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US 10,787,187 B1Granted
Self-bagging carts
AssigneeAmazon Technologies, Inc.
InventorJeremy Samuel De Bonet
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A mobile cart includes sets of arms from which bags may be suspended. The arms may be separated by a predetermined distance. Holes for suspending the bags from such arms may be laterally formed in such bags and separated by the predetermined distance. The arms may be extended when the mobile cart is being used to retrieve items from a materials handling facility, such as a warehouse or retail establishment, and retracted when the mobile cart is not in service. An open or expanded bag may be suspended near free ends of such arms, thereby enabling one or more workers to place items therein, while one or more closed or collapsed bags may be suspended at mounting ends of such arms and stored until one or more of such bags is desired. When the open bag is filled with desired items, the open bag may be removed from the arms.
Claims21
A first cart configured for travel on a surface, wherein the first cart comprises:
- a frame having a first member and a second member pivotably joined to a first frame hinge, wherein the first member and the second member are configured to pivot with respect to one another about an axis defined by the first frame hinge between an open alignment and a closed alignment, wherein the axis defined by the first frame hinge is aligned substantially perpendicular to the surface, wherein the first member comprises at least one first horizontal element substantially parallel to the surface and at least one first vertical element substantially perpendicular to the surface, and wherein the second member comprises at least one second horizontal element substantially parallel to the surface and at least one second vertical element substantially parallel to the surface;
- a first pair of arms mounted to the first horizontal element of the first member,
- wherein each arm of the first pair of arms extends laterally outward from the first member, substantially parallel to the surface and substantially parallel to one another,
- wherein each arm of the first pair of arms comprises a first mounting section at a first proximal end, a first extension at a first distal end, a first arm hinge joining the first mounting section and the first extension, and a first torsion spring,
- wherein each arm of the first pair of arms is rigidly mounted to the at least one first horizontal element of the first member by the first mounting section at the first proximal end,
- wherein the first extension is configured to rotate, about an axis defined by the first arm hinge, between a first position substantially coaxial with the first mounting section and a second position substantially perpendicular to the first mounting section, and
- wherein the first torsion spring urges the first extension into the first position;
- a second pair of arms mounted to the second horizontal element of the second member,
- wherein each arm of the second pair of arms extends laterally outward from the second member, substantially parallel to the surface and substantially parallel to one another,
- wherein each arm of the second pair of arms comprises a second mounting section at a second proximal end, a second extension at a second distal end and a second arm hinge joining the second mounting section and the second extension, and a second torsion spring,
- wherein each arm of the second pair of arms is rigidly mounted to the at least one second horizontal element of the second member by the second mounting section at the second proximal end,
- wherein the second extension is configured to rotate about an axis defined by the second arm hinge between a third position substantially coaxial with the second mounting section and a fourth position substantially perpendicular to the second mounting section, and
- wherein the second torsion spring urges the second extension into the third position;
- at least one front caster mounted to at least one of the first member or the second member;
- and
- at least one rear caster mounted to at least one of the first member or the second member.
13 more elements
A mobile apparatus comprising:
- a frame comprising a first vertical frame member comprising at least one first horizontal element rigidly joined perpendicular to at least one first vertical element and a second vertical frame member comprising at least one second horizontal element rigidly joined perpendicular to at least one second vertical element, wherein the first vertical frame member and the second vertical frame member are joined to one another by a frame hinge, and wherein the first vertical frame member and the second vertical frame member are adapted to rotate with respect to one another about an axis defined by the frame hinge between an open alignment of the frame and a closed alignment of the frame;
- a first arm mounted to the first vertical frame member, wherein the first arm comprises a first mounting section rigidly joined to one of the at least one first horizontal element or the at least one first vertical element and extending laterally from the first vertical frame member;
- a second arm mounted to the first vertical frame member, wherein the second arm comprises a second mounting section rigidly joined to one of the at least one first horizontal element or the at least one first vertical element and extending laterally from the first vertical frame member in parallel to the second arm;
- and
- a first flexible item carrier comprising a first plurality of panels, a first set of lateral openings through at least two of the first plurality of panels along a first common axis and a second set of lateral openings through at least two of the first plurality of panels along a second common axis,
- wherein the first arm extends through the first set of lateral openings,
- wherein the second arm extends through the second set of lateral openings,
- wherein at least one cross-sectional attribute of the first set of lateral openings corresponds to at least one cross-sectional attribute of the first arm, and
- wherein at least one cross-sectional attribute of the second set of lateral openings corresponds to at least one cross-sectional attribute of the second arm.
