One man carrier and back pack

A collapsible carrier for transporting small loads across rough terrain comprising:

• a rectangular forward frame section formed of a light-weight tubular material, said forward frame section having a pair of laterally spaced tubular sections having projecting tubular ends;
• a tubular collar received over said projecting tubular ends and connected thereto, said tubular collar adapted to telescopically receive and rotationally support said tubular material;
• a rectangular rear frame section formed of said light-weight tubular material, said rear frame section having a pair of laterally spaced tubular sections having projecting tubular ends at both ends thereof;
• a tubular collar received over said projecting tubular ends and connected thereto, said collar adapted to telescopically receive and rotationally support said tubular material;
• a pair of generally triangular support frames formed of said light-weight tubular material, each of said support frames having an upper leg with projecting tubular ends, said tubular ends being telescopically receivable in the collars of said rear frame section and said forward frame section and rotatably supported thereby, said supports having converging lower legs having an aperture formed therein, said support frame members being assembled to said front frame member and said rear frame member by inserting said projecting ends into said collar and rotating said converging lower legs into parallel spaced alignment;
• a pair of arm members formed of said light-weight tubular material, said arm members having one end for grasping by a user of the carrier and a collar at the other end adapted to telescopically receive said other end of said forward frame section;
• a generally cylindrical, inflatable roller having an elongated tube coaxially carried therewith;
• bearing means having one end connected to said tube and another end rotatably supported in said aperture in said lower legs of said support frame;
• and
• fastener means for connecting said bearing means to said support frame while accommodating rotational movement of said inflatable roller whereby said carrier to be transported by a user thereof over rough terrain while carrying said load thereon.

A method of deploying a collapsible carrier having a generally rectangular, load supporting frame means including a generally rectangular forward frame section and generally rectangular rear frame section, said forward and rear frame sections being interconnected to a pair of generally triangular shaped support frame members at first mating telescopic portions, said rear frame section being further interconnected to a pair of arm members projecting outwardly from said rear frame section toward a user of said carrier at second mating telescopic portions, said carrier further including a generally cylindrical, inflatable roller means including an elongated tube means being integrally formed therewith and radially disposed about a longitudinal axis of said roller means, said tube means being adapted to receive bearing means therein, said bearing means being configured and dimensioned to be retained within said tube means in an inflated condition thereof, said roller means together with said bearing means being adapted for rotating movement between said support frame members, said carrier being adapted for storage within a back pack in a disassembled condition thereof, said method comprising steps of:

• unpacking said forward frame section, said rear frame section, said support frame members, said arm members, said roller means, and said bearing means from said back pack;
• telescopically assembling said forward frame section and said rear frame section to said support frame members at said first mating telescopic connections to assemble said load supporting frame means;
• telescopically assembling said arm members to said rear frame section at said second mating telescopic connections;
• inflating said roller means using a conventional air pump;
• inserting said bearing means within said tube means in functional relation thereto;
• installing said roller means together with said bearing means intermediate said support frame members thereby imparting rotational movement to said roller means and enabling said carrier to be transported by a user thereof while carrying a load thereon.