Patent Document

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisional application No. 62/177,666, filed Jul. 6, 2015, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates carriers, and more particularly to collapsible carriers configured to transport a child car seat. 
         [0003]    Currently, families with infants and small children have a need to transport their child, which is usually accomplished with a stroller and a car seat while they are traveling in a motor vehicle. While there are many strollers available, and even those that are configured to accept a car seat, their use is limited to use as a stroller. Similarly, for those that accept a car seat, they are proprietary in that they will only accept a car seat from the stroller manufacturer, while others will only accept a specific car seat model made specifically for the stroller. 
         [0004]    Similarly, while many strollers and carriages are technically collapsible, even in their collapsed state, they require the extensive trunk space that is usually only found in a full sized car or a sport utility vehicle (SUV). 
         [0005]    As can be seen, there is a need for a collapsible stroller that can provide a universal receiver for a child car seat. The stroller should also be collapsible to a compact state that requires only limited storage area and may be readily reconfigured for use as a utility cart. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    In one aspect of the present invention, a collapsible cart, may include: an upright frame having a handle pivotally attached to an upper portion of the upright frame and an axel supporting a pair of ground transport wheels extending through a bottom portion of the upright frame; a base frame having a forward support at a front end of the base frame and an aft end that is pivotally disposed about the axel; and a receiver frame articulately connected to a forward portion of the base frame via a strut and releasably connected at an aft portion of the receiver frame to a cross member positioned at the upper portion of the upright frame. In some embodiments the cart may also include a latch pivotally disposed between opposed sides of the handle, wherein the latch selectably movable to an engaged position to secure the handle in an upright position. The latch may also be movable to a released position to permit the handle to pivot about the upright frame. 
         [0007]    In other embodiments, a coupler plate is attached to an aft end of the receiver frame, and the coupler plate is releasably attached to the cross member via a fastener, which may include a quick release pin. In certain embodiments, an aft frame member extends rearwardly from an upper portion of the upright frame then downwardly and generally parallel to the upright frame a lower angled portion that extends forwardly to rejoin the upright frame at a bottom end thereof. In these embodiments the axel may be received through an aperture extending through the lower angled portion of the aft frame. 
         [0008]    In other aspects of the invention, the receiver frame is configured to removably receive a child carrier. In some instances the child carrier is a car seat. 
         [0009]    In yet other aspects of the invention, a collapsible cart, is configured with an upright frame having an axel extending through a bottom portion of the upright frame. The axel supports a pair of ground transport wheels. A base frame having an aft end that is pivotally disposed about the upright frame; and a receiver frame articulately connected to a forward portion of the base frame via a strut and releasably connected at an aft portion of the receiver frame to a cross member at the upper portion of the upright frame. The cart is configurable as a stroller and the receiver frame is configured to receive an infant car seat. The cart is also configurable as a utility cart. 
         [0010]    These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of the carrier in use with a child car seat. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the carrier in a utility cart configuration. 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a detail perspective view indicated by line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a front perspective view of the carrier in a stowed condition. 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is a side elevation view of the carrier in a collapsed mode. 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  is a rear elevation view of the carrier in a collapsed mode. 
           [0017]      FIGS. 7A-7E  show the steps in unfolding the carrier. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0018]    The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims. 
         [0019]    Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a convertible carrier may be configured for the carriage and transport of a child car seat and reconfigurable for the carriage and transport of shopping items. The convertible carrier is fully collapsible and fits in the back seat of a car (no SUV needed to haul this stroller) and is indispensable for daily quick trips. 
         [0020]    The convertible carrier allows the parent or caregiver to move a child that is safely strapped in their car seat, directly from the car to securing them safely and quickly in the stroller and go. After the child turns a year or 20 lbs and outgrows the stroller you can remove the stroller attachment and use the cart for every day hauling of groceries or a myriad of other items. The configuration of the carrier makes for a universal fit for most car seats and is easily reconfigurable to a multipurpose cart. 
         [0021]    As seen in reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the convertible carrier  10  of the present invention comprises a frame assembly that in one configuration serves as a stroller, with the carrier receiving a child or infant car seat  11 . In other configurations, the carrier serves as a utility cart, for the carriage of shopping, or sundry items. 
         [0022]    The frame assembly includes an upright frame member  24 , a handle  12  that is pivotally attached to the upright frame member at a top portion thereof, and a base frame member pivotally attached to the upright frame member  24  at a bottom portion thereof. A receiver frame  18  is articulately connected to a forward portion of the base member via a strut  16 . A pair of ground wheels  28  are rotationally mounted to the upright frame member  24  for rolling of the carrier along a ground surface. 
