Abstract:
The use of a pivotal coupling on a cart of the wheelbarrow type allows for a downwardly applied pressure to the user ends of the handles to tip the bucket to at least begin the dumping action of the cart. Following the initial downward pressure with the handles still elevationally displaced downward an upward lift applied to the user ends of the handles completes the dumping action of the cart. Use of multiple pivotal axises on the cart provide for an extremely efficient operation. Various enhancements are explained including locking of the orientation of the cart following the initial dump, wheel blocking to prevent rotation of the ground support wheel relative to the bucket during at least a portion of the final dumping action and stabilization enhancement to prevent lateral tipping of the cart during the final dumping action.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application is a divisional of pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/059,267 filed Feb. 16, 2005 which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Pat. No. 6,886,838 issued May 3, 2005. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The invention relates to carts capable of being manually manipulated by a person and manually dumped. More specifically, the invention relates to such carts, which may be dumped utilizing a combination of a downwardly applied pressure on a handle assembly and an upwardly applied pressure on the handle assembly or dumping by an upward applied pressure on the handle assembly.  
         [0004]     2. Description of the Prior Art  
         [0005]     Numerous types of carts exist which have a wheel or wheels, a container and a handle assembly where the cart can be manually manipulated by a person and manually dumped. A classic example of such a cart is a wheel-barrow which typically has a single front wheel, opposing handles which extend from the front wheel rearward, support legs extending downward from the handle and a bucket fixedly attached to the top of the handles. Millions of such carts have been produced for domestic use in the United States. In use the wheelbarrow typically rests on the ground at the front wheel and the support legs when not being manipulated by a person. From this position the bucket of the wheelbarrow may be loaded. When the wheelbarrow is to be moved from one position to another the person grips the handles distal from the front wheel and raises the handles to raise the support legs off of the ground. At this point the wheelbarrow is supported by the front wheel and the person manipulating the handles. When a dumping of the contents of the bucket is desired, without regard for whether the support legs are in contact with the ground or elevated above the ground for movement of the wheelbarrow, the person raises the handles to angularly tip the wheelbarrow up. This operation is performed countless times each day by construction workers as well as casual users. Despite the fact that this operation is routinely performed it remains an awkward operation to perform. First the hands move upward while lifting the handles up in a pulling action then a transfer occurs where the person&#39;s grip on the handles shifts and then the person applies a pushing action upward to the handles. This operation is performed while balancing the weight of the wheelbarrow and the contents of the bucket across the opposing handles while stepping toward the wheel and on the single front wheel.  
         [0006]     Various innovations have been made to wheelbarrow designs to make the above dumping operation more controllable. A first class of innovations involves increasing the stability of the front wheel by either providing for a wider wheel or providing for opposing spaced adjacent wheels. Another class of innovations involves providing unique angular arrangement of at least the grip portion of the handles. Another class of innovations is known in the art for a more controllable dumping which involve providing for a downward pressure to be applied to the handles to perform the dumping procedure while the support legs remain in contact with the ground during the entire dumping procedure. Two examples of such designs appear in U.S. Pat. No. 1,032,009 to Long in 1912 and U.S. Pat. No. 2,037,222 to Farrar in 1935. Both of these designs have leg supports, which are fixedly positioned relative to their respective front wheels.  
         [0007]     Various deficiencies exist with the known designs for carts of the wheelbarrow type. As can be seen various attempts have been made to provide for a more controllable dumping operation of wheelbarrows. These attempts have been less efficient than desired. As such, it may be appreciated that there continues to be a need for a cart design, which provide for performance of a dumping operation, which may be easily, safely and comfortably performed. The present invention substantially fulfills these needs.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0008]     In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of carts, the present invention relates to a cart for easy dumping which utilizes a downward pressure applied by a user. The cart has a handle assembly, a wheel assembly, a ground contacting assembly and a pivotal coupling. The handle assembly has a user manipulation end and a distal end. The wheel assembly has a ground support wheel, which has a rotational axis. The wheel assembly also has a bucket fixedly positioned relative to the rotational axis of the ground support wheel. The ground contacting assembly contacts the ground while the cart is in a resting orientation and provides for a leveraging when the downward pressure is applied to the handle assembly at the user manipulation end. The pivotal coupling provides for a pivoting of the handle assembly relative to select portions of the cart to apply an upward pressure to the wheel assembly in close proximity to the bucket when the downward pressure is applied to the handle assembly at the user manipulation end. The upward pressure applied to the wheel assembly utilizes a cooperation between the ground contacting assembly and the pivotal coupling where the bucket is easily dumped forward away from the user manipulation end of the handle assembly.  
