Mobilized cooler device with fork hanger assembly

• US 10,071,303 B2
• Filed: 08/25/2016
• Issued: 09/11/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malibu Innovations LLC
• Original Assignee: Malibu Innovations LLC
• Inventors: Pikulski, Joseph L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Restifo, Jeffrey J
• Application Number:
  US15/247,820
• Publication Number:
  US 20170056756A1
• Time in Patent Office: 747 Days
• Field of Search: 180181, 180180, 180 651
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 17/016 with wheels arranged in one track
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 17/12 with driving mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 17/262 with foot bindings or supports therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 2203/12 Electrically powered or heated

Abstract

A mobilized cooler device comprising a fork hanger assembly is disclosed herein. Cooler devices according to the present disclosure can comprise a platform, an attached cooler body and fork hangers connecting cog-hub assemblies to the platform. Fork hangers can be positioned such that a portion of a first fork hanger adjacent to a first end of the platform is attached to a first end of a cog-hub assembly and a second portion of the first fork hanger adjacent to a second end of the platform that is opposite the first end of the platform is attached to a second end of the cog-hub assembly. Additional fork hangers can be similarly configured. The cooler device can further incorporate additional features, including a treading positioned between the fork hangers and at least partially surrounding the cog-hub assemblies, various cog-hub assemblies and shapes, and motors incorporated into the cog-hub assemblies.

Claims

1. A mobilized cooler device, comprising:

a platform, said platform comprising a first platform end and a second platform end opposite said first platform end, the distance between said first platform end and said second platform end defining a length of said platform, said platform further comprising a third platform end opposite a fourth platform end, the distance between said third platform end and said fourth platform end defining a width of said platform;

a cooler body attached to said platform;

a first fork hanger, said first fork hanger attached to said first platform end of said platform, said first fork hanger attached to a first cog-hub assembly, said first cog hub assembly comprising a first cog-hub assembly end and a second cog-hub assembly end opposite said first cog-hub assembly end, wherein a portion of said first fork hanger is attached to said first cog-hub assembly at said first cog-hub assembly end and a portion of said first fork hanger is attached to said first cog-hub assembly at said second cog-hub assembly end; and

a second fork hanger, said second fork hanger attached to said second platform end of said platform, said second fork hanger attached to a second cog-hub assembly, said second cog hub assembly comprising a principal cog-hub assembly end and a secondary cog-hub assembly end opposite said principal cog-hub assembly end, wherein a portion of said second fork hanger is attached to said second cog-hub assembly at said principal cog-hub assembly end and a portion of said second fork hanger is attached to said second cog hub assembly at said secondary cog-hub assembly end;

wherein said portion of said first fork hanger attached to said first cog-hub assembly at said first cog-hub assembly end is adjacent to said third platform end and said portion of said first fork hanger attached to said first cog-hub assembly at said second cog-hub assembly end is adjacent to said fourth platform end.

2. The mobilized cooler device of claim 1, further comprising a baseplate attached to said second platform end.

3. The mobilized cooler device of claim 2, wherein at least one of said first fork hanger and said second fork hanger are attached to said baseplate.

4. The mobilized platform of claim 3, wherein said at least one of said first fork hanger and said second fork hanger further comprises a transom assembly, said transom assembly comprising:

a transom plate;

a kingpin, said kingpin passing through said transom plate and said baseplate and connecting said transom plate to said baseplate; and

a pivot pin connected to said transom plate and said baseplate, said pivot pin comprising a pivot pin axis, wherein said transom plate is configured to rotate about said pivot pin axis.

5. The mobilized platform of claim 4, further comprising one or more springs between said base plate and said transom plate.

6. The mobilized platform of claim 5, further comprising at least one transom-spring retaining hole in said transom plate, wherein one of said one or more springs is in said at least one transom-spring retaining hole.

7. The mobilized platform of claim 6, further comprising at least one baseplate-spring retaining hole, wherein one of said one or more springs is in said at least one baseplate-spring retaining hole, such that a first portion of said one of said one or more springs is in said at least one baseplate-spring retaining hole, and a second portion of said one of said one or more springs is in said at least one transom-spring retaining hole.

8. The mobilized cooler device of claim 1, wherein at least one of said first cog-hub assembly and said second cog-hub assembly comprises a motor, said motor internal to said first cog-hub assembly or said second cog-hub assembly.

9. The mobilized platform of claim 8, wherein said at least one of said first wheel assembly and said second wheel assembly comprises at least one through hole and at least one electrical conduit running through said at least one through hole, said at least one electrical conduit electrically connecting said motor to a battery compartment.

