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A wheeled carrier device is provided which, in one embodiment, includes a plurality of foldable walls supported on a base member and movable between an erected state wherein the walls define a carrier space and a collapsed state wherein the walls are folded on top of the base member. The carrier dev

A wheeled carrier device is provided which, in one embodiment, includes a plurality of foldable walls supported on a base member and movable between an erected state wherein the walls define a carrier space and a collapsed state wherein the walls are folded on top of the base member. The carrier device has at least two wheels and a wheel mounting assembly pivotably mounts the wheels on the device on opposite sides thereof such that, in one embodiment, the wheels are movable through 270° from a first, operative position wherein the wheels support the carrier device and a second, inoperative position wherein upon release of a latching mechanism the wheels are folded over on top of the folded walls in the collapsed state thereof. A handle is affixed to the carrier device and is movable between an operative state wherein the handle can be used to pull the carrier device and an inoperative state wherein the handle is stowed in substantially flush relation with the remainder of the carrier. In other embodiments, the wheels are pivoted through 90° to the stowed state thereof. In some embodiments, one or more of the wheels is rotatable about a support axle and various arrangements are provided for fixating the wheels against rotation. In other embodiments, some of the same basic principles are used in a collapsible stroller/jogger as well as in a collapsible “fun car” for children.

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1. A carrier device for children which, when erected, simulates the appearance of a motor-driven vehicle, said device comprising:a base member defining a side elevational profile, an outer perimeter and a plurality of stub walls; and a plurality of simulative motor vehicle components, the simulative

