초록 ▼

The hand truck for appliances is a device for moving a water heater and other appliances. The hand truck includes a main frame having a pair of wheels mounted on a lower end rearward of the main frame, and a support plate also mounted on the lower end and projecting forward from the main frame. The

The hand truck for appliances is a device for moving a water heater and other appliances. The hand truck includes a main frame having a pair of wheels mounted on a lower end rearward of the main frame, and a support plate also mounted on the lower end and projecting forward from the main frame. The support plate has a front edge and a rear edge, with the rear edge being contoured to be received within a water heater drain pan, with the rear edge being positioned adjacent and contiguous to the inner wall of the water heater drain pan. This allows the water heater to be carried on the hand truck for appliances, supported by the support plate, in order to be placed directly into the water heater drain pan.

대표청구항 ▼

I claim: 1. A hand truck for appliances, comprising: a main frame having a pair of parallel, spaced-apart vertical support members, each of the vertical support members having an upper end and a lower end, and an arcuate member joining the upper ends of the vertical support members; a pair of wheel

I claim: 1. A hand truck for appliances, comprising: a main frame having a pair of parallel, spaced-apart vertical support members, each of the vertical support members having an upper end and a lower end, and an arcuate member joining the upper ends of the vertical support members; a pair of wheels mounted rearward of the main frame; an upper support arm pivotally mounted to the main frame adjacent the upper ends of the vertical support members, the upper support arm being selectively lockable in an extended position normal to the main frame for supporting an upper end of an appliance, and being pivotal to a retracted position coplanar with the main frame; a pair of spacer bars extending forward of the main frame; and a support plate extending forward of the spacer bars, the support plate being adapted for supporting a lower wall of the appliance when the appliance is placed thereon, the spacer bars offsetting the support plate from the main frame so that the support plate is capable of lifting the appliance over a peripheral wall of an appliance drain pan without removing the appliance from the support plate. 2. The hand truck for appliances according to claim 1, wherein said support plate has an arcuate edge facing said main frame, the arcuate edge being configured for abutting the peripheral wall of an arcuate water heater drain pan. 3. The hand truck for appliances according to claim 1, wherein said arcuate member comprises an arch, said main frame being substantially U-shaped. 4. The hand truck for appliances according to claim 1, wherein said arcuate member comprises a tubular member shaped as a major arc of a circle, the arc having ends attached to the upper ends of the vertical support members. 5. The hand truck for appliances according to claim 1, wherein said upper support arm comprises a C-shaped member formed with rectilinear segments. 6. The hand truck for appliances according to claim 5, wherein said C-shaped member has at least one segment coated with padding material to prevent marring a surface of the appliance. 7. The hand truck for appliances according to claim 6, further comprising threaded caps attached to said main frame, said C-shaped member having opposing ends engaging the threaded caps in order to pivot thereon. 8. The hand truck for appliances according to claim 6, further comprising a crossbar extending between the vertical support members of said main frame, the crossbar being positioned to limit rotation of said upper support arm. 9. The hand truck for appliances according to claim 1, wherein said upper support arm comprises: a threaded lever mounted between the upper ends of said vertical support members; a support rod extending from the threaded lever; and a concave bar extending transversely across an end of the support rod, the concave bar being adapted for supporting an upper portion of a water heater. 10. The hand truck for appliances according to claim 9, further comprising padding disposed on said concave bar to prevent marring of a surface of the water heater. 11. The hand truck for appliances according to claim 10, further comprising a medial support arm pivotally attached to said main frame below said upper support arm for supporting a medial portion of the appliance. 12. The hand truck for appliances according to claim 1, further comprising: an arcuate upper horizontal support extending medially between said vertical support members, the upper horizontal support curving rearward of said main frame; an arcuate lower horizontal support member extending between the lower ends of said vertical support members, the lower horizontal support curving rearward of said main frame; a vertical support rod attached to the upper and lower horizontal support members, the vertical support rod having a gripping portion extending above the upper horizontal member for tilting the main frame rearward to raise said support plate. 13. The hand truck for appliances according to claim 12, further comprising a handle having an upper end attached to an upper end of the vertical support rod, a medial portion attached to a lower end of the vertical support rod, and a lower end extending below and rearward of the lower horizontal support member. 14. The hand truck for appliances according to claim 13, further comprising: a short tubular member extending transversely across the lower end of said handle; and an axle tube extending through the tubular member, said wheels being rotatably mounted at opposite ends of the axle tube, the axle tube being supported centrally by the tubular member. 15. The hand truck for appliances according to claim 14, further comprising a pair of V-shaped supports extending rearward from the lower ends of the main frame vertical support members, the V-shaped members having vertices attached to lateral ends of said axle tube in order to support said axle tube laterally. 16. The hand truck for appliances according to claim 15, wherein said spacer bars have first ends attached to the lower ends of said main frame vertical support members and second ends extending forward of said main frame, the hand truck further comprising support plate mounts extending downward from the second ends of said spacer bars, said support plate being joined to the support plate mounts adjacent a rear edge of said support plate. 17. The hand truck for appliances according to claim 16, wherein the rear edge of said support plate is arcuate, the arcuate rear edge being configured for abutting the peripheral wall of an arcuate water heater drain pan. 18. The hand truck for appliances according to claim 1, wherein said spacer bars comprise elongate tubular members having front ends forming orthogonally disposed plate mounts, said support plate being attached to the plate mounts adjacent a rear edge of the support plate, the tubular members having a medial portion attached to the lower ends of said main frame vertical support members, the tubular members having rear ends extending rearward of said main frame. 19. The hand truck for appliances according to claim 18, further comprising: a bracket, the rear ends of said spacer bars being joined to said bracket, said spacer bars having a V-shaped configuration with a vertex at the bracket; and an axle tube having a central portion attached to the bracket, said wheels being rotatably mounted at opposite ends of the axle tube. 20. The hand truck for appliances according to claim 1, further comprising a strap and a strap buckle attached to said main frame, said strap being adapted for encircling the appliance and being releasably secured to the buckle in order to retain the appliance on said support plate.