US2471553A - Collapsible portable cart - Google Patents

Description

May 31, 1949- s. G. ZUCKERMAN COLLAPSIBLE PORTABLE CART 2 She ets-Sheet 1 Filed March 18, 1947 ATTORNEY May 31, 1949. s. e. ZUCKERMAN 2,471,553

COLLAPSIBLE PORTABLE CART Filed March 18, 1947 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY Patented May 31, 1949 COLLAPSIBLE PORTABLE CART Samuel George Zuckerman, Brooklyn, N. Y., as-

signor of one-eighth to Albert B. Breslow, New

York, N. Y.

Application March 18, 1947, Serial No. 735,490

11 Claims.

This invention relates to a hand-cart device which may be conveniently collapsed into a suitcase or valise of conventional proportions and appearance, and which may be readily opened and extended to provide an operative cart, complete with four wheels and a handle bar frame.

The improved portable cart of this invention may be of the type which provides, when opened, a baby carriage or go-cart; or it may be of the type used for delivery or goods conveyance, i. e., in which no seat is provided, so that the device unfolds into an open delivery wagon having simply four wheels and a handle-bar frame. The go-cart embodiment of my invention is shown, for convenience, in the accompanying drawings, but it will be understood that the invention is applicable to portable or collapsible delivery wagons and to other conveyances.

The prime object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved portable and collapsible handcart, as described above. Allied objects are to provide a portable hand-cart which may be readily and quickly collapsed into suitcase form for easy transportation and carrying, and readily and quickly extended, from its collapsed condition, into go-cart form to provide a neat, sturdy and easily propelled hand-cartone which may be economically produced, which will have no separable partssuch as a separate lidbut in which all parts are operatively united or associated.

A further object of my invention is to provide, in a portable hand-cart construction, a separate, completely enclosed compartment, when in closed, suitcase condition, which will be completely water-proof and which will provide a convenient place for safely storing a mattress, blanket, clothes, food and other baby accessories.

A still further object of the invention is to provide in a portable go-cart device, a seating arrangement which is readily placed in lowered position for reception in to the suitcase when the device is closed, and which is readily elevated or brought to raised operative position.

It is also within the contemplation of my invent-ion to provide a trunk or suitcase with a normally concealed wheeled structure adapted to be readily converted to an undercarriage or wheeled support, whereby when the trunk or suitcase is heavily loaded it can be readily and conveniently moved.

For the attainment of the foregoing and such other objects of inventionas may appear or be pointed out herein, I have shown a preferred emimproved cart in closed suitcase condition, as in Figure 1, taken on the line 44 of that figure;

Figure 5 is a detail of the novel lock arrangement, with the composite lid and wheel base member shown in full lines in the closed suitcase condition of the device (the composite member functioning as a lid) and shown in dot-and-dash lines in the open hand-cart condition (the com-' posite member functioning as the wheel base);

Figure 6 is a side view of the device in open hand-cart condition (lower portions of thewheels being broken off), and showing the seat in raised, operative position;

Figure 7 is a transverse section of the open device of Figure 6, taken on line 'l---'! of that figure; Figure 8 is a side view similar to Figure 6 but on a smaller scale, showing a slightly modifiedform of seat arrangement;

Figure 9 is a side elevation of the device of Figure 8, taken on the line 99 of that figure; and

Figure 10 is a semi-diagrammatic side view of the novel collapsible cart and showing, in dotand-dash lines, the composite member in different positions, to explain the transformation of the device between its closed suitcase and its open hand-cart conditions.

The improved portable hand-cart device comprises two major parts, viz., a composite suitcase and wagon member or body l0 and a composite lid and wheel base member or lid-base 20. Both the composite body l0 and the composite lidbase 28 are hollow members of oblong shape, each having four sides,,and a floor plate designated, respectively, II and 2!. The two longer sides or side walls of members It] and 20 are designated, respectively, l2 and 22, while the end walls are designated l3, l4, and 23, 24, respectively.

The two members are associated or operatively secured together by a pair of double-pivotedhinges, designated generally 30, and disposed so that when in closed suitcase condition of the device, as in Figure 1, the edges of the sides I2, I3, I4 of the composite suitcase and wagon body Ill 3 and of the sides 22, 23, 24 of the composite lid and wheel base 20, abut one another to form a closed suitcase, shown in Figure 1.

