BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Other features of my invention will become more evident from a consideration of the following brief description of patent drawings:
FIGS. 1 through 10 depict static views of the multi-terrain utility cart of the present invention or specific components of the multi-terrain utility cart of the present invention.
FIGS. 21 through 31 show the multi-terrain utility cart in various practical use situations.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the multi-terrain utility cart configured for towing by hand or by bicycle while afield or traversing water.
FIG. 2 is a side view of the multi-terrain utility cart configured as a land-based or water-based chair.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the embodiment multi-terrain utility cart configured with blind assembly in operational position, shown without blind material covering.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the embodiment multi-terrain utility cart configured for transporting by automobile or all terrain vehicle using the trailer hitch assembly.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the embodiment multi-terrain utility cart configured as a three-wheel wagon.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the metal support frame and handle.
FIG. 7 is a top view of the chair.
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the adjustable seat back.
FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the trailer hitch assembly.
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the third wheel assembly.
FIG. 11 depicts the multi-terrain utility cart being pulled on land in a duck hunting situation loaded with a decoy bag, spinning wing decoys, and firearms.
FIG. 12 depicts the multi-terrain utility cart being floating and pulled over water in a duck hunting situation loaded with a decoy bag, spinning wing decoys, and firearms.
FIG. 13 depicts the multi-terrain utility cart being pulled in a deer hunting situation with harvested deer in tow.
FIG. 14 depicts an outdoorsman sitting on the multi-terrain utility cart in shallow water.
FIG. 15 depicts a dog sitting on the multi-terrain utility cart in shallow water.
FIG. 16 depicts an outdoorsman sitting on the multi-terrain utility cart on a slope in the woods.
FIG. 17 depicts an outdoorsman sitting on the multi-terrain utility cart with the blind in the upright position while on a hard surface for hunting, shore fishing, ice fishing or beach situation.
FIG. 18 shows the multi-terrain utility cart being loaded by one person into the trailer hitch assembly on a truck.
FIG. 19 depicts the multi-terrain utility cart as attached for transporting with a truck using the trailer hitch assembly, depicted carrying a bag of decoys.
FIG. 20 depicts the multi-terrain utility cart being loaded by one person into the trailer hitch assembly on an all terrain vehicle.
FIG. 21 depicts the multi-terrain utility cart as attached for transporting with an all terrain vehicle using the trailer hitch assembly, depicted carrying a bag of decoys.
FIG. 22 depicts the multi-terrain utility cart being pulled by a bicycle.
FIG. 23 is a map of a region showing a path taken by certain cart-towing means to a hunting site.
FIG. 24 is a close-up map of the hunting site depicted in FIG. 23 showing certain bodies of water and land areas.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)
Referring now to the drawings with more specificity, the preferred embodiment or specification of the present invention generally concerns a multi-functional, chair-shaped cart 10 as generally illustrated and referenced in FIGS. 1-5, 7, and 11-22. It is contemplated that the cart 10 of the present invention may well function to support or transport matter (such as hunting gear, downed game, and/or hunter's themselves) over land 11 as generally depicted in FIGS. 11, 13, 16, 17, and 24; or water 12 as generally depicted in FIGS. 12, 14, 15, and 24. The cart 10 of the present invention preferably comprises a frame assembly 13 as generally illustrated and referenced in FIG. 6; a wheel assembly; a handle assembly 14 as generally illustrated and referenced in FIGS. 1, 5-7, 11-13, and 22; a foreleg assembly; and perhaps most notably, a chair-shaped support platform assembly 15 as generally illustrated and referenced in FIGS. 1-5, 7, and 11-22.
