Patent Publication Number: US-2010109269-A1

Title: Axle bracket for wheelbarrow

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to axle brackets for a wheelbarrow and, more specifically, to an axle bracket for a light duty, or toy, wheelbarrow wherein the axle brackets are structured to act as end caps and are mirror images of each other. 
     1. Background Information 
     Wheelbarrows are one of mankind&#39;s oldest inventions. Generally, a tray or platform is supported on a frame having a forward wheel and two rearward supports. Two handles, which are typically coupled to, or unitary with, the frame extend from the rearward side of the tray. That is, a common frame comprises two elongated members extending from the front of the tray to a point beyond the rear of the tray whereby the frame members also form the handles. With this type of frame the elongated members are angled so as to be spaced apart behind the tray and adjacent to each other at the front of the tray. The wheel is typically disposed between the handles at the front end of the tray. 
     As wheelbarrows are generally structured to be tipped forward, and as wheelbarrows are generally structured to support heavy loads, it is very common for the forward tips of the handles to be protected, and linked together, by a wheelguard. The wheelguard is a bracket that extends laterally between the handle members and may act as a pivot point when the wheelbarrow is tipped forward. By covering the tips of the handles, the wheelguard hides the exposed grain of a wooden handle or the open end of a tubular, metal frame member. The wheelguard, by structurally linking the handles, also helps provide a robust frame assembly. As wheelbarrows are generally intended to carry heavy loads, a robust frame assembly is considered an advantage. 
     Because of this very few wheelbarrows are constructed without a wheelguard. One type of wheelbarrow that does not have a wheelguard is a toy wheelbarrow constructed of light materials and generally intended for use as an entertainment/learning device for children. Such toy wheelbarrows typically have the forward ends of the handles exposed and subject to degradation. 
     It is further noted that, because the handles are structured to be coupled to the wheel, the handles must extend at least to the location of the wheel. When a wheelguard is used, the handles typically extend beyond the wheel. Conversely, when no wheelguard is used there is no reason to have the handle extend beyond the wheel. Thus, on most toy wheelbarrows the handles end adjacent to the wheel. In other words, the wheel is typically coupled to the handles at the forward end of the handles. 
     The coupling for the wheel on a toy wheelbarrow could be as simple as a U-shaped bracket attached to the lower side of the handle and through which the axle is extended. Such brackets are typically held on by threaded fasteners. Thus, such axle brackets include several parts, require that holes be drilled, or made by the fasteners, in the handle front ends, and require time to assemble. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The disclosed concept provides for a wheelbarrow axle bracket that is also a handle end cap structured to enclose the forward end of each handle member. As the end caps are disposed in the same general location that a traditional axle bracket would occupy, the end cap includes an axle support structured to be rotatably coupled to an axle. This configuration reduces manufacturing costs and assembly time as the traditional axle brackets are not included and do not have to be attached by a fastener to the handle front ends. Further, to reduce manufacturing costs, the end caps are structured to be “reversible.” That is, the end caps are symmetrical about a horizontal plane and may be used on the handle front end on either side of the wheelbarrow. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       A full understanding of the invention can be gained from the following description of the preferred embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is an isometric view of a wheelbarrow.  FIG. 1A  is a detail of the axle bracket. 
         FIG. 2  is an isometric view of an axle bracket. 
         FIG. 3  is a top view of an axle bracket. 
         FIG. 4  is a bottom view of an axle bracket. 
         FIG. 5  is a front view of an axle bracket. 
         FIG. 6  is a back view of an axle bracket. 
         FIG. 7  is a outer side view of an axle bracket. 
         FIG. 8  is an inner side view of an axle bracket. 
         FIG. 9  is an isometric view of an alternate axle bracket. 
         FIG. 10  is a front view of an alternate axle bracket. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     As used herein, “coupled” means a link between two or more elements, whether direct or indirect, so long as a link occurs. 
     As used herein, “directly coupled” means that two elements are directly in contact with each other. 
     As used herein, “fixedly coupled” or “fixed” means that two components are coupled so as to move as one while maintaining a constant orientation relative to each other. 
     As used herein, the word “unitary” means a component is created as a single piece or unit. 
