Patent Grant
9826831
The present invention generally pertains to portable outdoor gear transport and storage units and more particularly to portable outdoor gear transport and storage units that hold gear commonly used in outdoor experiences and in other places and situations where comprehensive and efficient transport and storage of gear may be useful.
Boy Scout leaders, remote caterers, hunting guides and any others whose work or play involves remote outdoor gear transport often find it endlessly tedious and difficult to find, pack, transport, use, repack and restore their needed gear efficiently. Without a simple compact system for packing, transporting, using and storing such gear, hundreds of items of gear may require packing or repacking after every single event.
Peterson et. al. (U.S. Pat. No. 5,683,157) discloses a portable kitchen with no cooking capability. The unit folds compactly into a box. However, to position the work surface at a convenient height, it must be placed on a table or elevated in some other way. No way is provided to prevent items in the kitchen from precipitation.
Myers (U.S. Pat. No. 4,089,554) presents a foldable kitchen unit that includes storage compartments. However, FIG. 1 in Myers shows the only support for the unit is the bumper of a truck; thus, people not using a truck on a given outing find the unit much less usable, especially since no support legs are provided.
It would therefore be advantageous to have a portable outdoor transport and storage unit that can be easily moved, even through rough terrain, to any desired location. It would also be advantageous if such a unit included a continuous supported work surface area around its entire perimeter, as well as multiple methods of adjusting the unit's center of gravity to reduce the effort needed to move it. It would further be advantageous if the unit had an optional weather covering to protect its contents from precipitation and the ability to be used without being physically supported by a truck. It would be even more advantageous if the unit also included a separate gear rack to accommodate efficient wheeled transport of even more gear.
The present invention overcomes the disadvantages and limitations of the prior art by providing a portable storage and transport unit that can be easily moved, even through rough terrain, to any desired location. The unit includes a continuous supported work surface area around its entire perimeter, as well as multiple methods of adjusting the unit's center of gravity to reduce the effort needed to move it. The unit includes an optional weather shelter, the ability to be towed by a vehicle even when fully loaded, and a separate gear rack to accommodate efficient wheeled transport of even more gear.
The present invention may therefore comprise: a portable storage and transport unit, comprising: at least one upper storage area, designed at a height to allow efficient storage of less heavy objects, whose hinged door opens downward and lies flat and serves as part of a continuous supported work surface area around the entire perimeter of the portable storage and transport unit; at least one lower storage area that can accommodate very heavy objects that cannot be safely placed in the upper storage area and whose hinged door opens downward and lies flat; a top storage area, covered by a lid; a set of removable support legs that can raise the storage and transport unit off the ground and support the portable storage and transport unit in a stationary position; a set of gear rack guide tubes that keeps the bottom of the portable storage and transport unit off the ground; a hinged handle that may be locked in a fully horizontal position and allows the portable storage and transport unit to be lifted and carried; a mechanism for adjusting the center of gravity of the portable storage and transport unit to allow easier transport of more gear; a set of side rollers secured to the portable storage and transport unit; and a set of top rollers secured to the portable storage and transport unit. The upper storage area may contain at least one support point for at least one shelf of adjustable height that may divide the internal space of the upper storage area into smaller storage spaces.
The present invention may further comprise: a system that shelters the portable storage and transport unit from weather, comprising: a weather shelter frame; a cover for the weather shelter frame, made of a water-resistant material; a set of weather shelter support poles that connects to and supports the weather shelter frame, is adjustable to a desired height, can be installed at a desired distance from the portable storage and transport unit, and may be secured into the ground to permit a cover for the weather shelter frame to be placed over the weather shelter frame; a set of wind anchors, installed at ground level for each of the set of weather shelter support poles; and, a set of sliding gear rack weather shelter beams that fits into the set of gear rack guide tubes and is longer horizontally than the portable storage and transport unit. The weather shelter frame may include at least one side panel.
