Patent Document

BACKGROUND  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to a tiltable hand truck having a tiltable platform for the loading of heavy objects further having a steeling assembly that allows for the movement of the heavy object in any direction. The present invention is particularly adaptable to lift any object that can be tipped or tilted to facilitate loading onto the tiltable platform.  
           [0002]    A variety of hand trucks and dollies for movement of heavy objects are commercially available. Hand trucks and dollies can be used for a variety of purposes, such as transportation of heavy plant pots, movement of heavy boxes in warehouses, movement of heavy furniture and equipment, and generally facilitating the movement of heavy articles from one point to another. Many of these hand trucks and dollies are awkward to maneuver and exert much strain on the operator&#39;s joints, back, and muscles. Many of the commercially available hand trucks and dollies can cause severe injuries when improperly handled or improperly balanced. The present invention addresses these problems, and provides related benefits.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    The present invention relates to a tiltable hand truck that is safe to use and easily maneuverable, which requires the minimum amount of energy required for movement of heavy objects. The present invention provides a tiltable hand truck with minimal risk of injury and minimal risk of accidents for the operator while operating the present invention. This is because unlike existing dollies where the operator&#39;s body and strength acts to balance the weight of the object to be moved, the present invention required minimum energy to load an object and minimum effort and skill to maneuver.  
           [0004]    One objective of the present invention is to provide an improved hand truck with a tiltable platform that is particularly adaptable to lift any object that can be tipped or tilted to facilitate loading onto the tiltable platform. The tilting of a heavy object that is to be moved requires much less energy than lifting the object. Tipping or tilting the object to be moved, exposes its underside, allowing the tiltable platform of the present invention to engage the object and act as a receiving dock for the tilted object. Moving the tiltable platform back to level position causes the weight of the object to balance at the pivot point and be loaded onto the tiltable platform with ease and without much effort by the operator. One advantage of the present invention is that the tiltable platform lifts into position the object to be moved in an upright position, which can then be transported and steered away to the location of choice.  
           [0005]    Another objective of the present invention is to provide a hand truck with preferably a latchable tilting platform that can be tilted such that one end swings downwards to the ground and the opposite end swings upwards forming an incline. The end that swings downward can be positioned such that the topside of the tilting platform comes into contact with the bottom side of the tilted object to be moved. When the platform is tilted to level position, the object is automatically loaded onto the tilting platform by way of its own weight. The tiltable platform can then be locked into position by the latch in order to avoid further movement of the tiltable platform. Preferably, the present invention provides means for tilting the tiltable platform into loading position. The tilting can be achieved, for example, by attaching a raising bar to the stop shaft situated underneath the tiltable platform such that when the stop shaft is rotated by means of a handle, the raising bar rotates with the stop shaft and raises the tiltable platform. The tiltable platform is designed to tilt by pivoting means. The pivoting means is preferably attached to the midpoint of the tilting platform, but the pivoting means may be attached to the underside of the tilting platform in an off-centered configuration in certain embodiments of the present invention depending on the type and weight of the load to be moved.  
           [0006]    Another objective of the present invention is to provide a hand truck with a plurality of wheels that allow for even distribution of the weight of the object to be moved and to facilitate the maneuvering of the loaded hand truck.  
           [0007]    Yet another objective of the present invention is to provide for a tiltable hand truck with a steering assembly, which steering assembly is rotatably connected to the frame that houses the tiltable platform. This configuration facilitates precise locomotion and is highly maneuverable.  
           [0008]    Another objective of the present invention is to provide a method for transporting an object from one place to another comprising the steps of providing a rigid frame having three sides an opening in front, providing means for locomotion such as wheel, tires, or other means capable of facilitating the locomotion of the device and load, preferably providing means for steering the device, and providing a pivoting carrying platform attached to said rigid frame. This method for transporting objects includes placing an object on the pivoting platform while the pivoting platform is in the loading position, that is the side of the pivoting platform near the open front is pivoted downwards to the ground, and the opposite side has pivoted upward forming an incline. In this position the object to be moved is tilted or tipped to one side so as to expose the underside of the object, and allow the pivoting platform access to the underside of the object. Once the underside of the object is contacted to the topside of the pivoting platform in the load position, the object to be moved is tilted back or untipped onto the carrying platform bringing the pivoting carrying platform to a level position, where a stop shaft halts further movement of the pivoting carrying platform and the loaded object.  
