WO2008068591A2

WO2008068591A2 - Hand-truck

Info

Publication number: WO2008068591A2
Application number: PCT/IB2007/003754
Authority: WO
Inventors: Giuseppe Ferdinando Carelli
Original assignee: Sissa, Teresa Giovanna Antonia
Priority date: 2006-12-04
Filing date: 2007-12-04
Publication date: 2008-06-12
Also published as: ITMI20062326A1; WO2008068591A3

Abstract

A hand-truck with a movable equipment adapted to simply and ergonomically pass ramps or steps and of the type comprising an essentially rectangular frame (2), lying in a vertical plane P, and formed by two uprights (23, 24), a lower cross-piece (25) and an upper cross-piece (26), wherein two wheels (3) and a loading platform (4) frontally protruding from the frame (2) are provided at the lower cross-piece (25) and wherein the upper cross-piece (25) constitutes a handle (5) of the truck, and a movable equipment (8) mounted along the frame (2), between a retracted foldaway position and a projecting position and comprising an auxiliary handle (6) of the truck for controlling the movable equipment (8).

Description

HAND-TRUCK

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to a hand-truck of the type comprising an essentially rectangular-shaped frame lying in an essentially vertical plane P, and formed by two lower uprights, a lower cross-piece and an upper cross-piece, wherein two wheels and a loading platform frontally protruding from the frame are provided at the lower cross-piece, and wherein the upper cross-piece constitutes a handle of the truck, and a movable equipment slidingly mounted along the frame between a retracted foldaway position and a projecting position.

The invention further relates to a movable equipment for a hand-truck.

Prior art A need to be able to use a hand-truck for transporting light weights, which simply and easily allows to pass ramps or stair steps situated along the way, is felt in both industrial and domestic domains.

Many trucks adapted to pass steps have been suggested up to now. Some known trucks contemplate providing the frame with a pneumatic movable equipment comprising a piston, controlled by a pneumatic valve actuated by an operator, which allows to lift the truck in proximity of a ramp or a step.

Such trucks however present the drawback of requiring a pneumatic power system for actuating the pneumatic valve and are thus particularly complex and not very functional.

A further truck suggested in the prior art is illustrated in United States Patent No. US 3,893,679. The solution illustrated in such document suggests to provide the truck with a second frame sliding inside the truck frame and fastened to the same by means of a lifting cable, appropriately secured and actuated by a manual winch. The operator, by actuating the manual winch, lifts the truck which remains supported by the second frame.

Such a truck however presents many drawbacks. Indeed, when the truck is loaded, the actuation of the winch becomes uncomfortable for the operator who needs to remove an hand from the handle or grip of the truck and apply a certain force on the winch to lower the second frame and thus lift the truck. However, during such an operation, the load could unbalance and the operator could lose his balance. The aforesaid trucks are thus not very reliable. Furthermore, such trucks do not really comply neither with the current laws in force concerning the protection of the health of workers in industrial domain nor with the simple ergonomic criteria to which even trucks for transporting light weights are subjected. Other known trucks contemplate mounting the frame on three wheels per side, the wheels being associated to the vertexes of a star- shaped element. On a flat way, two of the three wheels support the frame while, in presence of a ramp or a step, one of the two wheels rests on the rise of the step, where the operator is standing, and the third wheel freely rotates over the other two, when the operator pulls the truck, and rests on the tread of such a step thus allowing to lift the truck.

Although in conformity with the purpose, even such a known truck is not free from drawbacks. Specifically, the force which the operator must apply in presence of a ramp or step is given by the sum of the weight force of the truck and of the load, and in some cases it is particularly heavy. Furthermore, as far as getting down off the steps with a load on the truck is concerned, it must occur with the load facing the slope and the load must be fixed with a belt or a rope to the frame to prevent it from slipping. The truck is thus not very convenient to be used, neither very reliable nor safe for the operator, nor complex to manufacture. Because of the aforesaid reasons, the trucks of the known art for passing ramps or stair steps are not essentially satisfactory from the point of view of simplicity and operator safety, as well as that of integrity of the load. It must be further noted that any unbalancing of the load may be dangerous for the operator, who may run into in excessive efforts which may cause injury or pain even of a certain entity, particularly in the case of time repeated efforts.

