Patent ID: 7178812

Claim:
A hand cart for lifting and transporting containers that have hand grip apertures or handles in their sides or ends, or an inverted U-shaped rim surrounding an open top end, the cart comprising: a a base having a wide generally U-shaped tubular cross member with a straight longer front portion and opposed ends that are bent to form shorter side portions that extend rearwardly in laterally spaced relation, an inverted generally V-shaped tubular member secured at a bottom end to said shorter side portions and having legs extending angularly upward therefrom adjoining a curved top portion, and an axle rod extending rotatably through said shorter side portions of said cross member near their rearward ends; a pair of wheels each mounted at a respective laterally opposed end of said axle rod, and said front portion of said cross member disposed in a plane forward of the outer diameter of said wheels; an elongate longitudinal handle member having a lower portion secured to said base extending vertically upward therefrom and having an upper portion; a handgrip on said upper portion of said handle member to be gripped by a user; and a J-shaped hook member adjustably mounted on said handle member, said hook member being adjustably positioned along the length of said handle member and releasably secured thereto at selected heights relative to a floor surface, and having an outer facing upturned portion adapted to receive and releasably engage a hand grip aperture or handle in the side or end of the container to be lifted, or an inverted U-shaped rim surrounding an open top end of the container, when said handle member is pivoted rearwardly relative to a vertical axis; wherein said cart is positioned closely adjacent to a proximal side or end of the container to be lifted and said handle member is pivoted forwardly about the horizontal axis of said wheels to position said hook beneath the hand grip aperture, handle or inverted U-shaped rim, and is then pivoted rearwardly about the axis of said wheels to engage said hook with the aperture, handle or rim and pivoted further rearwardly such that said front portion of said cross member engages a lower portion of the proximal side or end of the container to raise the container off of a floor supporting surface, and transport it to a desired location.