         [0009]     It is an object of the present invention to provide for a cart which may be dumped utilizing a combination of a downward push to the handle assembly followed by an upward lift to the handle assembly or by an upward thrust on the handle assembly to toss the load.  
         [0010]     Other objects include;  
         [0011]     (a) to provide for the bucket of the cart to be in a tipped position following the initial downward push applied to the handle assembly or a dumped position following the initial upward thrust applied to the handle assembly.  
         [0012]     (b) to provide for a reduction in stress related injuries, including back injuries, which currently result from dumping operations of conventional fixed frame design wheelbarrows.  
         [0013]     (c) to provide for replacement of a biasing point behind a center of balance plane of the bucket of the cart where relatively light downward pressure is required to be applied to the handle assembly to perform the initial dumping operation.  
         [0014]     (d) to provide for an initial placement of the bucket following the initial dumping operation which utilized the downward pressure where relatively light upward pressure is required to be applied to the handle assembly to perform the final dumping operation.  
         [0015]     (e) to provide for a locking device to retain the cart in a dumping orientation while the upward pressure is applied to the handle assembly during performance of the final dumping operation.  
         [0016]     (f) to provide for wheel rotation blocking device to prevent rotation of the ground support wheel relative to the bucket at least during a portion of the final dumping operation.  
         [0017]     (g) to provide for the rotation axis of the ground support wheel to move toward the ground contact portion of the ground contacting assembly during at least a portion of the initial dumping operation when the downward pressure is applied to the handle assembly.  
         [0018]     (h) to provide for a single pivotal axis extending laterally across the cart to provide for the structural displacement during the initial dumping operation when the downward pressure is applied to the handle assembly.  
         [0019]     (i) to provide for two spaced pivotal axises each extending laterally across the cart to provide for the structural displacement during the initial dumping operation when the downward pressure is applied to the handle assembly.  
         [0020]     The present invention relates to a system and method for tossing or ejecting a product from a cart or wheelbarrow. When the cart is moved from one position to a further position, a person grips the handles distal from the front wheel and raises the handles which raise the support legs of the cart off the ground. At this point, the cart is supported by the front wheel and the person manipulating the handles. When a person wishes to dump the contents of the bucket, the person can thrust the handles up angularly tipping the cart upward. The separation of the handle assembly and the bucket assembly occurs as the bucket assembly and its contents continue to follow the direction of the momentum over the balancing axis point of the cart ending up at the final dumping orientation. The dumping is done without regard for whether the support legs are in contact with the ground or elevated above the ground for movement of the cart.  
         [0021]     At this dumping orientation, the leveraged locking mechanism has been released and the contents have been dumped. Pulling back on the handles brings the wheel-bucket assembly back over the balancing axis point bringing the wheel-bucket assembly and the handle assembly back together.  
         [0022]     It is an object of the present invention to further provide a system and method for incline dumping of a cart or wheel-barrow at an incline, the balancing axis point of the cart and the center of gravity are closer together, making the wheel-bucket assembly easier for tipping. When a dumping of the contents of the bucket is desired, a person can thrust the handles up angularly, tipping the cart upward. The separation of the handle assembly and the wheel-bucket assembly occurs as the wheel-bucket assembly and its contents continue to follow the direction of the momentum over the balancing axis point of the cart ending up at the final dumping orientation. The dumping is done without regard for whether the support legs are in contact with the ground or elevated above the ground for movement of the cart.  
         [0023]     At this dumping orientation, the leverage locking mechanism has been released and the contents have been dumped. Pulling back on the handles brings the wheel-bucket back over the balancing axis point bringing the wheel-bucket assembly and the handle assembly back together.  