1. A carrier device for children which, when erected, simulates the appearance of a motor-driven vehicle, said device comprising:a base member defining a side elevational profile, an outer perimeter and a plurality of stub walls; and a plurality of simulative motor vehicle components, the simulative motor vehicle components being at least partly movable and having a first, operative position, wherein said components simulate a motor vehicle appearance, and a second, stowed position wherein said simulative components stow substantially within the side elevational profile of the base member; a seat component mounted to the base member which serves at least partly as a seat for at least one occupant of the carrier device; a plurality of wheel support units mounted to said base member, said units defining a movable wheel mounting member, which incorporates wheel attaching means, and a wheel having an outer periphery, and a central axis of rotation, and movable between a first, operative, position wherein said wheels are erected to provide rolling support for said base member and a second, stowed, position wherein said wheels and their central axis of rotation are displaced through an angle from said first position so as to be disposed substantially parallel with, and substantially within, the side elevational profile of the base member, the central axis of rotation of each said wheel being wholly within, and the outer wheel periphery being substantially within, the outer perimeter defined by said base member; and each movable wheel mounting member which incorporates the wheel attaching means is mounted by oppositely extending mounting elements, and in said first operative position the movable wheel mounting member includes an outer wall which substantially emulates and melds with the contiguous outer stub wall profile, and in the second, stowed position of said movable wheel mounting member the outer stub wall profile is interrupted revealing a cavity, and the movable wheel mounting member is at least close to perpendicular to said movable wheel support member's first operative position; and releasable latching means for positively latching each said wheel support unit in said first and second positions, by interaction of said latching means with the movable wheel mounting member. 2. A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said simulative motor vehicle components include a collapsible front end portion movable between the first, operative, erected position wherein the front end portion of a motor driven vehicle is simulated, and a collapsed, second, storage position parallel to and substantially within the side elevational profile of the base member.3. A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said simulative motor vehicle components include a trunk portion movable between the first, position wherein the trunk portion of a motor driven vehicle is simulated, and a second position wherein the trunk portion is moved and a storage space is accessible between the base member and said trunk portion.4. A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said wheel support units move approximately 270° between said first and second positions.5. A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said wheel support units move approximately 90° between said first and second positions.6. A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said simulative motor vehicle components include a steering wheel.7. A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said device includes a handle which in a first, operative, position serves as a user handle for said device, and in a second, stowed, position is substantially parallel with and substantially within the side elevational profile of said base member.8. A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein the simulative motor vehicle components are manually manipulable wherein in the second, stowed, position said components stow substantially between the wheel support units in their second, stowed, position, and the base member.9. A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein the simulative motor vehicle components are manually manipulable and permit the wheel support units in their second, stowed, position to be stowed substantially between said simulative motor vehicle components in their second, stowed, position and the base member.10. A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein wheels are mounted on said base member by a wheel support member including means cooperating with said base member to provide a releasable snap-in connection between said wheel support member and said base whereby release of said snap-in connection enables movement of said wheels between said first and second positions thereof.11. A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein at least two opposing wh el support units, in said second stowed positions, are at least partly overlapping.12. A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said simulative motor vehicle components include means for the user to illuminate at least one of said motor vehicle simulative components.13. A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein the device includes an opening which permits a separate hook structure to pass through the said opening, permitting the stowed device to be hung from said separate hook structure.14. A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein at least one said carrier device is equipped with a coupler means to allow said carrier device to be coupled to another wheeled device enabling both of said devices to move together.15. A device in accordance with claim 1 such that at least two of said carrier devices nest upon each other in their second, stowed, positions.16. A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein the simulative motor vehicle components include at least one door at least partly mounted to said base member, which door is movable along a hinge.17. A device in accordance with claim 1 including simulative hood and trunk compartments which a user may manipulate to access cargo stowed at least partly on the base member.18. A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein at least one occupant's feet pass through an opening in said base member, and said occupant's feet serve to propel the device for rolling movement.19. A device in accordance with claim 1 which includes braking means controlled by a user, which braking means causes at least one wheel to cease rotation along its central axis of rotation, when at least said one wheel is in the first, operative position.20. A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein at least one beverage container opening on the base member allows for retention of a beverage within said opening.21. A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein at least one wheel of said wheel support unit includes an outer rim and a central hub and said hub including a transverse opening therein, and said wheel support unit for said at least one wheel including a wheel support member, and an elongate wheel support element having first and second ends, said wheel support member including a transverse portion at said first end received in said opening in said hub and forming an axle about which said wheel rotates, and a further portion extending orthogonally to said transverse portion and being received in said support member, said further portion terminating in said second end, and said wheel support member including a cavity therein disposed adjacent to said second end, and said wheel support member further comprising a terminal fixing member affixed to said second end of said support element and received in said cavity, said fixing member being of size and shape relative to that of said cavity so as to prevent rotation thereof in said cavity, whereby axial rotation of said further portion is prevented and thus said at least one wheel is prevented from rotation about said further portion and is limited to rotation about an axis formed by said transverse portion.22. A device in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a simulated trunk component movable into a second, non-stowed position which allows an occupant to be seated at least partly on top of the area of the base, which seat area is at least partly below the area occupied by the trunk component when said trunk component occupies a first, stowed position simulating a vehicle trunk.23. A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein a panel is movable on the base member to close and open a space through which an occupant may pass their legs when the wheel support units of said carrier device are in a first, operative, position.24. A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein the said wheel attaching means of at least one of said wheel support units includes a support axle which provides for 360 degree rotation of said wheel about an axis defined by said support axle.25. A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein components comprising a simulative dashboard and steering means are manipulable from a first, operative, position simulating a motor vehicle dashboard, to a second, stowed, position parallel with, and substantially within the side elevational profile of said base member.26. A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein a handle is selectively removable from the base member.27. A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein the simulative motor vehicle components are selectively removable from the base member.28. A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein the simulated motor vehicle components include simulated electrical gauges on the vehicle dashboard.29. A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein the dimension of the perimeter of said base member, together with a plurality of wheel support units, is less in the second, stowed position than in the first, operative position.30. A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein each said wheel support unit includes wheel attaching means substantially vertical to the rolling surface when in the first, operative position and substantially horizontal to said rolling surface when in the second, stowed position.31. A carrier device for children which, when erected, simulates the appearance of a motor-driven vehicle, said device comprising:a base member defining a side elevational profile and a first outer perimeter; and a base member, together with a plurality of wheel support units defining a second outer perimeter; and a plurality of simulative motor vehicle components, the simulative motor vehicle components being at least partly movable and having a first, operative position, wherein said components simulate a motor vehicle appearance, and a second, stowed position wherein said simulative components stow substantially within the side elevational profile of the base member; a seat component which serves at least partly as a seat for at least one occupant of the carrier device; an opening through at least part of the base member through which an occupant is permitted to pass their feet in order to propel the device along a rolling surface; a dashboard mounted to the base member with simulated steering means affixed thereto; a plurality of wheel support units, each including a wheel having an outer periphery, and a central axis of rotation, mounted to said base member and movable between a first, operative, position wherein said wheels are erected to provide rolling support for said base member and a second, stowed, position wherein said wheels and their central axis of rotation are displaced through an angle from said first position so as to be disposed substantially parallel with, and substantially within, the side elevational profile of the base member, the central axis of rotation of each said wheel being wholly within, and the outer wheel periphery being substantially within, the first outer perimeter defined by said base member; releasable latching means for positively latching each said wheel support unit in said first and second positions; and the simulative motor vehicle components are manually manipulable and permit the wheel support units in their second, stowed, position to be stowed substantially between said simulative motor vehicle components in their second, stowed, position and the base member. 32. A carrier device for children which, when erected, simulates the appearance of a motor-driven vehicle, said device comprising:a base member defining a side elevational profile, an outer perimeter and a plurality of stub walls; and a plurality of simulative motor vehicle components, the simulative motor vehicle components being at least partly movable and having a first, operative position, wherein said components simulate a motor vehicle appearance, and a second, stowed position wherein said simulative components stow substantially within the side elevational profile of the base member; a seat component mounted to the base member which serves at least partly as a seat for at least one occupant; of the carrier device; an opening through at least part of the base member through which an occupant is permitted to pass their feet in order to propel the vehicle along a rolling surface; a plurality of wheel support units mounted to said base member, said units defining a movable wheel mounting member, which incorporates wheel attaching means, and a wheel having an outer periphery, and a central axis of rotation, and movable between a first, operative, position wherein said wheels are erected to provide rolling support for said base member and a second, stowed, position wherein said wheels and their central axis of rotation are displaced through an angle from said first position so as to be disposed substantially parallel with, and substantially within, the side elevational profile of the base member, the central axis of rotation of each said wheel being wholly within, and the outer wheel periphery being substantially within, the outer perimeter defined by said base member; and each movable wheel mounting member incorporates both said wheel attaching means and releasable latching means; and the releasable latching means for positively latching each said wheel support unit in said first and second positions is one and the same means.