초록
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Fold flat wheeled child and cargo carriers adopting pivoting, stowable wheel axles are disclosed, of the general type which may be trailed behind other devices by a stowable and removable tow bar. The carriers may be trailed behind other devices, or are convertible to strollers or push/pull style devices. The pivoting wheel axles in various embodiments, include simple manually manipulable methods to latch each wheel in the operative or stowed flat positions, which effectively allows the device to fold to an ultra-thin profile without any wheel being det...
Fold flat wheeled child and cargo carriers adopting pivoting, stowable wheel axles are disclosed, of the general type which may be trailed behind other devices by a stowable and removable tow bar. The carriers may be trailed behind other devices, or are convertible to strollers or push/pull style devices. The pivoting wheel axles in various embodiments, include simple manually manipulable methods to latch each wheel in the operative or stowed flat positions, which effectively allows the device to fold to an ultra-thin profile without any wheel being detached, and the wheel axles and tires, in the stowed positions also secondarily serve to retain the various folding parts in their stowed positions within the device side elevational profile. In the child trailer and cargo carriers, the tow bar, carrier walls and associated parts all fold flat to the device frame, along with the wheel axles and tires. Associated innovations include stowable push/pull handles, fold flat forward wheel axle structures, and details of the internal components of the pivoting wheel casing and its support.
대표
청구항
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What is claimed is: 1. A wheeled carrier device comprising: a support frame defining a side elevational profile and an outer perimeter including at least a partial retention base; an interconnection trailing element selectively mountable and removable from said support frame; said trailing element, in a first operative position, serves to hitch said carrier device to a separate object providing rolling propulsion, to thereby couple the two together, and in a second, stowed position is moved to substantially within the side elevational profile of the dev...
What is claimed is: 1. A wheeled carrier device comprising: a support frame defining a side elevational profile and an outer perimeter including at least a partial retention base; an interconnection trailing element selectively mountable and removable from said support frame; said trailing element, in a first operative position, serves to hitch said carrier device to a separate object providing rolling propulsion, to thereby couple the two together, and in a second, stowed position is moved to substantially within the side elevational profile of the device support frame; and a plurality of foldable and selectively removable wall structures at least partly mounted to the support frame, which in a first, operative position are erected and in a second stowed position all said wall structures move and collapse substantially within the side elevational profile of said support frame; at least two wheel assemblies affixed to said support frame, each wheel assembly including a base and a plurality of walls perpendicular thereto, defining both a wheel assembly periphery and an interior cavity; each wheel assembly in the operative position substantially occupies the side elevational profile of the support frame and each wheel assembly further includes both wheel assembly mounting means, and wheel attaching means interconnected to at least one wheel; and said wheel attaching means defining an elongate wheel support element connected to at least one wheel and the wheel's central axis of rotation, including a first lower end interconnected to the wheel's central axis of rotation and an uppermost portion affixed to the wheel assembly, the uppermost portion terminating in a second end, and said wheel assembly including a terminal fixing member disposed near to the second end of the wheel support element which secures said support element to the wheel assembly; and housed at least partially within the wheel assembly are transversely disposed, oppositely extending mounting elements, which are received in adjacent facing portions of the carrier device support frame, about which the wheel assembly pivots, and each said wheel assembly and interconnected wheel being movable between a first, latched operative position wherein said wheel is erected to provide rolling support for said carrier device and wherein the plane defined by said wheel assembly and interconnected wheel extends substantially orthogonally to the side elevational profile of the carrier device, and a second, stowed, latched position, the plane defined by said wheel assembly and interconnected wheel being swept through an angle during movement of said wheel assemblies between said first and second positions such that the plane defined by the wheel assembly and interconnected wheel in the second position extends substantially parallel with the side elevational profile of said carrier device, and said wheel as well as it's central axis of rotation, in the second position, being disposed within the outer perimeter defined by the carrier device support frame, and in the second, stowed position of said wheel assembly it is at least close to perpendicular to said wheel assembly's first operative position; and each wheel assembly includes at least one latching means which positively latches the wheel assembly against movement when in both the first and second positions, the latching means selectively engages a portion of the carrier device support frame, in both the first and second positions and a portion of the wheel assembly. 2. A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein the said wall structures, in their second, stowed positions are secured against movement between at least part of the retention base and at least part of at least one wheel assembly in the second, stowed and latched position of said wheel assembly. 3. A device in accordance with claim 1 which includes at least one forward most wheel support unit mounted at least partly to an aspect of the support frame, which further includes: at least one arm structure mounted to the axis of rotation of the forward most wheel; at least a portion of the at least one forward most wheel support unit further includes at least one brace; in a first, operative position said brace of said forward most wheel support unit at least partly abuts said support frame and the forward wheel is downwardly directed, and in a second, stowed wheel support unit position at least a part of said brace is detached from said abutment to said support frame, and the periphery of the forward most wheel of the wheel support unit is at least nearly within the perimeter of the support frame in the second, stowed position, and at least one latching means which positively latches the forward most wheel support unit against movement when in both the first and second positions. 