         [0024]     It is an object of the present invention to provide a system and method for dumping a load from a cart by pushing down the handles of the cart. Pushing down on the handles causes a leveraging to occur in the handle assembly. The front end of the handle assembly pushes up toward the rear of the wheel-bucket assembly while pushing down and pivoting on the rear ground supporting couplings. By pivoting the arm assembly up and down, this pushes down on the rear ground support couplings causing the ground support to rock back toward the rear which causes a pushing up on the forward ground support couplings located near the center of the wheel-bucket assembly.  
         [0025]     The ground support assembly has a pressure bearing point of contact with the ground close to the center of gravity of the load and a curved bracket at the bottom that extends upward laterally toward the handles. When the curved bracket is provided a pressure bearing axis of the ground contacting assembly, it typically will move along the curve back toward the handles when the downward pressure is applied to the handle assembly at the user manipulation end. The extension of the curved bracket keeps the handles higher off the ground which also contributes in raising the cart assembly higher at the rear.  
         [0026]     During the initial downward pushing of the handles, the front end pivots upward from the ground supports&#39; rear coupling, pushing up on the linkage coupling which connects to the cart assembly. This causes a division between the wheel-bucket assembly and the hand assembly to occur. The length of the linkage determines the expansion of the arc.  
         [0027]     As the bucket tips forward after the initial pushing down on the handles, a transferring starts to occur over the axis of the wheel. The weight begins to become displaced. In the leveraged position, the displacement has made the weight lighter on the user end. The center of gravity of the load has moved toward the axis of the wheel. This combined with the downward angle of the handles make the leveraging easier for the final dumping procedure.  
         [0028]     The present invention relates to a system and method for lifting from a dumping position. In a crouched lifting position, after the initial downward push on the handles, a person&#39;s legs will be bent, back straight, and arms extended downward holding the ends of the handles. As a person&#39;s legs are stretched out to lift the heaviest part of the load to their waist area, the weight diminishes from the load on the user side of the axis of the wheel due to the displacement of the load that crosses over the balancing axis point where the tipping takes place. This operation is performed while balancing the weight of the cart and the contents of the bucket across opposing handles on the wheel or wheels having both feet stationed on the ground.  
         [0029]     In a standing position, after the initial lifting from a crouched position up to a person&#39;s waist area, the leverage load weight has diminished substantially due to the increased displacement of the load that crossed over the balancing axis point of the cart making it easier for a person&#39;s arms to lift the remaining part of the load over the balancing axis point to a dump position.  
         [0030]     During the final dumping action, a fulcrum transfer occurs between the axis of ground bearing wheel and the nose of the wheel-bucket assembly where the displacement of the load occurs. The nose of the wheel-bucket assembly now becomes the balancing axis point for the remaining dumping procedure. At this dumping orientation, the leveraged locking mechanism has been released and the contents have been dumped. Pulling back on the handles brings the wheel-bucket assembly back over the balancing axis point bringing the wheel-bucket assembly and the handle assembly back together.  
         [0031]     It is an object of the present invention to be able to dump the contents of the cart in any direction.  
         [0032]     It is an object of the present invention to provide a latching assembly between the bucket and the handle assembly.  
         [0033]     These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty, which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated the preferred embodiments of the invention. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0034]     The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:  
         [0035]      FIG. 1  is an elevational side view of a cart in a resting orientation.  
         [0036]      FIG. 2  is an elevational side view of the cart shown in  FIG. 1  and in an initial dumping orientation.  
         [0037]      FIG. 3  is an elevational side view of the cart shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  and in a final dumping orientation.  
         [0038]      FIG. 4  is an elevational side view of another embodiment of a cart and in a resting orientation.  
         [0039]      FIG. 5  is an elevational side view of the cart shown in  FIG. 4  and in an initial dumping orientation.  
         [0040]      FIG. 6  is an elevational side view of the cart shown in  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5  and in a final dumping orientation.  
         [0041]      FIG. 7  is an elevational side view of a cart in a resting orientation.  
         [0042]      FIG. 8  is an elevational side view of a cart in a resting orientation.  
