Wheelbarrow leg stabilizer structure

A stabilizer structure to be attached to the supporting legs of a wheelbarrow. The stabilizing structure comprises a pair of stabilizers each of which includes a horizontal section and a vertical section. Each leg of the wheelbarrow is fixedly secured to a horizontal section of a said stabilizer with the leg abutting against the vertical section of the stabilizer.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to load carrying structures and more particularly to a stabilizer for the leg of a wheelbarrow to distribute the weight over a wider area that the leg of the wheelbarrow is subjected to.

2. Description of the Related Art

Wheelbarrows have long been used by homeowners and people in the construction trade. The function of a wheelbarrow is to move material from one location to another. The material is placed within the tray of the wheelbarrow and the user is to physically lift a handle structure with the majority of the weight of the wheelbarrow resting on a wheel and the wheelbarrow is then rolled from one location to another. At arriving at the destination location, the wheelbarrow is to be tipped dumping the material from the tray of the wheelbarrow.

Wheelbarrows can be used to move a substantial amount of weight. It is not uncommon for a wheelbarrow to contain between one-hundred and two-hundred pounds of material. Typically, the legs of the wheelbarrow, which are located in the aft direction away from the wheel of the wheelbarrow, comprise a pair of thin members with the lower end of each leg defined as the base to rest on the supporting surface. Typically, the supporting surface may be unstable, such as loose dirt. Because of the narrowness of the legs and the weight that the wheelbarrow is subjected to, it is not at all uncommon for the wheelbarrow to tip over.

It is desirable to design some form of a structure that could stabilize the legs of a wheelbarrow to eliminate any possibility of tipping over of the wheelbarrow as material is being deposited within the confines of the tray of the wheelbarrow.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The basic embodiment of the present invention is a wheelbarrow which has a frame and a wheel mounted on the frame. The wheelbarrow has handle structure which is also mounted on the frame. A tray is also mounted on the frame with the tray adapted to contain material to be moved. A pair of legs are mounted on the frame with each of the legs being channel shaped forming a longitudinal channel. Each of the legs has a base with the base adapted to rest on a supporting surface. There is to be mounted on each base of each leg a stabilizer in the form of a sheet material plate which has a horizontal section and a vertical section. A base of each leg is to be fixedly secured to the horizontal section with there being a separate stabilizer for each leg.

A further embodiment of the present invention is where the basic embodiment is modified by defining that the horizontal section is flat.

A further embodiment of the present invention is where the basic embodiment is modified by defining that the vertical section is located at a ninety degree angle relative to the horizontal section.

A further embodiment of the present invention is where the basic embodiment is modified by defining that the vertical section is located against the exterior surface of the leg.

A further embodiment of the present invention is where the basic embodiment is modified by defining that there is a strengthening member inserted within each channel of each leg.

A further embodiment of the present invention is where the just previous basic embodiment is modified by there being defined two strengthening members for each leg.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring particularly to the drawings, there is shown a wheelbarrow10. The wheelbarrow10has a tray12which has a material receiving compartment14. Material that is to be moved from one locale to another, such as dirt, sand, rock, brick, etc., is to be deposited within the compartment14. The bottom surface of the tray12is mounted against a pair of shims16and18. The upper surface of each shim16and18is to be substantially horizontal when the wheelbarrow10is in a resting condition. This will cause the peripheral edge20of the tray12to be located in a horizontal position.

Shim16is fixedly secured onto bar22. Shim18is fixedly secured onto bar24. Bars22and24form a part of the frame for the wheelbarrow10. This frame also includes a cross strip26. The cross strip26connects between the bars22and24and is located directly in front of the wheel28. The wheel28is rotationally supported on the bars22and24. The aft end of the bar22is formed into a handle30. The aft end of the bar24is formed into a handle32. By the user grasping onto the handles30and32and raise such, the wheelbarrow is caused to fulcrum about the wheel28until the cross strip26comes into contact with the resting surface34on which the wheelbarrow rests. At that particular time, the contents that are contained within the compartment14are free to be dumped out of the compartment14onto the resting surface34.

Fixedly mounted to the bar22is a leg36. Fixedly mounted to the bar24is a leg38. The legs36and38are identical and each are formed basically channel shape having an exterior channel40. Each leg36and38forms a base42that interconnects between the forward section and the aft section of each leg36and leg38. It is the base42that would normally rest on the supporting surface34.

However, the base42is designed to be fixedly secured onto the top surface44of a horizontal section46of a stabilizer48aand48b. The horizontal section46also includes a bottom surface50. This bottom surface50is adapted to rest directly against the resting surface34. The resting surface34can comprise dirt, cement, asphalt, rock, gravel, wood or any other type of surface. The base42of each leg36and38is to be fixedly secured as by welding onto the top surface44with it being understood that there is a completely separate stabilizer for each leg36and38. Abutting against the interior surface of each of the legs36and38, as is clearly shown inFIG. 3of the drawings, is a vertical section52. Each vertical section52is integral with its respective horizontal section46and located at ninety degrees relative thereto. The general configuration of the vertical section52is that of being rounded, however this shape may be varied without departing from the scope of this invention. Also, the basic shape of the horizontal section is that of being rectangular. However, that particular shape can also vary as a circular or oblong shape may be found to be desirable. The vertical section52is be fixedly secured to the interior surface of each leg36and38so as to provide a lateral support for each leg36and38. Typically, each leg36and38will be welded or otherwise similarly secured not only to the horizontal section46but also to the vertical section52. Typically, the material of construction for the stabilizer48will comprise one-eighth inch to one-quarter inch steel or aluminum plate. It is found to be best to locate the vertical section52against the interior surface of each of the legs36and38as previously mentioned but such could be locked against the exterior surface of the legs36and38.

It is desirable to strengthen the construction of each of the legs36and38. Relative to the base42of each leg36and38there is a forward section and an aft section of each leg. Within the forward section and the aft section there is located the channel40. Within the channel40there is to be mounted strengthening plates54and56. The strengthening plates54and56are to be permanently affixed relative to their respective leg36and38as by welding. Each of the strengthening plates54and56comprises a short length of plate, generally no more than three to six inches in length. It is to be understood that there are two in number of the strengthening plates54and56for each leg36and38.

The overall result by using of the stabilizer structure of the present invention, the wheelbarrow10has significantly increased balance, and is very difficult to tip over. Also, the overall structure of the wheelbarrow10is substantially strengthened.

The discussion included in this patent is intended to serve as a basic description. The reader should be aware that the specific discussion may not explicitly describe all embodiments possible and alternatives are implicit. Also, this discussion may not fully explain the generic nature of the invention and may not explicitly show how each feature or element can actually be representative of a broader function or of a great variety of alternative or equivalent elements. Again, these are implicitly included in this disclosure. Where the invention is described in device-oriented terminology, each element of the device implicitly performs a function. It should also be understood that a variety of changes may be made without departing from the essence of the invention. Such changes are also implicitly included in the description. These changes still fall within the scope of this invention.