WO2008038859A1

WO2008038859A1 - A carrier having supporting moving means

Info

Publication number: WO2008038859A1
Application number: PCT/KR2006/005271
Authority: WO
Inventors: Young Kyu Song
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-09-29
Filing date: 2006-12-07
Publication date: 2008-04-03
Anticipated expiration: 2009-03-29
Also published as: KR100777972B1

Abstract

Disclosed is a carrier having a supporting moving unit. The carrier is supported so as not to fall down and is easily moved by pushing action or pulling action of a user. The carrier includes a lower frame, traveling wheels coupled to one side of a lower portion of the lower frame, and a handle extending upwards from the lower frame. The carrier also includes an auxiliary leg pivotably coupled to a predetermined portion of the lower frame, an auxiliary wheel coupled to a lower portion of the auxiliary leg, and an angle adjusting means maintaining the state in which the auxiliary leg is pivoted.

Description

A CARRIER HAVING SUPPORTING MOVING MEANS

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to a carrier having supporting moving means. More particularly, the present invention relates to a carrier, which is supported so as not to fall down and is easily moved by pushing action or pulling action of a user.

[2] Such a carrier includes a main body and traveling wheels coupled to a lower portion of the main body, and is used for carrying articles, which are received in a receiving section of the main body or placed on the main body. This carrier is used as a travel luggage, a shopping cart, and so on. Background Art

[3] A conventional carrier will be described below with reference to FIG. 10.

[4] FIG. 10 is a side view illustrating a conventional carrier.

[5] As illustrated in FIG. 10, the conventional carrier 10 has a suitcase shape, in which resting legs 14 are coupled to one side of the lower portion of a main body 12, and traveling wheels 16 are coupled to the other side of the lower portion of the main body 12. The main body 12 is provided on an upper portion thereof with a retractable handle 18, which can be inserted into or withdrawn from the main body 12.

[6] The carrier 10 having this construction is moved by push action or pulling action of a user, after the retractable handle 18 is withdrawn from the main body 12, and then the carrier 10 is inclined such that the traveling wheels 16 support a weight of the carrier 10.

[7] However, the carrier 10 having this construction has a problem in that it falls down on the ground when heavy articles are loaded on the side of the resting legs 14.

[8] Further, when the carrier 10 is moved, a weight of the articles in the main body 12 is distributed to the traveling wheels 16 and the retractable handle 18, thereby causing a burden on the arm of a user. For this reason, the user is inconvenient to move the carrier for a long time.

[9] In addition, when moving the carrier 10, an angle between the ground and an extension line of the withdrawn retractable handle 18 and the traveling wheels 16 is frequently changed according to steps of the user. Thus, in order to maintain a balance, the user must apply force to the carrier 10 in an irregular direction using his/her arm, which is troublesome and inconvenient for the user to make use of the carrier 10. Disclosure of Invention Technical Problem

[10] The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems occurring in the prior art, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a carrier which is stably supported by a user.

[11] Another object of the present invention is to provide a carrier that can constantly maintain an angle between the ground and an extension line of a retractable handle and traveling wheels during movement and thus provides convenient movement.

[12] Another object of the present invention is to provide a carrier that distributes a weight of articles accommodated in a main body to a lower portion of the carrier, such that burden is not caused to a user even if the user moves the carrier for a long time. Technical Solution

[13] To accomplish the above objects, according to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a carrier having a supporting moving means. The carrier includes a main body, traveling wheels coupled to a lower portion of the main body, handles provided to an upper portion of the main body, and the supporting moving means mounted between the traveling wheels in order to distribute a weight applied to the traveling wheels.

[14] Here, the supporting moving means may include an auxiliary leg, which is pivotably coupled to the main body on one side thereof so as to be inserted into or withdrawn from the main body, and which is coupled with an auxiliary wheel on the other side thereof.

[15] Further, the supporting moving means may further include an angle adjusting means for adjusting a pivot angle of the auxiliary leg.

[16] Also, the angle adjusting means may include a supporting leg that is pivotably coupled to the main body at one end thereof, and a supporting rod that extends from the supporting leg in opposite directions at the other ends thereof. Here, the auxiliary leg may include a guide slot formed in a longitudinal direction such that the supporting leg is moved, and be provided therein with catching protrusions spaced apart from each other at regular intervals such that the supporting leg is fixed at a corresponding position.

