Lightweight high load capacity folding utility cart with unique support structure and ergonomic handle

• US 8,439,374 B1
• Filed: 01/07/2011
• Issued: 05/14/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: dbest products Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Richard Elden
• Inventors: Elden, Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Phan, Hau
• Assistant Examiner(s): AVERY, BRIDGET D
• Application Number:
  US12/930,457
• Time in Patent Office: 858 Days
• Field of Search: 280/30, 280/35, 280/47.26, 280/47.34, 280/47.35, 280/644, 280/651, 280/652, 280/DIG.3, 280/DIG.4
• US Class Current: 280/47.26
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 1/008 having a prop or stand for maintaining position
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 1/12 involving parts being adjustable, collapsible, attachable, detachable, or convertible
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 2301/254 by using roller-shaped wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 5/067 Stowable or retractable handle bars

Abstract

A lightweight cart which weighs less than three pounds but has a structural design which enables the cart to retain and transport objects which weigh over one hundred and ten pounds. The cart can fold down to two inches for storage, a flat thickness which is at least one inch less thick than conventional foldup carts.

Claims

1. A cart comprising:

a. an integrally formed front wall having a front outer surface, a rear interior surface, a first longitudinal edge, a bottom edge, a top edge and a second longitudinal edge, an integrally formed first sidewall having an outer surface, an inner surface, a first longitudinal edge, a bottom edge, a top edge and a second longitudinal edge, the first sidewall having a central longitudinal crease enabling the first sidewall to be folded inwardly, an integrally formed rear wall having an outer rear surface, an interior surface, a first longitudinal edge, a bottom edge, a top edge and a second longitudinal edge, an integrally formed second sidewall having an outer surface, an inner surface, a first longitudinal edge, a bottom edge, a top edge and a second longitudinal edge, the second sidewall has a central longitudinal crease enabling the second sidewall to be folded inwardly. a bottom wall having an outer lower surface, an inner surface, a front edge, a first side edge, a rear edge and a second side edge, the cart is integrally formed so that the front wall is attached to the bottom wall and to the first sidewall and second sidewall along respective edges, the first sidewall is attached to the bottom wall and to the front wall and rear wall along respective edges, the rear wall is attached to the bottom wall and to the first sidewall and to the second sidewall along respective edges, the second sidewall is attached to the bottom wall to the rear wall and to the front wall along respective edges;

b. a rotatable base member having a front edge affixed to the bottom edge of the front wall and front edge of the bottom wall, the rotatable base member having a hard interior which is surrounded by a lower surface and an upper surface, when in use, the base member is rotated so that its lower surface rests against the interior surface of the bottom wall to form a strong base and to keep the cart in an opened condition so that the sidewalls cannot fold inwardly, and when the base member is rotated so that its upper surface rests against the interior surface of the front wall, the cart can be folded;

c. an interior compartment surround by interior surfaces of the front wall, first sidewall, rear wall, second sidewall, and upper surface of the rotatable base member;

d. a first wheel assembly having a frame with a first transverse wall having an opening, a second transverse wall having an opening, and a space between the transverse walls receiving a wide wheel within the space and retained on an axle supported in the openings of the respective transverse walls, a front plate extending from the frame in front of the transverse walls and resting against the bottom surface of the bottom wall, the frame has a rear wall by which the frame is affixed to the rear wall of the cart by fastening means, the first wheel assembly is adjacent the intersection of the bottom wall the first sidewall and the rear wall;

e. a mirror image second wheel assembly located adjacent the intersection of the bottom wall, the rear wall and the second sidewall, the second wheel assembly having a frame with a first transverse wall having an opening, a second transverse wall having an opening, and a space between the transverse walls receiving a wide wheel within the space and supported on an axle supported in the openings of the respective transverse walls, a front plate extending from the frame in front of transverse walls and resting against bottom surface of the bottom wall of the cart, the frame having a rear wall by which the frame is affixed to the rear wall of the cart by fastening means; and

f. a front beam assembly comprising a beam member affixed on its upper side to the bottom surface of bottom wall and having a pair of spaced apart posts extending transversely to the beam member on the side of the beam member opposite to the side affixed to the bottom surface of the bottom wall of the cart, a given height of each post combined with the beam member being substantially the same as a given height of each wide wheel and its respective transverse walls so that when the cart rests on a level surface, a bottom of each wide wheel and a bottom of each post touch the level surface at the same level, providing a stabile structure, the combination of the wide wheels, the respective front plates which rest against the lower surface of the bottom wall of the cart also provide further support to the rotatable base member combined with the beam assembly and its posts to enable the cart to retain heavy objects within its interior compartment.

2. The cart in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:

a. a flexible top having a top surface, a bottom surface, a front edge, a first side edge, a rear edge and a second side edge, the top is affixed to the top edge of rear wall at its rear edge, the top having a front flap affixed to front edge, a first side flap affixed to first side edge and a second side flap affixed to second side edge, the flaps are foldable against bottom surface when not in use, and when in use, the flaps respectively fit over the front surface of front wall of the cart, the outer surface of first sidewall and the outer surface of second sidewall.

3. The cart in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:

a. an ergonomically designed handle having an upper section with a distal end with a grasping member attached thereto and a proximal end, the handle having a lower section with a distal end, the proximal end is affixed to the distal end by push pins;

b. when the push pins are released, the upper section is telescopically received within the lower section, the lower section having a proximal end which is telescopically received within an interior mating shaft of the cart so that when not in use, the handle is entirely retracted into the cart with only the grasping member protruding; and

c. the handle having an arcuate ergonomic shape making the cart easier to pull.

