Abstract:
A combination rolling transport and fold-up seat has a detachable carry bag of waterproof, reinforced fabric, detachable snap-on wheels, and collapsible frame. The frame has a stabilizing element that allows it to stand upright and support either items on the load-bearing transport side or a person seated in the fold-up seat. A carry bag back mounting sheet forms a tube slipped over the main frame member to support the carry bag and act as a back rest for the seat. Pop-off wheels enable the flat folded up frame members to fit into a minimal storage space.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   Not Applicable. 
   STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
   Not Applicable. 
   THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
   Not Applicable. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to two wheeled transport devices and in particular to a combined fold-up two wheeled transport or carrier and seat unit which may be used primarily as a transport for conveying a load, with auxiliary fold-up seating means for enabling a user to rest in a seated position, and a removable storage bag which when removed exposes a fold-up bag-supporting ledge which can them be used as a carrying ledge when used as a transport device. 
   2. Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98 
   During any type of outing including shopping, picnics, beaching, camping, outdoor events, or any other outdoor activity, there are always things to carry, which would best be accomplished by a wheeled carrier. Sometimes the items to be carried are small, such as purchased items, food, towels, blankets or other items, requiring something to put them into for transporting. Other items, such as boxes, coolers, or other large heavy items, require a support to rest the large items on a rolling transporter. Furthermore there is always a need for outdoor seating in the same outdoor situations. A heavy duty rolling transporting means can often be heavy and not versatile enough for all of the tasks at hand. Furthermore, storage of such rolling transporters is also a problem. Prior art devices have not adequately addressed these problems. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 4,846,486, issued Jul. 11, 1989 to Hobson, shows a combined trolley and seat unit that has an inverted U-shape main frame with principal frame side members carrying ground-engaging wheels and having a main frame support rigidly fixed thereto and to a projecting bag support which carries the lower end of a bag the upper end of which is hooked by a pocket over a hook. A folding seat frame having a U-shape leg frame is pivotally carried on the main frame on the side thereof remote from the bag-like container and is movable between a folded position lying substantially parallel to the main frame and an unfolded position in which a front leg frame to which the seat frame is attached contacts the ground and the wheels are spaced from the ground to allow the unit to be used as a seat with no risk of rolling movement. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 5,161,811, issued Nov. 10, 1992 to Cheng, discloses a trolley with a foldable seat assembly. The trolley includes a main frame, a wheel device, a support frame attached to a front side of the main frame, and a foldable seat assembly attached to a rear side of the main frame. When the seat assembly is in an extended status, a second pair of stands secured to a first pair of stands contact the ground with the wheel device to provide a support for a seat device. When the seat assembly is in a folded status, the first and second pairs of stands fold close to the main frame. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 4,824,167, issued Apr. 25, 1989 to King, is for a combination chair and luggage carrier disposable in an unfolded position for use wherein it may function as a conventional chair or fishing chair, and in a folded position for use as a luggage carrier. The device is defined by a pair of U-shaped metal tubular members which are pivotally connected together, with one member having a pair of legs provided with wheels and angled end portions. The end portions engage the ground in the unfolded position and the wheels engage the ground in the folded position. The other member includes a U-shaped portion which functions as a chair back in the unfolded position and a handle in the folded position. A flexible seat with attached storage pocket, fishing pole support bracket and article support rack are also provided. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 5,505,471, issued Apr. 9, 1996 to Cheng, indicates a trolley with retractable wheels and a seat. The trolley comprises a pair of vertical bars, a pair of linking bars, and a wheel assembly operable by the linking bars to pivotally move between an extended and a retracted positions. A movable block slidable on the vertical bars is connected with the linking bars. A positioning plate is fixedly mounted on the movable block and a sliding movement of the movable block relative to the vertical bars is controlled by a biasing unit in cooperation with the positioning plate. A respective compression spring is additionally provided on the vertical bars to facilitate the sliding movement of the movable block when the movable block is released to move. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 5,306,027, issued Apr. 26, 1994 to Cheng, puts forth a trolley with a seat and a retractable wheel assembly. The trolley includes a pair of vertical bars defining a pair of legs at lower ends thereof, a supporting plate attached to the lower ends of the vertical bars for carrying articles, such as a golf bag, a sleeve securely mounted to an upper portion of the vertical bars, a lever pivotally mounted to the sleeve, a bracket member mounted on the vertical bars, a pair of arms extending outward from the bracket member and away from the supporting plate and each has a first end pivotally connected to the bracket member and a second end pivotally connected to a connecting member, a linking bar with first end thereof pivotally connected to the lever and a second end thereof pivotally connected to the connecting member, and a wheel removably attached to each connecting member. When pulling down the lever from a lifted position to a lowered position, the wheels move inward and downward onto the ground for supporting the trolley and the article there-on. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 5,374,073, issued Dec. 20, 1994 to Hung-Hsin, concerns a tractive baggage handcart comprising a travel case, a tractive retractable device on the back of said travel case, a base retractable device on the bottom of said travel case, a tie belt and a foldable chair, wherein the tractive retractable device is provided with telescopic upper, middle and lower retractable pipes for shortening or lengthening the vertical dimension of the handcart. An extensible shelf is slidably mounted on the underside of the base for supporting a second travel case in front of the travel case positioned on the base. The tie belt can be extended around the two travel cases to retain them as a unitary package on the handcart. A foldable chair is provided that consists essentially of a seat platform, a movable frame or bracket, a movable leg, an upper support strut and two lower support struts 
   U.S. Pat. No. 4,290,625, issued Sep. 22, 1981 to Barriere, illustrates a foldable luggage carrying device which has relatively moveable frame members which enable the device to be convertible into multiple positions for different uses. When used as a luggage carrier a second frame member is moved into position as an extension of the first frame member and luggage is carried on a luggage support at the bottom of the first frame member. The second frame member includes a seat unit and seat back so that if desired a user can place a support or prop on the ground so that the second frame member will be perpendicular to the first frame member to form a seat. If it is desired to carry the unit without luggage, the frame elements are moved into an inoperative position such that the support and both frame members are collapsed and locked together. This results in a compact and easy to carry unit. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 5,542,740, issued Aug. 6, 1996 to Chang, is for a chair and hand truck comprising a seat, a cross frame and a back frame with a back cushion, the seat having hangers for pivotal members to combine the cross frame with the seat and a bolt holes for a pivotal member to combine the back frame with the seat in a right angle, the cross frame having a U-shaped rod frame and a rectangular rod frame pivotally combined together like an X, the cross frame possible to become feet of a chair or a pull rod of a hand truck when it is transformed in different ways. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 5,062,650, issued November 1991 to Chang, shows a multi-function chair comprising a fore and a hind leg pivotally combined together and adapted to be altered to become a chair or a light duty truck or to be folded up to become a small dimension for storing away. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 3,930,662, issued Jan. 6, 1976 to Manner, provides a chair and hand truck combination comprising a platform upon which a load may be set and removed, a pair of wheels partially supporting the platform, a back rest extending upwardly from the platform, and a pair of arm rests extending above the platform from the back rest. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 5,669,659, issued Sep. 23, 1997 to Dittmer, claims a platform assembly and wheel assembly for retrofitting a folding chair to form a combination chair and hand truck. The platform assembly is removably attached to the bottom section of the pair of leg members forming the front legs of the folding chair. Similarly, the wheel assembly is removably attached to the bottom section of the pair of load support members forming the back legs of the folding chair. The wheel assembly includes a plurality of brackets for removably attaching the wheel assembly to the pair of upright support members, an axle fixedly attached to the plurality of brackets, and a pair of wheels rotatably connected to opposite ends of the axle. The platform assembly includes a lift member, a transverse platform and a plurality of elongated right and left channels extending vertically from the lift member or clamps for removably attaching the platform assembly to the front legs of the folding chair. When the combination chair and hand truck is folded in an open position, it will function as a chair. When the combination chair and hand truck is folded in a closed position, it will function as a hand truck. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 2,472,407, issued Jun. 7, 1949 to David, describes a folding cart, a main elongated U-shaped back frame having a handle, wheels attached to the lower end portion of said frame, a seat frame of U-shaped form having one end portion pivotally mounted between intermediate portions of the frame members of the first named frame, a third U-shaped leg frame, the arms thereof being rigid and pivotally connected to the free ends of the arms of the second named seat frame, connecting links between and connected with the first and the third one end to the first named frame and at the opposite end to a rod carried by interconnected portions of the second and third named frames. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 3,997,213, issued Dec. 14, 1976 to Smith, claims a collapsible carryall with seat wherein tubular assemblies are interpivotally connected so as to form a stable seat when the assemblies are pivoted into an expanded position but form a wheeled carryall when in the collapsed position. One assembly cooperates with the other assemblies to provide a seat back when in the expanded position and likewise provides a gripping handle for manual movement when the assemblies are in the collapsed position. A second of the assemblies has wheels attached thereto which are pivoted out of engagement with the surface when in the expanded position but pivoted so as to provide wheeled engagement with the surface when the assemblies are interpivotally collapsed. The third assembly cooperates with the wheeled assembly to provide the seating arrangement in the expanded configuration and the carryall portion when in the collapsed configuration. 
