Improvements in Wheelbarrows and like Vehicles.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Dec., 1897-Accepted, 5th Feb., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Wheelbarrows and like Vehicles.
I, REMUS ARISTABULUS KNEELAND, of Lincoln Street, Benton Harbor, County
of Berrien, Michigan, U.S.A., Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement; —
This invention relates to a wheelbarrow provided with automatically supported
handles and a rear wheel and the object of the invention is to relieve the work-
man from heavy loads upon his arms.
In the accompanying drawing Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the wheelbarrow
of the invention. Fig. 2 a detail side view of the frame and bars carrying the
rear wheel and Fig. 3 a plan view of the same. Fig. 4 an enlarged detail view
of the adjusting mechanism. Fig. 5 a detail view of the rear part of the wheel-
barrow shewing the position of the parts when the handles are raised.
A, is the main body of the wheelbarrow as ordinarily constructed, A¹ the handles,
As the usual supporting legs secured at by their upper ends and suitably
braced by the rods a and connected by a cross piece a¹ formed with an offset a² for
the passage therein of the auxiliary wheel B. Between the handles is a frame
made up of side pieces C which carry the axle of the auxiliary wheel. Arms D
are pivotted on each end of the axle at their lower ends and on the handles at F
at their upper ends. The sides of the frame C extend upwards through suitable
loop guides G on the handles A¹. The rear edges of said frame are furnished with
ratchet teeth for engaging the loops G. E are levers for throwing the side pieces
or frame C forward to disengage the ratchet teeth from the loops G. These
levers are so placed that they can easily be operated by the workman without
releasing his hold on the handles. A cross piece H is provided between the side
pieces C just above the wheel B against which the workman can place his foot
or knee and thus permit the handles A¹ to be lowered and the barrow set down
or the levers E may be operated against the side pieces for this purpose.
The workman grasps the handles in the ordinary way and straightens up with
them until they come to the point corresponding to his height. The ratchet teeth
on the side pieces C engage the loops Gat that height and thus relieve the arms
of the workman, the wheel B thereby dropping down into the position of Fig. 5.
All that is necessary is to retain sufficient hold of the handles to prevent the
wheelbarrow from tipping over, and push it along, which requires very little
effort compared with the old style wheelbarrow and the weight is distributed on
the two wheels. In passing an obstruction the workman bears down heavily upon
the handles so as to lighten the load on the front wheel.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:-
The combination with a wheelbarrow, of an auxiliary wheel B, a frame com-
posed of side pieces C secured to the axle of said wheel and having teeth at their
upper ends, cross bar H between the side pieces C above the wheel B, arms D

page_text: pivotted to the axle at each side of the wheel and extending upwardly and for-
wardly and pivotally connected to the handles of the wheelbarrow, loop guides G
on the handles of the wheelbarrow for receiving the side pieces C and engaging
the teeth thereon and levers E pivotted to the handles of the wheelbarrow and
mounted to act upon the side pieces C and throw them out of engagement with
the guide loops G, substantially as described and shewn.
Dated this 28th day of December 1807
THOMAS R. SHILLITO,
89, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.