Frame assembly 13 is essentially a rectangular frame construction preferably constructed from rigid weight-bearing materials and may be preferably defined by two elongated longitudinal frame members 16 each of substantially equal or uniform length and disposed substantially parallel to one another as may be seen from a general inspection of FIG. 6. It may be seen from a further inspection of the noted figure that each frame member 16 preferably comprises a fore end 18 or forward end and an aft end 19 or a rearward end. Further, frame assembly 13 preferably comprises a series of substantially parallel lateral frame members 17 or cross bars, which members 17 are secured to and extend between each of the members 16. In this regard, it may be seen from a further inspection of FIG. 6 that the lateral frame members 17 preferably comprise a fore-member 20, an aft-member 21, and a mid-member 22. The lateral frame members 17 are preferably secured to (as for example, via welding) and extend between each longitudinal frame member 16, the aft member 21 extending intermediate or connecting the aft ends 19 of the longitudinal frame members 16, and the fore and mid-members 20 and 22 extend intermediate the fore and aft ends 18 and 19. Notably, the fore ends 18 extend outwardly from the fore member 20.
The amphibious cart 10 of the present invention may further comprise a third longitudinal frame member 39 cooperatively associated with the frame assembly 13 as generally illustrated and referenced in FIGS. 3, 4, and 6. It is contemplated that the third longitudinal frame member 39 may be preferably incorporated into the design for connecting the frame assembly 13 to peripheral structure such as the (trailer) hitch of certain cart-towing means as may be preferably defined by a sport utility vehicle 41 (generally depicted and referenced in FIGS. 18 and 19) or an all terrain vehicle 42 (generally depicted and referenced in FIGS. 20, 21, and 24).
From an inspection of FIG. 6, it may be seen that the third longitudinal frame member 39 is preferably substantially parallel with the two longitudinal frame members 16 (extending substantially equidistant therebetween) and fixedly attached to at least two of the lateral frame members 17. Thus, it is contemplated that the means for connecting the frame assembly 13 to peripheral structure may well function to connect the frame assembly 13 to select structure, the select structure being selected from the group comprising a trailer hitch assembly 43 as depicted in FIGS. 18-21 or a second wheel assembly 44 as generally depicted in FIGS. 5 and 10. It is contemplated that second wheel assembly 44 may well function to enable the user to form a tri-wheeled cart for enabling ease of transport in certain scenarios. Further, it will be seen from an inspection of FIG. 9 that certain linkage means or coupling means 45 are contemplated for coupling the cart 10 to the cart-towing means earlier identified.
Cooperatively associated with the frame assembly 13 is the wheel assembly of the present invention or similar other roller means for movement. It is contemplated, that in the preferred embodiment, the wheel assembly preferably comprises at least two wheels 23, one of which is illustrated and referenced in FIGS. 1, 2, 5, and 11-22, and both of which are illustrated and referenced in FIGS. 3, 4, and 7. Further, it is contemplated that the wheel assembly of the present invention preferably comprises certain wheel-to-frame-attachment or wheel-frame-attachment means, which may be preferably defined by an axle 24 fixedly attached (welded or bolted) to the frame assembly 13 as illustrated and referenced in FIG. 6. Notably, the wheel-frame-attachment means comprise a certain wheel axis of rotation 100 about which the wheels 23 rotate and function to attaché the wheel assembly to the frame assembly 13 adjacent the aft ends 19. The wheel axis of rotation 100 is preferably parallel to the lateral frame members 17.
The handle assembly 14 preferably comprises a tow-engagement portion 25 and certain handle-frame-attachment means, which means comprise a certain pivot axis of rotation 101 as further referenced in FIG. 6. The is pivotable about the pivot axis of rotation 101. The handle-frame-attachment means attach the handle assembly 14 to the frame assembly 13 adjacent the fore ends 18 and the pivot axis of rotation 101 is also preferably parallel to the lateral frame members 17. Essentially the handle assembly 14 enables users to pull the cart 10 either through water-based media as exemplified in FIG. 12 or over land-based media as exemplified in FIGS. 11 and 13. Preferably the tow-engagement portion 25 comprises an H-shaped handle member which recesses or telescopes into the members 16 while in the seat mode and extends to towing position by manually sliding the tow-engagement portion 25 forward. The tow-engagement portion, when pulled forward, stops and pivots via a T-stop located at the handle-frame-attachment means.
