Convertible cart

Abstract

A convertible cart readily convertible between a cart configuration and a table configuration. A leg coupled to each end of the convertible cart is shiftable between a ground-clearing position as a cart and a ground-engaging position as a table. A coupling mechanism couples the leg to a chassis and includes a locking element and a coupling member with two gravity seats. To shift between a cart configuration and a table configuration, the locking element is disengaged from the first gravity seat, the leg is rotated between the ground-clearing position and the ground-engaging position, and the locking element is engaged with the second gravity seat.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention may be more completely understood in consideration of the following detailed description of various embodiments of the invention in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus in accordance with the invention configured as a cart with wheels in a ground-engaging position;

FIG. 2 is another perspective view of the apparatus in accordance with the invention configured as a cart;

FIG. 3 is a side perspective view of the apparatus in accordance with the invention configured as a cart;

FIG. 4 is an end perspective view of the apparatus in accordance with the invention configured as a cart, depicting a drawbar and steering yoke;

FIG. 5 is an end perspective view of the opposite end shown in FIG. 4 of the apparatus in accordance with the invention configured as a cart;

FIG. 6 is an overhead perspective view of the apparatus in accordance with the invention configured as a cart;

FIG. 7 is a bottom perspective view of the apparatus in accordance with the invention configured as a cart;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the apparatus in accordance with the invention configured as a table with wheels in a ground-clearing position and with the drawbar folded underneath a chassis;

FIG. 9 is a further perspective view of the apparatus in accordance with the invention configured as a table in the configuration of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a side perspective view of the apparatus in accordance with the invention configured as a table;

FIG. 11 is an end perspective view of the apparatus in accordance with the invention configured as a table;

FIG. 12 is an end perspective view of the opposite end than that shown in FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a bottom perspective view of an apparatus in accordance with the invention configured as a table;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the chassis in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 15 is a further perspective view of the chassis of FIG. 14:

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the steering yoke in accordance with the invention:

FIG. 17 is a further perspective view of the steering yoke;

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of the drawbar bracket in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 19 is a perspective view of the drawbar in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 20 is a perspective view of a leg in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 21 is a perspective view of a right-hand oriented coupling member in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 22 is a further perspective view of the right-hand oriented coupling member of FIG. 21;

FIG. 23 is a perspective view of a left-hand oriented coupling member in accordance with the invention; and

FIG. 24 is a further perspective view of the left-hand oriented coupling member of FIG. 23.

Claims

1. An apparatus convertible between a cart and a table, comprising: a chassis;a support surface operably carried by the chassis;a ground engaging wheel operably coupled to the chassis;a leg shiftable between a leg ground clearing position wherein the wheel is engageable with the ground to configure the apparatus as a cart, and a leg ground engaging position wherein the leg is engageable with the ground and the wheel clears the ground to configure the apparatus as a table;a coupling mechanism operably, shiftably coupling the leg to the chassis, the coupling mechanism comprising a coupling member and a locking element, one of the coupling member and the locking element being carried by the chassis in static relationship therewith,the coupling member including structure defining a first engagement portion for selectively fixedly engaging said locking element in a first gravity seat when the leg is in the ground clearing position, and the coupling member further including structure defining a second engagement portion for selectively fixedly engaging said locking element in a second gravity seat when the leg is in the ground engaging position.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a pivot element slidably received in an elongated slot formed in the coupling member.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the first engagement portion is located proximate a first end of the elongated slot, and the second engagement portion is located proximate a second end of the elongated slot.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the first gravity seat is substantially U-shaped and the locking member is generally cylindrical.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the second gravity seat is substantially C-shaped and the locking member is generally cylindrical.

6. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the pivot member is slidable from the first end of the elongated slot to the second end of the elongated slot and has a first center position at the first end of the elongated slot and a second center position at the second end of the elongated slot and the locking member has a third center position when it is received in the first gravity seat and a fourth center position when it is received in the second gravity seat and wherein a first distance between the first center position and the fourth center position and a second distance from the second center position and the third center position are substantially equal.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a reversible drawbar operably couplable to the chassis, the drawbar comprising an elongated shaft, a handle proximate a first end of the shaft, and a hitch bracket proximate a second end of the shaft.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the drawbar is freely pivotable about a center and wherein the drawbar is positionable to be substantially vertical when the leg is in the leg ground clearing position, and wherein the drawbar is positionable to be substantially horizontally located below the support surface when the leg is in the leg ground-engaging position.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the drawbar is operably coupled to the chassis by a drawbar bracket into which the drawbar shaft is at least partially receivable and relative to which the drawbar can reversibly coupled.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the drawbar operably shiftable between two configurations, a first configuration wherein the handle is located distal from the chassis and available to be grasped for moving the apparatus and a second configuration wherein the hitch bracket is located distal from the chassis and available to be to be coupled to a prime mover to move the apparatus.

11. A method of shifting an apparatus between a first configuration as a cart to a second configuration as a table, the method comprising: releasing a first leg of the cart from a first positional engagement with a chassis to which the first leg is operably coupled by releasing a first locking element from a gravity seat of one of two engagement portions of a first coupling member;rotating the first leg between a ground-clearing position and a ground-engaging position;engaging the first leg in a second positional engagement with the chassis by engaging the first locking element within a gravity seat of another of two engagement portions of the first coupling member.

12. The method of claim 11, the method further comprising: pivoting a drawbar operably coupled to the chassis between a position extending outwardly from the chassis and a substantially horizontal position under a support surface coupled to the chassis.

13. The method of claim 11, the method further comprising: placing athletic equipment on a support surface coupled to the chassis;transporting athletic equipment between locations when the apparatus is configured in the first configuration as a cart; andutilizing the support surface as a tabletop for placing items when the apparatus is configured in the second configuration as a cart.

14. An apparatus convertible between a cart and a table, comprising: a chassis;a support surface operably carried by the chassis;a ground engaging wheel operably coupled to the chassis;a leg shiftable between a leg ground clearing position wherein the wheel is engageable with the ground to configure the apparatus as a cart, and a leg ground engaging position wherein the leg is engageable with the ground and the wheel clears the ground to configure the apparatus as a table;means for movably coupling the leg to the chassis, the means for movably coupling comprising means for gravitationally seating a locking element, one of the means for coupling and the locking element being carried by the chassis in static relationship therewith,the means for gravitationally seating including first means for selectively fixedly engaging said locking element in a first gravity seat when the leg is in the ground clearing position, and the means for gravitationally seating including second means for selectively fixedly engaging said locking element in a second gravity seat when the leg is in the ground engaging position.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising a pivot element slidably received in an elongated slot formed in the means for movably coupling.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising a reversible drawbar operably couplable to the chassis, the drawbar comprising an elongated shaft, a handle proximate a first end of the shaft, and a hitch bracket proximate a second end of the shaft.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the drawbar is freely pivotable about a center and wherein the drawbar is positionable to be substantially vertical when the leg is in the leg ground clearing position, and wherein the drawbar is positionable to be substantially horizontally located below the support surface when the leg is in the leg ground-engaging position.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the drawbar is operably coupled to the chassis by a drawbar bracket into which the drawbar shaft is at least partially receivable and relative to which the drawbar can reversibly coupled.