The technical problem underlying the present invention is that of devising and making available a truck with movable equipment having such structural and functional features so as to optimally meet the aforesaid needs, thus overcoming the drawbacks mentioned referring to the prior art.

Summary of the invention

The technical problem is solved by a truck according to the appended claim 1.

The features and advantages of the hand-truck with movable equipment according to the present invention will be apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof, given by way of non-limitative example with reference to the accompanying drawings. What is set forth in the appended dependent claims constitutes a particular embodiment of the invention.

Brief description of the drawings

In such drawings: figures 1 and 2 diagrammatically shows a perspective view of a truck according to the present invention in a rest position and in an operative position, respectively; figure 3 diagrammatically shows a front view with perspective parts of a variant of the truck made according to the present invention; figures 4 and 5 diagrammatically and partially show a perspective view and a side view of a detail of the truck in figure 1; figures 6 and 7 diagrammatically show a perspective view of a truck according to an alternative embodiment of the invention, in a rest position and in a projecting position, respectively, and figures 8 and 9 diagrammatically show a side view of the truck in figures 6 and 7, in a rest position and in a projecting position, respectively.

Detailed description

With reference to the accompanying figures, numeral 1 indicates a hand-truck according to the present invention. The truck 1 comprises an essentially rectangular-shaped frame

2, which lies, during its use, on an essentially vertical or appropriate inclined plane P.

The frame 2 is formed by two uprights 23, 24 connected by a lower cross-piece 25 and by an upper cross-piece 26. The frame 2 is preferably formed by hollow tubular elements.

Two wheels 3 and a loading platform 4 are provided at the lower cross-piece 25. The loading platform 4 protrudes frontally from the frame 2, for supporting light weights to be transported. The adverb frontally indicates the direction with respect to the frame in which the loading platform extends. In general, the truck is adapted to proceed backwards, pulled by the handle on the wheels.

According to the present invention, the upper cross-piece 26 defines the handle 5 of the truck for an operator.

The truck 1 further comprises a movable equipment 8 slidingly mounted along the frame 2 between a retracted foldaway position and a projecting position.

The movable equipment 8 is formed by a rod- shaped supporting element 12 extending along a vertical axis X-X with an upper end 10, placed in proximity of the upper cross-piece 26, and a lower end 11, placed at the lower cross-piece 25. The length of the supporting element 12 is shorter than the length of each upright 23, 24. Furthermore, the supporting element 12 can slide between a retracted foldaway position, behind the frame 2, and a position in which it projects from the lower cross-piece 25.

Advantageously, the supporting element 12 comprises a perpendicularly protruding foot 9, at the lower end 11, which is developed according to a direction essentially parallel to the lower cross- piece 25.

Preferably, the foot 9 presents an essentially box-like structure with at least one flat supporting surface 19. Furthermore, the frame 2 presents a guiding element 13 behind, which is essentially a hollow body, fixed in proximity of the lower cross-piece 25, adapted for the internal passage of the supporting element 12. Appropriately, the foot 9 protrudes underneath the guiding element 13. Specifically, the guiding element 13 ensures a correct vertical positioning of the supporting element 12 both when the supporting element 12 is retracted and foldaway and when it projects from the lower cross-piece 25.

Advantageously, according to the invention, the truck 1 presents an auxiliary handle 6 for controlling the movable equipment 8, placed at the same level as the handle 5 of the truck. Appropriately, the auxiliary handle 6 acts on the supporting element 12 by means of a connecting lever 7 hinged to the frame 2.

Specifically, the auxiliary handle 6, with respect to the frame 2, is arranged in front of the handle 5 of the truck.

More specifically, the auxiliary handle 6 is arranged parallel to the handle 5 of the truck to be more conveniently grasped by the operator.

The connecting lever 7 according to the invention, acting on the supporting element 12, is a lever preferably of the first class, comprising a load arm bR integral to a effort arm bp and an intermediate fulcrum F. Advantageously, the load arm bp, as shown in figure 1, has an end engaged with the upper end 10 of the supporting element 12, while the effort arm bp has an end engaged with the auxiliary handle 6.