The chair-shaped support platform assembly 15 is preferably constructed from buoyant molded plastic materials and thus provides a certain buoyant platform for supporting matter in superior adjacency to a water surface as generally depicted in FIGS. 12, 14, and 15. The buoyant platform or support platform assembly 15 is preferably fixedly attached (for example, bolted) to the frame assembly 13 in superior adjacency thereto intermediate the wheels 23 and aft of the handle assembly 14. The floating platform is preferably shaped in lounge-chair fashion with a matter-support portion or seat portion 26 as illustrated and referenced in FIGS. 1, 3-5, 7, 11, and 15; a seat back portion 27 as illustrated and referenced in FIGS. 1, 2, 5, 7, 8, 11-16, and 18-22; and two arm-rests 28 as illustrated and referenced in FIGS. 1-5, 7, and 11-16.
It is contemplated that the seat portion 26 functions to supporting matter such as a person 29 as illustrated and referenced in FIGS. 14, 16, and 17; a hunting dog 30 as illustrated and referenced in FIG. 15; or downed game 31 as generally depicted and referenced in FIG. 13. Further, it is contemplated that the back portion 27 functions to prevent aft displacement of matter (such as heretofore exemplified) relative to the seat portion 26. It is further contemplated that the arm rest portions 28 may preferably comprise certain waterproof or watertight compartments 35 for compartmentalizing matter as generally illustrated and referenced in FIG. 5. The waterproof compartments 35 may well function to prevent moisture from contacting compartmentalized (moisture-sensitive) matter such as a cell phone, map, or similar other articles.
It is contemplated that the back portion 27 may be preferably removable and selectively positioned atop seat portion 26 for effecting variable seat portion space. In this regard, it will be seen from an inspection of FIG. 7 that certain vertical slots 33 are preferably formed in platform assembly 15 so as to enable the user to adjust the open matter-supporting space atop seat portion 26. Thus, it is contemplated that the platform assembly 15 preferably comprises certain back portion-adjustment means, the back portion-adjustment means for enabling the user to selectively vary the matter-supporting space atop the seat portion 26. It is further contemplated that the platform assembly may preferably comprise a plurality of vertically oriented, open-top storage cavities 32, which cavities may well function to store hunting gear 34 or other articles as generally depicted in FIG. 7 versus FIGS. 11-13.
Cart 10 may further preferably comprise a foreleg assembly, which foreleg assembly comprises two substantially parallel extendable leg assemblies 36 as illustrated and referenced in FIGS. 1-7, 12, 13, and 16-22. Each extendable leg assembly 36 preferably comprises an extendable transversely apertured leg that may be telescopically received in a leg-receiving sleeve, which sleeve may comprise aperture engaging structure (for selectively varying the telescopic nature of the leg) and certain leg-to-frame-attachment means or leg-frame-attachment means for attaching the foreleg assembly to the fore ends 18 as generally depicted in FIG. 6. It will be seen from an inspection of FIG. 6 that the leg assemblies 36 are preferably substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal frame members 16. Further, from an inspection of FIG. 16, it will be understood that the extendable leg assemblies 36 may well function to enable a user to maintain the seat portion 26 in a substantially horizontal plane when atop a variably inclined solid surface 11.
The cart 10 of the present invention may further comprise a detachable cover assembly 37 as illustrated and referenced in FIGS. 12, and 17-21. Cover assembly 37 is further shown with certain blind structure removed in FIGS. 1-5, 7, 11, 13-16, and 18-22 to show certain blind-supporting means as referenced at 38. It is contemplated that the cover assembly 37 of the present invention may be cooperatively associable with the buoyant platform assembly 15 for selectively preventing matter (such as debris or rain) and energy (such as light energy) from contacting matter (such as a person 29 or gear 34) supported by the buoyant platform assembly. In this regard, it should be noted that the cover assembly 37 may well function to provide certain blind means for concealing the user (i.e. preventing light from contacting the user) and may preferably comprise camouflage type indicia (as may platform assembly 15) for blending the cart 10 into surrounding while at a hunting site 60 as generally depicted in FIG. 24.