   What is needed is a combination rolling transport and seat having a fold-up vertical frame on wheels with fold-up seat on one side and a fold-up protruding bottom support on the other side for receiving alternately large heavy items placed on the bottom support for transport and a removable carrying bag for carrying items with the bag resting on the bottom support and a back wide sleeve hooked over the frame to secure the bag to the frame and to act as a back rest for the fold-up seat, wherein the wheels are large diameter wheels with shock absorbing rubber tires on rims, the wheels being snapped onto the bottom of the frame for transport and snapped off of the frame for storage with the frame folded flat. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   An object of the present invention is to provide a combination rolling transport and seat having a fold-up vertical frame on wheels with fold-up seat on one side and a fold-up protruding bottom support on the other side for receiving alternately large heavy items placed on the bottom support for transport similar to a hand cart or dolly and a removable carrying bag for carrying items placed in the bag with the bag resting on the bottom support and a back wide sleeve hooked over the frame to secure the bag to the frame and to act as a back rest for the fold-up seat, wherein the wheels are large diameter wheels with shock absorbing rubber tires on rims, the wheels being snapped onto the bottom of the frame for transport and snapped off of the frame for storage with the frame folded flat. 
   Another object of the present invention is to provide a combination rolling transport with a fold-up seat that can be easily locked into place with a pivoting hook and protruding means to lock the seat to the frame in the fold-up position for use in transporting items and for storage so that the seat will not fold out by accident during use of the hand transport for other purposes. 
   In brief, the present invention has a plurality of functions including a combined rolling hand transport device with a soft grip shock absorbing handle on a fold-up frame and a fold-up protruding bottom support for carrying items stacked on the bottom support, a fold-up seat on the opposite side of the frame from the bottom support to serve as an outdoor seat, a carrying bag with a carrying handle and stiff internal support frame, the bag alternately carried separately and supported by the bottom support for transporting items stored in the bag, a mounting loop of material on the back of the bag which slides over the upper frame to support the bag in an upright position and serve as a back rest for the fold-up seat, large resilient rubber-like rimmed tires for shock absorption and passage over uneven terrain, which wheels pop off and the bag is removable for storage of the frame folded flat, and a fold-up resting frame angled downwardly from the main frame to rest on the ground so that the device will stand alone in an upright position, the resting frame attached to and supporting the bottom support. 
   The present invention has many uses including wheeling groceries carried in the bag after shopping, wheeling supplies and food for picnics, beaching camping, sports, and other outdoor events, a convenient portable wheeled seat for outdoor events, a hand transport for moving loads with the bag removed, and many other functions. 
   An advantage of the present invention is that it provides a combination rolling transport and fold-up seat with a removable carry bag that, when attached, provides a backrest for the chair. 
   Another advantage of the present invention is that it provides a combination rolling transport and fold-up seat that folds flat to a depth of 4 inches to occupy minimal storage space. 
   An added advantage of the present invention is that it provides a combination rolling transport with a fold-up seat that is easily locked in place in the folded position to prevent accidental unfolding of the seat during transporting and storage usage. 
