Abstract:
A-frame carriers are used to support slabs and bundles of stone, cases of glass and many more items. A foldable and collapsible A-frame carrier, which is easily assembled for use or disassembled for storage or transport provides more effective support.

Description:
This invention relates to an A-frame carrier and more particularly to a foldable, A-frame carrier, capable of supporting a variety of different materials. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A-frame carriers are used to support slabs and bundles of stone, cases of glass and many more items. Such a storage or such a support provides great advantages in handling those materials. Nevertheless, use of A-frame carriers can create many problems. 
     The overall dimensions of a standard industrial A-frame are sixty inches for a base and sixty inches tall. The size of these A-frames make them awkward to store, especially when they are not in use. Great advantages can be provided if an A-frame carrier can be easily stored when not in use. 
     Because of the size and the bulk, A-frame carriers can be also very expensive to ship by common carrier. Usually, the size and the bulk are also necessary to provide the necessary strength of the A-frame carrier for its desired purpose. If the utility of the A-frame carrier can be maintained while rendering it easier to store or transport, great advantages can be obtained. 
     With a foldable or collapsible A-frame carrier, storage and transportation thereof can be improved. However, the features which remit storage and transportation, can weaken the A-frame carrier to a point where it is not suitable for his desired purposes. If the strength and support aspects can be maintained, while providing for easy store agent and transportation, the utility of an A-frame carrier is greatly improved. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Among the many objectives of the present invention is the provision of a foldable A-frame carrier. 
     Another objective of the present invention is the provision of a foldable A-frame carrier with maintained strength. 
     Yet another objective of the present invention is the provision of a foldable A-frame carrier with improved storage capabilities. 
     Still another objective of the present invention is the provision of a foldable A-frame carrier, which is easily assembled. 
     Also, an objective of the present invention is the provision of a foldable A-frame carrier, which is easy disassembled. 
     A further objective of the present invention is the provision of a foldable A-frame carrier with improved transportation capabilities. 
     These and other objectives of the invention (which other objectives become clear by consideration of the specification, claims and drawings as a whole) are met by providing a foldable and collapsible A-frame carrier, which is easily assembled for use or disassembled for storage or transport. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  depicts a perspective view of the foldable A-frame carrier  100  of this invention. 
         FIG. 2  depicts a perspective view of the foldable A-frame carrier  100  of this invention, supporting a load  110 . 
         FIG. 3  depicts an exploded, perspective view of the foldable A-frame carrier  100  of this invention. 
         FIG. 4  depicts an assembled, perspective view of a first A-shaped side  120  for the foldable A-frame carrier  100  of this invention in folded position  150 . 
         FIG. 5  depicts an assembled, perspective view of a first A-shaped side  120  for the foldable A-frame carrier  100  of this invention in folded position  150 , as a reverse view of  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 6  depicts a disassembled, perspective view of a first A-shaped side  120  and second A-shaped side  160  for the foldable A-frame carrier  100  of this invention in stacked. shipping, folded position  150 . 
         FIG. 7  depicts a box chart for the foldable A-frame carrier  100  of this invention. 
     
    
    
