Abstract:
A collapsible hand-operated hauling device is structured of sturdy, yet lightweight material for hauling matter, and is structured to be collapsed or folded into a smaller size so that the hauling device can be lifted and stored, on a wall for example, or placed in a car trunk or truck bed for transport, for example. The collapsible hand-operated hauling device generally comprises a bed, having sections that fold together, at least one handle and a wheel assembly.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
   This application is a non-provisional application claiming priority to provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/439,670 filed Jan. 13, 2003. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   This invention relates to hand-operated devices for transporting or hauling items, such as agricultural materials, and specifically relates to a hand-operated hauling device which is structured to be collapsible for ease of transport and storage. 
   2. Description of Related Art 
   Many devices have been developed for transporting or moving materials or items by hand, particularly for moving items in the yard or garden, or in more agricultural-type settings. Such hand-operated devices include wheelbarrows, bale-movers and other wheeled carts. The benefits of such devices is well-known; namely, they allow a person to transport or haul otherwise heavy materials or objects without straining muscles and without having to employ larger equipment. 
   However, known hand-operated hauling devices are conventionally constructed of heavy materials, such as steel, and/or are large and bulky in construction to render the device particularly suitable for transporting heavy materials like sod or dirt. Consequently, it is difficult to store such bulky hauling devices in a shed or garage when not in use, and it is difficult to pick up such devices to, for example, hang on a hook for out-of-the-way storage. It is additionally difficult to pick up such bulky devices for placing them in a car trunk or truck bed for transporting the hauling device to a new location. 
   Therefore, it would be advantageous in the art to provide a hand-operated hauling device which is constructed to be sturdy for use in hauling heavy materials or items, but which is also structured to be sufficiently lightweight to be transportable when not in use and which is structured to be easily stored out of the way. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   In accordance with the present invention, a hand-operated hauling device is provided which is structured to be collapsible so that the device may be folded up for convenient transport and storage. Further in accordance with the present invention, the hand-operated hauling device is made of relatively lightweight material, rendering the device easy to lift and transport while still rendering the device strong enough to support and transport heavy items not otherwise easily transported by human hand. 
   The collapsible hauling device of the present invention generally comprises a hauling bed, at least one handle and a wheel assembly. The wheel assembly is attached to the bed, generally at one end thereof, and the handle is positioned generally at the opposite end of the bed. 
   The bed of the device is comprised of at least two bed sections which fold or collapse relative to each other so that the hauling device can be made smaller for storage and transporting. The sections of the bed are pivotally or otherwise attached to enable the sections to be folded together. A positioning device, such as a locking or stop device, secures the sections in selected position when the hauling device is in a non-collapsed, or use-mode, state. The bed, and each section, may preferably be made of a sturdy, yet lightweight material that allows the device to hold and haul a considerable load, but also allows the collapsed device to be easily lifted, transported and stored. The bed may include a peripheral frame of strong material to provide the bed with added stability and strength. 
   At least one handle is pivotally attached to the bed at the end opposite the wheel assembly. A locking device is positioned with respect to the handle so that the handle may be moved from a collapsed state (for storage or transport of the device) to a non-collapsed or use-mode state and retained in position for use of the device. The same, or an additional, locking device is structured and positioned to ensure that the handle, when in the collapsed state of the device, is retained in position in the folded or collapsed state of the device. The handle may also be provided with a positioning device that enables selected positioning of the handle relative to the bed when in the non-collapsed state. The locking device may be structured to also provide selected height-positioning of the handle in use of the hauling device. 
   The collapsible hauling device of the present invention further includes auxiliary handles that enable the device, when in the collapsed stated, to be lifted with one hand. One or more such auxiliary handles may be provided and may, preferably, be positioned such that the collapsed hauling device can be lifted at one end (e.g., opposite the wheel assembly) or on one or the either side of the device. 
