Patent Publication Number: US-2016236238-A1

Title: Dirt Sifting Attachment for Wheelbarrows

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/202,058 filed Mar. 10, 2014, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/164,348 filed Jan. 27, 2014, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/956,560 filed on Jun. 12, 2013. The above identified patent applications are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety to provide continuity of disclosure. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a device suited for sifting dirt. More specifically, the present invention pertains to a dirt sifting device having a frame, trusses, and a filter screen, wherein the device is suited for being placed over top of the open upper surface of a wheelbarrow and wherein the filter screen is capable of separating dirt from rocks and other debris. 
     Sifting dirt is a task that is commonly undertaken by gardeners to remove rocks, weeds, and debris from dirt or soil. Dirt is scooped into a wheelbarrow for the gardener to sort through by hand in order to identify and remove any unwanted substances. Sifting through dirt by hand is a laborious and time consuming process that requires the gardener to manually remove unwanted materials from the dirt. This process of manually removing unwanted materials also poses the problem that the gardener may not identify each weed or rock existing in the pile of dirt. Manually removing unwanted materials also requires the gardener to pay close attention to the dirt as it is being sifted. 
     Other devices for sifting through dirt are known but include a variety of drawbacks. Hand sifters may be available that allow the gardener to pour dirt that needs to be sifted into the hand sifter to remove unwanted materials. However, the small surface area of a hand sifter limits the amount of dirt that can be sifted at any given time. Thus, a user wanting to sift a greater quantity of dirt would need to continually sift small portions limited to the size of the hand sifter. Hand sifters and other small sifting devices still require the user to expend much energy and time sifting through a pile of dirt in order to properly remove unwanted materials. 
     The present invention relates to a dirt sifting attachment for a wheelbarrow that is capable of being placed over the upper surface of the wheelbarrow. The present invention comprises a continuous frame and trusses that bridge one side of the frame to the other. A filter screen is attached to the frame and is supported by the trusses so that the filter screen at least partially covers the open upper area of the wheelbarrow. The filter screen allows dirt to pass through and fall into the wheelbarrow, while preventing rocks and other debris from passing through. When the device is placed over the top of the wheelbarrow, a user could shovel dirt onto the filter screen and dirt would pass through into the wheelbarrow, while rocks would roll down the surface of the filter screen and onto the ground. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of dirt sifting devices now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new dirt sifting device adapted for use with a wheelbarrow wherein the same can be utilized for providing convenience for the user when sifting rocks, weeds, and other debris from dirt. 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved dirt sifting device capable of use with a wheelbarrow that has all of the advantages of the prior art and none of the disadvantages. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a dirt sifting attachment that can be placed on an upper surface of a wheelbarrow. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a dirt sifting attachment that allows dirt to pass through the filter screen and into a wheelbarrow, while preventing rocks and debris from passing through the filter screen. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a dirt sifting attachment in which the filter screen is not connected to the frame on the front portion of the wheelbarrow such that a user can dump the dirt collected in the wheelbarrow without having to remove the dirt sifting attachment. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a dirt sifting attachment that comprises a hinge which allows the attachment to be oriented in an open configuration for use, and a closed configuration for storage. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a dirt sifting device having a durable filter screen fabricated from materials that permit relative economy for sifting dirt from rocks, weeds, and other debris. 
     Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Although the characteristic features of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims, the invention itself and manner in which it may be made and used may be better understood after a review of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like numeral annotations are provided throughout. 
         FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the dirt sifting attachment. 
         FIG. 2  shows a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the dirt sifting attachment in a working position, disposed about the open upper surface of a wheelbarrow. 
         FIG. 3  shows a perspective view of the individual components of an embodiment of the dirt sifting attachment wherein the attachment is disassembled. 
         FIG. 4  shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the dirt sifting attachment, wherein the filter screen is not connected to the frame along the portion of the frame corresponding to the front of the wheelbarrow. 
         FIG. 5  shows a side view of an embodiment of the dirt sifting attachment, wherein the filter screen is rectangular. 
         FIG. 6  shows a front view of an embodiment of the dirt sifting attachment, wherein the front of the filter screen closes by means of buttons. 
         FIG. 7  shows a front view of an embodiment of the dirt sifting attachment, wherein the front of the filter screen closes by means of buttons. 
         FIG. 8  shows a perspective view of a collapsible embodiment of the dirt sifting attachment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  shows a perspective view of a collapsible embodiment of the dirt sifting attachment in a collapsed configuration. 
         FIG. 10  shows a side view of a collapsible embodiment of the dirt sifting attachment in an open configuration. 
         FIG. 11  shows a top view of a collapsible embodiment of the dirt sifting attachment in a flat orientation. 
