Floor fan handtruck apparatus and method

• US 5,265,895 A
• Filed: 06/05/1992
• Issued: 11/30/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dri-Eaz Products Incorporated (RPM International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Craig G. Barrett
• Inventors: Barrett, Craig G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Camby, Richard M.
• Application Number:
  US07/893,979
• Time in Patent Office: 543 Days
• Field of Search: 280/47.24, 280/47.34, 280/79.3, 280/47.315, 248/158, 248/176, D23/370, D23/378, D23/371, D23/383, 416/203, 416/206, 416/182
• US Class Current: 280/47.24
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/22 with rotary fans

Abstract

A floor fan handtruck wherein the external housing of the floor fan forms the framework for the floor fan handtruck. A pair of wheels are attached to the bottom surface of the floor fan. A handle is attached to the external housing. The handle also serves as a storage and transportation frame for an electrical cord and a safety cone. A hitch plate is attached to the end of the discharge chute of a first floor fan and is designed to receive a hitch pin mounted to the handle of a second floor fan to enable the operator to pull the second floor fan handtruck with the first floor fan handtruck in a trailer fashion.

Claims

1. A floor fan handtruck comprising:

a floor fan, said floor fan comprising a housing and a horizontal discharge chute extending tangentially outwardly from a lower portion of said housing;

a pair of wheels rotatably mounted to said housing of said floor fan; and

a handle means mounted to said housing of said floor fan, said handle means comprising a single upright handle for providing leverage means for tilting said discharge chute of said floor fan upwardly into a position wherein said floor fan is supported by said wheels to allow said floor fan to be pulled by said handle with said wheels supporting said floor fan, said handle means comprising a first attachment means and said discharge chute of said floor fan comprising a second attachment means, said first attachment means releasably attaching a first floor fan handtruck to said second attachment means on a second floor fan handtruck.

2. The floor fan handtruck defined in claim 1 wherein said handle means comprises a rack for carrying at least one safety cone telescopically mounted over said single upright handle.

3. The floor fan handtruck defined in claim 1 wherein said handle means comprises a hanger for holding an electric cord for said floor fan, said hanger comprising a single hook for holding a coil of said electric cord.

4. A floor fan handtruck comprising:

a floor fan, said floor fan comprising a housing and a horizontal discharge chute extending tangentially outwardly from a lower portion of said housing;

a pair of wheels rotatably mounted to said housing of said floor fan; and

a handle means mounted to said housing of said floor fan, said handle means comprising a single upright handle for providing leverage means for tilting said discharge chute of said floor fan upwardly into a position wherein said floor fan is supported by said wheels to allow said floor fan to be pulled by said handle with said wheels supporting said floor fan, said handle means comprising a stair skid formed as a curvilinear extension of said single upright handle, said curvilinear extension extending incrementally below said floor fan.

5. A floor fan handtruck comprising:

a floor fan, said floor fan comprising an external housing having a front and a back, and a discharge chute extending from a lower portion of said front of said external housing;

a handle affixed to said back of said external housing, said handle extending vertically above said external housing;

said handle comprising a first attachment means and said discharge chute comprising a second attachment means, said first attachment means and said second attachment means releasably attaching a first floor fan handtruck to a second floor fan handtruck;

a stair skid formed as an integral part of said handle and extending below said external housing; and

a pair of wheels mounted to said external housing to allow said floor fan to be rolled about on said wheels when said handle is pulled out of the vertical position to raise said discharge chute and place said floor fan over said wheels, said external housing thereby comprising a framework for a handtruck in combination with said handle and said wheels.

6. The floor fan handtruck defined in claim 5 wherein said handle comprises a storage rack for a safety cone, said handle comprising a single upright handle member to telescopically receive said safety cone.

7. The floor fan handtruck defined in claim 6 wherein said handle comprises a single storage hook for a coil of electric cord, said safety cone telescopically enclosing said storage hook and said coil when said safety cone is mounted on said handle.

8. A method for forming a floor fan handtruck using the floor fan as part of the framework for the handtruck comprising the steps of:

obtaining a floor fan, said floor fan having an external housing and a discharge chute extending from a lower portion of said external housing;

securing a hitch plate to said discharge chute;

mounting a pair of wheels to said external housing at a position opposite said discharge chute, said wheels supporting said floor fan when said floor fan is tilted lifting said discharge chute;

affixing a handle to said floor fan, said handle extending vertically from said external housing opposite said discharge chute, said handle cooperating with said external housing and said wheels thereby forming said floor fan handtruck with said external housing forming a part of said framework; and

attaching a hitch pin to said handle, said hitch plate of a first floor fan handtruck releasably engaging a hitch pin of a second floor fan handtruck thereby adapting said first floor fan handtruck to pulling a second floor fan handtruck.

9. The method defined in claim 8 wherein said affixing step comprises forming a stair skid on the lower end of said handle, said stair skid comprising below said floor fan.

10. The method defined in claim 8 wherein said affixing step comprises telescopically mounting a safety cone over said handle, said handle thereby storing and transporting said safety cone.

11. The method defined in claim 8 wherein said affixing step comprises placing a single storage hook on said handle, said single storage hook storing an electric cord for said floor fan by providing a hanger for a coil of said electric cord.