Mobile storage unit with a retractable wheel mechanism

• US 8,936,257 B2
• Filed: 05/26/2011
• Issued: 01/20/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zuca, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Zuca, Inc.
• Inventors: Kinnee, Bruce
• Primary Examiner(s): WALTERS, JOHN DANIEL
• Application Number:
  US13/116,929
• Publication Number:
  US 20120299257A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,335 Days
• Field of Search: 280/47.131, 280/47.15, 280/47.17, 280/47.18, 280/47.21, 280/47.22, 280/47.26, 280/43, 280/43.1, 16/19, 16/45, 16/32, 16/33, 16/35.R, 16/44, 301/5.304, 301/111.05
• US Class Current: 280/43.1
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 2009/002 into a seat
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 5/146 retractable

Abstract

A mobile storage unit comprises a rigid frame coupled with a top seat portion, a pair of wheels and a number of supports. The wheels are coupled to a wheel mechanism that retracts the wheels into a retracted position when a downward force is applied to the rigid frame in an upright position. As a result, at least one supplemental support that is positioned above the ground when the pair of wheels are in the extended position, touches the ground when the pair of wheels is in the retracted position thereby adding support and stability to the mobile storage unit when in the upright position.

Claims

1. A mobile storage unit configured to operate at an angled position and an upright position comprising:

a. a rigid frame;

b. a pair of wheels coupled to the rigid frame and having an extended position and a retracted position;

c. at least one wheel mechanism for retracting the pair of wheels into the retracted position when a downward force is applied to the rigid frame in an upright position, wherein the wheel mechanism further comprises a pair of biasing elements, each of the pair of biasing elements coupled to a respective one of the pair of wheels for automatically biasing the pair of wheels in the extended position by pulling the pair of wheels in a direction away from a top of the rigid frame such that at least a portion of each of the pair of wheels is below the rigid frame thereby allowing the wheels to roll under the rigid frame; and

d. at least one supplemental support positioned above the ground when the pair of wheels are in the extended position, wherein the supplemental support touches the ground when the pair of wheels is in the retracted position.

2. The mobile storage unit of claim 1, wherein the retraction of the pair of wheels by the wheel mechanism is automatic.

3. The mobile storage unit of claim 1, wherein the biasing element comprises a spring.

4. The mobile storage unit of claim 1, wherein the wheel mechanism further comprises at least one sliding slot and corresponding sliding pin positioned within the sliding slot.

5. The mobile storage unit of claim 4, wherein the sliding pin is coupled to one of the pair of wheels such that the one of the pair of wheels is only able to move with the sliding pin along the sliding slot.

6. The mobile storage unit of claim 5, wherein the sliding slot is positioned such that when the mobile storage unit is in the angled position the sliding slot is substantially perpendicular to gravity.

7. The mobile storage unit of claim 1, wherein the rigid frame is coupled to a flexible storage bag.

8. The mobile storage unit of claim 7, further comprising a top seat portion coupled to the rigid frame and configured to sit on while the mobile storage unit is in the upright position.

9. The mobile storage unit of claim 8, wherein the at least one supplemental support is adjacent to one or both of the pair of wheels.

10. A method of operating a mobile storage unit configured to operate at an angled position and an upright position comprising a rigid frame, a pair of wheels coupled to the rigid frame and having an extended position and a retracted position, at least one wheel mechanism for retracting the pair of wheels into the retracted position when a downward force is applied to the rigid frame in an upright position, wherein the wheel mechanism further comprises a pair of biasing elements, each of the pair of biasing elements coupled to a respective one of the pair of wheels for automatically biasing the pair of wheels in the extended position by pulling the pair of wheels in a direction away from a top of the rigid frame such that at least a portion of each of the pair of wheels is below the rigid frame thereby allowing the wheels to roll under the rigid frame, and at least one supplemental support positioned above the ground when the pair of wheels are in the extended position, wherein the supplemental support touches the ground when the pair of wheels is in the retracted position, the method comprising:

a. positioning the mobile storage unit in the upright position such that it is supported by the pair of wheels and one or more additional supports; and

b. providing the downward force to the rigid frame such that the pair of wheels are moved to the retracted position and the supplemental support provides further support for the mobile storage unit.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising a top seat portion coupled to the rigid frame and configured to sit on while the mobile storage unit is in the upright position.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the downward force is at least partially caused by a user sitting on the top seat portion.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising removing the downward force from the rigid frame such that the pair of wheels automatically returns to the extended position.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising positioning the mobile storage unit in the angled position such that the rigid frame is supported solely by the pair of wheels.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the retraction of the pair of wheels by the wheel mechanism is automatic.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the biasing element comprises a spring.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein the wheel mechanism further comprises at least one sliding slot and corresponding sliding pin positioned within the sliding slot.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the sliding pin is coupled to one of the pair of wheels such that the one of the pair of wheels is only able to move with the sliding pin along the sliding slot.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the sliding slot is positioned such that when the mobile storage unit is in the angled position the sliding slot is substantially perpendicular to gravity.

