Luggage carrier

A portable and collapsible carrier for transporting items of luggage, and the like, including an elongated base member having wheels at the outer ends thereof for supporting the carrier for movement over a support surface. A plurality of laterally spaced sockets are provided in the base member for receiving the lower ends of laterally spaced, upwardly extending frame portions. Spring clips having detents thereon extend through openings in the lower ends of the frame portions and secure the frame portions in the sockets. The frame portions are in sections which telescope within each other to collapse the carrier. The frame portions are held in extended positions either by an auxiliary frame member which spreads the sections or by a spring clip. One or more support frame members, which are pivotally mounted on the base member for movement between operative and inoperative positions, support items to be transported on the carrier. An elastic cord has its ends permanently connected to the support frame members for safety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to luggage carriers, and more particularly relates 
to a portable and collapsible luggage carrier which utilizes a simplified 
construction resulting in reduced weight and ease of assembly without loss 
of strength. 
Various types of collapsible luggage carriers have been heretofore 
developed which are particularly well suited for use by salesmen and 
travelers in transporting relatively lightweight loads, such as items of 
luggage, sample sales items and the like, for short distances. Luggage 
carriers of this type are particularly well suited for use by airplane 
passengers and personnel who must frequently carry luggage and other items 
for considerable distances in and around large airport terminals. 
While some of the luggage carriers heretofore and presently available have 
proved generally satisfactory for their intended purpose, many have not, 
for various reasons, such as excessive weight and bulk, complexity of 
construction which renders them difficult to erect and collapse, and high 
cost. 
Accordingly, it is a general object of the present invention to provide a 
novel and improved portable and collapsible luggage carrier which is 
simple in construction, strong, light in weight, easy to assemble, erect 
and collapse, and durable in use. 
Briefly described, the luggage carrier of the present invention comprises 
an elongated, unitary base member having wheels rotatably mounted at the 
respective ends thereof. The base member is provided with a plurality of 
laterally spaced sockets for receiving the lower end of at least one and 
preferably a pair of laterally spaced, upwardly extending telescoping 
frame portions of an elongated frame means. The lower ends of the frame 
portions are secured in the base member by locking means having detents 
which extend through aligned openings in the lower ends of the frame 
portions and the walls of the sockets in the base member. The frame 
portions are in sections, which telescope within each other to reduce the 
size of the carrier when the latter is not being used. The telescoping 
frame sections are held in their extended positions by at least one spring 
clip having a detent thereon which is shiftable through openings in the 
frame sections when the sections are extended. 
The carrier also includes support means that is pivotally mounted on the 
base member for pivotal movement between a forwardly extending, generally 
horizontal, operative position for supporting items on the carrier, and an 
inoperative position adjacent the upright frame portions. In one 
embodiment, the support means comprises a single support frame member, 
which pivots about a horizontal axis through the base member, and in other 
embodiments, the support means comprises a pair of frame members which 
pivot about vertically extending, laterally spaced axes through the base 
member. 
In one embodiment, the components of the carrier are formed from a number 
of parts which are capable of being compactly arranged for ease of 
shipment and storage when the carrier is disassembled. 
In all embodiments, elongated, resilient retaining means is provided to 
hold items on the carrier when the latter is in use, the ends of the 
resilient retaining means being permanently connected to the support means 
of the carrier in such a manner as to minimize the possibility of injury 
to a user in the event that the resilient retaining means accidentally 
disconnects from the upright frame portions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
In FIG. 1, a portable and collapsible luggage carrier comprising a 
preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated and indicated 
generally at 30. The parts of the carrier 30 are shown in FIG. 1 in the 
positions they would occupy when the carrier is in use and supporting an 
article of luggage, such as a suitcase S (shown in phantom lines), on a 
horizontal support surface. The carrier 30 thus generally comprises an 
elongated base member or housing 32, elongated, upright frame means, 
indicated generally at 33, which extends upwardly from the base member 32, 
and support means, indicated generally at 34, which extends horizontally 
outwardly from the housing 32 when the carrier is in use for supporting 
one or more items on the carrier 30. The carrier 30 also includes an 
auxiliary frame member 36, which is pivotally mounted on the upright frame 
means 33, and elongated, resilient retaining means in the form of an 
elastic cord 37 for releasably retaining one or more items on the carrier 
30 when the latter is in use. 
