Abstract:
A wheeled laundry basket includes a basket, a plurality of wheel assemblies, and a rope pull. Each wheel assembly includes a rotating caster integrally connected to the basket. A top exterior edge of the basket provides integral connection to the rope pull connected on both ends to the basket in order to provide a flexible extended handle for steering and rolling the basket along a ground surface.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present invention was first described in a notarized Official Record of Invention on Feb. 25, 2010, that is on file at the offices of Montgomery Patent and Design, LLC, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to laundry baskets and hampers, and in particular, to a wheeled laundry carrying device. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Doing laundry is one of the most hated chores performed in many households. The lengthy process is difficult, time consuming, and repetitive. For those that must transport the laundry to and from another area of their home or to and from a distant self service laundromat, the task is even more daunting due to having to carry heavy baskets. Additional items such as laundry detergents, fabric softeners, hangers, and even reading material must also be brought to distant locations. All of this material means that people must carry the heavy basket without a clear view of the floor in front of them which could lead to a nasty fall. Even the youngest and fittest of people have difficulty with such a task. Those of us who are older or disabled may find such a task nearly impossible. 
     There have been many attempts to provide laundry baskets intended to address these problems. A common solution is to provide at least two (2) wheels to one (1) end of the basket or even provide four (4) wheels to the outside corners of the basket. While these attempts may achieve their purported objective each suffers from one (1) or more disadvantage or deficiency related to design or utilization. Particularly, these attempts do not easily allow for multiple baskets to be stacked when not in use. Additionally exterior wheels prevent the basket from resting flat on the floor or other surface in situations when the wheels may not be desired. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The inventor has therefore recognized the aforementioned inherent problems and lack in the art and observed that there is a need for a device which allows laundry and associated items to be easily transported without the disadvantages as described above. In accordance with the invention, it is an object of the present disclosure to solve these problems. 
     The inventor recognized these problems and has addressed this need by developing a wheeled laundry basket which provides multiple features to aid in the task of moving heavy laundry items in a manner which is quick, easy, and effective. The inventor has thus realized the advantages and benefits of providing a basket assembly including a floor and sidewalls which define an open interior. A plurality of wheel assemblies is retractably coupled to the basket. An internal cavity disposed at each corner of the floor for housing the wheel assembles and has an opening in the floor for a wheel to partially protrude outwardly. A pull handle is connected to at least one (1) sidewall. 
     Each wheel assembly includes a tubular member affixed to the floor within the internal cavity. An actuator member is provided having a vertical arm slidably fit within an open top of the tubular member and a horizontal arm protruding outwardly from a sidewall opening. A shaft is slidably fit within an open bottom of the tubular member. A wheel is rotatably fastened to a lower end of the shaft and movable between a retracted state within the internal cavity and a deployed state partially protruding from the floor opening. A biasing member for biasing the wheel assembly in the retracted state. A cam mechanism is disposed between the actuator member and the shaft for positioning the wheel between the retracted state and the deployed state in response to a reciprocating longitudinal motion of the actuator member. 
     Furthermore, the described features and advantages of the disclosure may be combined in various manners and embodiments as one skilled in the relevant art will recognize. The disclosure can be practiced without one (1) or more of the features and advantages described in a particular embodiment. 
     Further advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent from a consideration of the drawings and ensuing description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The advantages and features of the present disclosure will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a wheeled laundry carrying device, according to a preferred embodiment in accordance with the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of multiple wheeled laundry carrying device depicted in a stacked state for storage, according to the preferred embodiment; 
         FIG. 3  is a top view of the wheeled laundry carrying device, according to the preferred embodiment; 
         FIG. 4  is a bottom perspective view of the wheeled laundry carrying device depicting a plurality of wheel assemblies in a deployed state, according to the preferred embodiment; 
         FIG. 5  is an exploded view of the wheel assembly, according to the preferred embodiment; 
         FIG. 6  is a cut-away view of a basket assembly depicting the wheel assembly in a retracted state, according to the preferred embodiment; and, 
         FIG. 7  is a cut-away view of the basket assembly depicting the wheel assembly in the deployed state, according to the preferred embodiment. 
     
