WHEEL ASSEMBLY AND DOLLY FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a wheel assembly and more particularly, relates to a

wheel assembly adapted for use in transporting material.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Wheel assemblies are used for any number of different applications ranging from automotive to small utility vehicles. The present invention is directed towards the type of wheel assembly used in dollies. In this regard, the term "dolly" is a small wheeled trolley for carrying a load, the trolley usually being non motorized.

Dollies are widely used in places ranging from the home to factories to do it yourself construction material outlets. In the latter instance, the material transported by the dolly would include goods such as lumber, panels, doors, beams, etc. In the retail trade, dollies in large box construction retail outlets generally range from a simple flat floor to those having dividers to receive different materials. Generally, they operate on four wheels and are of a substantial size.

In the industrial environment, many factories do not use dollies, instead they rely on forklift trucks and the like to move heavy material from one location to a further location.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a wheel assembly which is suitable for use in transporting many different types of materials.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a wheel assembly for use on a dolly and which dolly is highly manoeuvrable.

It is further object of the present invention to provide a wheel assembly for use with a

dolly wherein the dolly may be folded to a storage position which is very compact.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a wheel assembly comprising a frame, the frame having wheel mounting means thereon, a wheel mounted on the wheel mounting means, and a first member extending diagonally upwardly and

outwardly from a bottom portion of the frame when the wheel is in a vertical position.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a dolly comprising first and second wheel assemblies, each wheel assembly comprising, a frame, the frame having wheel mounting means thereon, a wheel mounted on the wheel mounting

means, and a member extending diagonally upwardly and outwardly from a bottom portion of the frame when the wheel is in a vertical position, each of the members being pivotably

connected together.

A wheel assembly of the present invention is preferably utilized in pairs to form a

dolly like structure wherein the wheel assemblies are pivotably connected together. However, it will be understood that the wheel assemblies may be used individually as will be shown in the illustrated embodiments of the invention.

The wheel assembly may be formed of any suitable material and the material chosen

will reflect what the final characteristics of the wheel assembly are. Thus, for some loads, a metallic material may be appropriate while for lighter loads, one may utilize various plastic materials.

The wheel is characterized by preferably having at least a portion thereof formed in an arcuate configuration. This provides a better running surface when the wheel essentially runs on its side.

As aforementioned, each wheel assembly utilizes a member which extends diagonally

upwardly from a lower portion of the frame when the wheel is oriented in a vertical direction. This member is utilized to grip the cargo being carried as will be discussed in greater detail hereinbelow. Preferably, there are provided two such members, one located at each end of the frame. However, it will be understood that a single member may, in some embodiments, be utilized particularly when the member is sized to be sufficiently large.

When the wheel assemblies are used to form a dolly, they are pivotably connected

together such that they may securely and rapidly retain a load mounted thereon.

As will be seen in the described embodiments, the wheel assemblies may be utilized in a variety of manners for transporting different types of loads. In the basic embodiment two wheel assemblies are utilized although more could be employed depending upon the nature of the load - i.e. the weight and length thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Having thus generally described the invention, reference will be made to the accompanying drawings illustrating embodiments thereof, in which:

Figure 1 is an end view of an assembled dolly according to a first aspect of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of an assembled dolly showing a portion of a handle connected thereto;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a wheel assembly forming a portion of the dolly;

Figure 4 is a further perspective view of a wheel assembly;

Figure 5 is a end elevational view of wheel assembly;

Figure 6 is a perspective of an assembled dolly having a handle portion in place for carrying the same;

Figure 7 is an end view of a dolly carrying a load;

Figure 8 is a side elevational view of a variation of a wheel assembly according to the present invention;

Figure 9 is a perspective view of a pair of wheel assemblies utilized to render a pallet

mobile;

Figure 10 is a perspective view of four wheel assemblies utilized to render a

container mobile;

Figure 11 is a detailed view of a distal end of one embodiment of a member according to the present invention,

Figure 12 is an end view illustrating the transport of an I beam utilizing the wheel assembly of the present invention,

Figure 13 is an end view illustrating the use of two wheel assemblies to transport a

T beam;

Figure 14 is a side elevational view illustrating transport of sheet material utilizing

the dolly of the present invention;

Figure 15 is an end view of a pair of wheel assemblies transporting a swivel table;

Figure 16 is a sectional view thereof; and

Figure 17 is a perspective view of a modified wheel utilized with the wheel assemblies of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawings in greater detail and by reference characters thereto, there is illustrated a dolly which is generally designated by reference numeral 10 and which dolly includes a first wheel assembly 12 and a second wheel assembly 12' as may be best seen in

Figures 3, 4 and 5. Since first wheel assembly 12 and second wheel assembly 12' are essentially identical, only one of the wheel assemblies will be described in detail. Where the second wheel assembly is described, similar reference numerals utilizing a prime are employed for components similar to first wheel assembly 12.

