Abstract:
A foldable wagon assembly movable between an open position and a folded position. A first hinge attaches the center and front sections and a second hinge attaches the center and rear sections. The front wheels are mounted beneath the front section and the rear wheels are mounted beneath the rear section. The distance from the lower surface of the bed to the points of contact of the front and rear wheels is equal to the center section width to establish the folded position (FIG.  9 ) with the front section and the rear section parallel to one another. The assembly is conveniently and easily convertible between an open position and a folded position making it promptly ready for use, transport, or storage and eliminates transportation and storage problems.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The subject invention relates to a collapsible wagon assembly movable between an open position and a folded position for quick and easy transport and storage. 
   2. Description of the Prior Art 
   The use of wagons became popular during the California gold rush to transport people and/or goods. From this large wagon developed a desire for a smaller size wagon used to transport children or smaller loads. Eventually this small wagon even appeared oversized and bulky and a smaller collapsible or foldable wagon arose. 
   These prior foldable wagons comprise a bed that has an upper surface and a lower surface and has a generally rectangular periphery extending along a longitudinal axis and a front section and a center section and a rear section. A first hinge attaches the front section to the center section and a second hinge attaches the rear section to the center section. A pair of front wheels are mounted to the lower surface beneath the front section with each wheel extending to a radial point of contact for rolling engagement with a surface in the open position. The front wheels are on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis and are both spaced along the longitudinal axis at a front distance from the first hinge. A pair of rear wheels is mounted to the lower surface beneath the rear section with each wheel extending to a radial point of contact for rolling engagement along the surface in the open position. The rear wheels are on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis and spaced along the longitudinal axis at a rear distance from the second hinge. The center section has a width along the longitudinal axis (A) between the first and second hinges for folding the bed from an open position to a folded position. 
   Three examples of such assemblies are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,966,564 to Hernandez, Jr. (hereinafter Hernandez), U.S. Pat. No. 5,957,482 to Shorter (hereinafter Shorter) and U.S. Pat. No. 6,845,991 to Ritucci et al (hereinafter Ritucci). 
   The Hernandez patent discloses an assembly having a generally rectangular periphery extending along a longitudinal axis and includes a front section and a center section and a rear section. A first hinge attaches the front section to the center section and a second hinge attaches the rear section to the center section. 
   The Shorter patent discloses an assembly having a generally rectangular periphery extending along a longitudinal axis and includes a front section and a rear section attached by a center hinge. A pair of front wheels are mounted to the lower surface with each wheel extending to a radial point of contact for rolling engagement with a surface in the open position. The front wheels are on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis and are both spaced along the longitudinal axis from the center hinge. A pair of rear wheels are mounted to the lower surface with each wheel extending to a radial point of contact for rolling engagement along the surface in the open position. The rear wheels are on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis and spaced along the longitudinal axis from the center hinge. 
   The Ritucci patent discloses an assembly having a generally rectangular periphery extending along a longitudinal axis and includes a front section and a center section and a rear section. A first hinge attaches the front section to the center section and a second hinge attaches the rear section to the center section. A pair of front wheels are mounted to the lower surface with each wheel extending to a radial point of contact for rolling engagement with a surface in the open position. The front wheels are on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis and are both spaced along the longitudinal axis from the first hinge. A pair of rear wheels are mounted to the lower surface with each wheel extending to a radial point of contact for rolling engagement along the surface in the open position. The rear wheels are on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis and spaced along the longitudinal axis from the second hinge. 
   Although the prior assemblies are foldable, they remain large and difficult to transport in a car or through small areas. The overall volume occupied by these assemblies make them space consuming and difficult to store. These assemblies fail to be quickly and easily convertible between an open position and a folded position. The prior art assemblies cannot be folded or collapsed to a solid compact position in which the sections may be held against one another. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION AND ADVANTAGES 
   The subject invention provides for a collapsible wagon assembly movable between an open position and a folded position. The assembly includes a rectangular bed that has an upper and a lower surface and a front and center and rear section. A first hinge attaches the center and front sections and a second hinge attaches the center and rear sections. A pair of front wheels is mounted beneath the front section and a pair of rear wheels is mounted beneath the rear section. The assembly is distinguished by the distance from the lower surface to the points of contact of the front and rear wheels being equal to the center section width to establish the folded position with the front section and the rear section parallel to one another as the points of contact of the front wheels engage the lower surface of the rear section at the front distance from the center section and as the points of contact of the rear wheels engage the lower surface of the front section at the rear distance from the center section. 
