Lifting and transporting apparatus

An improved hand truck for moving cargo objects comprising:

• (a) elongated handle means having an upper extremity adapted to be grasped for manipulative purposes, and a lower extremity,
• (b) a pair of wheels of equal diameter,
• (c) an axle connecting said wheels,
• (d) said handle means being pivotably associated adjacent its lower extremity with said axle,
• (e) a frame comprised of a pair of lifting extensions having forward and rearward extremities and a fork mounted to said lifting extensions in spanning relationship therewith and extending thereabove, said fork comprising two upright members and a transverse member which fixes the spacing between said upright members, and an abutment surface against which said cargo object rests,
• (f) the rearward extremities of said lifting extensions being pivotably supported by said axle,
• (g) securing means having a forward extremity, a rearward extremity pivotably supported by said fork, and a curved underside having a downwardly concave configuration,
• (h) a lever arm having a forward and a rearward extremity,
• (i) the forward extremity of said lever arm being pivotably engaged with said securing means at a site displaced more rearwardly along said securing means from the site of its pivotal support by said fork,
• (k) the rearward extremity of said lever arm being pivotably associated with said handle means,
• (l) whereby forward or upward pivotal motion of said handle means about said axle causes said securing means to be raised, and rearward or downward pivotal motion of said handle means about said axle causes said securing means to be lowered to a position where it can grip an object to be loaded onto said truck.