It is contemplated that, together, the handle assembly 14 and buoyant platform assembly 15 may well function to support (via the platform assembly) and transport (via the force-transferring handle assembly) matter (such as gear, game, and the like) in superior adjacency to a liquid surface (such as a pond or lake surface) as generally depicted in FIGS. 12, 14, 15, and 24. Further, the handle assembly 14, buoyant platform assembly 15, and the wheel assembly (defining certain roller means for movement) may well function to support and transport matter in superior adjacency to a solid surface such as surface 11 intermediate ponds or lakes as generally depicted in FIGS. 11, 13, 17, and 24. The amphibious cart 10 of the present invention thus functions for selectively transporting matter over land or water.
While the above descriptions contain much specificity, this specificity should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the invention, but rather as an exemplification of the invention. For example, the invention may be said to essentially teach or disclose an amphibious utility cart for selectively transporting matter over varied terrain, the amphibious utility cart comprising a buoyant platform assembly, certain roller means for movement, and certain linkage means for movement (such as the handle assembly 14 or hitch assemblages heretofore specified). Stated another way, the utility cart of the present invention may be said to necessarily comprise a buoyant, chair-shaped platform assembly, certain roller means for movement, and at least one extendable leg assembly, the extendable leg assembly enabling a user to maintain the seat portion in a substantially horizontal plane when atop a solid surface.
The platform assembly comprises a fore end, an aft end, and a matter-support portion, the matter-support portion for supporting matter. The roller means for movement are preferably and cooperatively associated with the aft end for enabling roller-enabled platform movement over solid surfaces. The linkage means may be preferably and cooperatively associated with a select end of the platform assembly for transferring cart-displacing forces to the utility cart (the select end being selected from the group consisting of the fore end and aft end (the cart may also be pushed)). The platform assembly, the roller means for movement, and the linkage means for movement are thus cooperable for supporting and transporting matter in superior adjacency to a transport medium (such as land or water) and the utility cart thus functions to transport matter over varied terrain.
In a further sense, the cart 10 of the present invention may be said to enable a certain hunting transport system, which system comprises a variety of cooperable components and which functions to ease transport of (hunting) gear and game. In this regard, it is contemplated that the hunting transport system of the present invention may be said to preferably comprise, in combination, certain cart-towing means (such as a bike 55 as depicted and referenced in FIG. 22 or vehicle 42); certain cart-linkage means (such as handle assembly 14 or coupling means 45), an amphibious utility cart (such as cart 10), and a hunting site 60 as generally depicted in FIGS. 23 and 24.
The cart-linkage means essentially function to link the utility cart in a suspended state to the cart-towing means. The linked utility cart is thus held in suspended superior adjacency (as referenced at 70 in FIGS. 19 and 20) to a tow-enabling surface such as a road, path or pavement 71. The cart-towing means function to tow or haul the utility cart to and from the hunting site 60. In this regard, the reader is directed to FIG. 23, which depicts a path 63 taken to a hunting site 60. The utility cart, detachable from the cart-towing means, may well function to cart gear and game within the hunting site 60 as generally depicted at vector arrow 72 in FIG. 24. It should be understood from an inspection of FIG. 24 that the hunting site 60 may comprise one or more liquid support surface(s) (as at 12) and a solid support surface (as at 11) over which the cart may be used to transport matter.
In this regard, it will be recalled that the utility cart comprises a buoyant platform assembly and roller means for movement. The platform assembly comprises a matter-support portion, the matter-support portion for supporting gear and game. The buoyant platform assembly enables supported matter movement over liquid support surfaces (as at 61 in FIG. 24); the roller means for movement enable platform movement (it being noted that the platform supports matter and matter movement) over solid support surfaces (as at 62); and the cart-towing means and cart-linkage means enable utility cart movement (it being noted that the matter support portion supports matter and matter movement, and the roller means for movement support the platform and platform movement) in suspended superior adjacency to tow-enabling surface(s). It is thus contemplated that the hunting transport system of the present invention may thus function to ease transport of gear and game.
Accordingly, although the invention has been described by reference to a number of preferred embodiments and which embodiments operate to effect a certain transport system, it is not intended that the novel system, apparatus be limited thereby, but that modifications thereof are intended to be included as falling within the broad scope and spirit of the foregoing disclosure, the following claims and the appended drawings.
Patent Application
20080048417
