BACKGROUND ART As well known to those skilled in the art, carts with wheels on its bottom are used to easily transport heavy or large goods or burdens.

However, this cart requires abroad or wide storing am'due to its size of volume. In order to sole this problem, when the cart is miniaturized in size and the volume, since the loaded burden is protruded from the outer circwnference of the cart, the burden may drop from the cart and be broken down.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a foldable cart, which is more safely loaded with goods and transported. In storing the cart, the cart can be folded up, thereby being easily stored vvitbin a narTow and limited area.

Further, another object of the present invention is to provide a fordable cart provided

with a stool, which is use as an alpenstock in a non-used state.

In accordance with the present invention, the above and other objects can be accomplished by the provision of a foldable cart comprising a stool including a plurality of length^coloMåble fias, a support including a plurality of length-controllable supporting trames and shafts, and a pedestal including a plurality of vertical frames and a plurality of shafts, the stool, the support and the pedestal have a foldable structure BRIEF DESCRLMONOF THE DRAWINGS The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a cart in accordance with the present invention ; Fig. 2 is a schematic view of a stool of the cart in accordance with the present invention ; Fig. 3 is a lower part of a support ofthe cart in accordance with the present invention ; Fig. 4 is an upholder ofthe cart in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 5 shows the cart inaused state : Fig. 5a is a perspective view of a pedestal in a folded state, Fig. 5b is a perspective view of the support and the upholder in a folded state; Fig. 5c is a perspective view of the stool in a folded state ; and Fig. 5d is an exploded perspective view of the cart in a perfectly folded

state, and Fig. 6 is a schematic view of a stool in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention are described in detail with reference to accompanying drawings.

The accompanying Figs. 1 to 6 shows a cart of the present invention. As shown in Figs. 1 to 6, the cart 2 of the present invention comprises a stool 60, a support 10, and a pedestal 40.

The stool 60 of the cart 2 comprises a plurality of fies 80,81 to n so that the fiames 80, 81 to n are controlled in an antenna-type, thereby adjusting the length of the stool 60.

The frames 80,81 to n of the stool 60 are plural. The frames 80, 81 to n of this embodiment of the present invention are four-stepped.

Each of the frames 80,81,82, 83 is hollowed, and has a circular cross section and one plane side, as shown in a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of Fig. 2, thereby preventing the rotation ofthe âmes 80,81,82,83.

Each of the frames 80,81, 82,83 has a designated diameter so that the upper is 81, 82,83 are inserted into the lower imes 80,81,82, respectively.

Preferably, the names 80,81,82,83 are designed so that even though the upper frames 81, 82, 83 are pertly taken away from the lower frames 80, 81,82, the upper frames 81,82,83 are not separated from the lower frames 80, 81, 82.

As a means for preventing the separation, an outward-bent flange part is formed on the bottoms of the upper frames 81, 82,83 and an inward-bent Range part is formed on the tops of the lower frames 80,81,82. The o-ange part and the inward-bent flange part are engaged with each other, thereby preventing the separation. This preventing means are not limited thereto but may be variously designed.

Further, fixing means 90,91,92 for fixing the upper Rames 81,82,83 to the lower frames 80,81,82 are formed on the tops of the lower frames 80, 81,82.

The fixing means 90,91,92 comprise clamping elements 90a, 91a, 92a and clamping bolts 90b, 91b, 92b. This clamping elements 90a, 91a, 92a are inserted into the outer circumferences urerSs8R 2.

The clamping bolts 90b, 91b, 82b are screw-jointed with one sides of the outer circumferences of the clamping elements 90a, 91a, 92a. Then, the clamping bolts 90b, 91b, 92b pass through the clamping elements 90a, 91a, 92a and the lower frames 80,81,82, and one edges of the clamping bolts 90b, 91b, 92b are compressed to the outer circumferences of the lowerFames 80, 81, 82.

Further, a polygonal bolt 66 having an angled edge with screw thread on its circumference is formed on the top of the uppcnnost Same 83. In this embodiment of the present invention, the square bolt 66 is described.

The square bolt 66 serves to prevent the rotation of a handle 61 inserted into the bolt 66, and a screw hole 67 is formed within the square bolt 66.

Further, a plurality of square engagement holes 63,64 are formed on the handle 61.