         [0043]      FIG. 9  is an elevational side view of the cart shown in  FIG. 8  and in an initial dumping orientation.  
         [0044]      FIG. 10  is an elevational side view of the cart shown in  FIG. 8  shown in a locked position.  
         [0045]      FIG. 11  is an elevational side view of the cart shown in  FIG. 8  with the handle assembly lifted up.  
         [0046]      FIG. 12  is an elevational side view of the cart shown in  FIG. 8  with the cart set for dumping.  
         [0047]      FIG. 13  is an elevational side view of the cart shown in  FIG. 8  with the cart shown unlocked.  
         [0048]      FIG. 14  is an elevational side view of the cart shown in  FIG. 8  with the cart being placed back toward resting position.  
         [0049]      FIG. 15  is an elevational side view of the cart shown in  FIG. 8  with the cart being placed back toward resting position.  
         [0050]      FIG. 16  is an elevational side view of the cart shown in  FIG. 8  with the cart in a resting orientation. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION  
       [0051]     Many different carts having features of the present invention are possible. The following description describes the preferred embodiment of select features of those carts and various combinations thereof. These features may be deployed in various combinations to arrive at various desired working configurations of carts.  
         [0052]     Reference is hereafter made to the drawings where like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various views.  
         [0053]     Carts having features of the present invention provide for an easy dumping of a load utilizing a downward pressure applied by a user to a handle assembly or an upward pressure applied by a user to the handle assembly. The momentum of the load tips the hopper over the wheel axis. The carts have a handle assembly, a ground support wheel, a ground contacting assembly and a bucket. The carts have a resting orientation where the cart is in a standard configuration and where loading of the cart may readily occur as conventionally known for standard carts. The carts have a longitudinal length aligned with a straight line of travel of the cart. The carts have a forward portion and rearward portion and opposing lateral sides. Suitable cross bracing at various positions on the cart, as conventionally known in the art, may be utilized to enhance structural integrity of the cart.  
         [0054]      FIG. 1  depicts a cart  20  having a handle assembly  22 , a ground support wheel  24 , a ground contacting assembly  26  and a bucket  28  and positioned in a resting orientation  30  on a ground surface  32 .  
         [0055]     A method of use provides for a user to dump a cart using the steps of providing a cart having features of the present invention. Then positioning the cart in a starting position with the bucket generally level and the ground contacting assembly in contact with the ground and the ground support wheel in contact with the ground. Then applying a downward pressure to the user manipulation end of the handle assembly of the cart wherein the user manipulation end of the handle assembly moves downward and the bucket pivots upward at the rearward extremity relative to the ground contacting assembly and the bucket pivots downward at the forward extremity until the locking device locks the handle assembly in the leveraged position relative to the ground contacting assembly. Then applying an upward pressure to the user manipulation end of the handle assembly of the cart wherein the bucket angularly tips up at the rearward extremity to a dumping orientation by which point the locking device releases the handle assembly. Then moving the user manipulation end of the handle assembly of the cart downward to return the cart to the starting position. The handle assembly returns to the standard position from the leveraged position. The locking device can be in several different arrangements including ratchet, sliding, binding and telescopic.  
         [0056]      FIG. 1  through  FIG. 3  depicts various steps of use of cart  20 .  FIG. 1  depicts cart  20  positioned in a starting position with bucket  28  generally level and ground contacting assembly  26  and ground support wheel  24  in contact with ground surface  32 . The change depicted from  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 2  depicts the change subsequent to the applying of a downward pressure to a user manipulation end  34  of handle assembly  22 . User manipulation end  34  of handle assembly  22  has moved downward and bucket  28  has pivoted upward at a rearward extremity  36  relative to ground contacting assembly  26 . An arcing coupling  38  has locked handle assembly  22  in a leveraged position  40  relative to ground contacting assembly  26 . The change depicted from  FIG. 2  to  FIG. 3  depicts the change subsequent to applying an upward pressure to user manipulation end  34  of handle assembly  22 . Bucket  28  has angularly tipped up at rearward extremity  36  to a final dumping orientation  42 . During at least a portion of this movement arcing coupling  38  has retained handle assembly  22  in leveraged position  40  relative to ground contacting assembly  26 . The change depicted from  FIG. 3  to  FIG. 1  depicts the change subsequent to moving user manipulation end  34  of handle assembly  22  downward to return cart  20  to the starting position. By this point arcing coupling  38  has released handle assembly  22  to return handle assembly  22  to a standard position  44  from leveraged position  40 .  
