Collapsible multi-use cart and tree stand

Abstract

A collapsible cart and tree stand operable in cart, tree stand and collapsed configurations is disclosed. The cart includes a substantially planar deck, wheels removably and rotatably mountable to the deck, and a handle removably connectable at a front edge of the deck. In variations, the cart can hitch to a vehicle, hitch to a bicycle, contain loads in a bin, and includes side rails and a backrest for carrying an injured person. In the collapsed configuration, the handle and wheels are removably stowable adjacent to said deck, with two wheels in substantially coplanar relation to each other. In the tree stand configuration, the deck has a rear edge whose left and right extremities are rearward of an intermediate portion therebetween which is adapted to engage the surface of a tree. A tree support for supporting the deck is provided which is removably attachable to a tree.

1 . A collapsible cart operable in a cart configuration and in a collapsed configuration, the cart comprising: 
 a) a substantially planar deck having opposing front and rear edges and left and right sides;    b) at least two wheels, said at least two wheels respectively being, when the cart is in the cart configuration, removably and rotatably mounted to said deck adjacent said left and right sides so as to define a longitudinal direction of travel; and    c) a handle, said handle being, when the cart is in the cart configuration, removably connected to said deck at said front edge, said handle being removably stowable adjacent to said deck when the cart is in the collapsed configuration,    whereby said deck and said at least two wheels are dimensioned to permit two of said at least two wheels to be stowed adjacent to said deck in substantially coplanar relation to each other when the cart is in the collapsed configuration.    
   
   
       2 . The cart of  claim 1 , wherein said handle, when the cart is in the cart configuration, extends in said longitudinal direction and additionally is disposed in a transverse direction so as to form a T-shape.  
   
   
       3 . The cart of  claim 1 , wherein said handle is separable into a plurality of sections, said plurality of sections comprising: 
 a) a base section, said base section being removably connectable to said deck at said front edge;    b) a supporting section, said supporting section being removably connectable to said base section; and    c) a handle bar disposed substantially transversely on said supporting section.    
   
   
       4 . The cart of  claim 1 , wherein said handle comprises: 
 a) a longitudinal portion, said longitudinal portion extending from said deck substantially in said longitudinal direction when the cart is in the cart configuration; and    b) an extension portion, said extension portion extending, when the cart is in the cart configuration, substantially within a plane perpendicular to the plane of said deck at an angle between 0 and 90 degrees relative to said longitudinal direction.    
   
   
       5 . The cart of  claim 3 , wherein said base section comprises: 
 a) a base longitudinal portion, said base longitudinal portion extending from said deck substantially in said longitudinal direction when the cart is in the cart configuration; and    b) a base extension portion, said base extension portion extending, when the cart is in the cart configuration, substantially within a plane perpendicular to the plane of said deck at an angle between 0 and 90 degrees relative to said longitudinal direction.    
   
   
       6 . The cart of  claim 1 , wherein said handle comprises at least one attachment point for attaching a load.  
   
   
       7 . The cart of  claim 1 , wherein said deck comprises a frame and a substantially planar platform for carrying a load, said platform being attached to said frame.  
   
   
       8 . The cart of  claim 1 , wherein said cart comprises at least two wheel brackets attached to said deck at said left and right sides, said at least two wheels being removably and rotatably mountable to said at least two wheel brackets, respectively.  
   
   
       9 . The cart of  claim 1 , wherein said cart comprises at least two wheel guards attached to said deck at said left and right sides, respectively, each of said at least two wheel guards defining an opening dimensioned to permit placement therein of one of said at least two wheels.  
   
   
       10 . The cart of  claim 1 , wherein said at least two wheels are removably and rotatably mountable to said deck without the use of an axle between said at least two wheels.  
   
   
       11 . The cart of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one collar attached to said deck at said front edge, said at least one collar being operable to connect said handle sections to said deck when the cart is in the cart configuration and operable to stow at least one section of said handle sections adjacent to said deck when the cart is in the collapsed configuration.  
   
   
       12 . The cart of  claim 1 , further comprising a kickstand having an attachment end and a foot opposite said attachment end, said kickstand being removably attachable at said attachment end to said handle.  
   
   
       13 . The cart of  claim 1 , wherein said handle comprises a hitch member operable to permit hitching the cart and a vehicle.  
   
   
       14 . The cart of  claim 1 , further comprising a bin for containing a load, said bin being removably connectable to said deck adjacent a top surface of said deck.  
   
   
       15 . The cart of  claim 1 , further comprising a backrest for providing support between said deck and an upper portion of said handle.  
   
   
       16 . The cart of  claim 1 , further comprising at least two rails removably connectable to said deck at said left and right sides, respectively, such that said at least two rails are inwardly adjacent to said at least two wheels when the cart is in the cart configuration.  
   
   
       17 . An apparatus, the apparatus being operable in a cart configuration and in a tree stand configuration, the apparatus comprising: 
 a) a substantially planar deck having opposing front and rear edges and left and right sides, said rear edge having a left extremity adjacent said left side, a right extremity adjacent said right side and an intermediate portion intermediate of said left extremity and said right extremity, said left extremity and said right extremity being rearward of said intermediate portion;    b) at least two wheels, said at least two wheels being removably and rotatably mountable to said deck adjacent said left and right sides, respectively;    c) a handle, said handle being removably connectable to said deck at said front edge; and    d) a tree support, said tree support being removably attached to a tree and operable to support said deck when the apparatus is in the tree stand configuration, said tree support being unconnected from the apparatus when the apparatus is in the cart configuration.    
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein said tree support is operable to support a seat above said deck and below said upper strap attachment points when the apparatus is in the tree stand configuration.  
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein said tree support comprises a pair of frame bars extending in parallel, spaced apart relation between said upper strap attachment points and said deck when the apparatus is in the tree stand configuration.  
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein said tree support comprises a seat support crossbar extending from one frame bar of said pair of frame bars to the other of said pair of frame bars and a pair of seat stops respectively attached to said pair of frame bars above said seat support crossbar, said pair of seat stops and said seat support crossbar cooperating to support a seat above said deck and below said upper strap attachment points when the apparatus is in the tree stand configuration.  
   
   
       21 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein said rear edge comprises a plurality of projections for gripping the tree when the apparatus is in the tree stand configuration.  
   
   
       22 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein said deck and said at least two wheels are dimensioned to permit two of said at least two wheels to be stowed adjacent to said deck in substantially coplanar relation to each other, and wherein said handle is removably stowable adjacent to said deck.