[17] Preferably, three catching protrusions are provided on the auxiliary leg at regular intervals such that the supporting moving means can be maintained at inclination angles of 40 degrees, 60 degrees, and 80 degrees.

[18] The angle adjusting means may include a supporting leg that is pivotably coupled to the main body at one end thereof, and a movable member that is coupled to the other end of the supporting leg at one end thereof and is in contact with the auxiliary leg at the other end thereof. Here, the auxiliary leg may include guide slots formed in a longitudinal direction such that the supporting leg is moved, and a fixing member that passes through the guide slots to be in contact with the movable member such that the supporting leg is fixed at a corresponding position.

[19] The fixing member may include a body and a fixing handle, in which the body is formed with a screw, and the fixing handle has a diameter greater than a width of each guide slot of the auxiliary leg so as to be fixedly supported on the auxiliary leg. The fixing member may include a frictional member that is additionally provided between the fixing handle and one of the guide slots in order to prevent the auxiliary leg from being damaged and to reinforce friction against the fixing member.

[20] The auxiliary leg of the supporting moving means may have any one of a pipe shape and a plate shape, and at least one supporting moving means is provided.

[21] The supporting moving means may further include a damping means coupled between the auxiliary leg and the auxiliary wheel.

[22] The main body may be provided therein with an elastic device connected with the supporting moving means so as to automatically develop the supporting moving means, and be provided on one side thereof with a button actuating the elastic device in cooperation with the elastic device.

Advantageous Effects

[23] As described above, according to the present invention, the carrier is provided with the supporting moving means capable of distributing a weight applied to the traveling wheels. Therefore, the carrier can be stably supported at three or four points.

[24] That is, the weight of articles loaded in the carrier is distributed to the traveling wheels and the supporting moving means, so that the user is not given a burden even if the user moves the carrier for a long time.

[25] Further, the supporting moving means is unfolded from or folded toward the main body when pivotably coupled to the main body, so that the carrier is pulled at the rear of the user, and is pushed at the front of the user. Thus, the carrier can be used in various ways as needed by the user. Particularly, when moving the carrier while disposing the carrier in front of the user, the user can check the state of the carrier, so that the user can conveniently and safely moves the carrier in places where persons are crowded or the road is complicated.

[26] In addition, the supporting moving means is further provided with the angle adjusting means. Thus, a pivot angle of the auxiliary leg can be adjusted, so that an inclination angle of the carrier can be adjusted by the adjustment of the angle of the supporting moving means according to a stature of the user.

[27] Meanwhile, the angle adjusting means including the supporting leg and the supporting rod is moved along the guide slot of the auxiliary leg, and is fixed to a predetermined position by means of the catching protrusions. Thus, the angle of the supporting moving means can be easily adjusted through simple construction and usage.

[28] Particularly, the auxiliary leg is provided with three catching protrusions aligned at regular intervals such that the supporting moving means has inclination angles of 40, 60 and 80 degrees. Therefore, when the stature of the user is generally classified as 155 cm, 175 cm, and 195 cm, the inclination angle can be maintained and used within an error range of each stature.

[29] Meanwhile, the angle adjusting means including the supporting leg, the movable member, and the fixing member is fixed after being moved along the guide slots, so that it can be suitably used according to the stature of the user with the optimal inclination angle, while allowing the user to feel comfortable.

[30] Especially, the fixing handle has a diameter greater than a width of each guide slot of the auxiliary leg so as to be fixedly supported to the auxiliary leg, and the frictional member is additionally provided between the fixing member and one of the guide slots, so that the auxiliary leg and the fixing member are firmly fixed due to the friction force increased therebetween, and thus the damage to the auxiliary leg can be prevented.

[31] Further, according to the present invention, the auxiliary leg of the supporting moving means can be formed in the pipe shape or the plate shape. In the case of the plate shape, the supporting moving means can more stably support the carrier.

[32] Furthermore, because at least one supporting moving means is used, the weight distribution and the convenient movement can be achieved according to the standard requirements of the carrier.

