Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02231939 1998-03-13
PORTABLE STACKABLE WAGON ASSEMBLY
The present invention relates to wagon assemblies, and, more
particularly, to wagon assemblies of the stackable type.
Conventionally, a wagon has a rectangular body with four walls
5 configured to carry items and materials therein. A set of wheels rollingly
support the conventional wagon. A handle is typically provided so that the
wagon can be rolled manually by pulling on the handle. It is also
commonly known to rotatably mount the front wheels on an axle which is
rotatably mounted to bottom of the wagon body. The handle is then
10 mounted to the axle and the wagon can be steered by pulling the handle in a
desired steering direction, thereby rotating the front axle and aligning the
front wheels in that direction. The conventional wagon, however, presents
a number of problems and shortcomings.
Conventional wagons cannot be stacked on top of one another in a
15 nesting relation. Thus, in order to ship conventional wagons, a
manufacturer has two options. First, the manufacturer may ship the
conventional wagons fully assembled. However, shipment of fully
assembled conventional wagons greatly increases the shipping costs.
Second, the conventional wagons may be shipped disassembled. When the
20 conventional wagons are shipped disassembled, however, either the retailer
or the consumer must assemble the individual parts and components of the
wagon. By placing the responsibility on the retailer or consumer to
assemble the conventional wagon, there is a possibility that individual
components or parts may become lost or damaged. Also, shipping the
25 wagons unassembled provides opportunities for individual components to
be lost or broken during the shipping process.
It is known, however, that stacking items on top of one another in a
nesting relation reduces the amount of space needed to store those items.
For example, U.S. Patent Application No. 08/724,688 discloses a hose cart
30 assembly which is constructed to be stacked in a nesting relation with other
hose cart assemblies. By stacking wagons on top of one another, the
wagons can be shipped fully assembled at less cost than if they were
CA 02231939 1998-03-13
shipped individually. Also, shipping the wagons fully assembled obviates
the problems associated with having the consumer or the retailer assemble
the wagons themselves.
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a wagon
5 assembly which can be stacked in a nesting relation with other wagon
assemblies. The present invention is a wagon assembly for use in
gardening and lawn care comprising a wagon body structure constructed
and arranged to provide a main compartment. The main compartment is
constructed and arranged to accommodate the carriage of items and
10 materials used in gardening and lawn care.
A handle structure is pivotally connected to a forward end of the
wagon body structure such that the handle structure can be moved between
a stacking position wherein the handle structure extends rearwardly with
respect to the wagon body structure and a range of operating positions
15 wherein the handle structure extends forwardly with respect to the wagon
body structure. Wheel structures are rotatably connected to the wagon body
structure. The wheel structures are constructed and arranged to enable the
wagon assembly to be rolled manually by exerting force on the handle
structure in the operating positions.
Upwardly facing- supporting surfaces are constructed and arranged
to support a first similar wagon assembly aligned above the wagon
assembly in a stable stacking and nesting relation, with the handle structure
of the wagon assembly in the stacking position and disposed between the
wagon body structure of the wagon assembly and a wagon body structure of
the first similar wagon assembly, such that portions of wheel structures of
the first similar wagon assembly are disposed between upper peripheral
edges of the wagon body structure. Downwardly facing stacking surfaces
are constructed and arranged to engage upwardly facing supporting surfaces
of a second similar wagon assembly such that portions of the wheel
structures of the wagon assembly are disposed below upper peripheral
edges of the second similar wagon assembly when the wagon assembly is
aligned above the second similar wagon assembly in a stable stacking and
nesting relation.
CA 02231939 1998-03-13
Conventional wagons also fail to provide an adequate surface on
which gardeners can arrange certain items and materials during gardening
and lawn care. Typically, a gardener must take the items he or she wishes
to use from the wagon and lay them out on the ground. This provides a
S greater opportunity for the gardener to lose those items placed on the
ground and for dirt and other debris to collect on these items.
Accordingly, it is also an object of the present invention to provide a
wagon assembly having a working surface which allows a user to arrange
items and materials used in gardening and lawn care on the working
l O surface. This objective is achieved by providing a wagon assembly for use
in gardening and lawn care comprising a wagon body structure constructed
and arranged to provide a main compartment. The main compartment is
constructed and arranged to accommodate the carriage of items and
materials used in gardening and lawn care. A handle structure has a pair of
15 generally opposed surfaces. The handle structure is constructed and
arranged to be moved between a working position and a range of operating
positions wherein the handle structure extends forwardly with respect to the
wagon body structure.
- Wheel structures are rotatably connected to the wagon body
20 structure. The wheel structures are constructed and arranged to enable the
wagon assembly to be rolled manually by exerting force upon the handle
structure in the operating positions.
The wagon body structure is constructed and arranged (1) to engage
a ground surface and support the wagon body structure in an upright
25 position with one or more of the wheel structures out of engagement with
the ground surface and (2) to support the handle structure generally parallel
to the ground surface in the working position such that one of the pair of
generally opposed surfaces faces generally upwardly. The upwardly facing
surface of the handle structure provides a working surface which is
30 constructed and arranged to support items used in gardening and lawn care
when said handle is in the working position, thereby facilitating gardening
and lawn care activity by allowing the user of the wagon assembly to
arrange certain items and materials used in gardening and lawn care on the
CA 02231939 1998-03-13
working surface.
The object of providing a wagon with an adequate surface on which
items and materials can be arranged is also accomplished by providing a
wagon assembly for use in gardening and lawn care comprising a wagon
S body structure constructed and arranged to provide a main compartment.
The main compartment is constructed and arranged to accommodate the
carriage of items and materials used in gardening and lawn care. A handle
structure has a pair of generally opposed surfaces. The handle structure is
connected to a front end of the wagon body structure such that the handle
10 structure can be moved between a work station position, wherein the handle
structure extends rearwardly with respect to the wagon body structure, and a
range of operating positions, wherein the handle structure extends
forwardly with respect to the wagon body structure.
Wheel structures are rotatably connected to the wagon body
15 structure and are constructed and arranged to enable the wagon assembly to
be rolled manually by exerting force on the handle structure in the operating
positions. The wagon body structure includes upwardly facing handle
supporting surfaces constructed and arranged to support the handle
structure in the work station position such that the handle structure extends
20 rearwardly with respect to the wagon body structure and one of the pair of
generally opposed surfaces faces generally upwardly with respect to the
wagon body structure. The upwardly facing surface provides a work station
surface which is constructed and arranged to support items used in
gardening and lawn care when the handle structure is in the work station
25 position, thereby facilitating gardening and lawn care activities by allowinga user of the wagon assembly to arrange certain items and materials used in
gardening and lawn care on the work station surface.
There is also a lack of conventional wagons which provide extra
storage in addition to the storage provided by the wagon body itself. In the
30 conventional wagon, all the items and materials must be carried in one main
compartment. In certain situations, it is not desirable to carry certain items
and materials together in the same compartment. A wagon having such
additional storage compartments allows certain items and materials using
CA 02231939 1998-03-13
gardening and lawn care to be carried separately from the items and
materials carried in the main compartment and allows access to those items
and material carried therein.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a
5 wagon assembly having storage compartments in addition to a main
compartment. This object is accomplished by providing a wagon assembly
for use in gardening and lawn care comprising a wagon body structure
constructed and arranged to provide a main compartment. The main
compartment is constructed and arranged to accommodate the carriage of
10 items and materials used in gardening and lawn care. Wheel structures are
rotatably connected to the wagon body structure. The wheel structures are
constructed and arranged to rollingly support the wagon assembly.
A handle structure is constructed and arranged such that the wagon
assembly can be rolled manually by exerting force on the handle structure.
15 The wagon body structure is constructed and arranged to provide one or
more storage compartments. The one or more storage compartments are
constructed and arranged to accommodate the carriage of items and
materials used in gardening and lawn care, thereby allowing certain items
and materials to be carried separately from the items and materials carried
20 in the main compartment and allowing access to those certain items and
materials.
Typically, in the conventional wagon the handle is allowed to fall to
the ground when the user releases it. In order to grasp the handle and pull
the wagon, the user must bend down to the ground and grab the handle.
25 When using a wagon over a long period of time, it may be necessary to
repeatedly bend down to the ground and grab the handle to move the
wagon. This repeated bending tends to cause back pain in certain
individuals. Also, some individuals may have certain physical problems,
such as a knee injury, for example, which makes such repeated bending
30 uncomfortable.
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a wagon
assembly which obviates the need for the user to reach to the ground in
CA 02231939 1998-03-13
order to grasp the handle of the wagon. This object is achieved by
providing a wagon assembly for use in gardening and lawn care comprising
a wagon body structure constructed and arranged to provide a main
compartment. The main compartment is constructed and arranged to
S accommodate the carriage of items and materials used in gardening and
lawn care. Wheel structures are rotatably connected to the wagon body
structure. The wheel structures are constructed and arranged rollingly
support the wagon assembly. The handle structure is constructed and
arranged such that the wagon assembly can be rolled manually by exerting
10 force on the handle structure.
A stopping element is constructed and arranged to yieldingly
support the handle structure such that (1) the stopping element maintains
the handle structure at a stopped position extending forwardly with respect
to the wagon body structure and spaced in relation to a ground surface on
15 which the wagon assembly is disposed, thereby facilitating grasping of the
handle structure by allowing a user of the assembly to grasp the handle
structure without reaching down to the ground surface, and (2) the handle
structure can be pivoted downwardly past the stopped position by exerting
force in a downward direction on the handle structure sufficient to cause the
20 stopping element to yield and allow the handle structure to move
downward.
In the conventional wagon, items and materials carried in the wagon
body are removed by reaching into the wagon body and lifting the items and
materials therefrom. This arrangement requires a user of the conventional
25 wagon to bend over and lift those items and materials. The causes the user
to expend unnecessary effort and, in cases where the items and materials
carried in the main compartment are heavy, expose himself to injury.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a wagon
assembly which obviates these problems by providing an easier way to
30 remove items and materials stored in a main compartment of a wagon body.
This object is accomplished by providing a wagon assembly for use in
gardening a~nd lawn care comprising a wagon body structure constructed
and arranged to provide a main compartment. The main compartment is
CA 02231939 1998-03-13
constructed and arranged to accommodate the carriage of items and
materials used in gardening and lawn care. Wheel structures are rotatably
connected to the wagon body structure. The wheel structures are
constructed and arranged to rollingly support the wagon assembly.
A handle structure is constructed and arranged such that the wagon
assembly can be rolled manually by exerting force on the handle structure.
The wagon body structure includes an opening constructed and arranged to
permit items and materials used in gardening and lawn care carried in the
main compartment to be removed therefrom through the opening. The
wagon body structure includes a panel member constructed and arranged
such that the panel member can be retained in the opening in an engaged
relation, thereby preventing the items and materials carried in the main
compartment from passing through the opening, and the panel member can
be moved from the opening to permit items used in gardening and lawn
care carried in the main compartment to be removed through the opening.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a right front perspective view of a wagon assembly
embodying the principles of the present invention showing the assembly
prepared for transport with the handle structure in an operating position .
FIG. 2 is a left rear perspective view of the wagon assembly showing
the handle structure in a work station or stacking position.
FIG. 3 is a right side elevational view of the wagon assembly
showing the wagon assembly in an upright position with the handle structure
in a working position.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the wagon assembly configured for
compact storage with a rear surface of the wagon assembly in contact with the
ground.
FIG. 5 is a left rear perspective view of the wagon assembly
embodying the principles of the present invention, showing the assembly with
CA 02231939 1998-03-13
the handle structure in the operating position.
FIG. 6 is a right rear perspective view of the wagon assembly
showing an exploded view of a panel member and a lid of a storage
compartment in an opened position.
S FIG. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of a front portion of the
wagon assembly illustrating a stopping element in the form of a secondary
handle structure.
FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the wagon assembly with the handle
structure in the operating position.
FIG. 9 is a bottom plan view of the wagon assembly with the handle
structure in the operating position.
FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the wagon assembly taken along
line X-X of FIG. 8.
FIG. 11 depicts several wagon assemblies with the handle structures
of each in the stacking position stacked upon one another in a nesting
relation.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring more particularly to the drawings, a wagon assembly
embodying the principles of the present invention, generally designated 10, is
shown in FIGS. 1-1 1 and generally includes a wagon body structure,
generally designated 12, and a handle structure, generally indicated by
reference numeral 14. The body structure 12 of the wagon assembly 10 is
constructed and arranged to be stacked on top of an identical or similar
wagon assembly body structure. The body structure 12 of the wagon
assembly 10 is also constructed and arranged to receive a second wagon
assembly stacked on top thereof so that a plurality of similar wagon
assemblies 10 can be easily stacked. Referring to FIG. 1, it is seen that the
major components of the wagon assembly 10 are the wagon body structure
12, the handle member or structure 14, a removable panel member 16, a pair
of rotatable front wheel structures 18, in the form of caster wheel assemblies,
CA 02231939 1998-03-13
and a pair of rotatable rear wheel structures 22.
Referring to FIG. 2, the handle member 14 has a pair of generally
opposed surfaces 1 Sa, 1 Sb and is pivotally connected to the wagon body
structure 12 for pivotal movement about a transverse horizontal axis at the
S forward end of the wagon body structure 12. The handle member 14 can be
pivoted from a fold down seat position (also referred to as a stacking or work
station position), shown in FIG. 2, through a range of operating positions, to
an upright working position, shown in FIG. 3. When the handle member 14
is in the fold-down seat position, shown in FIG. 2, the handle member 14
lO extends rearwardly with respect to the wagon body structure 12 and is
essentially horizontal. In this fold-down seat position, the handle member 14
is supported on a pair of upwardly facing handle supporting surfaces in the
form of parallel ledges 30 formed along a partitioned upper portion 32 of the
body structure 12.
When in the upright work position, the wagon assembly 10 is
positioned in an upright position and is supported on its rear end surface 34.
In this position, the handle member 14 is pivoted from the fold-down seat
position until it is essentially parallel to the ground, and is supported by a
front end surface 36 of the wagon body structure 12. As can be seen clearly
from Fig. 3, the handle structure 14 provides an upwardly facing working
surface, in the form of surface 15a, which allows a user of the wagon
assembly to arrange certain items and materials used in gardening and lawn
care thereon.
Each of the front wheel structures 18 is held rotatably on separate
independent axles 40, 42. The individual axles 40, 42 operate independently
and permit omni-directional or three hundred and sixty degree rotation of
each front wheel structure 18 on the plane of contact with the ground surface
38. An upper end of each front axle 40 or 42 is rotatably secured to the
partitioned portion 32 of the wagon body structure 12 with a locking cap 50.
A washer element 44 mounted on each front axle 40, 42 maintains the proper
vertical position and attitude of each axle 40, 42 with respect to the wagon
body structure 12. This configuration for attaching the front wheel structures
18 is commonly known as a caster wheel assembly.
CA 02231939 1998-03-13
F~G. 2 shows that the partitioned upper portion 32 includes a plurality
of essentially rectangular storage compartments of various sizes and depths, a
plurality of essentially rectangular trays of various sizes, and a plurality of
well structures with open tops. Some wells and compartments are provided
S with perforations 33 which are best seen in FIGS. 8 and 9 which function as
drainage holes therefor. These structures are molded into the partitioned
upper portion 32 of the wagon body structure 12. The partitioned upper
portion 32 also includes a main compartment or deep central compartment 52
that extends from the removable panel member 16 at a rear end 53 of the
10 wagon body structure 12 to a shallow front tray 54 that extends transversely
across a portion of the front end of the wagon body structure 12.
A compartment 56 with a hinged lid or cover element 58 is integrally
formed in a central portion of the left side of the partitioned upper portion 32,
and a deep partitioned open compartment 60 is formed in a central portion of
15 the right side. An open well 62 is formed at each front corner of the
partitioned upper portion 32 of the wagon body structure 12 on either side of
the shallow front tray 54. An open well 64 is also located at both rear corners
of the partitioned upper portion 32 of the wagon body structure 12 on either
side of the deep central compartment 52 that runs longitudinally along the
20 center of the wagon body structure 12.
The pivotable cover element 58 of the storage compartment 56 is held
in a closed position by a snap catch 66 at a center front portion thereof. The
cover element 58 opens and closes by pivoting about a pair of elongated
cylindrical hinge elements 68 each of which is supported on each end thereof
25 by a planar end member 75 integrally molded in a portion of the wagon body
structure 12. A pair of opposing arcuate structures 70 integrally molded on
an outer surface of a rear portion of each side of the cover element 58 snap
onto each hinge element 68 to pivotally secure the cover element 58 thereto.
The cover element 58 is easily disengaged from the hinge elements 68 by
30 rotating the cover element 58 rearward about the hinge elements 68 slightly
past the point at which the cover element 58 is perpendicular to the
horizontal plane of the wagon body structure 12. The outward force on the
pair of hinge elements 68 in the cover element 58 causes the hinge elements
68 to snap away from the opposing arcuate structures 70, thereby completely
CA 02231939 1998-03-13
- disengaging the cover element 58 from the compartment 56.
The partitioned open compartment 60 in the central portion of the
right side of the partitioned upper portion 32 is a deep, rectangular
compartment subdivided into four small, longitudinally aligned, open wells
5 71 by molded-plastic, vertical partition elements 72 rising from the bottom ofthe partitioned open compartment 60 to a height of less than one-half the
depth of the partitioned open compartment 60. The configuration of the
partitioned open compartment 60 can accommodate a variety of items of
different sizes and shapes, particularly those used in gardening and lawn care.
Two pairs of stake pocket elements 73 at the front and rear,
respectively, of the partitioned upper portion 32 provide structure for an
optional stake bed in the partitioned upper portion 32 to allow for a larger
- functional area in the wagon body structure 12.
A pair of tool clip elements 74 are attached to the left side of the
15 wagon body structure 12 to detachably hold tools with larger diameter
handles such as rakes, hoes, edgers, etc. for transport or storage. The tool clip
elements 74 are constructed in accordance with the teachings of commonly
owned US Patent Application No. 08/584,208, the disclosure of which is
hereby incorporated by reference into the present specif1cation. The tool clip
20 elements 74 accomplish the attaching function by utilizing a snap-in action.
Raised emblems 76 are molded into an upwardly facing portion of the left
side of the wagon body structure 12 to indicate the position of the clips.
A second pair of tool clip elements 78, similar to the pair of tool clip
elements 74, are attached to the right side of the wagon body structure 12 to
25 detachably hold tools with smaller handles for transport or storage. The pairof tool clip elements 78 also accomplish the attaching function by utilizing a
snap-in action. Raised emblems 80 are molded into an upwardly facing
portion of the right side of the wagon body structure 12 to indicate the
position of the clips.
The handle member 14 is a single molded piece with a transverse
element 82 at the top that includes a cylindrical grip portion 84 and a pair of
extension elements 86 at the bottom. FIGS. l, 2 and 3 show that the handle
11
CA 02231939 1998-03-13
member 14 assumes various positions with respect to the wagon body
structure 12 including the fold-down seat position, shown in F~G. 2, and the
working position, shown in FIG. 3. As shown in FIG. 9, the handle member
14 is connected to the wagon body structure 12 by a pivot rod 88 which is
5 secured to the body structure 12 with a pair of attaching elements 90 and
suitable attaching hardware structures 92. The cylindrical grip 84 has a
grooved gripping surface 94 that includes a plurality of equally spaced
longitudinally extending grooves running parallel to the transverse element
82 and a plurality of equally spaced arcuate grooves extending
10 circumferentially around the transverse element 82. There are two open areas
formed in the handle member 14. An open area 96 is formed at the top of the
handle member 14 and an open area 98 is formed at the bottom. The open
area 96 at the top of the handle member 14 allows complete circumferential
contact when manually grasping the cylindrical grip 84.
The recessed portion or open area 98 at the bottom of the handle
member 14 enables the handle member 14 to rotate past a secondary handle
structure or fixed molded body handle element 100 integrally formed on a
front end portion 102 of the wagon body structure 12. As best shown in F~IG.
7, a plurality of raised surface areas 106 integrally formed along a bottom
surface 104 of the handle member 14 extend into the open area 98. The
molded body handle element 100 includes a pulling grip 108 that attaches to
the body handle element 100 with any suitable type of attaching hardware 110
(see FIG. 9). The pivot rod 88, the two attaching members 90, and the
suitable attaching hardware 92 cooperate to rotatably secure the handle
member 14 to the wagon body structure 12.
An upper portion of the pulling grip 108 surface is also shaped to
include a pair of raised surface areas 112. The pair of raised surface areas
112 on the pulling grip 108 are positioned to make contact with the pair of
raised surface areas 106 on the handle member 14 as the handle member 14
pivots about the pivot rod 88. The pair of raised surface areas 106 on the
handle member 14 make contact with the pair of raised surface areas 112 on
the pulling grip 108 and resists the further rotation of the handle member 14
at one point in the rotation thereof about the pivot rod 88. Thus, the body
handle element or secondary handle structure 100 acts as a stopping element
12
CA 02231939 1998-03-13
which yieldingly supports the handle structure at a stopped position extending
forwardly with respect to the wagon body structure 12 and spaced above the
ground.
