Abstract:
The disclosed redesigned folding tote includes a release mechanism located on one of the handles to release one or more locking mechanisms located on the platform. One of the locking mechanisms maintains the platform in an open position while another locks the platform into the folded, closed position. When released from the closed position, a spring on the underside of the platform facilitates the opening of the wheel support frame. Slides lock the handles in the desired position relative to one another and are slide along the handles evenly through use of stop members. Rotating spacers protect the tote as it is brought up stairs or curbs.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]    This application is a continuation in part of U.S. Ser. No. 10/315,577 filed Dec. 10, 2002, which is a continuation in part of provisional 60/339,009 filed on Dec. 10, 2001, which are incorporated herein as through recited in full. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0003]    This invention relates to a folding tote with increased stability and a release handle that enables single-handed opening.  
           [0004]    2. Brief Description of the Prior Art  
           [0005]    The present invention relates to an improvement to prior art foldable totes for shopping, of the type having a wheeled framework to which the bottom of the bag is attached. In the prior art, the wheels of the tote are welded to corresponding frameworks, articulated to a resistant base situated beneath the bottom of the bag, the frameworks being folded. In some cases, the bag handle is a double handle, formed by two “U”-tubes being parallelly displaced, which are extended only when the bag is pulled on its fixed wheels and are withdrawn in order to carry the bag hanging on the hand or on the arm of the user. Different types of frameworks allow folding, together with the bag and the wheels, in order to convert the assembly into a bag of reduced size to be carried hanging on the user&#39;s arm until the moment when shopping is done, at which time the wheels are extended and unfolded so that the loaded bag leans on the wheels to make transport easier.  
           [0006]    In U.S. Pat. No. 4,989,889, the prior art discloses a foldable tote for shopping having a wheeled framework to which the bottom of the bag is attached. The framework allows the wheels to be folded under the base, and the bag-framework assembly to be folded on the opposing side of the base. The object of the &#39;889 patent was to provide a foldable shopping tote of the type which can be converted into a bag of reduced size that automatically unfolds the bag and wheels when the frameworks of the tote are extended. To accomplish this, one of the frameworks has been provided with points of junction over the top portion of the bag and the other framework is attached to the resistant plate that supports the bottom of the bag. They are retained in the extended, or unfolded, position until the user “closes” the device. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]    The advantages of the instant disclosure will become more apparent when read with the specification and the drawings, wherein:  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 1 is a side view of one embodiment of the tote in the open position,  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 2 is a side view of the tote of FIG. 1 in the closed position,  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 3 is a back view of the closed tote of FIG. 1;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the support frame for the tote of FIG. 1 in the closed position;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the support frame of FIG. 4 in the open position;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 6 is a cutaway side view of the handle locking system of the preferred embodiment;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 7 is a cutaway front view of the handle release system of the handle of FIG. 6;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 8 is a side view of another embodiment of the disclosed tote with the cover partially open;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 9 is a front view of the cover of the tote;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 10 is a side view of the back wheels of the system;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 11 is a bottom view of the platform in the open position;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 12 is a bottom view of the platform in the first stage of closing with the platform and handle brace on the same plane;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 13 is a bottom view of the platform of FIG. 12 with the support frame in the closed position;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 14 is a bottom view of the platform in the closed position;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the beveled handle lock;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 16 is a side view of the upper handle and the lower handle in the extended position;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 17 is a side view of the upper handle positioned to engage the stop member with the locking slide;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 18 is a side view of the upper handle and engaged locking slide descending;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 19 is a side view of the upper handle and lower handle in the closed position.  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 20 is a partial side view of the open tote;  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 21 is a side view of the folded tote; and  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 22 is a side view of the locking mechanism for maintaining the tote in an open position.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0030]    The disclosed folding tote improves over the prior art designs by enabling single handed opening locking in both the open and closed positions, a single lock release, as well as a larger design and easier loading. Due to these changes, the design and proportioning of the bag, platform and release mechanisms become more exacting.  
