[1]-r T 21835@501 United States Patent@ Office Patented May 20, 1958 2 As shown in the dr awings: Tte reference numeral 10 indicates generally the main body portion or supporting element of the improved mail bag cart of this invention, the same being preferably a straight tubular element with bifuredted ground contacting supporting legs 12 fastened to its lower end. An opera ting handl e 14 is pivota lly mount ed adjac ent the top of the tubula r main portio n 10 and this is conn ected by mean s of a link 16 to the struct ure 18 which 10 support s the wheels 20 in collapsi ble and foldabl e relation ship. This wheel collapsi ng and folding constru ction is substant ially the same as that disclose d in two prior patente d devices of Joseph F. Chamb erlin, both granted on Januar y 27, 1953, one entitled "Foldab le Golf Cart," 15 Patent No. 2,626,81 4, an@d the other entitled "Collap sible Golf Cart," Patent No. 2,626,81 5, and the constru ction or somethi ng similar thereto is also shown, describ ed and clairne d in two of our joint applicat ions for patent, one entitled "Cart For Golf Bags," filed May 12, 1953, Serial 20 No. 354,488 now Patent Ntimbe r 2,741,49 0, and the other eniitled "Collap sible Cart For Golf Ba,-S," filed May 20, 1954, Serial No. 431,190, now Patent Numbe r 2,740,63 8. The upper end of the main tubula r bodyportio n 10 is bent slightl y forwa rdly as best show n at 22 in Figur es 5 25 and 6 to provide a conven ient post or the like lipon which one of the rings 24 of a mail bag 26 or similar element can be slipp@- d or hooked . At appro ximat ely the bend in the tubula r body portio n 10, there is pivota lly conn ected a latchii ig link 28 havin g 30 a slot or notch 29 in its outer free end which is adapted to be fitted over a projecti ng headed pin 30 in a pivoted rod or tube 32 which is mounte d at 34 oii a bracket 36 fitted to the main frame membe r 10 just above the connect ion for the pivoted arms 18. 35 The end of the yard arm 32 extends slightly beyond the point of position ing of the headed pin 30 and this provide s a second slipport for the other rin- 24 of a mail bag 26. These support s are sufficie nt in extent to receive a pair of rings each so that two mail bags may be readily 40 and conven iently support ed on the cart while at the same time a single bag may be carried withotit in any way disturbi ng the proper balance of the cart either when static or in motion. From an inspecti on of Figure 2, it will be noted that the center of gravity of the load is practica lly 45 always directly over the imagina ry line compris ing the axle for the wheels 20. This center of gravity position ing is indicate d by the dot and dash line 40. In Figur e 8, there is illustr ated a substit ute for the mail bags 20 comp rising a baske t 42 havin g rings 44 which will 50 readily fit over the posts 22 and 32, and baskets, boxes and crates such as this can be used instead of or alternati vely with the mail bags 26. Other coritain ers may obvious ly be readily employ ed with little or no change in the cart structur e, and square tubing or steel straps 55 may be substitut ed for the membe rs shown. The bolts which pivota lly suppo rt the frame 32 and the link 28 can be readil y remo ved, there by permi tting a single bag brack et such as that illustr ated in our applic ation for patent , Serial Numb er 455,58 9, now aband oned, 60 to be interchange ably employ ed. It will be evide nt that herei n is provi ded a mail bag cart which can conv enien tly, siinpl y and effici ently transp ort one or two mail bags while at the same time allowi ng of a ready acces s to the conte nts there of for mail 65 distribut ion. The we4ght is always centrall y balance d over the wheels when the cart is in mobile position , and the prongs or bifurcat ions provide a multiple support for the cart and its content s when the same is at rest. The arms 28 and 32 can be readily folded so as to permit 7o of a conven ient storage of a cart or a number of same into relative ly small space, and with slight adaptati ons, the devi,ce can be used for many other purpos es. The 2,835,5.01 MAIEL BAG CART Joseph F. ChamberUn and Robert A. Westphal, Chicago, Ill., said Westphal assignok to said ChamberUn Application January 24, 1955, Serial No. 483,691 1 Claim. (Cl. 280-41) This invention relates to an improved mail bag cart and the present invention comprises a continuation in part of and further improvements in our earher invention entitled "PostmaWs Cart" which was filed on September 13, 1954, Serial