Abstract:
An easily adjustable cart for transporting loads short distances having a moving bed that is moveable from between upper and lower levels and is mounted on a telescoping frame. Said frame extends longitudinally to allow a user to install front and rear trestles in order to raise said bed from said lower level to said upper level and alter the configuration of the cart in order to accommodate loads of varying shapes and sizes. The frame includes a lower support for a handle that prevents bowing when the frame is subjected to heavy loads.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention is directed to a utility cart for transporting loads of various shapes and sizes having a telescoping frame and elevating bed for accommodating said loads.  
         [0002]     Carts for transporting loads have existed for some time and are available in many different shapes and sizes with varying functions depending on a user&#39;s intended purpose. Until recently, carts were designed of a fixed size and could therefore only accommodate loads of a corresponding fixed size. It has been found to be beneficial to design carts that are modifiable and capable of assuming various shapes and sizes in order to accommodate various loads. Such variable-use cart designs include those having telescoping frames that can be adjusted to assume various configurations in order to accommodate the desired application. Specifically, it is desirable that such carts be equipped with working surfaces or containers that can be set at multiple levels or removed altogether. Although certain variable-use carts are known within the art, prior-art designs have varying degrees of awkwardness and are otherwise not user friendly requiring the user to undergo unnecessarily complicated maneuvers to convert the cart to a desired configuration. Thus, to facilitate the ease of conversion process, there is a demand to provide cart designs that render the process of converting a variable-use cart between different configurations more efficient and user friendly.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     The present invention provides an improved easily adjustable utility cart for transporting loads having a telescoping frame, a generally horizontal bed that is moveable between lower and upper levels and two selectively installable trestles for raising said bed from the lower level to the upper level to accommodate various loads that can be transporting in the bed or directly on the frame. A flat platform can be placed directly on the frame and used with the bed in the raised position or without the bed. The trestles have bottom and top projections and are installed by mating the bottom projections with receivers located in the frame while the top projections mate with receivers located in the bed or the bed can be left uninstalled altogether to provide an additional configuration for additional uses. The present design also includes a support bar located on the frame that prevents the bowing of the frame under heavy loads.  
       OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     Therefore, the objects of the present invention include: providing an improved garden or utility cart for transporting loads with a load-carrying bed that can be moved between a lower level or that is raisable to an upper level; providing such a cart having a support mechanism to prevent bowing of the frame and/or pivot assembly under heavy loads; providing such a cart that has telescoping frame members in order to accommodate loads of varying shapes and sizes; providing such a cart that is easily and quickly modified to various sizes; providing such a cart that has a relatively small profile for storage and carrying; providing such a cart having telescoping elongate members that are capable of directly supporting a load yet simultaneously maintaining structural weight at a minimum; providing such a cart that is constructed of lightweight materials; providing such a cart having sufficiently wide wheels such that said cart can easily travel over mud, soft ground and sand; providing such a cart that can be easily constructed and modified; and providing such a cart which is economical to manufacture, which is compact and secure in use, and which is particularly well adapted for its intended purpose.  
         [0005]     Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein are set forth, by way of illustration and example, certain embodiments of this invention.  
         [0006]     The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments of the present invention and illustrate various objects and features thereof. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an easily adjustable cart in accordance with the present invention with a bed thereof in a raised position.  
         [0008]      FIG. 2  is an enlarged top plan view of the cart.  
         [0009]      FIG. 3  is an enlarged bottom view of the cart illustrating lateral members thereof with a support flange connected to a central member to provide support to a pivot plate of the steering mechanism.  
         [0010]      FIG. 4  is a rear elevational view of the cart on a reduced scale illustrating trestles mounted on the frame in order to elevate the bed.  
         [0011]      FIG. 5  is a front elevational view of the cart on a reduced scale illustrating the trestles mounted on the frame and bed.  
         [0012]      FIG. 6  is a side elevational view of the cart on a reduced scale illustrating the trestles mounted on the frame and bed and further illustrating the support flange and pivot plate.  
         [0013]      FIG. 7  is a side elevational view of the cart on a reduced scale and is similar to  FIG. 6 , except that the trestles are removed, thus illustrating the bed in a lowered position mounted directly onto the frame.  
         [0014]      FIG. 8  is an enlarged and fragmentary side elevational view of the cart illustrating the bed mounted on the frame via a projection located in a receiver, with portions broken away to show detail thereof.  
         [0015]      FIG. 9  is an enlarged and fragmentary perspective view of the cart illustrating the frame having with two different projection receivers for allowing selective mounting of the bed or alternatively the trestles directly on the frame.  
         [0016]      FIG. 10  is an enlarged and fragmentary perspective view of the cart illustrating the frame with the trestles mounted on the frame via a trestle projection mounted in the trestle receivers.  
         [0017]      FIG. 11  is an enlarged and fragmentary and partially cross-sectional view, wherein the cross section is taken along line  11 - 11  of  FIG. 3 , and illustrating the support flange secured to a central member of the frame and supporting the pivot plate.  
