Land vehicles – Wheeled – Extensible
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-07
2001-09-04
Mai, Lanna (Department: 3619)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Extensible
C280S655000, C280S640000, C280S040000, C280S043100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06283496
ABSTRACT:
The present invention relates to manual pull type carriers for transporting loads in rough terrain. More particularly, the invention relates to a carrier for transporting large game carcasses or other loads, for example, sick or injured persons, which carrier is collapsible so that it can be carried into wilderness areas, in the manner of a backpack, and erected into a transport configuration.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Numerous devices have been heretofore devised to carry loads in rugged terrain areas which are not accessible by most motorized vehicles. For example, sportsmen often hunt in remote areas that are inaccessible by highway vehicles. Thus, the transportation of large game carcasses becomes difficult. In other situations, rescue workers are called on to transport sick or injured persons from such areas.
Examples of prior devices are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,328,192 (Thompson); U.S. Pat. No. 5,433,291 (Shoestock, Sr.); U.S. Pat. No. 5,566,780 (Bambrough); U.S. Pat. No. 5,687,978 (Rhodes et al.); U.S. Pat. No. 5,620,193 (Dschaak); Des. U.S. Pat. No. 391,734 (Melgey); U.S. Pat. No. 5,460,307 (Stevenson); U.S. Pat. No. 5,492,196 (Michno); and U.S. Pat. No. 5,564,720 (Stringer). The various prior devices have suffered from numerous shortcomings. For example, in order to transport the carriers in the manner of a backpack, the wheels of the carrier generally have had to be of small diameter. See, for example, Stringer U.S. Pat. No. 5,564,720. Devices with mall wheels are not easy to roll over difficult, rough terrain which often contains rocks, stumps, or other hazards. Other prior art examples, illustrated by the foregoing patents, in some cases, had larger diameter wheels, but the same have had to be removed from the axles in order to transport the devices on a user's back.
A need has, thus, continued to exist for new and improved portable load carrying carriers which are stable and easy to use when assembled, and which are readily collapsed to a form wherein they are portable in the manner of a backpack.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has, as its principal object, the provision of a collapsible carrier which is easy to use and convenient to collapse and carry. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the carrier of this invention has a relatively large diameter wheels which allow the use of an axle positioned a sufficient distance above the ground so as to enable the carrier to be moved over objects such as rocks and stumps. In accordance with a related aspect, the frame of the carrier is structured so as to support the cargo bed of the carrier at a raised elevation.
In accordance with a further related aspect of the invention, the device of this invention is formed of lightweight hollow metallic tubes which provide a relatively lightweight construction that can be carried on the back of an average adult. A further important aspect of the invention is the provision of such a carrier in which the wheels remain attached to the carrier in the carrying position. The wheels are supported on pivoting supports which, in a storage/transport position are folded to allow the wheels to be stacked against the load-carrying bed of the carrier.
In accordance with another aspect of the preferred embodiment of the invention the load carrying frame is formed of hollow metallic tubes such as steel or aluminum tubes which are of a telescoping configuration, enabling the load carrying frame to be disassembled and placed into a storage/backpack transport configuration. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the wheels are pivotable inwardly in a manner resembling aircraft wheels.
Briefly, the invention provides a collapsible carrier suitable for transporting a load over rugged terrain which includes a support frame assembly formed by at least a pair of spaced-apart side frame members located on opposite sides of a longitudinal central axis of the frame. Cross frame members connect the side frame members to define a cargo bed. A pair of wheels located on opposite sides of the cargo bed are each individually supported by support members mounted on a pivot axis which are each affixed to opposite sides of the side frame members and displaced lower than and laterally outwardly from the side frame members. The wheels are thus pivotable about these axes from a use position, wherein the wheels are parallel to each other, and disposed on opposite sides of the cargo bed to a storage/backpack transport position wherein the wheels are folded over one another and over the cargo bed. The side frame members are formed of collapsible sections which are either telescoped together or pivotally connected to each other. The frame is formed of sections which extend forwardly from the cargo bed to form a towing handle portion. In the preferred embodiment the axes on which the wheel supports are pivoted are located outwardly from and below the cargo bed, thus enabling the wheels to be pivoted against the bottom of the cargo bed, overlying each other. In the preferred embodiment the support members, while being displaced equally outwardly from the sides of the cargo bed side frames, are of slightly different heights thus enabling stacking of the wheels as they are folded into the carrying position.
In an alternative embodiment of the invention the forwardly extending frame, which forms a towing handle section, is formed of two or more sections which are hinged together and can be folded over the cargo bed in zig zag fashion in the carrying position.
Further aspects and objects of the invention will be apparent from the appended claims, the following detailed description and the drawings.
REFERENCES:
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patent: 5090368 (1992-02-01), Berghoefer
patent: 5282520 (1994-02-01), Walker
patent: 5328192 (1994-07-01), Thompson
patent: 5330212 (1994-07-01), Gardner
patent: 5393194 (1995-02-01), Smith
patent: 5433291 (1995-07-01), Shoestock, Sr.
patent: 5460307 (1995-10-01), Stevenson
patent: 5492196 (1996-02-01), Michno
patent: 5564720 (1996-10-01), Stringer
patent: 5566780 (1996-10-01), Bambrough
patent: 5590738 (1997-01-01), Hunt et al.
patent: 5620193 (1997-04-01), Dschaak
patent: 5687978 (1997-11-01), Rhodes et al.
patent: 5769431 (1998-06-01), Cordova
patent: 5820141 (1998-10-01), Wilkerson et al.
patent: 5887676 (1999-03-01), Harbin
patent: 5887879 (1999-03-01), Chumley
patent: 6039333 (2000-03-01), Hamblin
Mai Lanna
Restifo Jeffrey J.
Ryan Kromholz & Manion S.C.
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