Patent Abstract:
A semi-enclosed pouring chute attachment for a wheelbarrow. The attachment sits on the front of the wheelbarrow and is secured by upper side channels and either rope of shock/bungee cords from the sides of the attachment to the handles of the wheelbarrow. In an alternate embodiment, the wheelbarrow container may have a funnel end as an integral part thereof.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to wheelbarrows, and in particular, to a semi-enclosed chute attachment for a wheelbarrow. 
     There is a need both in home and commercial applications for a wheeled tool which allows one to transport bulky or heavy loads. The most commonly used tool to accomplish this purpose is called a wheelbarrow. A wheelbarrow is generally comprised of a forward wheel, a frame joined to and extending back from the wheel and terminating at the back of the wheelbarrow in handles which the user lifts to roll the wheelbarrow, two support legs joined to the frame at the back of the wheelbarrow in front of the handles, and a container resting on the frame. The container, also referred to as a tray or a tub, typically is roughly rectangular in shape. The front of the wheelbarrow container may be somewhat rounded. A wheelbarrow is usually unloaded by tipping vertically over the front wheel. 
     Most wheelbarrows are designed to have the widest possible utility in transporting a variety of materials within the wheelbarrow. As such, the wheelbarrow is an effective and highly useful tool. However, some of the applications for which a wheelbarrow is effective require an accurate pouring of the contents being emptied from the wheelbarrow. The front shape of the normal wheelbarrow container provides a broader pouring front than is always desirable. The prior art contains various patents for devices with the purpose of expanding the capacity of a wheelbarrow tray. However, none of these devices specifically address the need to accurately channel the materials being emptied from the wheelbarrow. There is, therefore, a need for a pouring, chute-like attachment for a conventional wheelbarrow. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a semi-enclosed pouring chute attachment for a wheelbarrow. The primary function of the invention attachment is to serve as an accuracy enhancing channeling device for materials being emptied from the wheelbarrow. The material could be solids, semi-solids, or liquids. The attachment sits on the front of the wheelbarrow and is secured by upper side channels and either rope of shock/bungee cords from the sides of the attachment to the handles of the wheelbarrow. In an alternate embodiment, the wheelbarrow container may have a funnel end as an integral part thereof or as an insert. 
     These together with other objects of the invention, along with various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed hereto 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 made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated a preferred embodiment of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a right side elevational view of a conventional wheelbarrow. 
         FIG. 2  is a left side elevational view of a conventional wheelbarrow. 
         FIG. 3  is a rear perspective view of a conventional wheelbarrow. 
         FIG. 4  is a top view of a conventional wheelbarrow. 
         FIG. 5  is a side perspective view of a wheelbarrow with a chute attachment. 
         FIG. 6  is a front view a wheelbarrow with a chute attachment. 
         FIG. 7  is a top view a wheelbarrow with a chute attachment. 
         FIG. 8  is a top view of the chute attachment. 
         FIG. 9  is a section view along the lines  9 — 9  of  FIG. 8 . 
         FIG. 10  is a front perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 11  is a top view of the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 10 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to the drawings in detail wherein like elements are indicated by like numerals, especially  FIGS. 1–4 , reference numeral  10  generally represents a wheelbarrow having a front with a single forward wheel  11 , two side frame pieces  12 ,  13  running in a rearwardly diverging manner from the front wheel  11 , from which two handles  14 ,  15  are respectively extended and form a wheelbarrow rear, two rearward support legs  16 ,  17  each joined to a side frame piece  12 ,  13 , respectively, at the back of the wheelbarrow in front of the handles  14 ,  15 , and a container body  20  resting on the two side frame pieces  12 ,  13  behind the forward wheel  11  and in front of the handles  14 ,  15 , said container body  20  having an open top  21 , generally planar bottom  22  attached to said side frame pieces  12 ,  13 , upwardly and outwardly inclined opposing sides  23 ,  24 , an upwardly and outwardly inclined front end  25  and opposing rear end  26 . The container body front end  25 , rear end  26  and sides  23 ,  24  have a continuous rim  27  formed along the top  21 . On the forward end of the side frame pieces  12 ,  13  are respectively two bearings  18  in which a wheel shaft  19  is journaled. 
     Referring more particularly to  FIGS. 5–9 , the chute attachment embodying the features of the present invention is indicated generally at  30  and may be attached to the container body front end  25  and sides  23 ,  24 . The chute attachment  30  has a front spout  31  with two opposite side walls  32  curving downward and toward each other, thereby merging and forming a curved spout bottom  33 . The spout  31  has a forward end  34  and a rearward end  35 , said forward end  34  shaped generally like an open, half-cylinder. The chute attachment  30  has two sides  40  beginning at the spout rearward end  35  and extending from each spout side wall  32  rearwardly and divergently outward a predetermined distance. The predetermined distance for each side chute attachment side  40  is approximately equal to one-half the distance between the wheelbarrow container body sides  23 ,  24 . 
     At the predetermined distance each chute attachment side  40  diverges and extends rearwardly a desired distance in parallel relationship with the opposite side  40 . Each attachment side  40  has a top  41 , a bottom  42 , an interior surface  43 , an exterior surface  44 , and a rear end  45 , said interior surface  43  being defined as the surface facing the opposite side. The top  41  of each attachment side  40  is rolled inwardly forming a longitudinal interior surface channel  46  with an open bottom  47 . The attachment side rear end  45  has a plurality of holes  48  formed therein. The holes  48  are adapted to receive hooks  51  attached to bungee cords  50  or the like. 
     The chute attachment  30  is adapted to fit over the wheelbarrow container body front end  25  and sides  23 ,  24 , wherein the chute attachment side channels  46  are fitted over the container body rim  27 , channel open ends  47  first. A bungee cord  50  with two ends and a hook  51  attached to each end is looped over each wheelbarrow handle  14 ,  15  and the bungee cord hooks  51  placed into engagement with the respective chute attachment side holes  48 . Alternatively, a hole  28  could be drilled in each wheelbarrow container body side  23 ,  24 . The bungee cords  50  could then be replaced with a small mechanical fastener, e.g., bolt and wing nut, attached through a chute attachment side hole  48  and the wheelbarrow container body side hole  28 . 
     Referring more particularly to  FIGS. 10–11 , in an alternate embodiment of the invention, the wheelbarrow container body front end  25  is be shaped in the form of a spout  31 . The container body sides  23 ,  24  would merge into and form the spout side walls  32 . 
     It is understood that the above-described embodiment is merely illustrative of the application. Other embodiments may be readily devised by those skilled in the art which will embody the principles of the invention and fall within the spirit and scope thereof.

Technology Classification (CPC): 1