Referring now to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 in conjunction with FIG. 1, it will be 
seen that the base member or housing 32 is elongated and U-shaped in cross 
section and arranged so as to have horizontally extending upper and lower 
walls 42 and 43, and a connecting, vertically extending wall 44. The 
housing 32 is preferably of a one-piece construction and, while it could 
be formed from various materials, it is preferably of a high impact 
plastic, specifically acrylonitrile butadiene styrene. 
Wheel wells, indicated at 46 and 47, are provided at the laterally opposite 
ends of the housing 32 for partially enclosing wheels, each indicated at 
48. The wheel wells 46 and 47 are preferably formed integrally with the 
housing 32, and are provided with axial bores (not shown) for receiving 
axles for the wheels 48 in the form of headed pins 52. The pins 52 are 
preferably retained in their bores by push nuts 53 pressed onto the 
protruding ends of the pins 52 after the latter have been inserted through 
the openings in the wells 46 and 47 and the hubs of the wheels 48. 
The frame means 33 of the carrier 30 preferably comprises a pair of 
laterally spaced, upwardly extending portions 56 and 57, and an inverted, 
U-shaped handle portion 58. The handle portion 58 includes a pair of 
laterally spaced, vertically extending side sections 62 and 63, and a 
connecting, horizontally extending section 64. 
The upwardly extending portions 56 and 57 of the frame means 33 are each 
preferably in two sections, namely, a lower tubular frame member 66 and an 
upper tubular frame member 67 which telescopes into the lower tubular 
frame member 66. The side sections 62 and 63 of the handle portion 58 
likewise telescope into the upper tubular frame members 67 of the frame 
portions 56 and 57. 
Referring now to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, in conjunction with FIG. 1, it will be 
noted that the housing 32 is provided with a plurality of socket means for 
receiving and supporting the lower ends, indicated at 68, of the lower 
frame members 66 in a generally vertically extending or upright position 
when the carrier is resting on a horizontal surface, as illustrated in 
FIG. 1. Each of the aforementioned socket means is preferably circular in 
cross section and defined by vertically extending, circular openings, 
indicated at 72 in FIG. 2, which are formed in the upper and lower walls 
42 and 43 of the housing, and in offset portions 42a and 43a, thereof. 
According to the present invention, the lower ends of the lower frame 
members 66 are secured in the openings 72 by locking means when the lower 
ends 68 of frame members 66 are in predetermined positions in the openings 
72. As best seen in FIG. 4, the aforementioned locking means may be in the 
form of spring clips, each indicated at 75 and being of a generally 
inverted, V-shaped configuration having a pair of divergent legs 76 and 
77. A detent 78 is provided on the leg 76, adjacent the distal end 82 
thereof, for extension through an opening 83 in the lower end of the frame 
section 66 and another opening 84 in a boss 86 formed in part by the 
offset lower wall 43a of the housing 32. Thus, when the detent 78 is 
positioned in the openings 83 and 84, the lower end 68 of the frame member 
66 is securely retained in the housing 32. Since the distal end 82 of the 
leg 76 and the distal end, indicated at 87, of the leg 77, are spaced from 
each other by a greater distance than the internal diameter of the frame 
members, prior to insertion of the clip 75 in the frame members, the 
detent 78 is securely retained in the openings 83 and 84 due to the 
resiliency of the clip. 
The clip 75 is easily moved into its locking position in the lower end of 
the frame member 66, merely be inserting the bight or apex portion, 
indicated at 88, of the clip into the open lower end of the frame member 
66 and then continuing to shift the clip inwardly until the detent 78 
seats in the aligned openings 83 and 84 in the lower frame member 66 and 
housing 32, respectively. 
