An improved wheelbarrow is disclosed which has a body with a foldable rear section and stable front section, a rack, and front wheels fixed on both ends of a wheel axle. The wheel axle is supported at both its sides with a flexing case which provides elastic movement to the wheel axle by means of a spring and a pushing plate. A braking device for the front wheels is also disclosed, as well as auxiliary rear wheels. The wheelbarrow has three different configuration and is capable of safe movement while reducing the amount of force necessary for its use.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
A conventional wheelbarrow has two wheels set on a constant immovable axle 
without any braking device and a body unchangeable in its form. A 
conventional wheelbarrow needs a considerable amount of force in order to 
be pushed in an inclined position when goods are carried thereon. Also, 
its speed cannot be controlled nor can it be stopped when going down a 
slope. Conventional wheelbarrows can easily speed down an inclined surface 
because of a heavy load and can even turn over. These are common defects 
found in an ordinary wheelbarrow used widely nowadays. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
In view of the drawbacks, mentioned above, the inventor has worked out a 
new improved wheelbarrow having its body composed of two sections, a front 
and a rear section, two front wheels and two auxiliary rear wheels. The 
rear section of its body can be folded to extend outward from the front 
section or to be vertical to the front section, or folded backward to lie 
on the front section by means of a folding device. The wheelbarrow can be 
used as a two-wheeled device, or a four-wheeled device, as a user chooses. 
Also, it is very safe even when used on a downward slope with a heavy 
load, because brakes are provided for the front wheels. Whenever a user 
believes a dangerous condition exists, he can use the brake to slow down 
or to stop the wheelbarrow. Moreover, an important aspect of the invention 
is that the front wheel axle has a unique characteristic of elastic 
movement for reducing the amount of user force needed when he is using the 
wheelbarrow with a load. This is one of the improvements in the 
wheelbarrow of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
The new wheelbarrow of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 9, comprises 
body 1, rack 2, front wheels 3, front wheel axle 4 and auxiliary rear 
wheels 5, as its main parts. Body 1 is composed of the rear section 
including push handle 6 and the front section combined with front wheels 3 
and rear wheels 5. Rack 2 is constructed so as to be able to fold 
vertically, i.e., L-shaped, to the front section of body 1 or to lie on 
body 1, as shown in FIG. 2. The rear section of body 1 includes push 
handle 6 which can be folded to be vertical to the front section at the 
place where the two sections meet and axis bar 7 is located, as shown in 
FIG. 2. Alternatively, the handle 6 can lie on the front section, as shown 
in FIG. 2. When the wheelbarrow is to be used as to a two-wheeled device, 
the rear and the front sections of body 1 are arranged to become straight, 
as shown in FIGS. 1 and 9. When it is to be used a four-wheeled device, 
the rear section is to be folded 90 degrees or, in other words, vertical 
to the front section, and the two rear wheels are placed on the ground. 
When arranged as a four-wheeled device, the dimensions of the wheelbarrow 
can be changed by folding the rear section on the front section, as shown 
in FIG. 2. The folding of the rear section must be effected by depressing 
pulling stick 8 which makes movable blocks 1B disengage from controlling 
blocks 1A positioned inside the body pipes. Rack 2 must be moved to be 
vertical to the front section when using this wheelbarrow as a two-wheeled 
device, but can be moved so as to be vertical to the front section for 
carrying goods of short length or to lie on the front section for carrying 
goods of long length when used as a four-wheeled device. Thus, one of the 
advantages the wheelbarrow is that it possesses size or volume versatility 
for goods which can be carried thereon. 