   Accordingly, since the center section is equal to the distance between the parallel front and rear sections, as the wheels hold the front and rear sections parallel, the assembly is compact and solid. The folded assembly also forms a rectangular box with parallel opposite sides for convenient storage. The invention also provides an assembly that is smaller and easier to transport in a car or through small areas. The overall volume occupied by this assembly makes it less space consuming and easy to store. Because this assembly is conveniently and easily convertible between an open position and a folded position, it is always promptly ready for use, transport, or storage and eliminates transportation and storage problems. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Other advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated, as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention in an open position; 
       FIG. 3  is a cross sectional view taken along line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIG. 4  is a front view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 5  is a rear view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  illustrating rails placed inside the bed; 
       FIG. 7  is a cross sectional view showing a position between the open position and a closed position; 
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a biasing device of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; and 
       FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  in the fully folded closed position. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Referring to the Figures, wherein like numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views, a collapsible wagon assembly  20  is generally shown and is movable between an open position, as shown in  FIGS. 1-4 , and  8 , and a folded position as shown in  FIG. 8 . 
   The assembly  20  comprises a bed  22  generally indicated having an upper surface  24  and a lower surface  26  and includes a front section  28  and a center section  30  and a rear section  32 . A first hinge  34  attaches the front section  28  to the center section  30 . A second hinge  36  attaches the rear section  32  to the center section  30 . 
   The bed  22  has a generally rectangular periphery  38  and extends along a longitudinal axis A perpendicular to the hinges  34 ,  36 . The center section  30  has a width (w c ) along the longitudinal axis A between the first and second hinges  34 ,  36  for folding the bed  22  from the open position to the folded position. 
   A pair of front wheels  40  is mounted to the lower surface  26  beneath the front section  28  with each wheel extending to a radial point of contact for rolling engagement with a surface in the open position. The front wheels  40  are on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis A and both are spaced along the longitudinal axis A a front distance X f  from the first hinge  34 . The points of contact of the front wheels  40  are spaced from one another transverse to the longitudinal axis A at a front wheel distance Y f . A swivel connection  42  connects each of the front wheels  40  to the front section  28  to allow each of the front wheels  40  to swivel about an axis perpendicular to the front section  28  of the bed  22 . 
   A pair of rear wheels  44  is mounted to the lower surface  26  beneath the rear section  32  with each wheel extending to a radial point of contact for rolling engagement along the surface in the open position. The rear wheels  44  are on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis A and spaced along the longitudinal axis A a rear distance X r  from the second hinge  36 . The points of contact of the rear wheels  44  are spaced from one another transverse to the longitudinal axis A at a rear wheel distance Y r . 
   The distance from the lower surface  26  of the bed  22  to the points of contact of the front and rear wheels  40 ,  44  is equal to the center section width w c  to establish the folded position with the front section  28  and the rear section  32  parallel to one another as the points of contact of the front wheels  40  engage the lower surface  26  of the rear section  32  at the front distance X f  from the first hinge  34  as the points of contact of the rear wheels  44  engage the lower surface  26  of the front section  28  at the rear distance X r  from the second hinge  36 . 
   The points of contact of the front wheels  40  are spaced along the longitudinal axis A from the points of contact of the rear wheels  44  in the folded position. The points of contact of the front wheels  40  are spaced from one another transversely to the longitudinal axis A a different distance than the points of contact of the rear wheels  44  are spaced from one another transversely to the longitudinal axis A in the folded position. The front distance X f  from the first hinge  34  is equal to the rear distance X r  from the second hinge  36  and the front wheel distance Y f  is different than the rear wheel distance Y r  to allow for one of the pair of wheels  40 ,  44  to be interleaved between the other pair of wheels  40 ,  44  in the folded position. 
   An alternative could be that the front wheel distance Y f  is equal to the rear wheel distance Y r  and the front distance X f  from the first hinge  34  is different than the rear distance X r  from the second hinge  36  to space the front wheels  40  from the rear wheels  44  along the longitudinal axis A whereby the points of contact of the front wheels  40  are spaced longitudinally from the points of contact of the rear wheels  44  in the folded position. 
   The center section  30  of the bed  22  is rectangular between outer edges  46  and between center hinge edges  48 . The center section  30  includes center side walls  50  extending perpendicularly upward from the outer edges  46  thereof. 
   The front section  28  has a front periphery  52  including a front hinge edge  54  and two oppositely disposed front side edges  56  and a handle edge  58  ( FIG. 2 ). The first hinge  34  attaches the front hinge edge  54  of the front section  28  to a first of the center hinge edges  48  of the center section  30 . The front section  28  includes front side walls  60  extending perpendicularly upward from the front side edges  58  thereof. The front section  28  includes a notched wall  64  extending perpendicularly upward from the handle edge  58  and defines a rectangular notch  66 . A handle  68  (generally shown in phantom) pivotally has one end rotatably connected within the rectangular notch  66  of the front section  28  and extends to a distal handle end  70 . The handle  68  includes telescoping portions  72  for extending to an operating position and retractable to a storage position. 
