Abstract:
A device for transporting a container includes a frame and a boom coupled to the frame for maintaining a container in an upright position during movement of the device. The device prevents contents of the container from spilling during transport. The device is collapsible so that it can be easily and compactly stored when not in use.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates generally to methods and devices for transporting goods and, more particularly, to methods and devices for transporting containers so that they remain substantially level during transport, which is especially beneficial in transporting containing having liquids or solids. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Oftentimes, a person may need to have a bucket of material available in order for a person to complete a task. For example, painters purchase large buckets of paint in order to reduce their costs. As another example, an installer of drywall commonly has a large bucket of drywall paste, commonly referred to as “mud,” which the installer uses in covering seams between pieces of drywall. Buckets are not only used in the construction industry but are also commonly used in other industries, such as the food and beverage industry. Marinated chicken, marinara, cheese, and other food supplies are commonly bought and kept in stock in large buckets. As can be appreciated, many people in their jobs as well as other times have an occasion to use a bucket or other similar type of container. 
     While large containers such as a bucket are convenient in that they can store large quantities of material, these containers are rather difficult to transport. Typically, a handle is integrally formed with the bucket and a person uses this handle in carrying the bucket from one place to the next place. Carrying a bucket by its handle, however, is rather burdensome and difficult. A heavy bucket is not easily carried since a person lifts the bucket and places the bucket away from his or her body, thereby presenting some torsional forces upon the person. For instance, if the bucket is held in front of the person, these forces would create a strain on the person&#39;s back. To align the bucket with the person&#39;s center of gravity, the person would need to position the bucket between his or her legs, which would render it difficult to walk and carry the bucket at the same time. 
     Various devices are known to assist a person in carrying buckets or other containers. One of these devices is a simple cart upon which the container is placed. The cart has wheels that allow the user to easily move the heavy container from one location to another. Other types of devices have wheels for transporting the container and some type of surface for supporting the container. These types of devices alleviate to some degree the burden and strain placed on a person in transporting the containers. These devices, however, are still inadequate for transporting many types of materials because they fail to maintain the container substantially upright or level during travel. For example, when the container is not completely sealed, such as when its lid is off, the material within the bucket can easily leave the bucket during transport. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention addresses the problems described above by providing devices and methods for transporting containers which are able to maintain the containers substantially level during transport. A device according to a preferred embodiment includes a frame, at least two legs coupled to the frame and having wheels, and a boom coupled to the frame. The device is transported by grasping the frame and moving the frame along a surface, with the wheels rolling along the surface. Advantageously, the boom carries the container so that the container is maintained in a substantially upright position during transport. Thus, even though the surface may be angled, the device is capable of keeping the container substantially level. As can be appreciated, the device is especially well suited for containers having liquids or even some solids, since the device can help minimize any losses of contents during transport. 
     According to another aspect, a device according to the invention includes a frame, a boom coupled to the frame, and at least two legs each attached to the frame and having a wheel. The boom includes structure that allows a container to be fastened to the device in a secure manner. The legs are moveable with respect to each other such that they can be separated from each other during use and can be moved toward each other during storage. Preferably, the boom can be pivoted relative to the frame and the legs can be pivoted relative to the frame so that the entire device can form a compact structure during storage. To even further reduce the size of the device, the legs may be telescopic such that they can be extended during use but collapsed during storage. 
     The container can be coupled to the boom in any suitable manner. For instance, the boom can include structure that allows the container to pivot during transport. The boom could have a U-shaped support rotationally coupled to the frame. The boom may further include multiple attachment points for attaching multiple containers. 
