Patent ID: 8596389

Claim:
A motorized cart, comprising: a collapsible frame having front legs, rear legs rotatably connected to the front legs at a point, and a handle; a collapsible storage compartment connected to the frame; at least three wheels connected to the frame, the at least three wheels comprising two rear wheels and at least one front wheel; means for connecting the rear wheels at a rear of the frame for rotating about a single axis; a folding support platform comprising first and second portions hingedly connected to each other, the first portion being rotatably connected at a front of the frame, and the second portion being rotatably connected to the rear of the frame; and a drive compartment housing a battery, a drive controller, and at least one motor electrically connected to the battery and the drive controller for driving at least one of the rear wheels, wherein the drive compartment is positioned on the frame to position the battery, the drive controller, and the motor below and forward of the rear wheel rotation axis when the cart is in an expanded, upright mode, thereby positioning a center of gravity of the cart forward of the rear wheel rotation axis to enhance stability in the expanded, upright mode; wherein the drive compartment is shaped and positioned on the frame to: permit the collapsing of the storage compartment and the frame to a collapsed mode for compact storage of the cart, and to provide clearance for the at least one front wheel during transition between the collapsed mode and the expanded, upright mode; and wherein the drive compartment is positioned on the frame to substantially vertically align the center of gravity of the cart with the rear wheel rotation axis in a tilted mode, in which the cart operates on the two rear wheels.