   These and other features of the invention will be made clear in the following description of but one exemplary embodiment of the invention. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In the drawings, which illustrate what is currently considered to be the best mode for carrying out the present invention: 
       FIG. 1  is a side view in elevation of the collapsible hauling device of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a front view in elevation of the device shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a plan view of the device shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 4A  is an end view in elevation of a latch bracket used to position the handle of the device; 
       FIG. 4B  is a plan view of the latch bracket shown in  FIG. 4A ; 
       FIG. 4C  is a side view in elevation of the latch bracket shown in  FIG. 4B ; 
       FIG. 5  is an enlarged view in elevation of the illustrated locking device of the handle; and 
       FIG. 6  is a side view in elevation of the collapsible hauling device of the present invention in a collapsed or folded state. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   The collapsible hand-operated hauling device  10  of the present invention is shown in  FIGS. 1-3 . In  FIG. 1 , the hauling device  10  is illustrated in a non-collapsed state, ready for use in hauling items. The hauling device  10  is generally comprised of a bed  12 , at least one handle  14  and a wheel assembly  16 . The wheel assembly  16  is generally positioned at one end of the bed  12  and the handle  14  is secured to the bed  12  at an end opposite the wheel assembly  16 . 
   The wheel assembly  16  generally comprises at least one wheel  20  which is secured in some fashion to the bed  12 . As shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , one exemplary means of connecting the wheel  20  to the bed  12  is to provide a forked wheel frame  22  which connects to the front end  24  of the bed  12 . The wheel frame  22  has a forward extending elongated U-shaped portion  26 , having parallel sides, sized to receive a wheel  20  therebetween. An axle  28  is positioned through the parallel sides of the U-shaped portion  26  and through the wheel  20  to attach the wheel  20  to the wheel frame  22 . 
   As best shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , an upstanding fender  30  may be positioned between the wheel  20  and the bed  12  to provide a barrier between the wheel  20  and items being carried on the bed  12 . The upstanding fender  30  may be attached either as a part of the wheel frame  22  or may be attached as a separate structure to the front end  24  of the bed  12 . Although only one wheel  20  is shown in the exemplar embodiment, more than one wheel may be provided in a wheel assembly, or multiple wheel assemblies of suitable size and construction may be used. 
   The top surface  34  of the bed  12  of the hauling device  10  is generally flat, but may be variable in surface shape, as long as the sections of the bed  12  can be collapsed or folded together consistent with the objective of the invention. In the embodiment illustrated herein, the bed  12  is comprised of two sections, which may be designated as the front section  36  and the rear section  38 . The two sections  36 ,  38  are arranged adjacent each other and are connected together in a manner that allows the two sections  36 ,  38  to collapse or be folded together for transport and storage. 
   By way of example only, the front section  36  and rear section  38  of the illustrated bed  12  are joined together, as shown, with a piano hinge  40  that extends from one lateral side  42  of the bed  12  to the other lateral side  44  of the bed  12 . The hinge  40  is positioned on the lower surface  46  of the bed  12  to allow the rear section  38  to be rotated in the direction of arrow  48  for folding. In an alternative embodiment, however, the hinge  40  may be positioned on the top surface  36  to allow the rear section  38  to fold over the front section  36  in the other direction. 
   A positioning mechanism  50  is preferably provided which contacts adjoining sections of the bed  12  to maintain the sections in a deployed or non-collapsed state, ready to receive and haul items on the bed  12 . Thus, for example, at least one stop plate  52  may be positioned to contact both sections  36 ,  38  of the bed  12  to prevent the two sections  36 ,  38  from over rotating relative to each other when the hauling device  10  is in a non-collapsed or deployed state. As seen more clearly in  FIG. 3 , two stop plates  52  are provided, one at either lateral side  42 ,  44  of the bed  12  and positioned to extend between the sections  36 ,  38  of the bed  12 . 
   As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the stop plates  52  are secured to the side of the rear section  38  by, for example, a bolt  54 , or other suitable means. As will be illustrated further hereinafter, the stop plates  52  are not connected to, but merely contact the top surface  34  of the front section  36  to allow the rear section  38  to rotate relative to the front section  36  for storage. The stop plates  52  are preferably made of very strong stainless steel or equally strong material which helps to stabilize and position the sections  36 ,  38  when a heavy load is being carried on the hauling device  10 . 
   The sections  36 ,  38  of the bed  12  are preferably made of a lightweight and durable material which is strong enough to retain materials or items on the bed  12  while not making the hauling device  10  too heavy to lift, in a collapsed state, by an average adult. Such materials may include lightweight woods, metals and plastics, and may include woven natural or synthetic fabrics such as canvas. It may be further desirable, or even necessary when using fabric material for the bed  12 , to construct the hauling device  10  with a bed frame  60  which encircles the perimeter  62  of the bed  12 , or a substantial portion thereof. The bed frame  60  may be made of any suitably strong and durable material, and may include wood, metal, plastic or combinations of those materials. It is additionally preferred that the material of the bed frame  60  be selected from a class or group of materials that would not add excessive additional weight to the device. 