         [0057]     The handle assembly has a user manipulation end for manipulation by the user and a distal end opposing the user manipulation end. The handle assembly has a standard position corresponding to the cart&#39;s resting orientation. The handle assembly may take many forms with a preferred arrangement of a pair of symmetrically disposed opposing arms positioned on opposing lateral sides of the cart.  
         [0058]      FIG. 1  depicts handle assembly  22  having user manipulation end  34  and a distal end  46  opposing user manipulation end  34 . Handle assembly  22  is depicted in standard position  44  corresponding to resting orientation  30 .  
         [0059]     The ground support wheel is in contact with the ground surface during much of the use of the cart. The ground support wheel has a rotational axis about which it rotates. While a single ground support wheel is preferred it is possible to provide for multiple ground support wheels adjacently positioned and sharing a common rotational axis.  
         [0060]      FIG. 1  depicts ground support wheel  24  in contact with ground surface  32 . Ground support wheel  24  has a rotational axis  48  about which it may rotate.  
         [0061]     The ground contacting assembly contacts the ground while the cart is in the resting orientation and provides for leveraging means when the downward pressure is applied to the handle assembly at the user manipulation end. The ground contacting assembly has a ground contact portion, which makes contact with the ground surface during certain operations of the cart. The ground contacting assembly may take many forms but preferably will distribute the weight of the cart, and any load positioned thereon, to, or toward, the opposing lateral sides of the cart while the cart is in the resting orientation, as conventionally known for wheelbarrow type carts. The ground contact portion preferably has a curvature thereon where a rolling contact with the ground surface occurs during the initial dumping operation. When the curvature is provided a pressure-bearing axis of the ground contacting assembly typically will move along the ground contact portion when the downward pressure is applied to the handle assembly at the user manipulation end. The extension of the bracket determines the height of the handles and the tipping of the bucket.  
         [0062]     In certain embodiments the ground contacting assembly takes the form of a coupling assembly having a ground contact portion, which preferably will also be laterally distributed across the cart. The coupling assembly spans from the forward portion of the cart having the ground support wheel and the bucket to the rearward portion of the cart having the handle assembly. The ground contacting assembly may have a first connection portion and a second connection portion with the first connection portion connected to the forward portion, the wheel assembly, and the second connection portion connected to the rearward portion, the handle assembly. The coupling assembly may be pivotally attached to the forward portion of the cart and pivotally attached to the rearward portion of the cart. Alternatively, the coupling assembly may be pivotally attached to either the forward portion or rearward portion and fixedly attached to the opposing portion. The ground contacting assembly may extend from the rearward portion having the handle assembly and not contact the forward portion of the cart.  
         [0063]     As shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  ground contacting assembly  26  contacts ground surface  32  and provides for a leveraging action to be applied by distal end  46  of handle assembly  22  relative to bucket  28  when the downward pressure is applied to user manipulation end  34 . Ground contacting assembly  26  has a ground contact portion  50 , which makes contact with ground surface  32 . Ground contact portion  50  has a curvature  52  thereto which rolls along ground surface  32  during the initial dumping operation as depicted from  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 2 . A pressure-bearing axis  54  moves during the movement of ground contacting assembly  26 . Ground contacting assembly  26  is a coupling assembly, which spans from a forward portion  56  to a rearward portion  58 . Forward portion  56  has ground support wheel  24  and bucket  28  while rearward portion  58  has handle assembly  22 . Forward portion  56  is also known as a wheel assembly. Ground contacting assembly  26  has a first connection portion  60  and a second connection portion  62 . First connection portion  60  and second connection portion  62  are pivotally attached to forward portion  56  and rearward portion  58  respectively.  