     Throughout the figures of the drawings, where the same part appears in more than one figure of the drawings, the same number is applied thereto. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Reference will now be made in detail to several embodiments of the invention that are illustrated in accompanying drawings. Whenever possible, the same or similar reference numerals are used in the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts or steps. The drawings are in simplified form and are not to precise scale. For purposes of convenience and clarity only, directional terms such as top, bottom, left, right, up, down, over, above, below, beneath, rear, and front, may be used with respect to the drawings. These and similar to directional term are not to be construed to limit the scope of the invention in any manner. The words attach, connect, couple, and similar terms with their inflectional morphemes do not necessarily denote direct or intermediate connections, but may also include connections through mediate elements or devices. 
     The foldable A-frame carrier of this invention includes a first A-shaped side and a second A-shaped side. Preferably, the first A-shaped side and the second A-shaped side are symmetrical. Each includes a pair of arms braced at the top and the bottom. There is a central support between the top brace and the bottom brace. The bottom brace includes a first triangular support connecting it to the first arm and second triangular support connecting it to the second arm. 
     On the bottom brace adjacent to the first arm is secured a first swingable brace. Likewise on the bottom brace adjacent to the second arm is secured a second swingable brace. Each swingable brace may be placed adjacent to its respective arm or away therefrom. It is preferably secured thereto by a hinge. 
     A connecting bar joins the first A-shaped side to the second A-shaped side at the central support, especially when use of the foldable A-frame carrier is desired. The connecting bar is easily attached or removed, depending on whether use or storage is desired. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , foldable A-frame carrier  100  has a first A-shaped side  120  and a second A-shaped side  160 , which work in pairs with cross bar  190 . Preferably, the first A-shaped side  120  and the second A-shaped side  160  are substantially symmetrical and substantially mirror images of each other. 
     First A-shaped side  120  includes a first arm  122  and a second arm  124 . First arm  122  and second on  124  are joined by a short top brace  126 . A long bottom brace  128  closes the opposing ends of first arm  122  and second arm  124  and oppositely disposed from short top brace  126 . Between bottom brace  128  and top brace  126  is positioned a central support  130  also connecting first arm  122  and second arm  124 . In this fashion, first A-shaped side  120  is completed. 
     Second A-shaped side  160  is preferably similar in structure to first A-shaped side  120 . includes a first arm  122  and a second arm  124 . First arm  122  and second on  124  are joined by a short top brace  126 . A long bottom brace  128  closes the opposing end of first arm  122  and second arm  124 . 
     To opposing ends of bottom brace  128  are rotatably secured support arms. First support arm  140  extends from bottom brace  128 . Second support arm  142  extends from the opposing end of bottom brace  128 . Second support arm  142  maybe extended parallel or coplanar with bottom brace  128 , especially for use purposes. Likewise, first support arm  140  may move in a similar fashion. 
     Adding  FIG. 2  to the consideration, load  110  may be placed on foldable A-frame carrier  100 . First arm  122  and second arm  124  combine with first support arm  140  and second support arm  142  to support load  110 . Load  110  may be sheets of marble, glass or similar material. Such sheets are usually large and heavy. 
     If desired both first A-shaped side  120  and second A-shaped side  160  may have a first gusset or triangulating piece  200  connecting bottom brace  128  to first arm  122 , and a second gusset or triangulating piece  212  connecting bottom brace  128  to second arm  124 . Such a triangulation further supports and strengthens first A-shaped side  120  and second A-shaped side  160 . 
     With the further consideration of  FIG. 3 , cross bar  190  joins first A-shaped side  120  to second A-shaped side  160 , especially for use purposes. In a preferred form, crossbar  190  is attached with bolt  192  and nut  194  to each central support  130 . Thus central support  130  includes support aperture  132 , while crossbar  190  and end aperture  198  at each end thereof. The structure is such that foldable A-frame carrier  100  is very strong and useful. The facility, with which the foldable A-frame carrier  100  is disassembled or assembled, adds to the value thereof. 
     First support arm  140  and second support arm  142  have end arm apertures  148  on a common axis to receive a bolt  192 . Within the long bottom brace  128  at each end thereof is a bolt tube  146  to receive hinge bolt  220 . As bolt  192  passes through an arm aperture  144  through bolt tube  146  and into an arm aperture  144 , hinge nut  221  may be applied thereto and provide for rotation of first for support arm  140  and second support arm  142 . 
     Various parts of foldable A-frame carrier  100  may be joined in any suitable fashion. Welding, gluing, bolting or pinning are operable. In most cases, welding is preferred. Crossbar  190  may be clipped, bolted or otherwise secured to central support  130 . Preferably crossbar  190  has bar apertures  188  at each thereof to receive bolt  192 , which is secured therein by nut  192 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5 , additionally, first support arm  140  may be folded or rotated at an angle with bottom brace  128  and substantially adjacent to first arm  122 , especially for storage purposes or folded position  150 . It follows that second support arm  142  may be folded or rotated at an angle with bottom brace  128  and substantially adjacent to second arm  124 , especially for storage purposes. 
     Also clear are the various preferred shapes of the parts of foldable A-frame carrier  100 . All pieces are preferably metal. First arm  122 , second arm  124 , first triangulating piece  210 , and second triangulating piece  212  are preferably right angle pieces of metal. Short top brace  126  is preferably a flat trapezoidal piece of metal. Central support  130  and lower brace  128  are preferably hollow rectangles. First support arm  140  and second support arm  142  are preferably usually U-shaped with the flat base. 
     With  FIG. 6 , the disassembled or storage version of foldable A-frame carrier  100  is depicted. First A-shaped side  120  lies on second side  160  with support arms  140  and  142  being adjacent to arms  122  and  124 . Crossbar  190  one is placed on first A-shaped side  120  or second side  160 . 
     With  FIG. 7 , the flexibility of foldable A-frame carrier  100  is depicted. First A-shaped side  120  is connectible to second A-shaped side  160  with crossbar  190 . First A-shaped side  120  and second A-shaped side  160  each have first support arm  140  and second support arm  142  on opposing sides of the base and provide for stability of the foldable A-frame carrier  100  when in use, storage, when not in use. 
     This application—taken as a whole with the abstract, specification, claims, and drawings—provides sufficient information for a person having ordinary skill in the art to practice the invention disclosed and claimed herein. Any measures necessary to practice this invention are well within the skill of a person having ordinary skill in this art after that person has made a careful study of this disclosure. 
     Because of this disclosure and solely because of this disclosure, modification of this device can become clear to a person having ordinary skill in this particular art. Such modifications are clearly covered by this disclosure.