   An ensuing advantage of the present invention is that it provides a combination rolling transport and portable chair that is lightweight and easy to use. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
     These and other details of the present invention will be described in connection with the accompanying drawings, which are furnished only by way of illustration and not in limitation of the invention, and in which drawings: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the combination rolling transport, separable carry bag, and folding chair device of the present invention showing the seat pivoted down for use and the carry bag in place on the bottom support; 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the device of  FIG. 1  turned around with a full load in the carry bag and the seat down; 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the device of  FIG. 1  showing the seat pivoted up for transport and the carry bag in place on the bottom support; 
       FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view of the device of  FIG. 1  showing the seat pivoted up for transport and the carry bag removed from the frame with boxes loaded onto the bottom support for transport; 
       FIG. 5  is an exploded perspective view of the device of  FIG. 1  showing the seat pivoted up and the bottom support pivoted in so the frame shown in side view is flat for storage with the carry bag and wheels removed from the frame. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   In  FIGS. 1-5 , a combined fold-up rolling transport and seating device  20  comprises a collapsible frame  6  composed of a main frame member  21  with a fold out seat frame member assembly  25  on one side for sitting in a stationary position, as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , and a bottom support frame member  34  and stabilizing frame member  33  for holding the device upright in a stationary position and for supporting the bottom support frame member  34  for transporting loads in a carry bag  23  positioned on the support frame member  34 , as shown in  FIG. 3  or alternately transporting other items, such as boxes  50 A and  50 B, as shown in  FIG. 4 . The frame members pivot together for flat storage with the wheels  30  and carry bag  23  removed, as shown in  FIG. 5 . 
   An inverted square U-shaped main frame member  21  comprises a top horizontal cross bar  8  at least partially covered with a shock absorbing hand grip  22 , two vertical structural elements  9  extending downward from the ends of the horizontal cross bar  8 , and a wheel receiving element  40 , as shown in  FIG. 5 , at the bottom of each of the vertical structural elements  9 . Each of the vertical structural elements  9  has spaced mating holes along the length of each of the vertical structural elements  9  for receiving a series of pivot elements  10  therein. 
   The fold-up seat frame member assembly  25  comprises a square U-shaped horizontal seat frame  26  covered by a fabric  27  and connected by a pivot element  19 A to each of the vertical structural elements  9 , a square U-shaped vertical leg support frame  28  connected by a pair of pivot elements  19 B to a front of the seat frame  26 , and a pair of support frame stabilizing members  29  connected between the vertical elements  9  and the leg support frame  28  by pivot elements. The seat frame member assembly  25  has at least one means, preferably a hook  37  with a handle  39  on the leg support frame  28  that can be removably hooked over a protruding pin  38  on the main frame member  9 , for removably locking the seat frame member assembly  25  to the main frame member  21 , allowing the seat frame member assembly  25  to lock onto the vertical structural element  9  for use in transporting, as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . When not folded flat for transporting items, the seat frame member assembly  25  pivots down from a first side of the main frame member to form a seat for a user in a stationary position, as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
   A fold-up bottom support frame member assembly  7  comprises a square U-shaped horizontal support frame member  34  connected by a pivot element  10  to each of the vertical structural elements  9 , and an inverted square U-shaped angled stabilizing frame member  33  connected by a pivot element  10  to each of the vertical structural elements  9  and connected by retractable pivot elements  10 A to the bottom support frame member  34  to allow both the support frame member  34  and the stabilizing frame member  33  to pivot into alignment with the main frame member  21  for storage and alternately to allow the stabilizing frame member  33  to pivot out at an angle from a second side of the main frame member  21  opposite the seat frame member assembly  25  to support the carry bag  23 , as shown in  FIG. 3 , and without the carry bag alternately support heavy items, such as boxes  50 A and  50 B, as shown in  FIG. 4 , for transport. The stabilizing frame member  33  contacts the ground to stabilize the main frame and allow the main frame to stand in an upright position, as shown in  FIGS. 1-4 , and to support the support frame member  34  when pivoted down from the second side of the main frame  21  into a horizontal orientation to support items placed on the support frame member  34  for transport. A cross support member  17  on the bottom support member  34  gives additional support for items placed on the bottom support member. 