         FIG. 12  shows a view of one frame corner of the collapsible embodiment of the dirt sifting attachment, wherein the filter screen is applied to one side of the frame such that the frame and filter screen form a partial interior volume to support dirt and rocks therein while sifting. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Reference is made herein to the attached drawings. Like reference numerals are used throughout the drawings to depict like or similar elements of the XXX. The figures are intended for representative purposes only and should not be considered to be limiting in any respect. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a perspective view of an embodiment of the dirt sifting attachment for a wheelbarrow. The dirt sifting attachment  21  comprises a frame  11  that is continuous and is substantially planar. The frame  11  has a first side  12  that is substantially parallel to a second side  13 . The frame further has a front end and a back end which connect the first side to the second side, so as to make the frame continuous. The frame  11  is shaped such that it is capable of being placed on the open upper surfaces of a wheelbarrow. Various shapes for the frame are contemplated. In some embodiments, the frame is substantially rectangular in shape. Alternatively, the front end of the frame may be curved so as to be shaped like the upper surfaces of a wheelbarrow. 
     Trusses  14  connect the first side  12  of the frame to the second side  13  of the frame. Each truss  14  has a first end  15 , a second end  16 , and a peak  17 . The first end  15  of each truss attaches to the first side  12  of the frame, and the second end  16  of each truss attaches to the second side  13  of the frame. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , the trusses  14  are composed of multiple truss members. However, in some embodiments of the invention the trusses  14  are composed of a single truss member. The embodiment in  FIG. 1  shows the trusses as having an L-shaped design. In another embodiment of the invention, the trusses are arched rather than L-shaped. In the preferred embodiment as depicted in  FIG. 1 , two trusses are used. In other embodiments of the invention one or more trusses may be attached to the frame. 
     A filter screen  18  having a surface area  19  and a perimeter edge  20  is attached to the frame  11  at the perimeter edge  20  of the filter screen  18 . In the embodiment shown, the filter screen does not entirely enclose the frame of the dirt sifting attachment, and the filter screen does not connect to the back end of the frame. The surface area  19  of the filter screen  18  is disposed over the trusses  14  so that the trusses may support the filter screen  18  and hold it in place during operation. The trusses help to prevent the filter screen from deforming under the weight of the dirt and debris when the dirt and debris is shoveled or otherwise placed onto the filter screen. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , there is shown a perspective view of an embodiment of the dirt sifting attachment in a working position, disposed about the open upper surface of a wheelbarrow. The dirt sifting device  21  is placed over the upper surfaces of a wheelbarrow  22 . The first side of the frame  12  and the second side of the frame  13  are placed along the upper surfaces of the wheelbarrow. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 , the frame  11  has a rounded front end  23  so that the frame is shaped similar to the upper surfaces of the wheelbarrow  22 . 
     The trusses  14  extend outward from the plane of the frame  11  and the trusses  14  are perpendicular to the first side  12  and second side  13  of the frame. The trusses  14  may extend outward from the plane of the frame  11  at a variety of angles, most preferably at forty-five degrees. The filter screen  18  is disposed over the trusses  14  such that the filter screen  18  is positioned coextensively with the trusses  14 . The filter screen closely follows the shape of the trusses, and covers the open area of the wheelbarrow  22 . In this way, the user may shovel or otherwise place a scoop of dirt onto the filter screen  18  at which point the dirt would fall through into the wheelbarrow  22  while the larger matter would remain on top of the filter screen  18  and roll down to the ground due to the angle of the filter screen  18 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , there is shown a perspective view of the components of an embodiment of the dirt sifting attachment, wherein the attachment is disassembled. In the embodiment of  FIG. 3 , the frame  11  is shown as having a first side  12  and a second side  13  being substantially parallel. The frame further comprises a front end and a back end which connect the first and second sides so as to make the frame continuous. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 , the front end of the frame  23  is rounded such that the frame has a similar shape to that of a wheelbarrow. Truss members  24  are shown and are shaped such that a first truss member can be attached to a second truss member so as to form a truss  14  as shown in  FIG. 1 . The truss members have slanted ends so as facilitate connection of the truss members to one another and to the frame. A filter screen  18  is shown in the shape in which it would be manufactured. The filter screen has a cut out  26  that allows the filter screen to form a dome-like shape when disposed over the trusses and connected to the frame. The rounded front end of the frame necessitates a cut out in the filter screen in order for the filter screen to fit the shape of the frame. When the dirt sifting attachment is assembled, the filter screen fully encloses the front end of the dirt sifting attachment. The filter screen is flexible and can be attached to the frame and disposed over the trusses. In this way the filter screen can be placed so as to at least partially enclose the open upper area of a wheelbarrow. 
