US3865392A

US3865392A - Collapsible luggage handcart

Info

Publication number: US3865392A
Application number: US361276A
Authority: US
Inventors: James W Hartway
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1973-05-17
Filing date: 1973-05-17
Publication date: 1975-02-11
Anticipated expiration: 1992-02-11

Abstract

A generally L-shaped frame consisting of a pair of opposite side parallel L-shaped members including corresponding long and short legs disposed at right angles relative to each other. The opposite side L-shaped members are interconnected at the free ends of the long and short legs by transverse members extending and secured therebetween and a generally U-shaped handle including parallel legs interconnected at one pair of corresponding ends by means of a bight portion extending therebetween has the free ends of its legs telescoped into the free ends of the long legs of the opposite side L-shaped members of the frame, the U-shaped frame or member comprising an extendible and retractable handle. Further, a pair of short arms have one pair of corresponding ends thereof pivotally attached to the ends of the long legs of the L-shaped members adjacent the short legs thereof with the arms disposed at right angles relative to the long legs and supported therefrom for angular displacement about the long legs between retracted positions with the arms projecting toward each other and extended positions with the arms projecting away from the sides of the long legs remote from the sides thereof outwardly from which the short legs project. The free ends of the arms are provided with support wheels journaled therefrom about axes extending transversely of the arms and transverse to the long legs and latch structure is provided for selectively retaining the arms in their retracted and their extended positions. Also, latch structure is also provided for releasably securing the U-shaped handle in its extended and retracted positions.

Description

United States Patent n91 Hartway 1 Feb. 11, 1975 COLLAPSIBLE LUGGAGE HANDCART [76] Inventor: James W. Hartway, 6805 Boysenberry Way, Colorado Springs, Colo. 80918 221 Filed: May 17,1973

[21] Appl. No.: 361,276

[52] US. Cl 280/35, 280/40, 280/47.l3 R [51] Int. Cl. B62b l/04 [58] Field of Search 280/34 B, 35, 47.24, 47.26,

Primary ExaminerDavid Schonberg Assistant ExaminerMichael .l. Forman Attorney, Agent, or FirmClarence A. OBrien; Harvey B. Jacobson [57] ABSTRACT A generally L-shaped frame consisting of a pair of opposite side parallel L-shaped members including corresponding long and short legs disposed at right angles relative to each other. The opposite side L-shaped 34 members are interconnected at the free ends of the long and short legs by transverse members extending and secured therebetween and a generally U shaped handle including parallel legs interconnected at one pair of corresponding ends by means of a bight portion extending therebetween has the free ends of its legs telescoped into the free ends of the long legs of the opposite side L-shaped members of the frame. the U-shaped frame or member comprising an extendible and retractable handle. Further, a pair of short arms have one pair of corresponding ends thereof pivotally attached to the ends of the long legs of the L-shaped members adjacent the short legs thereof with the arms disposed at right angles relative to the long legs and supported therefrom for angular displacement about the long legs between retracted positions with the arms projecting toward each other and extended positions with the arms projecting away from the sides of the long legs remote from the sides thereof outwardly from which the short legs project. The free ends of the arms are provided with support wheels journaled therefrom about axes extending transversely of the arms and transverse to the long legs and latch structure isprovided for selectively retaining the arms in their retracted and their extended positions. Also, latch structure is also provided for releasably securing the U-shaped handle in its extended and retracted positions.

10 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures COLLAPSIBLE LUGGAGE HANDCART The handcart of the instant invention has been designed to provide an apparatus which may be readily secured to a single piece of luggage without appreciably increasing the exterior dimensions of the luggage and in a manner such that the handcart may be readily extended from a collapsed position to a position defining a wheeled handcart capable of supporting at least several pieces of luggage in addition to the piece of luggage to which the handcart is secured. In this manner, a person traveling on a public conveyance may be accompanied by at least several pieces of luggage, one of which pieces has the handcart of the instant invention attached thereto in collapsed form, and may, at his destination, assemble all of his luggage on the handcart after the latter has been extended.