20. The method of claim 10, wherein the rigid frame is coupled to a flexible storage bag.

21. The method of claim 10, wherein the at least one supplemental support is adjacent to one or both of the pair of wheels.

22. A mobile storage unit configured to operate at an angled position and an upright position comprising:

a. a rigid frame coupled to one or more additional supports and one or more supplemental supports at or near a base portion of the rigid frame, wherein the additional and supplemental supports are substantially equal in length such that the mobile storage unit is substantially level when supported by the additional and supplemental supports in the upright position;

b. a pair of wheels coupled with the rigid frame and having an extended position and a retracted position, wherein in the extended position the pair of wheels extend further from the rigid frame than the supplemental supports; and

c. a pair of wheel mechanisms, each comprising a spring, a sliding slot and a sliding pin, wherein the pair of wheel mechanisms automatically retract the pair of wheels into the retracted position via the sliding slot and sliding pin when a downward force is applied to the rigid frame in an upright position, and further wherein the pair of wheel mechanisms comprises a pair of biasing elements, each of the pair of biasing elements coupled to a corresponding one of the sliding pins for automatically extending the pair of wheels into the extended position when the downward force is removed via the spring;

wherein the one or more supplemental supports are positioned above the ground when the pair of wheels are in the extended position and touch the ground when the pair of wheels is in the retracted position.

23. The mobile storage unit of claim 22, wherein the at least one sliding pin is positioned within the sliding slot.

24. The mobile storage unit of claim 23, wherein the sliding pin is coupled to one of the pair of wheels such that the one of the pair of wheels is only able to move with the sliding pin along the sliding slot.

25. The mobile storage unit of claim 24, wherein the sliding slot is positioned such that when the mobile storage unit is in the angled position the sliding slot is substantially perpendicular to gravity.

26. The mobile storage unit of claim 22, wherein the rigid frame is coupled to a flexible storage bag.

27. The mobile storage unit of claim 26, further comprising a top seat portion coupled to the rigid frame and configured to sit on while the mobile storage unit is in the upright position.

28. The mobile storage unit of claim 27, wherein the one or more supplemental supports are adjacent to one or both of the pair of wheels.

29. A wheel mechanism for use with a mobile storage unit having a rigid frame and configured to operate at an angled position and an upright position, the wheel mechanism comprising:

a. a body coupled to a base portion of the rigid frame;

b. a pair of wheels coupled to the body and having an extended position and a retracted position;

c. a pair of retraction mechanisms for retracting the pair of wheels into the retracted position when a downward force is applied to the body in an upright position;

d. a pair of biasing elements, each of the pair of biasing elements coupled to a respective one of the pair of wheels for automatically biasing the pair of wheels in the extended position by pulling the pair of wheels in a direction away from a top of the rigid frame such that at least a portion of each of the pair of wheels is below the rigid frame thereby allowing the wheels to roll under the rigid frame; and

e. at least one supplemental support positioned above the ground when the pair of wheels are in the extended position, wherein the supplemental support touches the ground when the pair of wheels is in the retracted position.

30. The wheel mechanism of claim 29, wherein the retraction of the pair of wheels by the retraction mechanism is automatic.

31. The wheel mechanism of claim 29, wherein each of the pair of biasing elements comprises a spring.

32. The wheel mechanism of claim 29, wherein the body further comprises at least one sliding slot and corresponding sliding pin positioned within the sliding slot.

33. The wheel mechanism of claim 32, wherein the sliding pin is coupled to one of the pair of wheels such that the one of the pair of wheels is only able to move with the sliding pin along the sliding slot.

34. The wheel mechanism of claim 33, wherein the sliding slot is positioned such that when the wheel mechanism is in the angled position the sliding slot is substantially perpendicular to gravity.

35. The wheel mechanism of claim 29, wherein the rigid frame is coupled to a flexible storage bag.

36. The wheel mechanism of claim 35, wherein the mobile storage unit further comprises a top seat portion coupled to the rigid frame and configured to sit on while the mobile storage unit is in the upright position.

37. The wheel mechanism of claim 36, wherein the at least one supplemental support is adjacent to one or both of the pair of wheels.

38. A mobile storage unit configured to operate at an angled position and an upright position comprising:

a. a rigid frame;

b. a pair of wheels coupled to the rigid frame and having an extended position and a retracted position;

c. at least one wheel mechanism for retracting the pair of wheels into the retracted position when a downward force is applied to the rigid frame in an upright position, wherein the wheel mechanism further comprises a pair of biasing elements, and a pair of sliding slots each with a corresponding sliding pin coupled to a respective one of the pair of wheels such that the one of the pair of wheels is only able to move with the sliding pin along the sliding slot, each of the pair of biasing elements directly coupled to a respective sliding pin for automatically biasing the pair of wheels in the extended position; and

d. at least one supplemental support positioned above the ground when the pair of wheels are in the extended position, wherein the supplemental support touches the ground when the pair of wheels is in the retracted position.