The engagement hold 64 formed on the center of the handle 61 is engaged with the square bolt

66 ofthe stool 60, in storing the cart 2. The engagement hole 63 formed on the one side of the handle 61 is engaged with the square bolt 66 of the stool 60, in using the cart 2. After engaging the handle 61 with the square bolt 66 of the stool 60, a bolt 65 is engaged with the screw hole 67 of the square bolt 66 via the engagement holes 63,64, thereby fixing the handle 61 to the stool 60.

Herein, the head ofthe bolt 65 preferably has a diameter larger than mat of me square engagement holes 63,64 of the handle 61.

A plurality of hand-pressure protrusions 62 are formed on the outer surface of the handle 61.

A protrusion 68 is formed on the outer surface of the bottom of thé fixing means of the lowermost Same 80 of the stool 60. The upper part of an elastic element 69 made of spring is fixed to the lower part of the protrusion 68 and the lower part of the elastic element 69 is attached to the upper surface of a slide element 71, which is movable upward and downward and formed on the outer surface of the frame 80, thereby applying its elastic force to the slide element 71 as a lowering force, so that the slide element 71 is easily lowered in an early stage ofthe lowering of the slide element 71.

Further, a concave 73 for inserting a guiding protrusion 70 to be described hereinafter is formed on one side ofthe slide element 71.

A support 10 horizontal with the stool 60 is formed on the bottom of one side of the stool 60.

The support 10 comprises a support frame I I spaced from both sides of the stool 60 by a designated distance. The support frame 11 comprises a hollowed side frame 12 and an

elevating frame 14 so that the length of the support frame 11 is adjustable.

The elevating frame 14 is inserted into and released from the side frame 12. An engagement hole 13 is formed on one side of the top of the side frame 12, thereby preventing the separation of the elevating frame 14 from the side frame 12 and maintaining the released state. An engagement protrusion 15 corresponding to the engagement hole 13 is elastically formed on the bottom ofthe outer sur&ceofthe elevating jBame 14.

As not shown, the engagement protrusion 15 is installed within the elevating frame 14 and its one end is protruded from the elevating Same 14. Preferably, the protrusion 15 is elastically supported by the spring between the prottvsion 15 and the elevating Rame 14.

A hinge bracket 16 and a connection bracket 30 are formed on the ends of the elevating frame 14 and the side Se 12, respectively. One ends of shafts 17,18,19 20 are rotatably hinged to the hinge bracket 16 and side resting parts 32 of the connection brackets 30.

The other ends oftbe shafs 17,18, 19,20 are rotatably hinged to side resting parts 26 of the both ends of the slide elements 71 of the stool 60 and of the both ends of the bracket 21 of the stool 60.

One ends of the hinge brackets 16 and the side resting parts 32 of the connection brackets 30 are opened downward, and the both ends of the slide element 71 and the side resting parts 26 oftbe bracket 21 are opened upward.

Thereby, the shafts 17,18 hinged between the hinge bracket 16 and the slide element 71 and theft 19,20 hinged between the connection bracket 30 and the bracket 21 are not intered by auxiliary elements and easily rotated to be folded up.

The bracket 21 is T-shaped. A front resting part 25 with an upward-open end is

formed on the front surface of the bracket 21. A side resting part 26 with an upward open is formed on both sides of the bracket 21. A hollowed fixing part 22 if protruded from the upper surface of the bracket 21. A concave groove 23 corresponding to the guiding protrusion 70 of the stool 60 is formed on one side ofthe inner surine of the fixing part 22 and serves to fix the stool 60 on its exact position. A clamping bolt 24 is screw-jointed to one side of the outer surice ofthe fixing part 22. The clamping bolt 24 is screw-jointed to the loweimost frame 80 of the stool 60, thereby fixing the stool 60 to its exact position of the bracket 21.

A screw part 27 is formed on the outer surface of the side resting part 26 of the bracket 21. A cap 28 for preventing the voluntary folding of the support 10 is screw-jointed to the screw part 27. A pluralit of protrusions 29 are ibrmed on the outer surface of the cap 28, thereby easily rotating the cap 28.

The comection bracket 30 formed on the bottom of the side frame 12 is #-shaped.

