Multi-purpose cart

A multi-purpose cart system including a multi-purpose cart that can be used in a first mode as a push cart and in a second mode as a bicycle trailer, the system comprising:

• a multi-purpose cart, including:
• a frame that defines a first side, a second side that is opposite the first side, a front end, a rear end that is opposite the front end, wherein the first side and the second side extend from the front end to the rear end, the frame also defining a bottom surface, and wherein a top of the frame is open, the bottom of the frame defining a plane between the first side and the second side and from the front end to the rear end that slopes downward from the front end to the rear end;
• a bottom panel that covers the bottom of the frame from the front end to the rear end and from the first side to the second side in a plane that is parallel to the plane defined by the bottom of the frame;
• a first rear wheel disposed at a bottom of the first side at the rear end, a second rear wheel disposed at a bottom of the second side at the rear end and opposite the first rear wheel;
• a front wheel assembly including at least one front wheel at a bottom of the front end, and which is configured to freely turn in a horizontal direction;
• a handle extension rigidly attached to and distinct from the frame, which extends upward and to the rear from a top of the rear end;
• a handle configured to detachably attach to a distal end of the handle extension when the multi-purpose cart is used as a push cart;
• and
• a trailering arm that detachably attaches, via a connector, directly to the distal end of the handle extension, alternatively with and instead of the handle, at a first end of the trailering arm, and to a bicycle at a second end of the trailering arm when the multi-purpose cart is used as a bicycle trailer, and wherein the trailering arm maintains the multi-purpose cart in a tilted orientation relative to when the multi-purpose cart is used as a push cart when the trailering arm is further coupled to a bicycle such that the front end of the cart is elevated relative to when the multi-purpose cart is used as a pushcart and only the first and second rear wheels make contact with a ground surface over which the multi-purpose cart is pulled via the trailering arm.

A multi-purpose cart operable alternatively as a push cart and as a trailer, comprising:

• a frame that defines a first side, a second side that is opposite the first side, a front end, a rear end that is opposite the front end, wherein the first side and the second side extend from the front end to the rear end, the frame also defining a bottom, and wherein a top of the frame is open, the bottom of the frame defining a plane between the first side and the second side and from the front end to the rear end that slopes downward from the front end to the rear end at an angle of fifteen to twenty five degrees relative to a level surface;
• a bottom panel that covers the bottom of the frame from the front end to the rear end and from the first side to the second side in a plane that is parallel to the plane defined by the bottom of the frame, wherein the slope of the bottom encourages placement of items toward the rear end for improved weight distribution and to reduce oscillations of the multi-purpose cart when the multi-purpose cart is operated as a trailer;
• a first rear wheel disposed at a bottom of the first side at the rear end;
• a second rear wheel disposed at a bottom of the second side at the rear end and opposite the first rear wheel;
• a front wheel assembly including at least one front wheel at a bottom of the front end, and which is configured to freely turn in a horizontal direction;
• a handle configured to detachably connect to the rear end of the frame when the multi-purpose cart is operated as a push cart;
• and
• a trailering arm configured to detachably connect to the rear end of the frame, alternatively with and instead of the handle, and extend in a direction to the rear of the frame when the multi-purpose cart is operated as a trailer, and wherein when the trailering arm is further coupled to a bicycle, the frame is tilted such that the front end is raised relative to when the multi-purpose cart is used as a push cart and the front wheel assembly is raised off a ground surface on which the first rear wheel and the second rear wheel are on.