CA3107010A1 - Self-propelled tire cart - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention comprises a novel tire cart device which is self-propelled, allowing for stacks of automobile tires to be easily moved from one location to another in a setting such as a garage or warehouse. The device also contains powered mechanisms for clamping the stack of tires and lifting the stack off the ground for the purpose of transportation. The device contains an onboard rechargeable battery which is used by all of the powered elements. The device contains clamp devices which envelope the stack of tires, keeping the stack safe from toppling effects during transportation. The device also contains lifting brackets which are pushed under the stack of tires for the purpose of powered lifting of the stack of tires off of the ground. The device is sufficiently powerful to lift and move a stack of approximately 5-7 automobile tires but is also lightweight and simple enough to be a reasonable alternative to existing manual tire dollies, without costing as much as larger equipment such as a forklift.

Description

CANADIAN PATENT APPLICATION
Title: SELF-PROPELLED TIRE CART
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
= The present invention is a device that allows for the self-propelled transportation of stacks of automobile tires.
DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART
= The current state of the art devices for transporting tires around a garage or warehouse either involves using a manual tire cart or a large piece of equipment such as a forklift. A manual tire cart requires the operator to use body strength to lift the tire stack off the ground and also to use body strength to move the tires from one location to another; these activities are physically demanding and cause the work to be done fairly slowly. A larger piece of equipment such as a forklift is expensive and bulky, not allowing access to tight spaces.
SUMMARY
= The present invention is self-propelled and controlled by a user, with an electric motor on a main drive wheel to move the device around; a hydraulic drive could also be used. Either drive option would be powered by a rechargeable onboard battery pack.
= The present invention also uses electric or hydraulic devices to hold the stack of tires with clamp arms, while lifting brackets are pushed under the tires and moved vertically for the purpose of lifting the tire stack off the ground for transport.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
= Fig. 1 ¨ Figure 1 shows an isometric view of an embodiment of the device, shown without a stack of tires.
= Fig. 2 ¨ Figure 2 shows an isometric view of an embodiment of the device, shown with a stack of tires.
= Fig. 3 ¨ Figure 3 shows a top view of an embodiment of the device with the clamp arms open, approaching a stack of tires.

Date Recue/Date Received 2021-01-26 = Fig. 4 ¨ Figure 4 shows a top view of an embodiment of the device with the clamp arms open, as the device has contacted the stack of tires and is ready to clamp onto the stack of tires.
= Fig. 5 ¨ Figure 5 shows a top view of an embodiment of the device with the clamp arms closed on a stack of tires.
= Fig. 6 ¨ Figure 6 shows a top view of an embodiment of the device without a stack of tires, with the cover removed to show the clamping mechanisms.
= Fig. 7 ¨ Figure 7 shows a top view of an embodiment of the device without a stack of tires, with the cover removed to show the clamping mechanisms and the clamping arms opened wider.
= Fig. 8 ¨ Figure 8 shows a top view of an embodiment of the device without a stack of tires, with the over on, with the clamping arms opened maximally to potentially be used to stow the device when not in use.
= Fig. 9 ¨ Figure 9 shows an isometric view of an embodiment of the device with the clamping arms opened maximally to potentially be used to stow the device when not in use.
= Fig. 10 ¨ Figure 10 shows a side view of an embodiment of the device with a stack of tires before the stack of tires is lifted.
= Fig. 11 ¨ Figure 11 shows a side view of an embodiment of the device with a stack of tires after the stack of tires has been lifted to the transport height.
= Fig. 12 ¨ Figure 12 shows a front view of an embodiment of the device with a stack of tires before the stack of tires is lifted.
= Fig. 13 ¨ Figure 13 shows a front view of an embodiment of the device with a stack of tires after the stack of tires has been lifted to the transport height.
= Fig. 14 ¨ Figure 14 shows a top view of an embodiment of the device showing the handle and drive wheel in the steering position.
= Fig. 15 ¨ Figure 15 shows a rear view of an embodiment of the device with the handle and drive wheel in the straight position.
= Fig. 16 ¨ Figure 16 shows a rear view of an embodiment of the device showing the handle and drive wheel in the steering position.

2 Date Recue/Date Received 2021-01-26 = Fig. 17 ¨ Figure 17 shows a view of an embodiment of the handle showing the controls for clamping, lifting, and drive direction (forward or reverse) on the main part of the handle.
= Fig. 18 ¨ Figure 18 shows a view of an embodiment of the handle showing the controls for clamping, lifting, and drive direction (forward or reverse) placed on the side of the handle so that they are easily accessible by the thumb of the user, for easy one-handed operation.
= Fig. 19 ¨ Figure 19 shows a view of an embodiment of the handle showing the controls for clamping, lifting, and drive direction (forward or reverse) placed on the side of the handle so that they are easily accessible by the thumb of the user, for easy one-handed operation.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the term "and/or"
includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. As used herein, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well as the singular forms, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms "comprises" and/or "comprising," when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.
Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one having ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and the present disclosure and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.
In describing the invention, it will be understood that a number of techniques and steps are disclosed. Each of these has individual benefit and each can also be used in conjunction with one or more, or in some cases all, of the other disclosed techniques.
Accordingly, for the sake of clarity, this description will refrain from repeating every possible combination of the individual steps in an unnecessary fashion.
Nevertheless, the specification and claims should be read with the understanding that such combinations are entirely within the scope of the invention and the claims.
A tire handling and movement device is discussed herein. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. It will be evident, however, to one