     In yet another embodiment of the invention, the device may include an attachment removably connected to at least one of the legs. The attachment is preferably a collapsible assembly which attaches to at least one of the legs and allows the device to remain upright unassisted. The attachment may further include a swiveling wheel to aid in turning the device. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form a part of the specification, illustrate preferred embodiments of the present invention and, together with the description, disclose the principles of the invention. In the drawings: 
     FIGS.  1 (A) and (B) are perspective views of a device according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIGS.  2 (A) and (B) are side views of the device operating on surfaces having different inclines; 
     FIGS.  3 (A) and (B) are partial views of the device showing a boom in an open and closed position, respectively; 
     FIGS.  4 (A) and  4 (B) are exploded views of a handle neck assembly in a raised and lowered positions, respectively; 
     FIG. 5 is a side perspective view of the upper frame section illustrating the telescoping handle in the collapsed position; 
     FIG. 6 is a rear, cross-sectional view of a portion of the frame illustrating the leg assemblies in an open position; 
     FIG. 7 is a front, cross-sectional view of a portion of the frame illustrating the leg assemblies in a closed position; 
     FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a device having an attachment according to another embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG.  9 (A) is a perspective view of an attachment in an open position; and 
     FIG.  9 (B) is a perspective view of an attachment in a closed position. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Reference will now be made in detail to preferred embodiments of the invention, non-limiting examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. With reference to FIGS.  1 (A) and (B), a device  10  includes a frame  20 , a boom  80  coupled to the frame  20 , and two leg assemblies  50  and  60 . The boom  80  can be connected to the frame  20  in any suitable manner but is preferably mounted so that the boom  80  can pivot relative to the frame  20 . The components forming the device  10 , including the frame  20 , boom  80 , and leg assemblies  50  and  60 , may be constructed from any suitable material, such as aluminum, titanium, other metal, or plastic. The device  10  is used to transport a container  120  that may be coupled to the boom  80 . 
     With reference to FIG.  1 (A), the device  10  in this embodiment of the invention has the container  120  coupled to the boom  80  with a support  88 . The support  88  may comprise a strap that can be tightly securely around the container  120  and is secured to the boom  80  through posts  92 A and  92 B and members  100 A and  100 B. The members  100 A and  100 B are secured to either side of the boom  80  and are secured to the support  88  through the posts  92 A and  92 B, respectively. The posts  92 A and  92 B allow the hook and strap members  100 A and  100 B to move relative to the support  88  in response to movements of the container  120 . Advantageously, when the device  10  is transported over inclined surfaces, the hook and strap members  100 A and  100 B, in cooperation with the posts  92 A and  92 B, allow the container  120  to respond to gravitational forces, whereby the container  120  may remain level during transport. While the hook and strap members  100 A and  100 B are preferably connected to the support  88  with posts  92 A and  92 B, the hook and strap members  100 A and  100 B may be connected in other ways to the support  88  that allow relative movement. Examples of such structure to connect the hook and strap members  100 A and  100 B to the support  88 , include pins, a ring, fasteners, welds, etc. As should be apparent to those skilled in the art, the hook and strap members  100 A and  100 B may themselves be flexible and allow relative movement between the container  120  and the boom  80 , thereby eliminating the need for any intermediate structure. 
     To attach the container  120  to the device, with reference to FIG.  1 (A), the support  88  is positioned around the container  120 . Preferably, the container  120  is positioned on a stable surface while securing the container  120  to the device  10 . After the container  120  is secured, the device  10  may be moved to transport the container  120  to a desired location. During transport, as shown in FIG.  1 (B), a user can grasp the frame  20 , preferably at a handle  40 , and pull or push the device  10  to the desired location. The leg assemblies  50  and  60  have wheels  70  to facilitate movement of the device  10 . 
     FIG.  2 (A) illustrates an enlarged view of the device  10  and the container  120  with the container  120  resting on a surface. FIG.  2 (B) illustrates use of the device  10  on an inclined surface. As shown in this figure, the device  10  facilitates movement of the container  120  and allows the container  120  to respond to gravitational forces so that it can remain level. Consequently, contents of the container  120 , such as liquids or even some solids, can remain within the container  120  and do not spill out while the container  120  is moved to the desired location. 
