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US 7,963,531 B2Granted
Collapsible utility cart
AssigneeFoldable Stuff, LLC
InventorJoseph E. Panigot
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention is directed toward a collapsible cart adapted for use in recreational areas. The cart includes a body, a support platform, and a first wheel assembly and a second wheel assembly. Each wheel assembly includes a frame and a wheel adapted to slide along the frame. The frame includes a pivot point that reorients wheels from a stowed position to a deployed position. The cart may further include removable fences, as well as a foldable backstop. In use, the cart may be folded from a deployed position, in which it rolls along a surface to transport items, to a stowed position, in which it is collapsed in a compact geometry for storage. The cart may further be integrated into a chair such that the platform provides a seat and a seat back.
Claims24
A collapsible, wheeled cart comprising:
- a platform operable to support an item;
- a first wheel assembly comprising:
- a first leg post having a proximal portion, a distal portion, and a pivot joint disposed between the proximal portion and the distal portion, and
- a first wheel coupled to the first leg post, the first wheel including a first wheel axis of rotation, wherein the first wheel is adapted to slide along the first leg post from the proximal portion to the distal portion, and vice versa;
- and a second wheel assembly comprising:
- a second leg post having a proximal portion, a distal portion, and a pivot joint disposed between the proximal portion and the distal portion, and
- a second wheel coupled to the second leg post, the second wheel including a second wheel axis of rotation, wherein the second wheel is adapted to slide along the second leg post from the proximal portion to the distal portion, and vice versa,
- wherein the first and second wheel assemblies are reconfigurable from a deployed position, in which the first and second wheel axes are oriented generally parallel to the platform, to a stowed position, in which the first and second wheel axes are oriented generally transverse to the platform.
5 more elements
A collapsible, wheeled cart comprising:
- a platform operable to support an item;
- a first wheel assembly comprising:
- a first leg post having a proximal portion, a distal portion, and a pivot joint disposed between the proximal portion and the distal portion,
- a first fence coupled to the leg post, wherein the first fence is adapted to slide along the first leg post from the proximal portion to the distal portion, and vice versa, and
- a first wheel coupled to the first fence, the first wheel having a first wheel axis of rotation,
- a second wheel assembly comprising:
- a second leg post having a proximal portion, a distal portion, and a pivot joint disposed between the proximal portion and the distal portion,
- a second fence coupled to the second leg post, wherein the second fence is adapted to slide along the second leg post from the proximal portion to the distal portion, and vice versa, and
- a second wheel coupled to the second fence, the second wheel having a second wheel axis of rotation;
- and
- a backstop rotatably coupled to the platform such that the backstop moves from a deployed position, in which the backstop is oriented generally perpendicular to the platform, to a stowed position, in which the backstop is oriented generally parallel to the platform,
- wherein the first and second wheel assemblies are reconfigurable from a deployed position, in which the first and second wheel axes are oriented generally parallel to the platform, to a stowed position, in which the first and second wheel axes are oriented generally transverse to the platform.
9 more elements
A method of reconfiguring a collapsible cart, comprising:
- (a) providing a wheeled, collapsible cart including:
- a platform operable to support an item;
- a first wheel assembly comprising:
- a first leg post having a proximal portion, a distal portion, and a pivot joint disposed between the proximal portion and the distal portion;
- and
- a first wheel coupled to the first leg post, the first wheel having a first wheel axis of rotation, wherein the first wheel is adapted to slide along the first leg post from the proximal portion to the distal portion, and vice versa;
- and
- a second wheel assembly comprising:
- a second leg post having a proximal portion, a distal portion, and a pivot joint disposed between the proximal portion and the distal portion;
- and
- a second wheel coupled to the second leg post, the second wheel having a second wheel axis of rotation, wherein the second wheel is adapted to slide along the second leg post from the proximal portion to the distal portion, and vice versa;
- (b) reorienting the first wheel assembly from a deployed position, in which the first wheel axis of rotation is oriented generally parallel to the platform, to a stowed position, in which the first wheel axis of rotation is oriented generally transverse to the platform;
- and
- (c) reorienting the second wheel assembly from a deployed position, in which the second wheel axis of rotation is oriented generally parallel to the platform, to a stowed position, in which the second wheel axis of rotation is oriented generally transverse to the platform.
11 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.