초록 ▼

A wheeled transport system for towing an at least one object comprises, in at least one embodiment, a wheel assembly. The wheel assembly comprises an axle, sized and configured for supporting a rear end of the object, and a pair of wheels rotatably engagable with opposing ends of the axle. A frame i

A wheeled transport system for towing an at least one object comprises, in at least one embodiment, a wheel assembly. The wheel assembly comprises an axle, sized and configured for supporting a rear end of the object, and a pair of wheels rotatably engagable with opposing ends of the axle. A frame is integral with the axle and is sized and configured for slidably receiving therethrough the rear end of the object. An at least one retaining strap is configured for selectively engaging and maintaining the rear end of the object in position between the axle and the frame. A pair of storage axles is integral with the axle, with each being configured for selectively receiving one of the wheels in rotatable engagement therewith. Thus, in at least one embodiment, the wheel assembly is capable of being selectively arranged into one of a deployed state and a stored state.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A wheeled transport system for towing an at least one object, said object having a front end, an opposing rear end and two opposing lateral edges, the system comprising: a wheel assembly comprising: an axle sized and configured for supporting the rear end of the at least one object thereon;a pair

1. A wheeled transport system for towing an at least one object, said object having a front end, an opposing rear end and two opposing lateral edges, the system comprising: a wheel assembly comprising: an axle sized and configured for supporting the rear end of the at least one object thereon;a pair of wheels rotatably engagable with opposing ends of the axle;a frame integral with the axle in a position between the wheels, the frame sized and configured for slidably receiving therethrough the rear end of the at least one object;an at least one retaining strap configured for selectively engaging and maintaining the rear end of the at least one object in position between the axle and the frame; anda pair of storage axles integral with the axle and extending therefrom in a plane substantially perpendicular to the frame, each of the storage axles configured for selectively receiving one of the wheels in rotatable engagement therewith;whereby, the wheel assembly is capable of being selectively arranged into one of a deployed state, wherein the wheels are engaged with the axle ends for selectively receiving and towing the at least one object during use, and a stored state, wherein the wheels are engaged with the storage axles for storing or transporting the wheel assembly during non-use. 2. The wheeled transport system of claim 1, wherein the frame is made of resilient material for allowing the frame to temporarily deform so as to better accommodate objects of varying widths and thicknesses. 3. The wheeled transport system of claim 1, wherein the retaining strap is removably engagable with the wheel assembly. 4. The wheeled transport system of claim 3, wherein the wheel assembly further comprises a pair of laterally opposed strap hooks positioned proximal opposing axle ends, each of the strap hooks being configured for removable engagement with one of a plurality of corresponding strap apertures positioned on the retaining strap. 5. The wheeled transport system of claim 4, wherein the wheel assembly further comprises a pair of laterally opposed hook apertures positioned proximal opposing axle ends and configured for providing an alternative means for selectively engaging and maintaining the rear end of the at least one object in position between the axle and the frame. 6. The wheeled transport system of claim 1, wherein a hub of each wheel defines an axle aperture extending therethrough sized and configured for approximating an outer diameter of, and selectively receiving, the respective axle end, thereby allowing the wheel to freely rotate about the axle end. 7. The wheeled transport system of claim 6, wherein each axle end defines a clip aperture extending therethrough, sized and configured for selectively receiving a retaining clip such that, with the wheels positioned on the axle, the respective axle ends extending through the respective axle apertures of the hubs, and the retaining clips engaged within the respective clip apertures, the retaining clips are capable of substantially preventing the wheels from becoming unintentionally disengaged from the axle. 8. The wheeled transport system of claim 7, further comprising a pair of hub caps, each hub cap defining a cap aperture extending therethrough sized and configured for approximating the outer diameter of, and selectively receiving, the respective axle end, the hub caps configured for being selectively engaged on the respective axle ends in a position between the respective wheels and retaining clips, thereby substantially preventing the retaining clips from impeding the rotation of the wheels during use of the wheel assembly. 9. The wheeled transport system of claim 8, wherein each axle end provides a keyed surface and each cap aperture is shaped to match said keyed surface, thereby allowing each of the hub caps and retaining clips to remain substantially stationary along with the axle such that the wheels are capable of rotating about the respective axle ends substantially unimpeded by the hub caps and retaining clips. 10. The wheeled transport system of claim 9, wherein each hub cap provides an at least one tab positioned adjacent the cap aperture and protruding perpendicularly therefrom, the at least one tab being arcuate in cross-section and configured for extending through the axle aperture of the hub and contacting the keyed surface of the axle for assisting in creating a substantially cylindrical surface about which the respective the wheel may rotate. 11. The wheeled transport system of claim 1, wherein each axle end provides a compressible member and each hub provides a corresponding recess configured for removably receiving said compressible member in a press fit engagement, said press fit engagement being tight enough to substantially prevent the wheel from becoming unintentionally disengaged from the axle end during use, while still loose enough to allow the wheel to freely rotate about the axle end. 12. The wheeled transport system of claim 1, wherein the storage axles are positioned parallel with one another and sufficiently spaced apart such that the wheels are linearly aligned with one another when engaged with the storage axles. 13. The wheeled transport system of claim 1, further comprising a support post integral with the axle and extending substantially perpendicularly therefrom, the support post configured for providing the option of towing one or more objects in a laterally stacked fashion, with a substantially downwardly-oriented lateral edge of each object in contact with the axle. 14. The wheeled transport system of claim 13, wherein the support post is positioned in a plane substantially perpendicular to the frame, allowing either the frame or the support post to be selectively utilized, depending on the number of objects to be towed, without either structure interfering with the functionality of the other. 