Patent Application
20210331729
The present invention relates to utility carts.
Many times, when we want to go to the beach or shop at a store, we have objects in our hands that prevent us from being able to pull or push a cart. Also, sometimes the objects in the cart are too heavy for us to physically pull or push the cart. In recent years, electric motors and rechargeable battery packs have become smaller and increasingly more power dense, thus these components can be used for applications from golf carts to small drivable cars for children.
More so, electronics and sensors have become increasingly sophisticated and smart, offering possibilities never before realized, such as voice activation of household lights and electronic appliances, as well as personal locating beacons (PLB's) and other handheld devices that can be detected and tracked from miles away.
A reasoned analysis of the available technologies would reveal that by combining battery powered electric motor capabilities, voice activated electronics, and locating sensor technology, that a hands-free utility cart can be developed for all kinds carrying tasks.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a hands-free utility cart that is controllable by detecting proximity to, and by voice commands from, it's user.
It is also an object of the present invention to provide said utility cart that can be used on all terrains, including asphalt, sand, snow, dirt, etc.
It is also an object of the present invention to provide said utility cart that can be used for a veritable plethora of functions, including but not limited to a beach cart, baby carriage, shopping cart, work tools cart, golf bags cart, etc. In doing so, it will be seen that the cart is comprised of a chassis, and a removable utility basket. The said chassis contains the electric motor(s), battery(s), electronics, wheels and other operational controls for the cart. Whereas the said utility basket is designed and styled for all sorts of specific applications. However, all said utility baskets shall include standardized attachment features for quickly connecting and disconnecting from the said chassis.
It is also an object of the present invention to provide said utility cart that, while intended for hands-free operation, does include a pull handle which can be used for complete manual operation.
It is also an object of the present invention that said utility cart can be folded-up and/or compacted for easy storage.
These and other features of the present invention will be more clearly understood from a consideration of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:
One of the many possible embodiments of the invention is shown in
The chassis 12 contains a battery pack 30, electronics module 14, proximity sensor 4, electrically controlled steering mechanism 6, electric drive motor(s) 3, for forward and rearward movement. The wheels 5 attached to the chassis 12, are shown to be big round tires suitable for embodiment 50 to be used on sand as beach utility cart. The type of said wheels 5 fitted may vary greatly depending on the desired use of said cart, and for snow or sand may also be seen as full-track or half-track as is seen on common snow mobiles.
In operation the user 20 carries or wears an electronic device or chip 2, that is detected by the proximity sensor 4 located in said chassis 12. Once the utility cart is powered on by a button or switch 22, the user 20, can issue voice commands to control the operation of the cart. The electronics 14 will convert voice commands to the required electrical signals to modulate the electric motor for start, stop, and also for overriding the steering of the cart, which is nominally automated by the proximity sensor, perhaps to command the cart to change positions from one side of the user to the other side, as might be desired.
As an example, if the user voices a command such as “CART, FOLLOW ME”, or some variation thereof, as can be programmed into the electronics, the cart will move at a walking pace, while the proximity sensor 4 will ensure the cart remains approximately three feet behind the electronic device chip carried or worn by the user. Once the user voices a command such as “CART, STOP” or any desired electronically programmable variation thereof, the cart will come to a complete stop, whereby the user can approach the cart to load or remove any objects.
If for some reason the user 20 prefers the cart to follow on his or her right side or left side, a command can be voiced such as “CART, FOLLOW RIGHT” or any desired electronically programmable variation thereof, in which the cart will shift its path to approximately three feet to the right of the user 20. A different voice command will direct the cart to follow on the left, and another voice command will allow the user to adjust the following distance between the cart and the electronic device or chip 2 being carried.
If for some reason the battery dies or the cart electronics malfunction there is a manual pull handle 7 also connected to the chassis 12, which when deployed from its latch 15, will deactivate said drive motor(s) 3, and said electrically controlled steering mechanism 6, from said wheels, providing easy freewheeling of the cart for manual pulling.
While there have been described what are considered to be a preferred configuration of the present invention, it will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art that modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the teachings herein. For at least such reason, therefore, resort should be had to the claims appended hereto for a true understanding of the scope of the invention.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63016263 | Apr 2020 | US |
