Abstract:
A wheeled load transfer device has a load carrying member, a handle assembly and a pair of wheels optionally connected to a distal end of the handles and preferably offset below the plane of the handles. The load carrying member includes opposing side portions, a bottom portion. The load carrying member is rotatable between a first loading position which is preferably parallel to the ground and a second load transporting position which is inclined to the ground to better retain the load. The load carrying member can be rotated to different positions to scoop, transport and dump the load.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     The present application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/520,293 entitled Wheeled Load Transfer Device which was filed on Sep. 13, 2006, which claims priority to Australian Provisional Patent Application No. 2005905050 entitled Wheeled Load Transfer Device which was filed on Sep. 13, 2005.  
       STATEMENT RE: FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH/DEVELOPMENT  
       [0002]     Not Applicable 
     
    
     BACKGROUND  
       [0003]     The present invention relates to load carrying devices and, more particularly, to wheeled, manually operated devices.  
         [0004]     Various wheeled devices have been devised for transferring quantities of loose material, such as for example sand, soil, road base, gravel and compost, from one location to another. Probably the best known and most used is the common single wheeled wheelbarrow.  
         [0005]     A disadvantage of the wheelbarrow is that the material to be transported in it must be raised to a level where it can be deposited into the body of the barrow. This requires considerable repetitive strain on the back of a user in shovelling the material over the rim of the barrow body.  
         [0006]     Further disadvantages of a common wheelbarrow, include that a fully laden barrow is awkward to wheel, taking considerable skill and strength. Also, the emptying of the barrow, unless effected by laborious shovelling out of its contents, requires tilting the barrow load over the wheel centre to allow the contents to slide out. Again, this is an operation requiring strenuous effort from a user. Thus, particularly for people with weak, or lower back injuries, the effective use of a wheelbarrow for the purposes of transporting loads of material is virtually precluded.  
         [0007]     It is an object of the present invention to address or ameliorate some of the above disadvantages.  
         [0000]     Notes  
         [0008]     The term “comprising” (and grammatical variations thereof) is used in this specification in the inclusive sense of “having” or “including”, and not in the exclusive sense of “consisting only of”.  
         [0009]     The above discussion of the prior art in the Background of the invention, is not an admission that any information discussed therein is citable prior art or part of the common general knowledge of persons skilled in the art in any country.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY  
       [0010]     Accordingly, in a first broad form of the invention, there is provided a wheeled load transfer device comprising a load carrying member, a handle assembly and a pair of wheels; said load carrying member comprising opposing side portions, a bottom portion and a rear portion; said load carrying member rotatable between a first loading position and second load transporting position.  
         [0011]     Preferably, said load carrying member is provided with a discharge door in one portion of said load carrying member; said device adapted for scooping movement along a ground surface.  
         [0012]     Preferably, respective ones of said pair of wheels are mounted to respective axle housings; said axle housings affixed to respective said opposing side portions; said axle housings having a common axis; respective ones of said pair of wheels disposed at opposing sides of said load carrying member; said load carrying member at least partially located between said pair of wheels.  
         [0013]     Preferably, said discharge door is a rear discharge door substantially coextensive with said rear portion; said rear discharge door pivotally hinged proximate an upper edge of said discharge door.  
         [0014]     Preferably, respective ones of said pair of wheels are mounted to a common axle member; said wheels having a common axis; said pair of wheels located rearward of said rear portion and substantially inboard relative said side portions of said load carrying member.  
         [0015]     Preferably, said load carrying member is pivotally connected to said common axle member; said load carrying member rotatable between a loading position and a load transporting position.  
         [0016]     Preferably, said discharge door is substantially coextensive with said bottom portion of said load carrying member; said discharge door hingedly connected to a front lip of said load carrying member.  
         [0017]     Preferably, a trailing edge of said discharge door is releasably latched in a closed position when said load carrying member is in said scooping position and in said transporting position.  
         [0018]     Preferably, said handle assembly comprises first and second handle members and at least one cross member; said handle assembly pivotable about said common axis of said pair of wheels; said handle assembly pivotable between at least one fixed position latched to said load carrying member and unlatched positions.  