         [0023]    The upright frame member  24  is formed in an inverted generally U-shaped configuration having a top end and a bottom end. An aft frame member  14  extends rearwardly from an upper portion of the legs  24  then downwardly and generally parallel to the upright frame member legs  24  and then angles forwardly to rejoin the upright frame member  24  at the bottom end. A lower end portion of the aft frame members  14  have an aperture defined therein to receive an axel  30 , which supports the pair of ground wheels  24 . 
         [0024]    A pin  13  located proximal to a cross member of the upright frame member  24  pivotally attaches a bottom end of the handle  12  such that the handle may be rotated about the pin  13  between an extended position and a stowed position. A latch  34  is pivotally disposed between the opposed sides of the handle  12  at a lower end thereof. The latch  34  may be pivotally moved between a latched position, in which it draws the opposed sides of the handle  24  in abutment with the upright member  24 . The latch may be resiliently snapped around the cross member to retain the handle  12  in the extended position. The bottom ends of the handle  12  may have a forward curvature to provide a clearance for the handle  12  to fully rotate to an upright extended position, in which the handle is substantially parallel to the upright frame member  24 . The latch  34  may be disengaged from the cross member to permit folding of the handle about the pivot  13  to place the handle  12  into a stowed position. Preferably, the handle  12  will have a narrower lateral width than the upright frame  24 , such that it may be nested between the aft frame members  14  for stowage. 
         [0025]    The base frame  26  may be formed from a plurality of elongate tubular members arranged in a spaced apart, substantially parallel configuration. The tubular members of the base frame  26  have an arcuate downwardly turned forward end that are interconnected by a forward support that is positioned such that the base frame is substantially parallel to the ground when the convertible carrier  10  is in a stationary, resting position. An aft end of at least the outer elongate tubular members have an aperture that receive the axel  30  and permit the base frame  26  to pivot about the axel  30  between an extended position and a stowed position. 
         [0026]    As seen in reference to  FIG. 3 , the base frame  26  may also include a base retainer  32  having a curled portion for resilient abutment against the outer elongate tubular members to retain the base member  26  in the extended position. With a sufficient pressure applied to the base frame  26 , the outer elongate tubular members will overcome the resilient abutment of the retainer  32  to permit the base frame  26  to be pivotally rotated about the axel  30  to a stowed position. 
         [0027]    A pivot arm  20  is attached at a forward end of the base frame  26  and interconnects a bottom end of the struts  16  with the base frame  16 . A top end of the struts  16  have an aperture that receives a pivot rod  22  that pivotally interconnects the strut  16  with a forward end of the receiver frame  18 . In some embodiments, the pivot arm  20  may be removably attached to the base frame  26 , in order to facilitate conversion of the cart  10  to a utility cart. Alternatively, the struts  16  may be removably attached to the pivot arm  20 . 
         [0028]    The receiver frame  18  may be formed as a generally U shaped member, with the forward ends of the legs pivotally attached to the struts  16 , as just described. An aft end of the receiver frame  18  has a coupling plate  36  attached to a cross section of the U-shaped receiver frame  18 . The coupling plate  36  is shaped to generally conform to the cross member of the upright frame  24  and a fastener  38 , such as a quick release pin, may be used to secure the receiver frame  18  to the upright frame. The fastener  38  may be readily released in order to reconfigure the receiver frame to a stowed condition. A retaining ring  19  may be provided along intermediate portions of the receiver legs for attachment of various child items or for coupling the child carrier  11  to the carrier  10 , such as via a strap  15  that secures across a front portion of the carrier  11  with a buckle joining free ends of the strap  15 . 
         [0029]    As seen in reference to  FIGS. 4, 5, and 6 , the carrier is shown in a stowed configuration. In further reference to  FIGS. 7A-7E , the reconfiguration of the carrier  10  from its stowed configuration  7 A to a carrier configuration  7 E is illustrated. As an initial step, shown in  FIG. 7B , the base frame  26  is rotated outwardly from the upright frame  24  and the outer elongate members are engaged by the retainers  32  to secure the base frame  26  in the extended position. Next the handle  12  is rotated about the pivots  13  to extend the handle  12  to an upright position. The latch  32  may then be rotated to secure the cross member  25  and retain the handle  12  in the upright position. Next, in reference to  FIG. 7D , the receiver frame  18  is articulately rotated about the pivot arms  20 , pivot rod  22  and struts  16 . Finally, in reference to  FIG. 7E , the receiver frame  18  is positioned so that the coupling plate  36  is aligned with the upright frame  24 . The retaining pin  38  may secure the receiver frame  18  to the upright frame  24 . 
         [0030]    It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

Technology Category: 7