Wheeled sled

Abstract

Wheeled sled for winter use, comprising a seat portion connected to runners and rear and front wheels, the wheels being movable between an upper (off-ground) and a lower (ground-contacting) position. A backrest is attached to the handle, the edges of the seat portion are directed downward, and the runners are affixed to the edges of the seat portion. The shape of the backrest follows the contour of the seat portion, such that in the transport position, the backrest rests against the seat portion. The seat portion and backrest may be made of bent plywood. To fix the backrest relative to the seat portion in the working position, the backrest and seat portion are equipped with a locking element.

Description

[0001] Wheeled sled

[0002] Technical field

[0003] The invention belongs to transport and leisure devices used in winter conditions, which can be used in conditions where ground and road conditions change depending on weather and location. When sidewalks are alternately covered with snow and asphalt and are unevenly maintained, movement becomes quite uncomfortable, especially when moving on foot while transporting a child or a load. There is a need for a transport device that would allow movement with a load from a snowy street into public indoor spaces, such as supermarkets or pedestrian tunnels.

[0004] Background art

[0005] Patent GB192624 is known, which describes a wheeled sled comprising a frame, runners and vertically movable wheels, wherein a lever system, eccentrics and springs are used for moving the wheels, wherein the wheels are fixed in the upper position by means of a spring and fixed in the lower position by means of an eccentric. The known sled has a complex structure, is difficult and costly to manufacture, lacks a handle, i.e. it cannot be used for transporting a small child, and due to the complexity of the structure the known sled has an unattractive appearance.

[0006] Patent DK36180C is known, which also describes a wheeled sled comprising a frame and runners and having four vertically movable wheels, wherein the runners are attached to the frame by vertical elements provided with a groove for the wheel axle. The wheels are held in the upper position by a spring and in the lower position by a return of the groove. To move the wheels up and down, the sled must be turned upside down and then the wheel axles must be set to the desired positions. The use of such a solution is inconvenient. The known sled also lacks a handle and a comfortable seat for a child, and due to the structural solution used the known sled has an unattractive appearance.

[0007] EE01254U is known, which describes a wheeled sled made of metal tubes.

[0008] A wheeled sled is known (www.snoHer.com, see also EU registered design No. 007499181), in which the seat part and backrest are made of plywood and which has a handle that is folded in half in the transport position. A drawback of this solution is the relatively large height in the transport position, due to which there are difficulties, for example, in fitting the wheeled sled into the trunk of a passenger car.

[0009] Disclosure of the invention

[0010] The invention is a wheeled sled comprising a seat part, runners connected to the seat part, rear wheels attached to the seat part and a front wheel adapted to be moved between an upper and a lower position, wherein in the upper, passive position the front wheel is higher than the runners and, when the sled is in use, is lifted off the ground, and in the lower, active position the front wheel is lower than the runners and in contact with the ground, and a handle is pivotably attached to the seat part between an operating position and a transport position, wherein a backrest is attached to the handle, wherein the edges of the seat part are directed downward, the runners are attached to the edges of the seat part, and the shape of the backrest follows the shape of the seat part such that in the transport position the backrest is against the seat part.

[0011] The seat part and the backrest of the wheeled sled are preferably made of bent plywood.

[0012] The backrest and the seat part are provided with a locking element for fixing the position of the backrest relative to the seat part in the operating position.

[0013] Brief description of the drawings

[0014] Fig. 1 is a general view of the wheeled sled 1 according to the invention.

[0015] Figs. 2A to 2D are views (orthogonal projections) of the wheeled sled, and Fig. 2E is a general view of the wheeled sled in the closed, i.e. transport position.

[0016] Figs. 3A and 3B show a wheel lifting mechanism according to a first embodiment.

[0017] Figs. 4A and 4B show a wheel lifting mechanism according to a second embodiment.

[0018] Figs. 5A and 5B show a wheel lifting mechanism according to a third embodiment.