   The rear section  32  has a rear periphery  74  including a rear hinge edge  76  and two rear side edges  78 . The second hinge  36  attaches the rear hinge edge  76  of the rear section  32  to a second of the center hinge edges  48  of the center section  30 . The rear section  32  includes rear side walls  80  extending perpendicularly upward from the two rear side edges  62 . The rear section  32  includes a rear wall  82  extending perpendicularly upward from the rear edge  78 . 
   A plurality of side rails  84  each have a channel  86  overlapping the front side walls  60  and rear side walls  80  and extend upwardly to define a portion of a retaining barrier  88 . A front rail  90  has a channel  86  overlapping the notched wall  64  and extends upwardly to define a portion of a retaining barrier  88 . A rear rail  92  has a channel  86  overlapping the rear wall  82  and extends upwardly to define a portion of a retaining barrier  88 . The side rails  84  have a height h from the upper surface  24  of the bed  22  to an upper distal rim  94  of the side rail  84  and the height h is less than half the distance between the side edges  56 ,  78 . The front rail  90  has a rail width w r  less than the distance between the front side edges  56 . The rear rail  92  has a rail width w r  less than the distance between the rear side edges  78 . The side rails  84  are placed flat and abutting one another on top of the front and rear sections  28 ,  32 , overlying the front rail  90  and rear rail  92  and cradled between the periphery  38  of the bed  22 , as shown in  FIGS. 6 and 9 , and also when in the folded position. 
   The walls  50 ,  60 ,  64 ,  80 ,  82  each present an interior surface  96  and exterior surface  98 , and the exterior surfaces  98  present one exterior channel  86  and the interior surfaces  96  present two interior channels  86  spaced on either side of the exterior channel  86 , the channels  86  of each of the rails  84 ,  90 ,  92  define two pegs  104  for engaging the interior channels  86  and one peg  104  for engaging the exterior channels  86  of walls  50 ,  60 ,  64 ,  80 ,  82  for securing the rails  84 ,  90 ,  92  on top of the walls  50 ,  60 ,  64 ,  80 ,  82 . 
   Each of the first and second hinges  34 ,  36  includes interleaved leaves  106  and a shaft  108  that extends through the leaves  106  for rotating the front section  28  about the first hinge  34  and the rear section  32  about the second hinge  36  to the folded position. 
   A lock  110  is generally indicated and retains the sections  28 ,  30 ,  32  of the bed  22  in one of an open position with the sections  28 ,  30 ,  32  aligned with one another and the folded position. The lock  110  includes the leaves  106  of the first and second hinges  34 ,  36  with center leaves  112  that extend from the center section  30  and define L shaped slots  114  in the center section leaves  112  with each slot having a parallel leg  116  parallel to the center section  30  and a transverse leg  118  transverse to the center section  30  for supporting the shafts  108  for sliding movement in the slots between the open position with the shafts  108  in the parallel legs  116 , as shown in  FIG. 7 , and the sections  28 ,  30 ,  32  abutting one another and the folded position with the shafts  108  in the transverse legs  118  and the front and rear sections  28 ,  32  extending upwardly along the center leaves  112  for preventing rotation about the hinges  34 ,  36  thereby locking the sections  28 ,  30 ,  32  in the folded position. 
   The lock  110  includes a biasing device  120  generally indicated interconnecting the center section  30  and each of the front and rear sections  28 ,  32  for biasing the front and rear sections  28 ,  32  upwardly relative to the center section  30  thereby urging the shafts  108  upward into the transverse legs  118  of the L shaped slots  114  in the open position. The biasing device  120  is movable between one of a biasing position ( FIG. 8 ) and a stored position ( FIG. 9 ) and includes at least one brace  122  having a U shape with the legs  116 ,  118 ,  124  engaging the front and rear sections  28 ,  32  and a center base  126  spaced from the center section  30  in the biasing position. The biasing device  120  includes at least one spring  128  for biasing the front and rear sections  28 ,  32  upwardly relative to the center section  30  and includes a connection shaft  130  extending from the center section  30  and through the center base  126  of the brace  122  for allowing rotation of the brace  122  between the biasing and stored positions and the spring  128  reacts between the shaft  108  and the brace  122  to bias the brace  122  toward the center section  30 . The center section  30  presents a recess  132  disposed in the lower surface  26  transverse to the longitudinal axis A for accepting the biasing device  120  in the stored position. 
   A carrying device  134  is mounted to the center section  30  for carrying the assembly  20  in the folded position. A strap  136  surrounds the rear section  32 , as shown in  FIG. 9 , and the front section  28  in the folded position and secures the side rails  84  placed flat and abutting one another on top of the front and rear sections  28 ,  32  cradled between the periphery  38  of the bed  22 . 
   A canopy (not shown) can be mounted on top of the assembly  20  for covering the retaining barrier  88  in the open position. The canopy includes a rectangular cover with four rods each extending downward from the four corners of the cover into slots disposed in the four corners of the bed  22  securing the canopy atop the assembly  20 . 
   Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings and may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described while within the scope of the appended claims. That which is prior art in the claims precedes the novelty set forth in the “characterized by” clause. The novelty is meant to be particularly and distinctly recited in the “characterized by” clause whereas the antecedent recitations merely set forth the old and well-known combination in which the invention resides. These antecedent recitations should be interpreted to cover any combination in which the inventive novelty exercises its utility. The use of the word “the” in the apparatus claims refers to an antecedent that is a positive recitation meant to be included in the coverage of the claims whereas the word “the” precedes a word not meant to be included in the coverage of the claims. In addition, the reference numerals in the claims are merely for convenience and are not to be read in any way as limiting. 
   
