Folding leg brace for a wheelbarrow
The present invention provides a wheelbarrow having a collapsible frame assembly. The wheelbarrow also includes a hopper and a wheel. The frame assembly includes a wheel brace assembly, a first adjustable leg assembly, a second adjustable leg assembly, a first handle member and a second handle member. The wheel brace assembly is narrow relative to the hopper. The first adjustable leg assembly and the second adjustable leg assembly are pivotally coupled to the wheel brace assembly. The first and second leg assemblies are each structured to move between a first configuration and a second configuration. In the first configuration, the first and second leg assemblies are structured to be closer to the centerline of the wheelbarrow, and/or frame assembly, so that the width of the legs/brace sub-assembly is relatively narrow.
1 . A wheelbarrow frame assembly comprising:
a first adjustable leg assembly structured to move between a first configuration and a second configuration;
a second adjustable leg assembly structured to move between a first configuration and a second configuration;
a wheel brace assembly;
said first adjustable leg assembly and said second adjustable leg assembly movably coupled to said wheel brace assembly;
an adjustable brace assembly coupled to said first adjustable leg assembly and said second adjustable leg assembly, said adjustable brace assembly structured to move between a first configuration and a second configuration; and
wherein when said adjustable brace assembly is in said first configuration, said first adjustable leg assembly and said second adjustable leg assembly are in said first configuration, and when said adjustable brace assembly is moved into said second configuration, said first adjustable leg assembly and said second adjustable leg assembly are moved into said second configuration.
2 . The wheelbarrow frame assembly of claim 1 wherein said adjustable brace assembly has a first member and a second member, said adjustable brace assembly first member and a second member are each being an elongated member having a first end, a second end, and a medial portion, said first and second members pivotally coupled to each other, said first and second members structured to move between a first configuration and a second configuration relative to each other.
3 . The wheelbarrow frame assembly of claim 2 wherein:
said first member first end pivotally coupled to said first adjustable leg assembly and said second member first end pivotally coupled to said second adjustable leg assembly; and
wherein when said adjustable brace members are in said first configuration, said first adjustable leg assembly and said second adjustable leg assembly are in said first configuration, and when said adjustable brace members are moved into said second configuration, said first adjustable leg assembly and said second adjustable leg assembly are moved into said second configuration.
4 . The wheelbarrow frame assembly of claim 3 wherein said adjustable brace assembly first member medial portion is pivotally coupled to said adjustable brace assembly second member medial portion.
5 . The wheelbarrow frame assembly of claim 4 wherein:
when said adjustable brace members are in said second configuration, said adjustable brace assembly first member second end is coupled to said second adjustable leg assembly; and
when said adjustable brace members are in said second configuration, said adjustable brace assembly second member second end is coupled to said first adjustable leg assembly.
6 . The wheelbarrow frame assembly of claim 5 wherein:
said adjustable brace assembly first member second end and said adjustable brace assembly second member second end each have a hook;
said first adjustable leg assembly includes a post;
said second adjustable leg assembly includes a post;
when said adjustable brace members are in said second configuration, said adjustable brace assembly first member second end hook is coupled to said second adjustable leg assembly post; and
when said adjustable brace members are in said second configuration, said adjustable brace assembly second member second end hook is coupled to said first adjustable leg assembly post.
7 . The wheelbarrow frame assembly of claim 6 wherein:
said first adjustable leg assembly post is part of a fastener;
said second adjustable leg assembly post is part of a fastener; and
wherein said adjustable brace assembly first member second end and said adjustable brace assembly second member second end may be secured by said fasteners.
8 . The wheelbarrow frame assembly of claim 3 wherein said adjustable brace assembly first member second end is pivotally coupled to said adjustable brace assembly second member second end.
9 . A wheelbarrow comprising:
a frame assembly having a first adjustable leg assembly, a second adjustable leg assembly and a wheel brace assembly;
a hopper coupled to said frame assembly;
a wheel rotatably coupled to said wheel brace assembly;
said first adjustable leg assembly structured to move between a first configuration and a second configuration;
said second adjustable leg assembly structured to move between a first configuration and a second configuration;
said first adjustable leg assembly and said second adjustable leg assembly movably coupled to said wheel brace assembly;
an adjustable brace assembly coupled to said first adjustable leg assembly and said second adjustable leg assembly, said adjustable brace assembly structured to move between a first configuration and a second configuration; and
wherein when said adjustable brace assembly is in said first configuration, said first adjustable leg assembly and said second adjustable leg assembly are in said first configuration, and when said adjustable brace assembly is moved into said second configuration, said first adjustable leg assembly and said second adjustable leg assembly are moved into said second configuration.
