Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
~ 134877
The invention relates to a transport apparatus, especially
for goods, comprising a loading bridge and several rollers
intended for contacting the ground.
Numerous transport devices for goods and persons are already
known which devices may be pushed by hand but have the dis-
advantage that they are not usable for transporting heavy
loads over stairs. The ob~ective to be achieved by the present
invention is to provide a transport apparatus which is
pushable by hand and which is as simple as possible and light,
yet, which may be used for transporting comparably heavy loads
in a simple manner over stairs. The apparatus shall be suitable
in the same manner for the transport on streets and walks.
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided
a transport apparatus having loading bridge means including a
floor and a frame surrounding the floor. At least two front
roller means and at least two rear roller means are provided.
Load bearing arm means extend downwardly from each side of the
loading bridge means and means is provided for pivotally
mounting the load bearing arm means to the loading bridge means
within approximately the middle third of the length of the
loading bridge means for angular movement o~ the load bearing
arm means over at least approximately 90 between a downward
position at substantially right angles from the loading bridge
means and an upward storage position. The rear roller means is
mounted at the outer ends of the load bearing arm means. At
least two lever arm means are mounted at the front end of the
,i loading bridge means and are extendable and retractable from
the front end of the loading bridge means substantially in
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parallel relative to tlne floor of the loading bridge means. The
respective lever arm means are separately inaividually extendable
and retractable. The front roller means are mounted at the
ends of the respective lever arm means. The loading bridge
means are oriented at an angle with the ground directed upwardly
toward the rear when the transport apparatus is placed on a
horizontal surface. The spacing between the front and rear
roller means and the diameter of the roller means are so selected
that upon transport up a set of stairs, the front roller means
come to rest on an upper stair tread while the rear roller means
simultaneously rest on a lower stair tread. At least two handle
arm means are mounted at the rear end of the frame.
These features make it possible to transport even relatively
heavy loads by a single man over stairs and walks in a relatively
simple manner and with a comparably small effort.
Example embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the
following drawings:
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~34877
1 Fig. 1 shows a side view of the transport apparatusi
Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the transport apparatus;
Fig. 3 is a side view of the transport apparatus in
its folded condition;
Pig. 4 is a top plan view of the transport apparatus
in its folded condition;
Fig~ S shows the transport apparatus in a schematic
illustration when ascending a stair in a first
~ phase;
Fig. 6 shows the transport apparatus when ascending a
stai~ in a second phase;
Fig. 7 is a side view of the transport apparatus with
an attached frame for the transport of long
goods;
Fig.-8 is a side view of a modified embodiment ~ the
transport apparatus in which the front rollers
are secured to tiltable arms;
Fig. 9 ' is a side view of the transport apparatus
according to Fig. 8 in another position;
Fig. 10 is a side view of a further modification of
the transport apparatus having two additional
wheels with pneumatic tires;
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1 Fig. 11 is a rear view of the transport apparatus
accordin~ to Fig. 10;
Fig. 12 is a sectional view through the adjusti.ng
mechanism for the wheels with pneumatic tires;
Fig. 13 illustrates a view of a modification for the
tiltability of the front rollers.
The transport apparatus is preferably intended for the transport
of the goods. However, it is also suitable for transporting
walk handicapped persons by installing a seat. This transport
apparatus which may be pulled or pushed by hand is suitable for
transporting bags, boxes as well as office equipment, refrigerators,
and persons easily by one man on walkways as well as over stairs.
The transport apparatus according to Figs. 1 to 4, comprises a
loading bridge 1 surrounded by a frame 2. On the front side of
the loading bridge 1 there are secured two rotatable rollers 3
each to its respective support 4 which is extendable in parallel
to the loading bridge in the direction of the arrow B. In the
middle zon~ of the loading bridge 1 there is arranged one arm 6
on each side,which extends relative to the floor 5 of the loading
bridge 1 substantially at a right angle downwardly and which is
provided with a rotatable roller 7 at the lower end. The point
of securin~ the arms 6 to the frame 2 is located in the area of
the middle one third of the loading bridge 1. The arms 6 may,
however, be somewhat off-set in their lower portion (see Fig. 10),
in order to better reach underneath of a corbelled stair tread.
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1 The ar~s which are tiltable about an axis 9, are arrested in
the lowered down position illustrated in Fig. 1 by bolts 10.
By loosening the bolts 10 the arms 6 may be tilted in the
direction of the arrow A into a nonoperating position. In
this upwardly turned posi~on the bolt 10 engages into a second
bore 11 of a mounting gusset 12 welded to the frame 2. The two
front rollers 3 reach above the front side of the loading bridge 1
and extend below the bottom 5 of the loading bridge. The roller -
support brackets 4 are made of square sectional steel and extend
19 into a co~responding hollow sectional member of the frame 2.