The four wheels 40 of the device are rotatively secured to the interior side of floor plate 2| of the composite lid-base member 20, as best shown in Figure 2. For this purpose, two narrow, preferably resilient, metal strips 4|, 41 aresecured to the interior surface of floor plate 2|, as by rivets 42. Both ends of each strip 4|, 4| terminate in U-shaped brackets 43, at the distal ends of which the wheels 40 are rotativelyqmourrted;

as by spindles 44.

The aforesaid double-jointed; hin es .30; 31]".

comprise a long central link 3| and end link 32; 33; end link 32 is pivotally articulated to the central link at 34, while the other end-link: 33 End links 32, 32 f theris articulated at 35. pair of double- jointed hinges 30, 30 are secured to the end wall l3 of the composite suitcasewagon body III, while the other end links 33, 33

are secured tothe end wall 23 of'the composite lid-wheel base; member 20." The lengthsof the respectivelinks of the hinges and" their position of securementon the end walls I3; 23 are such that the-opposing edges of-the foursides of the two members abutin theclosed condition of In this the structure, as shown in Figure 1'. positionoij-lid-base its wheels 4ll-are'snugly received and encased-withinthesuitcaseformed by body member Hi and lid memberZU; A- suitable griporhandle l5; (Fig. 1), may be attached to one of the longer side walls I 2 'of the body member I0.

To open and extendthe device Irom-itsclosed,

suitcase condition (Fig. l), to itsoperative, handcart condition (Fig. 3), the composite lid.- and wheelbase member 20, shown in'iull lines in Figure 10, which position is designated-A, is

turned substantially: 180 on pivot- 35 0f the:

hinges 30, -to the position B, as indicated by the curved arrow ab;- It is then turned-substantially 180- on'pivot 34 to the position 0', as indicated by the arrow b-c. In actual practice,

the-composite lid-base member 20 turns about both pivots 34, 35 concomitantly, thedevice beingopened (and closed) in-a singlemovement'or sweep; The'novel arrangement is hencesuch as to enable an upper portion, such as-:a-lid, of avalise-like device to-berotatably swung through an arc of-360- into underlyingengagement-with the bottom of the device, whereby the upper:

portion, containing wheels, may serveas an undercarriage;

The two members IB,= 20 may besecured together in either. the: closed, suitcase= condition (Fig. 1) or open, hand-cart conditionl (Figs. 3; and 6), by a single fasteningimeans designated generally Fasteningmeans 45 comprises a plate-4fisecured to the endwall 24 of'thecompositelid-wheel base member 20, to which distal end of which protrudes tongues 48 lock= 49. When the --novel-- device is, opened 1 and extended into hand-cart position,- represented by the dot-and-dash showingof end wall 24, the latter is now-in. underlying. position relative to: the composite suitcaseandwagon member ,v 1,;-

which is represented by-its end-wall; l 4 .-:(this position in Figure 5 corresponds to that shown in Figure 6). In this hand-cart condition, bar 48 of the fastening means extends upwardly, and its distal tongue 48 is received in lock 49; the parts and dimensions are such that the distance e (closed suitcase condition) equals the distance J (open hand-cart condition).

The hand-cart handle-bar; frame,- designated generally 36," comprises a 'U-shape frame having a pair of lateral bars 31, 31, which are pivotally articulated at their ends to hinge plates IT, I! secured-interiorly to end wall 13 of the composite suitcase and wagon member Ill. The length of the; frame 36" is suchthat, when turned to its non-operative position, as in Figure 2, its distal handle-bar portion 38 will be disposed close to therotherpendzwall M of the member H]. A strip of resilient material l8 secured to wall I4 and bent as best shown in Figure 3, serves to releasably hold the handle-bar frame in non-operative position, its handle-bar 38-snapping past the strip 18, asshown-in Figure 2.