4. A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein a forward most wheel and wheel support are mounted to the said interconnection trailing element. 5. A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein at least one forward wheel is downwardly directed and orthogonal to the retention base in a first, operative, latched position and when unlatched from said position, the wheel is rotated along its support axis approximately ninety degrees and moved into a second, stowed, latched, position near to parallel with the retention base, substantially within the side elevational profile of said support frame, and the periphery of the wheel is at least nearly within the perimeter of the support frame. 6. A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein the retention base forms at least one seat that accommodates at least one child. 7. A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein the retention base forms at least one shaped section which in a first operative position protrudes toward the rolling surface, which shaped section accommodates the feet of at least one occupant, and in a second, stowed position said section moves to within the side elevational profile of the support frame. 8. A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein at least two wheel assemblies are mounted on opposite sides of said support frame, the wheels of said two wheel assemblies, in the second, stowed, position of said two assemblies, being positioned in at least partially overlapping relation and being disposed at least close to being in a plane parallel with the side elevational profile of the support frame, and substantially within the perimeter defined by said support frame. 9. A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said retention element retains cargo. 10. A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said retention base retains at least one person. 11. A device in accordance with claim 1 which includes at least one underside support movable between a first operative position where it provides support between the device and the rolling surface, and a second, stowed position wherein the underside support stows substantially within the side elevational profile of the device frame. 12. A device in accordance with claim 1 which includes a push and pull handle secured to the carrier device, which is also movable from a first operative position, to a stowed position, substantially within the side elevational profile of the support frame. 13. A device in accordance with claim 1 which includes a grasping handle which is substantially "U"-shaped and is at least partly mounted to a shaped portion of the device support frame profile. 14. A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein at least one of said wheel assemblies includes means for fixating a support axle for the corresponding wheel so as to prevent axial rotation of the corresponding wheel. 15. A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein each said latching means, which provides latching in both the operative and stowed position, is one and the same means. 16. A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein the said releasable latching means is integrated into each of the wheel assemblies. 17. A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein the said releasable latching means is disposed within the side elevational profile of the carrier device. 18. A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein at least one wheel includes an outer rim and a central hub and said hub including a transverse opening therein, as well as said elongate wheel support element, and said wheel support element 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 wheel assembly, said further portion terminating in said second end, and said wheel assembly including a cavity therein disposed adjacent to said second end, 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 first portion. 19. A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein not less than two of said carrier devices nest upon each other when the wheels and movable component parts of said devices are in their stowed positions. 20. A carrier device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said wheel assembly latching means are integrated as part of the wheel assemblies, and are accessible from either of two substantially parallel, opposing sides of the wheel assemblies. 21. A carrier device in accordance with claim 1 wherein at least one of the wall structures includes a substantially "U"-shaped support portion which further serves as a push and pull handle for the carrier device in a first, operative position, and in a second, stowed position of said wall structure, said wall structure and the substantially "U"-shaped handle are stowed substantially within the side-elevational profile of the support frame. 22. A carrier device in accordance with claim 1 wherein at least one wheel assembly supports a pair of wheels. 23. A carrier device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said trailing element also serves as a grasping handle. 24. A carrier device in accordance with claim 1 wherein at least one of the wall structures includes at least one shaped portion designed as a seat back for at least one occupant seated within the device when the device is in the operative position. 25. A carrier device in accordance with claim 1 wherein at least one of the wall structures includes material that is formed so as to provide an overhead covering which is interconnectable with at least one adjacent wall structure to substantially enclose the carrier device forming an interior space when the wall structures are in their first position. 26. A carrier device in accordance with claim 1 wherein the plurality of wall structures interconnect in the first, operative position, to form a covered, interior space including at least one entry portion which is selectively manipulable to provide access to the interior space of the carrier device. 27. A carrier device in accordance with claim 1 which carrier device support frame further includes a formed grasping portion for lifting said device when in the stowed profile. 28. A carrier device in accordance with claim 1 wherein a section of the support frame is shaped so that the stowed device hangs from a vertical surface projection along a shaped receiving portion of the device. 