Removable Wheel Sled Conversion for Wagons on Loose Terrain

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Wheeled carriers, such as wagons, struggle to navigate loose terrain like sand due to wheel digging in, requiring laborious modifications or attachments that complicate use on rigid surfaces.

Innovation Solution

A sliding member is positioned under the wheel of a wheeled carrier, converting it into a sled-like device using gravity and user force, allowing easy traversal of loose terrain without permanent mechanical connections.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If standard wagon wheels are used on loose terrain, then the wagon is easy to use on rigid surfaces, but the wheels dig in and become non-functional on sand and gravel

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of use on rigid surfacesVSAvoidadaptability to loose terrain

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the wheel-sled connection temporary and changeable. The sled attachment is designed to be easily attached and detached, allowing the wagon to dynamically adapt between wheel mode (on rigid surfaces) and sled mode (on loose terrain), rather than being permanently fixed as one or the other

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The invention segments the transportation system into separate functional components: the wagon body, the removable sled attachment, and the wheel. This segmentation allows the sled to be independently attached to or removed from the wagon, enabling flexible adaptation to different terrain conditions without permanent modification

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If wheels are permanently replaced with ski-type devices, then the wagon can traverse loose terrain, but transportation over rigid terrain becomes very difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to traverse loose terrainVSAvoidease of transportation on rigid terrain

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the contact mechanism dynamic by allowing the wagon to switch between having wheels (for rigid terrain) and having sleds attached (for loose terrain). The attachment and detachment of the sled is designed to be simple and quick, enabling the user to adapt the wagon's function based on the terrain without permanent modification

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Adaptability or versatility

If a semi-permanent rigid sled is placed under the wheels, then the wagon can move on loose terrain, but laborious attachment and detachment is required plus the sled must be transported separately

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to move on loose terrainVSAvoidcomplexity of attachment and transport

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the sled and wagon into a single integrated system where the sled attaches directly to the wagon body. This combining eliminates the need to transport the sled separately, as it becomes part of the wagon assembly, and simplifies the attachment process by creating a unified structure that requires minimal separate components

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Reliability

If converting devices are permanently mechanically connected to the wheeled carrier, then the conversion is stable, but removal requires tools and laborious manipulations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestability of conversionVSAvoidease of removal and setup

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by designing the connection to be temporary rather than permanent. The sled attachment uses simple mechanical connectors that can be quickly attached and detached without tools, allowing the system to dynamically adapt to different terrain conditions while maintaining stability during use through gravity and user-applied forces

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables quick and easy conversion of wheeled carriers for loose terrain use, maintaining functionality on both loose and rigid surfaces without additional tools or labor, suitable for wheeled and non-wheeled objects.

Implementation Method 1

The sliding member includes an abutment against which the wheel rests such that when the wheeled carrier is in motion, namely pushed or pulled, the abutment is likewise pushed or pulled, thereby retaining the sliding member under the wheel

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Implementation Method 2

a wheeled carrier can be dragged on loose terrain such as sand similar to a sled or a ski, versus having the wheels dig into the sand

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentUS12522274B2Device, system and method for transporting objects over loose terrain

Publication Date: 2026.01.13 COAST4LIFE LLC

AI summary

Devices, systems and methods for converting wheeled carriers into sliding carriers include at least one sliding member positioned under at least one wheel of a wheeled carrier such as a wagon. The sliding member includes an abutment against which the wheel rests such that when the wheeled carrier is in motion, namely pushed or pulled, the abutment is likewise pushed or pulled, thereby retaining the sliding member(s) under the wheel(s) and transporting the wheeled carrier without significant wheel rotation. In this manner a wheeled carrier can slide on loose terrain such as sand. The device can also be used to slide objects other than wheeled carriers.