# US 5,346,232 A · Wheelbarrow power strap

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- Number: US 5,346,232 A
- Document ID: US5346232A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/044,015
- Filed: 1993-04-08
- Granted: 1994-09-13
- Earliest claimed: 1993-04-08
- Inventors: Richard J. Bushon
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5346232A

## CPC

- B62B 5/068: {Connections to the body for moving the cart, e.g. harnesses}
- 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 cross member is mounted to and extends between the handleshafts of a wheelbarrow at a location intermediate the material carrying bin of the wheelbarrow and the handles which are grasped by the laborer whereby the laborer grasping the handles can place the front of his thigh against the cross member to exert a force on the wheelbarrow to initiate lifting and forward movement of the wheelbarrow using his thigh muscles to reduce any strain on the arms, shoulders and/or back of the laborer. The cross member is a flexible strap which has mounting assemblies that is adjustable in length to permit the cross member to be mounted on wheelbarrows having differing spacings between the handleshafts.

## Claims

### Claim 1

In a wheelbarrow comprising a frame having a pair of handleshafts, a wheel rotatably mounted between and to the handleshafts adjacent a first end of each of the handleshafts for supporting the wheelbarrow and allowing the wheelbarrow to be moved, each of the handleshafts having a handle adjacent a second end of the handleshaft, a material carrying bin mounted on and supported by the pair of handleshafts intermediate the ends of the handleshafts, the second ends of the handleshafts extending beyond the material carrying bin and being spaced apart from each other to enable a laborer to grasp the handles to lift one end of the wheelbarrow and move the wheelbarrow, the improvement comprising:
a flexible cross member of seat belt strapping extending between and secured to the handleshafts at a location between the handles and the material carrying bin whereby a laborer grasping the handles can place the front of his thigh against the cross member to exert a force on the wheelbarrow to initiate lifting and forward movement of the wheelbarrow using his thigh muscles to reduce any strain on the arms, shoulders and/or back of the laborer;
said cross member being secured to the handleshafts by eyebolts having looped heads secured to ends of said cross member whereby said cross member can twist to have a flat surface of the strapping pass over the thigh of the laborer for comfort and the length of the cross member can be adjusted to fit the spacing between the handleshafts.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The improvement of claim 1 wherein: the cross member is secured to the handleshafts a distance of 6 to 12 inches from the second ends of the handleshafts.