U.S. patent application number 11/078301 was filed with the patent office on 2005-09-29 for collapsible multifunction apparatus.
This patent application is currently assigned to 500 GROUP, INC.. Invention is credited to Blass, Samvit, Courter, Adam, Tiramani, Paolo.
Application Number | 20050212236 11/078301 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34962474 |
Filed Date | 2005-09-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050212236 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Tiramani, Paolo ; et
al. |
September 29, 2005 |
Collapsible multifunction apparatus
Abstract
These objects and others are attained by the present invention
which provides a collapsible multifunction apparatus, comprising
upper and lower sections with a front frame and rear prop legs,
where the front frame is pivotably attached by hinges to both sides
of the front portions of the upper and lower sections, and the rear
prop legs are pivotably attached by hinges to both sides of the
rear portions of the upper and lower sections. The hinge positions
on both the left and right sides of the collapsible apparatus
define (preferably symmetric) foldable left and right side
quadrilaterals in which, in each left and right side fully opened
quadrilateral, no two lengths are equilateral and no two lengths
are parallel, and which collapse to form a substantially flat
configuration for storage with nested front frame and rear prop
legs. These desirable features, and others, are preferably enhanced
by providing a further novel geometry in which, in the fully opened
quadrilateral, the upper and lower hinge points of the front frame
define a line A-B, the upper and lower hinge points of the rear
prop leg are both lower than the upper and lower hinge points of
the front frame, respectively, and the upper hinge point of the
rear prop leg is closer to line A-B than the lower hinge point of
the rear prop leg.
Inventors: |
Tiramani, Paolo; (Greenwich,
CT) ; Blass, Samvit; (Darien, CT) ; Courter,
Adam; (Darien, CT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FITZPATRICK CELLA HARPER & SCINTO
30 ROCKEFELLER PLAZA
NEW YORK
NY
10112
US
|
Assignee: |
500 GROUP, INC.
Stamford
CT
|
Family ID: |
34962474 |
Appl. No.: |
11/078301 |
Filed: |
March 14, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60552935 |
Mar 12, 2004 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
280/47.18 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B62B 2205/00 20130101;
B62B 2206/00 20130101; B25H 1/04 20130101; B62B 1/008 20130101;
B62B 3/02 20130101; B62B 1/12 20130101; B27C 9/02 20130101; B25H
1/12 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
280/047.18 |
International
Class: |
B62B 001/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A collapsible multifunction apparatus, comprising: upper and
lower sections, said sections each having front and rear portions,
and left and right sides; a front frame; and rear prop legs, said
front frame and said upper and lower sections being interconnected
by hinges at both sides of the front portions of the upper and
lower sections, said rear prop legs and said upper and lower
sections being interconnected by hinges at both sides of the rear
portions of the upper and lower section, wherein the hinge
positions on both the left and right sides define symmetric
foldable left and right side quadrilaterals in which, when each
left and right side is fully opened, no two lengths are equilateral
and no two lengths are parallel, the multifunction apparatus
further comprising a pair of wheels and a dolly scoop distal to
said upper section.
2. The collapsible multifunction apparatus of claim 1, wherein, in
said fully opened quadrilateral, the upper and lower hinge points
of said front frame define a line A-B, the upper and lower hinge
points of said rear prop leg are both lower than the upper and
lower hinge points of said front frame, respectively, and the upper
hinge point of the rear prop leg is closer to line A-B than the
lower hinge point of the rear prop leg.
3. The collapsible multifunction apparatus of claim 2, wherein the
rear prop leg is provided with a discrete bend so the portion
distal from said upper section extends further outwardly of the
upper and lower flat sections when the handcart is fully
opened.
4. The collapsible multifunction apparatus of claim 2, wherein the
rear prop leg is arcuate so the portion distal from said upper
section extends further outwardly of the upper and lower flat
sections when the handcart is fully opened.
5. The collapsible multifunction apparatus of any one of claims 1-4
which, when fully collapsed, provides a substantially planar
shape.
6. The collapsible multifunction apparatus of claims 5, wherein the
upper section provides a solid work surface.
7. The collapsible multifunction apparatus of claim 6, wherein the
upper section further provides a vice.
8. The collapsible multifunction apparatus of claim 6, wherein the
lower section provides a closeable storage recess.
9. The collapsible multifunction apparatus of claim 8, further
comprising an electric power receptacle.
10. The collapsible multifunction apparatus of claim 9, wherein the
electric power receptacle is ground fault protected.
11. The collapsible multifunction apparatus of claim 6, further
comprising a second pair of wheels provided so as to configure a
hand cart when said multifunction apparatus is completely
collapsed.