6 more elements
A mobile self-bagging cart comprising:
- a frame comprising a first vertical frame member comprising at least one first horizontal element rigidly joined perpendicular to at least one first vertical element and a second vertical frame member comprising at least one second horizontal element rigidly joined perpendicular to at least one second vertical element, wherein the first vertical frame member and the second vertical frame member are joined to one another by a frame hinge, and wherein the first vertical frame member and the second vertical frame member are adapted to rotate with respect to one another about an axis defined by the frame hinge between an open alignment of the frame and a closed alignment of the frame;
- a pair of arms comprising a first arm and a second arm,
- wherein the first arm comprises a first mounting section at a first proximal end of the first arm, a first extension at a first distal end of the first arm, and a first arm hinge joining the first mounting section and the first extension,
- wherein the second arm comprises a second mounting section at a second proximal end of the second arm, a second extension at a second distal end of the second arm, and a second arm hinge joining the second mounting section and the second extension,
- wherein the first mounting section is rigidly joined to and extends substantially normal from at least a first portion of the frame,
- wherein the second mounting section is rigidly joined to and extends substantially normal from at least a second portion of the frame, and
- wherein the first mounting section and the second mounting section are aligned in parallel and separated by a predetermined horizontal distance;
- a first bag suspended from the first mounting section and the second mounting section in a collapsed condition,
- wherein the first bag is formed from a first plurality of panels,
- wherein the first bag includes a first plurality of holes and a second plurality of holes extending through at least two of the first plurality of panels,
- wherein each hole of the first plurality of holes is aligned along a first common axis,
- wherein each hole of the second plurality of holes is aligned along a second common axis,
- wherein the first common axis and the second common axis are aligned in parallel and separated by the predetermined horizontal distance,
- wherein each hole of the first plurality of holes comprises a reinforcement device about a perimeter of the hole;
- wherein each hole of the second plurality of holes comprises a reinforcement device about a perimeter of the hole;
- wherein the first mounting section extends through each of the first plurality of holes, and
- wherein the second mounting section extends through each of the second plurality of holes;
- and
- a second bag suspended from the first extension and the second extension in an expanded condition,
- wherein the second bag is formed from a second plurality of panels,
- wherein the second bag includes a third plurality of holes and a fourth plurality of holes extending through at least two of the second plurality of panels,
- wherein each hole of the third plurality of holes is aligned along a third common axis,
- wherein each hole of the fourth plurality of holes is aligned along a fourth common axis,
- wherein the third common axis and the fourth common axis are aligned in parallel and separated by the predetermined horizontal distance,
- wherein each hole of the third plurality of holes comprises a reinforcement device about a perimeter of the hole;
- wherein each hole of the fourth plurality of holes comprises a reinforcement device about a perimeter of the hole;
- wherein the first extension extends through each of the third plurality of holes, and
- wherein the second extension extends through each of the fourth plurality of holes.
25 more elements
A first cart comprising:
- a first frame member having at least a first portion, a second portion, and at least a first wheel caster;
- a second frame member having at least a third portion, a fourth portion, and at least a second wheel caster;
- a first frame hinge joining the first frame member and the second frame member, wherein the first frame member and the second frame member are configured to pivot with respect to one another about a first axis defined by the first frame hinge between a closed alignment and an open alignment, wherein the first axis is substantially vertical, wherein each of the first portion and the third portion is parallel to the first axis, and wherein each of the second portion and the fourth portion is approximately perpendicular to the first axis;
- and
- at least one arm mounted to the second portion of the first frame member, wherein the at least one arm comprises a mounting section at a proximal end, wherein the mounting section is joined to the second portion of the first frame member, and wherein the mounting section extends laterally outward from the second portion of the first frame member,
- wherein an interior shape defined by the first frame member and the second frame member in the open alignment is substantially similar to an external shape of a second cart in an open alignment, and
- wherein the second cart comprises:
- a third frame member having at least a fifth portion, a sixth portion and at least a third wheel caster;
- a fourth frame member having at least a seventh portion, an eighth portion and at least a fourth caster;
- and
- a second frame hinge, wherein the third frame member and the fourth frame member are configured to pivot with respect to one another about a second axis defined by the second frame hinge between a closed alignment and the open alignment.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.