     In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the container  120  is secured to the boom  80  through a support  88 . The invention is not limited to this particular structure but instead encompasses any type of structure that allows the container  120  to be secured to the boom  80  and which allows the container  120  to move relative to the boom  80  during transport. For example, as shown in FIG.  3 (A), a boom  80 ′ may have a U-shaped support  88 ′, extension member  86 , base  84 , and notches  90 A and  90 B for receiving a portion of the container  120 , such as a handle  130  of the container  120 . The extension member  86  connects and is integrally formed with the base  84  and support  88 . The substantially circular base  84  mounts into a substantially circular cavity in the frame  20  permitting the boom  80  to rotate around the body. The support  88  is preferably U-shaped. In this embodiment, the handle  130  of the bucket  120  is positioned within the notches  90 A and  90 B and is secured to the device  10  without the need for the members  100 A and  100 B and posts  92 A and  92 B. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the size and shape and the U-shaped boom  80 ′ may vary depending upon the size and weight of the container  120 . In other words, container  120  having larger diameters can be secured to the device  10  with larger sized booms  80 ′. 
     With reference to FIG.  3 (B), the U-shaped boom  80 ′ is preferably collapsible about a center portion so that the entire structure can be reduced in size. As will be explained in greater detail below, the device  10  not only allows the container  120  to remain substantially level during transport, but the device  10  can be reduced in size while not in use so as to reduce the amount of space the device  10  consumes in storage. The ability to fold the boom  80 ′ upon itself aids in reducing the amount of storage space required for the device  10 . 
     As mentioned above, the boom  80 ′, as well as boom  80 , preferably can be reduced in size during storage of the device  10 . Other portions of the device  10  can also be repositioned during storage to further reduce the storage space. With reference to FIGS.  4 (A) and  4 (B), the handle  40  can fold upon the frame  20  to reduce the storage space. The handle  40  is secured to the frame  20 , preferably in a threaded relationship, by a neck  34  having a collar  36 . This collar  36  is fastened to the frame  20  but can be released in order to pivot the handle  40  toward the frame  20 . FIG.  4 (A) illustrates the collar  36  released from the frame  20  and raised from the neck  34 . The neck  34  is connected to the frame  20  with a joint  25  which in the preferred embodiment, is formed by a slot  37  in the neck  34  and a pin in the frame  20 . Once the collar  36  is raised, the pin can travel within the slot to allow the handle  40  to pivot toward the frame  20 . In addition to pivoting toward the frame  20 , the handle  40  is preferably telescopic or can have its length reduced in size in other ways. 
     In addition to the handle  40  and the boom  80 , the leg assemblies  50  and  60  also preferably are moveable to reduce storage space. With reference to FIG. 5, an explanation will now be given with respect to a preferred manner in which each leg assembly  50  and  60  can be reduced in size. Since the leg assemblies  50  and  60  are similar in structure, the explanation will focus on just one of the leg assemblies, namely leg assembly  50 . The leg assembly  50  includes a sleeve  52 , a rod  58 , a fastener  54 , and a wheel assembly  70 . The rod  58  is housed within the sleeve  62  and moves telescopically therein. To secure the rod  58  after adjusting it telescopically, the rod  58  has at least one aperture  158  and the sleeve  52  forms a series of apertures  56 A-E. The fastener  54  having two ends includes a chain terminating in a clip attached to one of its ends using any suitable fastener, such as through welding or pins. The fastener  54  is inserted into one of the apertures  56 A- 3  and through the aperture  158  for securing the rod  58 . After insertion, the clip may be clamped to an opposing end of the fastener  54  from the attachment point of the chain. Although one desired embodiment for securing the rod within the sleeve has been described, other structure may be used. As an example, a releasable rod-sleeve arrangement taking the form of the rod  58  having teeth that engage corresponding teeth on the interior of the sleeve  52  could be used. The leg could be secured with a pin that, when released from within an aperture, allows the leg to move but, when inserted into an aperture, prevents any movement of the leg. The wheel assembly  70  may be connected to the rods  58  using any suitable fastener or couples such as rivets, bolts, or welds, such as a spring loaded pin which when depressed releases leg so they can slide in sleeve or release the pin and spring secures the pin and the leg in place. Optionally, a brake  140  and/or lock may be included with the wheel assembly  70 . 