These brackets 4 are individually extendable in the direction of
the double arrow B. As a modified embodiment it would be possible
to arrange but one single roller 3 centrally at the front end of
the loading bridge. The rollers 7 may also be provided with
brakes.
Two rod type rearwardly extending hand levers 14 are mounted to
the rear end of the loading bridge 1 by means of two holding
straps 17 welded to the frame 2. The hand levers 14 are tiltable
about the horizontal axes 15. These hand levers 14 may be arrested
in different tilt,ed positions by means of a bolt 16 which may reach
into bores in the holding straps 17. This is shown in dashed
lines. In the folded, space-saving condition of the transport
apparatus as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, these hand levers 14 may be
folded into the inside of the loading bridge 1. In the folded-in
condition the hand levers 14 do not extend outside the length of
the lo~ding bridge 1.
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1 The frame 2 is constructed so that the upwardly extending
post 18, 28 may comprise hollow square sectional tubing 18.
If desired, a carrier plate 20 with wheels 21 may be inserted
into the two forward posts 18. The carrier plate 20 comprises
a metal frame into which there is inserted a board or the like.
This removably inserted carrier plate 20 prevents loads from
sliding out forwardly when the transport apparatus is in a steep
position. The arms 6 may also be constructed for longitudinal
adjustment. As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, it is possible to fold
this transport apparatus so that it takes up but little space.
This is accomplished by upwardly tilting the arms 6 secured to
the outside of the frame, in the direction of the arrow A and
folding ~he handles 14 secured to the inside of the frame, in
the direction of the arrow C. This is especially possible be-
cause the arms 6 are not interconnected by a rod extending
through underneath. Thus, it is possible to easily carry the
transport apparatus by hand if it is not in use and it takes
up but little space. The carrier plate 20 may be withdrawn
from both posts 18 and may be taken along as a separate part.
In order to make this transport apparatus capable of negotiating
a stair, the spacing "a" between the rotational axes of the front
and rear wheels 3, 7 shall be 40 to 70 cm, preferably 50 to 60 cm.
The clearance H above ground shall be 30 to 45 cm, preferably
about 35 cm. Further, the roller diameter shall be smaller than
lS cm, preferably about 6 to 9 cm. A tangent T applied to the
front and rear wheels 3, 7 shall include with the bottom 5 an
angle in the ran~e between ~5 to 50, preferably 30 to 40,
whereby the roller support brackets4 take up their recessed
` position.
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1 As shown in Fig. 5, the transport apparatus, in order to
negotiate a stair 22, is positioned so that the front rollers 3
rest on an upper step. The rear rollers 7 initially rest on
the next but one lower tread. The transport apparatus is
shifted in the direction of the arrow F to such an extent that
the rear rollers 7 are about to contact the riser of the next
stair step. Thus, the front rollers3 as well as the rear rollers 7
simultaneously rest on different stair steps. Depending on the
size of the riser and tread of the step, the loading bridge 1
will take up a substantially horizontal or slightly rearwardly
tilted position. Thereafter the transport apparatus is lifted
by hand by lifting the hand levers 14 in the direction of the
arrows D whereupon they are moved forwardly in the direction of
the arrow F until the position is accomplished which is shown in
Fig. 6. In this position the ~ront rollers 3 rest on an upper
stair tread and the rear rollers 7 simultaneously rest on the
next lower stair tread. Thereafter the transport apparatus is
pressed downwardly by hand with its hand levers 14 in the direction
of the arrow E and again pushed in the direction of the arrow F,
whereby again the position is accomplished which is shown in
Fig. S, however, now relative to a higher tread position. In
this manner the goods to be transported may be easily moved up
or down a stair while utilizing the lever effect with little
force.
When the goods are transported on a horizontal surface, and
thuæ the rollers 3, 7 rest on the floor, the loading bridge
takes up a rearwardly slanted position with an angle ( ~ )
preferably about 35.
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1 Normal stair treads have a riser height of about 18 cm and
a tread depth of about 28 cm. In order to adapt the apparatus
to different tread dep~hs, the roller support brackets 4 and
the rollers 3 secured thereto are extendable. In the selected,
ext:ended position the arresting is accomplished by means of an
arresting bolt 8 which enters into bores in the brackets 4.
When climbing a circular stair, it is suitable to e~tend the
two brackets 4 to different extents.
Where narrow space conditions prevail~ for example, when
moving into an elevator or the like it is possible to tilt
the arms upwardly and to move the hand levers 14 into differ-
ent positions as shown, for example in Fig. 1 by the dashed
lines.