The present invention may further comprise: the portable storage and transport unit, wherein the continuous supported work surface area around the entire perimeter of the portable storage and transport unit is created by a combination of the hinged door of the upper storage area, at least one piece of removable lateral work surface support material that slides through and is centered in the hinged handle, at least one piece of removable longitudinal work surface support material, and at least one piece of removable foldable U-shaped hinged work surface material that is set structurally upon the hinged handle.
One mechanism for adjusting the center of gravity of the portable storage and transport unit may comprise: a set of gear rack guide tubes; a set of sliding gear rack weather shelter beams, with holes drilled along the length of the set of sliding gear rack weather shelter beams to accommodate fasteners, that fits into the set of gear rack guide tubes; a gear rack beams handle that connects to and forms a U-shaped unibody structure with the sliding gear rack weather shelter beams; and, an axle that, when adjusted, adjusts the center of gravity of the portable storage and transport unit by moving the set of sliding gear rack weather shelter beams along the length of the set of gear rack guide tubes and allowing the set of sliding gear rack weather shelter beams to be fastened into the set of gear rack guide tubes at a desired location.
Another mechanism for adjusting the center of gravity of the portable storage and transport unit may comprise: an adjustable axle screw jack held in place by screw jack spin blocks at each end; an axle movable along the length of the adjustable axle screw jack; a set of ruggedized wheels connected to the axle; and, a removable crank handle that, when cranked, moves the axle and the set of ruggedized wheels along the length of the adjustable axle screw jack.
The present invention may further comprise: a U-shaped gear rack whose storage areas include a top gear bay and two side gear bays and that rolls on or off the top of the portable storage and transport unit by use of the side rollers and top rollers. A mechanism may allow towing of the portable storage and transport unit by a vehicle smaller than a truck or SUV. That mechanism may have an adjustable center of gravity that may be adjusted by a mechanism comprising: an adjustable axle screw jack held in place by screw jack spin blocks at each end; an axle movable along the length of the adjustable axle screw jack; a set of ruggedized wheels connected to the axle; and, a removable crank handle that, when cranked, moves the axle and the set of ruggedized wheels along the length of the adjustable axle screw jack.
The advantages of the present invention are: a portable storage and transport unit that can be easily moved, even through rough terrain, to any desired location; a continuous supported work surface area around its entire perimeter; multiple methods of adjusting the unit's center of gravity to reduce the effort needed to move it; an optional weather shelter; the ability to be towed by a vehicle even when fully loaded; and a separate gear rack to accommodate efficient wheeled transport of even more gear.
In the drawings,
At least one lower storage area 22 may be designed to store and accommodate very heavy objects that could not be placed in the upper storage area 21 without threatening to tip over the entire present invention. These very heavy objects may include both objects that must be taken from the storage unit to be used (such as a Dutch oven or a bag of charcoal) and objects that can be used from the storage unit without being moved (such as a large water jug or a propane tank that is properly connected to allow such use),
A top storage lid 24 may serve as the top of the portable storage unit 20 and may, when in place, also cover another internal storage location which may be used to accommodate a set of removable support legs 32 that raise and support the portable storage unit 20 in its stationary configuration. The internal storage location may also contain metal stakes and wind anchors for an optional weather shelter system that will be detailed later.
A set of gear rack guide tubes 68 may serve to keep the bottom of the portable storage unit 20 off the ground and out of mud. In embodiments discussed later that have wheels attached to the bottom of the portable storage unit 20, these tubes may accept a set of sliding gear rack weather shelter beams that may be longer than the length of the portable storage unit 20.
All three elements that may provide structural support for the embodiment in
The sides of the hinged handle 30 may be mechanically connected to the “open end” of the gear rack/weather shelter beams 52. The other end of the gear rack/weather shelter beams 52 is the gear rack handle 53. This solid end may be support attached to the weather shelter support poles 26. Because the gear rack/weather shelter beams 52 are typically 1½ to 2 times as long as the portable storage unit 20, the length of the weather shelter may increase by the same amount. Thus, when an expanded weather shelter is desired, the outside set of weather shelter support poles 26 may be properly supported at a desired distance from the body of the portable storage unit 20. Because the hinged handle 30 is designed to be set at the height of the work surface, the top of the gear rack/weather shelter beams 52 may also provide additional table space as desired.
