GB2311965A - Handcart with removable liner. - Google Patents

Abstract

A handcart comprises a moulded plastics body 10 open at the front and top and having solid back, bottom and side walls. An elongate roller 18 is mounted outwardly 17 of the body for rotation about an axis extending adjacent the corner between the back and the bottom walls and a removable liner 24 arranged to fit closely inside the box-shaped body. The handcart can be used with the liner 24 removed from the body (Fig. 2) as a barrow, as a garden roller or with the liner inserted in different orientations (Figs 3-6) to form a table, carry poles or a refuse sack. Wheels 25 may be moved to a ground-engaging position by pivoting the handle 11 on which they are mounted.

Description

Handcart This invention relates to a handcart, and more particularly, but not solely, to a handcart for gardeners.

Gardeners often need to transport many different loads in the garden, such as loose soil, bags of compost, stones, garden implements and refuse etc.. Typically, gardeners use a conventional wheelbarrow to transport loads in the garden.

However, a disadvantage of wheelbarrows is that they are too cumbersome for some jobs. Furthermore, wheelbarrows are awkward and bulky to store when not in use.

I have now devised a handcart which alleviates the above-mentioned problems.

In accordance with this invention there is provided a handcart comprising a box-shaped body of moulded plastics material having open front and top walls and solid back, bottom and side walls, wheel means mounted outwardly of the body and arranged for rotation about an axis which extends adjacent a corner between said back and bottom walls, and a removable liner member arranged to fit closely inside the box-shaped body, the liner member being of a substantially corresponding shape to the body.

In use, the body can be used to transport loose soil and other particulate material, rather like a conventional wheelbarrow. Alternatively, the handcart can be used rather like a sack truck to lift and transport heavy objects, such as bags of compost.

In an alternative mode of use, the liner member can be fitted to the body, such that their respective back walls lie in face-to-face contact, with the bottom wall of the liner member lying across the open top wall of the body, and with respective open front walls of the body and liner member facing outwardly. In this manner, the liner and body together define a large compartment which is enclosed around the sides, bottom and top of the handcart and which has an opening in its front.

This compartment may be filled with larger quantities of loose soil and the like.

If the liner member is rotated such that its back wall lies across the front wall of the body, and the handcart is arranged such that the back wall of the liner member lies in a horizontal plane, then the back wall of the liner member can be used as a table on which e.g. plant pots can be stood when the handcart is being stored. Thus, the handcart can be put to use even when it is not being used as a handcart as such.

In a similar manner, the bottom wall of the liner member can be used as a table when the liner is arranged such that its bottom wall extends across the top wall of the body, the handcart being arranged such that the bottom wall of the liner lies in a horizontal plane.

The liner member can also be arranged in the body such that their respective bottom walls lie in face-to-face contact, with the back wall of the liner member being arranged such that it extends across the front wall of the body, and with respective open top walls of the liner and body lying facing outwardly. In this manner, the liner and body together define another compartment, which is enclosed around the front, back and sides of the handcart and open at the top.

Preferably the back wall of the body and liner member are elongated compared with their respective bottom walls.

Preferably the side walls of the body are triangular.

Preferably the side walls of the liner member are rectangular, so that they extend beyond the triangular side walls of the body when the liner member is fitted inside the body. Thus, in an alternative position of the liner, its enlarged side walls co-extend with respective walls of the body, such that the handcart has a cil-eater capacity.

Preferably the handcart comprises a U-shaped handle, opposite arms of the U-shaped handle being pivotally attached to respective opposite sides of the body. The handle can be used to tow the handcart, alternatively it can be pivoted such that it extends across the open front wall of the body and thereby helps to hold the liner member in place.

Preferably wheels are disposed on opposite arms of the U-shaped handle, the wheels having an axis of rotation which is parallel with the axis of rotation of the wheel means. The handle can be pivoted to a position in which the axes of rotation of the wheels and the wheel means extend in a plane which lies substantially parallel to the rear surface of the back wall of the body, so that the handcart can be wheeled with the back wall of the body lying parallel to the ground.

Preferably handle means are provided on the back wall and/or bottom wall of the body.

Preferably the handle means are integrally moulded with the body.

Preferably the wheel means comprises an elongate roller which extends adjacent said corner. The roller primarily enables the handcart to be wheeled over the ground, but it also enables the handcart to be used as a garden roller when there is a substantial weight in the handcart.

It will be appreciated that the handcart can be configured in a variety of different ways, so that it can perform a large number of different functions.

An embodiment of this invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a handcart in accordance with this invention; FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of a body of the handcart of Figure 1; and FIGURES 3 to 6 are side views of the handcart of Figure 1 when in use for a variety of different purposes.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, there is shown a handcart comprising a one-piece box-shaped body 10 of moulded plastics material which encloses a removable liner 20.

