Four position hand truck

A multi-position hand truck comprising:

• a frame assembly including a frame which has a first end and a second opposite end, a load supporting member mounted to the first end of the frame and a pair of main wheels rotatably mounted to the first end of the frame adjacent to the load supporting member,
• a handle assembly including two spaced apart generally parallel elongated handle side members, each handle side member having an upper end and a lower end, a top handle member connecting between the upper ends of the handle side members, each handle side member also presenting at least two spaced handle extension locking holes and a caster wheel assembly mounted to the lower ends of the handle side members, the caster wheel assembly presenting two spaced apart caster wheels,
• a head assembly that includes two frame brackets that are fixed to the opposite sides of the frame of the frame assembly toward the second end of the frame, a pair of handle brackets that each include a slide portion that is suitable for slidably receiving one of the handle side members of the handle assembly such that the handle assembly is able to slide between handle extension positions including a first retracted position, second extended position and a third intermediate position between the retracted position and the extended position, each handle bracket also presenting a rotation plate which presents a pattern of handle rotation position locking holes, each handle bracket being rotatably mounted to one of the frame brackets for rotation about a handle rotation axis, each frame bracket carrying a slide locking pin which is aligned with the handle rotation axis, each slide locking pin being slidaby mounted to each one of the frame brackets for movement between a first extended position in which the slide locking pin is able to extend into one of the handle extension locking holes of a handle side member thereby securing the handle assembly in one of the handle extension positions, and a second retracted position wherein the slide locking pin is withdrawn from one of the handle extension locking holes of the handle side member thereby allowing the handle member to slide with respect to the frame bracket and the frame assembly between desired handle extension positions, each frame bracket also carrying a handle rotation locking pin which is able to move between a first extended position and a second retracted position, such that when the handle rotation locking pin is in the first extended position, the handle rotation locking pin is able to extend into one of the rotation position locking holes of the rotation plate of the handle bracket thereby locking the handle assembly in one of at least three handle positions, namely, a first parallel position wherein the handle assembly is generally parallel to the frame assembly, a second right angle position wherein the handle assembly is generally at a right angle to the frame assembly and a third angled position which is between the first parallel position and the second right angle position, and such that when the handle rotation locking pin is in the second retracted position, the handle assembly is able to rotate between the first and second positions, the head assembly further including a manually operable release mechanism which is able to be manually manipulated in order to simultaneously move the handle rotation locking pins and the slide locking pins of each frame bracket between the first extended position and the second retracted position,
• whereby when the slide locking pins and the handle rotation locking pins are moved to the second retracted position it is possible to manually rearrange the hand truck into one of at least four configurations, including a first upright position in which the handle assembly is in the first retracted position and parallel to the frame assembly, a second upright position in which the handle assembly is partially extended and parallel to the frame assembly, a cart position in which the handle assembly is fully extended and at a right angle in relation to the frame assembly so that the frame assembly is generally horizontal and is supported by the main wheels and the caster wheels, and an angled position wherein the handle assembly is partially extended and the handle assembly defines an acute angle with the frame assembly so that the inclined frame assembly is supported by both the main wheels and the caster wheels.