    
    
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 DESCRIPTIVE KEY 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 10 
                 wheeled laundry carrying device 
               
               
                   
                 20 
                 basket assembly 
               
               
                   
                 21 
                 sidewall 
               
               
                   
                 22 
                 vent 
               
               
                   
                 23 
                 floor 
               
               
                   
                 24 
                 rim 
               
               
                   
                 25 
                 interior portion 
               
               
                   
                 26 
                 handle 
               
               
                   
                 27 
                 aperture 
               
               
                   
                 28 
                 knot 
               
               
                   
                 29 
                 opening 
               
               
                   
                 30 
                 wheel assembly 
               
               
                   
                 31 
                 internal cavity 
               
               
                   
                 32 
                 actuator member 
               
               
                   
                 33 
                 stationary cam 
               
               
                   
                 34 
                 tubular member 
               
               
                   
                 35 
                 rail 
               
               
                   
                 36 
                 rotary cam 
               
               
                   
                 37 
                 rotary cam guide 
               
               
                   
                 38 
                 shaft 
               
               
                   
                 39 
                 catch 
               
               
                   
                 40 
                 spring 
               
               
                   
                 41 
                 fork 
               
               
                   
                 42 
                 wheel 
               
               
                   
                 43 
                 axle 
               
               
                   
                 44 
                 fastener 
               
               
                   
                 45 
                 teeth 
               
               
                   
                 46 
                 stationary cam guide 
               
               
                   
                 47 
                 slot 
               
               
                   