[33] Also, the supporting moving means is additionally coupled with the damping means formed between the auxiliary leg and the auxiliary wheel. Thus, even if the carrier moves along an irregular road, a shock is absorbed by the damping means, and thus it is possible not only to reduce the shock applied to the user, but also to prevent the articles loaded in the carrier from being damaged.

[34] The supporting moving means can be manually manipulated. In addition, if the main body is provided with the elastic device and the button, the supporting moving means can be automatically unfolded by simply operating the button. Brief Description of the Drawings

[35] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a carrier according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

[36] FIG. 2 is a view for explaining the use of a carrier according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

[37] FIG. 3 is a phantom view illustrating part A of FIG. 2;

[38] FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line B-B of FIG. 3;

[39] FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view illustrating an angle adjusting means according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

[40] FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a carrier according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

[41] FIG. 7 is a phantom view illustrating a supporting moving means of a carrier according to a third embodiment of the present invention;

[42] FIG. 8 is a view for explaining the use of the supporting moving means of FIG. 7;

[43] FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along line C-C of FIG. 7; and

[44] FIG. 10 is a side view illustrating a conventional carrier.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[45] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described.

[46] In the following description of the present invention, a detailed description of known functions and configurations incorporated herein will be omitted when it may make the subject matter of the present invention rather unclear. In addition, terms used in the present invention are selected by taking the functions thereof into consideration. Such terms may vary depending on the intention of manufacturers or the custom, so the definition of the terms must be determined based on the whole context of the specification.

[47] Meanwhile, in the embodiments of the present invention, the carrier will be illustrated and described taking an ordinary travel luggage by way of example. Therefore, the carrier naturally includes a foldable cart used for shopping.

[48]

[49] Embodiment 1

[50] First, a carrier having a supporting moving means according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5.

[51] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a carrier according to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a view for explaining the use of a carrier according to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a phantom view illustrating part A of FIG. 2, FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line B-B of FIG. 3, and FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view illustrating an angle adjusting means according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

[52] As illustrated, the carrier having a supporting moving means (hereinafter, referred to as carrier as long as a separate description is not made) according to a first embodiment of the present invention is formed in a suitcase shape, in which resting legs 118 are provided to one side of the lower portion of a main body 110, traveling wheels 120 are provided to the other side of the lower portion of the main body 110, and an auxiliary wheel 170 is coupled between the traveling wheels 120 in the state in which it is folded toward the main body 110. [53] The main body 110 is provided, on an upper portion thereof, with a handle 114 as well as a retractable handle 116 that can be inserted into or withdrawn from the main body 110.

[54] The carrier 100 according to a first embodiment of the present invention includes a supporting moving means, which is composed of an auxiliary leg 150 and the auxiliary wheel 170.

[55] The auxiliary leg 150 is pivotably coupled to a lower frame (not shown), which constitutes the main body 110, at a position spaced apart from the lower portion of the main body by a predetermined distance, and is coupled with the auxiliary wheel 170 for movement at a lower portion thereof.

[56] Meanwhile, the supporting moving means includes an angle adjusting means such that its angle can be adjusted according to the height of a user, etc.

[57] The angle adjusting means includes a supporting leg 162 that is pivotably coupled to the lower frame, and a supporting rod 164 that extends from one end of the supporting leg 162 in opposite directions.

[58] The auxiliary leg 150 has the shape of a square pipe, one side of which is provided with a guide slot 156 slotted along the center thereof, and includes a plurality of catching protrusions 154 that are formed on an inner surface opposite to the guide slot 156.

[59] Meanwhile, although not illustrated, a damping means such as a spring may be additionally coupled between the auxiliary leg 150 and the auxiliary wheel 170 in order to endow an elastic force.

[60] The auxiliary wheel can be unfolded or folded by the arm or leg of the user.

Further, the carrier 100 may be mounted with a button on one side thereof, and an elastic device, driven by the button, inside thereof such that the auxiliary leg 150 can be automatically unfolded using a spring principle applied to a conventional self- opening umbrella.

[61] Further, the auxiliary wheel 170, preferably, is a rotary wheel that can rotate in every direction, like a wheel used in an existing revolving chair.