12. The collapsible multifunction apparatus of claim 11, further
comprising a pivoting pull handle, wherein said front frame is
provided with recesses to receive said footrest when said
multifunction apparatus is collapsed.
13. The collapsible multifunction apparatus of claim 6, wherein the
lower section provides a protruding foot bar having an anti-skid
texture.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a portable dolly. More
particularly, the present invention relates to a portable dolly
with storage capacity for transporting tools and that expands into
a table, providing useful work surfaces and functional
amenities.
[0003] 2. Brief Description of the Background Art
[0004] Tradesmen in the field and consumer DIY (do it yourself)
enthusiasts at home typically use many of the same tools. Many of
these tools, especially those required for site work, are portable,
e.g. not freestanding. Freestanding tools are typically the most
efficient, however, among various professional users and DIY
enthusiasts, as well as for projects in the field, etc., it is
portable tools that are used most frequently. Accordingly, for most
efficient use on common projects, these tools typically
require:
[0005] a work surface;
[0006] tool storage and organization, like toolboxes;
[0007] a vice; and
[0008] a dolly (two wheel handcart), or
[0009] a truck (four wheel handcart).
[0010] A problem associated with this combination of features
necessary for easy use of portable tools is the space they take up
in the garage or home, on the jobsite, and/or in the transporting
trailer, car or truck. Another deficiency is that such items are
oftentimes ungainly (dollys and handtrucks) or unstable (such as
tables or workbenches) or heavy (such as toolboxes and vices).
Additionally, taken all together they can be very expensive.
Moreover, common among multifunction contraptions is that
oftentimes they perform no one particular function very well.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
[0011] An object of this invention is to utilize a base
architecture of a mechanically novel structure to provide a variety
of product solutions from simple work table to a multifunction tool
with the functionalities previously described.
[0012] A further object of the present invention is to provide a
multifunction apparatus that fulfills disparate functional tasks
without compromise.
[0013] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
multifunction apparatus that can be inexpensively assembled for
sale at a cost that reflects marketplace considerations in terms of
providing affordable quality tools.
[0014] It is a still further object of the present invention to
provide a multifunction apparatus that folds down in a gainly
manner, particularly in which, regardless of the combination of
provided functions, is space efficient, without sharp edges and
also can be dependably stored in both vertical and horizontal
positions.
[0015] These objects and others are attained by the present
invention which provides a collapsible multifunction apparatus,
comprising upper and lower sections with a front frame and rear
prop legs, where the front frame is pivotably attached by hinges to
both sides of the front portions of the upper and lower sections,
and the rear prop legs are pivotably attached by hinges to both
sides of the rear portions of the upper and lower sections. The
hinge positions on both the left and right sides of the collapsible
apparatus define (preferably symmetric) foldable left and right
side quadrilaterals in which, in each left and right side fully
opened quadrilateral, no two lengths are equilateral and no two
lengths are parallel, and which collapse to form a substantially
flat configuration for storage with nested front frame and rear
prop legs. These desirable features, and others, are preferably
enhanced by providing a further novel geometry in which, in the
fully opened quadrilateral, the upper and lower hinge points of the
front frame define a line A-B, the upper and lower hinge points of
the rear prop leg are both lower than the upper and lower hinge
points of the front frame, respectively, and the upper hinge point
of the rear prop leg is closer to line A-B than the lower hinge
point of the rear prop leg.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a two-wheeled dolly in a fully
expanded position;
[0017] FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the dolly of FIG. 1 in a
completely collapsed position;
[0018] FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of the dolly of FIG. 1 in a
partially-opened configuration;
[0019] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the dolly of FIG. 1
illustrating an open storage container;
[0020] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the dolly of FIG. 1
illustrating a work surface;
[0021] FIG. 6 illustrates a set of castor-mounted wheels for a
truck configuration; and
[0022] FIG. 7 illustrates a handle provided with the truck of FIG.
6.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0023] The invention relates to a base platform that collapses into
a space-efficient substantially planar packaged state. The platform
may be provided by hollow tubes, folded or extruded sheet, or solid
rods of any suitable material (e.g., steel, aluminum, glass
reinforced polymer, etc.). Although shown in the drawings as being
round, no particular cross-section is preferred or limited.