           [0009]    Further objectives and advantages of the present invention will become apparent as the description proceeds and when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. To gain a full appreciation of the scope of the present invention, it will be further recognized that various aspects of the present invention can be combined to make desirable embodiments of the invention. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]    [0010]FIG. 1 is a is a top/side prospective view of the tiltable hand truck with the carrying assembly and the steering assembly in detached configuration with the tiltable platform positioned for receiving an object to be moved.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 2 is a is a top/side prospective view of the tiltable hand truck  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 3 is a top/side prospective view of the tiltable hand truck with the tiltable platform positioned for receiving an object to be moved showing a heavy object being loaded to be transferred to a new location.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 4 is a top/side prospective view of the tiltable hand truck with the tiltable loaded with a heavy object to be transferred to a new location.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 5 is a bottom side view of the tiltable hand truck showing the details of the underside of the tiltable hand truck with stop shaft and pivoting means. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0015]    Referring to FIG. 1-4, the tiltable hand truck comprises a substantially U-shaped frame  100 , having a right side member  101  and a left side member  102  and a rear member  103 , a tiltable platform  104  is pivotally attached at one side to the right side member  101  and at the other side to the left side member  102  by way of a pivot  105 , which is fixedly attached at one side to the right side member  101  and at the other side to the left side member  102 . The tiltable platform  104  is fixedly attached to a hollow sleeve tube  106 , which acts as the sleeve for the pivot pin  105 , whereby the tiltable platform  104  can easily pivot about the pivot pin  105 . A stop shaft  107  is fixedly attached at one side to the right side member  101 , and at the other side to the left side member  102  near the rear member  103 . A plurality of wheels  108  are provided, preferably in pairs, each axially attached to the right side member  101  or the left side member  102 . A connecting member  109 , preferably attached fixedly to the rear member  103  at one end and releasably and rotatably connected to a steering assembly  1   10 , comprising steering wheels  111  axially attached to a steering shaft  112 , said steering shaft releasably and rotatably connected to the connecting member  109 , preferably by way of pin  113  and socket  114 . A handle  115 , preferably attached to the steering shaft  112 . The handle may preferably further comprise a multidirectional moveably joint  116  to facilitate steering and operation. The tiltable hand truck may preferably further comprise a latch  117 , preferably attached to said connecting member  109  wherein the tiltable platform  104  can be releasably latched in place in order to avoid further movement of the tiltable platform  104 .  
         [0016]    The substantially U-shaped frame  100  can be manufactured from any rigid material, preferably metals such as aluminum, steel, stainless steel, etc. However, certain embodiments of the present invention may be manufactured from rigid plastics, rubber, woods, carbon composite material, or any variation thereof. The U-shaped frame  100  can be made by attaching three pieces of steel together to obtain the desired shape with a right side member  101  and a left side member  102  and a rear member  103 . In a preferred embodiment the U-shaped frame  100  is manufactured by bending a long piece of steel at its proximal ends in order to obtain the desired shape with a right side member  101  and a left side member  102  and a rear member  103 . The hollow sleeve tube  106  is preferably welded to the tiltable platform  104  nearly at the dividing line of the tiltable platform  104 . The pivot pin  105  is inserted into the hollow sleeve tube  106 , and is preferably welded at one end to the right side member  101  and at the other end to the left side member  102 . However, the pivot pin  105  can be attached to the side members  101  and  1   02  by other attaching means such as bolts. The stop shaft  107 , is preferably welded at one end to the right side member  101  and at the other end to the left side member  102  near the rear member  103 . However, other means of attachments such as bolts may be used. To facilitate smooth locomotion of the tiltable hand truck, especially when carrying a load, a plurality of wheels  108  are provide. The wheels  108  can be made of any type of material, but preferably, the wheels  108  are rubber wheels and are positioned in pairs, each axially attached to the side members  101  and  102 , and more preferably the wheels  108  are axially attached outwardly so as not to interfere with any object that is being moved. A connecting member  109 , preferably in a goose neck configuration, connects the substantially U-shaped frame  100  to the steering assembly  110 .  