         [0031]    In FIG. 1, the tote  10  is illustrated in the upright position with the upper handle  12  being held in the raised position above the lower handle  14  through the use of locking slides  16 . The locking slides  16 , which slide freely along the upper handle  12  and the lower handle  14 , can lock the upper handle  12  in any position convenient to the user, relative to the lower handle  14 , through use of any number of locking mechanisms known in the art. The support frame  32 , works in conjunction with the wheels  34  to maintain the tote  10  in the upright position and prevent tipping. The bag  24  is secured to the upper handle  12  as well as to the base  26  to facilitate opening of the bag  24  simultaneously with the opening of the tote  10 . Preferably the bag  24  is secured in a removable manner to enable the bags  24  to be changed. The bags can be secured to the base  26  through use of hook and loop material, snaps, slides or any equivalent method that enables the bag to be easily removed and reattached. The ability to remove the bag enables the user to replace a bag used for laundry with an insulated bag for shopping. The ability to substitute bags also reduces the cost as the user does not need a frame for each use.  
         [0032]    As seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, when the base  26  is placed in the folded position, the base  26  is placed directly below and on the same plane as the handles  12  and  14 . The front of the bag  24  is thus pulled downward, forcing the bag  24  to lie flat against the handles  12  and  14 .  
         [0033]    The improvements over the prior art on the disclosed device provide an increased ease of operation and usability. The structural changes disclosed herein enable the folding tote to be larger than prior art bags while providing increased functionality. In the prior art device, all opening and closing was done manually. For people with any debilitating medical problem, such arthritis or back injury, or the elderly, the lifting of the tote can present a problem.  
         [0034]    One of the ways the disclosed tote has been made easier to use is by enabling the support frame  32  and wheels  34  to open automatically when the base  26  is unfolded to its usable position of 90 degrees from the handles  12  and  14 . To release the support frame  32  and wheels  34  from their folded position, the lower release button  62  is activated, thereby prompting the support frame  32  into the open position.  
         [0035]    One method of accomplishing this is providing a spring mechanism positioned to interact with the support frames  32 , pushing them into an open position once the restraint is removed. An example of this is shown in the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, wherein the support frames  32  are maintained in the close position through the use of a locking bar  56 . The locking bar  56  is connected to the lower release button  50  through wires within the handle  14 . Recessing the lower handle release  62  pulls the locking bar  56  into a position parallel with the handle  14  while releasing the lower release button  50  permits the locking bar  56  to return to its position at right angles to the handle  14 . To force the support frame  32  into the open position, a spring  57  is placed between the support frames  32  and the base  26 . Once the locking bar  56  is released, the pressure applied by the spring  57  returning to its uncompressed state forces the support frame  32  into the open position. The lower handle release  62  is then released, enabling the locking bar  56  to fall back into its position parallel with the base  26 , as illustrated in FIG. 5. Alternatively, the design can be such that the locking bar remains at a 90 degree angle to the based until the support frame  32  are closed. It should be noted that the spring can be any type applicable, as known in the art, and can be placed on either the front (as illustrated), base or the back of the base  26 , dependent upon manufacturer&#39;s design.  
         [0036]    Although the slide releases can be immovably affixed to the ends of the upper handle and slide only along the lower handle, it is preferable, especially with the larger design of the preferred embodiment illustrated hereinafter, that the slide releases  116 , as seen in FIG. 8, slide along both the upper handle  112  and the lower handle  114 . In order to keep the slide releases  116  moving along the lower handle  114  evenly, the upper handle  112  has a stop member  117 , on the outer side of each of the upper handles  112 . When the upper handle  112  is extended fully, as seen in FIG. 16, the stop member  117  is spaced above the slide release  116 . As the upper handle  112  is pressed downward, the stop member  117  engages the slide release  116  thereby moving the pair of slide releases  116  downward simultaneously at an horizontal, or close to horizontal, level as seen in FIG. 18. The stop member  117  is spaced above the lower end of the upper handle  112  a sufficient distance to enable the upper handle  112  to fully recess into the base or platform  120  prior to the slide release  116  contacting the platform  120  as seen in FIG. 19. The use of the stop member  117  is more critical in the wider design as the width permits greater horizontal play than the narrower designs.  
