Container With Retractable Wheels
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A wheeled dolly, comprising:
- a base member having a perimeter shape; and
a plurality of retractable wheel assemblies coupled to the base member, wherein the wheel assemblies each comprise a leg that carries a wheel;
wherein the base member defines a cavity for each wheel assembly such that in a stowed position the wheel assemblies fully fit within the cavities and the legs define a portion of the perimeter shape of the base member.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A container with retractable wheels. There is a base member having a perimeter shape, and a plurality of retractable wheel assemblies coupled to the base member. The wheel assemblies each have a leg that carries a wheel. The base member defines a cavity for each wheel assembly such that in a stowed position the wheel assemblies fully fit within the cavities and the legs define a portion of the perimeter shape of the base member.
-
Citations
35 Claims
-
1. A wheeled dolly, comprising:
-
a base member having a perimeter shape; and a plurality of retractable wheel assemblies coupled to the base member, wherein the wheel assemblies each comprise a leg that carries a wheel; wherein the base member defines a cavity for each wheel assembly such that in a stowed position the wheel assemblies fully fit within the cavities and the legs define a portion of the perimeter shape of the base member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
-
-
7. An assembly, comprising:
-
a container having a perimeter shape; and a plurality of retractable wheel assemblies coupled to the container, wherein the wheel assemblies each comprise a leg that carries a caster, and wherein the container defines a cavity for each wheel assembly, wherein in a stowed position the wheel assemblies fully fit within the cavities and the legs define a portion of the perimeter shape of the container. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A wheeled dolly that is adapted to be coupled to an apparatus that is supported by the dolly, the apparatus comprising a plurality of first mechanical features, the dolly comprising:
-
a base comprising a base member and a plurality of second mechanical features; a plurality of wheel assemblies coupled to the base member and adapted to rest on a surface to support the base member above the surface; and wherein the apparatus has a bottom and the first mechanical features are integral with the bottom, and wherein the dolly has a top and the second mechanical features are integral with the top. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
-
-
34. An assembly, comprising:
-
a molded plastic bucket having a round perimeter shape and a bottom, and comprising a plurality of raised annular bosses projecting outwardly from the bottom; a molded plastic base member having a round perimeter shape and a top, and comprising a plurality of posts projecting upwardly and located proximate the top, the posts each defining a shoulder and a projection above the shoulder; a plurality of wheel assemblies, the wheel assemblies each comprising a leg that carries a caster; wherein the base member defines a cavity for each wheel assembly, and wherein in a stowed position the wheel assemblies fully fit within the cavities and the legs define a portion of the perimeter shape of the base member, wherein the cavities are defined by cavity walls in the base member and the legs are coupled to and rotate relative to the cavity walls, wherein the walls of each cavity define features that interfit with the leg that is coupled to such walls, wherein two stop positions are defined between the walls of each cavity and the leg that is coupled to such walls; wherein the bucket and the base are fixedly coupled together via interference fits between the bosses and the posts, wherein each post fits within one of the bosses with the boss sitting on a shoulder, and wherein the posts and bosses each define projecting external rings and the interference fits are accomplished at least in part by the rings on the posts moving past the rings on the bosses; and wherein the assembly defines a continuous external taper along at least the lower part of the bucket and essentially all of the base when the wheel assemblies are in the stowed position.
-
-
35. An assembly, comprising:
-
a molded plastic bucket having a round perimeter shape and a bottom rim, and comprising a groove defined in the bottom rim; a molded plastic base member having a round perimeter shape and a top rim, and comprising a plurality of tabs projecting inwardly from the top rim; a plurality of wheel assemblies, the wheel assemblies each comprising a leg that carries a caster; wherein the base member defines a cavity for each wheel assembly, and wherein in a stowed position the wheel assemblies fully fit within the cavities and the legs define a portion of the perimeter shape of the base member, wherein the cavities are defined by cavity walls in the base member and the legs are coupled to and rotate relative to the cavity walls, wherein the walls of each cavity define features that interfit with the leg that is coupled to such walls, wherein two stop positions are defined between the walls of each cavity and the leg that is coupled to such walls; wherein the bucket and the base are coupled together by the base member tabs fitting into the groove in the bottom rim of the bucket; and wherein the assembly defines a continuous external taper along at least the lower part of the bucket and essentially all of the base when the wheel assemblies are in the stowed position.
-
Specification