Collapsible trunk-accessible carts

{
  "publication_number": "US9573610B1",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B1",
  "title": "Collapsible trunk-accessible carts",
  "abstract": "A collapsible trunk-accessible cart includes a basket that is supported by a set of wheels, and which can be rolled forward and backward on the wheels. The wheels are in turn supported by a pair of cantilever horizontal support arms to which both front and rear legs are attached. The front and rear legs can be folded up over respective sides of the basket. The front legs extend forward at an angle to allow some of the lower portions of the front legs to pass under the rear of a vehicle so that the basket can then be moved into the trunk or cargo area of the vehicle. The basket can be rolled forward into the trunk, while a lift assist mechanism retains the legs to the basket, which can then be folded over the sides of the basket.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A collapsible trunk-accessible cart, comprising: a basket having a bottom, and front, back, left, and right sides that rise vertically from the bottom; a pair of cantilever horizontal support arms disposed on the right and left sides of the basket, with one of the cantilever horizontal support arms on each of the left and right sides of the basket; each cantilever horizontal support arm having at least a front wheel and a rear wheel attached at a front portion and a rear portion, respectively, of the cantilever horizontal support arm, wherein the wheels support the basket when the collapsible trunk-accessible cart is in an open configuration, and wherein the basket can roll forward and backward on the wheels; a pair of front legs, each including an upper portion pivotally attached to a respective one of the cantilever horizontal support arms at a point behind a midpoint of the respective cantilever horizontal support arm and extending downward to a lower portion that is pivotally connected to a lower end of the upper portion and which extends down and forward at an angle, each lower portion terminated with a respective wheel; a pair of rear legs, each including an upper portion pivotally attached at area point of a respective one of the cantilever horizontal support arms and extending downward and pivotally connected to a respective lower portion that extends further downward and terminates with a respective wheel; a pair of slotted lift arms, each mounted on a respective side of the basket, and having first end pivotally attached to a track wheel disposed in a horizontal track on the respective side of basket, and having a second end including a slot through which an axle for the front wheel attached to the respective cantilever horizontal support arm passes; and a pair of springs, each one mounted in a respective horizontal track on one of the left and right sides of the basket, and having a respective sliding block mounted at a forward end of each spring; and a pair of lift assist assemblies, each respectively disposed on one of the left and right sides of the basket, and which are attached by a respective cable system that extends around the respective slotted lift arm to the respective sliding block and to a respective one of the cantilever horizontal support arms; wherein the cantilever horizontal support arms, slotted lift arms, springs, and lift assemblies are configured to allow the basket to be rolled forward over the front wheel of the cantilever horizontal support arms while retaining the cantilever horizontal support arms and the front and rear legs with the basket, and wherein the front and rear legs fold their respective lower portions over their respective upper portions horizontally over the respective sides of the basket.",
    "2. The collapsible trunk-accessible cart of claim 1, further comprising at least one plunger lock to lock the basket in place over the front and rear legs on the cantilever horizontal support arms.",
    "3. The collapsible trunk-accessible cart of claim 1, wherein the lower portions of each of the front and rear legs further comprise a locking telescoping element that can be configured to raise or lower a height of the basket.",
    "4. The collapsible trunk-accessible cart of claim 1, further comprising a pair of upper horizontal tracks, each one on an outside of each of the left and right sides of the basket, wherein the wheels attached to the cantilever horizontal support arms are slid into the respective upper track upon folding the front and rear legs over the respective sides of the basket.",
    "5. The collapsible trunk-accessible cart of claim 4, wherein the upper tracks are each mounted in a pair of opposing vertical tracks on each respective side of the basket which allow the respective upper tracks to move up and down.",
    "6. The collapsible trunk-accessible cart of claim 1, wherein the basket the front, rear, left, and right sides of the basket are hinged and thereby collapsible over the floor of the basket upon the front and rear legs being folded over the respective sides of the basket.",
    "7. The collapsible trunk-accessible cart of claim 1, further comprising a pair of weight assist tensioners that each adjust a position or tension of a respective one of the springs on each of the left and right sides of the basket.",
    "8. The collapsible trunk-accessible cart of claim 1, further comprising a pair of horizontal arms, each respectively connected between the lower ends of the lower portions of the front and rear legs.",
    "9. The collapsible trunk-accessible cart of claim 1, further comprising a pair of support arms, each connected between the lower ends of respective ones of the lower portions of the left and right front and rear legs, and wherein the support arms are hinged along a length to fold upon the front and rear legs being folded.",
    "10. The collapsible trunk-accessible cart of claim 1, further comprising a front crossbar connected between lower ends of the lower portions of the front legs, and a rear crossbar connected between lower ends of the lower portions of the front legs, and wherein the front and rear cross bars are sectioned and fold upon the front and rear legs being folded.",
    "11. The collapsible trunk-accessible cart of claim 1, further comprising a handbar connected to a top of the rear side of the basket, wherein the handbar is sectioned to fold upon the front and rear legs being folded.",
    "12. The collapsible trunk-accessible cart of claim 1, wherein the front legs each comprise a tab that stops further rotation of the lower portion with respect to the upper portion upon the front legs being fully unfolded.",
    "13. The collapsible trunk-accessible cart of claim 1, wherein the rear legs each comprise a locking mechanism to lock the lower portion to the upper portion when the rear legs are fully unfolded.",
    "14. The collapsible trunk-accessible cart of claim 1, wherein the lower portions of the front legs extend downward and forward at an angle of substantially 78 degrees with respect to the bottom of the basket when the front legs are fully unfolded.",
    "15. The collapsible trunk-accessible cart of claim 1, wherein the front legs have a width between them that is wider than a width between the rear legs.",
    "16. The collapsible trunk-accessible cart of claim 1, wherein the lower portions of the front legs each have pad disposed on a front of the lower portions."
  ],
  "cpc": [
    "B62B 3/022",
    "B62B 2203/74",
    "B62B 3/005",
    "B62B 3/027",
    "B62B 3/08",
    "B62B 5/0003"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "TRUNKFIT LLC"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2016-04-04",
  "publication_date": "2017-02-21",
  "grant_date": "2017-02-21",
  "priority_date": "2015-04-03",
  "application_number": "US-201615090498-A",
  "family_id": "58017538",
  "citations": [
    "US2010096530A1",
    "US3118553A",
    "US3503622A",
    "US3787063A",
    "US3789957A",
    "US3815932A",
    "US4118044A",
    "US4273346A",
    "US4492388A",
    "US6431319B1",
    "US7080844B2",
    "US8083253B1",
    "US8172256B2",
    "US8505933B2",
    "US8979115B1",
    "US9211899B2",
    "US9221486B2",
    "USRE25616E"
  ]
}