Foldable devices for transporting loads
The invention relates to a foldable device ( 3000 ) for transporting loads, the foldable device comprising: a first platform ( 3200 ); a running gear ( 3100 ), the running gear comprising a plurality of arms ( 3110 ) and a plurality of wheels ( 3130 ), each of the plurality of arms being rotatably coupled to the first platform and at least one of the plurality of wheels; and a device for aligning the plurality of arms and the plurality of wheels, which is configured to rotate each of the plurality of arms and each of the plurality of wheels by a rotary angle between at least one open and one folded state, wherein the plurality of arms and the plurality of wheels are arranged under the first platform when in the folded state.
1 . A foldable device for transporting loads, comprising:
a first platform;
a second platform; and
a lift with a plurality of foldable shears rotatably coupled to the first platform and the second platform;
wherein each of the plurality of foldable shears comprises a first elongated arm, a second elongated arm and a short arm, each of the first elongated arms, the second elongated arms, and the short arms having and maintaining a fixed length during folding of the foldable device;
wherein each of the first elongated arms is rigidly coupled to a respective one of the second elongated arms;
wherein each of the first elongated arms is foldable and each of the short arms is rotatably coupled to the second platform and rotatably connected to a respective one of the second elongated arms.
2 . The foldable device according to claim 1 further comprising:
a chassis having a plurality of booms each having an associated wheel, wherein each of the plurality of booms is coupled to the first platform.
3 . The foldable device according to claim 2 further comprising:
a first mechanical coupling comprising a plurality of rotary joints, each rotary joint configured to rotatably couple a respective boom of the plurality of booms with the first platform;
a second mechanical coupling comprising a plurality of steering forks, each steering fork configured to rotatably couple a respective wheel with its associated boom;
wherein the first mechanical coupling is configured to align the plurality of booms with the first platform in at least one opened state and in at least one folded state; and
wherein the second mechanical coupling is configured to align each wheel with its associated boom in at least one opened state and in at least one folded state.
4 . The foldable device according to claim 3 wherein the plurality of booms and the plurality of wheels have different angles of rotation, and the plurality of crossbeams and the plurality of booms are disposed below the first platform in the folded state.
5 . The foldable device according to claim 2 wherein the plurality of booms are lockable in the folded and opened states.
6 . The foldable device according to claim 2 , wherein each wheel is connected to its associated boom by a steering fork that is coupled with the boom and configured to rotate relative to the boom in an opened state of the chassis, wherein the rotation of the steering fork relative to the boom is configured to be lockable.
7 . The foldable device according to claim 1 wherein the second platform comprises a plurality of guide rails, and wherein the second elongated arm of each one of the foldable shears is rotatably coupled to at least one of the plurality of guide rails via one or more carriages.
8 . The foldable device according to claim 7 wherein one or more of the carriages are synchronously coupled for raising and lowering the lift.
9 . The foldable device according to claim 1 wherein the second platform further comprises a spring for raising and lowering the lift.
10 . The foldable device according to claim 1 wherein the foldable device further comprises a foldable attachment, the foldable attachment configured for coupling to the second platform.
11 . The foldable device according to claim 1 , wherein, in a folded state, the foldable device comprises a cuboid shape.
12 . The foldable device according to claim 2 wherein the lift and the chassis are mechanically couplable with each other.
13 . The foldable device according to claim 2 , wherein energy for automatically opening or closing the chassis is provided by one or more springs provided in at least one of the first platform or the second platform.
14 . The foldable device according to claim 1 , wherein the foldable device is one selected from the group consisting of a stroller and a transport cart.
15 . The foldable device according to claim 1 , wherein the first elongated arm of a first shear of the plurality of foldable shears is coupled to the first platform at a first corner region of the first platform and coupled to the second platform at a first corner region of the second platform; and wherein the second elongated arm of the first shear of the plurality of foldable shears is coupled to the first platform at a second corner region of the first platform and coupled to a guide rail of the second platform.
16 . The foldable device according to claim 1 , wherein the short arm of a first shear of the plurality of foldable shears is rotatably coupled to the second platform at a second corner region of the second platform.
17 . The foldable device according to claim 1 , wherein the first elongated arm of a second shear of the plurality of foldable shears is coupled to the first platform at a third corner region of the first platform and coupled to the second platform at a third corner region of the second platform; and wherein the second elongated arm of the second shear of the plurality of foldable shears is coupled to the first platform at a fourth corner region of the first platform and coupled to a guide rail of the second platform.
18 . The foldable device according to claim 1 , wherein a position of the coupling of each of the first elongated arms with the first platform and a position of the coupling of each of the first elongated arms with the second platform does not change during folding of the foldable device.