29. A carrier device in accordance with claim 1 wherein the wall structures, in said erected state, are connected together by hook and loop fasteners which are manually manipulable by a user. 30. A carrier device in accordance with claim 1 wherein the wall structures, in their erected state, are retained together by virtue of manually manipulable connectors attached to the contiguous portions of such wall structures. 31. A carrier device in accordance with claim 1 wherein at least one wheel assembly is secured in place along the support frame by wheel support brackets through which a pivot structure passes, and said pivot structure also passes transversely through spaced openings in the wheel assembly and specially spaced cavities within each of the wheel support brackets receive specially shaped portions of at least one latch mounted within said wheel assembly which specially shaped receiving portions serve to lock said wheel assembly in both the operative and the stowed position of said at least one wheel assembly. 32. A carrier device in accordance with claim 1 wherein as least one wheel assembly includes a pivot member passing through said wheel assembly transversely to opposing receiving portions of the support frame, and said wheel assembly receives an elongate wheel support element perpendicularly to said pivot member, traveling through said interior cavity of the wheel assembly, and said elongate wheel support element travels through an opening in said pivot member, and a terminal fixing member serves to secure the pivot member as well as the wheel assembly and the elongate wheel support element in relation to the carrier device support frame. 33. A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein at least one wall has a third further position and is hingedly connected to the support frame and is pivotable outwardly along at least one hinge so that said wall's free edge opposite the hingedly connected end is in contact with the rolling surface in said third wall position. 34. A device in accordance with claim 3 wherein at least one part of said brace is at least partly mounted to the underside of the support frame in said first position, causing gravitational force from downwardly applied weight to the retention element affixed to the support frame to maintain said first, operative position of at least one forward most wheel support unit. 35. A device in accordance with claim 3 wherein the latch means which latches and releases the at least one forward most wheel support unit in both said first and second positions is one and the same means. 36. A device in accordance with claim 3 wherein the forward most wheel support unit latch means is recessed within the side elevational profile of the support frame. 37. A device in accordance with claim 3 wherein the forward most wheel support unit latch means is mounted to the forward most wheel support unit. 38. A device in accordance with claim 3 wherein said forward most wheel support unit latching means include at least one spring-biased latch mounted to the wheel support unit. 39. A device in accordance with claim 3 wherein said forward most wheel support unit latching means include at least one spring-biased latch mounted to the support frame. 40. A device in accordance with claim 3 wherein said forward most wheel support unit latching means include at least one resiliently movable member. 41. A carrier device in accordance with claim 3 wherein the forward most wheel support unit, in the second, stowed position, serves to retain within the side-elevational profile of the support frame, a shaped section mounted to the support frame which accommodates at least one child's feet, when the shaped section is in a second, stowed position. 42. A carrier device in accordance with claim 21 wherein said wall structure's "U"-shaped handle has two stages and is adjustable by virtue of two corresponding adjustable pivot points mounted along the frame of said handle, permitting pivoting of one stage in relation to the other stage. 43. A carrier device in accordance with claim 24 wherein at least one set of child restraints is included within at least one wall structure portion shaped to form a seat back. 44. A wheeled carrier device comprising: a support frame defining a side elevational profile and an outer perimeter including at least a partial retention base; at least one wheel assembly affixed to said support frame, including a base and a plurality of walls perpendicular thereto, defining both a wheel assembly periphery and an interior cavity; which wheel assembly in the operative position substantially occupies the side elevational profile of the support frame and the wheel assembly further includes both wheel assembly mounting means and wheel attaching means interconnected to at least one wheel; and said wheel attaching means defining an elongate wheel support element connected to at least one wheel and the wheel's central axis of rotation, including a first lower end interconnected to the wheel's central axis of rotation, and an uppermost portion affixed to the wheel assembly, the uppermost portion terminating in a second end, and said wheel assembly including a terminal fixing member disposed near to the second end of the wheel support element which secures said support element to the wheel assembly; and housed at least partially within the wheel assembly are transversely disposed, oppositely extending mounting elements, which are received in adjacent facing portions of the carrier device support frame, about which the wheel assembly pivots, and the wheel assembly and interconnected wheel being movable between a first, latched operative position wherein said wheel is erected to provide rolling support for said carrier device and wherein the plane defined by said wheel assembly and interconnected wheel extends substantially orthogonally to the side elevational profile of the carrier device, and a second, stowed, latched position, the plane defined by said wheel assembly and interconnected wheel being swept through an angle during movement of said wheel assembly between said first and second positions such that the plane defined by the wheel assembly and interconnected wheel in the second position extends substantially parallel with the side elevational profile of said carrier device, and said wheel as well as it's central axis of rotation, in the second position, being disposed within the outer perimeter defined by the carrier device support frame, and in the second, stowed position of said wheel assembly it is at least close to perpendicular to said wheel assembly's first operative position; and at least one latching means which positively latches the wheel assembly against movement when in both the first and second positions, the latching means selectively engages a portion of the carrier device support frame and a portion of the wheel assembly in both the first and second positions.
