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Pancake Wheel-Best Folding Wagons, Carts, Strollers
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Folding Baby Stroller:  From Design, to Prototype, to Marketplace; The Long Arc of Innovation  

1/15/2017

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Designing and Inventing Folding Consumer Wheeled Products
By:  Rick Shapiro, Designer-Inventor

 
            I've had friends and acquaintances ask me what my design company, Pancake Wheel LLC does:    some have seen pictures or a news article. I thought I would write an article that explains the long arc of how design innovations eventually become state of the art products.  My field of interest is narrow:  designing compact, fold flat consumer wheeled products (carts, wagons, strollers, joggers).  Several years ago I was approached by the owner of an Austrian golf products company.  The company, Big Max, is very successful in the European golf cart and golf accessory market and they were considering expanding their reach into baby strollers, initially to be offered in Europe. Licensing several of my U.S. and China golf cart and baby stroller/jogger patents could be strategic to a new fold flat stroller design.  While many consumers wouldn’t notice, the wheel design of portable golf carts can be similar to the wheel design of some baby strollers or baby joggers.
 
THE DESIGN PLAN
 
            The owner of the Austrian golf company had an idea for introducing a new, ultra-compact collapsible baby stroller and already had a very rough first idea for the design, and a factory we worked with already had an early prototype.  I was invited to both license my existing patents, and also work as a co-designer to try to refine and improve the factory’s first rough idea.  As part of the planning, I agreed to travel to a factory in China working with the Austrian golf company, and then to engage in remote design work, via email or skype. 
 
HOW INNOVATIONS OCCUR
 
            At the very first design plan meeting, the factory had already worked up a very rough frame idea for folding the wheels in a very simple way.  One of those rough first prototypes of a 3-wheel stroller is shown below, which would have a push pull portion of the lower frame fold all the stroller wheels.
 
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First factory working prototype, metal tube serves as push-pull handle to fold and setup wheels.
            The broad design concept was a great idea but the specific mechanical approach was very poor from an aesthetic appearance standpoint, and would be difficult for a parent to manipulate.  After seeing the very rough mechanical prototype, I resolved to start brainstorming on a better solution, using the broad idea, but to refine or replace it with a simple design that would be patentable and easier for mothers or fathers to use on the stroller. 
 
            I had a brainstorm to merge or meld the simple push/pull metal frame handle idea with the type of handle commonly used on typical luggage (see below) onto a baby stroller. 
 
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My design idea: merge the recess push pull handle of rolling luggage, so that the push pull handle sets up and folds all baby stroller wheels.
So the epiphany required a new design that would merge a simple recessing, push/pull handle to mechanically fold all wheels of a baby stroller.  Below are a few of my early sketches that show a wishbone design on the lower frame, and the concept of adding a single recessing mechanical push/pull handle. ​
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Working idea sketches after first design meeting at factory, wishbone lower frame with center front connector.
               I traveled to China for a second design meeting, and we worked on implementing this concept of the single push/pull handle which would recess into the front of the stroller. Some work on the refinements are shown below.

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Imprementing a key design innovation: merging a recessed wheel folding push-pull handle into the front of the stroller frame.
​           Many months after the very first push/pull handle design was built, the factory tried a number of mechanical methods to arrive at the simplest manufacturable method, and one that would be easy for consumers.  This literally took somewhere between 1 ½ to 2 more years, because some of the designs functioned well but were too hard to manufacture, or had too many parts that might suffer damage during use.
 
            Then, in most every European nation, before a product can be sold, it must pass a rigorous inspection process, like UL in the USA. A manufacturer must address any problem areas that the design laboratories find that may not meet any criteria set forth for that type product. Evaluating pinch points, impact and vibration testing are some of the testing mandated under the standards applying in Europe.
 
            The long arc of this state of the art fold flat baby stroller process lasted almost 3 years, and involved design engineers at the factory, and another German designer brought in to adopt the simplest reliable mechanical internal parts. Ultimately the new design, co-invented and co‑designed by myself and my design company, Pancake Wheel LLC, along with two other co-inventors, was introduced in Europe under a new baby stroller brand called Nikimotion, see the setup video for details.

        Sales began in January 2017, nearly 3 years after we first began our “alliance” design work.  European and United States patents are currently pending with regard to several of the innovations that became part of the new Nikimotion Blade baby stroller, and Nikimotion may arrive in the United States in the near future, should the product prove successful in the Europe in 2017.
 
Rick Shapiro of Pancake Wheel LLC is an independent designer-inventor with 19 U.S. patents who works with companies to develop state of the art fold flat wheel products.
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Pancake Wheel Folding Wagon/Cart: A Man's Best Friend for Yard Work

10/11/2016

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A man’s yard is his turf to protect.  So keeping the lawn green, bushes trimmed and flowers blooming can be a time consuming habit for weekend warriors.  Look across your neighborhood on any given weekend.  What do you see?  Men at work.

My neighbor Sam is one of those guys who spends hours eradicating wire grass from his front yard and I hold my own.  Whether its mulch, or shrubs I used to use a wheelbarrow.  But now, I have a secret weapon that’s going to make Sam envious and that is the pancake wheel wagon.  This is no ordinary folding cart.  It’s a one man hauling machine that folds up flat as a pancake.

Since I’m the muscle for all gardening endeavors in my house I’ve been using this to quickly haul bags of mulch to the back yard, then bags of compost to the front yard and everything in between.  The wagon is great because it can fold up and hang on a wall in the garage since there’s not much room in there with all my power tools.

I got the pancake flat folding cart by pancake wheel online from www.foldflatworld.com and its available also on Amazon.com.

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Update on the Newest Pancake Wheel Folding Wagon

2/10/2014

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So what’s been happening at pancake wheel LLC in the  last year and a half? A lot actually. First, our designers are working hard to  redesign the pancake wheel folding wagon which has previously been offered in  several different variations: plastic and metal.  Rick Shapiro has been designing the new  wagon for over a year, incorporating consumer ideas and feedback into the new wagon design.

The new version we are planning to launch is a plastic 
wagon, with a new and improved folding wheel system that
is sleeker and lighter  than the previous version.  The 
versatile new wagon product will offer various options allowing the product to 
hold accessories and a storage shelf.  We hope to show images of the new design in 2014 and announce where it can be purchased.

Also, Pancake Wheel signed a design and development patent agreement with Big Max Golf and began developing a baby stroller with unique fold flat attributes, planned for launch in 2015.


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Hints for a More Successful Art and Craft Show Set Up

9/19/2012

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Pancake Wheel Wagon is now advertising on the Sunshine Artist website which is America’s premier Art and Craft Show Magazine.  We ‘re getting the word out to artists about how world’s thinnest folding wagon can make their art and craft show set up and take down a breeze. 

Here are some tips for artists who want to have a successful art show

  1. Use the Pancake Wheel Wagon, it folds to 7 inches flat and can tow 150 pounds.
  2. Leave room for your customers to move around inside your tent
  3. Invite them inside the tent.
  4. Think of your tent as a mini store.
  5. Create a focal point that attracts the eye. It can be a sign, picture or color.

To get you very own pancake flat cart by pancake wheel you can buy online from www.foldflatworld.comor you can find it on Amazon Marketplace as well.


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Camping or Tubing? Not Without this Folding Wagon

8/14/2012

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Camping is fun but when it’s a group effort it can be daunting packing and unpacking and
dragging coolers from one place to another.  However with the right tools you can
fix about any situation.  That’s why I researched the best folding wagons and carts and came up with the Pancake Wheel Wagon it is world’s thinnest folding wagon at only 7 inches when folded.  

If the size isn’t impressive enough consider this, it’s designed and sold by an
American inventor.  It really is a convenient and versatile little wagon it’s built sturdy and strong and will get the job done.   So where can you get this folding wonder wagon?

To get you very own pancake flat cart by pancake wheel you can buy online from www.foldflatworld.comor you can find it on Amazon Marketplace as well.


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Best folding wagon for sports coaches?

8/4/2012

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A number of sports coaches have emailed or called to ask about the Pancake folding wagon details lik:  how much does it hold? Can I use bungi cords? Exactly how wide and long it it?  I provide the answers and we have a number of happy volunteer sports coaches using what we believe is the best folding wagon for them.  The pictures with this blog were recently sent to us by a sports coach, and look at how much equipment and gear he gets in it?  Pretty cool.  We make sure that the top edges are level all around to accomodate different size stuff that might not best best to orient all inside the wagon.
If you are a sports coach-please check us out!  If you have bought the pancake folding wagon, please send us your favorite "pack mule" type pictures and perhaps we can post them here too.