The handcart is further designed in a manner such that a single piece of luggage attached thereto may be supported from the handcart in a manner such that the handcart may be readily extended and collapsed without disturbing the structure by which the luggage is secured to the handcart.

The main object of this invention is to provide a collapsible handcart for luggage of lightweight construction and which may have a piece of luggage secured thereto when the handcart is in a collapsed position in a manner such that the handcart does not appreciably increase the exterior dimensions of the luggage.

Another object of this invention, in accordance with the immediately preceding object, is to provide a handcart that may be readily extended to an operative position without any modification of the structure by which the handcart is attached to the luggage.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a handcart in accordance with the preceding objects and which, when extended, may be utilized in supporting at least several pieces of luggage.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a handcart which may be readily collapsed and/or extended even by persons having low mechanical aptitude.

A final object of this invention to be specifically enumerated herein is to provide a handcart in accordance with the preceding objects which will conform to conventional forms of manufacture, be of simple construction and easy to use so as to provide a device that will be economically feasible, long lasting and relatively trouble free in operation.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the handcart in an extended position;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the handcart in a collapsed position and with a single piece of luggage attached thereto in a manner such that the handcart may be readily extended without disturbing the attaching strap by which the luggage is secured to the handcart;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the handcart illustrating the manner in which several pieces of luggage may be supported therefrom when the handcart is in the extended position;

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of the handcart in the collapsed position and with portions of the frame of the handcart being broken away and illustrated in vertical section;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 5-5 of FIG. 4 and with a partially extended position of the handle of the handcart illustrated in phantom lines and a fragmentary illustration of the support wheels of the handcart in the operative position illustrated in phantom lines;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 6-6 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 77 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 8-8 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the juncture between one pair of short and long legs of the L-shaped frame members illustrating the manner in which the wheel support arms are supported from the frame, portions of the wheel support arm being broken away and illustrated in vertical section; and

FIG. 10 is an enlarged elevational view of the central portion of the handcart illustrating the manner in which the handle portion ofthe cart may be secured in the retracted position.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, the numeral 10 generally designates the handcart of the instant invention. The cart 10 includes an L-shaped frame referred to in general by the reference numeral 12 and including a pair of opposite side L-

shaped frame members

14 and 16. Each L-

shaped member

14 and 16 includes a long leg 18 and a short leg 20 joined to the corresponding long leg at the lower end thereof by means of a smoothly curving integral portion 22 of the

corresponding legs

18 and 20.

A channel member 24 extends between and is secured to the free ends of the short legs 20 by welding and a channel member 26 extends between and is secured to the free ends of the long legs 18 by welding. Further, a third channel member 28 extends and is secured between the mid-portions of the long legs 18 by means of welding.

A generally inverted U-shaped handle is provided and referred to in general by the reference numeral 30. The handle 30 includes a pair of parallel legs 32 interconnected at their upper ends by means of an integral bight portion 34 and a central brace 36 is also provided on the handle 30 and parallels the legs 32. The central brace 36 is spaced evenly between the legs 32 and has its upper end secured to the central portion of the bight portion 34 by means of welding.

The bight portion 38 of the channel member 26 has a central opening 40 formed therethrough through which the lower end of the central brace 36 is slidably received. In addition, a support sleeve 42 is supported from the bight portion 38 adjacent the opening 40 and slidably receives a spring-urged locking pin 44 therethrough, the end of the pin 44 adjacent the central brace 36 being selectively receivable either in a lower opening 46 formed in the central brace 36 in order to retain the handle 30 in the extended position or an upper opening 48 in the central brace 36 in order to secure the handle 30 in the retracted position.

The bight portion 50 of the channel member 28 includes a central opening 52 with diammetrically opposite enlargements 54 and the lower end of the central brace 36 includes a cross pin 56. When the handle 30 is in the retracted position illustrated in FIG. 4, the lower end of the central brace 36 is projected downwardly through the opening 52 with the opposite ends of the pins 56 received through the diametrically opposite enlargements 54 of the opening 52. However. the pin 56 limits extension of the handle 30 by abutment with the undersurface of the bightportion 38 of the channel member 26.

