IM; PROVEMENTS IN WHEELBARROWS
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co.,
Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for the Invention of "IM;
PROVEMENTS IN WHEELBARROWS." A communication from abroad by François
Marie l'Herron, of Paris, France.
Sealed the 5th December 1879, and dated the 11th July 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 11th July 1879.
"
[A
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN WHEELBARROWS."
communication from abroad by François Marie l'Herron, of Paris, France.]
This Invention relates to improvements in wheelbarrows, the object being to
provide a wheelbarrow which will be more easy to handle, to propel, and to unload
than those at present in use.
In carrying the said Invention into practice the two sides of the wheelbarrow are
formed of two vertical and parallel panels or boards, and the transverse end or rear
panel, that is to say, the one at the wheel end, is fixed in a groove or on hinges, so
that it is movable and may be taken away or opened. These two arrangements
combined allow the load to be discharged with the greatest facility by opening the
said rear panel and lifting up the handles to a sufficient height, which diminishes
the labour of the workman and the wear of the wheelbarrow. The wheel is sup-
ported by two brackets formed of wood or metal under the body of the wheelbarrow,
the effect of which is to cause this wheel to bear three fourths of the load, and to
permit the lengthening of the feet or legs of the barrow in such a manner as to
greatly facilitate the handling thereof. The handles are parallel, and are separated
from each other by only about a foot and a half, so that the workmen may relieve
each other easily when required without its being necessary to place the feet of the
wheelbarrow upon the ground.
The said improved wheelbarrow, having a total length considerably less than that
of the ordinary wheelbarrows, may be propelled with great facility in very angular
roads and upon inclined planes.
The said movable or rear panel is attached to a bolt which forms a cross bar at
the upper part of the end of the body of the wheelbarrow, and unites the two side

page_text: or_rear panel,
In this manner the said movable panel remains always connected to the body,
thereby rendering the-unloading-or-discharging very easy.
In order to maintain the movable panel in position during the loading, and whilst
the vehicle is being propelled, I employ a bar of iron, which is fixed on a pivot in
the centre of the movable panel, and is maintained at its upper part by a piece
which guides it in its movement; its lower part penetrates like a latch into a catch
fixed on the bottom of the wheelbarrow. When the load is to be discharged the
upper end of the said iron bar is moved in such a manner as to cause its lower
extremity to come out of the said catch, and the movable panel then becomes free to
oscillate round the aforesaid bolt or crossbar.
The bar described as being pivotted in the centre of the movable panel may be
fixed completely upon the said panel, and prolonged downwardly in such a manner
as to pass beyond the bottom of the floor of the barrow. In this case-a bar is fixed
underneath the floor of the wheelbarrow, and its jointed rib terminates in a hooked
end, which when the wheelbarrow is closed confines the lower extremity of the bar
fixed to the movable panel; a handle at the end of the bar which passes under the
wheelbarrow allows the workman to open or to close the same without being obliged
to leave his place for that purpose.
In case the movable panel is made to slide it may rise and fall in a groove
conveniently arranged for that purpose.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 10th
January 1880.
A
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN WHEELBARROWS."
communication from abroad by François Marie L'Herron, of Paris, France.
My Invention relates to improvements in wheelbarrows, with a view to obtaining
vehicles more easily handled, propelled, guided, and unloaded than those at present
in use.
According to the said Invention the two sides of the barrow consist of two upright
parallel panels, and the end panel near the wheel is made. to slide or is hinged and
moveable, and can be either let down or removed. These two arrangements com-
bined enable the load to be discharged with the greatest ease by opening the said
end panel and raising the shafts to a sufficient height, tbus diminishing the labor of
the workman and the wear of the barrow.
Furthermore, the wheel is supported by two wooden or iron brackets under the
body of the wheelbarrow; the effect of this arrangement is that the wheel bears
three fourths of the load. Moreover, the legs of the barrow may be lengthened, thus
facilitating the handling of the same. The handles or shafts are parallel to each
other, and are only 18 inches apart or thereabouts, so that the workmen employed
on important works can relieve each other without allowing the feet of the barrow
to rest on the ground; and as the said improved wheelbarrow is considerably shorter.
than those ordinarily used it may be more easily wheeled or propelled in very
crooked or irregular roads and on inclined planes.
It will be understood that I can in certain cases dispense with the body of the
vehicle, and use instead a boarding or platform conveniently arranged for the carriage
of large blocks or pieces of stone and the like.
I have shewn in the accompanying Drawing, as an example of my Invention, a
wheelbarrow with a panelled body and one without a body constructed according to
my improvements.
As seen in Figures 1, 2, 3, which represent a barrow with a panelled body, the
moveable panel is hinged on a bolt b, which forms a tie-piece to the upper part of
the body of the barrow and holds together the two side panels A, A, at the same
time serving for the articulation of the hinges f, f, fastened to the moveable panel B.
Thus the moveable panel B remains always connected with the body whilst
facilitating the unloading of the wheelbarrow. To keep the panel B in its place
during the filling and carrying I make use of an iron bar G pivoted at O in the
centre of the panel B, and held at its upper end by a catch g which guides it in its
movement; its lower end enters like a latch in a staple or catch g' fixed to the
bottom of the wheelbarrow.
When it is necessary to open the body of the wheelbarrow to discharge its contents
the moving of the upper end of the rod G in the right direction suffices to free its
lower end from the slot g', and the moveable panel then swings freely on the hinge
bolt b.
The bolt or bar G hinged to the panel B can also be fixed immovably to the said
panel, and so extended as to project below the bottom of the barrow.
In this case a rod H fixed under the bottom and jointed or hinged at O' is termi-
nated at one end by a hook h, which when the barrow is closed engages with and
holds the lower end of the rod G. Adjacent to the handles, that is to say, at a point
near the workman who is wheeling the barrow, is placed a handle h¹ which allows
him to open or close the barrow without moving from his position.
When the moveable panel is constructed to slide, as shewn in Figure 4, it can be
raised or lowered in grooves conveniently formed and arranged for this purpose.

page_text: Figures 5 and 6 shew a wheelbarrow whose body or central portion has no sides
or panels; the arrangement of the frame, the legs, and the wheel is similar to that
above described. The two shafts or handles A' are connected by a series of cross
pieces K which form the bottom or platform; the said cross pieces or boards may
also be placed lengthwise or in any other suitable position.
It will be understood that my improved wheelbarrows may be manufactured of
either wood or metal, the latter being-particularly advantageous for my purpose:
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I claim the improved wheelbarrow constructed of wood or metal, and distin-
guished by the following novel features :-
First. The parallelism of the two side panels and the slight distance apart of the
handles or shafts, as and for the purposes specified.
Second. The capability of moving or adjusting the end panel which slides in
grooves or is hinged, and in the latter case is furnished with a conveniently arranged
catch or stop as above set forth.
Third. The manner of supporting the wheel by means of two wood or metal
brackets or hangers under the bottom of the wheelbarrow, as above set forth.
Fourth. The comparatively great length of the legs of the wheelbarrow, whereby
the lifting of the same is facilitated, as above set forth.
Fifth. The comparatively short length of the vehicle, which facilitates its move-
ment in curves of short radius and on inclined planes, as above set forth.
The whole of the parts being constructed substantially as above specified and as
shewn in the Drawing.
In witness whereof,. I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Tenth day of January, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty.