Adjustable Chassis System

Abstract

Various embodiments, aspects and features of the present invention encompass a system and method for an adjustable chassis system (“ACS”) that may be removably fixed to a payload object so that transport of the object across rough or uneven terrain is made less burdensome. Notably, some embodiments of an ACS may be integral to a given payload object. Certain embodiments of an adjustable chassis system advantageously do not include axles, yet may be raised or lowered to adjust ground clearance of the chassis and payload object. Moreover, certain embodiments of an ACS may be easily disassembled or collapsed for compact storage. Yet another advantage of certain ACS embodiments is that, by virtue of the independent side-to-side height adjustment, a payload object carried by the ACS may serve as a level seat or work surface over inclined or uneven ground.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An adjustable chassis system for transporting a payload object, the adjustable chassis system comprising:
 a left-side frame bracket detachably coupled to a right-side frame bracket, the left-side frame bracket and the right-side frame bracket defining the width of a platform between them, the platform configured to receive and retain a payload object;   a first left-side wheel detachably and rotatably coupled to the left-side frame bracket such that the ride height of the first left-side wheel is variable; and   a first right-side wheel detachably and rotatably coupled to the right-side frame bracket such that the ride height of the first right-side wheel is variable;   wherein the left-side frame bracket is configured to displace laterally relative to the right-side frame bracket such that the width of the platform is variable.   
     
     
         2 . The adjustable chassis system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a wheel coupler for each of the first left-side wheel and the first right-side wheel; and   a positioning slot defined by each of the left-side frame bracket and the right-side frame bracket, respectively, the positioning slot configured to receive the wheel coupler, the wheel coupler configured to hold fixed at a specific point along the length of the positioning slot.   
     
     
         3 . The adjustable chassis system of  claim 2 , wherein the ride height of the first left-side wheel and the ride height of the first right-side wheel each, respectively, depends on the specific point along the length of the positioning slot where the wheel coupler holds fixed. 
     
     
         4 . The adjustable chassis system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first left-side arm having a first end and second end, the first end detachably and pivotally coupled to the left-side frame bracket via a left-side retention mechanism, the first left-side wheel detachably and rotatably coupled to the second end;   a first right-side arm having a first end and second end, the first end detachably and pivotally coupled to the right-side frame bracket via a right-side retention mechanism, the first right-side wheel detachably and rotatably coupled to the second end;   a left-side positioning slot defined by the left-side frame bracket, the left-side positioning slot configured to receive the left-side retention mechanism, the left-side retention mechanism configured to hold fixed at a specific point along the length of the left-side positioning slot; and   a right-side positioning slot defined by the right-side frame bracket, the right-side positioning slot configured to receive the right-side retention mechanism, the right-side retention mechanism configured to hold fixed at a specific point along the length of the right-side positioning slot.   
     
     
         5 . The adjustable chassis system of  claim 4 , wherein:
 the ride height of the first left-side wheel depends on the specific point along the length of the left-side positioning slot where the left-side retention mechanism holds fixed; and   the ride height of the first right-side wheel depends on the specific point along the length of the right-side positioning slot where the right-side retention mechanism holds fixed.   
     
     
         6 . The adjustable chassis system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second left-side wheel detachably and rotatably coupled to the left-side frame bracket such that the ride height of the second left-side wheel remains synchronous with the ride height of the first left-side wheel; and   a second right-side wheel detachably and rotatably coupled to the right-side frame bracket such that the ride height of the second right-side wheel remains synchronous with the ride height of the first right-side wheel.   
     
     
         7 . The adjustable chassis system of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a wheel coupler for each of the first left-side wheel, the first right-side wheel, the second left-side wheel and the second right-side wheel; and   a positioning slot defined by each of the left-side frame bracket and the right-side frame bracket, respectively, the positioning slot configured to receive the wheel coupler, the wheel coupler configured to hold fixed at a specific point along the length of the positioning slot.   
     
     
         8 . The adjustable chassis system of  claim 7 , wherein the ride height of the first left-side wheel, the ride height of the first right-side wheel, the ride height of the second left-side wheel and the ride height of the second right-side wheel each, respectively, depends on the specific point along the length of the positioning slot where the wheel coupler holds fixed. 
     
     
         9 . The adjustable chassis system of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 a second left-side arm having a first end and second end, the first end detachably and pivotally coupled to the left-side frame bracket via the left-side retention mechanism, the second left-side wheel detachably and rotatably coupled to the second end; and   a second right-side arm having a first end and second end, the first end detachably and pivotally coupled to the right-side frame bracket via the right-side retention mechanism, the second right-side wheel detachably and rotatably coupled to the second end.   
     
     
         10 . The adjustable chassis system of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the ride height of the first left-side wheel and the ride height of the second left-side wheel depend on the specific point along the length of the left-side positioning slot where the left-side retention mechanism holds fixed; and   the ride height of the first right-side wheel and the ride height of the second right-side wheel depends on the specific point along the length of the right-side positioning slot where the right-side retention mechanism holds fixed.   
     
     
         11 . The adjustable chassis system of  claim 1 , wherein the left-side frame bracket and the right-side frame bracket are integral to the payload object. 
     
     
         12 . An adjustable chassis system for transporting a payload object, the adjustable chassis system comprising:
 a left-side frame bracket detachably coupled to a right-side frame bracket, the left-side frame bracket defining a left-side positioning slot, the right-side frame bracket defining a right-side positioning slot, the left-side frame bracket and the right-side frame bracket defining the width of a platform between them, the platform configured to receive and retain a payload object;   a first left-side wheel detachably and rotatably coupled to the left-side frame bracket via a left-side retention mechanism received by the left-side positioning slot, the left-side retention mechanism configured to hold fixed at a specific point along the length of the left-side positioning slot such that the ride height of the first left-side wheel is variable; and   a first right-side wheel detachably and rotatably coupled to the right-side frame bracket via a right-side retention mechanism received by the right-side positioning slot, the right-side retention mechanism configured to hold fixed at a specific point along the length of the right-side positioning slot such that the ride height of the first right-side wheel is variable;   wherein the left-side frame bracket is configured to displace laterally relative to the right-side frame bracket such that the width of the platform is variable.   
     
     
         13 . The adjustable chassis system of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the ride height of the first left-side wheel depends on the specific point along the length of the left-side positioning slot where the left-side retention mechanism holds fixed; and   the ride height of the first right-side wheel depends on the specific point along the length of the right-side positioning slot where the right-side retention mechanism holds fixed.   
     
     
         14 . The adjustable chassis system of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a first left-side arm having a first end and second end, the first end detachably and pivotally coupled to the left-side frame bracket via the left-side retention mechanism, the first left-side wheel detachably and rotatably coupled to the second end;   a first right-side arm having a first end and second end, the first end detachably and pivotally coupled to the right-side frame bracket via the right-side retention mechanism, the first right-side wheel detachably and rotatably coupled to the second end.   
     
     
         15 . The adjustable chassis system of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a second left-side wheel detachably and rotatably coupled to the left-side frame bracket via the left-side retention mechanism received by the left-side positioning slot, the ride height of the second left-side wheel synchronous with the ride height of the first left-side wheel; and   a second right-side wheel detachably and rotatably coupled to the right-side frame bracket via the right-side retention mechanism received by the right-side positioning slot, the ride height of the second right-side wheel synchronous with the ride height of the first right-side wheel.   
     
     
         16 . The adjustable chassis system of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a second left-side arm having a first end and second end, the first end detachably and pivotally coupled to the left-side frame bracket via the left-side retention mechanism, the second left-side wheel detachably and rotatably coupled to the second end; and   a second right-side arm having a first end and second end, the first end detachably and pivotally coupled to the right-side frame bracket via the right-side retention mechanism, the second right-side wheel detachably and rotatably coupled to the second end.   
     
     
         17 . The adjustable chassis system of  claim 16 , wherein:
 the ride height of the first left-side wheel and the ride height of the second left-side wheel depend on the specific point along the length of the left-side positioning slot where the left-side retention mechanism holds fixed; and   the ride height of the first right-side wheel and the ride height of the second right-side wheel depends on the specific point along the length of the right-side positioning slot where the right-side retention mechanism holds fixed.   
     
     
         18 . The adjustable chassis system of  claim 12 , wherein the left-side frame bracket and the right-side frame bracket are integral to the payload object.