Wheelbarrow with auxiliary storage
A wheelbarrow apparatus that includes a frame assembly, a tub, a wheel assembly, and at least one auxiliary storage device and/or transport pin. In one embodiment, an auxiliary storage devices is a tube for storing elongated items, such as tools with elongated handles (e.g., rakes and shovels), and thin pieces of wood, metal, etc. In another embodiment, an auxiliary storage devices is a storage bin for storing smaller items, such as small hand tools, hardware, adhesive, rope, tool belt, papers, etc. In another embodiment, a transport pin is used to stabilize items during transport.
1. A wheelbarrow, comprising:
a frame assembly including a front extension, a rear extension, and a base extension;
a tub mounted to the frame assembly;
a wheel assembly including at least one wheel mounted to the front extension such that the tub is supported by the wheel assembly and the base extension when the wheelbarrow is at rest and the tub is supported by the wheel assembly and a user when the user lifts the rear extension to allow the wheel to rotate to move the wheelbarrow;
a storage bin affixed to the frame assembly or the tub; and
a lid affixable to the storage bin;
wherein the lid includes a self-locking mechanism that transitions the lid from an unlocked state to a locked state in a closed position as the wheelbarrow is lifted into the tipping position, and wherein the self-locking mechanism includes a slideable portion such that the lid automatically slides under a rim of the tub as the wheelbarrow is lifted into the tipping position.
2. The wheelbarrow of claim 1 , wherein the storage bin is box shaped.
3. The wheelbarrow of claim 1 , wherein the storage bin includes a locking mechanism for locking the lid closed when the wheelbarrow is not in the tipping position.
4. The wheelbarrow of claim 1 , further comprising:
a mounting member for mounting the storage bin to the frame or the tub of the wheelbarrow.
5. The wheelbarrow of claim 1 , further comprising:
a tube affixed to the frame assembly or the tub in a substantially horizontal position, wherein the tube is configured to store an item transported by the wheelbarrow and retain the item stored in the tube when the wheelbarrow is in a tipping position, and wherein the tube comprises:
a first end of the substantially horizontal tube oriented towards the rear extension of the frame assembly; and
a second end of the substantially horizontal tube oriented towards the front extension of the frame assembly.
6. The wheelbarrow of claim 5 , wherein the first end of the tube includes a notch along a perimeter of an open end that engages a feature of the transported item when stored in the tube.
7. The wheelbarrow of claim 5 , further comprising:
a mounting member for mounting the tube to the frame or the tub of the wheelbarrow in the substantially horizontal position.
8. A wheelbarrow, comprising:
a frame assembly including a front extension, a rear extension, and a base extension;
a tub mounted to the frame assembly;
a wheel assembly including at least one wheel mounted to the front extension such that the tub is supported by the wheel assembly and the base extension when the wheelbarrow is at rest and the tub is supported by the wheel assembly and a user when the user lifts the rear extension to allow the wheel to rotate to move the wheelbarrow; and
at least one transport pin affixable to a rim of the tub, wherein the affixed transport pin extends above the rim to stabilize an item transported by the wheelbarrow when the transported item is placed on top of the rim of the tub when the transport pin is affixed in a transport position, wherein the transported item is longer than the tub and rests against or attaches to the at least one transport pin, and wherein the at least one transport pin is removably affixed in a recess of the rim, and wherein the at least one transport pin is stored in the recess such that the at least one transport pin does not extend above a surface surrounding the recess when the transport pin is affixed in a stored position.
9. The wheelbarrow of claim 8 , wherein the at least one transport pin comprises at least two transport pins affixed on opposite sides of the tub, and wherein the transported item rests against the at least two transport pins in a side-to-side orientation across the tub and extending beyond the sides of the tub.
10. The wheelbarrow of claim 8 , wherein the at least one transport pin is affixed to the rim of the tub in a substantially vertical orientation.
11. The wheelbarrow of claim 8 , wherein the at least one transport pin is configured to retain the transported item on top of the rim of the tub when the wheelbarrow is in a tipping position.
12. The wheelbarrow of claim 8 , wherein the at least one transport pin comprises four transport pins with two of the four transport pins affixed on each side of the tub, and wherein the transported item rests between the transport pins in a side-to-side orientation across the tub and extending beyond the sides of the tub.