As shown in FIG. 6, the removable panel member 16 at a rear end 114
S of the wagon body structure 12 is guided into proper placement in a
channeled rear opening 116 in the wagon body structure 12 by a pair of guide
tracks 118 molded into the rear end 114 of the wagon body structure 12. The
guide tracks 118 on each side of the channeled rear opening 116 each receive
an extended guiding element 120 integrally formed on opposite sides of the
10 removable panel member 16 to hold the panel member 16 in place to form a
rear wall of the main cornpartment 52. Two cylindrical position pin elements
122 on the bottom of the panel member 16 seat the panel member 16 in the
proper position by engaging with a pair of positioning holes 124 at the bottom
of the rear end 114 of the wagon body structure 12. It can be clearly seen
15 from the drawings that removal of the panel member 16 allows one to easily
remove items and materials used in gardening and lawn care through the
opening 116.
The pair of rotating front wheel structures 18 are made of molded
plastic and define a bore which extends partially through the center of each
20 allowing them to be rotatably mounted upon individual axles 40, 42. The
pair of rotating front wheel structures 18 are essentially annular molded
plastic members, smaller than the pair of rotating rear wheel structures 22,
and are preferably molded in a color contrasting to the molded natural colors
of the wagon body structure 12 and the handle member 14.
The pair of rotating rear wheel structures 22 are made of molded
plastic and each defines a central bore allowing them to be rotatably mounted
upon a shaft 126, beneath the underside surface 48 of the wagon body
structure 12. The rotating rear wheel structures 22 are retained on the shaft
126 by a pair of suitable rear end caps 128 (see FIG. S) that attach to the endsof the shaft 126. The pair of rotating rear wheel structures 22 are also
essentially annular molded plastic members and are preferably molded in a
color contrasting to the molded natural colors of the wagon body structure 12
and the handle member 14. FIG. 9 shows that the shaft 126 is rotatably held
CA 02231939 1998-03-13
on the underside surface 48 of the body structure 12 by a pair of outer
retaining elements 130 and a pair of inner retaining elements 132. Proper
positioning of rear wheel structures 22 with respect to the body structure 12 ismaintained by a pair of spacer elements 134 each of which is positioned
5 adjacent a protruding inner hub structure 135 on each rear wheel structure 22. The cross-sectional view of FIG. 10 shows details of the stake pocket
elements 73 and the structural reinforcing elements 138. These structural
reinforcing elements provide strength and stability between the main central
compartment 52 and the deep partitioned open compartments 60.
Although the handle member 14 can be rotated approximately 270
degrees from the fold-down seat position, shown in FIG. 2, to the working
position, shown in FIG. 3, the handle member 14 functions mainly in three
specific operating positions depending upon whether the wagon assembly 10
is being used as a seat, as a wagon or as a work station. When the wagon
15 assembly 10 is being used as a seat or when it is being stored or stacked, the
handle member 14 is folded down into the wagon body structure 12 as shown
in FIG. 2. When functioning as a seat, the four wheel structures 18 and 22
rollingly engage the ground surface 38 and the user can sit on the central
portion of the handle member 14 and use his or her legs to roll the wagon
assembly 10 along the ground 38. When the handle 14 is in the fold-down
position, the user has access to the compartments and wells in the partitioned
upper portion 32. It can also be seen that in this fold-down position, the
handle member 14 can also be used as a work station surface which allows a
user to arrange items and materials used in gardening and lawn care thereon.
The wagon assembly 10 can also be stacked in a nesting relation with
other wagon assemblies when the handle is in the fold-down (or stacking)
position, as shown in FIG. 11, or stored in an upright nonrolling position, as
shown in F~G. 4. Referring to F~G. 11, multiple wagon assemblies 10 can be
stacked in a nested relation on a pallet 140 for shipment from the
manufacturer to the seller. This stacked and nested relationship enables the
wagon assembly 10 to be sold fully assembled, while enabling storage and
inventory aspects for both the manufacture and seller to be manageable and
cost effective. The stack can be banded or tied together to facilitate storage
and transportation of the wagon assemblies 10 at the manufacturing location
14
CA 02231939 1998-03-13
as well as the location of sales. To stack the wagon assemblies, the handle
member 14 is pivoted down to the fold-down or stacking position to rest on
the pair of parallel ledges 30 on the wagon body structure 12. Then, a first
wagon assembly 10 is placed on top of a second wagon assembly 10 so that
the front wheel structures 18 of the first assembly partially enter the open
wells 62 of the second assembly 10, the rear wheel structures 22 of the first
assembly partially enter the open wells 64 of the second assembly, and the
downwardly facing stacking or underside surface 48 of the first assembly
rests upon the upper surface-15b of the handle member 14 of the second
10 assembly. The upper surface of the handle structure 14 and upper surfaces of
the upper peripheral edges of the wagon body structure 12 and the open wells
62, 64 provide upwardly facing supporting surfaces which support a similar
wagon assembly stacked thereon. Also, the bottom surfaces of the wagon
body structure 12 and the lowermost portions of the wheel structures 18, 22
15 define downwardly facing stacking surfaces.