     
       
             
           
             
             
           
         
             
                 
             
             
               ELEMENT LIST 
             
           
        
         
             
               Element Symbol 
               Element Name 
             
             
                 
             
             
               20 
               collapsible wagon assembly 
             
             
               22 
               bed 
             
             
               24 
               upper surface 
             
             
               26 
               lower surface 
             
             
               28 
               front section 
             
             
               30 
               center section 
             
             
               32 
               rear section 
             
             
               34 
               first hinge 
             
             
               36 
               second hinge 
             
             
               38 
               periphery 
             
             
               40 
               front wheels 
             
             
               42 
               swivel connection 
             
             
               44 
               rear wheels 
             
             
               46 
               outer edges 
             
             
               48 
               center hinge edges 
             
             
               50 
               center walls 
             
             
               52 
               front periphery 
             
             
               54 
               front hinge edge 
             
             
               56 
               front side edges 
             
             
               58 
               handle edge 
             
             
               60 
               front side walls 
             
             
               62 
               rear side edges 
             
             
               64 
               notched wall 
             
             
               66 
               rectangular notch 
             
             
               68 
               handle 
             
             
               70 
               distal handle end 
             
             
               72 
               telescoping portion 
             
             
               74 
               rear periphery 
             
             
               76 
               rear hinge edge 
             
             
               78 
               rear edge 
             
             
               80 
               rear side walls 
             
             
               82 
               rear wall 
             
             
               84 
               plurality of side rails 
             
             
               86 
               channel 
             
             
               88 
               retaining barrier 
             
             
               90 
               front rail 
             
             
               92 
               rear rail 
             
             
               94 
               upper distal rim 
             
             
               96 
               interior 
             
             
               98 
               exterior surface 
             
             
               100  
               exterior recess 
             
             
               102  
               interior recesses 
             
             
               104  
               pegs 
             
             
               106  
               interleaved leaves 
             
             
               108  
               shaft 
             
             
               110  
               lock 
             
             
               112  
               center leaves 
             
             
               114  
               L shaped slots 
             
             
               116  
               parallel leg 
             
             
               118  
               transverse leg 
             
             
               120  
               biasing device 
             
             
               122  
               brace 
             
             
               124  
               brace legs 
             
             
               126  
               center base 
             
             
               128  
               spring 
             
             
               130  
               connection shaft 
             
             
               132  
               recess 
             
             
               134  
               carrying device 
             
             
               136  
               strap 
             
             
               A 
               longitudinal axis 
             
             
               h 
               height 
             
             
               w c   
               center section width 
             
             
               w r   
               rail width 
             
             
               X f   
               front distance 
             
             
               X r   
               rear distance 
             
             
               Y f   
               front wheel distance 
             
             
               Y r   
               rear wheel distance