Instead of utilizing clips 75 having detents 78 to secure the lower ends 68 
of the frame member 66 in the openings 72, rivets (not shown), or other 
fasteners, could also be employed for this purpose. 
As previously mentioned, the carrier 30 includes the auxiliary frame member 
36 which, in the present instance, is generally rectangular in shape and 
includes vertically spaced horizontally extending sections 92 and 93, and 
generally vertically extending side sections 94 and 95. The section 92 is 
connected to the side sections 94 and 95 by forwardly and rearwardly 
extending sections 96 and 97. The laterally outer sides of the frame 
sections 96 and 97 engage and slightly spread the vertically extending 
portions 56 and 57 of the frame means 33 to thereby lock the frame members 
66 and 67, and the sections 62 and 63 of the handle portion 58, against 
telescoping movement when the frame member 36 is in its FIG. 1 position. 
When in its operative position illustrated in FIG. 1, the auxiliary frame 
member 36 also provides additional support for an item or items of luggage 
being supported on the carrier 30 and serves to strengthen the vertically 
extending portions 56 and 57 of the frame means 33. 
In order to permit the auxiliary frame member 36 to pivot between its 
operative position illustrated in FIG. 1 and an inoperative position 
illustrated in FIG. 8 in which the frame is pivoted downwardly about the 
horizontal section 93 so that the horizontal section 92 is disposed 
adjacent the base 32, mounting means in the form of a pair of bearing 
members, each indicated at 102, are mounted on the upper ends, each 
indicated at 104, of the lower frame members 66. 
Referring now to FIGS. 6 and 7 in conjunction with FIG. 1, it will be seen 
that each of the bearing members 102 comprises a block of bearing material 
having a vertically extending bore 103 therethrough, which is sized to 
closely fit the upper ends 104 of the frame member 66. In order to prevent 
axial movement of the bearing members 102 after they have been mounted on 
the upper ends 104 of the frame members 66, the upper ends 104 are 
preferably swaged or otherwise worked so that the outer diameters thereof 
are less than that of the remainder of the frame members 66. Consequently, 
the bearing members 102 will not shift axially downwardly on the frame 
members 66 after the bearing members have been mounted thereon. 
In order to prevent relative rotation between each bearing member 102 and 
its associated frame member 66, the outer periphery of the upper ends 104 
of the frame members and the bores 103 in the bearing members 102 are 
preferably non-circular in cross section. The non-circular configuration 
of the upper ends 104 and bores 103 is illustrated in FIG. 7. 
In order to pivotally connect the horizontal section 93 of the frame member 
36 to the bearing members 102, each bearing member is provided with a 
horizontally extending recess 107, the inner portion of which, indicated 
at 108, serves as a bearing for the horizontal section 93 of the frame 
member 36. The inner or bearing portion 108 is of somewhat greater angular 
duration than half the circumference of the horizontal section 93 so that 
the latter is retained in the recess 107 after forced insertion therein. 
While the bearing members 102 may be formed from any suitable material, 
they are preferably of a high impact, plastic, specifically acrylonitrile 
butadiene styrene. 
As heretofore mentioned, the carrier 30 includes the support means 34 for 
supporting items thereon, such as the suitcase S. The support means 34 of 
the carrier 30 thus preferably comprises a pair of oblong, generally 
rectangular support frame members 112 and 113. Each of the support frame 
members 112 and 113 includes a horizontally extending upper section 116, a 
lower, convex, horizontally extending section 117, a vertically extending 
outer end section 118, and an inner, vertically extending inner end 
section, indicated at 119 in FIG. 5. The end section 119, in the present 
instance, is split so as to divide this section into two parts or portions 
119a and 119b. 