It will be observed, best from Figure 4; that the-=-two wheels 40, 4llflof each of the two wheel strips 42; 42', are disposed, in the: closed suitcasecondition of: the device, between the pair of lateralbars- 31, 31 of the h'andle-bar frame and the respective sidewalls 12,1 l2' ofthe composite suitcase and wagon-member. Hi; This provides an ample spacedesigna-tedf S- -Within whichmaybe stored .a blanket, clothes: and other baby accessories. Thisgstorage space is converted into a storage compartment'whichmay be completely enclosed ;and-quickly opened, bya pair of sheets 25, 25.0fteXtile. fabric or'other suitable pliable material; Sheets 25; 25fwextendralonga substantial portionsofzthenlength'ofthe composite suitpartmentcondition, as, in Figures 4 and 2,. theirlong; distaledges will be inclose adjacency. These'edges are provided with zipper elements 29, 29, so'that-they may Joe-(united to-form:

a laterally closed compartment by manipulation of zipper slider 28.-

It'should be: noted,,.best from Figure 2, that. theadevice may be opened and extendedintohand-cart condition-by moving the composite.

lid' and .wheel member from closed .position (Figure. 1), to operativeuposition, see Figure 2-- without disturbing the-closed storage compart-- ment. S. But if the handleebar frame 36 isrequiredto, be erecteduinto; operative position (Fig. 3), the. compartment must firstbe opened.

This -maybe convenientlydone by pulling 'the' zipper. slider 28 to. theright (Fig. 2) to open the compartment.

The .material .of whichcompartment sheets 25, 25 will fit'tightly over'the bars 31,-31'when" their-ends are-brought together by the "zipper" closure.- The sheets 25,- 25"may be provided with hooks 21 (see Fig;4), which -snap'over the re-' spective bars 31, 31.

The baby seat, designated generally 9, comprises lateral sides 8; 8; a- 'back 1 *anda bottom" 6.- Seat :9 :has .=an"-operative A position,- shown in Figure 6 (full lines) and Figure 7, in which it extends above the top of the composite suitcase and Wagon member [0, to provide leg room between its bottom 6 and the floor H of the wagon member Ill. It may be readily moved to a position within the member 10, shown in dot-anddash lines in Figure 6, when the device is to be converted to closed suitcase condition. For this purpose, seat 9 is supported by a pair of parallel links 5, 5 at each side, one end of the links being pivotally secured at 5a to the exterior of the respective lateral sides 8, 8 of the seat, their other ends 5b being pivotally secured interiorly to the respective side walls 12, E2 of the composite suitcase and wagon member It. The lengths of parallel links 5, 5 and their pivots 5a, 5b are such that the seat 9 may be readily turned from operative position (full lines, Fig. 6) to non-operative position (dot-and-dash lines, Fig. 6). Suitable means (not shown) are provided for securing or impositively locking the seat in operative position.

Instead of hingedly securing the seat 9 to the composite suitcase and wagon member H), as in Figures 6 and 7, the seat 9 may be made separable from member H], as in Figures 8 and 9. In this case, a pair of angle irons 4, 4 are secured interiorly to the side walls l2, l2 of member l0 near their distal edges. In the operative position of seat 9, its floor 6 rests on the horizontal legs of angle irons 4, 4, as clearly shown in Figure 9. As in the case of the hinged seat of Figures 6 and '7, means (not shown) are provided to secure the seat in operative position. The seat is placed in non-operative position by sliding it under the pair of angle bars, as shown by its dotand-dash position in Figure 8.

When the novel device is to be used as a delivery wagon or the like, as in Figure 3, the seat 9 and compartment sheets 25, 25, etc., may be omitted. And when it is to be used as a trunk or the like, the said seat and sheets are similarly omitted, and the wheels made considerably smaller than illustrated.

In the above description, the invention has been disclosed merely by way of example and in preferred manner; but obviously many variations and modifications may be made therein which will still be comprised within its spirit. It is to be understood, therefore, that the invention is not limited to any specific form or manner of practicing same, except in so far as such limitations are specified in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A collapsible cart comprising a body member constituting a composite suitcase and wagon member having a floor, sides and end walls, a pivotal member constituting a composite lid and wheel base member having a floor, sides and end walls, a pair of double-joint hinges each having a main link and end links, one of the end links of the hinges being secured to an end wall of the body member and the other end links being secured to the corresponding end wall of the pivotal member whereby the two members may be turned about said hinges to a closed suitcase condition with the pivotal member over the body member, or to an open hand-cart condition with said floor of the pivotal member in underlying relation to the floor of the other member, a pair of strips secured interiorly to the floor of the pivotal member and disposed close to the sides thereof, four wheels rotatively mounted on said strips, a handle-bar frame having lateral bars pivotally secured on one end wall of the body member whereby it is movable between an inner and outer position,