     After the container  120  has been moved into its desired position, the container  120  may be lowered as depicted in FIG.  1 (B), and the container  120  removed from the boom  80  as readily understood by one skilled in the art. The leg assemblies  50  and  60  can be pivotally moved into a closed position as depicted in FIG.  7 . Once the legs are collapsed collar  36 B is uncoupled and moved up the handle  34  as depicted in FIG.  4 (A). Further minimizing the total length. Handle  34  can pivotally move into alignment with leg assemblies  50  and  60 . The leg assemblies  50  and  60  can be moved away from each other during use but can be moved toward each other for storage. The leg assemblies  50  and  60  are therefore pivotally coupled to the frame  20 . FIG. 6 illustrates the leg assemblies  50  and  60  in an open position  150  and FIG. 7 illustrates the leg assemblies  50  and  60  in a closed position. 
     With reference to FIG. 8, a device  10 ′ according to yet another embodiment of the invention may include an attachment  90  to provide support for containers, such as one or more bags  74  and  75 . In this embodiment, the device  10 ′ includes a boom  76  having a base  79 , a neck  78 , and a rod  77 . The attachment  90  fastens to at least one of the leg assemblies, and preferably both of the leg assemblies  50  and  60 . While the attachment  90  can be secured in any suitable manner, the attachment has clips  92  and  93  that fasten to the leg assemblies  50  and  60 . As best seen in FIG.  9 (A), the clips  92  and  93  have straps  94  and  95 , respectively, which can be wrapped around the leg assemblies  50  and  60 . These straps  94  and  95  are not necessary, but do provide for a more secure attachment. The attachment  90  further comprises a swivel wheel  91  to facilitate movement of the device  10 ′ along a surface and also to provide for additional support. The container, such as bags  74  and  75 , may rest upon the attachment  90  and may also, but not necessarily, also be supported by the boom  76 . 
     As with other structure in the device  10 , the attachment  90  is preferably collapsible to reduce storage space. With reference to FIG.  9 (B), the attachment  90  is formed from a plurality of members  90 A to  90 D. Each of the members  90 A to  90 D are interconnected through one of a plurality of hinges  96 A to  96 E. These hinges  96 A to  96 E allowing the attachment  90  to fold into the shape shown in FIG.  9 (B), which is significantly smaller than the fully extended shape shown in FIG.  9 (A). 
     Furthermore, the handle  40  may be adjusted by loosening the collar  36  and sliding the handle  40  within the neck  34 . Once the handle  40  is at a desired position, the collar  36  may be tightened. Furthermore, the rods  58  and  68  within the leg assemblies  50  and  60  may be positioned by sliding within the sleeves  52  and  62 . The rods may be fastened in position by releasing a clip off of the end of the fastener  54  or  64 , removing it from the sleeve  52  or  62 , positioning the rod  58  or  68 , reinserting the fastener  54  or  64  to secure the rod  58  or  68 , and reattaching the clip. After fastening the container  120  to the device  10  and, if desired, adjusting the handle  40  and rods  58  and  68 , the leg assemblies  50  and  60  may be moved pivotally opened to permit the movement of the container  120 , as depicted in FIG.  3 . Alternatively, the attachment  90  may be utilized to allow the device  10  to be self supporting, as depicted in FIG.  8 . 
     The foregoing description of the preferred embodiments of the invention has been presented only for the purpose of illustration and description and is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. 
     The embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain the principles of the invention and their practical application so as to enable others skilled in the art to utilities the invention and various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.