Abstract:
A hand truck provided with an ejector mechanism which includes a pusher carried by the truck frame and, when actuated, moves forwardly across the truck platform to sweep a load off of the platform. The pusher plate is actuated by a foot actuated pedal or bar. Linkage between the pedal and plate results in response to vertical movement of the pedal. The ejector mechanism may be added into a number of hand trucks already in the field, or may be incorporated in newly produced trucks.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     Not applicable.  
       FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH  
       [0002]     Not applicable.  
       SEQUENCE LISTING, ETC ON CD  
       [0003]     Not applicable.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0005]     This invention relates to hand trucks, and more particularly to hand trucks having a load ejecting mechanism, such as a pusher plate or kick-off device to assist in removing a load carried by the hand truck.  
         [0006]     2. Description of Related Art  
         [0007]     The use of hand trucks for transporting goods, such as from a vehicle loading platform to a particular location in a warehouse or factory, is well known in the art. Typically, such hand trucks include a frame with a pair of ground engaging wheels at its lower end and a load bearing platform adjacent such wheels. In many designs, the under surface of such platform engages the ground during the placing or removing of a load on or from the platform. During movement of the hand truck, the frame, usually engaged adjacent its upper end by the user, is tilted rearwardly so the platform, as well as the frame, will be angularly disposed relative to the ground.  
         [0008]     After a load has been moved to its desired position on the floor, it is frequently difficult to remove the box or other load from the hand truck bed or platform on which it is supported. The prior art has suggested various systems for unloading the load from the platform or bed such as by tilting the platform or otherwise arranging for manually actuating a pusher mechanism, typically when the platform is at an angle to the floor. The prior art structures also usually result in a redesign of the hand truck itself.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0009]     In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, the ejection mechanism can be produced as a separate and discrete apparatus which can be added on or attached to a number of different hand trucks, thereby eliminating the necessity of having to change existing hand truck designs and providing an add-on market capability for the product.  
         [0010]     A further feature of the present invention results from the fact that the ejection mechanism may be activated when the load bearing platform is resting in a horizontal position on the floor, rather than requiring a tilting of all or a portion of the hand truck.  
         [0011]     Another feature of this invention is that the ejection mechanism includes a horizontally movable pusher plate or load kick-off bar movable from a retracted or inoperative position adjacent the truck frame at the inner or rear portion of the truck platform across the platform towards the forward portion of the latter, thereby pushing a load off the platform.  
         [0012]     A further feature of the present invention is that after actuation of the ejector mechanism, the pusher plate or kick-off bar automatically returns to its retracted inoperative position.  
         [0013]     Still another feature of this invention is that the ejector mechanism is actuated by the user&#39;s foot when the hand truck is in a fixed position adjacent the area on the floor on which the load is to be deposited.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0014]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of a generally conventional hand truck.  
         [0015]      FIG. 2  is a front perspective view similar to  FIG. 1  in which the hand truck is shown in dash-dash lines and the ejector mechanism of the present invention is shown operatively installed on the hand truck.  
         [0016]      FIG. 3  is a front perspective view of the ejector mechanism.  
         [0017]      FIG. 4  is a front perspective view of the lower portion of a hand truck with the ejector mechanism in a retracted inoperative position.  
         [0018]      FIG. 5  is a front perspective view similar to  FIG. 4 , but showing the ejector mechanism in its final forward load ejection position.  
         [0019]      FIG. 6  is a side elevational view of a portion of the lower end of a hand truck with the ejection mechanism shown in its retracted inoperative position.  
         [0020]      FIG. 7  is a view similar to  FIG. 6 , but illustrating the parts in their final push-off positions.  
         [0021]      FIG. 8  is an exploded perspective view of the apparatus shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 .  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0022]     The ejector mechanism  10  of the present invention is illustrated and will be described in connection with a hand truck  12  on which it may be installed as an add-on to an existing truck, or which may be incorporated as an integral part of the original hand truck assembly.  
         [0023]     Hand trucks may assume a wide variety of specific shapes and include a number of variations in style and specific functions. However, in connection with the present invention, truck  12  will be described in accordance with its basic structural and functional characteristics. As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , hand truck  12  includes a main frame  14 , and a load bearing platform  16  secured to the lower end of the frame. The plane of frame  14  is normally disposed at right angles to the ground, and platform  16  extends forwardly of and substantially normal to the frame so as to be generally parallel to and supported by the floor or other ground surface on which the truck is placed. When loading or unloading, the frame is disposed generally vertically and the platform generally horizontally.  
