Push-to-pull convertible carriage
OwnerJerry Richmond Johnsoninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A pull-behind carriage has an auxiliary wheel mounted on a reconfigurable drawbar. When the pull-behind carriage is converted to a push carriage, the drawbar is folded so that the auxiliary wheel is positioned on the ground to act as an extra, supporting wheel. Joints in the drawbar are palm operated and can be rotated without continuing to hold the joint. The drawbar may also serve to move the axle of the main wheels backwards when the carriage is converted from the pull-behind mode to the push mode.
Claims19
A convertible carriage comprising:
- a body;
- two rear wheels supporting the body;
- a drawbar connected to the body, the drawbar being foldable;
- a connector attached to an end of the drawbar distal from the body;
- and
- an auxiliary wheel mounted on the drawbar;
- wherein the drawbar folds between the body and the auxiliary wheel and, when the drawbar is folded by moving the end of the drawbar distal from the body downwards and towards the body, and attaching the connector to the body, the auxiliary wheel supports the convertible carriage.
A method for converting a carriage from a pull-behind configuration to a push configuration, the carriage having a body, two rear wheels supporting the body, a drawbar that is foldable and connected to the body, and an auxiliary wheel mounted on the drawbar;
- the method comprising:
- unlocking one or more hinge joints in the drawbar;
- folding a distal end of the drawbar downwards so that the auxiliary wheel supports the carriage;
- attaching the distal end of the drawbar to the body with a connector at the distal end of the drawbar;
- unlocking a proximal end of the drawbar from the body;
- and
- moving the proximal end of the drawbar rearward relative to the body, thereby moving the rear wheels rearward relative to the body.
A method for converting a carriage from a push configuration to a pull-behind configuration, the carriage having a body, two rear wheels supporting the body, a drawbar that is foldable and connected to the body, and an auxiliary wheel mounted on the drawbar;
- the method comprising:
- releasing a distal end of the drawbar from the body by disconnecting a connector at the distal end of the drawbar from the body;
- extending the distal end of the drawbar upwards so that the auxiliary wheel is above ground level when the carriage is in a level orientation;
- locking at least one hinge joint in the drawbar;
- and
- moving a proximal end of the drawbar forward relative to the body, thereby moving the rear wheels forward relative to the body.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.