its distal handle-bar portion being disposed close to the other end wall when the frame is in the inner position, a pair of sheets of pliable material secured along the floor of the body member to extend in substantially underlying relation to said lateral bars when the frame is in said inner position, a plurality of spaced hooks secured to said sheets and adapted to be hooked over said lateral bars, and a closure provided along the distal edges of said sheets to form an enclosed compartment, said wheels being received, when the device is in said closed suitcase condition, in the spaces between the sides of said compartment and the respective sides of the body member, and fastening means comprising a lock plate, a bar and plate to which said bar is pivotally secured, said bar having a tongue at its distal end, said lock plate being secured to a wall of the body member and said hinge plate being secured to the corresponding wall of the other member, whereby in said closed suitcase condition of the device, said bar tongue is received in said lock plate and when turned substantially in said open hand-cart condition is received in the lock plate to lock the parts in said condition.

2. A collapsible cart comprising a body member constituting a composite suitcase and wagon member having a floor, sides and end walls, a pivotal member constituting a composite lid and wheel base member having a floor, sides and end walls, a double-joint hinge structure having a main link and end links, one of the end links belng secured to an end wall of the body member and the other being secured to the corresponding end wall of the pivotal member whereby the two members may be turned about said hinge structure to a closed suitcase condition with the pivotal member over the body member, or to an open handcart condition with said floor of the pivotal member in underlying relation to the floor of the other member, a pair of strips secured interiorly to the floor of the pivotal member and disposed close to the sides thereof, four wheels rotatively mounted on said strips, a seat having a back, sides and a bottom adapted to be received at one end of said body member, and a pair of parallel links at each side of said seat, one end of the links being pivotally articulated to said side of the seat with the other ends of the links pivotally articulated to said side of the member, whereby the seat may be turned to operative position above the member and to non-operative position within the member.

3. A collapsible cart comprising a body member constituting a composite suitcase and wagon member having a floor, sides and end walls, a pivotal member constituting a composite lid and wheel base member having a floor, sides and end walls, a double-joint hinge structure having a main link and end links, one of the end links being secured to an end wall of the body member and the other being secured to the corresponding end wall of the pivotal member whereby the two members may be turned about said hinge structure to a closed suitcase condition with the pivotal member over the body member, or to an Open hand-cart condition with said floor of the pivotal member in underlying relation to the floor of the other member, four wheels rotatively mounted interiorly of the body member and close to the sides thereof, a seat having a back, sides and a bottom, adapted to be received at one end of said body member, and a pair of strips disposed interiorly at said end of the member parallel to one another and disposed near the distal edges :of saidside :Qf the member, whereby said seat may be rested on the strips in operative position above the member. or disposed within said member with the distal edge of its said sides in underlying relation to the strips.

4. ,A collapsible cart comprising a body member constituting a composite suitcase and wagon member having. a floor, sides and end walls, a pivotal member constituting a composite lid and wheel base member having -,a floor, sides and endwalls, a double-Joint hi-ngestructure having a main 'l'ink and'end links, one ofthe end links being secured to amend wall of the body member and the other being secured to the corresponding c end wall of the pivotal member whereby the two members may be turned about said hinge structure to a closed suitcase condition with the pivotal member over the body member, or to an open'handecart condition with said floor of the pivotal member "in underlying relation to the floor of the otherlmember, a pair of strips secured interiorly .to the. floor of the pivotal member and disposed close to the sides thereof, four wheels rotatively mounted 'on'said .strips, a handle-bar frame having lateral bars pivotally secured on one endwa'll ofthe body member whereby it is movable between an inner and outer position, its distal handle-bar portion being disposed close to the other end wall when the frame is in the inner position, a pair of .sheets of pliable material secured alongthe floor of the body member to extend insubstantial underlying relation to said lateral bars-when the frame is in said inner position, a plurality of spacedhooks secured to said sheets and-adapted to be hooked over said lateral bars, and a closure provided along the distal edges of'said sheets to form an enclosed compartment, said wheels being, received, when the device is in said closed suitcase condition, in the spaces between the sides of said'compartment and the respective sides of the body member, and fastening means forsecuring said mem' bers in said suitcase condition and in said hand cart condition.