     As used herein, unless otherwise noted, directional terms, such as, but not limited to, “forward,” “back,” “right,” “left,” “upper,” “lower,” and “lateral” correspond to the orientation of the wheelbarrow from the perspective of a user standing at the handle portion looking toward the tray—that is, the normal position a user would occupy to move the wheelbarrow. Such directional terms are not limiting upon the claims. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , a wheelbarrow  10  includes a tray  12 , a frame assembly  14 , and a wheel assembly  16 . The tray  12  may be generally flat (not shown) or may be a hopper (as shown). The frame assembly  14  includes a plurality of members  18 . The frame assembly members  18  form a wheel yoke  20  structured to be coupled to the wheel assembly  16 . Preferably, the frame assembly members  18  include two elongated handle members  22 ,  24  that extend from near the front of the tray  12  to a point beyond the back of the tray  12 . As is known, the handle members  22 ,  24  are positioned underneath the tray  12  and are angled relative to each other. That is, the portion of the handle members  22 ,  24  extending from the back of the tray  12  are spaced apart from each other and may be used as handles. The portion of the handle members  22 ,  24  near the front of the tray  12  are disposed relatively close to each other and form the wheel yoke  20 . Alternately, the wheel yoke  20  may be constructed from frame members  18  that do not form the handles of the wheelbarrow  10  (not shown). In either embodiment, the wheel yoke frame members  26  each have a front end  30  with a front surface  36 . 
     Typically, the frame members  18 , including the wheel yoke frame members  26 , are made from either wood (shown) or tubular metal members (not shown). With wooden wheel yoke frame members  26 , the front surface  36  is exposed wood grain, with tubular metal members, the front surface  36  is an exposed opening. As such, the front surfaces  36  are unattractive and prone to damage, and an end cap assembly  60 , as discussed below, is provided to cover each front surface  36 . 
     The wheel assembly  16  includes a wheel  40  and an axle  42 . The wheel assembly  16  is structured to provide a rotatable wheel  40 . Typically, this is accomplished by having fixed axle  42  and having the wheel  40  rotatably disposed thereon. In such a configuration a bearing (not shown) is disposed between the wheel  40  and the axle  42 . Alternately, the axle  42  may be fixed to the wheel  40  and the axle  42  may be rotatably coupled to a wheel yoke  20 . That is, the wheel yoke  20  includes a bearing  21 , or similar structure, into which a fixed axle  42  may be disposed. Either type of wheel assembly  16  may be used with the axle bracket  50  discussed below. 
     The wheel assembly  16  is coupled to the frame assembly  14  by a pair of opposed axle brackets  50  wherein an axle bracket  50  is disposed at each wheel yoke frame member front end  30 . As noted above, it is desirable to protect the wheel yoke frame member front end  30 . Accordingly, each axle bracket  50  includes an end cap assembly  60  having a body  62 , an axle support  64  and coupling device  66 . The end cap assembly body  62  includes at least a front side  70  structured to protect the wheel yoke frame member front surface  36 . In the preferred embodiment, the end cap assembly body  62  also includes at least an inner side  72 , that is, “inner” meaning the side of the end cap assembly body  62  adjacent the longitudinal centerline of the wheelbarrow  10 . In a more preferred embodiment, the end cap assembly body  62  defines a substantially enclosed space  74 . That is, the end cap assembly body  62  preferably includes a front wall  80  and a depending sidewall  82 . The end cap assembly body  62  is open on the side opposite the front wall  80 . Thus, the front surface of the front wall  80  is the front side  70  and a portion of the sidewall  82  is the inner side  72 . In the embodiment shown in the figures, the wheel yoke frame members  26  have a generally square cross-section and the end cap assembly body  62  has a corresponding shape. That is, the end cap assembly body sidewall  82  has a plurality of generally planar sides including a top side  84 , a bottom side  86 , an outer side  88 , and, as noted above, an inner side  72 . It is noted that, when an end cap assembly  60  is installed on the opposing wheel yoke frame member  26 , the top side  84  and bottom side  86  are reversed. However, the inner side  72  and outer side  88  remain, respectively, the inner side  72  and the outer side  88 . The invention is not limited to a wheel yoke frame member  26  having a specific shape; the end cap assembly body  62  corresponds to the wheel yoke frame member&#39;s  26  shape. The end cap assembly enclosed space  74  is, preferably, slightly larger than the cross-section of the yoke frame member front end  30 . 
