US 7,744,102 B2 · Steerable carriage apparatus

Abstract

A steerable carriage apparatus for manually transporting a payload across a surface, that includes frame multiple end portions that include rotating elements rotationally attached to each of the frame multiple end portions, with the rotating elements forming contacts on the surface. Additionally, the frame multiple end portions have a pivotal attachment to one another being operational to steer the carriage, with the pivotal attachment having a pivotal axis forming an angle to the surface, the pivotal attachment having the option of selectively controlling the urging, dampening, or locking of the pivotal movement.

Claims50

Dependent claims

An articulated steerable carriage apparatus for manually transporting a payload across a surface, comprising:

(a) a first frame portion;
(b) a second frame portion;
(c) a yoke assembly including a pivotal axial axis, said yoke assembly disposed adjacent to said first frame portion and said second frame portion, said yoke facilitating pivotal movement about said pivotal axial axis between said first frame portion and said second frame portion, said yoke further including a means for urging said first frame portion and said second frame portion into a non-turning mode, wherein said means for urging into non turning mode is operational when said articulated steerable carriage apparatus is static in relation to the surface;
(d) a first rotating element rotationally attached to said first frame portion and forming a first contact on the surface;
and
(e) a second rotating element rotationally attached to said second frame portion forming a second contact on the surface, said second rotating element and said second frame portion are operational to be steerable through said pivotal movement.

3 more elements

An adapted steerable carriage apparatus including a head frame portion and a fork for manually transporting a payload across a surface, comprising:

(a) a yoke assembly including a pivotal axial axis, said yoke assembly disposed adjacent to said head frame portion and said fork, said yoke facilitating pivotal movement about said pivotal axial axis between said head frame portion and said fork;
and
(b) a torsional spring pack that is in selectable rotational engagement contact with a shuttle ring that is disposed within said yoke assembly, said torsional spring pack and said shuttle ring are operational to urge said head frame portion and said fork through said pivotal movement into a non turning mode.

An adapted steerable carriage apparatus including a wheel frame portion and a support element for manually transporting a payload across a surface, comprising:

(a) a yoke assembly including a pivotal axial axis, said yoke assembly disposed adjacent to said wheel frame portion and said support element, said yoke facilitating pivotal movement about said pivotal axial axis between said wheel frame portion and said support element;
and
(b) a torsional spring pack that is in selectable rotational engagement contact with a shuttle ring that is disposed within said yoke assembly, said torsional spring pack and said shuttle ring are operational to urge said wheel frame portion and said support element through said pivotal movement into a non turning mode.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Steerable carriage apparatus

Life of this patent

Steerable carriage apparatus

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims50