Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
MULTI PURPOSE CART ASSEMBLY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a multi purpose frame structure and more
particularly, relates to a multi purpose frame structure which can be utilized
by the
outdoor enthusiast.
Outdoor enthusiasts such as hunters, bird watchers and the like often have
many diverse requirements for equipment. Such equipment might be utilized for
supporting objects, supporting people perched in a tree, etc. Since most
conventional
structures are only designed to serve a single purpose, the user must choose
between
1 o various structures and often is left without the equipment desired for
performing
specific tasks. The problem is compounded by the fact that conventional
structures
are often cumbersome and difficult to transport in the environment typically
encountered by outdoor enthusiasts.
Accordingly, there exists a need for a multi purpose frame assembly which
can be used for a variety of purposes.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a multi purpose frame
assembly that could be used for a variety of purposes.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a mufti purpose
frame
2o assembly which can be readily transformed to an appropriate configuration
for
performing a specific task.
It is a further obj ect of the present invention to provide a mufti purpose
frame
assembly which can be economically manufactured, of a simple structure, and
easy to
use.
According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a multi
purpose frame assembly which comprises a central frame member having first and
second opposed sides and first and second opposed ends, axle mounting means
arranged to mount an axle which extends transversely between the first and
second
sides, a first sub-assembly located at the first end of the central frame
member, the
first sub-assembly comprising a yoke having one end thereof pivotably secured
to the
central frame member, and a second sub-assembly located at the second end of
the
central frame member, the second sub-assembly having one end thereof pivotably
secured with respect to the central frame member.
1 o The mufti purpose frame assembly of the present invention is designed to
be
used for many purposes such as for carrying objects, carrying disabled
persons, acting
as a table, acting as an observation tower perched in a tree, acting as a back
pack, as a
seat, and as a wheeled vehicle. A number of different accessories may be used
with
the mufti purpose frame assembly depending upon the purpose of use.
~ 5 In one aspect of the present invention, the mufti purpose frame assembly
has a
generally rectangular configuration with a plurality of cross members
extending
between the first and second opposed sides.
The means for mounting the axle preferably comprises first and second axle
mounting plates extending downwardly from the first and second opposed sides
with
2o an axle extending between the first and second axle mounting plates. Wheels
are
mounted on either end of the axle.
When used for transporting one or more objects, the mufti purpose frame
assembly may include a caster wheel which is mounted on the yoke. The one end
of
the yoke pivotably secured to the central frame member is preferably secured
thereto
25 at a point spaced inwardly from the first end of the central frame member.
When
utilized with the caster wheel, the yoke may be secured to the central frame
member
to prevent pivotable movement of the yoke.
The yoke may have a first section lying in a first plane and a second shorter
section lying in a second plane angled with respect to the first plane. A
handle
assembly may be provided, the handle assembly having one end thereof connected
to
the second section of the yoke. In one embodiment, the handle assembly may
include
a toothed portion at a distal end thereof for purposes which will be discussed
hereinbelow.
In one embodiment, the central frame member has a pair of mounting bars
1 o extending beyond the second end of the central frame member with the
second sub-
assembly being pivotably mounted to the mounting bars.
Strap means may be provided for securing the second sub-assembly to an
object such as a tree.
The second sub-assembly may conveniently comprise a pair of longitudinally
15 extending tubular elements having a plurality of transversally extending
tubular
elements and with a U-shaped member pivotably secured to the longitudinally
extending tubular elements. In such embodiment, there may be provided a web
extending between a base portion of the U-shaped member and the second sub-
assembly, the web being sized to restrict pivotal movement of the U-shaped
member
2o with respect to the tubular elements to thereby form an arrangement wherein
the web
extends substantially perpendicular to the tubular elements.
There may further be provided an arrangement wherein there are included first
and second U-shaped leg members which extend downwardly from the central frame
member proximate the first and second ends thereof. Even further, there may be
25 provided additional U-shaped leg members for maintaining the central frame
member
at a desired height with respect to one or more accessories as will be
discussed in
greater detail in the description of the preferred embodiments.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Having thus generally described the invention, reference will be made to the
accompanying drawings illustrating an embodiment thereof, in which:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a multi purpose frame according
to the present invention;
Figure 2 is a side elevational view of a mufti purpose frame similar to Figure
1
and incorporating different accessories;
1o Figure 3 is a perspective view illustrating a different use of the mufti
purpose
frame of Figure 1;
Figure 4 is a side elevational view of a portion of the mufti purpose frame of
Figure 3;
Figure 5 is a view taken along the line V-V of Figure 4;
15 Figure 6 is a side elevational view illustrating movement of a platform
which
may be used in conjunction with the mufti purpose frame of the present
invention;
Figure 7 is a top plan view of the platform of Figure 6;
Figure 8 is a side elevational view of a further use of the mufti purpose
platform of the present invention;
2o Figure 9 is a side elevational view of a mufti purpose frame similar to
Figure 8
showing attachment thereof to a bicycle;
Figure 10 is a detail view of a wheel mounting arrangement for the caster
wheel employed in the embodiments of Figures 2 and 8;
Figure 11 is a partial perspective view of a still further embodiment with an
25 accessory therefor and use of the mufti purpose frame of the present
invention;
Figure 12 is a side elevational view illustrating the attachment of the
accessory
of Figure 11 to the mufti purpose frame;
Figure 13 illustrates a modified use of the mufti purpose frame and accessory
of Figure 11;
Figure 14 illustrates the attachment used in the arrangement of Figure 13;
Figure 1 S illustrates a folding mechanism with the attachment of Figure 14;
and
Figure 16 is a detailed exploded view of the attachment.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
1o Refernng to the drawings in greater detail and by reference characters
thereto,
there is illustrated in Figure 1 a mufti purpose frame which includes a main
or central
frame portion generally designated by reference numeral 10.
Central frame portion 10 is of a generally rectangular configuration having a
first side member 12, a second side member 14, first end member 16, and second
end
member 18. Extending between side members 12 and 14 are a plurality of
transversely extending bars 20 (some shown partially cut away).
A yoke generally designated by reference numeral 22 is secured to one of the
transversely extending bars 20 by means of pivotable connections 21. At a
front end
of yoke 22 there is provided a yoke front attachment element 24 consisting of
a pair of
2o side elements 26 and a front cross element 28. Side elements 26, as seen in
Figures 1
and 2, have a portion adjacent front cross element 28 which extends upwardly
to lie in
a plane angled with respect to the horizontal plane.
Located on first and second side members 12 and 14 are a pair of axle
mounting plates 32 and 34 respectively. Mounted on axle mounting plates 32 and
34
is a transversely extending axle 36 for purposes of mounting a pair of wheels
38 (only
5
one shown). Alternatively and as one accessory, the arrangement may include a
ski 40 mounted on a pair of struts 42 which in turn are connected to side
member 14.
A similar arrangement would be provided on the other side of central frame
member 10.
In the illustrated embodiment of Figures 1 and 2, a handle assembly generally
designated by reference numeral 46 is secured to yoke front attachment element
24.
Handle assembly 46 comprises a pair of longitudinally extending bars 48 and
having
an upper distal end 50 with handle member 52 being connected thereto by
suitable
means.
1 o In the illustrated embodiment of Figure 2, there is provided a caster
wheel
assembly generally designated by reference numeral 54 and which will be
discussed
in greater detail hereinbelow.
When used in the position shown in Figures 1 and 2, yoke 22 may be secured
to end member 16 by means of a suitable attachment member 44 (a bolt or
similar).
15 At the rear of central frame member 10 there is provided an auxiliary
platform
generally designated by reference numeral 60 and which includes a pair of side
tubular elements generally designated by reference numeral 64 which are
pivotably
secured to frame members 62 which extend outwardly past end member 18. The
connection is preferably a quick release type. A plurality of transverse tubes
70
2o extend between side tubular elements 64 of platform 60.
Associated with auxiliary platform 60 is a U-shaped member 72 having a pair
of legs the distal ends of which are rotatably mounted on side tubular
elements 64 and
having a base member 76 extending between legs 74. A protective cushioning
material 78 is provided about legs 74 and base 76. A web material is mounted
about
2s base 76 and is secured behind a transversely extending tube 70 extending
between
6
side tubular elements 64. There is also provided a retaining strap 82 for use
with
auxiliary platform 60.
Auxiliary platform 60 may be secured to a vertical support such as a tree T as
is shown in Figures 3 and 7. As illustrated, yoke 22 is rotated such that the
handle
assembly 46 extends downwardly to act as a brace against tree T. Handle member
52
is removed and a gripping member 86 having teeth 88 thereon is designed to
engage
the side of the tree. Auxiliary platform 60 may additionally be secured to the
tree by
means of one or more screws 84. Retaining strap 82 may likewise be secured
about
tree T.
1 o In a further embodiment, and refernng to Figures 11 to 16, central frame
10 is
provided with a pair of U-shaped upper leg assemblies 100 at either end
thereof with
leg assemblies 100 being suitably secured by means of brackets 102. In turn,
there
are provided lower U-shaped leg assemblies 104 secured to upper U-shaped leg
assemblies 100 by means of a suitable bracket 106. A supplementary platform
generally designated by reference numeral 108 and having a tubular frame 109
carrying web 111 is secured to members 62 by means of a plurality of hinge
assemblies 116. Supplementary platform 108 is of a structure similar to that
aforedescribed with respect to central frame 10; there is provided a upper leg
assembly 110 secured by brackets 102 and a lower U-shaped leg assembly 114
2o connected to upper leg assembly 110 by means of brackets 113.
As may be seen in Figures 11 and 13, various combinations are possible with
respect to the use of supplementary platform 108. Thus, in the arrangement
shown in
Figure 11, supplementary platform 108 may form an extension of central frame
member 10 and is located at a height equal thereto. As shown in Figure 13, one
arrangement may be utilized wherein lower leg assemblies 104 may be pivoted
inwardly such that only U-shaped leg assemblies 100 are used for supporting
central
frame member 10. At the same time, lower U-shaped leg assemblies 114 can move
from a retracted position adjacent web 111 to an extended position as shown in
dotted
lines.
Each hinge assembly may, in one embodiment, comprise a pair of hinged
sections 118, 120 secured by a pin 122 which may be retained by a retainer
clip 124.
In the embodiment shown in Figures 14 and 15, hinged movement may occur about
point 128 so as to permit supplementary platform 108 to lie coplanar with
central
frame member 10.
1 o As shown in Figures 8 to 10, the mufti purpose frame assembly may also be
converted to a wheeled vehicle. In the arrangement shown in Figure 8, one or
more
retaining walls 96 are secured to central frame member 10 and the mufti
purpose
frame assembly may then be utilized as a vehicle which can be pulled or
pushed.
In the arrangement of Figure 9, the handle assembly 46 is connected to a
suitable adapter on a bicycle for towing thereby.
As shown in Figure 10, caster wheel mounting member 92 may be mounted in
a bearing 90 with an upper portion having a threaded rod 94.
It will be understood that the above described embodiments are for purposes
of illustration only and that changes and modifications may be made thereto
without
2o departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
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