Specifically, the connecting lever 7 presents the load arm bx and the effort arm bP essentially arranged reciprocally perpendicular and projecting from opposite sides with respect to the plane P.

Specifically, the load arm bR and the effort arm bP are reciprocally unequal. Advantageously, the load arm bK is smaller in size than the effort arm bP. In the present embodiment, each of the two uprights 23, 24 of the frame 2 presents a corresponding "V"-shaped protrusion 30, 31, with a first side 32 and a second side 33 and a vertex 34 projecting frontally from the frame 2, near the upper cross-piece 26.

Appropriately, the fulcrum F of the connecting lever 7 is engaged with the vertex 34 of each upright 23, 24 by means of a rod 18, which in the present embodiment is arranged parallel to the handle 5 of the truck.

In the particular embodiment described, the load arm bR is essentially "U"-shaped with a pair of first essentially parallel elements 50, 51 joined at one end by a transverse element 52 engaged with the upper end 10 of the supporting element 12. Similarly, the effort arm bp is made by means of a pair of second elements 53, 54, which are integral with said pair of first elements 50, 51 and present front ends 17 engaged with the corresponding ends of the auxiliary handle 6. Even more specifically, the joining point between the pair of first parallel elements 50, 51 and the pair of second parallel elements 53, 54 defines the fulcrum F which is hinged to the vertex 34 of the corresponding upright 23, 24 by means of a corresponding rod 18.

By moving the auxiliary handle 6 towards or away from the handle 5 of the truck, by means of the connecting lever 7, the operator can control the supporting element 12, which is slidingly handled from the retracted foldaway position to the projecting position from the lower cross-piece 25, thus correspondingly positioning the truck 1 in a getting up or down attitude. Furthermore, the movable equipment 8 advantageously presents a return element 15, which may be a spring, also in form of an elastic rope, for facilitating the return of the supporting element 12 to the retracted foldaway position with respect to the frame 2.

In the present embodiment, the return spring 15 is an elastic rope, the ends of which are fixed to corresponding uprights 23, 24 of the frame 2, at a given height, while an intermediate point is secured at the bottom at an engagement 14 appropriately made in the supporting element 12.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the supporting element 12 of the movable equipment 8 lies essentially vertical and is advantageously interposed between the lying plane P of the frame 2 and a rotation axis Y-Y of said two wheels 3. This allows to promote the handling of the supporting element 12 in the projecting position from the lower cross-piece 25 when the hand-truck 1 is in a getting up or down attitude.

In operation, while transporting weights on horizontal platforms, the truck 1 is employed in the usual manner, the auxiliary handle 6 is in a rest position away from the handle 5 of the truck and the movable equipment 8 is retracted and foldaway, specifically with the supporting element 12 retracted behind the frame 2. In presence of a ramp or stair step, in getting up attitude of the truck, the operator places "upstream" with the platform of the truck "downstream". The operator approaches the auxiliary handle 6 to the handle 5 of the truck, according to an operative position of the truck specifically shown in figure 2, and the connecting lever 7 controls the movable equipment 8 by gradually projecting the supporting element 12 from the lower cross-piece 25. During such a step, the foot 9 of the supporting element 12 is positioned with the flat surface 19 facing the ground so as to act as a stop for the movable equipment 8. The operator, during such a step, acts on the auxiliary handle 6 with a force which, appropriately amplified by the connecting lever 7, allows to easily lift the truck 1 until the wheels 3 rest on a tread of the step or ramp to be passed.

Thus proceeding, the operator releases the auxiliary handle 6 while the supporting element 12, assisted also by the return spring 15, returns into the retracted foldaway position.

In a getting down attitude, the operator places again "upstream" with the truck "downstream", makes the platform 4 and the load protrude from the step, approaches the auxiliary handle 6 to the handle 5 of the truck which controls the movable equipment 8 making the foot 9 project from said lower cross-piece 25, until it encounters a support underneath. The operator gradually releases the auxiliary handle 6, moving it away from the handle 5 of the truck. In the meantime, the supporting element 12 keeps the truck 1 lifted until the wheels 3 touch the support underneath and the supporting element 12 returns into the rest position.