         [0024]     The truck  12  also includes a pair of ground engaging wheels  18  rotatably mounted on a shaft  20  disposed rearwardly of and generally parallel to the rear edge of platform  16 . The shaft is supported on a pair of spaced brackets  22  whose forward ends are welded or otherwise secured to the lower rear portion of spaced legs  14   a  and  14   b  of the frame  14 . The legs  14   a  and  14   b  terminate at their upper ends with an arcuate top frame portion  14   c  which may serve as a manually engageable handle or grip for maneuvering the hand truck.  
         [0025]     The rearward ends of brackets  22  are welded or otherwise secured to supplemental frame members  24   a  and  24   b  disposed rearwardly of and generally aligned with frame members  14   a  and  14   b . The upper ends of members  24   a  and  24   b  are curved forwardly and secured to medial portions of member  14   a  and  14   b . To compete the frame structure, a crossbar  26  extends between and is secured to member  24   a  and  24   b  to add rigidity to the structure.  
         [0026]     In addition to the use of frame portion  14   c  as a handle, a further handle  28  can be provided by attaching the same to a second crossbar  30  extending between and secured to members  14   a  and  14   b . The handle  28  is secured to a generally vertically disposed frame element  32  which extends downwardly and rearwardly and is secured to cross bar  26 , and then is angled downwardly and forwardly with the lower end of element  32  secured to a medial position of a web or lip  34  comprising the rearmost edge of platform  16 . It may be noted that the shaft  20  is generally equidistant from frame members  14  and  24 .  
         [0027]     With the foregoing explanation, it should be understood that a typical procedure would be to have a user manually engage arcuate frame portion  14   c  and/or handle  18 , and tilt the truck rearwardly so as to lift the platform away from the floor or other ground surface. The user may then maneuver the truck and roll the same to a location adjacent a load, such as a container  36  as illustrated in dash-dot lines in  FIGS. 6 and 7 . The user can then urge the leading edge of the platform  16  under the load or can lift the load and place it on the platform, preferably with the lower rear edge portion of the load placed against lip  24  and/or the forward surface of frame members  14   a  and  14   b . The user may then tilt or rock the upper end of the truck rearwardly, causing the platform  16  and the load disposed thereon to assume a tilted position and permit the user to roll the truck to a position at which the container  36  or other load on the platform is to be moved off or ejected from the truck platform. It is this step in the process at which the ejection mechanism of the present invention is put into play. At this time, the user has several options. He or she could tilt the truck forwardly attempting to dislodge the container and then moving the truck to the rear. Alternatively, the user could manually pick up the load and remove it from the truck platform. Preferably, and as will be presently described, by using the ejector mechanism, the user may merely step down on an actuator causing a pushing plate or bar to move forwardly over the platform and push the load off of the same.  
         [0028]     The ejector mechanism  10 , as above explained, is configured to fit and be mounted on a number of different hand trucks previously sold without any provision for assisting in the removal of containers or other loads from platform  16 . However, the same mechanism can be incorporated in the original manufacture of the truck.  
         [0029]     Mounted on shaft  20  intermediate each wheel  18  and its adjacent bracket  22  is a bracket  40 . As best seen in  FIGS. 3 and 8 , the bracket  40  consists of generally flat sheet metal having upper and lower vertically extending and horizontally offset web portions  42  and  44  interconnected by a generally horizontal flange portion  46 , defining a generally Z-shaped cross-section. The flange portion is seated at its associated bracket  22  and is secured thereon by machine screws  48  or the like. The lower web portion  44  is provided with an aperture  48  through which shaft  20  extends. Each upper web portion  42  is provided with a bearing  50  for rotatably receiving and supporting a rod  52  capable of rocking oscillatory movements in the bearings. The rod  52  is disposed generally above and parallel to platform lip  34 .  
         [0030]     Releasably attached to rod  52  and extending rearwardly therefrom is a pair of laterally spaced arms  54  having distal end portions terminating in a foot engageable actuating bar or pedal  56 . Also attached to rod  52  adjacent arms  54  is a pair of generally downwardly extending arms  58  forming a substantial right angle with arms  54 . The lower distal end portions of arms  58  are secured to the rear end portions of links  60 . Springs  62  connect upper end portions of arms  58  to medial portions of brackets  22 . These springs normally urge the parts just described into the inoperative position best shown in  FIGS. 2, 4 , and  6 .  
         [0031]     The forward ends of links  60  carry a pusher plate  64  whose normal inoperative position is adjacent the rearmost portion of platform  16 . However, as should be apparent from the foregoing description, when a user desires to eject a load from the platform, the frame is placed in its upright position, and the user will step downwardly on actuating bar  56 , rocking the members  54 ,  52 , and  56  against the force of springs  62 , and cause plate  64  to sweep forwardly over the platform  16  so as to push or eject a load disposed on the platform. This is best shown in  FIGS. 5 and 7 . When the load is pushed off the platform, the user can release foot pressure, and the springs will bring the parts back to their normal inoperative condition.