The support frame members 112 and 113 are preferably mounted for pivotal 
movement about their inner ends 119. To this end, the housing 32 is 
provided with forwardly extending bosses 122 and 123 having vertically 
extending bearing bores 124 and 125 therethrough, respectively. As best 
seen in FIG. 9, the bearing bore 124 is forwardly or outwardly offset with 
respect to the bearing bore 125 so that the support frame members 112 and 
113 will overlap each other in juxtaposition between the bosses 122 and 
123 when the frame members 112 and 113 are in their inoperative, folded 
positions adjacent the front wall 44 of the housing 32. 
Engagement of the end portions 119a and 119b of the support frame members 
112 and 113 in their respective bearing bores 124 and 125 is easily 
accomplished by spreading the ends 119a and 119b apart a sufficient 
distance to permit these ends to shift into their respective bearing 
bores. The approximate positions of the end portions 119a and 119b of the 
support frame member 113 prior to engagement in the bearing bore 125 is 
illustrated by the phantom line positions of the end portions 119a and 
119b in FIG. 5. 
In order to reduce the chances of luggage accidentally falling off of the 
carrier 30 when the latter is in use, the carrier 30 includes elongated, 
resilient retaining means in the form of an elastic cord 37. According to 
the present invention, the opposite ends, indicated at 126 and 127 of the 
cord 37 are formed into loops which encircle respective ones of the upper, 
horizontal sections 116 of the support frame members 112 and 113, and are 
shiftable thereon. Displacement of an intermediate portion of the cord 37 
around an item or items resting on the support frame members 112 and 113, 
and attachment of the intermediate portion to the vertically extending 
portions 56 and 57 of the frame means 33, is facilitated by at least one 
and preferably a pair of hooks 132 and 133 which are slidably mounted on 
the cord 37. The hooks 132 and 133 may be engaged with the parts of the 
upright frame means 33 in any desired manner. It should be noted, however, 
that since the ends 126 and 127 of the cord 37 are permanently engaged 
with the support frame members 112 and 113, if the hooks 132 and 133 
should accidentally be released by a user while attempting to connect the 
same to the frame portions 56 and 57, the cord 37 will snap away from the 
user and towards the frame members 112 and 113. Consequently, the 
possibility of injury to a user of the carrier 30 is substantially reduced 
if not entirely eliminated. 
When not in use, the carrier 30 may be conveniently compacted by swinging 
the horizontal section 92 of the auxiliary frame member 36 forwardly and 
downwardly away from its engaged position with the upper frame members 67 
to an inoperative position in which the horizontal section 92 of the 
auxiliary frame member 36 closely overlies the upper wall 42 of the 
housing 32, as illustrated in FIG. 8. Thereafter, the vertically extending 
sections 62 and 63 of the handle portion 58 may be telescoped into the 
upper frame members 67 and the latter telescoped into the lower frame 
members 66, as illustrated in FIG. 8. Prior or subsequent to this 
operation, the support frame members 112 and 113 may be swung into nested, 
juxtaposition between the bosses 122 and 123, and the elastic cord 37 may 
then be wrapped around the telescoped frame members as illustrated in FIG. 
8. When so collapsed, the carrier 30 may be conveniently transported or 
stored in a small carrying bag or case until again needed. 
Prior to swinging the support arms 112 and 113 from their forwardly 
extending operative position illustrated in FIG. 1 to their juxtaposed, 
inoperative position illustrated in FIG. 9, the loop 126 on the upper 
horizontal section 116 of the frame member 112 is shifted inwardly toward 
the inner or pivot end 119 of the frame member 112 and the loop 127 of the 
cord 37 is shifted inwardly toward the inner or pivot end 119 of the frame 
member 113. When so positioned, the portion of the loops 126 and 127 
adjacent the housing 32 nests in the space between the front wall 44 and 
the adjacent ends 119 of the frame members 112 and 113, as shown in FIG. 
9. 