10. A mobilized cooler device, comprising:

a platform, said platform comprising a first platform end and a second platform end opposite said first platform end, the distance between said first platform end and said second platform end defining a length of said platform, said platform further comprising a third platform end opposite a fourth platform end, the distance between said third platform end and said fourth platform end defining a width of said platform;

a cooler body attached to said platform;

a first fork hanger, said first fork hanger attached to said first platform end of said platform, said first fork hanger attached to a first cog hub assembly, said first cog-hub assembly comprising a first cog-hub assembly end and a second cog-hub assembly end opposite said first cog-hub assembly end, wherein a portion of said first fork hanger is attached to said first cog-hub assembly at said first cog-hub assembly end and a portion of said first fork hanger is attached to said first cog-hub assembly at said second cog-hub assembly end; and

a second fork hanger, said second fork hanger attached to said second platform end of said platform, said second fork hanger attached to a second cog-hub assembly, said second cog hub assembly comprising a principal cog-hub assembly end and a secondary cog-hub assembly end opposite said principal cog-hub assembly end, wherein a portion of said second fork hanger is attached to said second cog-hub assembly at said principal cog-hub assembly end and a portion of said second fork hanger is attached to said second cog hub assembly at said secondary cog-hub assembly end;

wherein said portion of said first fork hanger attached to said first cog-hub assembly at said first cog-hub assembly end is adjacent to said third platform end and said portion of said first fork hanger attached to said first cog-hub assembly at said second cog-hub assembly end is adjacent to said fourth platform end; and

wherein said portion of said second fork hanger attached to said second cog-hub assembly at said principal cog-hub assembly end is adjacent to said third platform end and said portion of said second fork hanger attached to said second cog-hub assembly at said secondary cog-hub assembly end is adjacent to said fourth platform end.

11. The mobilized cooler device of claim 10, further comprising a cooler top attached to said cooler body.

12. The mobilized cooler device of claim 11, wherein said first cog-hub assembly and said second cog-hub assembly further comprise a treading.

13. The mobilized cooler device of claim 12, further comprising a pulling handle assembly attached to said platform.

14. The mobilized cooler device of claim 10, wherein at least one of said first cog-hub assembly and said second cog-hub assembly comprise an oval shape.

15. The mobilized platform of claim 10, wherein at least one of said first wheel assembly and said second wheel assembly comprises a v-groove.

16. The mobilized platform of claim 10, wherein at least one of said first wheel assembly and said second wheel assembly comprises a u-groove.

17. The mobilized cooler device of claim 10, wherein at least one of said first cog-hub assembly and said second cog-hub assembly comprises two connected cog-hubs.

18. The mobilized platform of claim 17, wherein at least one of said first wheel assembly and said second wheel assembly further comprises a drive gear in between said two substantially identical oval hubs, and a drive belt around said drive gear.

19. A mobilized cooler device, comprising:

a platform, said platform comprising a first platform end and a second platform end opposite said first platform end, the distance between said first platform end and said second platform end defining a length of said platform, said platform further comprising a third platform end opposite a fourth platform end, the distance between said third platform end and said fourth platform end defining a width of said platform;

a cooler body attached to said platform;

a first fork hanger, said first fork hanger attached to said first platform end of said platform, said first fork hanger attached to a first cog hub assembly, said first cog-hub assembly comprising a first cog-hub assembly end and a second cog hub assembly end opposite said first cog-hub assembly end, wherein a portion of said first fork hanger is attached to said first cog-hub assembly at said first cog-hub assembly end and a portion of said first fork hanger is attached to said first cog-hub assembly at said second cog-hub assembly end; and

a second fork hanger, said second fork hanger attached to said second platform end of said platform, said second fork hanger attached to a second cog hub assembly, said second cog-hub assembly comprising a principal cog-hub assembly end and a secondary cog-hub assembly end opposite said principal cog-hub assembly end, wherein a portion of said second fork hanger is attached to said second cog-hub assembly at said principal cog-hub assembly end and a portion of said second fork hanger is attached to said second cog-hub assembly at said secondary cog-hub assembly end;

wherein said portion of said first fork hanger attached to said first cog-hub assembly at said first cog-hub assembly end is adjacent to said third platform end and said portion of said first fork hanger attached to said first cog-hub assembly at said second cog-hub assembly end is adjacent to said fourth platform end; and

wherein said portion of said second fork hanger attached to said second cog-hub assembly at said principal cog-hub assembly end is adjacent to said third platform end and said portion of said second fork hanger attached to said second cog-hub assembly at said secondary cog-hub assembly end is adjacent to said fourth platform end;

wherein a treading is connected to said first cog-hub assembly and said second cog-hub assembly and said treading is positioned between said portion of said first fork hanger attached to said first cog-hub assembly at said first cog-hub assembly end and said portion of said first fork hanger attached to said first cog-hub assembly at said second cog-hub assembly end and said treading is further positioned between said second fork hanger portion attached to said second cog-hub assembly at said principal cog-hub assembly end and said second fork hanger portion attached to said second cog-hub assembly at said secondary cog-hub assembly end.

20. The mobilized platform of claim 19, wherein the distance between said principal cog-hub assembly end and said secondary cog-hub assembly end is greater than half the distance of said platform width.