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US 5,326,116 AGranted
Foldable hand trolley and associated method of use
OwnerNathan Flaxinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A hand truck or trolley comprises a frame having an upper side and an underside, a rear axle connected to the frame proximately to a rear edge thereof, a pair of rear wheels attached to the rear axle for rotation about an axis defined by the axle, and a handle pivotably coupled to the axle and thus to the frame for rotation about the axis. A cross-brace is pivotably connected to the handle for rotation about an axis spaced from the axle, while coupling elements are provided on the cross-brace and the frame for releasably connecting the cross-brace to the frame at a point spaced from the axle and from the coupling between the handle and the cross-brace. The cross-brace establishes a triangulated truss connecting the handle to the frame in a use position of the handle.
Claims36
A hand truck comprising:
- a frame having an upper side defining a substantially planar load-bearing support surface, said frame also having an underside;
- a rear axle connected to said frame proximately to a rear edge thereof;
- a pair of rear wheels attached to said rear axle for rotation about a first axis defined thereby;
- a handle pivotably coupled at a lower end to said frame for rotation about a second axis relative to said frame;
- a cross-brace pivotably connected to said handle for rotation about a third axis spaced from said second axis;
- and
- coupling means on said cross-brace and said frame for releasably connecting said cross-brace to said frame at a point spaced from said second axis and said third axis so that said cross-brace extends substantially parallel to said support surface in a use position of said handle, thereby establishing a triangulated truss connecting said handle to said frame in said use position of said handle.
4 more elements
A method for opening a hand truck, comprising the steps of:
- providing a hand truck having a frame and a handle with two pivotably interconnected sections folded against an underside of said frame, said hand truck further having a cross-brace pivotably connected to said handle;
- unfolding said handle from said underside of said frame;
- during said step of unfolding, rotating a lower section of said handle through an angle between 180.degree. and 290.degree. from said underside of said frame;
- also during said step of unfolding, rotating said cross-brace approximately 360.degree. from a storage position on said underside of said frame to a user position parallel to an upper load-carrying surface of said frame;
- and
- locking said cross-brace in said use position upon completion of said steps of rotating.
3 more elements
A hand truck comprising:
- a frame having an upper side and an underside;
- a rear axle connected to said frame proximately to a rear edge thereof;
- a pair of rear wheels attached to said rear axle for rotation about a first axis defined thereby;
- a handle pivotably coupled at a lower end to said frame for rotation about a second axis relative to said frame, said handle being pivotably connected to said frame at said axle, whereby said first axis and said second axis are colinear;
- a cross-brace pivotably connected to said handle for rotation about a third axis spaced from said second axis;
- and
- coupling means on said cross-brace and said frame for releasably connecting said cross-brace to said frame at a point spaced from said second axis and said third axis, thereby establishing a triangulated truss connecting said handle to said frame in a use position of said handle.
4 more elements
A hand truck comprising:
- a frame having an upper side and an underside;
- a rear axle connected to said frame proximately to a rear edge thereof;
- a pair of rear wheels attached to said rear axle for rotation about a first axis defined thereby;
- a handle pivotably coupled at a lower end to said frame for rotation about a second axis relative to said frame;
- a cross-brace pivotably connected to said handle for rotation about a third axis spaced from said second axis;
- and
- coupling means on said cross-brace and said frame for releasably connecting said cross-brace to said frame at a point spaced from said second axis and said third axis, thereby establishing a triangulated truss connecting said handle to said frame in a use position of said handle,
- said handle including an upper section and a lower section having front surfaces facing in a forward direction, said upper section and said lower section being pivotably joined to one another for rotation about a fourth axis from an extended linear configuration to a fold configuration wherein said front surfaces of said upper section and said lower section are folded against one another, said fourth axis extending parallel to said first axis, said second axis and said third axis and spaced therefrom.
5 more elements
A hand truck comprising:
- a frame having an upper side and an underside;
- a rear axle connected to said frame proximately to a rear edge thereof;
- a pair of rear wheels attached to said rear axle for rotation about a first axis defined thereby;
- a handle pivotably coupled at a lower end to said frame for rotation about a second axis relative to said frame;
- a cross-brace pivotably connected to said handle for rotation about a third axis spaced from said second axis;
- coupling means on said cross-brace and said frame for releasably connecting said cross-brace to said frame at a point spaced from said second axis and said third axis, thereby establishing a triangulated truss connecting said handle to said frame in an extended use configuration of said handle;
- and
- locking means attached to said handle for locking said handle in said extended use configuration.
5 more elements
A hand truck comprising:
- a frame having an upper side and an underside;
- a rear axle connected to said frame proximately to a rear edge thereof;
- a pair of rear wheels attached to said rear axle for rotation about a first axis defined thereby;
- a handle pivotably coupled at a lower end to said frame for rotation about a second axis relative to said frame;
- a cross-brace pivotably connected to said handle for rotation about a third axis spaced from said second axis;
- coupling means on said cross-brace and said frame for releasably connecting said cross-brace to said frame at a point spaced from said second axis and said third axis, thereby establishing a triangulated truss connecting said handle to said frame in a use position of said handle;
- and
- an extension slidably connected to said frame for extending an area of said upper side.