10 . The wheelbarrow of claim 9 wherein said adjustable brace assembly has a first member and a second member, said adjustable brace assembly first member and a second member are each being an elongated member having a first end, a second end, and a medial portion, said first and second members pivotally coupled to each other, said first and second members structured to move between a first configuration and a second configuration relative to each other.
11 . The wheelbarrow of claim 10 wherein:
said first member first end pivotally coupled to said first adjustable leg assembly and said second member first end pivotally coupled to said second adjustable leg assembly; and
wherein when said adjustable brace members are in said first configuration, said first adjustable leg assembly and said second adjustable leg assembly are in said first configuration, and when said adjustable brace members are moved into said second configuration, said first adjustable leg assembly and said second adjustable leg assembly are moved into said second configuration.
12 . The wheelbarrow of claim 11 wherein said adjustable brace assembly first member medial portion is pivotally coupled to said adjustable brace assembly second member medial portion.
13 . The wheelbarrow of claim 12 wherein:
when said adjustable brace members are in said second configuration, said adjustable brace assembly first member second end is coupled to said second adjustable leg assembly; and
when said adjustable brace members are in said second configuration, said adjustable brace assembly second member second end is coupled to said first adjustable leg assembly.
14 . The wheelbarrow of claim 13 wherein:
said adjustable brace assembly first member second end and said adjustable brace assembly second member second end each have a hook;
said first adjustable leg assembly includes a post;
said second adjustable leg assembly includes a post;
when said adjustable brace members are in said second configuration, said adjustable brace assembly first member second end hook is coupled to said second adjustable leg assembly post; and
when said adjustable brace members are in said second configuration, said adjustable brace assembly second member second end book is coupled to said first adjustable leg assembly post.
15 . The wheelbarrow frame assembly of claim 14 wherein:
said first adjustable leg assembly post is part of a fastener;
said second adjustable leg assembly post is part of a fastener; and
wherein said adjustable brace assembly first member second end and said adjustable brace assembly second member second end may be secured by said fasteners.
16 . The wheelbarrow frame assembly of claim 11 wherein said adjustable brace assembly first member second end is pivotally coupled to said adjustable brace assembly second member second end.
17 . A kit for a wheelbarrow comprising:
a leg/brace sub-assembly having a first adjustable leg assembly, a second adjustable leg assembly, a wheel brace assembly and a wheel rotatably coupled to said wheel brace assembly;
a hopper structured to be coupled to said leg/brace sub-assembly;
a first handle member structured to be coupled to said leg/brace sub-assembly;
a second handle member structured to be coupled to said leg/brace sub-assembly;
said first adjustable leg assembly structured to move between a first configuration and a second configuration;
said second adjustable leg assembly structured to move between a first configuration and a second configuration;
said first adjustable leg assembly and said second adjustable leg assembly movably coupled to said wheel brace assembly;
an adjustable brace assembly coupled to said first adjustable leg assembly and said second adjustable leg assembly, said adjustable brace assembly structured to move between a first configuration and a second configuration; and
wherein when said adjustable brace assembly is in said first configuration, said first adjustable leg assembly and said second adjustable leg assembly are in said first configuration, and when said adjustable brace assembly is moved into said second configuration, said first adjustable leg assembly and said second adjustable leg assembly are moved into said second configuration.
18 . The wheelbarrow frame assembly of claim 17 wherein said adjustable brace assembly has a first member and a second member, said adjustable brace assembly first member and a second member are each being an elongated member having a first end, a second end, and a medial portion, said first and second members pivotally coupled to each other, said first and second members structured to move between a first configuration and a second configuration relative to each other.
19 . The kit for a wheelbarrow of claim 18 wherein:
said first member first end pivotally coupled to said first adjustable leg assembly and said second member first end pivotally coupled to said second adjustable leg assembly; and
wherein when said adjustable brace members are in said first configuration, said first adjustable leg assembly and said second adjustable leg assembly are in said first configuration, and when said adjustable brace members are moved into said second configuration, said first adjustable leg assembly and said second adjustable leg assembly are moved into said second configuration.
20 . The kit for a wheelbarrow of claim 19 wherein:
when said adjustable brace members are in said second configuration, said adjustable brace assembly first member second end is coupled to said second adjustable leg assembly; and
when said adjustable brace members are in said second configuration, said adjustable brace assembly second member second end is coupled to said first adjustable leg assembly.