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A hand truck includes an automatic height adjusting load platform, or alternatively, a kit of components provides for adding an adjustable load platform to an existing hand truck. The load platform position is held in a raised position while under no load conditions. A user places an article includi

A hand truck includes an automatic height adjusting load platform, or alternatively, a kit of components provides for adding an adjustable load platform to an existing hand truck. The load platform position is held in a raised position while under no load conditions. A user places an article including a package on the raised platform, which is configured to rest at approximately waist level. In response to the weight of the article, the platform lowers, but the downward motion of the platform is inhibited by a platform arrestor. Preferably, the platform arrestor is configured such that the distance the platform will drop due to the weight of the load is proportional to the height of the article placed upon the platform. Thus the top of the article first placed upon the load platform is now substantially at waist level. This process can continue until the platform is lowered to the bottom of the shaft that the platform is slidably mounted to. Further, as articles are removed, under normal conditions, or where the load becomes unstable due to tipping or the like, the platform arrestor will control the rate at which the platform returns to its raised position. The load platform is further detachable for applications where having the platform in a raised position is undesirable.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A kit of components for adding an adjustable load platform to a host hand truck, the host hand truck having in its original configuration, a substantially vertical frame having spaced parallel bars; a frame upper portion; and a frame lower portion, said frame lower portion including a toe platfor

1. A kit of components for adding an adjustable load platform to a host hand truck, the host hand truck having in its original configuration, a substantially vertical frame having spaced parallel bars; a frame upper portion; and a frame lower portion, said frame lower portion including a toe platform extending substantially outward from said frame; at least one set of wheels connected to said frame lower portion opposite said toe platform; and where said kit of components comprises:a shelf guide having a shelf guide upper portion and a shelf guide lower portion, said shelf guide upper portion secured to said frame upper portion and said shelf guide lower portion secured to said frame lower portion; a load platform slidably mounted to said shelf guide; at least one spring coupled between said frame lower portion and said load platform, said at least one spring biased such that said load platform is held in a raised position under no load conditions, and said load platform lowers due to the weight of a load placed thereon; and, at least one spring brake coupled between said frame lower portion and said load platform generally in parallel with said at least one spring, said at least one spring brake arranged to control the rate at which said load platform transitions upward in response to both load and no load conditions.