         [0018]      FIG. 12  is a side elevational view of the cart similar to  FIG. 6  except that the bed is removed, thus illustrating the trestles engaged with the frame and carrying a load of logs.  
         [0019]      FIG. 13  is a perspective view of the cart similar to  FIG. 1  on a reduced scale with a flat platform mounted on the frame beneath the bed. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0020]     As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure.  
         [0021]     Referring to the drawings in more detail, the reference numeral  1  generally designates a garden or utility cart that is easily adjusted to various use configurations and which embodies the present invention. The cart  1  generally includes a frame  5  with front and rear members or structural units  10  and  11  each having a set of spaced round bores or receivers  12  and a set of two square openings or receivers  13  located on either side of the front and rear members  10  and  11 . Examples of the receivers, including receivers  12  and  13  are depicted in  FIGS. 8 and 9 . The purpose of the receivers  12  and  13  will be discussed further below.  
         [0022]     The front and rear members  10  and  11  are connected by telescoping side lateral members  17  having first and second sections  18  and  19  with the first section  18  being sized and shaped with a smaller outer dimension relative to the second section  19  so that the first section  18  can be inserted into and slid along the second section  19 . Also connecting the front and rear members  10  and  11  is a telescoping central lateral member  24  having first and second sections  25  and  26 . The central first and second sections  25  and  26  operate in much the same way as the sections  18  and  19  except that the first section  25  is sized and shaped with a larger inner dimension in order to fit around the relatively smaller second section  26 .  
         [0023]     The telescoping members  17  and  24  allow a user to selectively extend and distance the front and rear members  10  and  11  away from each other in order to utilize the cart  1  with loads of varying shapes and sizes and to adjust for positioning of various elements of the cart  1  on the frame  5 , as discussed below. Furthermore, the central member  24  is designed with a depress to release type locking mechanism  27  that is well-known in the art and allows the user to choose between a plurality of distances. The locking mechanism  27  has projections  28  that oppose each other and are biased outwardly by an internal spring device (not shown) from the second section  26  and ideally into an aperture  29  located in the first section  25 , as depicted in  FIG. 11 . In order to adjust the distance, the user overcomes the spring by depressing the projections  28  inward and then sliding the second section  26  until the projections  28  encounter another aperture  29 . In the present design, the side lateral members  17  are not equipped with a locking device and telescope simultaneous to the controlling central lateral member  24 . It is foreseen that any one and/or a plurality of the lateral members  17  and  24  could be equipped with locking devices in order to provide the same function as taught herein.  
         [0024]     The frame  5  is supported by front and rear pairs of wheels  35  that are positioned generally below the frame  5  and provide mobility to the cart  1 . Each wheel pair  35  is connected by either a front or rear axle  36  or  37  that in turn connects to the frame  5 . Specifically, the rear axle  36  connects to outer rear axle supports  43 , which are situated on either side of a central rear axle support  44 , as depicted in  FIG. 4 . The supports  43  and  44  are stationary and guide the wheels  35  to rotate in a fixed direction. The front axle  37  are supported, as depicted in  FIG. 5 , by outer front axle supports  48  situated on either side of a dual central front axle support  49 . The supports  48  and  49  are in turn connected to a partially circular pivot plate  55  that allows the supports  48  and  49  and ultimately, the front wheels  35  to pivot from left to right in order to allow the user to steer or direct the cart  1  in a desired direction. The outer supports  48  each have a support engagement surface  50  that will be discussed further below.  
         [0025]      FIG. 11  provides an illustration of the pivot plate  55 , which is joined to the frame front member  10  by a central bolt  56  that passes through an aperture  57  to connect and secure the plate  55  to an upper track  58  that is built into the frame  5 . The track  58  has top and side surfaces  59  and  60  and is designed to fit flush with the plate  55  and coordinate therewith to enable the user to steer the cart  1 . When observing the combined plate  55  and track  58  from the side as in  FIG. 11 , the majority of the plate  55  is contained beneath the track  58  except for a shoulder portion  64 , which extends past the track side surface  60 .  
         [0026]     It is foreseen that the cart  1  may be used to transport heavy loads and as such is equipped with a pivot plate support  65  that in the present embodiment has an L-shape or flange like shape that extends under the plate  55  and is secured to the central member  24  of the frame  5 . The support  65  provides support to the shoulder  64  of the plate  55  and has a groove  66  that is sized and shaped to snugly but slidingly fit around the shoulder portion  64  of the plate  55 , essentially providing a track to keep the plate from flexing under excessive weight. Furthermore, the support  65  also prevents the plate  55  from pivoting beyond a desired range by acting as a stop. Specifically, the plate  55  can only pivot to a certain extent in either direction due to the fact that the support  65  obstructs further pivoting when it engages the bar engagement surface  50  located on both front axle supports  48 .  
