Folding wagon/cart
OwnerLouis N. Ritucci, Joseph K. Patterson +1inventors
InventorsLouis N. Ritucci, Joseph K. Patterson, Donald Barker
Life of this patent
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Abstract
By providing a plurality of cooperating, foldable panel members in combination with a plurality of foldable wheel assemblies, a unique wagon or cart construction is attained which is capable of being folded into a small, compact area, whenever desired, and then quickly and easily deployed into a fully erected and operational position, which enables virtually any desired object to be easily transported. In addition, in the preferred construction of this invention, an automatically deployed structural supporting member is incorporated into the wagon/cart for providing inherent strength and rigidity to the wagon/cart when fully erected. In this way, heavy objects previously incapable of being transported are capable of being accommodated with ease.
Claims16
A wagon or cart constructed for being easily deployed from a fully folded, stowed configuration into a fully erected and usable position, said wagon or cart comprising:
- A. at least two support panels comprising a first support panel and a second support panel
- a. pivotally secured to each other, and
- b. movable between a first folded position, wherein at least a portion of the first support panel is in spaced, overlying relationship to the second support panel, and a second unfolded position, wherein said first and second support panels are aligned in a substantially continuous, single plane;
- B. four separate and independent wheel assemblies, each being mounted to the first support panel and movable between a first stowed position, wherein each wheel assembly is positioned in overlying engagement with the first support panel and in juxtaposed, side to side relationship to each adjacent wheel assembly, and a second erect position, wherein each wheel assembly is arcuately pivoted into a position substantially perpendicular to the first support panel;
- C. two of said wheel assemblies being fixedly mounted to said first support panel and two of said wheel assemblies being independently movable from the first stowed position to a second deployed position wherein said movable wheel assemblies are longitudinally spaced away from the fixedly mounted wheel assemblies;
- and
- D. a telescoping rod assembly associated with each movable wheel assembly and constructed for being automatically deployed during the movement of the movable wheel assembly from its stowed position to a longitudinally extending deployed position.
- whereby a wagon or cart is attained which is capable of being quickly and easily converted from a fully folded, stowed configuration to a fully deployed, usable configuration with all components positioned in precisely desired locations.
A wagon or cart constructed for being easily deployed from a fully folded, stowed configuration into a fully erected and usable position, said wagon or cart comprising:
- A. a first front support panel, a second rear support panel, and a third intermediate support panel, said first front support panel and second rear support panel being pivotally mounted to the third intermediate support panel along the opposed edges thereof;
- B. the first, second, and third support panels being movable between a first position wherein said first support panel is in spaced, generally parallel, overlying relationship with the second support panel, and a second position wherein the first support panel, the second support panel, and the third support panel are all aligned in a substantially continuous, single plane;
- C. a substantially flat pivot plate mounted to the first support panel in spaced, aligned, generally parallel relationship therewith, and cooperatively associated with the first support panel for being angularly movable in its entirety relative to the first support panel;
- D. a first wheel assembly and a second wheel assembly mounted to the pivot plate, and movable between a first stowed position wherein said wheel assemblies are positioned in overlying relationship with the pivot panel and in cooperating, generally side to side relationship with each other, and a second erect position wherein each wheel assembly is arcuately pivoted into a position substantially perpendicular to the pivot plate;
- E. a third wheel assembly and a fourth wheel assembly both of which are independently movable between
- a. a first stowed position wherein said wheel assemblies are positioned in overlying relationship with the first support panel and in cooperating, generally side to side relationship with each other and with the first and second wheel assemblies, and
- b. a second deployed position wherein said wheel assemblies are longitudinally extended into cooperating relationship with the second support panel and are arcuately pivoted for being substantially perpendicular to said second support panel;
- and
- F. a control arm movably mounted to the pivot plate for providing easily controlled angular movement of the pivot plate relative to the first support plate;
- whereby a wagon or cart is attained which is capable of being folded into a small, compact, stowed configuration and easily deployed into a fully erect, fully assembled, usable configuration with all components thereof positioned in precisely the desired locations.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.