A front resting part 31 with an upward open end is formed on the iront of the connection bracket 30, and a side resting part 32 with an upward open end is formed on both sides of the connection bracket 30.

The aforementioned connection bracket 30 includes wheels 33 on its bottom As not shown, a cap for preventing the rotation is preferably formed on the front resting part 25 of * acket 21, and the front resting part 31 and the side resting part 32 of the connection bracket 30.

The pedestal 40 is vertically installed on the bottom ofthe support 10.

Vertical frames 41 are formed on the pedestal 40 One ends of the vertical frames 41 are lotatably hinged to the bracket 21 ofthe support 10 and nont resting parts 25,31 ofthe

connection bracket 30, respectively.

A hinge brackets 45,46 are formed on the other ends and centers of the vertical frames 41, respectively. Toe shaRs 47,48,49,50 are rotatably hinged to the hinge brackets 45,46, thereby interconnecting the vertical frames 41.

With reference to Figs. 1 and 4, the hinge brackets 45 of the side vertical frames 41, each has one backward open end. The hinge bracket 46 of the center vertical Same 41 has both ends frontward open.

As described in the support 10, thereby, the is 47,48,49,50 hinged between the vertical fiames 41 by the hinge brackets 45,46 are not interfered by auxiliary elements and easily rotated to be folded up.

An upholder 51 with the same height as that of the wheel 33 is formed on the tip of the vertical frame 41. A screw part 52 is formed on the outer surface of the upholder 51 from the center to the end. A nut 54 is jointed to the screw part 52. A longitudinal hole 53 is formed on one side ofthe screw part 52 in a longitudinal direction ofthe upholder 51.

A mounting unit 42 provided with a coupling hole 42a is formed on the front end of the vertical frame 41 conesponding to the upholder 51 so that the screw 52 ofthe upholder 51 is inserted into the coupling hole 42a A hinge hole 43 corresponding to the long hole 53 of the upholder 51 is formed on the outer surface of the mounting unit 42. A hinge pin 44 is inserted into the hinge hole 43 and the long hole 53.

At least one upholder 5 la of the upholders 51 may be detachably coupled with the mounting unit 42 of the vertical frame 41 and with the end of the stool 60. In this embodiment of the present invention, the upholder 51a is formed only on the mounting unit 42

of the vertical Same 41 of the center of the pedestal 40.

As shown in Fig. 4, a screw hole 55 is formed on one end of the upholder 51aa The screw hole 55 is screw-jointed not only to the mounting unit 42 of the vertical frame 41 but also to the end of the stool 60.

A bolt 42b is protnuded from the bottom space of the mounting unit 42 of the vertical frame 41 correspondingly to the screw hole 55 ofthe upholder 51a. A square bolt 66 is protruded from the upper surface ofthe uppermost fiame 83 of the stool 60 and screw-jointed with the screw hole 55. When the stool 60 is used as an alpenstock, the joint there between is as shown in Fig. 6.

A plurality of protrusions 56 are formed on the outer space of the upholder 51a and serve to easily rotate the upholder S la in screw jointing.

In using the cart 2 of the present invention, goods are mounted on the pedestal 40 of the cart 2 and closed to the support 10. Then, the cart 2is inclined by a designated angle and the upholders 51,51a ofthe pedestat 40 are sep from the ground. Only the wheels 33 of the bottom of the support 10 are in contact with the ground. In this state, the cart 2 is handled.

In not using the cart 2 of the present invention, the cart 2 is stored in a designated place. At this time, as shown in Fig. 5a, the pedestal 40 is rotated toward the support 10, thereby folding up the cart 2.

Herein, one end of each vertical Same 41 of the pedestal 40 is rotatably hinged to the front resting parts 25,31 opened to the bracket 21 and the connection bracket 30 of the support 10, thereby rotatably folding up the pedestal 40.

In a folded-up state, when the supporting frames 11 of the support 10 and both vertical frames 41 of the pedestal 40 are raised upward, as the shafts 17,18,19,20 rotatably hinged to the hinge bracket 16 and the side resting parts 32 of the connection bracket 30 formed on each end of the elevating frame 14 and the side flame 12 of the supporting frame 11, rotates using the slide element 71 ofthe stool 60 and the side resting part 26 of the bracket 21 as an rotary axis and the supporting frame 11 is folded up, thereby moving the supporting frame 11 upward.