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The Best Folding Wagon for College Capers

7/17/2012

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Above is an actual picture of me moving my daughter into her dorm for her first year of college.  At the last minute I decided to bring
the Pancake Wheel foldable wagon. 
As it was I’m glad it’s the world’s thinnest folding wagon because it just barely fit in the trunk with all
of my daughters “essentials.”  Boy
am I glad I brought it though.  When we got up to Virginia Tech we were required to park about as far away from the entrance to her dorm as you could get.

As I watched other parents huffing and puffing down hallways with televisions, computers and mini fridges I was so glad I had
the wagon.  It may very well be the best folding wagon because it holds up to two hundred pounds but was nimble enough to turn corners and fit though all the doors.

At the end of the day I was sad to leave my daughter but excited to know that if she ever needed anything I could throw it and the Pancake Wheel wagon into the trunk of my car and get it to her with no problem.  Either that or I’ll just have to wait until she accepts my Facebook friend request

To get you very own pancake flat cart by pancake wheel  you can buy online from www.foldflatworld.com or you can find it on Amazon Marketplace as well.


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Stacking Cargo on the Pancake Flat folding wagons (By: Rick Shapiro, Inventor)

5/29/2012

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Just entering some notes about some pictures I received from a consumer who recently purchased the pancake flat wagon. We are always excited to get pictures showing the different uses consumers use our pancake flat folding wagon for. We maintain the privacy of our customers, but as you can see in the pictures this gentleman told me that he uses an elevator at times and was looking for a small easy to use folding wagon.

He thought that a solid metal folding wagon has advantages over the fabric type of folding wagon which is also popular. We produced a YouTube video comparing the pancake flat wagon to a typical fabric style folding wagon and I am sure many consumers understand the strengths and weaknesses. One good thing about our folding wagon is that you can place the items either inside the profile of the wagon or right on top of the metal walls if you have bulky cargo.

The man who purchased our pancake flat wagon shown in these pictures told me that he really likes the fact that the handle will hold in various positions without falling to the ground. He said he didn't even realize that was one of the unique features until he bought the wagon.

Actually, I am the inventor of this new type of wagon handle that has multiple hold positions and mounts right in the end wall of the wagon. I have also licensed this particular multiple hold position wagon handle to major companies like Radio Flyer wagons as well.

I pay careful attention to every consumer's comments being the inventor and designer of this world's thinnest folding wagon design. Currently I am working on a new plastic version of the pancake flat wagon which has similar features to our blue metal version, but there are a lot of different details that must be worked out.


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A Heavy Duty Folding Wagon That Can Fit In the Trunk of a Prius

4/12/2012

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Spring has sprung and so have the weeds in my garden. I needed a heavy duty wagon to haul mulch, plants and garden tools around the community garden. I have a green thumb and a green car but as good as my Prius is on gas mileage I can’t fit a wheelbarrow or even a wagon in the trunk.


I started researching foldable wagons and found several canvas type ones but none that would stand up to my 50 pound bags of compost.But when I looked into more heavy duty wagons I couldn’t find any that would fold up small enough to fit in my
trunk or fold up at all.Then I found the pancake flat wagon. I have to admit the name sounded a little funny but when I watched the video I was amazed that the pancake flat wagon could carry 200 pounds and fold to only seven inches. Now I’m the envy of the garden club as I wheel my plants and produce back and forth without even breaking a sweat.

I’ve done all the research for you and I got the pancake flat cart by pancake wheel 
online from www.foldflatworld.com or you can find it on Amazon Marketplace as 
well.


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Anchors Away: Pancake Wheel Folding Wagon is Essential Boating Gear

1/19/2012

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Boating on a lake, bay or in the big blue ocean is more than a hobby for some, it’s a
lifestyle
.  Part of that lifestyle for me is being as comfortable on the boat as on shore.  To do that there are provisions that have to be brought aboard like snacks, ice, and, of course, more bait.

If you live aboard a boat like I do, sometimes you have to pick a boat
slip that’s farther away from the marina entrance if you want any
privacy.  The problem became having to haul all my supplies down the walkways all the way from the parking lot.  I bought a traditional wagon but it was
too big and bulky to stow away on board
 and had to remain on the
dock.  Unfortunately one of my neighbors borrowed it and failed to return
it. 

I found the pancake wheel folding wagon online and decided to give it a
try.  The folding cart folds up to only seven inches flat which is great because I can easily stow it on board.   I think I’ve seen my neighbors eyeing it so I gave them the information on where they could buy it:  I got the pancake flat cart
by pancake wheel, this newest piece of essential boating gear on
line from www.foldflatworld.com or  you find it on Amazon Marketplace as well.


 
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