Patent ID: 7194929

Claim:
A pole for a hand pallet truck comprising: a pole bar linked to a support for a steerable wheel at a lower end and connected to a loop-shaped handle at an opposite end, an operating device within a space defined by the loop-shaped handle, said operating device being attached to a holding extension projecting into the handle in prolongation of the pole bar, and connectable to a lifting apparatus of the hand pallet truck via a first traction and pushing element, and connectable via a second traction and pushing element to a brake of the hand pallet truck, a first operating lever and a second operating lever respectively disposed on either side of the holding extension, each of said first and second operating levers being pivotally mounted on the holding extension in a plane essentially defined by the handle, wherein the operating device includes a housing, in which first and second mounting places are disposed, one for each of said first and second operating levers, each of said first and second operating levers projecting through a slot in a side of the housing with an actuating portion, in that the first and second mounting places are identically constructed and are symmetrically arranged to the axis of the holding extension, wherein said first operating lever is mounted at the first mounting place and one of said second operating lever and a third operating lever is mounted at the second mounting place, wherein and when said second operating lever is mounted at the second mounting place, the second operating lever is connected with the second traction and pushing element for the brake, in that the first and third operating levers are identically shaped and each have a an inner portion, in that a coupling mechanism connected to the first traction and pushing element is disposed inside the housing, wherein the coupling mechanism is constantly engaging the inner portion of the first operating lever and engages the inner portion of the third operating lever when said third operating lever is mounted at the second mounting place, and wherein a locking device for the second operating lever is further provided in said housing, wherein said locking device is actuated from a locking and unlocking lever mounted at a third mounting place and extending to the same side as the one of said second and third operating levers.