3 Date Recue/Date Received 2021-01-26 skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details.
The present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the invention, and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments illustrated by the figures or description below.
The present invention will now be described by referencing the appended figures representing preferred embodiment.
Figure 1 shows the preferred embodiment of the self-propelled tire cart, used to move stacks of tires 11 which are in the configuration shown, with the bottom tire on the stack laying flat on the ground and other tires stacked directly vertical on top of the bottom tire.
The drive wheel 1 contains a motor for the purpose of self-propelled drive, and is attached to a handle 2 which is used to steer the cart. The handle has a pivot above the drive wheel which allows the handle to rotate to enable steering as shown in Figure 14 and Figure 16. The handle also has controls 13 and 14 and 15 as shown in several configurations in Figures 17-19. These controls can be used to change the drive direction from forward to reverse, to control the speed of the cart's forward or reverse movement, and also control the powered clamping operation, and the powered lifting operation. The configuration of the controls 15 shown in Figures 18-19 are provided as an option for controlling the lifting, clamping, and forward/reverse functions from the user's thumb position, allowing for one-handed vehicle operation if desired.
In Figure 1, a frame 3 is shown which provides structure for the device, and contains pivot points 5 which enable the clamping arms 4 to rotate about those points for the purpose of enclosing a stack of tires 11 of various diameters. Figures 6-8 show the wide range of movements provided by the clamping arms.
One or more lifting bracket 6 are used to lift the stack of tires. One bracket is shown per side in Figure 1. When the device approaches a stack of tires 11 as shown in Figures 3-5, the clamping arms 4 are opened wider than the stack of tires using controls on the handlebar 2, and the controls are also used to lower the lifting brackets 6 until the lower portion of the brackets touch the ground. The device is then moved forward until the stack of tires is in place as shown in Figure 4. The controls on the handlebar 2 are then used to activate the clamping mechanisms 12, shown in Figure 6, to close the clamp arms, which forces the lower portion of the brackets underneath the tires. The controls are then used to engage the powered lifting mechanisms 10, shown in this embodiment as electric linear actuators. These lifting mechanisms are synchronized to lift with equal speed and force on the lifting brackets in order to keep the stack of tires steady and vertical. Figures 10-13 show side and front views of the cart and stack of tires, showing the tire stack on the ground (Figures 10 and 12) prior to lifting, as well as in their final lifted position (Figures 11 and 13). The lifted height is set by travel-limiting electrical switch devices at approximately 2 inches above the ground, allowing the cart to be moved around the garage, warehouse, etc.

4 Date Recue/Date Received 2021-01-26 The clamp arms 4 are shown as large enough to encompass the stack of tires 11 in the vertical direction and to surround the tires sufficiently to prevent the stack from toppling over during transportation. The clamp arms 4 and associated hardware attached to the clamp arms are shown in Figures 3-5 as being minimally wide in cross-section so as to allow the device to be used in tight spaces.
Support wheels 7 and 8 are provided which support the weight of the cart and its contents and also allow the clamping arms to move through their range of motion, since the front wheels 7 are provided with a swiveling function. A cover 9 is provided for the purpose of covering the cart's battery, wiring, and the clamping mechanisms 12.
Other embodiments are possible. The device could use different lifting and clamping devices (10 and 12) such as hydraulic devices powered by an electric pump, in place of the electrical linear actuators that are currently shown. Alternative mechanisms could be provided to accomplish the clamping and lifting tasks, such as through the use of linkages, wedges, and other methods known to people having ordinary skill in the art.
Other embodiments of the device could also use a different configuration of supporting and driving wheels 1, 7, and 8. It is possible that the steering method which is shown as moving the handlebar 2 in order to steer the cart could be modified, possibly using two driving wheels whose speed are varied from side to side to induce a steering motion.
Other embodiments of the device could use different configurations of the controls 13 to potentially use wired or wireless remote control, foot control, or other methods, shown as Item 15.
Date Recue/Date Received 2021-01-26

Claims (2)

What is claimed is:

1. A tire cart which is self-propelled and controlled by a user, capable of transporting a vertical stack of approximately 5-7 automobile tires between various locations.

2. A tire cart which has powered clamping and lifting mechanisms to allow for a vertical stack of approximately 5-7 automobile tires to be enveloped and secured, lifted, and transported in a safe and efficient manner.

Date Recue/Date Received 2021-01-26