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US 12,691,918 B2Granted
Coupling systems and methods for carts
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsAmy Elizabeth Goodell, Wade Bruce Stoelting
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A coupling system and method for connecting a first cart to a second cart includes a first stabilizing arm configured to span between the first cart and the second cart on a first side, and a second stabilizing arm configured to span between the first cart and the second on a second side opposite from the first side.
Claims20
A coupling system for removably connecting a first cart to a second cart, the coupling system comprising:
- a first stabilizing arm configured to span between the first cart and the second cart on a first side, the first stabilizing arm including a first aperture;
- a second stabilizing arm configured to span between the first cart and the second on a second side opposite from the first side, the second stabilizing arm including a second aperture;
- wherein each of the first stabilizing arm and the second stabilizing arm includes one or more flanges that extend downwardly to trap an outer upper side edge of each of the first cart and the second cart;
- and
- a cross member connecting the first stabilizing arm and the second stabilizing arm and including a first end and an opposing second end, the first end having a first downwardly extending tab extending into the first aperture of the first stabilizing arm, the second end having a second downwardly extending tab extending into the second aperture of the second stabilizing arm.
2 more elements
A method for removably connecting a first cart to a second cart, the method comprising:
- connecting a first cart having one or more wheels to a second cart having one or more wheels with a first stabilizing arm spanning between the first cart and the second cart on a first side, and a second stabilizing arm spanning between the first cart and the second on a second side opposite from the first side;
- wherein when connecting the first cart to the second cart, trapping an outer upper side edge of each of the first cart and second cart with one or more flanges of the first stabilizing arm and the second stabilizing arm that extend downwardly;
- connecting the first stabilizing arm to the second stabilizing arm with a cross member, the cross member including a first end and an opposing second end, the first end having a first downwardly extending tab extending into a first aperture of the first stabilizing arm, the second end having a second downwardly extending tab extending into a second aperture of the second stabilizing arm.
A system comprising:
- a first cart having one or more wheels;
- a second cart having one or more wheels;
- and
- a coupling system that removably connects the first cart to the second cart, the coupling system comprising:
- a first stabilizing arm spanning between the first cart and the second cart on a first side, the first stabilizing arm including a first aperture;
- a second stabilizing arm spanning between the first cart and the second on a second side opposite from the first side, the second stabilizing arm including a second aperture;
- wherein each of the first stabilizing arm and the second stabilizing arm includes one or more flanges that extend downwardly to trap an outer upper side edge of each of the first cart and the second cart;
- and
- a cross member connecting the first stabilizing arm and the second stabilizing arm and including a first end and an opposing second end, the first end having a first downwardly extending tab extending into the first aperture of the first stabilizing arm, the second end having a second downwardly extending tab extending into the second aperture of the second stabilizing arm.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.