         [0037]    In the preferred embodiment, the release mechanism  60 , illustrated in FIG. 7, consists of a release bar  62 , interior support  64 , metal brace  66  and brace feet  68 . The folding release mechanism  60  is connected to internal wiring that interacts with the locking systems disclosed herein.  
         [0038]    In an alternate embodiment the locking mechanisms that can be controlled through the use of locking buttons, rather than the slide releases, is the positioning of the handles  314  and  312 , as illustrated in FIG. 6. At one or more locations, depending upon manufacturing preference, there are button locks  325  that interact with exit holes  327  positioned along the lower handle  314 . When the button locks  325  protrude through the exit holes  327  and are aligned with the receiving holes  332  in the upper handle  312 , the upper handle  312  and lower handle  314  are locked into position; releasing when the button locks  325  are withdrawn. To release the button lock  325  from a locked position and move the upper handle  312  either up or down, the release bar  62  is pressed downward forcing the inner support  64  toward the opposing wall. This forces the button retaining member  329  to move to the opposing wall, thereby removing the button lock  325  from the receiving hole  332 .  
         [0039]    The locking mechanism  60  as illustrated in FIG. 7 is placed on the lower handle to release the platform  160  from the open position as illustrated in FIG. 22. The platform  160  has a flange  172  that has a receiving hole  170  to receive the locking button  174  extending from the leg  154 . The locking button  174  is connected to the locking mechanism  60  as noted herein and is withdrawn from the receiving hole  170  upon the application of pressure to the release bar  62 . Once released, the platform  120  is free to rotate to the closed position.  
         [0040]    To provide additional storage and stability, the preferred embodiment of the disclosed tote can have a larger platform  120 , as illustrated in FIG. 8, than prior art totes. In order to accommodate this increased width, the preferred folding release mechanism  60 , n which can be used with either handle, is placed in the lower handle (not shown). The release bar  62  is integral with, or securely connected to, the interior support  64  which has been formed, or molded, around a metal brace  66 . The metal brace  66  ends in brace feet  68  which can be any design compatible with the locking mechanism being used. It should be noted that this handle release design can be used to release any of the locking embodiments disclosed herein, as well as any other locks incorporated in to the tote design. In the preferred embodiment the locking mechanism placed in the lower handle releases both the lock maintaining the platform in the open position as well as the lock maintaining the platform in the closed position. The disclosed folding release mechanism  60  can be used with smaller designs of the disclosed tote, however its criticality comes in when used with the wider handles required on the larger tote design. This strengthened design enables the maximum depression required to operate the wider folding release mechanism  60  with minimum deflection within the handle.  
         [0041]    The use of the metal brace  66  provides the strength and stability required to prevent the interior support  64  from buckling when the release bar  62  is pressed downward. Since there is opposing pressure from the locking mechanism, if the interior support  64  is unable to have sufficient strength to counter that pressure, it will buckle, preventing the release button locks disclosed herein from withdrawing from the receiving holes. Although this added support is not necessary in the smaller totes, the extra width of the preferred embodiment causes buckling when only an interior support is used.  
         [0042]    In embodiments where there is an increase in the dimensions of the tote  100 , a problem is created in that the bag  104  can easily catch during the folding process. To overcome this issue, an elasticized strap  102  is added to each side of the bag  104  to pull the front of the bag  104  toward the handle  106 . This facilitates the folding process by automatically maintaining the front of the bag  104  in a compressed position; eliminating the need to adjust or hold the bag  104  during the folding process. To fully utilize space, the elasticized strap  102  can be the top part of a part of a mesh pocket  108  to enable items to be carried on the side of the bag  104 .  