It will also be noted from FIG. I of the drawings that the bight portion 38 of the channel member 26 includes additional opposite end openings 60 and that the bight portion 50 of the channel member 28 includes similar oppositeend openings 62. A pair of extension rods 64 are slid-ably received through the

openings

60 and 62 with their lower ends abutted against fasteners 66 secured through the front flange 68 of the channel member 28. In this manner, downward movement of the extension rods 64 is limited by the fasteners 66 and yet the rods 64 may be upwardly withdrawn from the

openings

60 and 62 when the handle 30 is in the extended position illustrated in FIG. 1. However, when the handle 30 is in the collapsed position illustrated in FIG. 4, it will be noted that the undersurface of the bight portion 34 of the handle 30 abuts the capped upper ends of the extension rods 64. The extension rods 64 may be removed from their positions illustrated in FIG. 1 of the drawings if it is desired to extend the short legs 20. The extension rods 64 are telescopingly receivable in the forward open ends of the short legs and may be lightly jammed in the base ends of the legs 20 where they begin to curve into the lower ends of the long legs 18.

A pair of fasteners 68, see FIG. 9, are secured through the rear sides of the lower ends of the long legs 18 and a pair of mounting collars 70 are rotatably received on the long legs 18 immediately above the fasteners 68. U-shaped arms 72 are secured to the collars 70 and support wheels 74 are journaled between the free ends of the legs 76 of the arms 72. Also, the upper marginal edge portions of the U-shaped arms 72 are provided with spaced upwardly opening

notches

78 and 80 and a pair of aligned mounting sleeves 82 are mounted on the outer side of the lower end of each leg 18 and support a lockpin 84 which is spring-urged downwardly for seated engagement in one of the

notches

78 and 80. It may be readily seen from a comparison of FIGS. 1 and 9 that when the pins 84 are seated in the notches 78 the arms 72 are in the extended operative positions and that when the pins 84 are withdrawn and subsequently seated in the notches 80 the arms 72 are in the retracted positions, also see FIG. 2.

From FIG. 1 of the drawings it may be seen that a first side strap 90 provided with a buckle 92 is supported from the left hand long leg 18 immediately above the channel member 28 and that a second strap 94 is secured to the right hand long leg 18 immediately above the channel member 28. Of course, the free end of the strap 94 is engageable with the buckle 92 carried by the strap 90 and may thus be utilized to strap a piece of luggage such as the luggage 96 illustrated in FIG. 2

on the cart 10. In addition, a third strap 98 provided with a buckle 100 is attached to the central portion of the channel member 26 and a fourth strap 102 is attached to the central portion of the transverse channel member 24. Hereagain, the free end of the strap 102 is engageable with the buckle 100 of the strap 98 and thus the

straps

98 and 102 may be also utilized to secure the luggage 96 on the cart 10.

With attention again invited to FIG. 2, it may be seen that the cart 10, when in the collapsed position, may have the luggage 96 secured thereto by the straps 90. 94, 98 and 102 with the cart 10 only slightly increasing the height and thickness of the luggage 96. Of course, the luggage 96 may be shipped or stored in the condition illustrated in FIG. 2 of the drawings. Then, when it is desired to roll the luggage 96 to a different location, the pins 84 may be retracted and the arms 72 may be pivoted to the operative positions thereof illustrated in FIG. 1 of the drawings after which the pins 84 may be released for seating in the notches 78. Thereafter, the pin 44 may be retracted and the handle 30 may he slid from the retracted position thereof illustrated in FIG. 2 of the drawings to the extended position illustrated in FIG. I. Thereafter, the cart 10 may be used in the manner of a handcart to roll the luggage 96 from one place to another.

In addition, should it be desired to carry several pieces of luggage by means of the handcart 10, the luggage 96 as well as additional pieces of luggage I06, 108 and 110 may be arranged on the cart 10 after the latter has been extended in the manner illustrated in FIG. 3 of the drawings. Then, the

straps

98 and 102 may be utilized to secure the

luggage

96, 106, 108 and U0 on the cart 10 during its movement from one location to another.

