Hand Truck With Extendable Frame And Fulcrum Wheels

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing hand trucks require users to physically lift heavy water heaters and toilets, posing safety risks and making solo operation difficult, especially in confined spaces.

Innovation Solution

A hand truck with a fixed frame, extendable frame, fulcrum wheels, lifting arms, and a hand crank or jack system that allows for raising and lowering of water heaters and toilets without manual lifting, enabling single-person operation and safer movement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a standard hand truck is used to move water heaters, then the device is simple and easy to manufacture, but users must physically lift heavy objects which creates safety risks and makes solo operation difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser safetyVSAvoidhand truck structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a mechanical lifting system with a lifting arm, fulcrum wheel, and jack mechanism as an intermediary between the user and the heavy water heater. This intermediary mechanism transfers the lifting action from direct manual effort to a mechanical advantage system, allowing one user to safely lift and move heavy appliances without direct physical strain on the body.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies the principle of partial action by using the fulcrum wheel to provide partial support for the water heater during movement. The fulcrum wheel acts as a temporary support point that reduces the weight burden on the user during the lifting and moving process, enabling solo operation of heavy appliances that would otherwise require multiple people.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

2Force

If multiple users are used to lift water heaters, then the lifting capacity is sufficient, but the operation becomes difficult in confined spaces and coordination becomes complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelifting capacityVSAvoidmaneuverability in confined spaces

Core Design Contradiction:

ForceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the human mechanical lifting system with a mechanical lifting mechanism consisting of a lifting arm, fulcrum wheel, and jack system. This substitution converts the need for multiple users providing lifting force into a single-user operation where the mechanical system provides the necessary force through mechanical advantage, eliminating coordination complexities and improving maneuverability in confined spaces.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Adaptability or versatility

If water heaters are elevated on platforms, then installation flexibility is improved, but removal and movement becomes more difficult and dangerous

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinstallation flexibilityVSAvoidremoval and movement

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces dynamic elements to the hand truck system, including an extendable frame that can adjust in length and a lifting arm that can move vertically along the frame. These dynamic components allow the hand truck to adapt to different platform heights and water heater positions, making removal and movement from elevated platforms safe and easy while maintaining installation flexibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

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 design reduces the risk of injury by allowing single-person operation and easy maneuverability of heavy appliances, eliminating the need for physical lifting and accommodating appliances on elevated platforms.

Implementation Method 1

a pair of fulcrum wheels attached at the base of the fixed frame

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Implementation Method 2

a hand crank or jack system for raising and lowering the extendable frame

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical Advantage: Mechanical Advantage

Data Source

PatentUS10214228B2Hand truck for moving water heaters and toilets

Publication Date: 2019.02.26 PHOENIX INVENTORS LLC

AI summary

A hand truck for moving water heaters and toilets has a fixed frame with one or more fulcrum wheels on a rear side, at least one floor stabilizing arm coupled to and extending from a front side, at least one outrigger support beam extending from the rear of the fixed frame, the at least one outrigger support beam further comprising a wheel at a distal end; and an extendable frame having a vertical beam, a horizontal beam coupled to the top of the vertical beam, and at least one lifting arm extending perpendicularly to the horizontal beam; the extendable frame vertically adjustable in relation to the fixed frame.