         [0017]    The steering assembly  110  can be manufactured from any rigid material, preferably metals such as aluminum, steel, stainless steel, etc. However, certain embodiments of the present invention may be manufactured from rigid plastics, rubber, or wood. At least one steering wheel  111 , and preferably two steering wheels  111  are provided, each axially attached to the steering shaft  112 . In the embodiment where only one steering wheel  111  is provided, the steering wheel  111  is axially attached to each proximal ends of the steering shaft  112  in an inverted U-format. In embodiments with more that one steering wheel  111 , each steering wheel  111 , is axially attached to each other at one side, and a proximal end of the steering shaft  112  at the other side forming a stretched out inverted U-format. In a preferred embodiment the steering shaft is releasably and rotatably connected to the connecting member  109 , and said connecting member  109  is fixedly attached to said rear member  103 . However, other embodiments are considered, such as the steering shaft  112  being fixedly attached to the connecting member  109 , and the connecting member  109  being releasably and rotatably attached to the rear member  103 , or the steering shaft  112  being fixedly attached to the connecting member  109 , and the connecting member  109  being fixedly attached to the rear member  103 , or the steering shaft  112  being releasably and rotatably attached to the connecting member  109 , and the connecting member  109  being releasably and rotatably attached to the rear member  103 . A preferred means of releasably and rotatably attachment is by way of pin  113  and socket  114 , however other means are considered such as ball hitch and ball hitch receiver or a hook mechanism. In a preferred embodiment, a handle  115  is provided, said handle being fixedly attached to the steering shaft  112 . In the preferred embodiment the handle  115  further comprises a multidirectional movable joint  116  to facilitate steering and operation. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention a latch  117  is provided, said latch  117  being fixedly attached to the preferred goose neck shaped connecting member  109 . However, the latch  117  may also be fixedly attached to any of the side members  101 ,  102 , or  103 . The latch  117  releasably locks the tiltable platform  104  in a level position after the object to be moved has been loaded onto the tiltable platform  104  in order to avoid further movement of the tiltable platform  104 .  
         [0018]    Another embodiment of the present invention is to provide a method for transporting an object from one place to another comprising the steps of providing a rigid frame  100  having a right side member  101 , a left side member  102 , and a rear member  103  and open in front, providing means for locomotion  108 ,  111  such as wheel, tires, or other means capable of facilitating the locomotion of the device and load, preferably providing means for steering the device  110 , and providing a pivoting carrying platform  104  attached to said rigid frame  100 . This method for transporting objects includes placing an object on the pivoting platform  104  while the pivoting platform is in the loading position, that is the side of the pivoting platform near the open front is pivoted downwards to the ground, and the opposite side has pivoted upward forming an incline. In this position the object to be moved is tilted or tipped to one side so as to expose the underside of the object, and allow the pivoting platform  104  access to the underside of the object. Once the underside of the object is contacted to the topside of the pivoting platform  104  in the load position, the object to be moved is tilted back or untipped onto the carrying platform  104  bringing the pivoting carrying platform  104  to a level position, where a stop rod  107  halts further movement of the pivoting carrying platform  104  and the loaded object.  
         [0019]    All headings are for the convenience of the reader and should not be used to limit the meaning of the text that follows the heading, unless so specified. Various changes and departures may be made to the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof Accordingly, it is not intended that the invention be limited to that specifically described in the specification or as illustrated in the drawings, but only as set forth in the claims.

Technology Category: b