         [0019]     Preferably, said handle assembly is provided with a first latching mechanism; said first latching mechanism adapted to releasably lock said handle assembly into said at least one fixed position relative said load carrying member; and wherein said first latching mechanism may be brought into engagement with said load carrying member by rotation upwardly of said handle assembly from said unlatched positions.  
         [0020]     Preferably, said discharge door is provided with a second latching mechanism; said second latching mechanism adapted to releasing said discharge door from a closed load retaining position to an open load discharge position; and wherein said material is discharged from said load carrying member by operating said second latching mechanism to release said discharge door from said closed load retaining position to an open discharge position.  
         [0021]     Preferably, said second latching mechanism is a foot operated latch located adjacent said trailing edge of said discharge door.  
         [0022]     Preferably, each of said first latching mechanism and said second latching mechanism is operable by respective lever assemblies and respective first and second cables; said lever assemblies mounted to respective said handle members.  
         [0023]     Preferably, when said load carrying member is in said loading position, a front lip of said load carrying member is in contact with said ground surface supporting said device, and wherein said bottom portion is at a slight upward inclination to said surface; said inclination sufficient to provide clearance between a rear lower edge of said load carrying member and said supporting ground surface.  
         [0024]     Preferably, said device may be urged into a scooping motion so as to load material from a volume of said material disposed on said ground surface, into said load carrying member; loading of said material effected without need of hand held implements.  
         [0025]     Preferably, after engagement of said handle assembly with said load carrying member, said device is brought into a position for transporting said material in said load carrying member by rotation downwardly of said handle assembly; outer ends of said handle assembly then at a height proximate the waist of an average user; said bottom portion of said load carrying member then inclined downwardly so as to secure said material within said load carrying member.  
         [0026]     Preferably, said load carrying member is located substantially over said pair of wheels when said device is in said load transporting position; a load in said load carrying member than substantially centred over said pair of wheels.  
         [0027]     Preferably, said load carrying member is provided with an upper cover segment; said cover segment extending between said side portions and partially covering an open side of said load carrying member; said cover segment provided with a second latching element adapted to releasably engage with said first latching mechanism thereby to lock said handle assembly into a second fixed position relative said load carrying member; said second fixed position adapted to provide a greater angle of downward inclination of said bottom portion of said load carrying member during discharge of said material.  
         [0028]     Preferably, lower rear edge of said load carrying member is hingedly attached to a pair of arms; said arms extending forwardly from an axle between said pair of wheels.  
         [0029]     Preferably, a strut is pivotally attached to said pair of arms; said strut rotatable between a first position wherein outer ends of said strut are attached to said rear portion of said load carrying member, and a second position wherein outer ends of said strut are attached to said handle assembly.  
         [0030]     Preferably, said strut is in said first position when said load carrying member is in said loading position; and wherein said strut is in said second position when said load carrying member is in said load transporting position and in a load discharging position.  
         [0031]     Preferably, a load of material is discharged from said load carrying member when said load carrying member is un-latched from said handle assembly and said handle assembly is rotated to said position wherein outer ends of said handle assembly are proximate the waist of an average user; said load carrying member then rotated into a position wherein said bottom portion of said load carrying member is then in a steeply inclined position.  
         [0032]     In a further broad form of the invention, there is provided a method for loading and transporting material by means of a wheeled load transfer device; said method not requiring use of hand-held implements; said method including the steps of: 
        (a) unlatching a load carrying member of said device from a latched position relative a handle assembly so as to rotate said load carrying member into a scooping position relative said handle assembly,     (b) urging said load carrying member against a volume of material disposed on a supporting ground surface so as to load at least a portion of said material into said load carrying member,     (c) rotating said handle assembly upwardly to a latched position relative said load carrying member,     (d) rotating said handle assembly downwardly to bring outer portions of said handle assembly proximate the waist of an average user,     (e) wheeling said transfer device to an unload destination.        
 
         [0038]     Preferably, said method includes the further step of:  
         [0039]     unlatching a discharge door from a first locked position to rotate to a second open discharge position.  
