초록 ▼

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 ful

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.

대표청구항 ▼

1. 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, an

1. 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.2. The wagon or cart defined in claim 1, wherein said telescoping rod assembly comprises a plurality of separate and independent interlocking tubular members which automatically extend longitudinally when said movable wheel assembly is moved from its stowed position to its deployed position, with said elongated, longitudinally extending, tubular members forming an elongated support rail positioned in cooperating relationship with the support panels when in their aligned, planar, second position.3. The wagon or cart defined in claim 1, wherein said fixedly mounted wheel assemblies form the front wheels of the wagon or cart and the movable wheel assemblies form the rear wheels thereof, when in their longitudinally extended, deployed position.4. The wagon or cart defined in claim 3, wherein the front wheels are mounted to a movable support member for enabling the front wheels to articulate relative to the support panel for providing ease of movement and maneuverability of the wagon or cart.5. The wagon or cart defined in claim 4, and further comprising a handle member longitudinally extending from the support member for providing controlled movement of the support member and the wheels affixed therewith.6. 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.7. The wagon or cart defined in claim 6, and further comprising two separate and independent telescoping rod assemblies cooperatively associated with the third and fourth wheel assemblies and constructed for being automatically deployed during the movement of the wheel assemblies from their stowed position into their longitudinally extended, deployed position.8. The wagon or cart defined in claim 7, wherein each of said telescoping rod assemblies is further defined as comprising a plurality of separate and independent interlocking tubular members which automatically extend longitudinally when in the movable wheel assembly associated therewith is moved from its stowed position to its deployed position, with the elongated, longitudinally extending, tubular members forming an elongated support rail positioned in longitudinally extending, cooperating relationship with the first front support panel, the second rear support panel, and the third intermediate support panel when said panels are in their aligned, planar, second position.9. The wagon or cart defined in claim 8, wherein said first support panel, said second support panel, and said third support panel are each further defined as comprising an elongated, longitudinally extending receiving channel formed along the side edges thereof and constructed for receiving and securely retaining the interlocking tubular members forming the telescoping rod assembly.10. The wagon or cart defined in claim 9, wherein said receiving channels are further defined as comprising concave engaging surfaces dimensioned for cooperating with the outer peripheral surfaces of the tubular members and providing a smooth, contoured, engaging surface for peripherally surrounding and conforming to the shape of the tubular members, thereby imparting enhanced strength and rigidity thereto, effectively achieving an elongated, structurally enhanced weight-bearing support assembly therefore.11. The wagon or cart defined in claim 6, wherein each of said first and second wheel assemblies is further defined as comprising a wheel member rotationally mounted to and supportingly maintained by a support plate, with said support plate being pivotally mounted to said pivot plate for enabling the wheel assembly to be moved from its stowed position to its erect position.12. The wagon or cart defined in claim 11, wherein said support plate is further defined as comprising a rib element formed thereon and the pivot plate is further defined as comprising a movable locking plate pivotally mounted thereto in cooperating relationship with the support plate of the wheel assembly for being moved from a stowed position with the pivot plate to a raised position cooperating with and lockingly engaging the rib element of the support plate, thereby providing an easily erected lock member for maintaining the wheel assembly in its raise position.13. The wagon or cart defined in claim 12, wherein the second support panel further comprises a plurality of locking ribs and each of said third and fourth wheel assemblies is further defined as comprising a wheel member rotationally mounted to and supportingly maintained by a support plate, with said support plate incorporating a plurality of locking ribs formed therein which are constructed for cooperating interengagement between the plurality of locking ribs formed in the second support panel when said wheel assembly is arcuately pivoted into its erect position, thereby preventing axial movement of the wheel assembly when in its erect position.14. The wagon or cart defined in claim 6, wherein said wagon or cart further comprises wall panels cooperatively associated with and peripherally surrounding the outer peripheral edge of the first support panel, the second support panel, and the third support panel, when said panels are in their second, substantially planar position, thereby providing sidewalls enclosing the wagon or cart when in a fully deployed configuration.15. The wagon or cart defined in claim 14, wherein said wall panels are further defined as comprising a front wall segment pivotally mounted to the leading edge of the first support panel and foldable side panel segments mounted along opposed edges of said front wall segment for being movable from an upstanding, fully deployed configuration cooperating with the front wall segment for establishing a wall member therewith in a stowed position, wherein said foldable panel segments are pivotally collapsed into aligned, overlying cooperating relationship with each other.16. The wagon or cart defined in claim 15, wherein said wall panels further comprise a rear wall segment pivotally mounted to the trailing edge of the second support panel and foldable side panel segments mounted along the opposed edges of said a rear wall segment for being movable from an upstanding, fully deployed configuration, cooperating with the rear wall segment for establishing a wall member therewith in a stowed position, wherein said foldable panel segments are pivotally collapsed into aligned, overlying cooperating relationship with each other.