Back to results
US 9,428,206 B1Granted
Dropstep for ball cart
AssigneeTachikara USA, Inc.
InventorChristopher Morton
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A ball cart for holding sporting equipment is disclosed. The cart may be capable of opening for use and closing into a shape that is more convenient for storage and transportation purposes. The cart consists of multiple folding parts and a dropstep pedal to efficiently collapse a sporting equipment cart. First springs bias the cart toward an open position. Second springs bias a handle that releases the cart from a closed position and allows the bias of the first springs to open the cart. The dropstep may be operated with a user's foot and does not require the use of hands.
Claims24
A ball cart for transporting and holding at least one ball, the ball cart comprising:
- a support frame, including at least three vertical support posts, a first diagonal member positioned between a first vertical support post among the at least three vertical support posts and a second vertical support post among the at least three vertical support posts, and a second diagonal member positioned between the first vertical support post and a third vertical support post among the at least three vertical support posts;
- and
- a dropstep pedal including a movable member, at least one spring, a handle, and a pedal, the movable member being movably mounted at least partially around the first vertical support post, the movable member being configured to move along a length of the first vertical support post, the handle being mounted to a support structure and biased toward the first vertical support post, the spring being affixed at one end to the handle and at a second end to the support structure and biased toward the handle, and the pedal being affixed to the support structure and configured to transfer downward pressure applied to the pedal to the support structure,
- wherein a first end of the first diagonal member and a first end of the second diagonal member are pivotally affixed to the movable member,
- wherein a second end of the first diagonal member is pivotally affixed to or near a first end of the second vertical support post and a second end of the second diagonal member is pivotally affixed to or near a first end of the third vertical support post,
- wherein the handle holds the support frame in a collapsed/closed position until released from the bias applied to the first vertical support post, at which point the bias of the spring causes the movable member to move up along the first vertical support post and to apply pushing pressure on the first diagonal member and the second diagonal member so as to cause the support frame to expand/open, and
- wherein pressure applied to the pedal causes the movable member to move down along the first vertical support post and to apply pulling pressure on the first diagonal member and the second diagonal member so as to cause the support frame to collapse/close.
4 more elements
A ball cart for transporting and holding at least one ball, the ball cart comprising:
- a support frame, including at least three vertical support posts, a first diagonal member positioned between a first vertical support post among the at least three vertical support posts and a second vertical support post among the at least three vertical support posts, and a second diagonal member positioned between the first vertical support post and a third vertical support post among the at least three vertical support posts;
- and
- a dropstep pedal including a movable member, at least one spring, a handle, and a pedal, the movable member being movably mounted at least partially around the first vertical support post, the movable member being configured to move along a length of the first vertical support post, the handle being mounted to a support structure and biased toward the first vertical support post, the spring being affixed at one end to the handle and at a second end to the support structure and biased toward the handle, and the pedal being affixed to the support structure and configured to transfer downward pressure applied to the pedal to the support structure;
- and
- wherein a first end of the first diagonal member is pivotally affixed to the movable member and a second end of the first diagonal member is pivotally affixed to a first end of the second vertical support post,
- wherein a first end of the second diagonal member is pivotally affixed to first end of the first vertical support post and a second end of the second diagonal member is pivotally affixed to a second movable member mounted at least partially around the third vertical support post,
- wherein the handle holds the support frame in a collapsed/closed position until released from the bias applied to the first vertical support post, at which point the bias of the spring causes the support structure to move up along the first vertical support post and to apply pushing pressure on the first diagonal member and the second diagonal member so as to cause the support frame to expand/open, and
- wherein pressure applied to the pedal causes the support structure to move down along the first vertical support post and to apply pulling pressure on the first diagonal member and the second diagonal member so as to cause the support frame to collapse/close.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.