         [0040]     Preferably, said method includes the further steps of: 
        (a) rotating said load carrying member and said handle assembly such that said load carrying member is returned to said loading position,     (b) unlatching said handle assembly from said load carrying member,     (c) rotating said handle assembly downwardly to a load transporting position thereby to rotate said load carrying member into a discharge position wherein a bottom portion of said load carrying member is in a steeply inclined position.       
 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0044]     These and other features and advantages of the various embodiments disclosed herein will be better understood with respect to the following description and drawings, in which like numbers refer to like parts throughout, and in which:  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0045]     Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:  
         [0046]      FIG. 1  is a side elevation view of a first preferred embodiment of a wheeled load transfer device according to the invention, in a first latched condition,  
         [0047]      FIG. 2  is a side elevation view of the device of  FIG. 1  in a second latched condition,  
         [0048]      FIG. 3  is a rear elevation view of the device of  FIGS. 1 and 2 ,  
         [0049]      FIG. 4  is a front elevation view of the device of  FIGS. 1 and 2 ,  
         [0050]      FIG. 5  is a plan view of the device of  FIGS. 1 and 2 ,  
         [0051]      FIG. 6  is a side elevation view of the device of  FIGS. 1 and 2  when in a preferred loading configuration,  
         [0052]      FIG. 7  is a side elevation view of the device of  FIGS. 1 and 2  when in a load transfer configuration,  
         [0053]      FIG. 8  is a side elevation view of the device of  FIGS. 1 and 2  when in a load discharge configuration,  
         [0054]      FIG. 9  is a side view of a wheeled load transfer device according to a second preferred embodiment of the invention, in a load scooping condition,  
         [0055]      FIG. 10  is a side view of the device of  FIG. 9  in load transfer condition,  
         [0056]      FIG. 11  is a side view of the device of  FIGS. 9 and 10  with a handle assembly rotated into a latching position,  
         [0057]      FIG. 11  is a side view of the device of  FIGS. 9 and 10  in a load discharge condition,  
         [0058]      FIG. 12  is a side view of the device of  FIG. 9  in a load transfer condition;  
         [0059]      FIG. 13  is a front view of the device of  FIG. 9  when in the load scooping condition,  
         [0060]      FIG. 14  is a rear view of the device of  FIG. 9  when in the load scooping condition,  
         [0061]      FIG. 15  is a view from above of the device of  FIG. 9  in the load scooping condition;  
         [0062]      FIG. 16  is a side view of a further embodiment in the load scooping condition;  
         [0063]      FIG. 17  is a side view of the device of  FIG. 16  in a load transfer condition;  
         [0064]      FIG. 18  is a side view of the device of  FIG. 16  in a load discharge condition; and  
         [0065]      FIG. 19  is a top plan view of the device of  FIG. 16  in a load scooping condition. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
     First Preferred Embodiment  
       [0066]     With reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a wheeled load transfer device  10  comprises a load carrying member or bucket  12 , a pair of coaxial wheels  14  and  15  (only one of which is visible in  FIG. 1 ) disposed at opposite sides of bucket  12 , and a handle assembly  13 . Wheels  14  and  15  are preferably provided with pneumatic tyres.  
         [0067]     As can be seen from  FIGS. 1 and 7 , the wheel mounting position on bucket  12  is such that the rear lower edge  23  of bucket  12  is clear of the supporting ground surface  50  when the bucket is in the loading attitude shown in  FIG. 1  or in the transporting attitude shown in  FIG. 7 .  
         [0068]     Bucket  12  comprises opposing, generally triangular-shaped sides  16  and  17 , a bottom  18  and rear discharge door  20 , as can be seen in  FIGS. 3, 4  and  8 . The front  22  of bucket  12  is open except for a short upper cover segment  24  (as best seen in  FIGS. 4 and 5 ). Preferably, the leading front edge  48  is provided with a replaceable wear strip (not shown).  