The support frame members 112 and 113 are held in their forwardly extending 
operative positions illustrated in FIG. 1 and in their juxtaposed, 
inoperative positions illustrated in FIG. 9 by grooves in the upper 
surfaces of their respective bosses 122 and 123. Thus, as best seen in 
FIG. 9, a pair of forwardly or outwardly extending grooves 134 are 
provided in the upper surfaces of the bosses 122 and 123 for receiving 
portions of the upper sections 116 of the frame members 112 and 113 when 
the latter are in their forwardly extending operative position. As best 
seen in FIG. 2, a pair of laterally extending grooves 135 are provided in 
the upper surfaces of the bosses 122 and 123 for receiving portions of the 
upper sections 116 of the frame members 112 and 113 and holding the latter 
in their juxtaposed, inoperative positions illustrated in FIG. 9. The 
resiliency of the frame members 112 and 113 causes the section 116 thereof 
to be biased into the grooves 134 and 135. 
Referring now to FIGS. 10-16, inclusive, and with initial reference to FIG. 
10, another luggage carrier embodying the features of the present 
invention is illustrated and indicated generally at 140. Since the luggage 
carrier 140 employs many parts used in the luggage carrier 30, like 
reference numerals have been used to identify identical parts. 
As will be apparent from FIG. 10, the carrier 140 comprises an elongated, 
horizontally extending base member or housing 32, elongated, upstanding 
frame means, indicated generally at 143, and support means, indicated 
generally at 34, in the form of a pair of laterally spaced, pivotally 
mounted support frame members 112 and 113 for supporting items mounted on 
the carrier 140 when the carrier is in use. Since the construction of the 
housing 32 and support frame members 112 and 113 of the carrier 140 are 
identical with those of the carrier 30, reference should be made in this 
specification to the description and operation of these parts of the 
carrier 30 for an understanding of their construction and operation in the 
carrier 140. 
The carrier 140 likewise includes elongated, resilient retaining means in 
the form of an elastic cord 37 for releasably retaining an item to be 
transported on the carrier, such as a suitcase S, when the carrier is in 
use. The elastic cord 37 of the carrier 140 is connected to the support 
frame members 112 and 113 thereof and used in the same manner as the cord 
37 of the carrier 30. Consequently, reference should be made in this 
specification to the description and operation of the cord 37 of the 
carrier 30 for an understanding of the construction, manner of attachment 
and use of the cord 37 of the carrier 140. 
The carrier 140 differs from the carrier 30 in the construction of the 
upstanding frame means 143, which provides certain advantages in 
connection with the assembly and packaging of the carrier, as will now be 
described. 
Referring to FIGS. 12, 14 and 15 in conjunction with FIG. 10, it will be 
seen that the upstanding frame means 143 thereof comprises a pair of 
laterally spaced, vertically extending tubular members 146 and 147, and an 
inverted, U-shaped handle portion 148. The handle portion 148 is in two 
sections, namely a section 152 and a section 153, each of which includes a 
vertically extending portion and a horizontally extending portion. The 
vertically and horizontally extending portions of the handle section 152 
are indicated at 152a and 152b, respectively, and the vertically and 
horizontally extending portions of the handle section 153 are likewise 
respectively indicated at 153a and 153b. The horizontal portion 153b 
includes a reduced diameter part 154 which is sized to fit into the 
interior of the horizontally extending portion 152b of the handle section 
152 to provide a unitary assembly, as illustrated in FIG. 10 when the 
carrier is assembled. 
The lower ends, indicated at 154 of the vertically extending portions 152a 
and 153a of the handle portion 148 fit into the upper ends, indicated at 
155 of the tubular frame members 146 and 147 and are retained therein by 
releasable locking means in the form of at least one spring clip, 
indicated generally at 75. The spring clip 75 is identical to the spring 
clip 75 utilized in the carrier 30, and reference should be made in this 
specification to the description of the construction and operation of the 
spring clip 75 of the carrier 30 for an understanding of the construction 
and operation of the spring clip 75 of the carrier 140. It will suffice to 
say that, when it is desired to engage the handle portion with the tubular 
frame members 146 and 147, a spring clip 75 is inserted into the lower end 
154 of the handle portion 152a until the detent 78 thereof extends through 
an opening 157 (FIG. 14), in the lower end 154 of the handle portion 152a. 
The upper end 155 of the tubular frame member 146 is likewise provided 
with an opening 158 (FIG. 14), through which the detent 78 extends when 
the openings 157 and 158 are in alignment. Thus, when the part 154 of the 
horizontal portion 153b is inserted into the horizontal portion 152b of 
the handle section 154, and when the lower ends 154 of the handle portions 
152a and 153a are inserted into the upper ends 155 of the tubular frame 
members 146 and 147 until the detent 78 extends through the openings 157 
and 158, the handle portion 148 becomes rigidly interconnected with 
tubular frame members 146 and 148. In other words, the spring clip 75 
retains the side sections 152 and 153 of the handle portion 148 in an 
extended position relative to the tubular frame members 146 and 147. It 
will be understood that a spring clip 75 could be used to interconnect the 
lower end 154 of the handle portion 153a with the upper end 155 of the 
tubular frame member 147. 
The lower ends, indicated at 162, of the frame members 146 and 147 are 
secured in the housing 32 in the same manner that the lower ends of the 
lower frame members 66 of the frame portions 56 and 57 are secured in the 
housing 32 of the carrier 30. Consequently, reference should be made in 
this specification to the description and manner of mounting of the lower 
ends of the lower frame members 66 for an understanding of the mounting of 
the lower ends 162 of the frame members 146 and 147 of the carrier 140. 
As previously mentioned, the support frames 112 and 113 of the carrier 140 
are of the same construction and are connected to the housing 32 in the 
same manner as are the support frames 112 and 113 of the carrier 30. Thus, 
the inner or pivot ends 119 of the frame members 112 and 113 may be 
engaged in their respective bearing bores 124 and 125, merely by spreading 
the portions 119a and 119b apart a sufficient distance to permit these 
portions to move into their respective bores when released. Prior to doing 
this, the ends 126 and 127 of the elastic cord 37 are engaged with the 
frame members 112 and 113, as previously described. 
Since the handle portion 148 of the carrier 140 is in two pieces i.e. the 
sections 152 and 153, the handle sections 152 and 153, the tubular frame 
members 146 and 147 of the frame means 143, and the other parts of the 
carrier 140 can be packaged in a highly compact form for ease of storage 
and shipment. FIG. 16 illustrates the high degree of compactness that is 
possible when the parts of the carrier are packed in a shipping carton or 
container for storage and/or shipment. 
Referring now to FIGS. 17-22, inclusive, and with initial reference to FIG. 
17, another luggage carrier embodying the features of the present 
invention is illustrated and indicated generally at 170. The carrier 170 
utilizes some of the parts used in the carriers 30 and 140. Consequently, 
like reference numerals have been used to identify identical parts. 
As will be apparent from FIG. 17, the carrier 170 comprises an elongated 
base member or housing 32, elongated, upstanding frame means, indicated 
generally at 173, and support means, indicated generally at 174 in the 
form of a generally U-shaped frame member 176 for supporting items being 
transported by the carrier 170 when the latter is in use. Since the 
construction of the housing 32 of the carrier 170 is identical with that 
of the previous embodiments, no further description of the housing 32 of 
the carrier 170 will be included. 
The upright frame means 173 of the carrier 170 is of substantially the same 
construction as the upright frame means 143 of the carrier 140 except that 
the frame means 173 utilizes a one-piece handle portion, indicated 
generally at 178, instead of the two-piece construction employed in the 
handle portion 148 of the carrier 140. Thus, the handle portion 178 
includes a pair of laterally spaced, vertically extending side sections 
182 and 183, and a connecting, horizontally extending section 184. 
