Container with built-in wheels

Abstract

The present invention is a handy and easily movable container that lends itself to a myriad of uses, including the storing and/or shipping of products. The present invention is particularly useful in connection with the wholesale and/or retail sale of consumer products, such as self-rising swimming pools, which are packaged in large containers and are heavy to lift. In one embodiment, the container comprises a corrugated box and first and second wheel bracket units rotatably engaged with the lower portion of the box from a retracted or stored position to a deployed or operable position. The container further comprises a handle unit disposed at the upper portion of the box. In operation, a person may rotate the first and second wheel bracket units from the retracted or stored position to the deployed or operable position and then grasp and tilt the container using the handle unit. The person may then roll the container along the floor or ground to a desired location.

1 . A container for use with a consumer product by a person on a surface comprising: a body portion adapted to retain the product; and a transport unit engaged with said body portion and operable by the person from a retracted position to a deployed position to allow the person to move said body portion along the surface.  
   
   
       2 . The container of  claim 1 , further comprising a handle unit engaged with said body portion and adapted to allow the person to tilt and move said body portion along the surface.  
   
   
       3 . The container of  claim 2 , wherein said transport unit comprises first and second wheel bracket units disposed substantially within said body portion in said retracted position and disposed substantially outward of said body portion in said deployed position.  
   
   
       4 . The container of  claim 3 , wherein each of said first and second wheel bracket units are rotatable by the person from said retracted position to said deployed position.  
   
   
       5 . The container of  claim 4 , wherein said first wheel bracket unit is rotatable independent of said second wheel bracket unit.  
   
   
       6 . The container of  claim 5 , wherein each of said first and second wheel bracket units comprise a bracket rotatably engaged with said body portion and a wheel member rotatably engaged with said bracket.  
   
   
       7 . The container of  claim 6 , wherein said transport unit further comprises a lower support member engaged with said body portion and rotatably supporting said first and second wheel bracket units between said retracted position and said deployed position.  
   
   
       8 . The container of  claim 7 , wherein said body portion further comprises a bottom portion, a rear portion, first and second sidewall portions, and a top portion; said support member being engaged with and extending from said first sidewall portion to said second sidewall portion.  
   
   
       9 . The container of  claim 8 , wherein each of said brackets comprise a tubular opening portion rotatably engaged with said support member.  
   
   
       10 . The container of  claim 9 , wherein each of said brackets comprise an arm portion extending outward from each of said tubular opening portions, respectively.  
   
   
       11 . The container of  claim 10 , wherein each of said arm portions comprise a hook portion adapted to engage with said bottom portion of said body portion in said deployed position.  
   
   
       12 . The container of  claim 11 , wherein each of said arm portions comprise a leg portion adapted to engage the surface and support said body portion in said deployed position.  
   
   
       13 . The container of  claim 12 , wherein said transport unit further comprises a center support bracket having a bottom portion engaged with said body and a top portion rotatably engaged with said lower first support member.  
   
   
       14 . The container of  claim 13 , wherein said bottom portion of center support bracket is engaged with said front and bottom portions of said body portion.  
   
   
       15 . The container of  claim 14 , wherein said top portion of said center support bracket comprises a tubular opening portion adapted to allow said lower support member to rotate freely.  
   
   
       16 . The container of  claim 15 , wherein said bottom portion of said center support bracket comprises first and second support portions engaged with said front and bottom portions of said body portion, respectively.  
   
   
       17 . The container of  claim 15 , wherein said handle unit comprises an upper support member engaged with said body portion at a point closer to said top portion than said bottom portion of said body portion.  
   
   
       18 . The container of  claim 16 , wherein said upper support member is engaged with and expands between said first and second sidewall portions of said body portion.  
   
   
       19 . The container of  claim 18 , wherein said body portion further comprises a first tab portion removable by the person to form a first open slot portion allowing the person access to grasp said handle support portion.  
   
   
       20 . The container of  claim 19 , wherein said first tab portion is disposed at said rear and top portions, respectively, of said body portion, and adjacent said handle support portion.  
   
   
       21 . The container of  claim 20 , wherein said body portion further comprises a second and third tab portions removable by the person to form second and third open slot portions to allow the person access to said first and second wheel bracket units, respectively.  
   
   
       22 . The container of  claim 21 , wherein each of said first, second, and third tab portions comprise a plurality of tear-away perforated edges.  
   
   
       23 . The container of  claim 22 , wherein said body portion comprises a box made from corrugated cardboard.  
   
   
       24 . The container of  claim 23 , wherein each of said lower and upper support members comprise an elongated hollow rod made from a substantially rigid plastic material.  
   
   
       25 . The container of  claim 24 , wherein said wheel members, said brackets, and said center support bracket are each made from a substantially rigid plastic material.