Herein, as shown in Fig. 5, the cap 28 on the side resting part 26 of the bracket 21 is positioned on the back end ofthe side resting part 26.

Further, as the shafts 47,48,49,50 rotatably hinged to the hinge bracket 45 on the en and the center of the vertical frame 41, rotate using the hinge bracket 46 of the center vertical Same 41 as a rotary axis, the pedestal 40 is folded up, thereby moving the vertical frames 41 upward as shown in Fig. 5b.

After the clamping bolt 72 of the slide member 71 of the lowermost frame 80 of the stool 60 is released by a designated degree, the elevating frame 14 of the folded-up support frame 11 is pressed and inserted into the side frame 12. Then, the engagement protrusion 15 elastically coupled with the bottom of the outer of the elevating fiame 14 is separated from the engagement hole 13 ofthe side Same 12, and lowered and inserted into the side frame 12 ofthe elevating frame 14.

Herein, the upper shafts 17, 18 hinged to the elevating frame 14 by the hinge bracket 16 are lowered together with the elevating fiam 14. By lowering the shafts 17, 18, the slide element 71 on the outer surface of the lowermost frame 80 is lowered.

The lower surfacé of the elastic element 69 formed on the outer surface of the lowermost frame 80 of the stool 60 and including a spring fixed by the protrusion 68 ofti iVame 80 is attached and supported to the upper ice of ffie lowen lide element 71. In early state of the lowering the slide element 71, the elastic element 69 is drawn and pushes the slide element 71 downward, thereby easily and swiftly lowering the slide element 71.

M inserting the elevating frame 14 of the supporting frame 11 into the side frame 12, the clamping bolts 90b, 91b, 92b of fixing mans 90,91,92 onthe frames 80, 81,82 of the stool 60 are little released nom the clamping elements 90a, 91a, 92a, thereby releasing the fixing of the names 81,82,83 except for the lowermost frame 80. When the released names 81, 82, 83 are pressed fro, the uppermost name 83, the frames 81,82,83 are inserted into the lowermost name 80 and folded up, as shown in Fig. Sc.

After the bolt 65 jointed to the square bolt 66 of the uppermost frame 83 is released and the handle 61 is separated there from, the handle 61 is maintained horizontal with the support 10 of the cart 2 and the engagement hole 64 formed on te center of the handle 61 is again inserted into the square bolt 66. The bolt 65 is again inserted into the square hole 67 of the square bolt 66, thereby minimizing portions protruded from the cart 2. Therefore, as shown in Fig. 5d, the cart 2 can minimize whole size and volume.

Therefore, the folded-up cart 2 does not require broad area, and can be easily stored in a narrow area In a stored stated of the cart 2, when the stool 60 of the cart 2 is used as the alpenstock, the clamping bolt 24 of the fixing part 22 of the bracket 21 is released from the lowermost frame 80. Then, the stool 60 is upward separated from the fixing part 22.

Herein, the guiding protrusion 70 formed on the lowermost fi-ame 80 of the stool 60 is separated from the concave groove 23 of the fixing part 22 and from the support 10 via the concave 73 ofthe slide element 71.

After the fiames 80,81,82,83 are again pulled nom the lowermost frame 80, the clamping bolts 90b, 91b, 92b of the fixing means 90,91,92 on the lower frames 80, 81,82 are firmly coupled with the clamping elements 90a, 91,92a, there fixing the upper frames 81, 82, 83 in apulled state from the lowerfiames 80,81,82.

ARer separating the handle 61 on the square bolt 66 of the uppermost name 83 ofthe stool 60 from the uppermost frame 83, the handle 61 is mounted on one end of the lowermost frame 80 of the stool 60. The bolt 65 is inserted into the engagement hole 63 on one end of the handle 61 and screw-jointed to one end of the lowermost frame 80, thereby fixing the handle 61.

Then, the protrusion 56 of the upholder 51a screw-jointed to the mounting unit 42 of the center vertical frame 41 of the pedestal 40 is rotated, thereby separating the screw hole 55 of the upholder 51a from the bolt 42b of the mounting unit 42. Thus, the screw hole 55 of the upholder 51a is inserted and screw-oEted to the square bolt 66 of the stool 60. Thereby, the angled edge ofthe square bolt 66 is coupled withthe screwhole 55 ofthe upholder Sla Therefore, when the upholder 5 la is in contact with the ground, the user uses the stool 60 as the alpenstock, etc.