     In one embodiment of the invention, the different unassembled components of the dirt sifting attachment may be removably attached together to form the assembled dirt sifting device of  FIG. 1 . In this embodiment, the individual components of the dirt sifting device may be removably attached together using any of a variety of commonly known means of attachment including but not limited to screws, nuts and bolts, or joint connections. In this way, the user could easily assemble the device when it is desired to be used, and disassemble the device for more convenient storage or transportation. In embodiments of the invention wherein the components of the dirt sifting attachment are not removable, the trusses or truss members, the filter screen, and the frame are attached via a weld connection or alternatively, by means of an adhesive. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , there is shown a perspective view of an embodiment of the dirt sifting attachment, wherein the filter screen is not connected to the frame along the portion of the frame corresponding to the front of the wheelbarrow. In the embodiment of  FIG. 4 , the filter screen  18  is not attached to the frame  11  along the portion of the frame that corresponds to the front of a wheelbarrow  25 . This embodiment allows a user to dump the sifted dirt that has accumulated in the wheelbarrow onto the ground simply by tipping the wheelbarrow. When the wheelbarrow is tipped, the dirt could fall through the portion of the dirt sifting device where the filter screen is not connected to the frame. This allows a user to dump the wheelbarrow without having to first remove the dirt sifting device. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , there is shown a side view of an embodiment of the dirt sifting attachment, wherein the filter screen is rectangular. The dirt sifting attachment  27  has a filter screen  18  that does not enclose the entire frame  11 . In this embodiment of the invention, the dirt sifting attachment is open at the front end and back end of the frame. The filter screen extends from the first side of the frame to the second side of the frame, and is disposed over the trusses  14 . In this embodiment, the filter screen is substantially rectangular. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 6 , there is shown a front view of an embodiment of the dirt sifting attachment, wherein the front of the filter screen closes by means of buttons. The dirt sifting attachment  21  has a filter screen  18  connected to the frame  11  and disposed over the trusses  14 . In this embodiment, the front of the filter screen is closed and secured by means of buttons  26 . In this way, the open upper area of the wheelbarrow is enclosed by the filter screen at the front end. The button closure secures together the portions of the filter screen that come into contact when the filter screen is disposed over the trusses and attached to the frame. Types of closures other than buttons are contemplated including a zipper type closure. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 7 , there is shown an embodiment of the present invention having a gutter disposed along the side of the filter screen. The dirt sifting attachment  21  comprises a gutter  28  permanently attached to a side of the frame  12  and which extends from the back of the frame to the front of the frame. The gutter comprises sidewalls and a bottom so as to define a channel along the side of the frame. Rocks and other debris that cannot pass through the filter screen, roll down the filter screen  18  and are caught in the gutter. The gutter prevents rocks and debris from falling onto the ground where the user would have to separately collect them. Instead, the user can simply clean the rocks and debris caught in the gutter. The gutter in the embodiment shown is sloped from the front end of the wheelbarrow towards the back end of the wheelbarrow, and the gutter is open at the back end of the wheelbarrow. In this way, the gutter helps to funnel the rocks and debris towards the open end of the gutter, allowing the user to easily collect the rocks and debris. In other embodiments of the invention shown in  FIG. 7 , the gutter is removably attachable to the frame such that a user can choose whether or not to use the gutter. In additional embodiments of the invention, the gutter may be disposed around the first side, the front end, and the second side of the frame. In this way, the gutter would be capable of catching rocks and debris that roll down any portion of the filter screen. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 8 , there is shown a perspective view of a collapsible embodiment of the dirt sifting attachment of the present invention. The dirt sifting attachment  29  comprises a first frame  30  connected by a hinge  32  to a second frame  31 . The first frame  30  comprises a filter screen  33  disposed thereon, and the second frame  31  comprises a filter screen  34  disposed thereon. The filter screens  33 ,  34  are secured about their perimeters to the frames  30 ,  31 , respectively. Each filter screen  33 ,  34  is arranged such that it is substantially flat and planar. The first frame  30  and second frame  31  each comprise a substantially rectangular shape, however, in other embodiments of the present invention the frames comprise alternate shapes. The dirt sifting attachment  29  can be placed over the open upper area of a wheelbarrow and can be secured thereon. A user may then shovel dirt, rocks, and other debris onto the filter screens  33 ,  34 , and the dirt will pass therethrough, while rocks and large debris will roll down the sides of the dirt sifting attachment and onto the ground. 
