High load capacity collapsible carts

Abstract

A collapsible cart includes a front and rear wall, a right and left sidewall and a pivotable base panel forming a compartment. For storage, the base panel can be folded upwards while the right and left sidewalls are folded inwardly. A rigid cover panel is conforming in shape to a top opening of the compartment and configured to securely fit in a first position over the top opening to serve as a cover and/or seat. The rigid cover panel is movably attached to a top of the front wall and is configured to be moved to a second position residing adjacent the front wall outside the compartment. A retractable handle mechanism is disposed at, within or adjacent the back wall. The retractable handle mechanism includes a hand grip attached to a telescoping assembly. The telescoping assembly is pivotably attached at a proximal end to the bottom of the rear wall.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cart comprising:
 a rigid frame forming a compartment, the rigid frame comprising a front wall, a rear wall, a right sidewall, a left sidewall, and a pivotable base panel;   wherein the pivotable base panel is pivotably connected to a bottom of the front wall or a bottom of the rear wall, the pivotable base panel having a lower surface opposite an upper surface, the upper surface forming a bottom floor of the compartment;   wherein the pivotable base panel is configured to pivot between being disposed parallel to the front wall and rear wall for storage or being disposed perpendicular to the front wall and the rear wall when in use forming the bottom floor of the compartment;   wherein the right sidewall and the left sidewall are configured to fold inwardly into the compartment allowing the cart to collapse for storage;   a rigid cover panel conforming in shape to a top opening of the compartment, the rigid cover panel configured to securely fit in a first position over the top opening to serve as a cover and/or a seat;   wherein the rigid cover panel is movably attached to a top of the front wall, the rigid cover panel configured to be moved to a second position residing adjacent the front wall outside the compartment; and   a retractable handle mechanism disposed at, within or adjacent the back wall.   
     
     
         2 . The cart of  claim 1 , including a hinge mechanism movably connecting the rigid cover panel to the front wall. 
     
     
         3 . The cart of  claim 2 , wherein the hinge mechanism at a proximal end is pivotably connected to the top of the front wall, wherein the hinge mechanism is configured to pivot about a first axis that is parallel to the front wall. 
     
     
         4 . The cart of  claim 3 , wherein the hinge mechanism at a distal end is rotatably connected to the rigid cover panel, wherein the rigid cover panel is configured to rotate about a second axis, the second axis being perpendicular to the first axis. 
     
     
         5 . The cart of  claim 1 , wherein a first magnet is disposed at, near or within the front wall, and wherein a second magnet or ferromagnetic material is disposed at, near or within the rigid cover panel, wherein when the rigid cover panel is in the second position, the first magnet and the second magnet or ferromagnetic material are aligned. 
     
     
         6 . The cart of  claim 1 , wherein the rigid cover panel includes a locking mechanism configured to lock or unlock the rigid cover panel in the first position. 
     
     
         7 . The cart of  claim 1 , wherein hinge mechanism comprises a first portion rotatably coupled to a second portion, wherein the first portion is pivotably connected to the front wall and the second portion is connected to the rigid cover panel. 
     
     
         8 . The cart of  claim 7 , wherein the first portion comprises a cam having a raised bump and the second portion comprises at least one flexure, wherein the raised bump is configured to abut the flexure when the second portion rotates about the first portion. 
     
     
         9 . The cart of  claim 1 , wherein the retractable handle mechanism comprises a hand grip attached to a telescoping assembly. 
     
     
         10 . The cart of  claim 9 , wherein the hand grip is attached at a distal end of the telescoping assembly and the telescoping assembly is pivotably attached at a proximal end to the bottom of the rear wall. 
     
     
         11 . The cart of  claim 10 , including a locking slide translatable along at least a portion of the telescoping assembly, wherein the locking slide is configured to lock to the rear wall securing the telescoping assembly parallel to the rear wall, and wherein the locking slide is configured to unlock from the rear wall allowing the telescoping assembly to pivot at an angle away from the rear wall. 
     
     
         12 . The cart of  claim 11 , wherein the locking slide includes a release button configured to lock and unlock the locking slide from the rear wall. 
     