[62] Hereinafter, an example of using the carrier 100 according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[63] In the case where the carrier 100 is allowed to stand upright, for instance, in a narrow place, the carrier 100 stands upright using the traveling wheels 120, the auxiliary wheel 170, and the resting legs 118 of the lower portion of the main body 120. This state is illustrated in FIG. 1.

[64] In the case where a lot of articles are loaded in the main body 110, the supporting rod 164 is fitted into one recess defined by two neighboring ones of the catching protrusions 154 in order to prevent the carrier 100 from falling down. This state is il- lustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. At this time, the supporting rod 164 can be fitted into any recess between the catching protrusions 154, so that the carrier 100 can be inclined with respect to the ground at various angles.

[65] In the case where the carrier 100 is allowed to move, the user grasps the retractable handle 116 to push or pull the carrier 100. At this time, the weight of the articles loaded in the carrier 100 is distributed to the traveling wheels 120 and the auxiliary wheel 170, so that the user can easily move the carrier 100.

[66] Further, the damping means is additionally coupled to the auxiliary wheel 170 or the auxiliary leg 150, so that the articles loaded in the carrier 100 can avoid being damaged although the ground is uneven during movement, because a shock is absorbed by the damping action of the damping means.

[67] As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 6, the auxiliary leg of the supporting moving means has the pipe shape, but it may be formed in a plate shape for the convenience of the user.

[68] Meanwhile, in the case of the ordinary adult carrier, the maximum length of the retractable handle 116 amounts to about 96 cm.

[69] When the user standing 175 cm tall pulls the carrier, the angle of the carrier which is inclined with respect to the ground amounts to about 60 degrees. When the user standing 165 cm tall pulls the carrier, the angle of the carrier which is inclined with respect to the ground amounts to about 50 degrees. Here, when the height difference is about 10 cm, the angle difference is about 10 degrees.

[70] Therefore, it is preferable to adjust the angles of the catching protrusions 154 of the supporting rod 164 and recesses corresponding to the catching protrusions 154 such that the inclination angle of the supporting moving means can be set to about 40 degrees (in the case of the user standing 155 cm tall), about 60 degrees (in the case of the user standing 175 cm tall), or about 80 degrees (in the case of the user standing 195 cm tall).

[71] Meanwhile, when the carrier is pushed from behind, the arms positions of the user must be high. Thus, the user standing 175 cm tall can use the angle for the user standing 195 cm tall, and the user standing 155 cm tall can use the angle for the user s tanding 175 cm tall. In this manner, the user can use the carrier by adjusting the angle according to a used type of the carrier. Mode for the Invention

[72] Embodiment 2

[73] Hereinafter, a carrier according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 6.

[74] FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a carrier according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [75] As illustrated in FIG. 6, the carrier 200 according to a second embodiment of the present invention is substantially the same as that 100 according to a first embodiment of the present invention, excluding that two supporting moving means are used. [76] When two supporting moving means are used as in the second embodiment, the carrier 200 can be stably used due to effective weight distribution to two traveling wheels 220 and two auxiliary wheels 270 although the articles loaded in the carrier 200 are heavy or although the carrier 200 is large. [77] However, the present invention is not particularly limited to this configuration, and thus it should be noted that three or more supporting moving means can be used. [78]

[79] Embodiment 3

[80] Hereinafter, a carrier according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 7, 8 and 9. [81] FIG. 7 is a phantom view illustrating a supporting moving means of a carrier according to a third embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 8 is a view for explaining the use of the supporting moving means of FIG. 7, and FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along line C-C of FIG. 7. [82] As illustrated, the carrier 300 according to a third embodiment of the present invention is substantially the same as that 100 according to a first embodiment of the present invention, excluding that the supporting moving means has a different structure. [83] In other words, in the carrier 300 according to a third embodiment of the present invention, an auxiliary leg 350 has the shape of a pipe, which is provided with guide slots 352 slotted along the middle thereof. [84] The angle adjusting means includes a supporting leg 362 that is pivotably coupled to a lower frame, and a movable member 364 that is coupled to one side of the supporting leg 362 on one side thereof and is in contact with the auxiliary leg 350 on the other side thereof. [85] The auxiliary leg 350 has the guide slots 352 formed in a longitudinal direction such that the supporting leg 362 is moved, and further includes a fixing member that passes through the guide slots 352 to be fixed to the movable member 364 so as to fix the supporting leg 362 at a predetermined position. [86] The fixing member includes a body 368 and a fixing handle 372, wherein the body

