Land vehicles – Step or abutment ascending type vehicle
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-23
2001-05-01
Swann, J. J. (Department: 3611)
Land vehicles
Step or abutment ascending type vehicle
C280S005260, C280S033994
Reexamination Certificate
active
06224068
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to pushcarts for transporting baggage and the like; in particular the invention is directed to a baggage pushcart for use in airports, train stations, etc., maneuverable to negotiate an escalator stairway.
2. Description of Related Art
In large transportation centers, such as airports, handcarts or pushcarts are usually provided to assist with moving large suitcases, trunks, bags, etc. Passengers load their baggage on the carts and travel within the airport. Escalators are usually installed within airports, and users often ride the escalators with the carts loaded with their baggage.
The user of such a pushcart loaded with baggage confronts difficulties when boarding an escalator. Conventionally, pivotable caster wheels are employed on the cart, typically as the front wheel(s), and the rear wheels are fixed in the cart advancing direction to ensure that the cart moves straightforward. If available room on the way to the escalator is limited, the user may consequently find it difficult to maneuver the cart to board the escalator stairway. Further, once on board the escalator, the user has to be concerned with positioning the cart wheels centrally along the length of the escalator treads lest the cart drop when the moving stairway treads begin to slope, forming the escalator steps. With a heavily loaded cart, thus having to position the wheels can be a nuisance; worse than this bother is the danger should the cart drop if the wheels are caught on the edges of the formed escalator steps.
A separate consideration is that airport personnel who are charged with storing the baggage pushcarts join them together in long chains for transport to designated locations. Thus joining the carts, however, makes it very difficult to move the long chain sideways. Because the rear wheels are fixed in the advancing direction as noted above, the rear wheels of the joined carts must be skidded laterally.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to configure a pushcart, in particular a baggage cart such as is used in airports, for ease of maneuverability in negotiating an escalator stairway.
A further object is to enable the cart to travel straightforward securely and yet to be readily moved laterally as needed.
The present invention configures a pushcart, in particular a baggage cart such as is used in airports, for ease of maneuverability in negotiating an escalator stairway.
In accordance with the invention, in a principal embodiment, the cart comprises a cart body and a plurality of wheel assemblies carrying wheels. At least two of the wheel assemblies, for example two rear wheel assemblies, each includes a pivotable wheel mount that is attached to the cart body and holds a wheel. Thus, the two rear wheel assemblies are pivotable against the cart body for running the pushcart in lateral and advancing directions. Further, each rear wheel assembly includes a releasable pivoting-lock mechanism for releasably locking its pivotable wheel mount in the pushcart advancing direction.
Additionally, drop-attenuating mechanisms are fitted to each wheel assembly of the plurality, for example, to a front as well as to the two rear assemblies. The drop-attenuating mechanisms include damped-swing traction members disposed at a predetermined separation from level surfaces. With the pivotable wheel assemblies locked in the pushcart advancing direction, the damped-swing traction members establish adhesive friction in contacting the treads of a sloping escalator stairway. Accordingly, if the wheel assemblies are not riding on the treads of the escalator steps, that is, if the wheels are pitched off the edge of a forming step, the traction members bear the pushcart through a damped swing.
The two rear wheel assemblies each includes a fixed member fastened to the cart body. A swivel joins each pivotable wheel mount to the fixed member, such that the wheel mount is pivotable against the fixed member about a vertical axis.
The releasable pivoting-lock mechanism includes an engagement member mounted on the fixed member of each rear wheel assembly. Each engagement member has a rearward notch oriented along the pushcart advancing direction. Each releasable pivoting-lock mechanism also comprises a stop formed for engagement with the rearward notch in the engagement member, and a stop retainer. The stop retainer is fixed to the horizontal part of the wheel mount for retaining the stop in contact with the wheel.
Accordingly, when the pushcart is pushed in the advancing direction, the stop is urged by frictional contact with the wheel into engagement with the rearward notch. When the pushcart is reversed slightly against the advancing direction, the stop is urged out of engagement with the rearward notch by frictional contact with the wheel such that the wheel assembly is pivotable against the cart body.
Furthermore, the drop attenuating mechanisms comprise damping means connected to the traction members. The damping means are configured for damping the traction members through a swing approximately equal to the specification slope of the escalator.
The user of a fully loaded cart embodied as described above can readily orient the vehicle toward an escalator by slightly backing up the cart reverse to its advancing direction and swinging the cart into the desired orientation. Then, by pushing the cart in its advancing direction toward the escalator, the rear wheel assemblies automatically lock straight ahead. In the principal embodiment, the front wheel assembly is fixed in the advancing direction, and with the rear wheel assemblies locked straight, the front- and rear-wheel drop attenuators are able to function effectively. The user of the cart can then board the escalator without concern for the back-and-forth cart positioning with respect to the treads of the escalator stairway. Even if the cart is brought to a stop with the wheel assemblies riding on the between-step breaks in the flat way before the stairway begins to slope, the user need not reposition the cart. If the tires and are caught on the edges of the sloping stairway, the front- and rear-wheel drop attenuators—the latter being secured into functioning position by the locking mechanisms—will smooth the dropping of the cart, either ascending or descending. Users of a pushcart embodied in accordance the present invention should especially welcome its inventive capabilities wherein the cart is heavily loaded with baggage.
The foregoing and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
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Eguchi Yasuhiko
Fukutake Heiji
Kakehi Toru
Exedy Corporation
Shinjyu Intellectual Property Firm
Shriver J. Allen
Swann J. J.
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