         [0064]     The bucket is attached to the cart relative to the ground support wheel. Preferably the bucket is fixedly positioned on the cart relative to the rotational axis of the ground support wheel. The bucket has a rearward extremity distal from the ground support wheel and a forward extremity in closer proximity to the ground support wheel.  
         [0065]      FIG. 1  depicts bucket  28  fixedly attached to cart  20  relative to rotational axis  48  of ground support wheel  24 . Bucket  28  has rearward extremity  36  and a forward extremity  64 .  
         [0066]     It is possible to provide for the bucket to pivot from a position offset from the rotational axis of the ground support wheel to provide for the bucket to contact the ground support wheel to prevent rotation thereof at select times. Preferably the forward portion of the cart forms a wheel assembly having the ground support wheel and the bucket fixedly positioned thereon.  
         [0067]     At least one pivotal coupling provides for a pivoting of the handle assembly relative to select portions of the cart. The pivotal coupling provides for a pivotal axis, which laterally extends across the cart. Many structural elements may be utilized to provide for such couplings with at least two (2) laterally spaced elements preferably being deployed. In a most preferred embodiment two (2) such pivotal axises are provided in spaced relationship along the longitudinal length of the cart. In these cases the coupling assembly may be provided with a first pivotal axis connecting the coupling assembly to the forward position, the wheel assembly, and with a second pivotal axis connecting the coupling assembly to the rearward portion, the handle assembly, to provide for a pivoting of the handle assembly relative to the remainder of the cart.  
         [0068]      FIG. 1  through  FIG. 3  depict a pivotal coupling  66  between ground contacting assembly  26  forward portion  56  and a pivotal coupling  68  between ground contacting assembly  26  and rearward portion  58 .  
         [0069]     A biasing device provides for the handle assembly, in close proximity to the distal end, to apply, or cause to be applied, an upward pressure relative to the bucket when the downward pressure is applied to the handle assembly at the user manipulation end. The leveraging provides for the bucket to easily dump forward away from the user manipulation end of the handle assembly. The biasing device acts with the ground contact portion of the ground contacting assembly or coupling assembly to provide the desired leverage relative to the bucket to cause the initial tipping of the bucket where the elevational relationship of the rearward extremity of the bucket moves upward relative to the forward extremity of the bucket. The biasing device employs many different structural arrangements. A sliding engagement, an arcing engagement, and a binding engagement are several structural arrangements. When a sliding engagement is utilized a track may restrict moving components to a desired path.  
         [0070]      FIG. 1  through  FIG. 3  depict handle assembly  22  applying an upward pressure  70 , see  FIG. 1 , relative to bucket  28  through arcing coupling  38 .  
         [0071]     A locking device provides for a locking of the handle assembly relative to the bucket in a leveraged position subsequent to the initial dumping action resulting from the application of the downward pressure to the user manipulation end of the handle assembly. Many structural arrangements may be used to provide the desired locking of the handle assembly in the elevationally displaced position. The locking device provides for selectively retaining the forward portion, the wheel assembly, in a dumping orientation relative to the rearward portion, the handle assembly, subsequent to the downward pressure being applied to the handle assembly at the user manipulation end sufficient to displace the forward portion, the wheel assembly, including the bucket to the dumping orientation. A locking device may be provided to lock the cart in the resting orientation if desired such as where conventional use is desired or during transport.  
         [0072]      FIG. 1  through  FIG. 3  depict arcing coupling  38  which acts to lock handle assembly  22  in leveraged position  40  subsequent to the initial dumping action, see change from  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 2 . This locking allows for handle assembly  22  to remain in leveraged position  40  during the final dumping action, see change from  FIG. 2  to  FIG. 3 .  
         [0073]     The rotational axis of the ground support wheel has a resting spacing relative to the ground contact portion of the ground contacting assembly at the ground surface when the cart is in the resting orientation. In use carts having features of the present invention operate based on one of two general principles. Under the first principle structures of the cart provide for the ground contacting assembly to remain at a uniform spacing relative to the rotational axis of the ground support wheel during the initial dumping operation. Under the second principle structures of the cart provide for the rotational axis of the ground support wheel to move toward the ground contacting assembly during the initial dumping operation. In this second more preferred arrangement the rotational axis of the ground support wheel has a dumping spacing relative to the ground contact portion of the ground contacting assembly subsequent to the downward pressure being applied to the handle assembly at the user manipulation end with the resting spacing greater than the dumping spacing.  