     
         13 . The cart of  claim 1 , wherein the right sidewall comprises a first right panel and a second right panel, the first right panel is coupled to the second right panel along a first vertical axis, and the left sidewall comprises a first left panel and a second left panel, the first left panel is coupled to the second left panel along a second vertical axis. 
     
     
         14 . The cart of  claim 13 , including a first track extending across the first vertical axis from a first position on the first right panel to a second position on the second right panel; and a first slideable member to cooperatively engage the first track, the first slideable member is movable between an open position to allow the right sidewall to fold inwardly, to a closed position to selectively lock the first right panel to the second right panel, wherein the first slideable member is in the open position when adjacent the first position of the first track and is in the closed position when adjacent the second position of the first track. 
     
     
         15 . The cart of  claim 14 , further including a second track extending across the second vertical axis from a first position on the first left panel to a second position on the second left panel; and a second slideable member to cooperatively engage the second track, the second slideable member is movable between an open position to allow the left sidewall to fold inwardly, to a closed position to selectively lock the first left panel to the second left panel, wherein the second slideable member is in the open position when adjacent the first position of the second track and is in the closed position when adjacent the second position of the second track. 
     
     
         16 . The cart of  claim 15 , further comprising a wheel assembly connected to the cart. 
     
     
         17 . The cart of  claim 16 , further comprising a plurality of rotatable swivel wheels connected to the cart having at least one wheel locking assembly, the at least one wheel locking assembly having a first condition for locking at least one of the rotatable swivel wheels to prevent rolling movement, and a second condition for unlocking the at least one of the rotatable swivel wheels. 
     
     
         18 . The cart of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one wheel locking assembly comprising a brake actuator pedal. 
     
     
         19 . A cart comprising:
 a rigid frame forming a compartment, the rigid frame comprising a front wall, a rear wall, a right sidewall, a left sidewall, and a pivotable base panel;   wherein the pivotable base panel is pivotably connected to a bottom of the front wall or a bottom of the rear wall, the pivotable base panel having a lower surface opposite an upper surface, the upper surface forming a bottom floor of the compartment;   wherein the pivotable base panel is configured to pivot between being disposed parallel to the front wall and rear wall for storage or being disposed perpendicular to the front wall and the rear wall when in use forming the bottom floor of the compartment;   wherein the right sidewall and the left sidewall are configured to fold inwardly into the compartment allowing the cart to collapse for storage;   a rigid cover panel conforming in shape to a top opening of the compartment, the rigid cover panel configured to securely fit in a first position over the top opening to serve as a cover and/or a seat;   wherein the rigid cover panel is movably attached to a top of the front wall by a hinge mechanism, the rigid cover panel configured to be moved to a second position residing adjacent the front wall outside the compartment;   wherein the hinge mechanism at a proximal end is pivotably connected to the top of the front wall, wherein the hinge mechanism is configured to pivot about a first axis that is parallel to the front wall;   wherein the hinge mechanism at a distal end is rotatably connected to the rigid cover panel, wherein the rigid cover panel is configured to rotate about a second axis; and   wherein the second axis is perpendicular to the first axis.   
     
     
         20 . A cart comprising:
 a rigid frame forming a compartment, the rigid frame comprising a front wall, a rear wall, a right sidewall, a left sidewall, and a pivotable base panel;   wherein the pivotable base panel is pivotably connected to a bottom of the front wall or a bottom of the rear wall, the pivotable base panel having a lower surface opposite an upper surface, the upper surface forming a bottom floor of the compartment;   wherein the pivotable base panel is configured to pivot between being disposed parallel to the front wall and rear wall for storage or being disposed perpendicular to the front wall and the rear wall when in use forming the bottom floor of the compartment;   wherein the right sidewall and the left sidewall are configured to fold inwardly into the compartment allowing the cart to collapse for storage; and   a retractable handle mechanism disposed at, within or adjacent the back wall;   wherein the retractable handle mechanism comprises a hand grip attached to a telescoping assembly;   wherein the hand grip is attached at a distal end of the telescoping assembly and the telescoping assembly is pivotably attached at a proximal end to the bottom of the rear wall.