The second operating position of the handle member 14 is shown in
F~IGS. 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 and is called the forward extended position, the
transport position, or the operating position. When the handle member 14 is
disposed in this position, the four wheel structures 18 and 22 are in rolling
20 engagement with the ground or support surface 38 and the grip 84 on the
transverse element 82 is elevated higher above the ground 38. In this
position, the handle member 14 extends angularly upward from the wagon
body structure 12 and forms an acute angle with the ground 38. The handle
member 14 is maintained in this angled forward extended position by the
25 contact between the raised surface areas 106 on the handle member 14 and
the raised surfaces 112 on the grip 108. The weight of the handle member 14
is insufficient to overcome the contact resistance offered by the raised
surfaces 106 and 112 so that the grip 84 is conveniently elevated above the
ground for the user to grasp without bending over. In this position, the wagon
30 assembly 10 can be used as a wagon to carry tools, equipment, plants or many
other items. The user can push/pull the wagon assembly 10 in any direction
because of the omni-directional front wheels 18. The user can also freely lift
the handle structure 14 to elevate the grip structure 84 to accommodate tall
users because this upward movement rotates the handle structure 14 away
CA 02231939 1998-03-13
from the direction of contact of the surfaces 106 and 112. The wagon
assembly can be easily moved or towed using the molded body handle
element 100 as well. If sufficient downward force is applied to the handle
member 14, the raised surface areas 106 on the handle member 14 and the
S raised surface areas 112 on the grip 108 can move past one another because
both the raised surface areas 106 on the handle member 14 and the raised
surface areas 112 on the grip 108 are preferably formed of a resilient
deformable elastic material that returns to their original shapes after being
depressed. By lowering the handle member 14, it can accommodate children
10 or shorter adults.
The removable panel member 16 can be disposed in an engaged
relation with opening 116 formed in the rear end 114 of the wagon body
structure 12, or removed therefrom. The removable panel member 16 can be
fixed in place during loading and transport operations, and removed to
facilitate unloading operations. The main compartment 52 can be easily
emptied by manually grasping the secondary handle structure 100 and lifting
the wagon assembly 10 so as to dump the contents of the main compartment
outwardly through the opening 1 16.
The rotatable properties of the two independent rotating front wheel
structures 18 allow the wagon assembly 10 to be easily and rapidly
maneuvered into a position or space that will accommodate the exterior
dimensions of the wagon assembly 10 by steering the rotational and linear
movement of the assembly in either a forward or rearward direction. The two
rotating front wheel structures 18, on freely rotating vertical axles 40, 42,
provide a degree of rotational flexibility with respect to the ability to changethe direction of forward movement, while the wheels 18,22 cooperate to
form a stable four point base. This four point base 18 and 22, together with a
low center of gravity of the wagon assembly 10 and an attractive rectangular,
length to width ratio of the wagon body structure 12, provides an added
30 stability during the movement and use of the wagon assembly 10 that helps to
prevent tipping of the wagon assembly 10.
The third operating position of the handle is shown in FIG. 3
and is referred to as the working position of the wagon assembly lO. In this
16
CA 02231939 1998-03-13
configuration the wagon assembly is set upright so the rear end surface 34 is
resting on the ground surface 38 and the wheels 18 and 22 are not in contact
with the ground 38. The third operation position of the handle 14 is then
essentially parallel to the ground because the handle member 14 is rotated
5 about the pivot rod 88 until the handle member 14 contacts and is supported
by the front end surface 36 of the wagon body structure. In this
configuration, the handle structure 14 provides a convenient working surface
on which a user may arrange various items and materials associated with
gardening and lawn care.
It will thus be seen that the objects of the present invention have been
fully and effectively accomplished. It will be realized, however, that the
foregoing preferred specific embodiment has been shown and described for
the purpose of illustrating the functional and structural principles of this
invention and is subject to change without departure from such principles.
15 Therefore, the present invention includes all modifications encompassed
within the spirit and scope of the following claims.