Wheel assembly 12 includes a frame portion 16 on which is mounted a wheel 18 and which wheel is retained in place by means of retainers 20. The mounting of wheel 18 to frame 16 may be done in a conventional manner and will include at least a first set of bearings although two sets of bearings may be utilized where the dolly is intended to carry heavy loads. As will be seen, wheel 18 has a running surface generally designated by reference numeral 23 and which running surface 23 has a flat portion 25 similar to a

conventional wheel or tire and an arcuate portion 27.

Frame 16, in the illustrated embodiment, comprises a plate like member and has a first side wall 24 extending outwardly therefrom. Side wall 24 only extends a portion of the

height of frame 16 and includes a protective flange 26 extending outwardly towards the outer side while a recess 28 is formed at the bottom thereof for reasons which will become apparent hereinbelow. At the other side, there is provided a second side wall 30 which likewise has a flange 32 extending outwardly and a recess 34 formed at a bottom end thereof.

On the interior of frame 16 and at the upper end thereof, there are provided a plurality of bumper elements 36, 38 and 40, again for reasons which will be discussed in greater detail hereinbelow. At the other side wall, there are likewise provided bumpers 42, 44 and 46.

In the top of frame 16, there is provided an arcuate recess 48 to accommodate a

handle member 50 extending thereacross.

A member 52 extends diagonally upwardly from a position near the bottom of frame 16. Member 52 has, at distal end 54, a bumper structure 56. An elongated slot 58 is formed in member 52 for reasons which will become apparent hereinbelow.

Similarly, at the other end of frame 16, a second member 60 again extends diagonally upwardly. A distal end 62 is provided with a bumper 54 while a elongated slot 66 extends

along a portion of a length of member 60.

A second handle structure 68 is provided as may be seen in Figures 2 and 6.

Handle 68 includes a pair of legs 72 having projections (not shown) which are designed to fit within recesses 28 and 34. An upper portion 74 of handle 68 has a plurality of elongated apertures 76 formed therein which may function to permit the hands of a user to readily grip handle 68 at a convenient location.

When first wheel assembly 12 and second wheel assembly 12' function as a dolly, a rod 78 extends through elongated slots 58, 58', 66 and 66'. As shown in Figure 7 dolly 10

may be utilized to carry a load 80. As may seen, load 80 is placed such that it is supported by members 52, 52', 60 and 60'. This causes the wheel assemblies to pivot outwardly at the lower portion thereof and inwardly at the upper portion thereof such that bumpers 36, 38, 40, 42, 44 and 46 along with the bumpers on second wheel assembly 12' grip the load 80. As long as the load 80 is reasonably well balanced, one end of the load may be held and the

load moved by the user. When the dolly is in an operative position, it will be noted that the wheels 18, 18' run on the arcuate portion 27 of running surface 23.

To provide for the situation wherein the load may not be well balanced and wherein it is desired to prevent the load 80 from touching the floor or other substrate, a pair of

outrigger legs 82 and 86 having stabilizing wheels 84 and 88 respectively attached thereto may be provided.

In the embodiment of Figure 9, first wheel assembly 12 and second wheel assembly

12' may be placed on a pallet 92 to enable transport of the pallet. A similar arrangement is illustrated in Figure 10 wherein there are provided four wheel assemblies to move a

container 94.

Turning to Figure 11, in some situations, it may be desirable for a plurality of spikes 96 to be mounted on distal end of members 52 and 60 to provide for more secure gripping of a load which is wood or similar pierceable material.

Figure 12 shows a pair of wheel assemblies 12, 14 used in transporting an

I beam 100.

In Figure 13, there is illustrated the transport of a T beam 102 using wheel assemblies

12, 14. Similarly, in Figure 14, a load may comprise sheet material 104 such as plywood, other wood sheet materials, gyprock, etc.

In many of the above described embodiments, a pair of wheel assemblies are shown in use for transporting a desired load. Naturally, a plurality of wheel assemblies such as shown in Figure 10 may be utilized.

In Figures 15 and 16, there is illustrated a pair of wheel assemblies 12, 14 utilized to mount a platform 108. Platform 108 comprises a leg portion 110 on the top of which there is mounted a support table 12 and a rotating table 114.

In Figure 17, there is illustrated a variation of the wheels of the wheel assembly. Wheel 118 includes a central body portion 120 and there is provided an arcuate running surface 122.