         [0069]     As best seen in  FIGS. 3, 4  and  5 , wheels  14  and  15  are mounted to axles projecting from wheel axle housings  26  and  27 , which in turn are affixed to the opposite sides  16  and  17  respectively of bucket  12 . Pivotally mounted to wheel axle housings  26  and  27 , and preferably pivoting about the axes of wheels  14  and  15 , are handle members  28  and  29  of handle assembly  13 .  
         [0070]     Referring again to  FIGS. 1, 2 ,  4  and  5 , handle assembly  13  is provided with a first cable operated spring-loaded latching mechanism  30  mounted to cross member  32  of handle assembly  13 . Short upper cover segment  24  of bucket  12  is provided with at least first and second latch blocks  34  and  35  respectively adapted for engagement by the tongue  36  of first spring-loaded latching mechanism  30 .  
         [0071]     First spring-loaded mechanism  30  is adapted to lock handle assembly  13  in a first latched position relative to bucket  12  as shown in  FIG. 1  when engaged with first latch block  34 , or a second latched position as shown in  FIG. 2  when engaged with second latch block  35 . First spring-loaded latching mechanism  30 , is controlled by a first lever assembly  38  and a first cable  39 , attached to first handle member  28 . As can be seen in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , first spring loaded latching mechanism  30  may be disengaged from either of the two latch blocks  34  or  35  so as to allow bucket  12  and handle assembly  13  to assume the relative positions shown in  FIG. 6 .  
         [0072]     Rear discharge door  20  is hinged proximate its upper edge  21  about pivots  40  and  41  mounted in respective opposite sides  16  and  17  of bucket  12 . A second cable operated spring-loaded latching mechanism  42  (best seen in  FIG. 3 ) mounted at the lower edge  44  of rear discharge door  20 , is adapted to allow the release of rear discharge door  20  from a normally closed position locked to the bottom  18  of the bucket  12 , and is controlled similarly by a second lever assembly  46  and second cable  47  attached to second handle member  29 .  
         [0000]     In Use  
         [0073]     It will be seen from  FIG. 6  that when bucket  12  is unlatched from handle assembly  13 , front lip  48  rests on the ground surface  50  and bottom  18  is only slightly inclined to surface  50 , sufficient to leave rear lower edge  23  of bucket  12  clear of surface  50 . By applying a forward force at handle assembly  13 , bucket  12  acts as a scoop to at least partially fill the bucket from a heap of material  52 . Alternatively, or additionally, material  52  may be readily scraped or raked into the bucket  12  without the need for any lifting or shovelling of the material to be transported.  
         [0074]     Once a desired load has been gathered into bucket  12 , the handle assembly  13  is rotated upwardly about the pivot axes of wheels  14  and  15  and the handle assembly  13  latched to the bucket  12  by engagement of the first spring-loaded latching mechanism  30  with the first latch block  34 . In this position, relatively little downward force applied at the end of the handle assembly  13  will bring the bucket  12  into the attitude shown in  FIG. 7 . The handle assembly  13  is then approximately horizontal so that the outer ends of handle members  28  and  29  are adjacent the waist level of an average user, with the bottom  18  of bucket  12  inclined so as to securely retain the material in bucket  12 . In this position the device allows the load of material to be easily wheeled to a point of destination.  
         [0075]     When it is desired to discharge the load in bucket  12 , the second spring-loaded mechanism  42  is activated to release rear discharge door  20  from its locked closed position, allowing it to swing rearward as shown in  FIG. 8 . Because of the slope of the bottom  18  of bucket  12 , the material it contains will readily slide rearward and discharge through door  20 .  
         [0076]     To aid in discharging the material if required, the second latching position of the handle assembly  13  relative to bucket  12  afforded by second latch block  35 , may be utilised as shown in  FIG. 8  to increase further the slope of bottom  18 . It will be obvious that the slope of the bottom  18  of bucket  12  may be made quite steep by inclining the handle assembly  13  further downward from that shown in  FIG. 8 . The device  10  can simply be wheeled forward as the discharge proceeds to allow all the material  52  to exit through rear discharge door  20 .  
         [0077]     When all material has been discharged, the device is tilted back to a position approximating that of  FIG. 1  which allows the rear discharge door  20  to resume its locked closed position, for example by pushing the door closed with a foot of the user, and the device is ready for a next loading and transporting cycle.  