   As best seen in  FIG. 3 , the hauling device  10  may be structured with one or more auxiliary handles  66  which enable the hauling device  10  to be lifted in its collapsed state for transporting and storage. For example, the hauling device  10  may be structured with a bail handle  68  that is secured to the top surface  34  of one of the sections  36 ,  38  of the bed  12 . As illustrated by way of example only, the bail handle  68  is secured to the front section  36  in proximity to the adjacent edges of the two sections  36 ,  38  and may be attached by any suitable means, including bolting or welding the bail handle  68  to the top surface  34  of the front section  36 . As will become clear hereinafter, the bail handle  68  is only attached to one section  36 ,  38  of the bed  12  so the that two sections  36 ,  38  may be collapsed or folded relative to each other, leaving the bail handle  68  extending outwardly for grasping. 
   The hauling device  10  may further be structured with one or more side handles  70  that enable the user to lift the hauling device  10  from one or the other side of the device  10  when the hauling device  10  is in a collapsed or folded state. The side handles  70  may be any suitable structure and, for example, may be bail handles, similar to the bail handle  68  previously described, that are attached to the bed frame  60  and extend outwardly therefrom. However, as illustrated by further example, the side handles  70  are provided by an opening formed in the bed  12  of device which may be surrounded by a flashing liner  72  that surrounds the opening, including the bed frame  60 . Thus, the bed frame  60  in the area adjacent the opening formed in the bed  12  becomes the graspable element of the side handles  70 . Notably, as shown in  FIG. 3 , side handles  70  are provided by openings in both the front section  36  and rear section  38  and the openings overlay each other to allow the user to place his hand through both openings when the two bed sections  36 ,  38  are folded upon each other. However, side handles  70  need only be provided in one of the sections  36 ,  38  of the bed  12 . 
   The hauling device  10  of the present invention has at least one handle  14  attached to the bed  12  and positioned to operate the hauling device for carrying loads. The handle  14  may be of any suitable design, one exemplary design being illustrated in the drawing figures. As best illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the handle  14  may comprise a handle assembly  74  that comprises a right handle  76  and a left handle  78  that are connected together by a rail  80 . Both the right handle  76  and the left handle  78  are pivotally connected to the bed  12  of the hauling device  10  by a pivoting mechanism  82 , as shown in  FIG. 5 . 
   Thus, the handles  76 ,  78 , connected together by the rail  80 , are rotatable in tandem about the respective pivoting mechanisms  82  which connect each handle to the bed  12  (and to the bed frame  60  when present) to allow the handle  14  to fold against the bed  12  when in a collapsed state. It can be seen from  FIG. 3  that the distance L between the right handle  76  and left handle  78  is greater than the width dimension of the bed  12 , thereby enabling the handle  14  to be folded against the bed  12 , as illustrated further in  FIG. 6 . 
   As shown best in  FIGS. 3-5 , the handle  14  is structured with at least one locking mechanism  86  which retains the handle  14  in position for operation of the hauling device  10  when in a deployed or non-collapsed state. While a second locking mechanism may be provided which retains the handle  14  in a folded position against the bed  12  when the hauling device  10  is in a folded or collapsed state, the locking mechanism  86  illustrated here provides locking retention of the handle  14  in its appropriate position in both a deployed and a folded state of the hauling device  10 . 
   Specifically, the locking mechanism  86  that is illustrated, by way of example only, comprises two saddle brackets  88  that are positioned at either lateral side  42 ,  44  of the bed  12  in proximity to the rear edge  90  of the bed  12 . The detail of the saddle brackets  88  is further shown in  FIGS. 4A ,  4 B,  4 C and  5 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 4A ,  4 B and  4 C, the saddle brackets  88  of the locking mechanism  86  have a base plate  92  that contacts the top surface  34  of the bed  12  and two parallel upstanding sides  94 ,  96  through which an elbow pin  100  is journalled. The elbow pin  100  is structured with an arm  102  that extends perpendicularly from the straight shaft  104  of the pin  100 , which is slidingly received through the saddle bracket  88 . At the terminal end  106  of the pin shaft  104  is a stop washer  108  integrally formed with or welded to the pin shaft  104 . The elbow pin  100  may extend through a spring  110  biased between the upstanding sides  94 ,  96  of the saddle bracket  88 . 