368 is formed with a screw, and the fixing handle 372 has a diameter greater than a width of each guide slot 352 of the auxiliary leg 350 so as to be fixedly supported to the auxiliary leg 350. [87] In the carrier 300 having this construction in accordance with the third embodiment of the present invention, the fixing handle 372 is turned and fixed to the movable member 364 through the guide slots 352 by means of friction and pressure against the movable member 364, so as to adjust an inclination angle of the carrier.

[88] At this time, preferably, a frictional member is additionally provided between the fixing handle 372 and one of the guide slots 352 which is in contact with the fixing handle 372.

[89] The frictional member may include a pad formed of synthetic resin. The increase in frictional force due to the addition of the frictional member can not only prevent the fixing member from sliding along the guide slots 352 of the auxiliary leg 350, but also prevent an outer surface of the auxiliary leg 350 from being damaged. Industrial Applicability

[90] Although the exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been described for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.

Claims

[1] A carrier having a main body, traveling wheels coupled to a lower portion of the main body, and handles provided on an upper portion of the main body, characterized in that a supporting moving means is mounted between the traveling wheels in order to distribute a weight applied to the traveling wheels.

[2] The carrier as claimed in claim 1, wherein the supporting moving means includes an auxiliary leg, one side of which is pivotably coupled to the main body so as to be inserted into or withdrawn from the main body, and a remaining side of which is coupled with an auxiliary wheel.

[3] The carrier as claimed in claim 2, wherein the supporting moving means further includes an angle adjusting means for adjusting a pivot angle of the auxiliary leg.

[4] The carrier as claimed in claim 3, wherein the angle adjusting means includes a supporting leg that is pivotably coupled to the main body at one end of the angle adjusting means, and a supporting rod that extends from the supporting leg in opposite directions at a remaining side of the angle adjusting means, and wherein the auxiliary leg includes a guide slot formed in a longitudinal direction such that the supporting leg is moved, and is provided therein with catching protrusions spaced apart from each other at regular intervals such that the supporting leg is fixed at a corresponding position.

[5] The carrier as claimed in claim 4, wherein three catching protrusions are provided on the auxiliary leg at regular intervals such that the supporting moving means is maintained at inclination angles of 40 degrees, 60 degrees, and 80 degrees.

[6] The carrier as claimed in claim 3, wherein the angle adjusting means includes a supporting leg, one end of which is pivotably coupled to the main body, and a movable member, one end of which is coupled a remaining end of the supporting leg and a remaining end of which makes contact with the auxiliary leg, and wherein the auxiliary leg includes guide slots formed in a longitudinal direction such that the supporting leg is moved, and a fixing member that passes through the guide slots to make contact with the movable member such that the supporting leg is fixed at a corresponding position.

[7] The carrier as claimed in claim 6, wherein the fixing member includes: a body and a fixing handle, in which the body is formed with a screw, and the fixing handle has a diameter greater than a width of each guide slot of the auxiliary leg so as to be fixedly supported on the auxiliary leg; and a frictional member that is additionally provided between the fixing handle and one of the guide slots which is in contact with the fixing handle in order to prevent the auxiliary leg from being damaged and to reinforce friction against the fixing member.

[8] The carrier as claimed in any one of claims 1 through 7, wherein the auxiliary leg of the supporting moving means has any one of a pipe shape and a plate shape, and at least one supporting moving means is provided.

[9] The carrier as claimed in claim 8, wherein the supporting moving means further includes a damping means coupled between the auxiliary leg and the auxiliary wheel.

[10] The carrier as claimed in claim 8, wherein the main body is provided therein with an elastic device connected with the supporting moving means so as to automatically develop the supporting moving means, and is provided on one side thereof with a button actuating the elastic device in cooperation with the elastic device.