If for any reason a larger piece of luggage then the luggage 96 is to be supported from the handcart 10, the extension rods 64 may be removed from their stored positions illustrated in FIG. 1 of the drawings and telescoped into the open forward ends of the short legs 20 thus increasing the effective length of the legs 20.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will reasily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A handcart comprising a generally L-shaped frame including opposite side transversely registered L- shaped side frame members each having generally right angularly disposed tubular short and long legs, first transverse brace means extending between and secured to the free end portions of said short legs and second transverse brace means extending between and secured to the free end portions of said long legs, and a generally U-shaped handle including a pair of parallel legs interconnected at one pair of corresponding ends by means of a bight portion, the free ends of said parallel legs being telescopingly engaged in the free ends of said long legs for extension and retraction of said handle relative to said L-shaped frame, a pair of support arms prvotally secured at corresponding base ends to sald long legs adjacent but spaced from said short legs for swinging of said support arms in planes disposed generally normal to said long legs between retracted positions with the free ends of said arms projecting toward each other and extended positions with the free ends of said arms projecting away from the free ends of said short legs, support wheels journaled from the free ends of said arms for rotation about axes transverse to said arms and long legs, said handle and frame including coacting readily releasable latch means for releasably latching said handle in said extended and retracted positions.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said long legs and said arms include coacting means operative to releasably retain said arms in said retracted and extended positions.

3. The combination of claim 1 including a pair of flexible elongated tension members having corresponding base ends anchored to the central portions of said long legs, the other pair of free end portions of said tension members including means for adjustable securement of said tension member free end portions together.

4. The combination of claim 3 including a second pair of flexible elongated tension members having corresponding base ends anchored to said first and second transverse brace means, the free end portions of said second tension members including means for adjustable securement together.

5. The combination of claim 1 including a third transverse brace means extending and secured between the mid-portions of said long legs, said second and third transverse brace means including aligned bores formed through their mid-portions, said handle including a middle leg centrally intermediate and paralleling said parallel legs, one end of said middle leg being supported from the mid-portion of said bight portion, said middle leg being slidably received through said bores.

6. The combination of claim 5 wherein said short legs are tubular, a pair of extension rods including corresponding ends removably telescopingly receivable in the free ends of said short legs, said second and third brace means including second and third pairs of aligned bores in which said extension rods are slidingly received, said third brace means including abutment means establishing a limit of penetration of said rods in the second and third bores formed in said third transverse brace means.

7. The combination of claim 6 wherein said third brace means, said rods and bight portion of said handle are disposed generally in the same plane, said bight portion, when said handle is in said retracted position, comprising an abutment engageable by adjacent ends of said rods to prevent withdrawal of said rods from said second and third pairs of aligned bores.

8. The combination of claim 7 including a pair of flexible elongated tension members having corresponding base ends anchored to the central portions of said long legs, the other pair of free end portions of said tension members including means for adjustable securement of said tension member free end portions together.

9. The combination of claim 8 including a second pair of flexible elongated tension members having corresponding base ends anchored to said first and second transverse brace means, the free end portions of said second tension members including means for adjustable securement together.

10. The combination of claim 9 wherein said long legs and said arms include coacting means operative to releasably retain said arms in said retracted and extended positions.

Claims

1. A handcart comprising a generally L-shaped frame including opposite side transversely registered L-shaped side frame members each having generally right angularly disposed tubular short and long legs, first transverse brace means extending between and secured to the free end portions of said short legs and second transverse brace means extending between and secured to the free end portions of said long legs, and a generally U-shaped handle including a pair of parallel legs interconnected at one pair of corresponding ends by means of a bight portion, the free ends of said parallel legs being telescopingly engaged in the free ends of said long legs for extension and retraction of said handle relative to said L-shaped frame, a pair of support arms pivotally secured at corresponding base ends to said long legs adjacent but spaced from said short legs for swinging of said support arms in planes disposed generally normal to said long legs between retracted positions with the free ends of said arms projecting toward each other and extended positions with the free ends of said arms projecting away from the free ends of said short legs, support wheels journaled from the free ends of said arms foR rotation about axes transverse to said arms and long legs, said handle and frame including coacting readily releasable latch means for releasably latching said handle in said extended and retracted positions.