Carriage Assembly

• US 20160200340A1
• Filed: 01/08/2015
• Published: 07/14/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Diane Stankevitz
• Original Assignee: Diane Stankevitz
• Inventors: Stankevitz, Diane
• Granted Patent: US 9,399,476 B1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 3/008 having more than two axes
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 3/027 collapsible shopping trolleys
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 5/0003 Adaptations for loading in or on a vehicle

Abstract

A carriage assembly includes a cart with a bottom wall and a peripheral wall. A top side of the cart is open. The peripheral wall has a front side, a back side, a first lateral side and a second lateral side. The cart may contain a plurality of objects. A handle is attached to the cart. A rolling apparatus is coupled to the cart to facilitate the cart is rolled along a support surface. The rolling apparatus is positionable in a deployed position to elevate the cart a maximum distance above the support surface. The rolling apparatus is positionable in a retracted position to lower the cart to a minimum distance above the support surface. A lock coupled to the cart and is in mechanical communication with the rolling apparatus. The lock releases the rolling apparatus to facilitate positioning the rolling apparatus between the deployed position and the retracted position.

Claims

1. A carriage assembly configured to have an adjustable height to facilitate said assembly being positioned within a vehicle, said assembly comprising:

a cart having a bottom wall and a peripheral wall extending upwardly therefrom, a top side of said cart being open, said peripheral wall having a front side, a back side, a first lateral side and a second lateral side, said cart being configured to contain a plurality of objects;

a handle being attached to said cart;

a rolling apparatus coupled to said cart, said rolling apparatus abutting a support surface to facilitate said cart being rolled along the support surface, said rolling apparatus being positionable in a deployed position to elevate said cart a maximum distance above the support surface, said rolling apparatus being positionable in a retracted position to lower said cart to a minimum distance above the support surface; and

a lock coupled to said cart, said lock being in mechanical communication with said rolling apparatus, said lock releasing said rolling apparatus to facilitate positioning said rolling apparatus between said deployed position and said retracted position.

2. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said rolling apparatus comprises a pair of supports, each of said supports being coupled to said bottom wall, each of said supports being positioned adjacent to one of said front side and said back side.

3. The assembly according to claim 2, wherein each of said supports comprises a mount and a pair of lateral legs coupled thereto, said mount each having a first end, a second end, a top side and a bottom side, each of said lateral legs having a top end, a bottom end and a front side, said top ends each being pivotally coupled to said mount, each of said lateral legs being positioned adjacent to one of said first end and said second end.

4. The assembly according to claim 3, wherein said top side of said mount is coupled to said bottom wall, said mount extending between said first lateral side and said second lateral side of said peripheral wall, said lateral legs extending downwardly from said bottom wall when said rolling apparatus is positioned in said deployed position, said lateral legs extending along said bottom wall when said rolling apparatus is positioned in said retracted position.

5. The assembly according to claim 4, further comprising a biasing member positioned within said mount, said biasing member engaging said top end of each of said lateral legs, said biasing member biasing said lateral legs into said deployed position.

6. The assembly according to claim 2, further comprising a pair of swiveled wheels each being coupled to one of said bottom ends, said swiveled wheels being configured to abut the support surface when said lateral legs are positioned in said deployed position, a pair of fixed wheels each being coupled to said front side of one of said lateral legs, said fixed wheels being positioned between said top end and said bottom end, said fixed wheels being configured to abut the support surface when said lateral legs are positioned in said retracted position.

7. The assembly according to claim 2, further comprising a cam rotatably coupled to said bottom side of said mount, said cam being centrally positioned on said bottom side.

8. The assembly according to claim 7, further comprising a pair of rods, each of said rods being coupled to said cam, each of said rods having a distal end with respect to said cam, said rods being oriented such that said distal ends engage said top end of one of said lateral legs, said rods retaining said lateral legs in said deployed position and said retracted position.

9. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said lock comprising a lever movably coupled to said cart, said lever being positioned on said handle, said lever being configured to be actuated by a user to release said rolling apparatus between said deployed and retracted positions.

10. The assembly according to claim 10, wherein:

said rolling apparatus comprising a pair of supports, each of said supports including a pair of lateral legs;

a pair of rods each having a distal end;

a cam rotatably coupled to each of said supports; and

a pair of cables, said cables each extending between said lever and said cam on each of said supports, said cables rotating said cam when said lever is engaged, said distal ends of said rods disengaging from said lateral legs to facilitate said lateral legs being moved between said deployed position and said locked position.

11. A carriage assembly configured to have an adjustable height to facilitate said assembly being positioned within a vehicle, said assembly comprising:

a cart having a bottom wall and a peripheral wall extending upwardly therefrom, a top side of said cart being open, said peripheral wall having a front side, a back side, a first lateral side and a second lateral side, said cart being configured to contain a plurality of objects;

a handle being attached to said cart;

a rolling apparatus coupled to said cart, said rolling apparatus abutting a support surface to facilitate said cart being rolled along the support surface, said rolling apparatus being positionable in a deployed position to elevate said cart a maximum distance above the support surface, said rolling apparatus being positionable in a retracted position to lower said cart to a minimum distance above the support surface, said rolling apparatus comprising;

a pair of supports, each of said supports being coupled to said bottom wall, each of said supports being positioned adjacent to one of said front side and said back side, each of said supports comprising;

a mount and a pair of lateral legs coupled thereto, said mount each having a first end, a second end, a top side and a bottom side, each of said lateral legs having a top end, a bottom end and a front side, said top ends each being pivotally coupled to said mount, each of said lateral legs being positioned adjacent to one of said first end and said second end, said top side of said mount being coupled to said bottom wall, said mount extending between said first lateral side and said second lateral side of said peripheral wall, said lateral legs extending downwardly from said bottom wall when said rolling apparatus is positioned in said deployed position, said lateral legs extending along said bottom wall when said rolling apparatus is positioned in said retracted position;

a biasing member positioned within said mount, said biasing member engaging said top end of each of said lateral legs, said biasing member biasing said lateral legs into said deployed position;

a pair of swiveled wheels each being coupled to one of said bottom ends, said swiveled wheels being configured to abut the support surface when said lateral legs are positioned in said deployed position;

a pair of fixed wheels each being coupled to said front side of one of said lateral legs, said fixed wheels being positioned between said top end and said bottom end, said fixed wheels being configured to abut the support surface when said lateral legs are positioned in said retracted position;

a cam rotatably coupled to said bottom side of said mount, said cam being centrally positioned on said bottom side; and

a pair of rods, each of said rods being coupled to said cam, each of said rods having a distal end with respect to said cam, said rods being oriented such that said distal ends engage said top end of one of said lateral legs, said rods retaining said lateral legs in said deployed position and said retracted position;

a lock coupled to said cart, said lock being in mechanical communication with said rolling apparatus, said lock releasing said rolling apparatus to facilitate positioning said rolling apparatus between said deployed position and said retracted position, said lock comprising;

a lever movably coupled to said cart, said lever being positioned on said handle, said lever being configured to be engaged by a user to release said rolling apparatus between said deployed and retracted positions; and

a pair of cables, said cables each extending between said lever and said cam on each of said supports, said cables rotating said cams when said lever is engaged, said distal ends of said rods disengaging from said lateral legs to facilitate said lateral legs being moved between said deployed position and said locked position.