Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
1 This invention relates to two-wheeled hand trucks
2 or dollies of the type wherein a primary frame, mounted on
3 a pair of wheels, is adapted in use to assume a generally
4 vertical position and has a generally forwardly disposed
5 nose part connected to project forwardly from the primary
~ frame to receive an object to be carried by the hand truck.
8 Hand trucks of varying design have been proposed
9 and patented. The present improvements are concerned with
the stair climbers, which are disclosed as attached to the
11 axle-mounted brackets at their lower ends and to the side
12 rails at their upper ends.
13
14 An important object of the invention is to pro-
vide a very simple, practical, e~onomical and durable
1~ hand truck of improved character which can be effectively
17 utilized to transport a wide variety of products from one
18 place to another.
19
Figure 1 is a front elevational view of an im-
21 proved hand truck constructed in accordance with my in-
22 vention;
23 Figure 2 is a side elevational view thereof
~4 taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1, the chain lines indi-
cating an alternative position of the stair climber
86 members;
87 Figure 2A is a side elevational view of the
informational strip only;
Figure 2B is a transverse sectional view, taken
~0 on the line 2B-2B of Figure 2;
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1 ¦ igure 3 is a rear elevational view thereof:
2 Figure 4 is a sectional fragmentary elevational
3 view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 5;
. Figure 5 is a considerably enlarged, sectional
: 5 fragmentary top plan view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 2;
Figure 6 is a considerably enlarged, fragmentary
top plan view taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 2;
Figure 7 is an enlarged, fragmentary, transverse
9 sectional view taken on the line 7-7 of Figure l;
Figure 8 is an elevational view of a modified
11 form of strip;
12 Figure 9 is a still further view of a modified
13 form of strip;
14 Figure 10 is a transverse sectional view showing
lS the strip of Figure 9 mounted in position;
1~ Figure 11 is a side elevational view illustrating
17 ¦ a modified form of stair climber for the hand truck;
18 Figure 12 is a transverse sectional view taken on
19 the line 12-12 of Figure 11;
20 ¦ Figure 13 is an end elevational view taken on the
21¦ line 13-13 of Figure 11;
22 ¦ Figure 14 is a side elevational view of the wear
23 strip onlyj
24 Figure 15 is a transverse sectional view taken at
the line 15-15 of Figure 14;
26 Figure 16 is an end elevational view taken at the
27 line 1~-16 of Figure 14; and
28 Figure 17 is a top plan view taken at the line
a~ ¦ 17-17 o i~ure 14.
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l Referring now more particularly to the accompany-
2 ing drawings, and in the first instance to Figures l through
3 7 thereof, the hand truck of the present invention is shown
4 as comprising generally a pair of preferably rubber tired
wheels 10, mounted on an axle 11. Brackets 12 have the
B usual hubs 12a, for receiving the ends of axle ll, and ex-
7 tend forwardly to mount to the lower ends of a primary frame,
8 generally designated 13, which, as shown, comprises an open
~ framework made up of side rail members 14 connected by cross
rail members 15. Projecting forwardly from the primary frame
ll 13 is an angle-shaped nose piece generally designated 16,
12 having a forwardly extending lip or apron 16' upon which the
13 article to be transported may be supported in the usual
l4 manner.
16 As Figure 2 indicates, an alternate hub 12b is
17 also provided on each bracket 12 to accommodate the axle
18 11 when a wheel 10 of larger diameter is employed. In
19 addition to the members described, U-shaped stair climber
members, generally designated 17, are utilized and mount
21 to the brackets 12, and to the side rails 14, in a manner
23 which will be more particularly described later.
g4 It is important to understand that carts of this
character must ~e constructed of light-weight material such
26 as aluminum, and constructed very economically. Accordingly,
27 extrusions of the configuration particularly shcwn in
28 Figures 5 and 6 are employed as side rails 14. As Figures
5 and 6 indicate, the extruded side rails 14 are generally
U-shaped in cross section and include front and rear sides
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1 14a and 14b respectively, connected by a web part 14c. A
2 bale-shaped handle member 18, which inclines rearwardly as
shown particularly in Figure 2, has free ends 18a, which are
4 received in the upper ends of the U-shaped side rails 14,
and may be bolted thereto as shown at 19 (Figure 2B).
7 The outboard faces of the web portions 14c of
8 each side rail 14 are provided with T-shaped slots (Figure
~ 6), generally designated 20, which include enlarged head
portions 20a and reduced size neck portions 20b, defined
11 by projecting flanges 21 which, like slots 20, extend the
12 full length of the side rails 14. The brackets 12 are
13 provided with key portions 22 of a depth to be recei~ed
14 within the enlarged portions 20a of T-slots 20 and the
slots 20 also accommodate semi-rigid strips 23 which ex-
16 tend all the way from the upper ends of rails 14 down into
17 abutting engagement with the upper surface of key portions
18 22, the upper end of key 22 being slotted as at 22a to
19 accommodate the lower end of strip 23 and securely affix
it in position as shown in Figure 4.
21
22 In like manner, and as shown particularly in
23 Figure 7, the extruded tubular cross pieces 15 are pro-
~4 vided with T-slots 24 on their front and rear faces which
similarly comprise enlarged portions 24a and reduced size
26 neck portions 24~, defined by overlying flanges 25. Simi-
27 lar semi-rigid strips 26 are accommodated in the portions
28 24a of slots 24 and extend from one end of each cross
a0 ¦ rail 15 the ~ther.