[0024] From the collapsed, space efficient, packaged configuration
the platform unfolds to provide a desired combination among the
following functionalities:
[0025] a work surface
[0026] tool storage and material organization space
[0027] a vice
[0028] a dolly (two wheel handcart)
[0029] a truck (four wheel handcart)
[0030] power (electrical) outlet(s)
[0031] It is also a function of the invention to be an open-ended
platform whereby additional functionalities can be added and
combined to the basic architecture. In that regard, various
attachments may be provided to create, if desired, a table-mounted
router, a drill press, a circular (or band, or reciprocating) saw,
a grinder, work lights, etc.
[0032] The core architecture of the invention is its mechanically
novel geometry, from which all other functionalities of the product
arise or may be provided. The frame is essentially a quadrilateral
arrangement that, when viewed from a side elevation, can fold or
scissor down (e.g., collapse) to be substantially flat. The
quadrilateral arrangement may be deployed so as to unfold into an
open, stable configuration. As described below, several geometric
innovations are incorporated into this simple mechanical
foundation, as desired, to produce additional functionality.
[0033] As best seen from the side elevation of FIG. 1, the
multifunction apparatus 10 provides members hinged at four
locations. Apparatus 10 is defined by front frame 12 and rear prop
legs 14 connected to lower and upper sections 16, 18. The front
frame 12 can be provided by separate pieces on left and right sides
of upper and lower sections 16, 18 (see FIG. 4) or may be provided
by integral ("U"-shaped or otherwise) framework, as desired.
Similarly, rear prop legs 14 on left and right sides of upper and
lower sections 16, 18 may be provided by separate pieces or an
integral framework. Using an integral framework typically provides
a more rigid construction.
[0034] Hinge points 20, 22 are provided at the front and rear of
lower section 16 and hinge points 24, 26 are provided at the front
and rear of upper section 18.
[0035] The multifunction apparatus can be completely collapsed so
as to scissor down into a substantially flat configuration (see
FIG. 2) or can be completely opened so as to provide the stable
erected structure shown in FIG. 1. In FIG. 3, the present invention
is beginning to unfold, where the operation of various hinge points
20, 22, 24, 26 can more clearly be seen.
[0036] Looking to FIG. 1 without being distracted by the various
bends in tubing and other ancillaries, and simply visualizing
connecting lines (not shown) between hinge points 20-22, 22-26,
26-24 and 20-24, is seen a modified quadrilateral that allows the
apparatus to function to significant mechanical advantage. Proper
arrangement of the hinge positions as described below defines the
modified quadrilateral in which no two sides are parallel and in
which no two opposite sides are equal in length.
[0037] FIG. 1 shows the four hinge points, e.g., upper-left 24,
lower-left 20, upper-right 28 and lower-right 22, and illustrates
how the geometry is revised from a pure trapezoid or
parallelogram.
[0038] In order for the invention to fold completely flat (as shown
in FIG. 2) and using upper left and lower left hinge points 24, 20
as the baseline reference points, the bottom right hinge point 22
is sited downward from the corresponding position of bottom left
hinge point 20. Preferably, bottom right hinge point 22 is sited at
least one tube thickness lower than bottom left hinge point 20 to
attain most compact storage. By these features, the following
advantages are better attained: the front frame 12 and prop legs 14
in the collapsed flat position (FIG. 2) can completely collapse and
lay directly on top of one another, thereby best achieving
practical packaging and storage.
[0039] In order for rear prop legs 14 to provide a greater
footprint and enhanced stability, rear prop legs are desirably
folded on hinges 26, 22 which define a line C-D (not illustrated)
set at an angle to the line A-B (not illustrated) defined by the
hinges 24, 20 of front frame 12. This angle is achieved by moving
the upper-right hinge point 26 lower than the corresponding
upper-left hinge point 24 as well as inwardly (e.g., to the left in
FIG. 1) of the lower-right hinge point 22.
[0040] As such, in the expanded open position (see FIG. 1), the
rear prop legs 22 are able to extend outwardly past the edge 28 of
upper section 18, thereby imparting greater stability to the
invention. This is desirable, e.g., when apparatus 10 is used as a
worktable, such as when upper section 18 provides a work surface as
illustrated. Whereas this would have been previously provided by
leg extensions or other contraption, this preferred embodiment is
able to achieve same with only pure geometry, thereby saving cost,
folding very flat and providing an elegant and mechanically
superior solution.
[0041] Through careful mathematical calculation, this base geometry
was engineered to ensure the multifunction apparatus lays
completely flat when collapsed and yet provides an optimum
footprint for stability when completely opened. Although these
principles have been employed in the preferred embodiment to
maximum effect, they may nevertheless be used together or
independently, e.g., to invert the geometry and/or provide either
more or less stability as desired.
