Abstract:
This invention is a special trolley system that attaches to a case or other object needing mobility. The trolley has the capability of having legs integrated into the mechanism, which, when unfolded, allow the case to function as a table. This functionality is particularly useful for applications where technology is being deployed to areas without existing infrastructure, such as telemedicine, military, etc.

Description:
This application claims benefit of Provisional Application 60/177,759 filed Jan. 24, 2000. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention pertains to a wheeled support mechanism that can be attached to a case or mobile system and functions as both a trolley with wheels and as a support system, transforming the case into a standalone table. If needed the trolley part of the invention can be removed from the table component. The trolley component allows the case to be attached easily and stands upright without support with the case attached. 
     2. Background Art 
     Trolley systems for transport of luggage and electrical equipment exist in many forms, but none have the ability to convert easily into a table after transport. Moreover, there are no trolley systems having the ability to clip the trolley on and off the case system without adding a protrusion that increases the depth dimension of the case or mobile system. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, this invention provides a trolley that mounts quickly and easily to the article it is to transport. Once mounted, the trolley is solidly secured to the case, and legs on the trolley system can be extended to make a table. Because the trolley already is secured to the case, no further attachment mechanism is needed to attain the table functionality of the system. The user has no need to worry about losing the trolley or finding storage for it as it remains attached to the case when in the upright table position. The trolley can also be removed from the case and folded flat for stowage. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an apparatus according to this invention, including a trolley, a table frame and legs, and a case for holding the instruments to be deployed in the system; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1, assemble for transport 
     FIG.  3 . Is a perspective view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 in its erected state with the fold out legs in a fully deployed position and the case lid removed for access to the instruments mounted on the case base, as it would be set up for use in the field of office environment; 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 3, but with the case base removed; 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view from the underside of the table frame shown in FIG. 4; 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the table frame shown in FIG. 5, with the pivoting legs attached; 
     FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the table frame and legs shown in FIG. 6, with the trolley attached; and 
     FIG. 8 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the apparatus according to this invention, showing a plate mechanism that holds the mounted case in an upright standing position without any other support. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Turning now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding parts, and more particularly to FIG. 1 thereof, a wheeled support apparatus in accordance with this invention is shown having a trolley  30 , a separable table with folding legs  40 , and a case  50  having a lid  52  and a base  55  that can be securely attached to the table  35 . 
     The apparatus shown in FIG. 1 can be assembled in a secure package as shown in FIG. 2 ready for transport, and when it arrives at its destination it can be rapidly erected for use in the field or elsewhere as shown in FIG. 3, with the lid  52  of the case  50  removed for using the instruments (not shown) attached to the base  55 . The legs  40  can be lengthened to any convenient working height by telescoping leg extensions  42  which can be fixed at the desired height with locking ferrules  43  which securely clamp the legs  40  and leg extensions together until released. This enables the table frame to be elevated to any convenient height within the range of the extendible legs, from sitting height, for use with computing, medical and/or communications equipment, to standing height, for certain optical and photographic instruments. As shown in FIG. 4, the case  50  can also be removed from the erected table/trolley  35 / 30  if desired, leaving the erected table/trolley available for other uses. 
     As shown in FIG. 5, the table  35  includes a table frame  60  made of angle bars  62  welded together in a rectangular frame. The angle bars  62  are arranged to provide a flat upper surface  65 , shown in FIG. 4, and a depending peripheral flange  67 , shown in FIG.  5 . Two ribs  70  are welded to the frame  60  at one end thereof adjacent the outside side edges, and two other ribs  72  are welded to the frame at the other end, laterally offset from the ribs  70  toward the longitudinal centerline of the frame  60 . The legs  40  are pivotally attached to the ribs  70  and  72  by way of slots  75  in the upper ends of the legs and pivot pins  77  which extend through the ends of the legs and the ribs to pivotally pin the legs  40  to the ribs  70  and  72 . This allows the legs to lie parallel to each other and within the confines of the table frame peripheral flange  67 , producing a compact package. 
     The trolley  30  has a trolley body  32  with pair of wheels  78  at one end and a handle  79  at the other end for easily wheeling the trolley and the attached case  50  and table  35  (with legs folded, as shown in FIG. 2) through airports, parking lots and even over rough ground. The trolley  30  is held to the table frame  60  with either thumbscrews or pressure clips, allowing the trolley  30  to snap into position on the table frame. Slots  80  are provided on the ends of the table flange  67  as shown in FIG. 1, or the trolley body could be provided with slots to allow the trolley and table frame to nest securely, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 7. The trolley/frame/legs assembly then connects to the case via two case latches  82  that are attached at the ends of the base of the case  50 . Trolley locking mounts  85  attach to these latches and hold everything together tightly while at the same time allowing a quick release of the case from this trolley in such case in needs to be totally removed. When the case  1  is removed, the frame and the trolley remain together via the thumbscrew connection and clips mentioned above. 
     Some users may want to use these parts separately. For example, they may want to use the trolley without the table and legs. The parts can be easily separated as shown in the exploded view of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 4 shows the invention in a state where the legs are extended. This figure shows the invention without the case  50  attached to give a better view of the construction in an open position ready for deployment to a field or office environment. The frame  67  becomes locked between the trolley and the case when everything is connected. 
     FIG. 3 shows the fully deployed position of the case  50  with the lid  52  removed and the working surface of the base  55  visible where the working components (not shown) of the system would be accessible, i.e. laptop, printer, medical diagnostic equipment. 
     A variation of the invention, shown in FIG. 8, includes a standing support plate  90  attached to the trolley  30  to make the entire assembly self-standing. This plate makes the trolley practical when rolling the case through airports, etc. by giving the entire assembly an ability to stand in a balanced upright position without the need to hold it upright. The plate has several plastic support blocks  92  that are dimensioned to properly support the case  50  in a balanced position. The plastic support blocks  92  are positioned so they don&#39;t obstruct the plate  90  after removal of the case  50  when the plate  90  is rotated upward to a closed position on the trolley. An additional pair of trolley locking mounts  85  are provided on the opposite side of the trolley  30  in this embodiment to secure the case in position over the plate  90  and also to lock the plate  90  in an upright position when closed. The standing support plate is held in place and allowed to rotate by the trolley axle. The case  50  would be removed and repositioned on the other side of the trolley  30  and table frame  60  when erecting the apparatus of this embodiment. 
     Obviously, numerous modifications and variations of the several embodiments described above are possible and will become apparent to those skilled in the art in light of this disclosure. Also, many functions, objects and advantages are described in the preferred embodiments, but in some uses of the invention, not all of these functions, objects and advantages would be needed, desired or attained. Therefore, I contemplate the use of the invention using fewer that the complete set of noted functions and advantages. Moreover, several species and embodiments are disclosed herein, but not all are specifically claimed in species claims, although all are covered by generic claims. Nevertheless, it is my intention that each and every one of these species and embodiments, and the equivalents thereof, be encompassed and protected within the scope of the following claims, and no dedication to the public is intended by virtue of the lack of claims specific to any individual species. Accordingly, it is expressly intended that all the disclosed species and embodiments, and the various modifications and variations, and the equivalents thereof, are to be considered within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims, wherein.