   Referring again to  FIG. 3 , it can be seen that a chain  112  is connected at either end to the respective arms  102  of the elbow pins  100  of the two-spaced apart saddle brackets  88 . Though not shown in detail, the chain  112  is secured to the respective arms  102  in a manner to assure that the chain does not slip from the arms  102 . When the hauling device  10  and handle  14  are in a deployed state ready for use, as shown in  FIG. 5 , the handle  14  (here showing just the left handle  78 , but applicable to the right handle  76  as well) strikes or contacts the elbow pin  100  which, as shown in  FIGS. 4B and 4C , extends beyond the saddle bracket  88 . Thus, the elbow pin  100  contacts the handle  14  and keeps the handle  14  from rotating relative to the bed  12  during use. 
   Additionally, the hauling device  10  may be provided with a handle positioning mechanism  113  structured to position the handle l 4  is a normal operating position when the hauling device  10  is in a deployed state. As one exemplar structure, the handle positioning mechanism  113  may be at least one bumper plate  114  that is attached to the bed  12  or bed frame  60  and extends laterally outward, as best seen in  FIG. 3 , to contact the lower terminal end  116  of each of the right handle  76  and left handle  78 , again as best seen in  FIG. 5 . The bumper plates  114  also prevent the handle  14  from over-rotating in a clockwise position as seen in  FIG. 5 . 
   When the hauling device  10  is to be collapsed and folded for storage, the locking mechanism  86  is deactivated by pulling on the chain  112  or otherwise shortening the length of the chain  112  to thereby pull inwardly on the elbow pins  100 . As the elbow pins  100  are moved inwardly by the chain  112 , the terminal ends  106  of the elbow pins  100  are moved inwardly such that they no longer contact the handles  76 ,  78  and the handles  76 ,  78  are able to rotate, in the direction of arrow  118 , to fold over the bed  12  of the hauling device  10 . 
   While the position of the rail  80  between the right handle  76  and left handle  78  aids in maintaining the handle  14  in a folded position against the bed  12 , the handle  14 , and specifically both the right handle  76  and left handle  78 , may be structured with a lock plate  120  which extends from each handle  76 ,  78  near the terminal end  116  thereof. The lock plate  120  is configured and positioned so that as the handle  14  rotates in direction  118  and comes to rest against the bed  12  in its folded state ( FIG. 6 ), and as the chain  112  is released, thereby allowing the elbow pins  100  to move laterally outwardly, the terminal end  106  of each elbow pin  100  contacts the outer edge  122  of the lock plate  120 , thereby locking the handle  14  into a folded position, as seen in  FIG. 6 . 
     FIG. 6  illustrates the hauling device  10  of the present invention in its collapsed or folded state. It can be seen that the rear section  38  of the bed  12  has been rotated (clockwise) about the piano hinge (not shown) so that the rear section  38  is folded adjacent the front section  36 . Consequently, the bail handle  68  extends outwardly from the front section  36  to provide means for lifting the hauling device  10 . It can also be seen that the stop plate  52 , connected to the rear section  38 , is rotated away from contact with the front section  36  of the bed  12 . 
   It can also be seen that the handle  14  is folded back upon the rear section  38  as previously described. The hauling device  10  may optionally include a further locking mechanism  126 , comprising a simple latch or other suitable device, which secures the rear section  38  to the front section  36  of the hauling device  10  when in a collapsed state. The hauling device  10  may further optionally include another locking device  128 , such as a detent pin or other suitable means, for securing the handle  14  to the rear section  38  near the piano hinge (not shown). It may be noted that the user may also use the bail handle  68  to pull the collapsed hauling device  10  along the ground as the wheel  20  rotates. 
   The collapsible hauling device of the present invention is structured to be lightweight and durable for hauling sizable and heavy items. The device is also structured close to the ground so that heavy items need not be lifted, but may be rolled onto the bed of the device, thereby saving the user&#39;s back. The device is collapsible for lifting and transporting, and storing in a substantially flattened position. However, the collapsible elements of the invention may be modified by those of skill in the art to carry out the objectives of the invention as described herein. Therefore, reference herein to specific details of the structure and function of the present invention is by way of example only and not by way of limitation.