The frame means 173 also includes a pair of laterally spaced, vertically 
extending tubular members 146 and 147, the lower ends 162 of which may be 
secured in the openings 72 of the housing 32, either by spring clips 75, 
rivets (not shown), or other fasteners. Reference should be made in this 
specification to the description of the mounting of the frame portions 146 
and 147 in the housing 32 of the carrier 140 for an understanding of the 
mounting of the frame portions 146 and 147 in the housing 32 of the 
carrier 170. 
The carrier 170 differs primarily from the previous embodiments in that 
only a single support frame member i.e. the support frame member 176, is 
utilized to support items being transported thereon and the support frame 
member 176 also serves as an axle for the wheels 48 of the carrier. 
Referring now to FIGS. 18, 19 and 20 in conjunction with FIG. 17, it will 
be seen that the U-shaped support frame member 176 includes a pair of 
laterally spaced, forwardly and rearwardly extending side sections 192 and 
193 and a connecting end section 194, which is offset from the plane of 
the laterally spaced side sections 192 and 193 by depending sections 196. 
Thus, when the carrier is loaded but not in use, it is supported not only 
by the wheels 48 of the housing 32, but also by the offset end section 
194. 
As best seen in FIG. 18, the laterally spaced side sections 192 and 193 of 
the support frame 176 extend rearwardly past the frame portions 146 and 
147 and include another pair of downwardly depending portions 198 and 199, 
which terminate in horizontally extending end sections 202 and 203. The 
end sections 202 and 203 extend laterally outwardly from the depending 
portions 198 and 199, respectively, and are of sufficient length to extend 
through aligned openings (not shown) in the laterally spaced walls 204 and 
205 of the wheel wells 46 and 47. The end sections 202 and 203 thus 
provide axles for the wheels 48 and are prevented from shifting inwardly 
by push nuts 53. The material of the support frame member 176 is of 
sufficient resilience to permit the outwardly extending or axle portions 
202 and 203 to be compressed toward each other until they are aligned with 
the openings in the wheel wells and then permitted to expand through the 
openings and the hubs of the wheels 48. Compression of the sides 192 and 
193 of the support frame 176 is effected when the frame is in an upwardly 
pivoted position, as illustrated in FIG. 22. 
In order to maintain the frame 176 in its operative, forwardly extending 
position illustrated in FIGS. 17, 18 and 20, the side portions 192 and 193 
are provided with crimps 206 and 207, respectively, for this purpose. The 
crimps 206 and 207 frictionally engage the outer sides of the upright 
frame portions 146 and 147 and releasably retain the support frame member 
176 in its operative position. 
The carrier 170 thus achieves a material and weight saving advantage in 
that the horizontally extending portions 202 and 203 thereof not only 
provide pivot axes for the frame 176 when the latter is shifted between 
its forwardly extending operative position illustrated in FIG. 17 and its 
upwardly extending, inoperative, compacted position illustrated in FIG. 
22, but also provide axles for the wheels 48. 
While the carriers 30 and 140 have been herein illustrated and described as 
utilizing a pair of laterally spaced, vertically extending frame portions 
66,67 and 146,147, respectively, and generally U-shaped handle portions 
58,148, respectively, a single vertically extending handle portion could 
also be utilized. To this end, the upper and lower horizontal walls 42 and 
43 of the housings 32 of the carriers 30 and 140 are provided with a 
centrally located socket means in the form of vertically extending 
openings 210 for receiving the lower end of a single upwardly extending 
frame portion, indicated in phantom lines in FIGS. 2 and 11 and identified 
by the reference numeral 212. The frame member 212 may be secured in the 
housing 32 by a single spring clip 75 which extends through an opening in 
the lower end of the frame member and a horizontally extending opening 213 
in a boss 214 on the inner side of the front wall 44 of the housing 32, as 
shown in FIG. 18. 
While one or more embodiments of the invention have been herein illustrated 
and described, it will be understood that modifications and variations 
thereof may be developed which do not depart from the spirit of the 
invention and scope of the appended claims.