     Optionally provided along the outer edge of each frame  30 ,  31  is one or more frame handles  45 . The frame handles  45  are extensions that extend outward from the frames  30 ,  31  such that a user can utilize the same has hand holds when supporting the assembly  29  over a wheel barrow and between two users. The handles  45  are also useful for stabilizing the assembly  29  when positioned over a wheelbarrow and in an angled condition, as shown in  FIG. 8 . The frame handles  45  extend over the upper edge of the wheel barrow and stabilize the same during use. The handles  45  may be comprised of different geometry, falling within the scope of providing a location along the outer portion of each frame for a user to support the same or for securing the outer edge of each frame over the upper edge of a wheel barrow. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 9 , there is shown a perspective view of a collapsible embodiment of the dirt sifting attachment in a collapsed configuration. The dirt sifting attachment  29  can be rotated about the hinge  32  such that the first frame  30  overlaps the second frame  31 . The first frame and the second frame comprise the same dimensions such that when the dirt sifting attachment is collapsed, the first and second frames are in contact. The dirt sifting attachment  29  can be quickly and easily collapsed when not in use, and the collapsed configuration allows for convenient storage and transportation of the dirt sifting attachment. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 10 , there is shown a side view of a collapsible embodiment of the dirt sifting attachment in an open configuration. The hinge  32  of the dirt sifting attachment  29  allows the first frame  30  and second frame  31  to rotate towards or apart from one another. The hinge  32  is also adapted to allow the dirt sifting attachment  29  to be held and maintained open at any angle. In this way, the dirt sifting attachment  29  can be placed in an open configuration, and will not collapse under the weight of dirt or rocks placed onto the filter screen of the device. Thus, the hinge  32  is able to maintain the dirt sifting attachment open in a variety of angles. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 11 , there is shown a top view of a collapsible embodiment of the dirt sifting attachment in a flat orientation. The hinge  32  is shown as extending along the entire length of the dirt sifting attachment, and the hinge  32  allows for a wide range of motion. The dirt sifting attachment  29  can be arranged in a flat orientation wherein the first frame  30  is arranged in the same plane as the second frame  31 . Alternatively stated, the first frame and second frame can be positioned at a 180 degree angle. In this configuration, the user may place the dirt sifting attachment over a wheelbarrow, and can then shovel dirt and rocks onto the filter screens  33 ,  34 . The rocks and large debris will not pass through the filter screen, and will rest on top of the filter screen  33 . The rocks and large debris can then be removed by the user as desired. The hinge  32  of this embodiment may restrict the angle between the frames to a given range, whereby the assembly is locked when positioned in a 180 degree (flat) position as shown in  FIG. 11 . Alternatively the hinge  32  may be provided without such limitation. Also shown in  FIG. 11  is the positioning of the handles  45  along the frame outer edges. In this flat position, two users can support the opposite ends of the assembly while working. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 12 , there is shown a close-up view of one corner of a frame  30 ,  31  of the collapsible embodiment of the dirt sifting attachment. This view illustrates how the filter screen  34  may be attached along one side of the frame such that the filter screen  34  and the interior walls  40  of the frame form a partially enclosed volume to support dirt, debris, and rocks when sifting the same. The assembly can be positioned such that the filter screen  34  is below each frame  30 ,  31 , whereby the frame itself provides a perimeter wall and the filter screen  34  provides a lower sifting surface. This prevents larger debris and dirt from bypassing the screen  34  and falling from the side of the frame in use. The filter screen affixes to the frame along an upper surface thereof, whereby each frame forms a raised perimeter around the filter screen. This configuration as shown is but one configuration. The screen may also be attached in other configurations, as desired by the manufacturer. 
     Sifting unwanted materials out of dirt can be a laborious and time consuming process. Sifting by hand is particularly time consuming and does not ensure that all the unwanted materials will be removed from the soil. Hand sifters provide greater assurance that unwanted materials will be removed, but are limited by the size of the hand filter, and still require the user to hold the hand sifter in place during use. This arrangement is inconvenient to the user, and requires the user to sift the dirt in small portions suited to the size of the hand sifter. Further, other sifting devices for placement on the ground result in having the dirt sifted into a pile on the ground. If the user wishes to relocate the dirt, the user must shovel the dirt into a wheelbarrow or other container before moving the dirt to a desired location. This results in even more labor for the user in moving the sifted dirt into the storage container or wheelbarrow. 
     The present invention describes a dirt sifting attachment for a wheelbarrow that allows dirt to pass through the filter screen, but not larger matter. Further, the filter screen encloses the open upper area of the wheelbarrow, and the filter screen is oriented at an angle. In this way, a user can attach the dirt sifting device to a wheelbarrow, and simply shovel unsifted dirt onto the filter screen. Dirt would then fall through into the wheelbarrow, and larger matter would roll down the side of the filter screen and onto the ground. The filter screen ensures that only dirt will pass through and that unwanted material will not be collected. By shoveling dirt onto the filter screen, the user can quickly and efficiently sift the dirt pile by sifting larger portions of dirt than would be possible with a hand sifter or other similar device. Finally, the sifted dirt is neatly collected in the wheelbarrow for transportation to a desired location. 
     It is therefore submitted that the instant invention has been shown and described in various embodiments. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art. 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, materials, 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. 
     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.