In other words, in virtue of the auxiliary handle 6 arranged on the same level as the handle 5 of the truck, the grasping and the handling of the auxiliary handle 6 by the operator is extremely easy, allowing the operator him or herself to watch the transported load, arranged on the platform 4, also when the truck is in a getting up or down attitude.

Furthermore, the auxiliary handle 6 positioned in front of the handle 5 of the truck and parallel to it makes the grasping by the operator extremely simple and rapid. Furthermore, in virtue of the advantageous connecting lever 7, the effort exerted by the operator is proportionally amplified according to the length assigned to the load arm bR and the effort arm bP.

Furthermore, the forethought of positioning the supporting element 12 between the axis of the wheels 3 and the lying plane P of the frame 2 allows to facilitate the handling of the supporting element 12, both when it must be retracted and foldaway and when it projects from the lower cross-piece 25 and facilitates the operator when the truck is in a getting up and down attitude.

Without removing his or her hands from the handle of the truck, the operator actuates the connecting lever 7 by making the supporting element 12 of the movable equipment 8 slide, maintaining in the meantime an optimal watch position on the attitude of the load on the platform 4, while the truck remains in a perfect equilibrium.

Advantageously, the loading platform 4 of the truck 1 is removable and interchangeable with platforms of different shape, according to the needs of the load to be transported.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the loading platform 4 comprises a rear end 41 rotationally associated to the lower cross-piece 25 of the frame 2.

According to such an embodiment, the rear end 41 comprises a protrusion 42, projecting behind the frame 2, in which said wheels 3 are provided.

Advantageously, in the rest shape of the truck, the loading platform 4 is foldable in a position facing the frame 2, specifically assuming an arrangement parallel to the plane P, as shown in figures 4 and 5.

Such a foresight allows to facilitate the stowing of the truck 1 in small spaces and assists the transportation thereof.

Furthermore, according to an alternative embodiment of the truck shown in figure 3, the truck 1 properly presents two telescopically extendable uprights 23, 24 of the frame 2, preferably formed by tubular and bayonet hollow elements, fixed at given lengths by means of appropriate fastening elements 50, such as, for example, wing nuts.

Furthermore, according to such an embodiment, the supporting element

12 is also advantageously telescopically extendable and adjustable proportionally to said uprights 23, 24.

The main advantage of such a truck is that the height from the ground of the handle 5 of the truck and of the auxiliary handle 6 may be adjusted according to the operator's height or possibly according to possible needs in presence of voluminous loads.

Furthermore, such a foresight allows to reduce the height of the frame and of the movable equipment during the packaging of the truck, thus facilitating the transportation thereof.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the movable equipment 8 made as described above is suitable for being implemented in a separate unit and applied to an existing truck.

The main advantage of the movable equipment 8 applied to the truck is that it may simply and easily actuated by an operator, furthermore allowing to obtain an ergonomic truck which permits to pass ramps or stair steps in a simple and rapid manner.