15. The wheeled transport system of claim 13, further comprising a support hook configured for selectively engaging the objects and assisting in preventing the objects from separating from one another when positioned on the axle, the support hook comprising: an upper hook positioned and configured for engaging a substantially upwardly-oriented lateral edge of a first one of the objects; andan opposing lower hook positioned and configured for engaging the substantially downwardly-oriented lateral edge of a second one of the objects. 16. The wheeled transport system of claim 1, further comprising a tow strap assembly configured for further assisting in the transport of the at least one object, the tow strap assembly comprising: a longitudinally-oriented main strap sized and configured for extending at least the entire length of the at least one object and positionable substantially underneath a longitudinal centerline of the object for supporting the portion of the object that is not supported by the axle;a proximal end of the main strap providing a means for removable engagement with the axle;a distal end of the main strap providing a handle portion, the handle portion defining a handle aperture therewithin configured for selectively being grasped by hand or engaged with a bicycle seat;a seat engagement piece spanning at least a portion of the handle aperture and configured for selectively contacting a top surface of the bicycle seat while a front end of the seat extends though an unobstructed portion of the handle aperture, thereby securely positioning a leading end of the handle portion underneath the seat; andan at least one laterally-oriented stabilizer strap engaged with the main strap proximal the distal end thereof and configured for selectively securing the at least one object to the main strap. 17. A wheeled transport system for towing an at least one object, said object having a front end, an opposing rear end and two opposing lateral edges, the system comprising: a wheel assembly comprising: an axle sized and configured for supporting the rear end of the at least one object thereon;a pair of wheels rotatably engagable with opposing ends of the axle;a frame integral with the axle in a position between the wheels, the frame sized and configured for slidably receiving therethrough the rear end of the at least one object;an at least one retaining strap configured for selectively engaging and maintaining the rear end of the at least one object in position between the axle and the frame; andan at least one storage axle integral with the axle and extending therefrom in a plane substantially perpendicular to the frame, the at least one storage axle configured for selectively receiving at least one of the wheels in rotatable engagement therewith;whereby, the wheel assembly is capable of being selectively arranged into one of a deployed state, wherein the wheels are engaged with the axle ends for selectively receiving and towing the at least one object during use, and a stored state, wherein the wheels are engaged with the at least one storage axle for storing or transporting the wheel assembly during non-use. 18. A wheeled transport system for towing an at least one object, said object having a front end, an opposing rear end and two opposing lateral edges, the system comprising: a wheel assembly comprising: an axle sized and configured for supporting the rear end of the at least one object thereon;a pair of wheels rotatably engaged with opposing ends of the axle;a frame integral with the axle in a position between the wheels, the frame sized and configured for slidably receiving therethrough the rear end of the at least one object in a position between the axle and frame;an at least one retaining strap configured for selectively engaging and maintaining the rear end of the at least one object in position between the axle and the frame; anda support post integral with the axle and extending therefrom in a plane substantially perpendicular to a plane in which the frame is positioned, the support post configured for providing the option of towing one or more objects in a laterally stacked fashion, with a substantially downwardly-oriented lateral edge of each object in contact with the axle;whereby, the wheel assembly is capable of selectively supporting the at least one object in either a vertically stacked fashion or a laterally stacked fashion, depending on the dimensions of the at least one object, thus enabling the system to support and tow a wide range of objects with relative ease. 19. A wheeled transport system for towing an at least one object, said object having a front end, an opposing rear end and two opposing lateral edges, the system comprising: a wheel assembly comprising: an axle sized and configured for supporting the rear end of the at least one object thereon;a pair of wheels rotatably engaged with opposing ends of the axle;a frame integral with the axle in a position between the wheels, the frame sized and configured for slidably receiving therethrough the rear end of the at least one object; andan at least one retaining strap configured for selectively engaging and maintaining the rear end of the at least one object in position between the axle and the frame; anda tow strap assembly comprising: a longitudinally-oriented main strap sized and configured for extending at least the entire length of the at least one object and positionable substantially underneath a longitudinal centerline of the object for supporting the portion of the object that is not supported by the axle;a proximal end of the main strap providing a means for removable engagement with the axle;a distal end of the main strap providing a handle portion, the handle portion defining a handle aperture therewithin configured for selectively being grasped by hand or engaged with a bicycle seat;a seat engagement piece spanning at least a portion of the handle aperture and configured for selectively contacting a top surface of the bicycle seat while a front end of the seat extends though an unobstructed portion of the handle aperture, thereby securely positioning a leading end of the handle portion underneath the seat; andan at least one laterally-oriented stabilizer strap engaged with the main strap proximal the distal end thereof and configured for selectively securing the at least one object to the main strap. 20. The wheeled transport system of claim 1, further comprising a tow fork for use in combination with the wheel assembly, the tow fork comprising: a pair of laterally opposed arms sufficiently spaced apart from one another for receiving the front end of the at least one object therebetween;each of the arms providing a support portion positioned and configured for selectively contacting and supporting a relatively downwardly oriented surface of the object;each of the arms further providing a hook portion integral with the support portion and configured for extending up and around an adjacent one of the lateral edges of the object and selectively contacting a relatively upwardly oriented surface of the object; anda lifting portion integral with the arms and configured for assisting in selectively pivoting and bringing the arms into frictional contact with the each of the upwardly and downwardly oriented surfaces of the at least one object;whereby, with the rear end of the at least one object secured to the wheel assembly and the tow fork positioned on the front end of the at least one object, the lifting portion is capable of being selectively elevated, causing the support portion of each arm to move into frictional contact with the downwardly oriented surface of the object and the hook portion of each arm to move into frictional contact with the upwardly oriented surface of the object, thereby frictionally sandwiching the at least one object therebetween and allowing it to be pushed or pulled on the wheel assembly via the tow fork.