         [0043]    The dimensioning of the cover  130  also increases in criticality as the overall dimensions increase. In order to permit the tote  100  of FIGS. 20 and 21 to fold, as illustrated heretofore, the cover  130  must have a length equal to, or slightly less than, that of the platform  120  to prevent overhang when the tote  100  is in the folded position. However, there must also be sufficient length to cover the filled bag  104 , as well as maintain the cover  130  in the open position. The cover  130  can be maintained in the open position by either providing sufficient length to extend over the raised handle  112  or through the use of magnets as described in FIG. 9. If the cover  130  is to be placed over the extended handle  112 , there must be sufficient length to place the weight of the cover handle  132  onto the reverse side of the upper, while not interfering with the closing of the tote  100 . To do this, the distance between where the bag  104  is attached to the handle  112  and the top of the handle  112  must be less than the depth D of the platform  120  by the amount of desired overlap of the cover  130 . Weight can be added to the cover  130  when necessary to provide the balance to maintain the cover  130  in the open position. This can be in the form of a handle, weight added directly to the cover open end or other methods known in the art. In the event the dimensions of the tote are such that the cover cannot have sufficient length to fold over the top of the handle, magnets or other securing methods can be used.  
         [0044]    As seen in FIG. 9, hook and loop material strips  140  and  142  are added to the bag  104  with the opposing strip  136  being added to the cover  130 . In this embodiment, an extra front pocket  144  has been added, however, additional pockets of any design can be used, either on the front or back. If the pocket  144  is not used a single strip of hook and loop can be used to secure the cover, however when pockets are used, additional hook and loop material can berequired. The length of the hook and loop material should be sufficient to permit the cover  130  to be secured at several positions, thereby enabling the cover  130  to be secured whether the bag  104  is completely or partially full. Although reference is made to hook and loop material it should be noted that any fastening method, such as weights, buttons, snaps, loops, ties, etc., can be used to secure the cover in a single or multiple position.  
         [0045]    Preferably the cover  130  is secured to the tote bag  104  through use of metal brace  134 . In addition to providing an area through which to secure the cover  130 , the rigid metal brace  134  provides a rigidity for the soft cover  130  unobtainable through directly securing the cover  130  to the handle  122 .  
         [0046]    In the illustrated embodiment, the unsecured end of the cover  130  is covered by a semi-rigid plastic handle  132  to provide structure to the cover  130  as well as a gripping area for the user. It should be noted that the handle can be any size or design convenient for manufacture, provided it does not extend the length of the cover  130  to be greater than the width of the platform  120 .  
         [0047]    As also illustrated in FIG. 9, a magnetic insert  146 , or series of magnets, can be placed within the cover handle  132  to cause the plastic cover handle  132  to magnetically affix to the handle  122 . The handle  122 , if not manufactured from a magnetic material, can be magnetized by inserting a magnet, or magnetic strip, into the handle  122  proximate the area contacted by the cover handle  132 . This is especially important when used in conjunction on the smaller totes to obtain the correct proportions for closing, the cover cannot have a length sufficient to lie over the handle and must rely on the magnetic system to remain open. When incorporating the use of magnets within the tote, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that compatible metals must be used either in the construction of the applicable areas or adhere to the standard materials.  
         [0048]    In order to make carrying the any of the tote embodiments disclosed herein up the stairs easier, at least one pair of rotating spacers  180 , proximate each leg block  176  and illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11, is placed on the platform edge  178  adjacent to each of the leg blocks  176 . Thespacers  180  should extend slightly beyond the leg blocks  176  a sufficient distance to enable the contact to be between the stairs and the spacers  180  rather than the stairs and the leg blocks  176 . Alternatively, a tread similar to that used by a tank, can be used.  