4. The cart in accordance with claim 1, further comprising each wide wheel is two inches in length.

5. The cart in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:

the front wall, rear wall, first sidewall, second sidewall, and bottom wall are all made out of fabric material.

6. The cart in accordance with claim 2, further comprising each flap has at least one interior fastening member which mates with a respective mating fastening member on the front surface of the front wall, the outer surface of the first sidewall and the outer surface of the second sidewall.

7. The cart in accordance with claim 2, further comprising:

a. when it is desired to fold up the cart for storage, the flaps are folded against the interior surface of the top, the base member is rotated so that its upper surface rests against the interior surface of the rear wall of the cart, the first sidewall is folded inwardly along its crease and the second sidewall is folded inwardly along its crease so that when folded up, the folded cart is only approximately two inches thick.

8. The cart in accordance with claim 7, further comprising a multiplicity of fastening members on the exterior surfaces of its walls to facilitate retaining the cart in a folded condition.

9. The cart in accordance with claim 5, further comprising the cart weighs approximately three pounds.

10. A cart comprising:

a. an integrally body having a front wall, an integrally formed first sidewall, an integrally formed rear wall, an integrally formed second sidewall, and an integrally formed bottom wall all made out of fabric material and all surrounding an interior compartment;

b. a rotatable base member rotatably affixed within the interior compartment of the cart, the rotatable base member having a hard interior which is surrounded by a lower surface and an upper surface, when in use, the base member is rotated so that its lower surface rests against an interior surface of the bottom wall of the cart to form a strong base and to keep the cart in an opened condition so that the sidewalls cannot fold inwardly, and when the base member is rotated so that its upper surface rests against an interior surface of the rear wall, the cart can be folded;

c. a first wheel assembly having a frame with a first transverse wall having an opening, a second transverse wall having an opening, and a space between the transverse walls receiving a wide wheel retained on an axle supported in the openings of the respective transverse walls, a front plate extending from the frame in front of the transverse walls and resting against the bottom surface of the bottom wall, the frame affixed to the rear wall of the cart by fastening means, the first wheel assembly is adjacent the intersection of the bottom wall, the first sidewall and the rear wall;

d. a mirror image second wheel assembly located adjacent the intersection of the bottom wall, the rear wall and the second sidewall, the second wheel assembly having a frame with a first transverse wall having an opening, a second transverse wall having an opening, and a space between the transverse walls receiving a wide wheel within the space and supported on an axle supported in the openings of the respective transverse walls, a front plate extending from the frame in front of transverse walls and resting against the bottom surface of the bottom wall of the cart, the frame affixed to the rear wall of the cart by fastening means; and

e. a front beam assembly comprising a beam member affixed on its upper side to the bottom surface of the bottom wall of the cart and having a pair of spaced apart posts extending transversely to the beam member on the side of the beam member opposite to the side affixed to the bottom surface of the bottom wall of the cart, a given height of each post combined with the beam member being substantially the same as a given height of each wide wheel and its respective transverse walls so that when the cart rests on a level surface, a bottom of each wide wheel and a bottom of each post touch the level surface at the same level, providing a stabile structure, the combination of the wide wheels, the respective front plates which rest against the lower surface of the bottom wall of the cart also provide further support to the rotatable base member combined with the beam assembly and its posts enable the cart to retain heavy objects within its interior compartment.

11. The cart in accordance with claim 10, further comprising:

a. a flexible top having a top surface, a bottom surface, a front edge, a first side edge, a rear edge and a second side edge, the top is affixed at its rear edge to a top edge of the rear wall of the cart, the top having a front flap affixed to the front edge, a first side flap affixed to the first side edge and a second side flap affixed to the second side edge, the flaps are foldable against the bottom surface when not in use, and when in use, the flaps respectively fit over a front surface of the front wall of the cart, an outer surface of the first sidewall and an outer surface of the second sidewall.

12. The cart in accordance with claim 10, further comprising:

a. an ergonomically designed handle having an upper section with a distal end with a grasping member attached thereto and a proximal end, the handle having a lower section with a distal end, the proximal end is affixed to the distal end by push pins;

b. when the push pins are released, the upper section is telescopically received within the lower section, the lower section having a proximal end which is telescopically received within an interior mating shaft of the cart so that when not in use, the handle is entirely retracted into the cart with only the grasping member protruding; and

c. the handle having an arcuate ergonomic shape making the cart easier to pull.

13. The cart in accordance with claim 10, further comprising each wide wheel is two inches in length.

14. The cart in accordance with claim 10, further comprising:

the front wall, rear wall, first sidewall, second sidewall, and bottom wall are all made out of fabric material.

15. The cart in accordance with claim 11, further comprising each flap has at least one interior fastening member which mates with a respective mating fastening member on the front surface of the front wall, the outer surface of the first sidewall and the outer surface of the second sidewall.

16. The cart in accordance with claim 15, further comprising:

a. when it is desired to fold up the cart for storage, the flaps are folded against the interior surface of the top, the base member is rotated so that its upper surface rests against an interior surface of the rear wall of the cart, the first sidewall is folded inwardly along a crease and the second sidewall is folded inwardly along a crease so that when folded up, the folded cart is only approximately two inches thick.

17. The cart in accordance with claim 16, further comprising a multiplicity of fastening members on the exterior surfaces of its walls to facilitate retaining the cart in a folded condition.

18. The cart in accordance with claim 14, further comprising the cart weighs approximately three pounds.