The body 10 comprises a square bottom wall 12, a rectangular back wall 13 and triangular opposite side walls 14. The front and top walls of the body 10 are open. Integrally-moulded Cshaped handles 15,16 extend perpendicularly outwards from the bottom and back walls 12,13 of the body 10 respectively. The side walls 14 comprises parallel extensions 17, which extend rearwardly adjacent the corner between the bottom and rear walls 12,13 of the body 10. Slots are formed in the extensions 17 for receiving the respective ends of the axle of an elongate roller 18.

Two further extensions 19 extend rearwardly from the side walls 14 adjacent the upper edge of the back wall 13 and beneath the C-shaped handle 16. Opposite arms of a U-shaped tubular metal handle 11 are pivotally attached to respective extensions 19. The U-shaped handle 11 comprises a straight portion 21 which extends parallel to the axis of the roller 18.

Wheels 25 are attached to respective opposite arms of the Ushaped handle 11, the wheels being mounted on an axis which extends parallel to the axis of the roller 18. The arms of the U-shaped handle 11 are bent out of the plane of the handle, the wheels 25 being mounted at the outer-most point of the bend.

The liner 20 comprises a square bottom wall 22, a rectangular back wall 23 and rectangular side walls 24.

Apertures 26 are formed in the side walls to form handles for lifting the liner 20 into and out of the body 10.

As shown in Figure 1, the liner 20 can be fitted neatly inside the body 10. In the arrangement of Figure 1, the liner 20 is arranged such that its bottom and rear walls 22,23 coextend with the bottom and rear walls 12,13 of the body respectively, thereby forming a compartment having an open top and front. The U-shaped handle 11 can be pivoted such that its straight portion 21 extends over the front of the body 10 and holds the liner 20 in place. The C-shaped handle 15 forms a foot which maintains the handcart in the upright position: in this position the handcart can be used as a rack for storing tools and other objects, the U-shaped handle 11 serving as a barrier to contain the objects in the compartment.

Referring to Figure 3 of the drawings, a plastics refuse sack 40 can be attached to the upper edge of the liner 20. The U-shaped handle 11 serves as a barrier to contain the sack and its contents within the compartment.

Referring to Figure 4 of the drawings, the liner 20 can be turned upside down when the handcart is upright, so that an entirely closed compartment is formed. The bottom wall 22 of the liner 20 can be used as a table, which is conveniently positioned at waist height.

Referring to Figure 5 of the drawings, the U-shaped handle 11 can be pivoted rearwardly, such that the wheels 25 are positioned behind the rear wall 13 of the body 10. A Cshaped plastics clip (not shown) on the rear of the rear wall 13 of the body engages the straight portion 21 of the handle 11 and holds it in place. The liner 20 is arranged in the body, so as to form a compartment which is only open through the front of the handcart. However, the handcart can be tipped over such that the opening to the compartment faces upwardly and the wheels 25 engage the ground, as shown in Figure 5. In this arrangement the handcart can be used to transport large quantities of soil and other particulate material.

Referring to Figure 6 of the drawings, the handcart may be used as a potting table by turning the liner 20 around such that its rear wall 13 extends across the open front wall of the body 10, when the handcart is in the horizontal position.

If the handcart is returned to the upright position when the liner 20 is arranged as shown in Figure 6, then a deep upright compartment is formed, which can be used for transporting poles and the like. The U-shaped handle 11 may be pivoted over the front of the body 10 to assist in holding the liner 20 in place.

Referring again to Figure 2 of the drawings, when the liner is removed the handcart can be used rather like a wheelbarrow to transport soil and other particulate material.

The handcart can also be used as a garden roller for flattening lawns etc. if there is sufficient weight in the body 10.

The C-shaped handle 16 may be used to move the handcart, alternatively it may be towed using the U-shaped handle 11.

Claims (10)

1) A handcart comprising a box-shaped body of moulded plastics material having open front and top walls and solid back, bottom and side walls, wheel means mounted outwardly of the body and arranged for rotation about an axis which extends adjacent a corner between said back and bottom walls, and a removable liner member arranged to fit closely inside the boxshaped body, the liner member being of a substantially corresponding shape to the body.

2) A handcart as claimed in claim 1, in which the back wall of the body and the liner member are elongated compared with the respective bottom walls.

3) A handcart as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which the side walls of the body are triangular.

4) A handcart as claimed in claim 3, in which the side walls of the liner member are rectangular, and extend beyond the triangular side walls of the body when the liner member is fitted inside the body.

5) A handcart as claimed in any preceding claim, comprising a U-shaped handle, opposite arms of the U-shaped handle being pivotally attached to respective opposite sides of the body.

6) A handcart as claimed in claim 5, comprising wheels disposed on respective opposite arms of the U-shaped handle, the wheels having an axis of rotation which is parallel with the axis of rotation of the wheel means.

7) A handcart as claimed in any preceding claim, comprising handle means on the back wall and/or bottom wall of the body.

B) A handcart as claimed in claim 7, in which the body is formed of moulded plastics material, the handle being moulded integrally with the body.

9) A handcart as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the wheel means comprises an elongate roller.

10) A handcart substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.