In the folded condition the transport apparatus i5 only slightly
larger than the loading bridge 1 proper including the frame 2.
Fig. 7 illustrates a modified embodiment of the transport
apparatus in which an additional plug-in frame 26 is attached
to the frame 2. This version is especially suitable for the
transport of long goods. Four downwardly reaching studs 29
are removably inserted into the four corner posts 18, 28 of
the fra~e 2. The studs 29 carry at the upper ends thereof a
platform type support surface 30. The front portion 32 of
the support surface extends over the front rollers 3 to about
one ~uarter of the length of the loading bridge 1. When the
appar~tus is not in use the plug-in frame 26 may be remove~ as
a unit.
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1 Figs. 8 and 9 show a further embodiment of the transport
apparatus especially adapted for relatively large and heavy
goods. Contrary t~ the'embodiment according to Fiys. 1 to 7,
the two ~ront rollers 3 are not extendable but rather secured
to tiltable arms 33. These arms 33 are arrested in the down-
wardly extending position shown in full lines. The arresting
may be released by means of a pull cable 34 or the like extend-
ing from the handles 36. Thus, the front arms may be tilted
upwardly in the direction of the arrow G into the position
illustrated by dashed lines in which they rest against a stop.
In this embodiment the axms 6 are longer than in the embodiment
according to Figs. 1 to 7, to an extent corresponding about
to the length of the arms 33. The frontmost part of the loading
brid~e 1 is slanted upwardly by about 20 so that a nose 35 is
formed which facilitates the loading and unloading of the goods
to be transported. In addition the nose 35 makes possible a
larger freedom of movement when lifting from one stair step to
the other as illustrated in Fig. 9. Otherwise, the structure
and function correspond to those of the first described example
embodiment.
Figs. 10 and 11 illustrate an embodiment of the transport
apparatus which, starting from the apparatus according to
Figs. 1 to 4 is additionally equipped with two wheels 40
with pneumatic tires which may be used selectively. These
wheels 40 with pneumatic tires have a substantially larger
diameter than the wheels 3 or 7, that is a diameter of about
15 to 30 cm, preferably 20 cm. With the aid of these wheels 40
with pneumatic tires it is possible to transport loads also over
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1 larger distances and over rough surfaces substantially in
a shock absorbent manner. Each wheel axle 41 is supported
by a wheel fork 42. These wheel ~or~s 42 are each rigidly
secured to a rod 43 which is tiltable through an angle of
about 90. The two rods extending in parallel to each other
are held below the bottom 5 in rings 44 or in pipe sections
welded to the ~rame 2. The wheels with pneumatic tires may
be tilted by means of a respective stop lever 45 secured at
the rear end of the loading bridge 1, whereby the wheels may
ta~e up an operating position as shown in full lines in
~igs. 10 and 11 or a rest position as shown in dashed lines
in Fig. 11.
When each of the stop levers 44 is tilted through an angle of
about 90, the wheels 40 with pneumatic tires move oppositely
relative to each other in the direction of the arrows K so
that thereafter the wheels rest below the bottom 5 ar.d about
in parallel thereto.
As shown in Fig. ~ the stop lever 44 arrests the rod 43 and
thus the wheels with pneumatic tires in the operating position
and in the rest position. The end of the lever 48 reaches
selectively in one of the two bores 50, 51 which are displaced
- by about 90. In each position the lever 48 is secured by the
pressure of a spring 52 which presses against a pin 53 in the
lever 48. By moving the lever 48 by hand in the direction of
the arrow P the lever disengages the bore 50 or 51 whereupon it
may be tilted into another position. The lever 48 is guided in
a slot 55 of the ring 44.
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1 Fig. 13 illustrates ~ modi~ied embodiment in which the two
front rollers are secured to the frame 2 by means of two
tiltable supports 58 i`nstead o on extendable supports 4~
Th~3 supports 58 are tiltably secured to an upper strut 62
of the fra~e ~ by means of a respective bolt 59, whereby the
supports 58 may be tilted in the direction of the double
arrow R depending on the di~ensions of stair steps at hand.
The angular position of the support 58is fixed by an arresting
pin 60 which may engage into one of several bores 61 of an
aperture plate 64 welded to the frame. In this embodiment
the roller 3 also extends below the bottom 5 and is arranged
in front of the frame.
A further modification exists in that the supports 58 are
insertable into the aperture plate 64 in different angular
positions, whereby depending on the desired slant of the
supports 58 differnt bores are utilized.
Besides, it would be possible to construct the arms 6 to be
removable rather than tiltable, for example, by means of a
nut and bolt connection.
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