Collapsible wheelbarrow and associated method
View Patent ↗An improved wheelbarrow includes a pair of legs that are each configured as four-bar linkages and are collapsible. The wheelbarrow includes a frame assembly, a wheel, a tray, and a pair of handles. The frame assembly can be assembled by the manufacturer. The wheelbarrow can then be assembled by the retailer or the consumer by simply attaching the wheel, the tray, and the handles to the frame assembly.
1. A wheelbarrow that can be disposed on a surface, the wheelbarrow comprising:
a frame;
at least a first wheel mounted on the frame; and
a support;
the support including at least a first leg mounted on the frame;
the at least first leg including a first member, a second member, and a third member;
the first and third members each being pivotably mounted on the frame;
the second member being pivotably connected with and pivotable with respect to each of the first and third members;
the at least first leg being movable between an extended position and a retracted position;
the at least first leg including a lock that releasably resists movement of the at least first leg from at least one of the extended position and the retracted position in a direction toward the other of the extended position and the retracted position.
2. The wheelbarrow as set forth in claim 1 , in which the lock includes a tab and at least a first notch, the tab being removably receivable in the at least first notch.
3. A wheelbarrow that can be disposed on a surface, the wheelbarrow comprising:
a frame;
at least a first wheel mounted on the frame; and
a support;
the support including at least a first leg mounted on the frame;
the at least first leg including a first member, a second member, and a third member;
the first and third members each being pivotably mounted on the frame;
the second member being pivotably connected with and pivotable with respect to each of the first and third members;
the at least first leg being movable between an extended position and a retracted position; and
in which the second member is engageable with the surface when the at least first leg is in the extended position.
4. The wheelbarrow as set forth in claim 3 , in which the first, second, and third members are oriented substantially parallel with at least a portion of the frame when the at least first leg is in the retracted position.
5. The wheelbarrow as set forth in claim 3 , in which the first, second, and third members are disposed generally flush with the frame when the at least first leg is in the retracted position.
6. The wheelbarrow as set forth in claim 3 , in which the support includes a second leg mounted on the frame.
7. A wheelbarrow that can be disposed on a surface, the wheelbarrow comprising:
a frame;
at least a first wheel mounted on the frame; and
a support;
the support including at least a first leg mounted on the frame;
the at least first leg including a first member, a second member, and a third member;
the first and third members each being pivotably mounted on the frame;
the second member being pivotably connected with and pivotable with respect to each of the first and third members;
the at least first leg being movable between an extended position and a retracted position;
the at least first leg including a lock that releasably retains the at least first leg in at least one of the extended position and the retracted position, the lock including a tab and at least a first notch, the tab being removably receivable in the at least first notch; and
in which the lock extends between the second member and one of the first and third members, the tab being disposed on one of the second member and the one of the first and third members, the at least first notch being disposed on the other of the second member and the one of the first and third members.
8. A wheelbarrow that can be disposed on a surface, the wheelbarrow comprising:
a frame;
at least a first wheel mounted on the frame; and
a support;
the support including at least a first leg mounted on the frame;
the at least first leg including a first member, a second member, and a third member;
the first and third members each being pivotably mounted on the frame;
the second member being pivotably connected with and pivotable with respect to each of the first and third members;
the at least first leg being movable between an extended position and a retracted position;
the at least first leg including a lock that releasably retains the at least first leg in at least one of the extended position and the retracted position, the lock including a tab and at least a first notch, the tab being removably receivable in the at least first notch; and
in which the lock includes a shank, one of the tab and the at least first notch being disposed on the shank, the shank being slidable between an engaged position and a disengaged position.
9. The wheelbarrow as set forth in claim 8 , in which the shank is biased toward the engaged position.
10. A wheelbarrow that can be disposed on a surface, the wheelbarrow comprising:
a frame;
at least a first wheel mounted on the frame; and
a support;
the support including at least a first leg mounted on the frame;
the at least first leg including a first member, a second member, and a third member;
the first and third members each being pivotably mounted on the frame;
the second member being pivotably connected with and pivotable with respect to each of the first and third members;
the at least first leg being movable between an extended position and a retracted position;
the at least first leg including a lock that releasably retains the at least first leg in at least one of the extended position and the retracted position, the lock including a tab and at least a first notch, the tab being removably receivable in the at least first notch; and
in which the lock includes a second notch, the tab being received in the at least first notch corresponding with the extended position of the at least first leg, the tab being received in the second notch corresponding with the retracted position of the at least first leg.