     The end cap assembly axle support  64  is structured to be rotatably coupled to the wheel  40 . As noted above, the wheel  40  may rotate on the axle  42  or the axle  42  may be fixed to the wheel  40  and rotate in the end cap assembly axle support  64 . In either configuration, the wheel  40  is rotatable relative to the end cap assembly axle support  64 . The end cap assembly axle support  64  is a construct defining a cylindrical cavity  90 . Thus, the end cap assembly axle support  64  is preferably a tubular member  92  which may have additional support ribs  93  for strengthening the connection between the end cap assembly axle support  64  and the end cap assembly body  62 . The end cap assembly axle support  64  and the end cap assembly body  62  are preferably a unitary body. 
     The end cap assembly axle support  64  is preferably positioned on an inner side  72  of the end cap assembly body  62 . That is, the end cap assembly body inner side  72  has an exterior surface  76 . Here “exterior” is used in reference to being outside the substantially enclosed space  74 . Thus, the end cap assembly axle support  64  is disposed on the exterior surface  76  of the end cap assembly body inner side  72 . Alternately, as shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10 , the end cap assembly axle support  64  may be disposed on the exterior surface of the end cap assembly body front wall  80 . In this configuration, the end cap assembly axle support  64  may be open on both sides and, as such, the end cap assembly axle support  64  may define a passage (not shown) rather than a cavity  90 . Accordingly, as used herein, the end cap assembly axle support “cavity  90 ” shall mean any defined space structured to support an axle  42 , e.g., two spaced loops. In either embodiment, the longitudinal axis of the cavity  90  extends generally horizontally and generally perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the wheelbarrow  10 , as described below. 
     To reduce manufacturing costs, it is advantageous for the end cap assemblies  60  to be generally identical. That is, preferably, an end cap assembly  60  may be used on either wheel yoke frame member  26 . It is noted that because the wheel yoke frame members  26  are typically extensions of the handle members  22 ,  24 , the wheel yoke frame member  26  are typically angled towards each other at the front ends  30 . Because of this, and because the longitudinal axis of the cavity  90  extends generally perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the wheelbarrow  10 , the end cap assembly axle support  64  may not extend generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the end cap assembly body  62 . That is, the longitudinal axis of the end cap assembly axle support  64  must extend at an angle relative to the axis of the end cap assembly body  62 . The angle between the longitudinal axis of the end cap assembly axle support  64  and the axis of the end cap assembly body  62  depends upon the angle of the handle members  22 ,  24  relative to the longitudinal axis of the wheelbarrow  10 . Further, because of this configuration, for the end cap assembly  60  to be “reversible,” i.e. usable on either side of the wheelbarrow  10 , the end cap assembly body  62  and the end cap assembly axle support  64  must be generally symmetrical about a horizontal plane, wherein “horizontal” relates to the end cap assembly  60  only, not the end cap assembly  60  as it is positioned on the wheelbarrow  10 . 
     The end cap assembly coupling device  66  is structured to couple the end cap  60  to the wheel yoke frame member front ends  30 . Preferably, the end cap assembly coupling device  66  utilizes a friction fit, an adhesive, at least one fastener, or a combination thereof. For example, in one embodiment, the end cap assembly coupling device  66  includes ribs  100  on the inner surface of the end cap assembly body  62 . In this configuration, when the end cap assembly body  62  is disposed over the yoke frame member front end  30 , the ribs  100  create a friction fit. Alternately, an adhesive  102 , such as, but not limited to, glue or epoxy, may be applied to a portion of the end cap assembly body  62  interior surface prior to positioning the end cap assembly body  62  over the yoke frame member front end  30 . The cured adhesive  102  secures the end cap assembly  60  to the yoke frame member front end  30 . 
     In the third alternative, the end cap assembly body  62  includes at least one fastener opening  68  and the end cap assembly coupling device  66  is a fastener  94 , such as, but not limited to, a screw or bolt. The fastener  94  extend through the end cap assembly body opening  68  and into the yoke frame member front end  30  (shown) or the yoke frame member front surface  36  (not shown). The yoke frame member front end  30  may include a hole (not shown) structured to be engaged by the fastener  94 . As shown, the end cap assembly body opening  68  may be an elongated slot  69 . Such a slot  69  allows the user to adjust the position of the end cap assembly  60  longitudinally on the yoke frame member front end  30 . 
     While specific embodiments of the invention have been described in detail, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various modifications and alternatives to those details could be developed in light of the overall teachings of the disclosure. Accordingly, the particular arrangements disclosed are meant to be illustrative only and not limiting as to the scope of invention which is to be given the full breadth of the claims appended and any and all equivalents thereof.