Abstract:
An wheelbarrow attachment for a typical wheelbarrow, the attachment removably fitting over the lip and bucket of the back of the wheelbarrow and therefrom extending upward and backward from the rear of the bucket. The u-channels fitting the bucket are connectively braced. Inner uprights attach to the u-channels and are adjustably fitted for height, and fore and aft adjustment of a padded cross plate connecting the inner uprights. A user braces and pushes with his/her body, offering greater force for propelling the wheelbarrow and greater stability in handling a loaded wheelbarrow.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   Not Applicable 
   FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
   Not Applicable 
   INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISK 
   Not Applicable 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to an accessory for a wheelbarrow and more specifically to a wheelbarrow attachment for the back of the bucket of the wheelbarrow for aiding a user can in supporting and propelling a wheelbarrow. 
   2. Description of the Prior Art 
   Wheelbarrows and the difficulty of using them are familiar to the public and professional sectors. While the prior art teaches methods of improving wheelbarrows, none addresses the problems solved by the present invention. By way of example: 
   U.S. Pat. No. 5,436,232 to Bushon, Sep. 13, 1994 discloses a cross member mounted to and extending between the handleshafts of a wheelbarrow. The device does not address the issues of stability, as does the present invention, and it does not allow the involvement of the upper body for stability and force application. As such, it differs greatly from the present invention. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 4,236,723 to Lemmon, Dec. 2, 1980 discloses a pull cart for attaching to a user&#39;s hips. The invention does not resemble a wheelbarrow, or a wheelbarrow attachment. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 2,080,332 to Palthe, May 11, 1937 discloses a wheelbarrow which relocates the wheel. While an extension is shown against which a user may push, the wheelbarrow and its components differ greatly from the present invention and from those wheelbarrows currently in use to which the present invention attaches. 
   While the above-described devices fulfill their respective and particular objects and requirements, they do not describe a wheelbarrow attachment that provides for the advantages of the present invention, therefore, a need exists for an improved wheelbarrow attachment, particularly one that fits the back of the bucket of the wheelbarrow and aids in supporting and propelling a wheelbarrow by utilizing the upper body of a user. In this respect, the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of wheelbarrow devices now present in the prior art, the wheelbarrow attachment for the back of the bucket of the wheelbarrow overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages and drawbacks of the prior art. As such, the general purpose of the wheelbarrow attachment for the back of the bucket of the wheelbarrow, described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a wheelbarrow attachment which has all of the advantages of the prior art mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in an improved wheelbarrow attachment which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by the prior art, either alone or in combination thereof. 
   To accomplish this, the wheelbarrow attachment is removably attached to a typical wheelbarrow and affords a user the ability to stabilize a loaded wheelbarrow. The wheelbarrow attachment also provides for a user to utilize his or her chest to propel the wheelbarrow, thereby exerting greater propulsion force than would otherwise be exerted. Stability and greater force application result in a wheelbarrow that is much easier to move, especially across soft or rough ground, when heavily loaded, and/or up an incline. Further, by utilizing a user&#39;s chest, wrist strain is greatly reduced. Wrist strain is of considerable concern in utilizing a wheelbarrow. The wheelbarrow attachment is practical for commercial or home use and significantly increases the load that a user can stabilize and transport with a typical wheelbarrow. 
   The wheelbarrow attachment is comprised of inner and outer uprights. The inner uprights are further comprised of transverses which extend horizontally backward from the inner uprights and terminate in a cross plate. A pad base is mounted to the cross plate and a cushioning pad, preferably covered, is mounted to the pad base. The inner uprights are adjustably attached to the outer uprights. Outer uprights terminate downwardly in u-shaped channels. A foreleg and an aft leg comprise the u-shaped channels. An inner brace connects one foreleg to the other, and an outer brace connects one aft leg to the other. U-shaped channels are thereby stabilized and also fitted around a back and lip of a typical wheelbarrow bucket. A spacer is provided to snugly fit between the aft legs and an outer brace, just below the lip of the wheelbarrow. The spacer further stabilizes the attachment of the invention to the wheelbarrow. 