11. A wheelbarrow that can be disposed on a surface, the wheelbarrow comprising:
a frame;
at least a first wheel mounted on the frame; and
at least a first leg mounted on the frame;
the at least first leg being movable between an extended position and a retracted position; and
the at least first leg cooperating with the frame to function as a four-bar linkage;
the at least first leg including a first member, a second member, and a third member;
the first and third members each being pivotably mounted on the frame;
the second member being pivotably connected with and pivotable with respect to each of the first and third members; and
the at least first leg including a lock that releasably resists movement of the at least first leg from at least one of the extended position and the retracted position in a direction toward the other of the extended position and the retracted position.
12. The wheelbarrow as set forth in claim 11 , in which the lock includes a tab and at least a first notch, the tab being removably receivable in the at least first notch.
13. A wheelbarrow that can be disposed on a surface, the wheelbarrow comprising:
a frame;
at least a first wheel mounted on the frame; and
at least a first leg mounted on the frame;
the at least first leg being movable between an extended position and a retracted position;
the at least first leg cooperating with the frame to function as a four-bar linkage;
in which the at least first leg includes a first member, a second member, and a third member;
the first and third members each being pivotably mounted on the frame;
the second member being pivotably connected with and pivotable with respect to each of the first and third members;
the second member being engageable with the surface when the at least first leg is in the extended position.
14. The wheelbarrow as set forth in claim 13 , in which the first, second, and third members are oriented substantially parallel with at least a portion of the frame when the at least first leg is in the retracted position.
15. A wheelbarrow that can be disposed on a surface, the wheelbarrow comprising:
a frame;
at least a first wheel mounted on the frame; and
at least a first leg mounted on the frame;
the at least first leg being movable between an extended position and a retracted position;
the at least first leg cooperating with the frame to function as a four-bar linkage;
the at least first leg including a first member, a second member, and a third member;
the first and third members each being pivotably mounted on the frame;
the second member being pivotably connected with and pivotable with respect to each of the first and third members;
the at least first leg including a lock, the lock releasably retaining the at least first leg in at least one of the extended position and the retracted position;
the lock including a tab and at least a first notch, the tab being removably receivable in the at least first notch; and
in which the lock extends between the second member and one of the first and third members, the tab being disposed on one of the second member and the one of the first and third members, the at least first notch being disposed on the other of the second member and the one of the first and third members.
16. A wheelbarrow that can be disposed on a surface, the wheelbarrow comprising:
a frame;
at least a first wheel mounted on the frame; and
at least a first leg mounted on the frame;
the at least first leg being movable between an extended position and a retracted position;
the at least first leg cooperating with the frame to function as a four-bar linkage;
the at least first leg including a first member, a second member, and a third member;
the first and third members each being pivotably mounted on the frame;
the second member being pivotably connected with and pivotable with respect to each of the first and third members;
the at least first leg including a lock, the lock releasably retaining the at least first leg in at least one of the extended position and the retracted position;
the lock including a tab and at least a first notch, the tab being removably receivable in the at least first notch; and
in which the lock includes a shank, one of the tab and the at least first notch being disposed on the shank, the shank being slidable between an engaged position and a disengaged position.
17. The wheelbarrow as set forth in claim 16 , in which the shank is biased toward the engaged position.
18. A wheelbarrow that can be disposed on a surface, the wheelbarrow comprising:
a frame;
at least a first wheel mounted on the frame; and
at least a first leg mounted on the frame;
the at least first leg being movable between an extended position and a retracted position;
the at vast first leg cooperating with the frame to function as a four-bar linkage;
the at least first leg including a first member, a second member, and a third member;
the first and third members each being pivotably mounted on the frame;
the second member being pivotably connected with and pivotable with respect to each of the first and third members;
the at least first leg including a lock, the lock releasably retaining the at least first leg in at least one of the extended position and the retracted position;
the lock including a tab and at least a first notch, the tab being removably receivable in the at least first notch; and
in which the lock includes a second notch, the tab being received in the at least first notch corresponding with the extended position of the at least first leg, the tab being received in the second notch corresponding with the retracted position of the at least first leg.