Figures from 6 to 9 show an alternative embodiment of the invention. In this case, the movable equipment 108 comprises a lifting leverage 160, actuatable by means of an element, more specifically a strut, which may be rod-shaped element 112, similar to the previous case; such a leverage may be hinged, for example, underneath the platform 104, e.g. in position 161 opposite to that of the frame, which may be at an end of the platform 102, according to a possible embodiment of the embodiment. The opposite end 163 of the lifting leverage is adapted, under the action of the movement of the movable equipment 108, to provide a push on the tread of the step with respect to which the truck must be lifted, similarly to what occurred for the foot 9, so that the wheels of the truck may reach the level of the tread of the upper step. The presence of the leverage has the advantage of providing much structural stiffness to the truck also during the step of lifting, thus reducing the bending efforts on the movable equipment. Furthermore, the pushing end 163 may be appropriately positioned with respect to the hinging point 162 with the movable equipment, so as to arrange itself advantageously with respect to the truck to facilitate the lifting, e.g. by maintaining the frame 102 appropriately away from the rise of the step, allowing to incline the truck more during the operation. In this case, the movable equipment, appropriately hinged to the leverage, no longer requires the guiding element of the previous example fixed or hinged to the frame. The movable equipment thus comprises a strut 112 which may be, for example, appropriately hinged to the ends. In the other parts, the truck may be similar to that of the previous example. According to a preferred embodiment, as shown in the figures, the load arm bR or bR', which may be an appropriately shaped lever, is facing the opposite side of the frame with respect to the loading platform 104, so that, even after being rotated to bring the truck into the projecting position, it does not protrude from the side of the loading platform. This avoids any interferences of the arm and the movable equipment with the load, increasing the available load height. It is also possible that the rod 118 which holds the fulcrum between the load arm of the auxiliary handle 106 and the handle 105 belongs to the plane of the frame 102.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the truck comprises a further tipping leverage 164. It is also adapted to assume a rest position and a projecting position. It has the function of promoting the lifting of the loading platform from a fully resting position on the ground to a position in which the truck rests only on the handling wheels, by means of an appropriate rotation about the wheel axis. In the case of a truck not provided with such a leverage, and with a heavy load, the operation may require a considerable effort. The leverage may be actuated by the same movable equipment which is used for passing the steps. It may be hinged to the loading platform and its end opposite to the hinged end is adapted, if brought into the projecting position, to exert a force on the ground adapted to promote the tipping, being arranged in an opposite position with respect to the wheels, so as to present an appropriate lever arm. It is worth observing that the leverage does not interfere during the lifting operations on the stair steps because its length is appropriate to clear the tread of a normal step. However, it would be possible to lift the truck otherwise. According to a preferred embodiment, shown in figures from 6 to 9, said tipping leverage may be hinged onto the opposite side with respect to the lifting leverage. In the rest position, both leverages will be arranged essentially parallel to the loading platform, while in the projecting position they will be rotated as shown in figures 7 and 9. According to a preferred embodiment, the tipping leverage 164 is connected to the lifting leverage 160 so as to be driven by the latter. For example, one of the leverages may be hinged onto a element 166 sliding along the other leverage. According to a preferred embodiment, the lifting leverage is hinged onto said element sliding along the tipping leverage, because this allows a greater excursion of the end of the latter, which facilitates the operator who wants to lift the load to start, even if the opposite solution is possible. According to a preferred embodiment, an elastic return element is always present, e.g. an elastic rope or a spring 115. It may be appropriately connected to the other elements of the truck, e.g. as shown in figures from 6 to 9, where it is connected to the lever system of the upper part of the truck, approximately at the fulcrum and underneath the strut 112.

Like in the previous case, the possibility of making the truck foldable may also be contemplated. For example, in the illustrated case, an appropriate hinging between the loading platform and the frame may be provided, with the possibility of disassembling the element 112, which may have, for example, the ends inserted in specific seats integral with the hinging points of the lifting leverage and the load arm, respectively.

Appropriately, at least the lifting leverage should be U-shaped or have a foot similar to the foot 9 in figures from 1 to 4, so as to provide stability during the lifting of the truck.

Alternative solutions are also possible. For example, the movable equipment may be tie-rod, such as a cable, and the handle lever may cause the rotation of a roller capable of winding the tie-rod. A lifting leverage, again properly hinged underneath the loading platform, may have a lever portion connected to the tie-rod, so that the traction of the tie-rod causes the rotation thereof to a projecting position in which it is adapted to lift the truck in the described manner. In this case, appropriate return means may be present to return the various components to the rest position once the operator's action ceases.

A not least advantage of the truck according to the present invention consists in its low manufacturing cost . Obviously, a person skilled in the art will be able to modify or replace some parts or components of the above-described truck with other technically equivalent parts, in order to meet particular needs.

Claims

1. A hand- truck of the type comprising an essentially- rectangular frame (2), lying in a plane P, and comprising two uprights (23, 24), a lower cross-piece (25) and an upper cross-piece (26), two wheels (3) at the lower cross-piece (25) and a loading platform (4, 104), frontally protruding from the frame (2, 102) and wherein the upper cross-piece (25) forms a handle (5, 105) of the truck, and a movable equipment (8, 108), mounted along the frame (2) and movable between a retracted foldaway position and a projecting position, characterized in that it comprises an auxiliary handle (6) adapted to be pulled towards said handle (5) of the truck to bring said movable equipment (8) into the projecting position.

