Abstract

A hand brake apparatus for installation on wheeled trucks of the type having a load supporting frame and at least two laterally opposed support wheels having a fixed direction supporting the frame for movement over the ground and a handle portion for moving and directing the load supporting frame. One embodiment of the apparatus comprises a singular tubular housing attached to the load supporting frame horizontally between and parallel to the rotational axis of two laterally opposed support wheels having a fixed direction. A pair of opposed extensible wheel engaging members carried within the housing extend outwardly from each end thereof and are provided with a resilient brake disc to engage the sidewall of the stationarily mounted support wheels and thereby prevent rotation of the wheels. A compression spring maintains the extensible wheel engaging members in a normally retracted position spaced inwardly adjacent the wheel sidewall. Alternatively, two smaller housings may be installed adjacent the stationarily mounted wheels and each carries a single extensible wheel engaging member to engage the sidewall of the stationarily mounted support wheels. The extensible members are actuated by a hand grip lever attached to the truck handle.