         [0027]     Because the support  65  is a stress point, it is foreseen that the support  65  may occasionally fail and require replacement. Therefore, the support  65  is designed to be easily sleeved on and fitted around the central member  24  via use of the same type of locking mechanism utilized to telescope the central member  24 , as previously discussed. Specifically, the front end of the central member  24  is equipped with a projection  68  that is biased outwardly by an internal spring (not shown). The support  65  has a corresponding aperture  69  that is sized and shaped to receive the projection  68  so that when the user depresses the projection  68 , the support  65  can be fitted over the projection  68  to the point where the projection  68  reaches the aperture  69 , springs outwardly and locks the support  65  into position.  
         [0028]     The user operates the cart  1  via a telescoping handle  77  that is capable of extending from a storage configuration (not shown) to a use configuration, as depicted in  FIG. 1 . The user manipulates the handle via a grip  78 . The handle  77  has first and second sections  79  and  80  that slidably engage each other with the first section  79  fitting inside of the second section  80 . The first section  79  is equipped with a spring-biased locking mechanism, similar to the locking mechanism used with the telescoping frame  5 , having a projection  81  that extends into an aperture  77  located on the second section  80 . While it is foreseen that the handle  77  could employ a number of different locking mechanisms, notably, the present design allows the handle  77  to be locked in a use configuration, as depicted in  FIG. 1 . In order to retract the handle  77  to the storage configuration (not shown), the user depresses the projection  81  with sufficient force to overcome a spring (not shown), thus allowing the user to slide the sections  79  and  80  together or disassemble the handle  77  altogether.  
         [0029]     The handle  77  connects to the frame  5  via a “U” shaped connector  86  that is joined to and functions as an extension of the plate  55 . Notably, during a steering maneuver, the handle  77  rotates with the plate  55 , thus allowing the plate to distribute the force encountered in rotating over the entire area of the plate  55  in contact with the underside of the frame  5  in order to provide for ease of turning, especially with heavy loads. In order to mount the handle  77  on the connector  86 , the lower portion of the first section  79  has an aperture  82  that aligns with corresponding apertures  89  on the connector  86 . Upon alignment of the apertures  82  and  89 , a bolt  90  is passed through to securely engage the handle  77  to the plate  55  and essentially to the frame  5 .  
         [0030]     A load-carrying tub or bed  100  having front and rear walls  101  and  102 , sides walls  103  and a bottom with a load bearing surface  104  that cooperate to form an enclosure, which is selectively positionable relative to the frame  5 . Along the top edge of the walls  101 ,  102  and  103  is a lip  105  that provides rigidity to the bed  100 . It is noted that while the frame  5  is seen in cross-section in  FIG. 11 , the bed  100  is not. Across the bottom surface  103  are ribs  106  that add rigidity to the bed  100  and form a part of the load supporting surface  104 . On the underside of the bottom surface  104  are projections  112  that extend outwardly and are sized and shaped to mate with corresponding receivers  12  located in the frame  5 . The present design utilizes projections  112  and receivers  12  of a round shape to facilitate ease of use.  
         [0031]     The bed  100  also can be elevated by risers or trestles  120  in order to provide additional storage in the area underneath the bed  100  so that loads can be transported both in the bed  100  and directly on the frame  5  and specifically, the elongate frame members  17  and  24  or so that the bed  100  can be raised to facilitate use such as allowing a user to place plants for planting at a convenient raised level. The trestles  120  engage and extend into the bed  100  via the projections  112  being located in the receivers  113  to provide stability. The receivers  113  are located on either end of the bed  100  and are sized and shaped to accommodate the projections  112  on an upper end  121  of each of the trestles  100 . The legs  13  at the lower end  122  of the trestles engage and extend into receivers  113  located in the frame  5 . It is foreseen that the frame  5  can be extended or retracted with or without trestles  120  to accommodate beds of different shapes and sizes. It is also possible to transport loads, such as legs  139 , without the bed  100  in place so that the load  139  rests directly on the frame  5 , such as is depicted in  FIG. 12 .  
         [0032]     In an alternative use configuration, the cart  1  includes a generally flat platform  140  that sets on the frame  5  between the trestles  120  and which preferably includes projections similar to the projections  112  on the bed to be received in the receiver  12  for stability. This configuration is shown in  FIG. 13  with the platform  140  located below the bed  100 , although in some uses the bed  100  may be completely removed, such as in  FIG. 12 .  
         [0033]     The present design also provides a hitch  130  situated at the rear of the cart  1  and is centrally located on the rear member  11 . The hitch  130  is “U” shaped and is configured similarly to the handle connector  86  having apertures  131  located on either side of the hitch  130  so that the user can attach additional carts such as the present cart  1  or the like.  
         [0034]     It is to be understood that while certain forms of the present invention have been illustrated and described herein, it is not to be limited to the specific forms or arrangement of parts described and shown.