If the user wants to use the stored cart 2 again, the upholder 51a separated from the mounting unit 42 of the vertical frame 41 is separated from the square bolt 66 of the stool 60.

The screw hole 55 ofthe upholder 51a is again screw-jointed to the bolt 42b ofthe mounting

unit 42 of the vertical name 41, thereby fixing the upholder 5la to the mounting unit 42.

Further, the stool used as the alpenstock is mounted on the fixing part 22 of the braet 21. Ailer sepaig the handle 61 ofthe lowermost frame 80 ofthe stool by releasing the bolt 65, the engagement hole 63 of the handle 61 is inserted into the square bolt 66 of the uppermost Same 83 of the stool 60 and the bolt 65is coupled with the screw hole 67 of the square bole 66, thereby fuzing the handle 61.

Herein, the handle 61 is vertical to the support 10 of the cart 2. However, if necessary or according to the user's preference, the position of the handle 61 may be changed.

The guiding protrusion 70 of the lowermost frame 80 of the stool 60 passes through the concave 73 of the slide element 71 and is inserted into the concave groove 23 of the outer audace of the fixing part 22 ofthe bracket 21.

Herein, the fixing means 90,91,92 ofthe stool 60 are positioned on the rear sur When the stool 60 is inserted into an exact position of the fixing part 22 of the bracket 21, the clamping bolt 24 ofthe rearofthe fpart 22 is jointed and screw-jointed to the lowermost frame 80 of the stool 60, thereby fixing the stool 60 to the fixing part 22 of the bracket 21.

After providing the stool to the bracket 21 of the cart 2, as described above, the supporting frame 11 and the vertical frames 41 of the folded up support 10 and the pedestal 40 are moved outward, thereby expanding the support 10 and the pedestal 40.

Then, in order to fold up the support 10, the cap 28 screw-jointed to the screw 20 of the side resting part 26 of the bracket 21 is twisted to be positioned on the front end of the side resting part 26, as shown in Fig. 1. Thus, the ends ofthe shas 19, 20 rotatably hinged to the side resting part 26 ofthe bracket 21 are engaged with the cap 28, thereby preventing the

rotation.

The4, when the elevating frame 14 is upward pulled from the side fiame 12 of the support frame 11, the engagement protrusion 15 of the elevating frame 14 is elasdcally mserted to the engagement hole 13 of the side frame 12, thereby fixing the elevating frame 14 to the side Same 12.

Then, the slide element 71 moves upward onthe lowermost fime 80 oftte stool 60 by the hinge bracket 16 of the elevating flame 14 and the shafts 17, 18 rotatably hinged to the slide element 71 of the stool 60, and compresses the elastic element 69 of the spring between the slide element 71 and me protrusion 68.

The clamping bolt 72 of the upward moved slide element 71 is jointed and the end of the clamping bolt 72 is compressed to the outer surine of the lowermost Same 80, thereby fixing the slide element 71 to the lowermost Same 80.

After expanding the support 10 and the pedestal 40, the pedestal 40 is reverse rotated from the support 10 and positioned vertically to the support 10. Then, the cart 2 is usable as a transferring means.

In order to prevent the rotation of the pedestal 40, the cap screw-jointed to the front resting parts 25, 31of the bracket 21 and the connection bracket 30 is preferably provided.

The cap is preferably positioned on the front end of the front resting parts 25, 31.

Further, the cap may be formed oliy on the front resting part 25 of the bracket 21.

Therefore, even if the cart 2 is manufactured with a great size and volume, the cart 2 can be minimized to be easily stored in a narrow area and the stool 60 of the cart 2 can be used as the alpenstock, etc.

INDISTRIAL APPLICABILITY The foldable cart ofthe present invention has a great size and volume to conveniently carry goods and is fowled up to be easily stored even in a narrow area, tbeceby nNximizing the utility ofthe space.

Further, the stool of the cart of the present invention can be used as the alpenstock, etc., thereby providing convenience to the user.

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