   The adjustable attachment of the inner and outer uprights is provided by equidistantly spaced holes. Holes are in the upper extremity of the outer uprights and the lower extremity of the inner uprights. Holes are positioned such that the inner uprights can be adjustably fastened, via typical bolts, to the outer uprights. Adjustability is provided for height and for fore and aft positioning of the transverses. As the transverses move, so moves the pad, providing adjustment for any size user or virtually any situation encountered. 
   Preferably, the wheelbarrow attachment is made substantially of metal or of rugged plastic; however, further embodiments utilize composites and alloys. The pad is upholstered in typical style with vinyl or the like. A further embodiment comprises a one piece molded pad bonded to the cross plate, a practice familiar to those skilled in the art of construction equipment and the like. 
   Thus has been broadly outlined the more important features of the wheelbarrow attachment so that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. Numerous objects, features and advantages of the wheelbarrow attachment will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the following detailed description of presently preferred, but nonetheless illustrative, embodiments of the wheelbarrow attachment when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In this respect, before explaining the current embodiments of the wheelbarrow attachment in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustration. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. It is also to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for purposes of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
   Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception upon which this disclosure is based may readily be utilized as a basis for the design of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the wheelbarrow attachment. 
   It is therefore important that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
   A primary object, then, of the wheelbarrow attachment is to provide for additional force application to a typical wheelbarrow and its load. 
   An added object of the wheelbarrow attachment is to provide greater stability in handling a loaded wheelbarrow. 
   Further, it is an object of the wheelbarrow attachment to reduce strain in handling a typical loaded wheelbarrow. 
   And, it is an object of the wheelbarrow attachment to provide for easy attachment to a typical wheelbarrow. 
   Further, it is an object of the wheelbarrow attachment to provide height and angle of pad adjustment. 
   These together with additional objects of the wheelbarrow attachment, along with various novel features that characterize the invention are particularly pointed out in the claims forming a part of this disclosure. 
   For better understanding of the wheelbarrow attachment, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its uses, refer to the accompanying drawings and description. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a lateral view of the wheelbarrow attachment in use. 
       FIG. 2  is a lateral view of the wheelbarrow attachment. 
       FIG. 3  is a front view of the wheelbarrow attachment. 
       FIG. 4  is a rear view of the wheelbarrow attachment. 
       FIG. 5  is a lateral cross sectional view of the pad, cross plate and related components of the wheelbarrow attachment. 
       FIG. 6  is a lateral view of an inner upright, illustrating adjustment holes. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   With reference now to the drawings, and in particular  FIGS. 1 through 6  thereof, the preferred embodiment of the wheelbarrow attachment employing the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference number  10  will be described. 
   Referring to  FIG. 1 , wheelbarrow attachment  10  is attached to typical wheelbarrow  30 . Wheelbarrow  30  is filled with load  33  and in transit up incline  34 . User  31  grasps typical handles  32  and further leverages and stabilizes wheelbarrow  30  by pushing against attachment  10  with his chest. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 2 ,  3 , and  4 , the attachment  10  for a typical wheelbarrow  30  comprises two parallelepiped inner uprights  50  and two parallelepiped outer uprights  51 . Each upright  51  terminates downwardly at a u-shaped channel  13  ( FIG. 2 ). Each u-shaped channel  13  comprises a foreleg  11  disposed forwardly and downwardly for fitting within the rearward section of bucket  35  of wheelbarrow  30 . Each unshaped channel  13  further comprises a shorter aft leg  12  for fitting without and rearward of the rearward section of bucket  35 . A horizontally disposed parallelepiped outer brace connects the aft legs  12  to each other. Parallelepiped spacer  28  fits horizontally between outer brace  23  and bucket  35 , just below lip  36 . Spacer  28  is fastened to outer brace  23  via screws (not shown) through brace holes  19 . Parallelepiped inner brace  24  fits transversely within the back of bucket  35  and connects forelegs  11  together, thereby further supporting invention  10  against and within bucket  35 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 2 ,  5 , and  6 , transverses  15  are continuous with and extend horizontally backward from upper ends of inner uprights  50 , in a plane generally perpendicular to inner uprights  50 . Inner uprights  50  adjustably fit medially and against outer uprights  51 . Outer uprights  51  further comprise outer pivot hole  70 , outer pivot hole  71 , outer pivot hole  76 , and outer pivot hole  77 . Pivot hole  70  is forwardly uppermost and through both sides of inner upright  50 . Outer pivot hole  76  is below outer pivot hole  70 . Outer uprights  51  further comprise center hole  73 , center hole  74 , and center hole  75 . Center hole  73  is centered and uppermost. Center hole  74  is below center hole  73 . Center hole  75  is below center hole  74 . Outer pivot hole  71  is rearwardly upmost, and outer pivot hole  77  is below outer pivot hole  71 . Inner uprights  50  are comprised of inner pivot hole  60 , inner pivot hole  61 , center hole  63  and center hole  64 . Inner pivot hole  60 , inner pivot hole  61 , center hole  63 , and center hole  64  correspond with holes of outer uprights  51 . For explanation, pivot hole numbers on opposite uprights are reversed such that the same paired number sequences are used for each side, when height and fore and aft movement of inner uprights  50  are adjusted. For highest adjustment of inner uprights  50 , typical bolts are inserted into outer holes  73  of outer upright  51  and through inner holes  63  of inner upright  50 . Bolts are also inserted through center hole  74  and center hole  64 , thereby further supporting inner uprights  50 . Bolts are secured by typical nuts on the inside of inner uprights  50 . 
   To set inner uprights  50  to lowest position, bolts are inserted into center holes  74  and through center holes  63 . Supporting bolts are inserted through center holes  75  and center holes  64 . 
   Fore and aft pivotal adjustment of inner uprights  50  is also provided via corresponding hole selections in inner uprights  50  and outer uprights  51 . Pivoting inner uprights  50  forward consequently moves pad  21  forward. Pivoting inner uprights  50  backward pivots pad  21  backward. At any point in pivoting inner uprights  50  or raising and lowering inner uprights  50 , a variety of paired positioned holes are be chosen. Choosing two pair of corresponding holes per upright provides stability and rigidity for inner uprights  50  over choosing only one pair of corresponding holes. 
   Referring again to  FIG. 5 , transverses  15  terminate rearwardly at the attachment of horizontal cross plate  29 . Cross plate  29  thereby locates and supports transverses  15  and hence inner uprights  50 . Cross plate  29  provides for fastening of pad base  20  to cross plate  29  via typical fasteners  40 . Pad base  20  is fitted with pad  21  facing rearwardly. Pad  21  is outwardly surrounded by pad cover  22 . Pad cover  22  extends around the forward edges of base  20 . Pad cover  22  is fastened to the forward side of base  20  via typical tacks  41  passing through pad cover  22  into base  20 . 
   In use, outer uprights  51  of the wheelbarrow attachment  10  are secured as chosen to the inner uprights  50 . Inner uprights  50  are placed such that pad  21  faces user  31 . U-shaped channels  13  are placed over lip  36  of typical wheelbarrow  30  and abutted downwardly against lip  36 . 
   Forelegs  11  are within bucket  35 . Outer uprights  51  are centered between handles  32 . Spacer  28  is inserted between outer brace  23  and back of bucket  35 . Spacer  28  is inserted just below the lip  36  of bucket  35 . Brace holes  19  in brace  23  are utilized for inserting screws through brace holes  19  and into spacer  28 . Invention  10  is thereby firmly secured to bucket  35  of typical wheelbarrow  30 . 
   As above-instructed, user  31  selectively further adjusts height and angle of inner uprights  50  by choosing to bolt through the various hole combinations. User  31  loads wheelbarrow as desired. User  31  lifts wheelbarrow  30  by grasping handles  32 . User  31  leans his/her chest against pad  21 , thereby further supporting wheelbarrow  30 . User  31  pushes with chest to propel wheelbarrow  30  up incline  34 . 
   With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the wheelbarrow attachment, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and the 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.