[0019] Modes for carrying out the invention

[0020] An embodiment according to the invention is shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 1 shows a wheeled sled 1 having a seat part 2. Runners 3 are connected to the seat part 2. Rear wheels 4 and a front wheel 5 are attached to the seat part 2, wherein the front wheel 5 is adapted to be moved between an upper and a lower position. In the upper, passive position the front wheel 5 is higher than the runners 3 and, when the wheeled sled 1 is in use, is lifted off the ground, i.e. in this position the sled moves on the runners. In the lower, active position the front wheel 5 is lower than the runners 3 and in contact with the ground, i.e. in this position the sled moves on the wheels. A handle 6 is pivotably attached to the seat part 2 between an operating position and a transport position, and a backrest 7 is attached to the handle. The edges of the seat part 2 are directed downward and the runners 3 are attached to the edges of the seat part 2. The shape of the backrest 7 follows the shape of the seat part 2 such that, when rotated into the transport position, the backrest 7 is against the seat part 2. The handle 6 is extendable and retractable. Preferably, the seat part 2 and the backrest 7 are made of bent plywood that has been suitably made weather-resistant. The runners 3 may also be made of weather-resistant treated plywood, but may alternatively be made of other materials, such as plastic or metal, or of plywood coated therewith.

[0021] The backrest 7 is fixed in the operating position relative to the seat part 2 by a locking element 8.

[0022] Figs. 2A and 2C show side views of the wheeled sled 1, wherein in Fig. 2A the front wheel 5 of the wheeled sled is in the lower position and in Fig. 2C in the upper position. In the lower position, all wheels 4, 5 of the wheeled sled are supported on the ground during use. In the upper position of the front wheel 5, the sled is supported on the runners. Fig. 2B shows a rear view of the wheeled sled, wherein the front wheel 5 of the sled is in the lower position. Fig. 2D shows a front view of the wheeled sled, wherein the front wheel 5 is in the upper position.

[0023] Preferably, the front wheel 5 and the rear wheels 4 are dimensioned and positioned such that movement of the front wheel 5 into the lower position is sufficient to lift the runners 3 off the ground, i.e. without changing the position of the rear wheels 4.

[0024] Fig. 2E shows the wheeled sled 1 in the closed, so-called transport position, in which the backrest 7 is rotated against the seat part 2.

[0025] Figs. 3 to 5 show wheel lifting mechanisms according to three different embodiments.

[0026] The solution shown in Figs. 3A and 3B comprises a linear element 9 that is attached to the seat part 2 of the wheeled sled parallel to its plane. A foot plate 10 is attached to its rear end, by pressing which the linear element 9 moves forward and, upon rotation of the attachment element 12 of the front wheel, the wheel 5 moves into the lower position. Upon pressing the foot plate 10 a second time, the front wheel 5 moves back into the upper position under the force of a spring 11.

[0027] Figs. 4A and 4B show a solution similar to the previous one, which differs mainly in the construction of the foot plate 10.

[0028] Figs. 5A and 5B show an alternative solution that uses rods 13, which have one more degree of freedom compared to the linear element 9, which enables easier movement of the front wheel 5 by pressing the foot plate 10 with the foot.

Claims

Claims1. A wheeled sled (1) comprising a seat part (2), runners (3) connected to the seat part (2), and rear wheels (4) and a front wheel (5) attached to the seat part (2), wherein the front wheel (5) is adapted by means of a lifting mechanism to be moved between an upper and a lower position, wherein in the upper, passive position the front wheel (5) is higher than the runners (3) and, when the wheeled sled (1) is in use, lifted off the ground, and in the lower, active position the front wheel (5) is lower than the runners (3) and in contact with the ground, and a handle (6) is pivotably attached to the seat part (2) between an operating position and a transport position, characterized in that a backrest (7) is attached to the handle (6), wherein the edges of the seat part (2) are directed downward, the runners (3) are attached to the edges of the seat part (2), and the shape of the backrest (7) follows the shape of the seat part (2) such that in the transport position the backrest (7) is against the seat part (2).

2. The wheeled sled according to claim 1, characterized in that the seat part (2) and the backrest (7) are made of bent plywood.

3. The wheeled sled according to claims 1 to 2, characterized in that, for fixing the backrest (7) relative to the seat part (2) in the operating position, the backrest (7) and the seat part (2) are provided with a locking element (8).

4. The wheeled sled according to claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the lifting mechanism comprises a linear element (9) attached to the seat part (2) parallel to its plane, and a foot plate (10) attached to its end on the side of the rear wheels, by pressing which the linear element (9) moves forward and rotates an attachment element (12) of the front wheel (5), upon rotation of which the front wheel (5) moves into the lower position, and upon pressing the foot plate (10) a second time the front wheel (5) moves back into the upper position under the force of a spring (11) attached between the seat part (2) and the linear element (9).

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