Each pair of weather shelter support poles 26 may be attached at two points to a weather shelter support beam 60. In some embodiments, placing weather shelter support beams 58 perpendicularly at either end and in the center of the weather shelter support beam 60 and then applying a pull-down force with a ratchet strap attached to the top of the portable storage unit 20 at a force application point 62 may create a sequential system of pressures and fulcrums that may allow the weather shelter support poles 26 to create the base that supports the weather shelter frame 57. The area covered by the weather shelter frame 57 and its cover is a function of the two different types of pole (length and cross-spans). Ease of transport and construction of the weather shelter frame 57 must be balanced against the size of the area that must be protected from weather.
By loosening wingnuts, changing the perpendicular connector points that set the “X” crossing height of each pair of the weather shelter support poles 26, and changing the length of the weather shelter support poles 26, the weather shelter frame 57 may be adjusted as desired to provide weather protection as conditions change during an outing. The weather shelter frame 57 may also include side panels (not shown in
The “male” size of the gear rack/weather shelter beams 52 may be slightly smaller than the inner dimension of the “female” gear rack guide tubes 68 attached to the bottom of the portable storage unit 20. The gear rack/weather shelter beams 52 are permanently joined on one end by a gear rack handle 53 to create a U-shaped unibody component. Once the gear rack/weather shelter beams 52 are connected to the gear rack guide tubes 68, the gear rack/weather shelter beams 52 may freely slide in and out of the gear rack guide tubes 68 and be easily set to an optimal balance point relative to the center of gravity of the current load being moved. Once the position of the gear rack/weather shelter beam 52 is thus optimized over a fixed position axle 47 and a set of wheels, the gear rack beam may then be cotter-pinned or otherwise fastened through the gear rack guide tubes 68 in preparation for transport.
Multiple holes for cotter pin insertion may be drilled horizontally into and along the length of the gear rack/weather shelter beams 52. If the load feels heavy at the gear rack handle 53, the load can be adjusted by pulling out the cotter pins, sliding the weather shelter beams 52 farther into or out of the gear rack guide tubes 68, and replacing the cotter pins. This adjustment may balance the weight of the load evenly over the tires and reduce the force needed to move the load, similar to a wheelbarrow. The gear rack handle 53 that ties the two gear rack beams 52 together may serve as a push handle to allow better steering when the portable storage unit 20 is moving. Combined with wheels, the additional length of the weather shelter beams 52 allows for more gear to be transported than the portable storage unit 20 can hold by itself. Much like lifting a wheelbarrow, with wheels present, by adjusting the lifting position of a longer length of shelter beam 52, the load's center of gravity can be adjusted to make the portable storage unit 20 easier to lift, move and maneuver.
In optimum embodiments, the axle may present two axle spindles 70 that may have a pair of wheels attached. In some embodiments, the wheels may be ruggedized or “high-performance” to move the portable storage unit 20 more easily over hilly, unpaved or other difficult terrain. The larger the diameter of the wheels, the less resistive force is created that impedes movement of the portable storage unit 20. Additional embodiments may include two or more battery-powered electric motors, individually geared at each wheel, that, in combination, allow wireless control of the movements of the portable storage unit 20 in all directions.