         [0078]     The above describes only some embodiments of the present invention and modifications, obvious to those skilled in the art, can be made thereto without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.  
         [0079]     For example whilst only a first spring loaded latching mechanism  30  is illustrated it may be required that more than one such mechanism is utilised in order to spread the latching load eg where the anticipated loading will be high. In this instance the single latching mechanism  30  shown in  FIG. 5  could, for example, be replaced by a first and second latching mechanism mounted in spaced apart relationship mounted on cross member  32  and adapted for engaging with corresponding spaced apart latch blocks  34 .  
       Second Preferred Embodiment  
       [0080]     With reference now to FIGS.  9  to  15 , a wheeled load transfer device  100  according to this second preferred embodiment, again comprises a load carrying member  112 , a pair of coaxial wheels  114  and  115 , and a handle assembly  113 . Handle assembly  113  is attached to an axle member  160 , so that the handle assembly may be rotated about the axis of coaxial wheels  114  and  115 . Again as above, wheels  114  and  115  are preferably provided with pneumatic tyres.  
         [0081]     In the present embodiment however, the pair of wheels  114 / 115  are located rearward of load carrying member  112  when in the load scooping position shown in  FIG. 9 . Load carrying member  112  is supported above the pair of wheels when in the load transporting position shown in  FIG. 10 . In this instance, load carrying member  112  is rotatably connected by frame members  126  and  127  to axle member  160 , so that both load carrying member  112  and handle assembly  113  may be rotated about the axis of wheels  114  and  115  as shown in  FIG. 11 .  
         [0082]     As best seen in the rear view of  FIG. 14 , wheels  114  and  115  are mounted to either side of handle assembly  113 , but in contrast to the first embodiment above, are located substantially inboard of the side portions  116 / 117  of the load carrying member  112 . Handle assembly  113  includes a cross member  132  to which is attached a load carrying member locking latch  130 . Locking latch  130  allows load carrying member  112  to be latched for transporting a load in the transporting position shown in  FIG. 10 . Load carrying member locking latch  130  may be released by a sheathed cable  139  and cable activating handle  138  mounted at one of the hand grips  162  of the handle assembly  113 , as best seen in  FIGS. 11 and 14 . The rearward portion of load carrying member  112  is provided with an upper cover segment  124  (as best seen in  FIG. 13 ) to which is attached a latch striker plate  140 .  
         [0083]     When load carrying member  112  is in the scooping position of  FIG. 9  the handle assembly  113  can be rotated upwards and forwards towards the load carrying member  112 , until locking latch  130  automatically engages with striker plate  140  as shown in  FIG. 11 . Load carrying member  112  and handle assembly  113  can then be rotated together backwards and downwardly by a user to bring the load carrying member into the transporting position, with the loaded material substantially centred above the pair of wheels as shown in  FIG. 10 .  
         [0084]     As for the first embodiment described above, load carrying member  112  comprises opposing, generally triangular-shaped sides  116  and  117 , a bottom portion  118  and rear portion  120 . The front  122  of load carrying member  112  is open except for the short upper cover segment  124  (as best seen in the front view of  FIG. 13 ). Preferably, the leading front edge  148  is provided with a replaceable wear strip (not shown).  
         [0085]     In this second embodiment, with reference to  FIGS. 12 and 13 , load carrying member  112  is provided with a load discharge door  119  substantially coextensive with the bottom portion  118 . Discharge door  119  is hinged adjacent front load carrying member lip  121  as shown in  FIG. 12 . The trailing edge  144  (see  FIG. 12 ) of discharge door  119 , is maintained in a closed condition, (as shown in FIGS.  9  to  11  and  13  to  15 ) by a door latch mechanism  142  provided at the lower edge of rear portion  120 . Door latch mechanism  142  may be foot operated, or alternatively may be controlled by a second sheathed cable  143  and operating lever (not shown) attached at the second hand grip of the handle assembly.  
