Abstract:
Accessories to provide extra lifting leverage to two wheel hand truck used to move heavy objects. One accessory is a pair of extension rails are removable attached to the frame structure. Another accessory is a secondary foot assembly removable attached to the lower end of the frame structure.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a two-wheel hand truck. More particularly, the present invention relates to accessories to support two wheel hand truck. Conventional hand trucks normally are L-shaped frame structure with handle at the top most portion of the frame structure, a small loading platform at the lower end of the frame structure to lift objects thereon, and wheels supporting the frame structure for ease of movement. In normal use, object(s) to be moved are tilted forward; the loading platform is inserted underneath them, and the object(s) is allowed to tilt back and rest on the platform. Then, the truck and object(s) are tilted backward until the weight is balanced over the large wheels, making otherwise bulky and heavy object(s) easier to move. 
         [0002]    The moving industry as a whole is constantly seeking ways to make more efficient use of its labor force and reduce injuries that result in lost time at company expense. Historically, the industry has relied heavily on the two wheeled hand truck as the preferred equipment and as such has been utilized extensively in the industry. A multitude of problems exist with the currently available two wheeled hand trucks. Some of the problems include the inability to tilt and stabilize a load efficiently, inability of the operator to control the speed of the lift and descent of the load and the injuries sustained by operators lifting loads heavier than their personal ability. Accordingly there is a need for a new and improved leveraged two wheeled hand truck. 
         [0003]    In the prior art, there are hand trucks adapted with accessories. For example, 4776,603 disclosed leverage assisting secondary assembly. However, the present invention provides a novel design accessory for two wheel handle trucks. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    Broadly stated, the present invention comprises a conventional hand truck having a frame structure including a pair of spaced apart, parallel frame members that define the upper and lower end of frame ends. A load platform is held relative to the frame structure adjacent one end thereof and wheels to facilitate movement is rotatably held relative to the frame structure adjacent the load platform. a handle fixed to and the frame intermediate the frame ends, a member extendable from the other end of the frame along the parallel frame members, and means for removable member to cooperate with the handle to limit the extension for the member from the other end of the frame and selectively hold the removable member in an extended position relative to the frame. 
         [0005]    The present invention comprises accessories to the hand truck which includes a handle assembly and a foot pedal assembly. The handle assembly provides a two-wheel tilt type hand truck comprising a top end handle assembly attachment for increasing the effective height of the frame structure to hold steady extremely tall loads thereof; 
         [0006]    The other accessory includes a foot pedal assembly having a bottom frontal ground engaging member and a rear bottom end foot support for engaging with the hand truck frame structure to supply additional leverage for elevating the load and tilting it backward to facilitate movement thereof. The novelty and advantages of the new and improved leveraged two wheeled hand truck include the ability to overcome the referenced problems with the assistance of added leverage against the load therefore reducing the amount of physical exertion required to lift and control the loaded equipment. Other novelty and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the detailed description and drawings. 
         [0007]    It is one object of this invention to overcome the above problems by providing a hand truck having a load-carrying removable member and being extremely simple in design and smooth in operation. It is a further object of the invention to provide a hand truck having an removable member which may be applied to increase height in the simplest manner, the hand requiring no complicated device for holding the extending member in its extended position. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an hand truck with the accessories engaged in a storage position; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a frontal view of the leveraged two wheel hand truck with the foot pedal assembly engaged thereupon; 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is an exploded top side exploded view of the foot pedal assembly; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3A  is an exploded bottom side view of the foot pedal assembly; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3B  is an exploded bottom view of the connector member of foot pedal assembly; 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is an exploded top side exploded view of the foot pedal assembly in an alternative embodiment; 
           [0014]      FIG. 4A  is an exploded bottom side view of the foot pedal assembly in an alternative embodiment; 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is a top view of the extension rail; 
           [0016]      FIG. 5A  is a side view of the extension rail. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0017]    With reference now to the drawings and in particular to  FIG. 1  a new and improved leveraged two wheel hand truck embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral  50 ,  60  will be described below. Further referencing  FIG. 1  the drawings there is shown the preferred embodiment of the present invention, extension rail assembly  50  and foot pedal assembly  60  in a storage position upon a conventional hand truck. 
         [0018]    More specifically, it will be noted that the hand truck comprises a conventional frame structure  12  with a topmost portion of the frame having an integral angulated primary handle ( 20 ). Attached to a bottommost portion of the frame in a conventional manner is a lifting and load plate ( 25 ), while a conventional axle and wheel assembly ( 30 ) is also illustrated for facilitating movement thereon. Frame structure ( 12 ) consists of a pair of spaced apart vertically extending rod members ( 26 ,  28 ) in parallel relation rigidly attached to a pair of horizontal braces. The frame structure shown  12  is one sample illustration. The frame structure  15  described above is the currently existing design and such structure forms a basis for the invention to combine therewith. 
         [0019]    It is to be noted that the hand truck  10  comprises a conventional frame structure  15  with the topmost portion of the frame structure  15  having an integral angular shape primary handle  20 . Attached to the bottom most portion of the frame structure  15  is a conventional loading plate  25 . 
         [0020]    Conventional axle and wheel assembly  30  supports the frame structure  15 . Further referencing  FIG. 1  of the drawings, it will be observed that the present invention comprises a pair of secondary handle assembly  50  operationally attached to the frame structure  12  in a manner yet described. 