         [0074]      FIG. 1  depicts a resting spacing  72  between rotational axis  48  and pressure-bearing axis  54  of ground contact portion  50  while cart  20  is in resting orientation  30 .  FIG. 2  depicts a dumping spacing  74  between rotational axis  48  and pressure-bearing axis  54  of ground contact portion  50  while cart  20  is in an initial dumping orientation  73 . It is noted that resting spacing  72  is greater than dumping spacing  74 .  
         [0075]     The bucket has a center of balance positioned somewhere between the ground support wheel and the user manipulation end of the handle assembly. The center of balance is loosely determined based upon a uniform distribution of a typical load as would most likely be carried by the respective cart. The handle assembly has a leveraging position distal from the user manipulation end where the leveraging position acts upon the bucket during the initial dumping operation. Preferably the leveraging position of the handle assembly acts upon the bucket rearward, or on the user manipulation end of the handle assembly, side of the center of balance of the bucket during the applying of the downward pressure to the user manipulation end of the handle assembly.  
         [0076]      FIG. 1  depicts a center of balance  76  of bucket  28 . Upward pressure  70  is applied rearward, toward handle assembly  22 , of center of balance  76 .  
         [0077]     Ground support wheel rotation blocking assembly provides for preventing rotation of the ground support wheel relative to the bucket during the applying of the upward pressure to the user manipulation end of the handle assembly. The application of upward pressure to the user manipulation end of the handle assembly occurs subsequent to the application of the downward pressure of the initial dumping action. During the application of the upward pressure the bucket angularly tips up at the rearward extremity to the dumping orientation. The ground support wheel rotation blocking assembly acts to prevent the cart from rolling during a portion of the dumping operation. Many structures are known in the art to provide for such blocking. The blocking may act upon some portion of the actual wheel or may act upon the axle bearing the wheel. A separate dedicated blocking member may be employed or a pivotal contact of the bucket with the wheel may be employed.  
         [0078]      FIG. 1  through  FIG. 3  depict a ground support wheel rotation blocking assembly  78  having a wedge portion  80  and a deployment coupling  82 . When cart is transferred from resting orientation  30 , see  FIG. 1 , to initial dumping orientation  73 , see  FIG. 2 , deployment coupling  82  causes a pivotal displacement of wedge portion  80 . Wedge portion  80  has a wheel engagement portion  84 , which does not interfere with rotation of ground support wheel  24  when cart  20  is in resting orientation  30 , see  FIG. 1 . When cart  20  is transferred to initial dumping orientation  73 , see  FIG. 2 , wheel engagement portion  84  engages ground support wheel  24  and prevents rotation thereof until cart  20  released from initial dumping orientation  73  begins to return to resting orientation  30 , see  FIG. 1 .  
         [0079]     A stabilizing assembly may be positioned in close proximity to the ground support wheel to provide for contacting the ground surface in close proximity to the ground support wheel during some portion of the dumping procedure. Such an assembly may be employed to prevent the cart from rolling forward along the ground surface utilizing the ground support wheel and/or to laterally expand the contact area beyond that available by the ground support wheel to increase stability of the cart during the final dumping operation where the ground contacting assembly is raised off of the ground surface. Various arrangements may be employed including a fixed position arrangement. Preferably the stabilization assembly provides for a ground contacting portion to be elevationally displaced at least when the cart is being moved about to prevent inadvertent contact with the ground.  
         [0080]     Wedge portion  80  of ground support wheel rotation blocking assembly  78  also has a ground contact surface  86  which is deployed when cart is transferred from resting orientation  30 , see  FIG. 1 , to initial dumping orientation  73 , see  FIG. 2 . Ground contact surface  86  is disposed on opposing sides of ground support wheel  24  to stabilize cart  20  during the final dumping operation, see change from  FIG. 2  to  FIG. 3 .  