5 more elements
A hand truck comprising:
- a frame having an upper side and an underside;
- a rear axle connected to said frame proximately to a rear edge thereof;
- a pair of rear wheels attached to said rear axle for rotation about a first axis defined thereby;
- a handle pivotably coupled at a lower end to said frame for rotation about a second axis relative to said frame;
- and
- coupling means on said handle and said frame for releasably connecting said handle to said frame along a plane to establish a triangulated truss structure including said second axis, said plane being spaced from said second axis,
- said handle including an upper section and a lower section having front surfaces facing in a forward direction, said upper section and said lower section being pivotably joined to one another for rotation about an additional axis from an extended linear configuration to a folded configuration wherein said front surfaces of said upper section and said lower section are folded against one another, said additional axis extending parallel to said first axis and said second axis and spaced therefrom.
4 more elements
A hand truck comprising:
- a frame having an upper substantially planar load-bearing support surface, said frame also having an underside;
- a rear axle connected to said frame proximately to a rear edge thereof;
- a pair of rear wheels attached to said rear axle for rotation about a first axis defined thereby;
- a handle pivotably coupled at a lower end to said frame for rotation about a second axis relative to said frame;
- a cross-brace pivotably connected to said handle for rotation about a third axis spaced from said second axis;
- and
- coupling means on said cross-brace to said frame at a point spaced from said second axis and said third axis so that, in a use configuration of said handle, said cross-brace is essentially located only on an underside side of said support surface and establishes a triangulated truss configuration connecting said handle to said frame in said use configuration of said handle.
4 more elements
A hand truck comprising:
- a frame having an upper side and lower side;
- a rear axle connected to said frame proximately to said underside;
- a pair of rear wheels attached to said rear axle for rotation about a first axis defined thereby;
- at least one front wheel mounted to said frame at a point spaced from said axle in a forward direction;
- a handle comprising an upper section and a lower section pivotably joined to one another for rotation about a second axis from an extended linear configuration to a folded configuration wherein forward sides of said upper section and said lower section are folded against one another, said lower section being pivotably connected at a lower end to said frame for rotation about a third axis, said third axis extending parallel to said second axis and spaced therefrom;
- a hand grip at an upper end of said upper section;
- an actuator movably connected to said upper section in proximity to said hand grip;
- and
- locking means on said frame for cooperating with said actuator to lock said handle in said folded configuration to said frame in juxtaposition to said lower side.
6 more elements
A method for using a hand truck, comprising the steps of:
- placing the hand truck in an upended position wherein three wheels on said hand truck define a plane oriented substantially vertically;
- unlatching one end of a folded handle from a frame of said hand truck;
- manipulating an actuator member to unlock an opposite end of said folded handle from said frame;
- maintaining said actuator member in an unlocking position with one hand, while placing that hand on a hand grip of said handle;
- upon unlocking of said opposite end from said frame, lifting said handle via said hand grip, thereby unfolding said handle from a folded configuration to a straightened configuration;
- locking said handle in said extended configuration by again releasing said actuator member;
- and
- releasably locking a lower end of said handle to said frame to form a releasable triangulated truss structure between said frame and said handle.
5 more elements
A hand truck comprising:
- a frame having an upper side and an underside;
- a rear axle connected to said frame proximately to a rear edge thereof;
- a pair of rear wheels attached to said rear axle for rotation about a first axis defined thereby;
- a handle pivotably coupled at a lower end to said frame for rotation about a second axis relative to said frame;
- a cross-brace pivotably connected to said handle for rotation about a third axis spaced from said second axis;
- coupling means on said cross-brace and said frame for releasably connecting said cross-brace to said frame at a point spaced from said second axis and said third axis, thereby establishing a triangulated truss connecting said handle to said frame in a use position of said handle;
- and
- locking means on said handle and said frame for locking said handle in a folded configuration to said underside of said frame, whereby the hand truck can be used as a dolly.
5 more elements
A hand truck comprising:
- a frame having an upper side and an underside;
- a rear axle connected to said frame proximately to a rear edge thereof;
- a pair of rear wheels attached to said rear axle for rotation about a first axis defined thereby;
- a handle pivotably coupled at a lower end to said frame for rotation about a second axis relative to said frame;
- a cross-brace pivotably connected to said handle for rotation about a third axis spaced from said second axis;
- and
- coupling means on said cross-brace and said frame for releasably connecting said cross-brace to said frame at a point spaced from said second axis and said third axis, thereby establishing a triangulated truss connecting said handle to said frame in a use position of said handle,
- said cross-brace being provided with an extension on a side opposite said coupling means, said extension having an edge spaced from said third axis, whereby a user may disengage said coupling means by pressing said extension with a foot to pivot said cross-brace about said third axis.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.