No. 455,589, now abandoned. One of the important objects of t@is invention is to. provide a collapsible cart for carrying mail bags or the like which includes a pivoted yard arin so positioned that when the cart is in a mobile position, the center of weight of the supported bag or bags is practically always directly over the axle upon which the cart wheels are mounted. Another object of the invention is to provide a cart for mail bags or the Re which is automatically balanced under practically all conditions and regardless of the load in the bags. A further object is to provide a collapsible cart of the class described which, when not in use, can be stored in a relatively smar space and which, with little or no change, will allow of the carrying of objects other than mail bags, such as boxes, baskets, golf bags and the like. Yet another object of the invention is the provision in a carrying vehicle for mail bags of means for supporting the bags in a very easily accessible position and from whence it can be quickly installed and also practically immediately removed with a minimum expenditure of time and trouble. @ Another and still further important object of the invention is the construction of a cart for carrying mail bags or the like wherein any weight placed thereon in almost any manner wiU be practically automatically balanced so far as the groundcontacting elements of the cart are concerne-d. Other and further important objects of the invention will be apparent from the dis(@losures in the accompanying drawing and following specification. The invention, in a preferred form, is illustrated in the drawings and hereinafter more fully described. In the drawings: Figure I is a side perspective of the improved mail bag cart of this inventibn showing the same in static position. Figure 2 is a similar view illustrating the cart in mobile position. Figure 3 is a front elevation of the cart of Figure 1, showing the same supporting two bags. Figure 4 is a side elevation of the cart illustrating the same in collapsed position for storage or transportation when not in use. Figure 5 is a somewhat schematic view of the mail bag supporting elements of the cart, showing one bag in actual position and the other about to be applied or otherwise just removed. Figure 6 is an enlarged detail view of the structure of the pivoted yard arm. Figure 7 is a further enlarged view of certain of the yard arm elements shown in perspective. Figure 8 fflustrates an additional,type of carrier element or container which can be conveniently employed with the cart of this invention.
[2]3 weight in the ba.-s or other containers on the cart is always equally divided so far as the actual support of sanic is coiicerned, and there will never be any undesirable chan.-e iii plane, so far is the actual operating center of gravity is concerned. The bags themselves are supported at a con@,enient height for distribution of the contents w;thou@ @i-- cessitating too much bendin.- on the part of the postman, but are not hi.-h enou.-h to interfere with the rtiechan;sm, o-,- proper opera',ion. The load will never become overbalanced in that the wheels are spaced sufficiently apart to allow carrying of the wei.-ht on one -ide or wheel without iipsettiiig the operatina equilibrium. The bifure-,tted support 12 stabijizes the cart when folded and while standing in fo'ided posiicn. It also stabilizes the cart when it is loaded and in operative position but not moving. There will be no tende-iicy for tippiiig or upset in that a fourpoint support is provided which will take care of ordinary forces directed a.@ainst the c-,irt at any angle, and even wher,- the same is positioned on uneven or slopin.ground. The beild at the top of the body is for the pur@nose of assistin- to position the weight of the load iii the bag or other contaiiier properly over the axle, and also to provide an upriglit hooking point for bags, baskets and the like. The body niember 10, the handle 14, the arm 32 and other elements need not necessarily be tubular but could be bars, strips, square ;n cross section or the like, and may eve-@i be composed of materials other than metal, such as plastics, reinforced -lass fibrous materials or other suitable materials. We ar.- aware that many changes may be made and numerous details of construction varied throughout a -@i,ide ran-.- wilhout d,-@parting from the principles of this invention, and we therefore do not propose limiting the patent granted hereon otherwise than as necessitated by the prior art. We
