Expandable Hand Truck With Hinged Frames and Swing-Out Support
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hand trucks are limited in their ability to support items once moved, as they are not wide enough to accommodate larger loads, and there is a need for a solution that allows for movable storage of items during relocation, such as during renovation or repair, while fitting through standard doorways.
Innovation Solution
A hand truck design featuring a plurality of frames that can expand from a closed position to an open position, allowing the deck to be coplanar or non-coplanar with side frames, with a swing out support frame that forms an angle greater than 10° and less than 90°, enabling the truck to transform into a platform for storage and movement, while maintaining a width of less than 30 inches in the closed position to fit through standard doorways.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the hand truck width is increased to support larger loads, then the load support capacity is improved, but the hand truck cannot fit through standard doorways
Solution Approach 1:
The hand truck is divided into multiple hinged frames that can be folded relative to each other. The frame includes a first frame, second frame, and third frame connected by hinges, allowing the structure to be segmented into collapsible sections that reduce width for doorway passage while maintaining full width for load support when expanded.
Solution Approach 2:
The hand truck employs dynamic folding mechanisms with hinges that allow the frame sections to transition between extended and collapsed positions. This dynamic structure enables the hand truck to adapt its width dynamically - narrow for transportation through doorways and wide for supporting large loads, resolving the contradiction between width requirements.
2Ease of operation
If the hand truck is designed for compact storage, then the ease of storage is improved, but the storage platform area is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The second frame is nested within or adjacent to the first and third frames when collapsed, creating a compact configuration for easy storage. The hinged connection allows frames to fold into each other or align closely, minimizing the overall footprint while maintaining the capability to expand into a large storage platform when needed.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The hand truck can support larger loads in an open position and convert into a storage platform, allowing for efficient movement and storage of items, while ensuring it can fit through standard doorways in its closed state, providing a versatile solution for relocation tasks.
Implementation Method 1
the first side of the center frame is hingedly attached to a second side of a first side frame
Implementation Method 2
a wheel assembly attached to a rear side of the center frame, proximate to the bottom end and comprising at least one wheel adapted to facilitate a rolling movement of the hand truck over an external surface
Data Source
AI summary
A hand truck having a plurality of hingeably engaged sides that is expandable from a closed position dimensioned to fit through a standard doorway, to an open position to form a movable platform having a swing out support frame having an upper end hingedly attached to the rear side of the center frame which is movable between an extended position and a stored position. A corresponding sofa dolly and a platform enclosure is also disclosed.