20 is stowed beneath and adjacent the load tray 12. The coupling 22 is able to lock in both the stowage and use positions and has a push button release to enable the wheel carrier 18 to be moved between them.

Legs

[0033] The form of the legs 24 and the manner in which they couple to and articulate with the wheelbarrow frame may vary from one embodiment to another but in the present example each leg 24 comprises an elongate arcuate limb having two ends each of which couples to the girdle 14. In the use configuration each leg projects downwardly from the girdle to engage with the ground through a respective lowermost foot portion 52. The legs are each pivotable about a respective axis running fore-and-aft, enabling each to be turned to lie in or parallel to the plane defined by the girdle 14 in the stowage configuration. [0034] In the present embodiment the legs are also laterally extensible and retractable with respect to the girdle, to minimise the lateral dimension of the wheelbarrow in the stowage configuration. With reference to Figures 7 and 8, each end of each leg comprises what will be referred to for the sake of convenience as a knee joint 54 between a pivotable lower leg part 56 and an upper leg part 58. Thus each leg has two knee joints 54, whose pivot axes are parallel and run fore-and-aft. Figure 8 shows that the girdle 14 has front and rear laterally extending leg-mounting channels 60a, 60b. In the present embodiment these are formed as through-going circular bores. Each leg 24 has a front upper leg part 56a received as a sliding fit in the front leg-mounting channel 60a and a rear upper leg part 56b received as a sliding fit in the rear leg-mounting channel 60b. [0035] In the stowage configuration the ends of the legs 24 overlap within the leg-mounting channels 60a, 60b. To accommodate this, one upper leg part 56 is smaller in diameter than the other, forming a sliding fit within it.

[0036] In the stowage configuration, the knee joints are straight - that is, the upper and lower leg parts 56, 58 lie in a common plane - enabling the upper leg parts 58, the knee joints 54 and a part of the lower leg parts 56 to be slid into the leg-receiving channels 60a, 60b. To move the legs into the use configuration, each is drawn laterally outwards with respect to the girdle 14, exposing the knee joints 54 and enabling the lower leg parts 56 each to be rotated downwards.

[0037] A leg-locking mechanism 62 releasably locks the legs in the use configuration. In the present embodiment this mechanism locks the lower legs against the outer periphery of the girdle 14, as seen in Figure 7b, thereby preventing both sliding and rotational movement of the legs 24. A turnkey 64 extends laterally through the lower leg part 56 to be received in a socket 66 carried by the girdle 14, forming a part turn lock in the socket.

[0038] Additional or alternative locking mechanisms may be provided for the legs. The knees 54 may be rotationally and releasably lockable in the use configuration. Spring loaded buttons may engage in complementary holes to lock the sliding movement of the legs.

[0039] This "slide and turn" leg configuration serves to minimise the lateral dimension of the wheelbarrow in the stowage configuration while still providing legs with adequate height in the use configuration. However a simpler pivotal coupling between the legs and the girdle may be used in other embodiments.

Materials [0040] Any or all of the legs 24, the girdle 14, the handle arrangement 34, the leg carrier 18 and the wheel 20 may comprise plastics. Such plastics components may be injection moulded. They may be hollow, and may be formed by water-assisted injection moulding, providing high strength and low mass. Plastics moulding makes it easy to provide a colourful and attractive product. Tool holder

[0041] As noted above, gardeners and other users often lay elongate tools in a barrow to carry them, but due to their length such tools may be awkward and unstable when thus supported. Figure 9 shows a tool holder 100 secured to a handle 34 of the wheelbarrow to assist in this respect. The tool holder has a clamp mechanism 102 which embraces the handle 34 to mount a body part 104 which extends laterally from the handle 34 and provides a pair of grooves 106 which are sized to receive and locate a tool shank or handle, for example the elongate shank of a garden rake. In the present example there are two of these grooves 106 but this number may be different in other embodiments. The grooves 106 form a helix in this example, running around body part 104 which is circular in section, but again this formation is only one possible example. The grooves are inclined toward the centre line of the barrow (a line close to the axis 50 in Figure 3) so that although their position is offset from this centre line, and may be slightly outboard of the perimeter of the load tray 12, the tool will naturally be angled toward the middle of the load tray 12 and so easily rest there when its handle is laid in one of the grooves 106.