         [0049]    In FIGS. 11-14, the under portion of the platform  120  is shown. In FIG. 11 the tote is illustrated in the locked, in-use position with the support leg  182  in the open position and the platform  120  at right angles to the leg blocks  176 . As noted heretofore, the leg  114  is maintained in the open locked position through use of the locking button  174 . Once the release bar  62  is pressed, moving the locking button  174  toward the opposing wall of the leg  114  and away from the receiving hole  170 , the platform  120  is free to rotate. In FIG. 12 the tote is in the first stage of folding with the leg blocks  176  on the same plane as the platform  120 . In FIG. 13 the support frames  182  have been folded adjacent to the platform  120  and in FIG. 14, the handle braces and handle  114  are folded over the support frame  182  and locked into position. The platform  120  is maintained in the locked position through the interaction of the locking button  174  with the locking bracket  200 .  
         [0050]    Through this design the locking button  174  serves to lock the platform  120  in both the open and closed positions, thereby allowing a single release mechanism  60  to be used for both operations.  
         [0051]    The support leg  182  in FIGS. 11 and 12 has been cut away in order to more clearly illustrate the various components. In FIG. 11 the positioning of the spacer  180  can be seen extending slightly beyond the plane of the leg block  176 . As seen in FIGS. 11 and 12, in order to prevent the leg block  176  from side to side movement and compensate for any manufacturing discrepancies, a friction pad  190  is affixed to the leg  182 . The friction pad  190  can be manufactured from any resilient, semi-rigid material, such as rubber, that will permit a friction fit between the pad  190  and the leg block  176 .  
         [0052]    As seen in FIGS. 12 and 13, the locking button, when the handle  114  is in its folded position as illustrated in FIG. 14, interacts with the locking bracket  200 . The locking bracket  200 , shown in detail in FIG. 15, has a receiving channel  204  which is dimensioned to receive the lock button  174 . The top of the locking bracket  200  is beveled to receive the uncompressed locking button  174  forcing it to compress as it slides along the bracket  200  until it contacts the receiving channel  204 . Once the support frame  182  are closed, as see in FIG. 13, the handle  114  is closed, FIG. 14, with the lock button  174  being held within the receiving channel  204 .  
         [0053]    To open the tote by releasing the locking button  174 , the handle  62  is depressed and the interior locking mechanism forces the locking button  174  into the handle  107 , permitting the platform  120  to drop away from the handle  107 . Since the bag  104  is attached to the handle  106  as well as the platform  120 , as the handle  106  is pulled upward the bag  104  is also pulled, thereby positioning the platform  120  at a 90° to the handles  106  and  107 . The weight of the wheels  116 , as well as the opposing pressure exerted by separating the upper handle  106  and the lower handle  107 , forces the support frame  182  in to the correct position where it is locked in place by the placement of the locking button  174  with the receiving hole  170  within the leg block  176 . It should be noted that the use of the handle  62  to release the locking button  174  in both the open and closed position provides another feature that simplifies use of the device.  
         [0054]    To assist in the automatic opening of the platform  120 , a spring release  220  is positioned to come in contact with the leg regions  114 . The spring release  220  is positioned within a raised carrier  222  that positions the spring release  220  a sufficient distance from the platform  120  be in a compressed state when the tote is closed. Once the locking button is released, the pressure applied by the spring release  220  assists in pushing the handles  106  and  107  away from the platform  120 . Although the spring release  220  is illustrated positioned on the platform, approximately centered between the front and back of the platform any location that contacts the leg regions  114  and/or  112  can be used.  
         [0055]    To increase the rigidity of the platform, ribs  230  can be place diagonally along the comers or any other locations that would provide additional rigidity to the platform.  
         [0056]    Any specific item disclosed herein, such as the stop member to maintain the locking slides horizontal, can be used with any of the disclosed embodiments and the description with a specific embodiment is not intended to limit the scope of the invention.