초록 ▼

These objects and others are attained by the present invention which provides a collapsible multifunction apparatus, comprising upper and lower sections with a front frame and rear prop legs, where the front frame is pivotably attached by hinges to both sides of the front portions of the upper and l

These objects and others are attained by the present invention which provides a collapsible multifunction apparatus, comprising upper and lower sections with a front frame and rear prop legs, where the front frame is pivotably attached by hinges to both sides of the front portions of the upper and lower sections, and the rear prop legs are pivotably attached by hinges to both sides of the rear portions of the upper and lower sections. The hinge positions on both the left and right sides of the collapsible apparatus define (preferably symmetric) foldable left and right side quadrilaterals in which, in each left and right side fully opened quadrilateral, no two lengths are equilateral and no two lengths are parallel, and which collapse to form a substantially flat configuration for storage with nested front frame and rear prop legs. These desirable features, and others, are preferably enhanced by providing a further novel geometry in which, in the fully opened quadrilateral, the upper and lower hinge points of the front frame define a line A-B, the upper and lower hinge points of the rear prop leg are both lower than the upper and lower hinge points of the front frame, respectively, and the upper hinge point of the rear prop leg is closer to line A-B than the lower hinge point of the rear prop leg.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A collapsible multifunction apparatus, comprising: upper and lower sections, said sections each having front and rear portions, and left and right sides; a front frame; and rear prop legs, said front frame and said upper and lower sections being interconnected by hinges at bo

What is claimed is: 1. A collapsible multifunction apparatus, comprising: upper and lower sections, said sections each having front and rear portions, and left and right sides; a front frame; and rear prop legs, said front frame and said upper and lower sections being interconnected by hinges at both sides of the front portions of the upper and lower sections, said rear prop legs and said upper and lower sections being interconnected by hinges at both sides of the rear portions of the upper and lower section, wherein the hinge positions on both the left and right sides define symmetric foldable left and right side quadrilaterals in which, when each left and right side is fully opened, no two lengths are equilateral and no two lengths are parallel, the multifunction apparatus further comprising a pair of wheels and a dolly scoop distal to said upper section wherein (i) in said fully opened quadrilateral, the upper and lower hinge points of said front frame define a line A-B, the upper and lower hinge points of said rear prop leg are both lower than the upper and lower hinge points of said front frame, respectively, and the upper hinge point of the rear prop leg is closer to line A-B than the lower hinge point of the rear prop leg, wherein (ii) said front frame and said rear prop legs abut each other when said multifunction apparatus is fully collapsed, and wherein (iii) said upper and lower sections provide horizontal surfaces when said multifunction apparatus is fully opened. 2. The collapsible multifunction apparatus of claim 1, wherein the rear prop leg is provided with a discrete bend so the portion distal from said upper section extends further outwardly of the upper and lower flat sections when the handcart is fully opened. 3. The collapsible multifunction apparatus of claim 1, wherein the rear prop leg is arcuate so the portion distal from said upper section extends further outwardly of the upper and lower flat sections when the handcart is fully opened. 4. The collapsible multifunction apparatus of any one of claims 1, 2 or 3 which, when fully collapsed, provides a substantially planar shape. 5. The collapsible multifunction apparatus of claim 4, wherein the upper section provides a solid work surface. 6. The collapsible multifunction apparatus of claim 5, wherein the upper section further provides a vice. 7. The collapsible multifunction apparatus of claim 5, wherein the lower section provides a closeable storage recess. 8. The collapsible multifunction apparatus of claim 7, further comprising an electric power receptacle. 9. The collapsible multifunction apparatus of claim 8, wherein the electric power receptacle is ground fault protected. 10. The collapsible multifunction apparatus of claim 5, further comprising a second pair of wheels provided so as to configure a hand cart when said multifunction apparatus is completely collapsed. 11. The collapsible multifunction apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a pivoting pull handle, wherein said front frame is provided with recesses to receive said footrest when said multifunction apparatus is collapsed. 12. The collapsible multifunction apparatus of claim 5, wherein the lower section provides a protruding foot bar having an anti-skid texture.