Land vehicles – Wheeled and runner
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-02
2001-07-10
Johnson, Brian L. (Department: 3618)
Land vehicles
Wheeled and runner
C280S028000, C280S047340
Reexamination Certificate
active
06257599
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention is related to a carrier adapted to be conveniently assembled and disassembled. More particularly, the invention relates to a tote-sled assembly which can be easily displaced along malleable and hardened surfaces.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Various carriers, carts, wheel chairs and portable sleds are known as aids to personal mobility and likely include the following key functional elements: light weight, compact size, and versatile use.
Prior configurations of carts have been largely impractical with unstable rolling dynamics. Their use has been limited to use on flat, smooth and hard surfaces. Very few attempts have been made to provide compensation for irregular, soft surfaces, while remaining stable over a rolling speed range from walking pace to that of a jogging pace.
Even fewer attempts have been directed to portable assemblies adapted to be used as a sled-wagon combination, such as a tote-sled assembly. This type of portable carrying assembly is particularly convenient during summer time when parents bring their small children to the sand beaches. Typically, the beaches are wide and people, preferring to stay near the water, have to walk substantial distances. Having a toddler, bags filled with different beach paraphernalia, and the like makes such trips burdensome. Known tote-assemblies are typically equipped with small wheels which are totally useless on sand or even on uneven sandy roads of the countryside.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,222,748 to Johnson discloses a structure that is designed to overcome the above-discussed problems. Specifically, this patent discloses a portable kit including a pair of runners shaped to slide upon a soft surface, a pair of rigid connectors serving as axles for rotatable wheels and an upright frame that is detachably mounted on the runners.
The above described structure can be successfully used on both hardened and soft surfaces, although the wheels having a smooth periphery may have a problem of engaging an uneven surface thereby complicating displacement of the structure.
While the disclosed structure is portable and can be relatively easy to disassemble, the overall size of the disassembled structure is still substantial enough to take up a space when loaded in a trunk. Particularly, a length of the runners that can be a few feet long may be problematic in a limited space of a car trunk, which is typically small.
Also, since separate parts are typically screwed to one another, it may take some time to completely disassemble the structure disclosed in Johnson. As a consequence, the height of this structure may create additional problems.
What is desired, therefore, is a tote-sled assembly that can be effectively used both on malleable and hardened surfaces. Providing a tote-sled assembly that can be disassembled in a time-efficient manner to fit the interior of a car trunk is also desired, as is a tote-sled assembly, which has parts, characterized by a small size upon complete disassemblage.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This is achieved by provision of a tote-sled assembly including a frame having a plurality of two pairs of struts which form spaced uprights detachably mounted on spaced runners. Each of the runners is comprised of separate parts that are positioned in an edge to edge relation and held together by a connector.
Preferably, the connector has the same shape as the runners and is sized to slide along them to overlap the separate parts thereby holding them aligned. Upon complete disassemblage of the tote-sled assembly, it is possible to even further reduce a size of each runner. Advantageously, each connector is provided with a recess extending between its opposite ends to allow the connector to laterally expand upon applying an external force. Thus, the runners may have outer dimensions that are slightly greater than inner dimensions of the connectors, which provides a reliable continuous contact between adjacent surfaces upon inserting the parts into the connector.
Also preferably, each vertical strut is a multi-part detail including an upper and lower stretch. One of the stretches has a pocket formed with an inwardly extending lip snapping over a projection which is provided on an end of the other stretch upon pulling these stretches toward one another. As a result, without completely disassembling the structure, the height of the assembly can be substantially reduced.
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a tote-sled assembly overcoming the drawbacks of the prior art.
Still another object of the invention is to provide a tote-sled assembly that can be easily assembled and disassembled without use of any hand actuating tools.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a tote-sled assembly which has relatively long separate parts that can be further disassembled so as to reduce their length.
Another object of the invention is to provide a tote-sled assembly that can be partially disassembled to a size that allows the assembly to be placed in a limited space.
Still another object of the invention is to provide a tote-sled assembly that can be effectively used both on malleable and hardened surfaces.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1
is an exploded view of a tote-sled assembly according to the invention.
FIG. 2
is a cross-sectional view of a runner of the tote-sled assembly shown in FIG.
1
.
FIG. 3
is an isometric view of a vertical strut in accordance with another embodiment of the invention shown in FIG.
1
.
FIG. 4
is an isometric view of a canvas sling according to invention shown in FIG.
1
.
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patent: 1023333 (1958-01-01), None
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patent: 87264 (1956-04-01), None
Johnson Leigh
Mason, Jr. Stanley I.
Fischmann Brian
Johnson Brian L.
St. Onge Steward Johnston & Reens LLC
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