As the removable crank handle 46 is cranked by a user, the axle 48 and wheels are moved back and forth along the adjustable axle screw jack 76. As the axle 48, axle spindles 70 and wheels have their positions changed along the adjustable axle screw jack 76, the entire center of gravity of the portable storage unit 20 may shift in accordance with the position of the axle 48 and wheels and with the weight of the gear being carried. When the removable crank handle 46 is adjusted properly and the load has been balanced and shifted over the axle 48 and wheels, the effort needed to lift the entire portable storage unit 20 is minimized. The portable storage unit 20, even if fully loaded with gear, may thus be moved to a new location, similar to a wheelbarrow. The gear rack handle 53 that ties the two gear rack/weather shelter beams 52 together may act as a handle as desired. In some embodiments, the wheels may be ruggedized or “high-performance” so that the portable storage unit 20 may be moved more easily over hilly, unpaved or other difficult terrain. In optimum embodiments, the removable crank handle 46 may be removed from the portable storage unit 20 when not in use and reattached as needed.
A pivot knuckle pin 81 set in at least two places between the box pivot assembly 80 and hitch pivot assembly 82 allows for creation of a vertical hinge point between the tow vehicle and the load it is pulling. Because there are at least two pivot knuckle pins 81, a towed load never leaves its perpendicular orientation with respect to the towing vehicle. In any combination, straight or turning, forward or backward, the tow design remains rigid and never changes its perpendicular orientation. This is a great benefit to drivers who lack experience in towing.
The embodiment of
The gear rack 84 may contain three physically separated storage areas. The first of the three is the top gear bay 86, which is a four-sided storage area with an open top. The sides and bottom of the top gear bay 86 may be covered with metal mesh or other lightweight flexible material and secured with rope or other fasteners so that gear does not slip or fall out in transit.
The other two of the three storage areas of the gear rack 84 are the side gear bays 87, located along each side and under the top of the portable storage unit 20 and underneath the bottom of and outside ends of the top gear bay 86. The side gear bays 87 are illustrated in
A set of side rollers 92 may be secured to the gear rack 84, and a set of top rollers 94 may be secured to the portable storage unit 20 to allow the gear rack 84 to roll up to, onto, or down its transit position on top of the portable storage unit 20. Metal straps may be attached to the bottom side of the top gear bay 86 to facilitate rolling of the side rollers 92 and top rollers 94. Once the gear rack 84 is positioned for transit, the gear rack 84 may be secured to the portable storage unit 20 by a set of fasteners, such as the hinged travel fasteners 96.
The side rollers 92 may be secured to the gear rack 84 to allow the gear rack 84 to slide onto the portable storage unit 20, as shown in
The ability to move all embodiments of the present invention through difficult terrain saves work and adds enjoyment for campers, who can thus push one object and take all of their needed gear to a remote location in a single trip instead of carrying gear by hand and by many separate trips.
The present invention therefore provides a portable storage and transport unit with multiple storage areas (at least one of which is adjustable in height), support points that accommodate adjustable supports to allow some storage areas to be set at different heights and to be easily moved, a top lidded area that serves as an extra storage location, a weather shelter that protects items within the storage unit from precipitation, a continuous supported work surface area around the entire perimeter of the unit, the ability to adjust the storage unit's center of gravity in multiple ways to make the storage unit easier to move even when heavily loaded, and the ability to be towed by a vehicle without unpacking the storage unit. The present invention also provides a gear rack that may be used to store more gear in combination with the portable storage unit.
The foregoing description of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed, and other modifications and variations may be possible in light of the above teachings. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention in various embodiments and various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the appended claims be construed to include other alternative embodiments of the invention except insofar as limited by the prior art.
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3984162 | Zozzaro | Oct 1976 | A |
| 4706817 | Greathouse | Nov 1987 | A |
| 5102209 | Hesseltine | Apr 1992 | A |
| 6752477 | Goldberg | Jun 2004 | B2 |
| 8256622 | Ahlberg | Sep 2012 | B2 |
| 8696075 | Rios | Apr 2014 | B1 |
| 20020096509 | Von Mosshaim | Jul 2002 | A1 |
| 20020130598 | Schmidt | Sep 2002 | A1 |
| 20070029746 | Brennan | Feb 2007 | A1 |
| 20080000171 | McKay | Jan 2008 | A1 |
