# US 10,246,315 B2 · Improvements to hand truck and kit thereof > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,246,315 B2 - Document ID: US10246315B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/744,929 - Filed: 2017-03-15 - Published: 2019-01-10 - Granted: 2019-04-02 - Earliest claimed: 2016-03-25 - Applicants: Jerry Combs - Inventors: Jerry Combs - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10246315B2 ## CPC - B66F 9/075: Constructional features or details - B62B 1/12: involving parts being adjustable, collapsible, attachable, detachable, or convertible - B66F 9/00: Devices for lifting or lowering bulky or heavy goods for loading or unloading purposes (mobile or transportable lifts in, or associated with, buildings and specially adapted to be shifted from one part of a building or other structure to another part or to another building or structure B66B9/16; cranes B66C) - B66F 9/06: movable, with their loads, on wheels or the like, e.g. fork-lift trucks (vehicle aspects B60 - B62; vehicles predominantly for transporting loads and modified to facilitate loading or unloading B60P1/00; low-lift hand trucks for transporting goods B62B3/06) - B62B 2203/10: comprising lifting means - B62B 2203/13: comprising a self levelling surface - B62B 2206/06: adjustable in height - B66F: HOISTING, LIFTING, HAULING OR PUSHING, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, e.g. DEVICES WHICH APPLY A LIFTING OR PUSHING FORCE DIRECTLY TO THE SURFACE OF A LOAD ({invalid lifting devices A61G7/10; } mounting artificial islands on piles or like supports E02B17/00; scaffolding combined with lifting devices E04G1/22; lifting devices for sliding forms E04G11/24; lifting of buildings E04G23/06; shores or struts E04G25/00; lifts or other hoisting devices on ladders E06C7/12; props for mining E21D15/00) - B62B: HAND-PROPELLED VEHICLES, e.g. HAND CARTS OR PERAMBULATORS; SLEDGES (characterised by animal propulsion B62C; propulsion of sledges by driver or engine B62M) ## Abstract A hand truck that weighs less than twenty-three kilograms (23 kg) when unloaded. The hand truck has a platform with wheels, which permits the platform to travel along a beam while reducing the chances of seizing as objects are loaded on or unloaded from the hand truck. The hand truck also has a strut pulley sub-assembly that controls the rate of travel of the platform along the beam. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A hand truck comprising: (a) an H-beam having a length, the beam comprising: (a1) an H-beam top; and (a2) an H-beam bottom; (b) a platform body sub-assembly comprising platform rollers, the platform rollers engaging the H-beam to permit the platform body sub-assembly to travel along a portion of the length of the H-beam; (c) a plate affixed to the platform body sub-assembly to permit the plate to travel concurrently with the platform body sub-assembly, the plate being arranged substantially perpendicular to the H-beam; (d) a strut pulley sub-assembly arranged substantially parallel to the beam, the strut pulley sub-assembly comprising: (d1) an upper end; (d2) a lower end; (d3) a dampener strut comprising: (d1A) a strut top; and (d1B) a strut bottom; (d4) a spring arranged substantially parallel to the dampener strut, the spring comprising: (d4A) a spring top; and (d4B) a spring bottom; (d5) a strut mount mechanically connecting the strut bottom to the spring bottom; and (d6) a pulley mount mechanically connecting the strut top to the spring top; (e) a head sub-assembly connecting the upper end of the strut pulley sub-assembly to the beam top; (f) a rope extending from the platform body sub-assembly to the pulley mount through the head sub-assembly, the rope connecting the platform body sub-assembly to the pulley mount; and (g) a total unloaded weight of less than twenty-three kilograms (23 kg). ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The hand truck of claim 1, further comprising: (h) a brake-body sub-assembly mechanically coupled to the head sub-assembly, the brake-body sub-assembly comprising: (h1) a brake handle; and (h2) internal brakes engaged by the brake handle, the internal brakes to apply friction to the rope and restrict movement of the platform body sub-assembly when engaged. ### Claim 3 A hand truck comprising: a beam comprising a beam top and a beam bottom; a platform body sub-assembly comprising rollers, the rollers engaging the beam to permit the platform body sub-assembly to travel along a portion of the beam; a strut pulley sub-assembly arranged substantially parallel to the beam, the strut pulley sub-assembly comprising: an upper end; a lower end; a strut comprising a strut top and a strut bottom; and a spring arranged substantially parallel to the strut, the spring comprising a spring top mechanically coupled to the strut top, the spring further comprising a spring bottom mechanically coupled to the strut bottom, the spring further comprising coils; a head sub-assembly connecting the beam top to an upper end of the strut pulley sub-assembly; a rope connecting the platform body sub-assembly to the strut top; and a total weight of less than twenty-three kilograms (23 kg) when unloaded. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The hand truck of claim 3, wherein the spring top is indirectly coupled to the strut top by a pulley mount. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The hand truck of claim 3, further comprising means for braking the platform body sub-assembly. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The hand truck of claim 5, wherein the means for braking comprises: a brake-body sub-assembly mechanically coupled to the head sub-assembly, the brake-body sub-assembly comprising: a brake handle; and internal brakes engaged by the brake handle, the internal brakes to apply friction to the rope when engaged, the internal brakes further to restrict movement of the platform body sub-assembly when engaged. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The hand truck of claim 5, wherein the means for braking comprises a locking mechanism integrated into the head sub-assembly. ### Claim 8 (depends on 3) The hand truck of claim 3, wherein the beam is an H-beam with a web and a flange. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The hand truck of claim 8, wherein the platform body sub-assembly further comprises: a platform body having an inner cavity, the inner cavity to movably couple to the H-beam, the inner cavity comprising the rollers, the rollers to roll along a portion of the web of the H-beam; and cam followers located in the inner cavity, the cam followers to roll along a portion of the flange of the H-beam. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The hand truck of claim 9, wherein the platform body comprises extruded aluminum. ### Claim 11 (depends on 3) The hand truck of claim 3, the strut pulley sub-assembly further comprising: a strut mount directly connecting the strut bottom to the spring bottom; a pulley mount directly connecting the strut top to the spring top; and a pulley secured to the pulley mount, the pulley operatively coupled to the rope. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The hand truck of claim 11, wherein the spring is an inner spring and the strut is located within the coils of the inner spring, the strut pulley sub-assembly further comprising: a spring cover weldment having an interior space; and an outer spring arranged substantially parallel to the strut, the outer spring comprising coils, the coils of the outer spring and the coils of the inner spring being arranged concentrically, the strut and the inner spring and the outer spring being located in the interior space of spring cover weldment. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The hand truck of claim 11, the strut pulley sub-assembly further comprising extruded aluminum. ### Claim 14 (depends on 3) The hand truck of claim 3, wherein the head sub-assembly comprises: a head mechanically attached to the upper end of the strut pulley sub-assembly, the head further being mechanically attached to the beam top; a first pulley axle located within the head, the first pulley axle further being located above the upper end of the strut pulley sub-assembly; a second pulley axle located within the head, the second pulley axle further being located above the beam top; a first pulley rotationally mounted on the first axle; and a second pulley rotationally mounted on the second axle, the first pulley coupled with the second pulley to cooperatively redirect forces between the beam and the strut pulley assembly. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The hand truck of claim 14, wherein the head comprises extruded aluminum. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The hand truck of claim 14, the head sub-assembly further comprising: a first gear located within the head; a second gear located within the head, the second gear being rotationally coupled to the first gear, the second gear to rotate in response to a rotation of the first gear; and a crank handle located outside of the head, the crank handle mechanically coupled to the first gear, the crank handle to rotate the first gear when the crank handle is turned. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The hand truck of claim 16, the head sub-assembly further comprising a gear ratchet lock mounted pivotally on the head, the gear ratchet lock to prevent rotation of the first pulley. ### Claim 18 (depends on 3) The hand truck of claim 3, wherein the rope is at least one selected from the group consisting of: a wire rope; a cable; a wire; a belt; a string; a chain. ### Claim 19 (depends on 3) The hand truck of claim 3, wherein the rollers comprise poly-nylon material.