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1 It is to be understood that the strips 23 and 26
2 are plastic strips of about 1/16" in thickness which are
3 designed to bear advertising material, identifying material,
4 or such other informational material as the user of the
cart may desire. Preferably, they are colored strips to
~ contrast with the silver metallic color of cross rails 15
7 and side rails 14, and for purposes of convenience, are
8 shown in applicant's drawings as carrying printing desig-
9 nated as "advertising slogan" or "identification". The
plastic used may be polyvinylchloride or any form of a
11 number of known plastic which is suitable for the purpose.
12
13 The nose piece, generally designated 16, includes
14 rear facial portions 16a (see Figures 1 and 5) which butt
against the side rails 14, as shown particularly in Figure
1~ 5, and inboard flange extensions 16b, which abut fitting
17 strip members 27. Hubs 28 are cast on nose parts 16b and
18 permit bolts and nuts 29 and 30, respectively to rigidly
19 clamp the brackets 12 and nose pieces 16 securely to the
side rails 14. The bolts 29 extend through the key por-
21 tions 22 of brackets 12 at a point below the strips 23 as
22 shown in Figure 4.
23
24 At their lower ends the stair climbers 17 are
2~ shown as having a pair of alternate mounting holes 17a
26 and 17b. With the smaller diameter wheels 10 shown, it
27 is the holes 17b which are utilized and releasable ~astener
2~ members such as bolts 17c are employed to sec~re the stair
2~ climbers securely to the brackets 12. If larger diameter
wheels are utilized, then the position of stair climbers
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1 17 would be adjusted so that it would be the holes 17a
2 which would be used for the attaching bolts 17c and secur-
ing the stair climber members 17 in the adjusted position
4 illustrated by the chain lines 17' in Figure 2.
6 At their upper ends the stair climbers 17 are
7 connected with a pair of inner and outer clip members 31
and 32 (Figure 6), respectively, by way of releasable bolts
~ and nuts 33a and 33b, respectively. Each inboard clip 31
includes a U-shaped end 31a, sized to fit over the flanged
11 free outer end of the leg part 14b of one of the side rails
12 14. Similarly, the outboard clips 32 have U-shaped ends
13 32a, configured to fit over the rear flanges 21 on each
14 side rail 14 and bear against the strips 23 as shown in
Figure 6. The stair climber member 17, shown in Figure 2,
1~ can be moved to the position shown in chain lines 17', only
17 ¦ of course, if the nuts 33b are backed off sufficiently to
18 permit the clips 31 and 32 to slide upwardly along side
19 rails 14.
21 The plastic strips 26, carried by cross rails 1~,
22 extend the full length of rails 15 and may be provided with
23 bores to receive rivets 34 (Figure 7) which secure them in
24 position. They may, however, also be formed as shown in
Figure 8 with elongate slots 35. Further, in an alterna-
26 tive form of the invention, an after insertion of narrower
27 strips 26' may be accomplished with slots 3~ similarly
28 ~ccommodating the rivets 34. Preferably, in this embodi-
2~ ment, a strong tacky adhesi~e will be used on the back of
the strips shown in Figure 9 to secure them in position.
l In Figure 11 a stair climber 17 is shown as
2 having a wear strip, generally designated 36, applied to
3 its rear edge. For the sake of clarity, the wear strip 36
4 was not shown in Figures 2 and 3, however it is of the con-
figuration disclosed in Figure 14, wherein it is shown as
~ having a base or backer section 36a with bent-over pairs
r of central tabs 37 provided on abbreviated side wall sec-
8 tions 38, and bent-over tabs 39 provided at one end of
9 base section 36a, with bent-over tabs 40 and 41 provided
at the other. Figures 12 and 13 particularly illustrate
11 the manner in which these tabs are bent over from the 37'
12 position to accommodate to the cross section of the stair
13 climber 17 which is particularly illustrated also in these
14 views.
1~ The operation of carts of this character is well
17 known and need not be particularly described. With the
18 embodiment shown in Figures 1 through 8, the strips 23 and
19 26 are applied during manufacture of the cart to suit the
specifications of the particular customer by slipping the
21 strips 23 in the upper ends of side rails 14, prior to bolt-
22 ing handle 18 and strips 23 in position, and by slipping
23 strips 24 into cross rails 15 so that the rivet openings
24 therein line up with like openings in the rails 15 prior to
riveting the cross rails 15 and strips 24 in position on
26 side rails 14. The strips 23 are provided with openings
27 23' or slots 35 to accommodate bolts 19. The strips 26'
28 can, as indicated, be after-inserted if desired.
~0 The nose piece 16, bracket 12 and side rail 14
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1 connection, particularly illustrated in Figure 5, is ex-
2 tremely stout and rigid and it is, of course, the configur-
3 ation of these keyed, interfitting parts which is respon-
4 sible. With the new keyed construction, the shear stresses
on the clamping bolts are relieved. Moreover, because the
~ brackets 12 are pieces separate from the nose part 16, the
7 nose part can be die cast rather than sand cast and the
8 nose parts 16 can be easily changed where a different size
or configuration is desired. When the user desires to em-
ploy a different diameter wheel, the position of stair
11 climbers 17 can be adjusted by simply removing the bolts 17c
12 while, at the same time, backing off nuts 33b. This is not
13 possible in prior art constructions wherein the stair climb-
14 ers were mounted on the axle. The application of the wear
strips 36 is easily accomplished by inserting the wear strip
1~ member, shown particularly in Figure 14, over the rear edge
17 of each stair climber 17, and then bending over the tabs
18 37 through 41.
19
20 ¦ It is to be understood that the drawings and
21 descriptive matter are in all cases to be interpreted as
22 merely illustrative of the principles of the invention,
23 rather than as limiting the same in any way, since it is
24 contemplated that various changes may be made in various
elements to achieve like results without departing from
26 the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended
27 claims.
28
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