                 48 
                 notch 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     In accordance with the invention, the best mode is presented in terms of a preferred embodiment, herein depicted within  FIGS. 1 through 6 . However, the disclosure is not limited to a single described embodiment and a person skilled in the art will appreciate that many other embodiments are possible without deviating from the basic concept of the disclosure and that any such work around will also fall under its scope. It is envisioned that other styles and configurations can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present disclosure, and only one particular configuration may be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
     The terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced items. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1 through 6 , depicting a wheeled laundry carrying device (herein described as a “device”)  10 , where like reference numerals represent similar or like parts. In accordance with the invention, the present disclosure describes an open-topped container utilized for temporary storage and transport of laundry items such as, but not limited to: towels, clothes, detergent, or the like. The device  10  is utilized similarly to traditional clothes baskets or by use of the enhanced transporting features which provide a wheeled container. The device  10  facilitates transporting laundry items in a manner which is easy, effective, and quick and eliminates the need of carrying laundry to desired locations. 
       FIG. 1  shows a perspective view and  FIG. 3  shows a top view of the device  10 . The device  10  includes a basket assembly  20  and a plurality of wheel assemblies  30 . The basket assembly  20  preferably takes on a generally rectangular shape and is fabricated from plastic, yet other materials may be utilized without limiting the scope of the device  10 . The device  10  is made available in various sizes to accommodate the necessity of the user. 
       FIG. 2  shows a perspective view of multiple devices  10  depicted in a stacked state. The basket assembly  20  includes four (4) sidewalls  21  which extend from a floor  23  to a downwardly turned rim  24 . The sidewalls  21  and floor  23  define an interior portion  25  which laundry or similar items are positioned and held within. In at least one (1) embodiment of the device  10 , the sidewalls  21  include a plurality of vents  22  which provide decoration and aesthetic appeal and also allow air to enter the interior portion  25  to resist mildew. Although the vents  22  are depicted as slanted, generally rectangular openings it can be appreciated that other shapes, designs, or patterns can be utilized without limiting the scope of the device  10 . The rim  24  surrounds an upper periphery of the sidewalls  21  and provides a finger receiving gripping edge for the user to take hold of the basket assembly  20  for transporting in a lifting and carrying manner. 
     The basket assembly  20  is designed to allow multiple devices  10  to be stacked within each other (with the wheel assemblies  40  retracted) to facilitate storage, packaging, transportation, and shelving of large pluralities of device  10 . The interior portion  25  of a first device  10  accepts the floor  23  of second device  10 ; this combination is repeated to stack multiple devices  10  in a generally vertical manner. 
     At least one sidewall  21  also includes a handle  26  which provides a way for the user to pull the device  10  to a desired location when the wheel assemblies  30  are in the deployed state. The handle  26  is preferably a nylon rope, yet other materials may be utilized without limiting the scope of the device  10 . Each opposing end of the handle  26  is inserted into a respective aperture  27  through the sidewall  21  and fixed therewithin by a knot  28 , crimp, or similar fastening mechanism to secure the handle  26  to an inner surface of the respective sidewall  21  and enable the handle  26  to create a loop so as to allow the user to grasp the handle  26  for towing the device  10  when loaded with laundry items. 
       FIG. 4  shows a bottom perspective view of the device  10  depicting the wheel assemblies  30  in a deployed state;  FIG. 5  shows an exploded view of the wheel assembly  30 ; and,  FIGS. 6 and 7  shows a cut away view of the basket assembly  20  depicting the wheel assembly  30  in the retracted and deployed state, respectfully. A bottom portion of the floor  23  includes a plurality of openings  29 , each of which permit a wheel  42  to retract and at least partially deploy in response to actuation of the actuation member  32 . The openings  29  each provide access to the hollow internal cavity  31  disposed at each corner the floor  23  having a height dimension suitable to completely retract each wheel assembly  30  inside, such that the basket assembly  20  maintains a flat bottom surface of the floor  23  when the wheel assemblies  30  are in the retracted state. 
     Each wheel assembly  30  includes an actuator member  32 , a stationary cam  33 , a tubular member  34 , a rotary cam  36 , a shaft  38 , a spring  40 , a fork  41 , and the wheel  42  which are maintained within the internal cavity  31  in the floor  23 . The actuator member  32  of each wheel assembly  30  protrudes from the sidewall  21  and provides for manual retraction or deployment of the wheels  42 . The actuator member  32  is generally “L”-shaped and the stationary cam  33  is affixed to a lower vertical end of the actuator member  32 . 
     The stationary cam  33  includes a cylindrical-shape having a plurality of teeth  45  along a lower perimeter edge which engage a plurality of rotary cam guides  37  protruding radially outward from an exterior of the rotary cam  36 . The stationary cam  33  and the rotary cam  36  are positioned within the tubular member  34  which is affixed to the internal cavity  31 . The tubular member  34  includes a plurality of inwardly projecting rails  35  which define a slot  47  between adjacent rails  35 . A plurality of stationary cam guides  46  extend radially from an exterior of the stationary cam  33 . Each stationary cam guide  46  remains positioned within a single slot  47  and slides up and down, but does not rotate, in response to the actuation of the actuation member  32 . 
     A lower end of each rail  35  terminates in a tapered point. The lower end of every other slot  47  is closed off by notching every other rail tapered point with the adjacent rail tapered point. This notch  48  prevents the rotary cam guide  37  from entering the slot  47  following a partial rotation in response to actuation of the actuation member  32 . 
     During deployment of the wheel assemblies  30 , the actuator member  30  is engaged by the user and pressed downwardly. Upon actuation of the actuator member  32 , the stationary cam  33  slides downward and the teeth  45  engage the rotary cam guides  37  pushing them linearly out from the bottom of the slots  47 . The compression spring  40  biases the shaft  38 , and thus the rotary cam  36 , upward and the rotary cam guides  37  are retained between adjacent rail tapered ends and restricted from entering the slot  47  by the notch  48 . 
     During retraction of the wheel assemblies  30 , the actuator member  32  is again depressed and the stationary cam  33  engages the rotary cam  36  and the process is repeated to partially rotate the rotary cam  36 . The rotary cam guides  37  are retained between a next adjacent slot  47  and the rotary cam  36 , and thus the shaft  38  and wheel  43 , move upward within the internal cavity  31 . The rotary cam  36  includes a hollow interior which receives the shaft  38  by a slip fit, which interconnects the wheel  42  to the actuator member  32 . 
     The tubular member  34  includes an open top end such that the actuator member  32  and stationary cam  33  are longitudinally slidable within the tubular member  34 . The tubular member  34  also includes an open bottom end, such that a lower end of the shaft  38  is also longitudinally slidable within the tubular member  34 . The shaft  38  includes a pair of catches  39  which retain a top end of the spring  40  around the shaft  38 . The bottom end of the tubular member  34  also includes a catch  39  disposed on an interior perimeter which retains a bottom end of the spring  40  within the tubular member  34 . The spring  40  provides a spring force to the shaft  38 , and thus to the wheel  42 , to retract the wheel assembly  30  completely into the internal cavity  31  ever other time the actuator member  32  is depressed. The shaft  38  is integrally molded to a fork  41  which is fastened to the axle  43  of the wheel  42  by a fastener  44 . 
     It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only one particular configuration shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
     The preferred embodiment of the present invention can be utilized by the common user in a simple and effortless manner with little or no training. After initial purchase or acquisition of the device  10 , it would be installed as indicated in  FIG. 1 . 
     The method of installing and utilizing the device  10  may be achieved by performing the following steps: acquiring the device  10 ; filling the interior portion  25  with desired laundry items; enabling the vents  22  to provide an air flow within the interior portion  25 ; grasping the rim  24  and lifting to transport the device  10  to a desired location; and utilizing the device  10  as necessary to transport laundry. 
     The method of installing and utilizing the wheel assembly  30  may be achieved by performing the following steps: acquiring the device  10 ; filling the interior portion  25  with desired laundry items; enabling the vents  22  to provide an air flow within the interior portion  25 ; depressing each actuator member  32  to deploy each wheel  42  from the internal cavity  31 ; utilizing the handle  36  to tow the device  10  to a desired location; depressing the actuator member  32  to retract the wheels  42  within the internal cavity  31  as desired; and utilizing the device  10  as necessary to transport laundry. 
     The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit to the precise forms disclosed and many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain principles and practical application to enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.