         [0081]      FIG. 4  through  FIG. 6  depict a cart  88  having a wheel assembly  90  and a handle assembly  92 . Wheel assembly  90  has a ground contacting assembly  94  attached thereto. Wheel assembly  90  also has a bucket  96  pivotally attached thereto. Handle assembly  92  is pivotally attached to wheel assembly  90  wherein a downward pressure on a user manipulation end  98  causes a pivotal displacement of a distal end  100 . When handle assembly  92  is pivotally displaced, distal end  100  applies an upward pressure  102 , see  FIG. 4 , relative to bucket  96  to tip bucket  96  upward. During such displacement distal end  100  engages a slot, not shown, and locks in a leveraged position  104 . While locked in leveraged position  104 , bucket  96  bindingly engages a ground support wheel  106  to prevent rotation thereof. Ground contacting assembly  94  has a pressure bearing axis  108  relative to ground surface  32 . Ground support wheel  106  has an axis of contact  110  relative to ground surface  32 . Pressure bearing axis  108  and axis of contact  110  have a spacing  112  which remain stable during the pivotal displacement of bucket  96 , see  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5 .  FIG. 4  depicts cart  88  in a resting orientation  114 .  FIG. 5  depicts cart  88  in an initial dumping orientation  116 .  FIG. 6  depicts cart  88  in a final dumping orientation  118 . Bucket  96  has a center of balance  120 , see  FIG. 4 , with upward pressure  102  being applied rearward from center of balance  120 .  
         [0082]      FIG. 7  adds an additional bracket  51  which provides additional support for the cart  20 .  
         [0083]      FIG. 7  depicts a cart  20  having a handle assembly  22 , a ground support wheel  24 , a ground contacting assembly  26  and a bucket  28  positioned in a resting orientation  30  on a ground surface  32 .  
         [0084]     A method of use provides for a user to dump a cart using the steps of providing a cart having features of the present invention. Then positioning the cart in a resting orientation as shown in  FIG. 8 , with the bucket  28  generally level and the ground contacting assembly  26  in contact with the ground and the ground support wheel  24  in contact with the ground.  FIG. 8  shows ground bearing points  202  and  204 . The load  206  is in the bucket  28 . The cart has a break-over point  208  and a center of gravity for the bucket  28 ,  210 .  
         [0085]      FIG. 9  shows a side view of the cart shown in  FIG. 8  with the cart in an initial dumping orientation. A person applies a downward pressure  220 ,  230  to the user manipulation end  34  of the handle assembly  22  of the cart  20  wherein the user manipulation end  34  of the handle assembly  22  moves downward and the bucket  28  pivots upward at the rearward extremity relative to the ground contacting assembly  26  and the bucket  28  pivots downward at the forward extremity until the locking device  223  locks the handle assembly  22  in the leveraged position relative to the ground contacting assembly  26 .  FIG. 9  shows the original center of gravity  210 , which has now shifted to position  222 . Load  206  has shifted forward in the bucket  28 . Ground bearing points  204  and  202  have also shifted. Arrow  224  shows how the cart rocks back during this step. Arrow  226  shows how the cart rolls back during this step. Arrow  228  shows how the cart is pushed up.  FIG. 10  shows that the locking device  223  has now locked.  
         [0086]     As shown in  FIG. 11 , the user then applies an upward pressure  240  to the user manipulation end  34  of the handle assembly  22  of the cart  20  wherein the bucket  28  angularly tips up at the rearward extremity to a dumping orientation.  FIG. 11  shows the center of gravity point  242  and the break-over point  244 . The weight of the load  206  then assists in pulling down the bucket  28 .  FIG. 12  shows the cart  20  set for dumping. The cart has a new ground breaking point  246 .  
         [0087]      FIGS. 13-16  show the user moving  250  the user manipulation end  34  of the handle assembly  22  of the cart  20  downward to return the cart  20  to the starting position by which point the locking device  223  releases the handle assembly  22  to return the handle assembly  22  to the standard position from the leveraged position.  FIGS. 14-16  show the break over point  244  and the center of gravity point  242  moving as the cart  20  is moved back to its starting orientation.  
         [0088]     With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, material, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.  
         [0089]     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.