13. The wheelbarrow of claim 8 , wherein the at least one transport pin comprises:
a center shaft that stabilizes the transported item when the item is placed on top of the rim of the tub; and
two cross-arms that engage with the rim of the tub when the at least one transport pin is affixed to the rim of the tub.
14. The wheelbarrow of claim 13 , wherein two cross-arms of each at least one transport pin are affixed in a recess of the rim when the at least one transport pin is affixed to the rim of the tub.
15. A wheelbarrow, comprising:
a frame assembly including a front extension, a rear extension, and a base extension;
a tub mounted to the frame assembly;
a wheel assembly including at least one wheel mounted to the front extension such that the tub is supported by the wheel assembly and the base extension when the wheelbarrow is at rest and the tub is supported by the wheel assembly and a user when the user lifts the rear extension to allow the wheel to rotate to move the wheelbarrow; and
at least one transport pin affixable to a rim of the tub, wherein the affixed transport pin extends above the rim to stabilize an item transported by the wheelbarrow when the transported item is placed on top of the rim of the tub when the transport pin is affixed in a transport position, wherein the transported item is longer than the tub and rests against or attaches to the at least one transport pin, and wherein the at least one transport pin comprises:
a center shaft that stabilizes the transported item when the item is placed on top of the rim of the tub; and
two cross-arms that engage with the rim of the tub when the at least one transport pin is affixed to the rim of the tub, wherein two cross-arms of each at least one transport pin are affixed in a recess of the rim when the at least one transport pin is affixed to the rim of the tub.
16. The wheelbarrow of claim 15 , wherein the at least one transport pin comprises at least two transport pins affixed on opposite sides of the tub, and wherein the transported item rests against the at least two transport pins in a side-to-side orientation across the tub and extending beyond the sides of the tub.
17. The wheelbarrow of claim 15 , wherein the at least one transport pin is affixed to the rim of the tub in a substantially vertical orientation.
18. The wheelbarrow of claim 15 , wherein the at least one transport pin is removably affixed in a recess of the rim.
19. The wheelbarrow of claim 18 , wherein the at least one transport pin is stored in the recess such that the at least one transport pin does not extend above a surface surrounding the recess when the transport pin is affixed in a stored position.
20. The wheelbarrow of claim 15 , wherein the at least one transport pin is configured to retain the transported item on top of the rim of the tub when the wheelbarrow is in a tipping position.
21. The wheelbarrow of claim 15 , wherein the at least one transport pin comprises four transport pins with two of the four transport pins affixed on each side of the tub, and wherein the transported item rests between the transport pins in a side-to-side orientation across the tub and extending beyond the sides of the tub.
22. A wheelbarrow auxiliary storage kit, comprising:
a wheelbarrow with a frame, a tub mounted to the frame, and a wheel assembly;
a storage bin mountable to the tub or the frame of the wheelbarrow that stores an item transported by the wheelbarrow; and
a lid affixable to the storage bin, wherein the storage bin and the affixed lid are configured to retain the transported item when the wheelbarrow is in a tipping position, wherein the lid includes a self-locking mechanism that transitions the lid from an unlocked state to a locked state in a closed position as the wheelbarrow is lifted into the tipping position, and wherein the self-locking mechanism includes a slideable portion such that the lid automatically slides under a rim of the tub as the wheelbarrow is lifted into the tipping position.
23. The wheelbarrow auxiliary storage kit of claim 22 , further comprising:
at least one transport pin affixable to the rim of the tub of the wheelbarrow, wherein the affixed transport pin stabilizes another item transported by the wheelbarrow when the transported item is placed on top of the rim of the tub.
24. The wheelbarrow auxiliary storage kit of claim 23 , wherein the at least one transport pin is configured to retain the transported item on top of the rim of the tub when the wheelbarrow is in the tipping position.
25. The wheelbarrow auxiliary storage kit of claim 22 , further comprising:
a tube mountable to the tub or the frame of the wheelbarrow that stores another item transported by the wheelbarrow, wherein the tube is configured to retain the transported item when the wheelbarrow is in the tipping position.