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US 12,428,046 B2Granted
Tilt brake mechanism for hand truck
OwnerGene O'Brien, Robert V. Albertson +1inventors
InventorsGene O'Brien, Robert V. Albertson, Michael Holden
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A braking mechanism for a hand truck or dolly that, when installed on the hand truck, slows the movement of the hand truck when the hand truck is tilted rearwardly. The more the hand truck is tilted rearwardly, the greater the braking force applied by the braking mechanism against the wheels.
Claims11
A braking mechanism for a controlling a downhill descent of a hand truck comprising:
- a lever assembly extending rearwardly from a hand truck and elevated above the ground by a predetermined amount when the hand truck is not tilted rearwardly, and further positioned such that if the hand truck is tilted rearwardly by a predetermined amount, the lever assembly contacts a supporting surface on which the hand truck is being used, and further rearward tilting of the hand truck relative to the supporting surface causes the lever assembly to pivot relative to the hand truck;
- an activation mechanism connected to the lever assembly such that the pivoting of the lever assembly to a brake engagement angle results in interference between the activation mechanism and wheels of the hand truck;
- wherein the activation mechanism comprises a center hub connected to the lever assembly and plungers located on outside ends of the center hub that translate axially and outwardly when the center hub is rotated due to the rearward tilting of the hand truck.
A method of controlling a downhill descent of a hand truck comprising:
- equipping the hand truck with a braking mechanism that interferes with rotation of wheels of the hand truck as the hand truck is tilted rearwardly;
- wherein the braking mechanism includes brake pads that translate outwardly into rims of the wheels of the hand truck when the braking mechanism contacts a supporting surface on which the hand truck is being used;
- standing behind the hand truck while facing the hand truck;
- tilting the handtruck rearwardly to lift a load supported by the hand truck off the supporting surface;
- pushing the hand truck forward down a hill;
- controlling a rate of descent by altering an amount of rearward tilt thereby altering a pressure the brake pads place on the rims of the wheels.
3 more elements
A hand truck comprising:
- a frame;
- a loading tray;
- an axle;
- wheels connected to ends of the axle;
- a braking mechanism that contacts a supporting surface on which the hand truck is being used when the hand truck is tilted rearwardly, the braking mechanism interfering with rotation of the wheels when the hand truck is further tilted rearwardly to a brake engagement angle such that a rotational speed of the wheels may be controlled by tilting the hand truck rearwardly, past the brake engagement angle;
- wherein the braking mechanism comprises:
- a lever assembly extending rearwardly from the hand truck such that if the hand truck is tilted rearwardly, the lever assembly contacts the supporting surface, and further rearward tilting of the hand truck cause the lever assembly to pivot relative to the hand truck;
- an activation mechanism connected to the lever assembly such that the pivoting of the lever assembly past the brake engagement angle causes the interference between the braking mechanism and the wheels of the hand truck and including a center hub connected to the lever assembly and plungers located on outside ends of the center hub that translate axially and outwardly when the center hub is rotated due to the rearward tilting of the hand truck.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.