Improvements in or applicable to Hand-trucks.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 16th May, 1895
Complete Specification Left, 23rd Jan., 18:6-Accepted, 8th Feb., 1396
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or applicable to Hand-trucks.
We WILLIAM BLEAKLEY, Commercial Traveller, and Elizabeth Bleakley
his wife, both of 22 Bell Terrace, Barton near Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:
This, invention relates to the construction of hand-trucks, the object of the
invention being to enable such trucks to be used for many purposes for which they
are not at present adapted.
In the first place we form the truck with a fixed low back as usual, but inside
the latter we mount upon a suitable rod or axis a hinged frame preferably fitted
with suitable wirework, and so fixed that it can be let down flat upon the body
of the truck flush (or uearly so) with the two side shafts between which it will lie
when not required, so that the truck can be used as usual to move sacks, or other
heavy cases, or large packages of similar nature.
Should the truck, however, be required to carry a number of small cases, such
for example as soap-boxes or the like, the high back can be raised-so as to rest
against the fixed lower back in order to retain a number of such cases or packets
in place on the truck.
In cases where the truck is, or may be, required to carry a number of small
packets varying in size or shape, we provide the sides and the front with light
frames or flaps similar to (but preferably not so high as) the hinged back above
described, and we fix the side frames to the back and front frames by any convenient
means, such as hooks or bolts.
We prefer to prolong one of the stays of the back-frame on both sides
thereof, and to cut a notch in each prolongation, into which a short hinged catch,
similarly notched and pivotted to one of the side frames, can fit, and, the top of
the side frames are similarly notched to receive similar notched catches on the
front frame.
•
These frames or flaps when raised and locked together will form a light wire-work
or other box, open at the top, into which a number of small dissimilar packages
can be placed. Boxes or other articles too large to be put inside can be rested
upon the top of the side and front frames, which are made suitably strong to
support a considerable weight; the back, being as before stated higher than the
front and sides, will prevent such larger packages from sliding off the truck when
the shafts or handles are raised.
If desired a waterproof or other cover may be provided which may, when not in
use, be kept beneath or between the hinged frames or flaps, and thus it will be
always ready to hand when required.
When the frames or flaps are out of use and closed down upon the body of the
truck, suitable turnbuttons arranged upon the side shafts are moved over the
uppermost frame, that is, the high back above described, and thus the whole are
beld close and compact upon the truck which can then be used as a low backed.
truck of the ordinary construction.
Dated thin 15th day of May 1803
GEO. DAVIES & SON,
4, St. Ann's Square, Manchester, Agents for the Applicants.

page_text: Improvements in or applicable to Hand-trucks.
We WILLIAM BLEAKLEY, Commercial Traveller, and ELIZABETH BLEAKLEY
his wife, both of 22 Bell Terrace Barton near Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster, 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 the construction of hand trucks, the object of the
invention being to enable such trucks to be used for many purposes for which they
are not at present adapted.
The invention will be readily understood from the following description on
reference to the accompanying sheet of drawings.
Fig. 1 is a transverse section, and Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section, of a truck
such as is used by railway porters and others, but our invention is equally applicable
to other hand trucks with large or small wheels,
Fig. 3 is a plan of one side of the truck frame hereafter more particularly
referred to.
Figs. 4, 5 and 6 shew modifications and details hereafter more particularly
referred to.
In the first place we form the truck with a fixed low back a as usual, but inside
the latter we mount upon a suitable rod or axis a+ (see Fig. 2) a hinged frame b
preferably fitted with suitable wire-work as seen at 6+ (Fig. 1) and so fixed that
it can be let down flat upon the body of the truck flush (or nearly so) with the
two side shafts cc between which it will lie when not required, so that the truck
can be used as usual to move sacks, or other heavy cases, or large packages of
similar nature.
Should.the truck, however, be required to carry a number of small cases, such
for example as soap-boxes or the like, the high back can be raised so as to rest
against the fixed lower back a in order to retain a number of such cases or packets
in place on the truck; a sliding or other catch, such as d+ (Fig. 2), may be used
to fasten the back to the back a.
In cases, where the truck is, or may be required to carry a number of small
packets varying in size or shape, we provide the sides and the front with light
hinged or pivotted frames or flaps d d¹ d² similar to (but preferably not so high
as the hinged back above described, and we fix the side frames dd' to the
back b and front frame d by any convenient means such as hooks e, or bolts ƒ see
Figs. 4 and 5.
We may prolong one of the stays of the back frame b on both sides
thereof, and if necessary cut a notch in each prolongation into which a short
hinged catch g (see Fig. 2) similarly notched and pivotted to one of the side
frames d or d¹ can fit, and the top of the side frames may be similarly notched to
receive similar notched catches on the front frame, we prefer however the fastenings
shewn on Figs. 4 and 5.
These frames or flaps when raised and locked together as shewn on Figs. 1
and 2 will form a light wire-work or other box open at the top into which a number
of small dissimilar packages can be placed.
In some cases also we hinge a flap not shewn on the drawings to one of the side
frames d d. This flap will be wide enough to reach to the opposite side flap to
which it can be locked by a padlock or equivalent means.
In some cases we propose to form the hinged back of a top part 62 hinged
to two side pieces at 3, the level of the top of the side flaps d d' (see
Fig. 6) so that the upper part 2 of the hinged back may be brought down to
form a partial cover for the box formed by the front and side flaps d' d' d and the

page_text: lower part of the hinged back b. The hinge at 63 must be such that the part b²
cannot fall down backwards.
Boxes or other articles too large to be put inside can be rested upon the top of
the side and front frames d d₁d which are made suitably strong to support a
considerable weight; the back b being as before stated higher than the front and
sides will prevent such larger packages from sliding off the truck when the shafts
or handles are raised.
If desired a waterproof or other cover may be provided which
may, when
not in use, be kept beneath or between the hinged frames or flaps or in a box ór
pocket fitted beneath the bottom c¹ of the truck, and thus it will be always ready to
hand when required.
When the frames or flaps are out of use and closed down upon the body of the
truck, suitable turnbuttons, see h (Fig. 3) arranged upon the side shafts c are
moved over the uppermost frame, (say the high back above described) and thus the
whole are held close and compact upon the truck which can then be used as a low-
backed truck of the ordinary construction.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :--
1. In a band truck the combination of a fixed low back with a hinged high
back or frame substantially in the manner and for the purposes hereinbefore set
forth.
2. In a hand truck the combination with a fixed low back of the hinged back,
front, and side frames, substantially in the manner and for the purposes hereinbefore
set forth.
Dated this 22nd day of January 1896.
GEO. DAVIES & SON,
4, St. Ann's Square, Manchester, Agents for the Applicants.