[0042] In one desirable embodiment, rear prop legs 14 descend
substantially vertically from hinge 26 and are bent at "knee" 30
(see FIG. 1) or alternatively, are curved outwardly (not
illustrated) substantially continuously. These embodiments create
greater clearance above hinge point 22 so as to minimize
interference from clothing, operator's legs and work pieces, etc.,
from bumping the prop legs 14. Additionally, these configurations
of prop legs 14 provide a larger "footprint" and even further
enhanced stability.
[0043] The upper and lower sections 18,16 may be provided by a
simple tubing structure, or more preferably, upper section 18
provides a desirable functional surface such as a multi-function
top 36 (with optional organizer 34), as shown in FIG. 5.
Additionally, upper section can provide a vice 38, also as shown in
FIG. 5. Lower section 16 can similarly provide a multi-function
surface or storage container 40, as shown in FIG. 5
[0044] Storage container 40 can have any desired functionality and
may, in fact, be removable. It is especially desired that is
accessible and functional from both the fully open fully collapsed
positions of FIGS. 1 and 2. Of mechanical merit is the half-door
opening shown in FIG. 4 can open in any configuration without the
contents spilling out.
[0045] Additionally, the device 10 may include electrical outlet(s)
42 for readily available power. Electrical outlets 42 are
preferably provided with ground fault interrupter circuitry for
operator safety.
[0046] Of course, upper section 18 may provide whatever work
surface is desirable; in addition to the illustrated multifunction
top or organizer, it may provide a simple tube or lattice to serve
as a basic work trestle upon which to put another work surface or a
wooden top, clamp top, welding table, etc. Of novel value is the
fact that additional components for these are not needed, and
necessary architecture can bolt directly to the work surface.
[0047] As seen in FIG. 1, it is desirable that at least upper
section 18 be horizontal when apparatus 10 is fully expanded,
especially when section 10 provides a functional work surface.
Similarly, it may be preferable that lower section 16 be
horizontal, to provide temporary tool storage.
[0048] Seen in FIG. 6 is a `U` shaped hoop, preferably provided
with anti-skid material or surfacing. The hoop is typically part of
lower section 16 and so attaches at pivot points 20,22 and extends
outside the framework to provide a foot bar 44 which performs
several valuable functions. For instance, foot bar 44 permits an
operator to place a foot (with body weight) to further brace upper
section 18 when sawing or working. This steadies the table and
affords the user with greater efficiency.
[0049] Collapsible apparatus 10 may provide an extra set of wheels
46, preferably castor-mounted as shown in FIG. 6, so as to provide
an alternative truck mode. If so, foldable pull handle 48 (see FIG.
7) may also be provided, together with recesses 50 located in front
frame 12 to accommodate storage of pull handle 48 to fold
completely flat when not in use or in dolly mode.
[0050] Additionally, pull handle 48 is engineered to lay on dolly
scoop 52 in the open position (see FIG. 4) so that if apparatus 10
is picked up, or moved, the handle 48 does not slide on the ground
and interfere with operation.
[0051] The dolly scoop 52 can be seen in FIGS. 1-4 and 7 and serves
various functions, including:
[0052] adding lateral integrity to the structure
[0053] acting as a simple and elegant wheel holder
[0054] providing vertical support so the invention, when collapsed
as a dolly, can be free-standing
[0055] providing vertical stabilization so the invention, when
collapsed as a truck, can be stood on-end
[0056] provides a backstop to prevent packages from falling off in
the truck configuration
[0057] provides rear stability for a work table when in a fully
expanded position (see FIG. 4)
[0058] to prove a rest position for truck pull handle 48, also when
in a fully expanded position as a worktable (see FIG. 4).
[0059] Additionally, seen in FIG. 4 is a front tubular bar 54
attached to upper section 18 to provide a grab handle for the
dolly, (if this is omitted, a convenient handle can be readily
provided in multifunction top 36) and a towel or tool-hanging
bar.
[0060] As shown in FIG. 6, multi anchors 56 are provided to
multifunction top 36. Multi anchors 56 share the stress loads on
the invention with both the prop legs 14 described earlier and the
upper section 18 itself, as well as serving as the housing for the
screw box (which moves the vice 38 jaws open and closed) and also
provides a receiver for the dolly hand grip/towel bar 54.
[0061] Although the present invention has been illustrated with
reference to certain preferred embodiments, it will be appreciated
that the present invention is not limited to the specifics set
forth therein. Those skilled in the art readily will appreciate
numerous variations and modifications within the spirit and scope
of the present invention, and all such variations and modifications
are intended to be covered by the present invention, which is
defined by the following claims.
* * * * *