         [0021]    As depicted in  FIG. 4 , each extension rail of assembly  50  comprises an elongated bar  52  with a recessed portion  54  incorporated within the underside of the elongated bar  52 . As depicted in  FIG. 1 , the recessed portion  54  is adapted to slide upon the upper portion of the pair of vertical parallel rod members ( 26 ,  28 ). The extension rail assembly  50  further comprises a pair of non-connected bars  52  of the same size, shape, and length. Each bar  52  has an underside portion  56  with a recessed portion  54 . In use, underside portion  56  of each bar  52  is adapted to slidably engage upon the topmost portion of each parallel rod. Extension rail assembly  50  provides the operator the capability of supporting the lifting of a heavy long structure. Extension rail assembly  50  are inserted into onto the upper portion of parallel rod members ( 26 ,  28 ) to increase height to hold steady extremely tall loads thereof. 
         [0022]    Referring to  FIGS. 5 and 5A , the present invention further comprises a means for securing the pair of elongated bars  52  upon the pair of rod members  26 ,  28 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , an aperture  56  is incorporated on the side of each rod member ( 26 ,  28 ) and extends therein. A mating hook  53  is attached to each bar  52  along the outer surface near the distal end in a diagonal configuration. The top end of hook  53  extends outwardly past the edge of bar  52  and extends at a right angle towards the interior of the elongated bar In operational use, hook  53  is inserted into an aperture  58  incorporated into each rod member ( 26 ,  28 ), thereby securing in place the extension rail assembly. 
         [0023]    Additionally, the conventional frame structure  15  further comprises a pair of parallel vertically spaced apart rods ( 26 ,  28 ) integrally connected with the topmost and bottom most portion of the frame structure  15 . Disposed between the pair of parallel spaced rods ( 26 ,  28 ) from the top most portion to the distal end of the bottom most portion are a plurality of horizontal cross bars  30 . 
         [0024]    Foot pedal assembly  60  further comprises a shaft member  62  with a foot support  64  attached at the topmost portion of the shaft  62 . Attached to the lower most portion of the shaft member  62  is an assembly connector member  66 . In the preferred embodiment, foot support  64  has a semi-circular flat platform  68  structure integrally attached to the topmost portion of shaft member  62 . In some configurations, the topside of the semi-circular platform structure  68  further includes a plurality of ridges  70  incorporated thereon to provide gripping means during use. Secondary foot pedal assembly  60  consisting of a top end that is removable attached to the horizontal braces and a bottom end to engage foot and add leverage. 
         [0025]    Top connector member  66  further includes a bar member  71  with a U-shaped recessed portion  72  incorporated within the underside portion therein and integrally attached to the lower most portion of the shaft member  62 . In use, top connector member  66  is adapted to removably engage in the an obtuse angular configuration with the crossbars located at the distal end of the frame structure and protrude outwardly and rearwardly therefrom 
         [0026]    Near the distal end of the underside portion of shaft member  62  is bottom connector member  80  which includes a raised base member  91  with a U-shaped recessed portion  92  incorporated within the underside portion therein and integrally attached to the distal end of the underside of the shaft member  62 . 
         [0027]    The mid point of the bottom connector member defines the pivot point of the shaft member  62 . The pivot point divides shaft member  62  into an upper section and a lower section. The shaft member  62  has to be structured at that pivot point to allow the shaft member  62  to be operationally attached to the frame structure to provide the greatest amount of leverage during operation by the user. In the preferred embodiment, the lower section of shaft member  62  inclines downward at approximately a 10 degree angle to provide the greatest amount of leverage. To stabilize the shaft member  62 , the bottom support member is reinforced with a plurality of stacked durable plates which surround the pivot point. In the preferred embodiment the durable plates are made of steel or another suitable member that can withstand the operational requirements of the heavy load. 
         [0028]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , there is shown secondary foot pedal assembly  60  attached in an operational configuration. As depicted, the top connector member is removable attached to the horizontal brace at the bottom right above the wheel axle and the bottom connector member is removably attached to the wheel axle wherein a secure connection is formed to support the lifting of heavy load. Foot pedal assembly extends outwardly and rearwardly in an obtuse angular configuration. While not in use, utilizing device connector member  80 , foot pedal assembly is removably attached to the frame structure  12  between the pair of parallel rods in a parallel relation therewith. 
         [0029]    The advantage of the present invention is readily apparent to one skilled in the art and can be demonstrated with a simple example as described below. Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention. 
         [0030]    In a test of the preferred embodiment, a test load of 519 lbs was loaded on a standard two wheeled hand truck, a 180 lb operator stood on the pivotal axle of the equipment and 112 lbs of pull was required to lift the load to the point of equilibrium (the point where the load is balanced over the axle). Subsequently the same 519 lb test load was loaded on the same equipment with the current invention added. With the 180 lb operator repositioned so that his weight is on the foot support it only required 64 lbs of pull to lift the load to the point of equilibrium. In the second test of the preferred embodiment, exemplifying the more accepted method of use in the industry for lifting heavy loads, a test load of 519 lbs was loaded on a standard two wheeled hand truck, a 180 lb primary operator stood on the pivotal axle of the equipment and a second operator standing behind the primary operator was required to exert 72 lbs of pull on the combined loaded equipment and primary operator to lift the load to the point of equilibrium. Subsequently the same 519 lb test load was loaded on the same equipment with the current invention added. With the 180 lb operator repositioned so that his weight is on the foot support and it only required 48 lbs of pull from the secondary operator to lift the load to the point of equilibrium. Thus, in use the foot pedal assembly provides the operator at least an increase leverage 30 percent of pounds of pressure.