       Third Preferred Embodiment  
       [0086]     With reference to FIGS.  16  to  19 , a wheeled transfer device  200  comprises a load carrying member  212 , a pair of coaxial wheels  214  and  215 , and a handle assembly  113 . Handle assembly  213  is attached to an axle member  260  extending between coaxial wheels  214  and  215 , so that the handle assembly  213  may be rotated about axle member  260 . The pair of wheels  214  and  215  are located rearward of load carrying member  212  and substantially inboard of side members  216  and  217  of load carrying member  212 , when the device  200  is in the load scooping position shown in  FIG. 16 .  
         [0087]     The lower rear edge  229  of load carrying member  212  is hingedly attached to arms  226  and  227  (as best seen in  FIG. 19 ) which are rotatably attached to axle member  260 . A foot operated strut  231  is in turn hingedly attached to the arms  226  and  227 , so that the strut may be rotated into a first position as shown in  FIG. 16  in which its outer end is latched to rear portion  220  of load carrying member  212 . The strut then acts as a brace between the arms  226  and  227  and the rear portion  220  of the load carrying member  212 . With the strut  231  in this first position, the load transfer device may be urged forward to scoop a load of material from a supporting surface.  
         [0088]     For transporting a load of material, the handle assembly  213  is rotated upwards and forwards towards the load carrying member  212  and the strut  231  released from its first position and allowed to engage latch points  233  and  234  on the handle assembly  213 . Further rotation of the handle assembly  213  then allows the latch  230  to engage the striker plate  240  of the load carrying member  212  and the device may be brought into the position shown in  FIG. 17  for transporting the load. Load carrying member  212  is then supported above the pair of wheels.  
         [0089]     For unloading the transported material at a desired destination, the handle assembly  213  and still latched load carrying member  212  are rotated about the axis of coaxial wheels  214  and  215  until the leading edge of the load carrying member  212  is in contact with the supporting ground surface. The latch  230  is then activated to release load carrying member  212  from the handle assembly  213 . It will be seen from  FIG. 18  that with the strut  231  still linking the arms  226  and  227  to the handle assembly  213 , rotation of the handle assembly back to the position shown in  FIG. 18 , forces the load carrying member  212  into a position in which the lower surface  218  of the load carrying member is steeply inclined, thereby readily discharging the material from the load carrying member  212 .  
         [0090]     After restoring the strut  231  back to its first position latched to the rear portion of the load carrying member and relatching the load carrying member to the handle assembly, the device  200  may be wheeled back for further transfers of loads of material.  
         [0000]     In Use  
         [0091]     The loading of the load transfer device  100  of the second preferred embodiment, is performed in a similar manner to the method of use for the first preferred embodiment above. With the load carrying member  112  released into the scooping position shown in  FIG. 9 , a user urges the front lip  121  along the ground surface and against a heap of the material to be moved (as was shown in  FIG. 6  above), scooping as much as possible into load carrying member  112 .  
         [0092]     The user then rotates handle assembly  113  upwards and forwards until latch  130  engages with the striker plate  140  on the cover portion  124  of the load carrying member. Now with the load carrying member latched to the handle assembly  113 , pulling the handle assembly back down into the position shown in  FIG. 10 , brings the loaded load carrying member to a substantially balanced position over wheels  114 / 115 . The hand grips  162  are then approximately at the waist level of an average user, allowing the load to be easily wheeled from the loading location to a desired destination.  
         [0093]     At the destination, the discharge door latch can be unlatched, allowing the discharge door to swing open under the combined effect of gravity and the load pressing against the door. The relatively steep angle of rear portion  120  then ensures that at least the major portion of the load slides out of the device.  
         [0094]     In the second embodiment in which the discharge door is hinged from adjacent front edge  148 , once emptied, a quick forward thrust of the device can be used to swing the discharge door back into its latched position, and the device is again ready for a further load transfer.  
         [0095]     With the arrangement of the third embodiment, the leveraged tilting of the load carrying member allows the load to be deposited without the need to operate a discharge door.  
         [0096]     The above describes only some embodiments of the present invention and modifications, obvious to those skilled in the art, can be made thereto without departing from the scope of the present invention.