Fire escape – ladder – or scaffold – Convertible
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-27
2001-01-16
Chin-Shue, Alvin (Department: 3634)
Fire escape, ladder, or scaffold
Convertible
C280S047280
Reexamination Certificate
active
06173811
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates in general to a multi-use hand truck, and more specifically, the invention discloses how a hand truck can be converted into a stepladder or a basket carrier.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Various combination of lifting and moving devices have been known in the past.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,258,826 to Murray discloses a hand cart that can be converted to a stepladder and further disclosing a winch type that can raise a load to a higher level.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,494,626 to Ast discloses a hand truck that converts into a stepladder.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,751,058 to Larsen discloses a combination show shovel, wheel barrow and dolly.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,277,436 to Frank et al discloses a combination hand truck and stair climber.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,175,761 to Marshall shows a combination luggage carrier and cart.
What is needed is a combination hand cart, stepladder and basket carrier. None of the above patents describe the present invention.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is the object of the present invention to provide a combination hand truck, stepladder and basket carrier, which is readily convertible from a hand truck into a stepladder or readily convertible from a hand truck into a basket carrier.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide means for elevating the hand truck wheels above the supporting surface so that the stepladder will not move or slip.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a pivotally mounted support plate member which normally carries a load when used as a hand truck but can be pivoted upward and locked in place to provide a compact structure for storage.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a basket that sits on the support plate when in use but can be collapsed toward the frame of the hand truck and locked in place when not in use to provide a compact structure for storage.
Briefly, in accordance with the invention, there is provided a combination hand truck, stepladder and basket carrier. The stepladder can be converted easily from the hand truck configuration in that the support plate in the front of the hand truck that normally carries the load can be pivoted upward and locked into place. The hand truck wheels can be rotated and locked in place such that the wheels are above the supporting surface of the stepladder. When the stepladder sides are opened the steps rotate to a horizontal position. The top step also rotates forward and is fastened to the opposite leg of the stepladder to provide holding means such that the two legs of the stepladder will only open to a given amount. The hand truck configuration can be converted to a basket carrier configuration by releasing the lock on the basket frame which when unfolded will sit on top of the hand truck plate to provide support to any load that is placed into the basket.
The foregoing summary of the invention outlines some of the more pertinent objects of the invention. The objects should be construed to be merely illustrative of some of the more prominent features of the intended invention. Many other beneficial results can be obtained by applying the disclosed invention in a different manner or modifying the invention within the scope of the disclosure. The summary outlines rather broadly more pertinent and important features of the present invention in order that the detailed description that follows may be better understood so that the present contribution to the art can be more fully appreciated.
Additional features of the invention will be described hereinafter which form the subject of the Claims of the invention. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and the specific embodiments disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended Claims.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2363619 (1944-11-01), Prieto
patent: 2680027 (1954-06-01), Puydt
patent: 3751058 (1973-08-01), Larson
patent: 4175761 (1979-11-01), Marshall
patent: 4258826 (1981-03-01), Murray
patent: 4934485 (1990-06-01), Purkapile
patent: 5277436 (1994-01-01), Frank et al.
patent: 5364112 (1994-11-01), Jackson
patent: 5803471 (1998-09-01), De Mars
patent: 5836595 (1998-11-01), Brice
patent: 620310 (1949-03-01), None
Perez Charles
Tornabene Dean
Chin-Shue Alvin
Kenyon Howard A.
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