5. A collapsible cart comprising a body member constituting acomposite suitcase and wagon member having a floor, sides and end walls, a pivotal member constituting a composite lid and Wheel base member having a floor, sides and end walls, adouble-joint hinge structure having a main link and end links, one of the end links being secured to anend wall of the body member and the other being secured to the corresponding end wall of the pivotal member whereby the two members maybe turned about said hinge structure to a closed suitcase condition with the pivotal member over the body member, or to an open hand-cart condition with said floor of the pivotal member in underlying relation to the floor of the other member; a pair of strips secured interiorly to the floor of .the pivotal member and disposed close to the sides thereof, four wheels rotatively mounted on said strips, a handle-bar frame having lateral bars pivotally secured on one end wall of the body member whereby it is movable between an inner and outer position, its distal handle-bar portion being disposed close to the other end wall when the frame is in the inner position, a pair of sheets of pliable material secured along the'floor of the body member to extend in substantial underlying relation to said lateral bars when the frame is in said inner position, a pluralityofspaced hooks secured to said sheets and adapted ltObB hooked over said lateral-bars,- and a closure provided along the.

distal edges of said sheets to form an enclosed:

compartment, said wheels being received, when. the device is in said closed suitcase condition, in the spaces between the sides of said compartment and the respective sides of the body member.

6. A collapsible cart comprising a body member constituting a composite suitcase and wagon member having a floor, sides and end walls, a, pivotal member constituting a composite lid and: wheel base member having a floor, sides and, end walls, a double-joint hinge structure having a main link and end links, one of the end links being secured to an end wall of the body member and the other being secured to the corresponding,

end wall of the pivotal member whereby the two members may be turned about said hinge structure to a closed suitcase condition with the pivotal member over the body member, or to an open hand-cart condition with said floor of the pivotal member in underlying relationto the floor of the other member, a pair of strips secured interiorly of the floor of the pivotal mem,-

ber and disposed close to the sides thereof, four. wheels rotatively mounted on said strips, a pair,

of sheets of pliable material secured along the floor of the body member to extend in substantial underlying relation to said lateral bars when the frame is in said inner position, a plurality of spaced hooks secured to said sheets and.

adapted to be hooked over said lateral bars, and a closure provided along the distal edges of said sheets to form an enclosed compartment, saidl wheels being received, when the device is in said,

closed suitcase condition, in the spaces between the sides of said compartment and the respective sides of the body member, and fastening means for securing said members in said suitcase condition and in said hand-cart condition.

7. A collapsible cart comprising a body member constituting a composite suitcase and wagon member having a floor and lateral walls, a pivotal member constituting a composite lid and Wheel base member and proportioned to fit upon the body member, hinges connecting the body member and pivotal member whereby the two members may be turned about said hinges to a closedv ings interiorly adjacent and extending outwardlybeyond said side walls of the pivotal member, said body member being proportioned completely to accommodate therein said wheels when the body and pivotal members are in closed suitcase relation, the planes of said Wheels being at all times parallel to said adjacent side walls of thepivotal members and parallel to the corresponding side walls of the body member when the cart is in said closed suitcase condition.

8. A collapsible cart according to claim 7, further provided with a handle-bar frame having lateral bars pivotally secured on one end wall of the body member whereby it is movable between an inner and outer postion, a pair of sheets of pliable material secured along the floor of the body member to extend in substantial underlying relation to said lateral bars when the frame is in said inner position, fasteners secured to said sheets and adapted to be attached to said lateraL bars, and a closure provided along the distal edges of said sheets to form an enclosed compartment, said wheels being received, when the device is in said closed suitcase condition, in the spaces between the sides of said compartment and the respective sides of the body member.

9. A collapsible cart according to claim '7, further provided with a compartment attached to and disposed over the floor of said body member, two opposite lateral sides of the compartment being spaced from the corresponding sides of the body member, said Wheels being received, when the cart is in said closed suitcase condition, in the spaces between the said lateral sides of the compartment and the respective sides of the body member.

10. A collapsible cart according to claim 7, said hinges comprising a double-joint hinge structure having a main link and end links, one of the end links being secured to an end wall of the body member and the other being secured to the corresponding end wall of the pivotal member.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Powell July 11, 1911 Number

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