   In a preferred embodiment, all the frame members are fabricated of light weight aluminum tubes with heavy duty construction to support heavy loads, and the frame members pivot into alignment to four inches flat with the wheels removed for compact storage, as shown in  FIG. 5 . 
   A pair of removable wheels  30  each comprises a resilient outer tire portion  31  for absorbing shock. The tire portion is attached to a lightweight structural hub  35  with a mating opening  36  for removably snap fitting on one of the wheel receiving elements  40  as shown in  FIG. 5 , so that the wheels snap on for transport, as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , and snap off for storage with the frame members folded flat, as shown in  FIG. 5 . The pair of removable wheels each has a diameter sufficiently large to facilitate smooth rolling over sidewalk curbs and stairs. A cross support or axle  32  between the two removable wheels  30  adds support and stability to the wheels. in a preferred embodiment, each of the wheels  30  is fabricated of a shock absorbing synthetic rubber tire on a lightweight sturdy rim and hub. 
   A carry bag  23  supported by the bottom support  34 , as shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , transports items stored in the bag with the bag on the bottom support member  34 , and alternately may be carried separately from the collapsible frame, as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . The carry bag  23  has a waterproof outer shell with a large top opening covered by a closable flap  16  to keep items dry while transporting the items. A stiff internal support frame  14 , preferably heavy wire, prevents the carry bag from folding inward, thereby allowing for easy loading and unloading. A top carrying handle  18  allows for using the carry bag separately. A mounting loop  24  of material on the back of the bag slides over the main frame member  21  to support the bag in an upright position and serve as a back rest for the fold-up seat, as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . An internal bottom reinforcement  15  maintains a flat bottom of the bag for resting on the horizontal support frame member  34 . The internal bottom reinforcement  15  is preferably a heavy duty plastic base. In a preferred embodiment, the carry bag also has a wide pocket  13  on the front of bag for carrying small items. 
   In  FIG. 5 , the wheel receiving element  40  at the bottom of each of the vertical structural elements  9  comprises a bottom curved end  11  of each vertical structural element curving out from the first side of the main frame member in the direction of the tilt of the device when transporting items, and a protruding axle element  12  which snap fits into a mating opening  36  in the hub  35  of one of the wheels  30 . When the device is in use as a hand truck, either with the carry bag, or to carry separate items, the main frame member  21  is angled away from the load so that the curve of the bottom curved ends  11  elevates the frame and the load above the wheels  30  allowing the main frame member  21  to clear sidewalk curbs and stairs. 
   In use, the device of the present invention has several functions. The user may operate the device with the carry bag  23  attached, for transporting smaller, loose items within the bag, or alternately without the carry bag, as hand truck for transporting heavy or bulky items such as boxes  50 A and  50 B, shown in  FIG. 4 . The user may also fold down the seat assembly  25  and use the device as a chair, with the sleeve  24  of the carry bag  23  acting as a backrest for the chair. When not in use, the entire assembly can be folded flat for storage, as shown in  FIG. 5 . When used as a chair, the seat assembly  25  is unlocked from the main frame  21  by releasing the hook  37  from the protruding pin  38  on the main frame vertical member  9  and folded down to a horizontal position, allowing the leg assembly  28  to pivot to a perpendicular orientation to the seat. When the seat is locked to the main frame  21  in a vertical position, the device may be used as a rolling transport, by folding the bottom support member  34  out from the main frame so the bottom support member is perpendicular to the main frame, and the stabilizing member is pivoted away from the main frame and locked in place with the retractable pivot elements  10 A to the bottom support frame member  34 . When the stabilizing member is locked in place, the user either loads the device with large items, such as boxes  50 A and  50 B, or slides the carry bag  23  over the main frame  21  to carry smaller, loose items, such as groceries. The user may also be use the carry bag  23  separately by sliding it off the main frame and using the handle  18  to carry it. In order to store the device flat in a very small amount of space, the user will slide the carry bag  23  off the main frame, fold the frame and seat members flat, and snap off the wheels  30 . 
   It is understood that the preceding description is given merely by way of illustration and not in limitation of the invention and that various modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.