2. A truck according to claim 1 characterized in that said auxiliary handle (6) is arranged in front of said handle (5) of the truck.

3. A truck according to claim 2 characterized in that said auxiliary handle (6) is arranged parallel to said handle (5) of the truck.

4. A truck according to claim 3 characterized in that said movable equipment (8) comprises a rod-shaped supporting element (12, 112) movable along said frame and mounted behind the frame (2).

5. A truck according to claim 4 characterized in that said movable equipment (8) comprises a connecting lever (7, 107) between said auxiliary handle (6) and said supporting element (12), said lever (7) comprising a fulcrum (F) interposed between a load arm (bx), engaged with an upper end (10) of said supporting element (12), and an effort arm (bp), engaged with said auxiliary handle (6), said fulcrum (F) being secured to said uprights (23, 24) by means of a rod (18).

6. A truck according to claim 5 characterized in that said load arm (bR) and said effort arm (bP) are unequal.

7. A truck according to claim 6 characterized in that said effort arm (bR) is longer than said load arm (bP) .

8. A truck according to claim 7 characterized in that said load arm (bR) and said effort arm (bP) are essentially and reciprocally perpendicular.

9. A truck according to claim 8 characterized in that each of said two uprights (23, 24) of said frame (2) presents a "V"-shaped protrusion (30, 31) in proximity of the upper end (21) with a first and a second side (32, 33) and a vertex (34) projecting in front of said frame (2).

10. A truck according to claim 5 characterized in that said fulcrum and said rod (118) lie in a plane essentially coinciding with the lying plane P of said frame.

11. A truck according to claim 9 characterized in that said load arm (bx) is essentially "U"-shaped with a pair of first elements (50, 51), joined by a transverse element (52) engaged with said upper end (10) of said supporting element (12), and in that said effort arm (bp) comprises a pair of second elements (53, 54), the front ends (17) of which are engaged with corresponding ends of said auxiliary handle (6) .

12. A truck according to claim 11 characterized in that said movable equipment (8) comprises a return element (15), specifically an elastic rope, to return said supporting element (12) to a retracted foldaway position.

13. A truck according to claim 12 characterized in that said supporting element (12) comprises a foot (9) perpendicularly protruding at a lower end (11), said foot (9) being essentially parallel to said lower cross- piece (2.5).

14. A truck according to one or more of the claims from 1 to 12 characterized in that the movable equipment (108) comprises a lifting leverage (160) hinged underneath said loading platform (104).

15. A truck according to claim 14 wherein said movable equipment comprises a rod-shaped element (112) hinged to an arm (bR) integral with said auxiliary handle (106) and adapted to rotate said lifting leverage to a position protruding underneath from said loading platform.

16. A truck according to claim 14 or 15 characterized in that said lifting leverage is hinged to said loading platform in a position near the front edge.

17. A truck according to any of the claims from 14 to 16 comprising a tipping leverage (164) hinged to said loading platform opposite to said lifting leverage, adapted to be rotated to a position protruding underneath from said loading platform at the same time as said lifting leverage.

18. A truck according to claim 17 wherein one of said leverages is hinged to a element sliding along the other leverage.

19. A truck according to claim 18 wherein said lifting leverage is hinged to an element sliding along said lifting leverage.

20. A truck according to one or more of the preceding claims characterized in that said uprights (23, 24) of said frame (2) and said supporting element (12) are telescopically extendable.

21. A truck according to one or more of the preceding claims characterized in that said loading platform (4) is removably associated to the frame (2).

22. A truck according to one or more of the preceding claims characterized in that said loading platform (4) is hinged to the frame (2) .

23. A truck according to claim 21 characterized in that said loading platform (4) comprises a rear end (41) rotatably associated to the lower cross-piece (25), said wheels (3) being provided at a protrusion (42) of said rear end (41), projecting behind said frame (2').

24. A truck according to one or more of the preceding claims characterized in that said movable equipment is adapted to provide a push against the ground to lift the other elements of the truck, specifically to allow the wheels to pass an obstacle, such as a step.