초록 ▼

A hand-truck for supporting and transporting the load placed thereon includes a stowable handle. The stowable handle is positionable between a stowed position, a locked position and an infinite number of positions therebetween. The handle is accessible by a user at each position. The hand-truck can

A hand-truck for supporting and transporting the load placed thereon includes a stowable handle. The stowable handle is positionable between a stowed position, a locked position and an infinite number of positions therebetween. The handle is accessible by a user at each position. The hand-truck can transport a load by hand and is accessible to be lifted by a forklift from any side.

대표청구항 ▼

The invention claimed is: 1. A hand-truck comprising: a platform; ground engageable wheels connected to the platform; a channel member fixedly attached to an underside of the platform; a locking plate connected to the platform proximate to the channel member; first and second spaced-apart hinge mem

The invention claimed is: 1. A hand-truck comprising: a platform; ground engageable wheels connected to the platform; a channel member fixedly attached to an underside of the platform; a locking plate connected to the platform proximate to the channel member; first and second spaced-apart hinge members fixedly attached to the channel member; a handle connectable to the platform comprising: a unitary rigid member slidably disposable within the channel member and between the first and the second spaced-apart hinge members; a tongue portion spaced-apart from and extending parallel to the rigid member; and a stop positioned proximate to a distal end of the rigid member; and whereupon extracting the handle from the channel member, the stop engages the first and second hinge members and the handle is pivotally positionable between a lowered positioned and a raised position, wherein the handle is lockable to the platform by positioning the handle to dispose the locking plate between the tongue portion and the rigid member; wherein said hinge members define an axis about which said stop pivots wherein said axis is horizontally offset from a platform edge such that said handle pivots to vertical in said locked and raised position. 2. The hand-truck of claim 1 and further comprising a foot-brake attached to the platform, whereupon enacting the foot-brake, the foot-brake engages the ground thereby preventing movement of the hand-truck. 3. The hand-truck of claim 1, and further comprising: first and second guard members attached to the underside of the platform; and a wheel disposed within each guard member, wherein the wheels engage the ground when the platform is in a substantially horizontal position, whereupon raising a second end of the platform the guard engages the ground, whereupon further raising of the second end disengages the wheels from the ground and the hand-truck is positionable to a substantially vertical position supported by the guard members. 4. The hand-truck of the claim 1 wherein the handle further comprises handlebars that are accessible to operatively maneuver the hand-truck regardless the position of the handle. 5. The hand-truck of claim 1, and further comprising support members extending downwardly from the platform and positioned substantially parallel to the channel member, wherein portions of the support members and the channel member extend equidistantly downward from the platform. 6. The hand-truck of claim 5 wherein the support members and the channel member are positioned to receive a forklift finger between the channel member and either support member or transversal to the channel member and the support members. 7. The hand-truck of claim 1 wherein the tongue portion fixedly attaches to an outer longitudinal surface of the rigid member. 8. A hand-truck for supporting and transporting a load placed thereon, the hand-truck comprising: a platform; ground engageable wheels connected to the platform; a unitary rigid handle connected to the platform, the handle positionable between a slidable position, a pivotal position and an extended locked position, the handle substantially perpendicular and fixedly securable to the platform while in the extended locked position to prevent pivotal movement of the handle; a channel member fixedly attached to an underside of the platform for receiving the handle, wherein the handle slidably disposes within the channel member while in the slidable position; first and second spaced-apart hinge members positioned beyond an edge and fixedly connected to the platform, the handle slidably disposable between the hinge members; first and second stop members attached proximate to a distal end of the handle; a locking plate connected to the platform; and a tongue member spaced-apart from the handle, the tongue member engageable with the locking plate, whereupon slidably positioning the handle towards the pivotal position, the first stop member engages the first hinge member and the second stop member engages the second hinge member, the first and second stop members defining an axis about which the handle is pivotal about the first and second hinge member, the axis is horizontally offset from the platform edge, whereby the handle is pivotal to fixedly secure the handle to the platform in the locked position by engaging the tongue member with the locking plate. 9. The hand-truck of claim 8, whereupon positioning the handle from the pivotable position to the slidable position, the first stop member disengages from the first hinge member and the second stop member disengages from the second hinge member. 10. The hand-truck of claim 8, and further comprising support members extending from the platform and positioned substantially parallel to the channel member, wherein portions of the support members and the channel member equidistantly extend from the platform. 11. The hand-truck of claim 8 and further comprising a foot-brake connected to the platform, whereupon activating the foot-brake, the foot-brake extends to frictionally engage the ground, thereby preventing movement of the hand-truck. 12. The hand-truck of claim 8, and further comprising: a downwardly extended guard member attached to a first end of the platform; and a wheel connected to the underside of the platform proximate the guard member, wherein the wheel engages the ground when the platform is in a substantially horizontal position, whereupon raising a second end of the platform, the second end opposing the first end, the guard member engages the ground, whereupon further raising of the second end of the platform disengages the wheel from the ground to position the hand-truck in a substantially vertical position supported by the guard member. 13. The hand-truck of claim 8 wherein the tongue member fixedly attaches to an outer longitudinal surface of the handle.