Each of the two auxiliary rear wheels 5 positioned under the rear part of 
the front section of body 1 are respectively provided with brake 5A, as 
shown in FIG. 3. This brake 5A can function to keep rear wheels 5 
immovable by pushing it down with a foot, while the wheelbarrow is in a 
static position when used as a four-wheeled device. The folding device of 
the rear section of body 1 is illustrated in FIG. 3, but other kinds of 
structure can also be applied. It includes axis bar 7 positioned between 
both side pipes of the rear section and both side pipes of the front 
section at the abutting line of both sections for keeping both sections 
connected in a straight extended form, in a vertical form, or in a folded 
form. Nearly L-shaped controlling blocks 1A are fixed inside the ends of 
both side pipes of the front section to engage with nearly L-shaped 
movable blocks 1B positioned inside the ends of both side pipes of the 
rear section by action of springs 1C. Said blocks 1B abut against springs 
1C which abut stopper 1D. Pushing ends 8A1 of controlling bar 8A are 
inserted into the holes of blocks 1B. Blocks 1B can be moved so as to be 
separated from controlling blocks 1A if pulling stick 8 is depressed to 
turn controlling bar 8A which pushes pushing ends 8A1 to move blocks 1B 
away from controlling blocks 1A. When movable blocks 1B have been 
separated from controlling blocks 1A, the rear section of body 1 can be 
folded 90 degrees to stand up vertical or 180 degrees to lie down forward 
on the front section from the straight-lined position. Thus, this 
wheelbarrow can be changed to become a two-wheeled device or a 
four-wheeled device or can be folded for storage, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 
2. 
Front wheel axle 4 is positioned under the front section of body 1 and 
turns within support bearing 10 provided in flexing case 9. It is noted 
that the front wheel axle can also be arranged so as not to revolve, while 
the front wheels revolve. Preferably both front wheels 3 are steadfastly 
fixed at both ends of front wheel axle 4, as shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 7; 
and front wheel axle 4 is supported by and can turn within bearings 10 
which are welded on their outside to pushing plates 11 positioned in 
flexing cases 9. Flexing cases 9 are connected to the front section of 
body 1 as one unit by means of extending suspenders 12. Inside flexing 
cases 9, pushing plates 11 are positioned against strong springs 13, so 
that front wheel axle 4 can move up and down through the elasticity of 
springs 13 which push or release pushing plates 11. For example, in 
loading this wheelbarrow as a two-wheeled device with rack 2 and with the 
straight body 1; rack 2 is pushed under the goods to be carried, and then 
push handle 6 is pulled down to raise up rack 2 from the ground with the 
goods thereon. In the process of levelling body 1, front wheel axle 4 of 
front wheels 3 can be pushed upward by action of the weight of the goods. 
This permits the fulcrum point of the front wheel axle to vary, and the 
result is that the amount of user force can be reduced. On the contrary, 
when unloading the goods, springs 13 can allow front wheel axle 4 to go 
down gradually until rack 2 touches the ground together with both front 
wheels 3 when positioning handle 6 upward for grounding rack 2. Thus, the 
user cannot only reduce the amount of force necessary, but also can reduce 
the amount possible danger in carrying, loading and unloading goods. This 
can be attributed to the special feature which the front wheels 3 posses 
and which cannot be found in other wheelbarrows. 
In addition, two braking devices 14 which work simultaneously for stopping 
front wheels are arranged on front wheel axle 4 between flexing cases 9 
and front wheels 3, as shown in FIG. 5, 6 and 8. The barking devices are 
manipulated by brake handle 14B mounted on push handle 6. Wire rope 14A 
connects braking device 14 and brake handle 14B, in the same manner as the 
brakes used in bicycles. Consequently, when the wheelbarrow is used as a 
two-wheeled or four-wheeled device, its speed can be properly controlled 
or it can be stopped and thus operated in a steady condition whether on a 
flat, inclining or declining surface by the use of brake handle 14B. The 
possible configuration of the body, the position of brakes on both the 
front wheels and the position of the brake handle on the push handle endow 
this new wheelbarrow with characteristics, such as versatile utility, safe 
and steady movement, controllable speed, possibility of being kept in a 
static position and reducing the amount of user force necessary for 
operation.