Mobile cart having a retractable-wheel base system
AssigneeCramer Decker Industries
InventorsPaul Cramer, Steven Coffman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A mobile cart for carrying a plurality of fluid canisters. The cart includes a platform configured to support the fluid canisters. The cart also includes a base having a base body and a plurality of wheels movably connected to the base body so that the wheels can be selectively moved with respect to the base body between an extended position and a retracted position. In the extended position, the plurality of wheels extends from the base body so the cart can roll, on the plurality of wheels, over the support surface supporting the cart. In the retracted position, the plurality of wheels is retracted relative to the base body so that the cart cannot roll, on the plurality of wheels, over the support surface.
Claims32
A mobile cart for carrying a plurality of fluid canisters, the cart being adjustable between a standing mode and a rolling mode and comprising:
- a platform configured to support the fluid canisters during operation of the cart;
- a base connected adjacent the platform including a right base system and a left base system on which the mobile cart stands and rolls during operation of the cart, each of said base systems including:
- a base body having an outer wall having a bottom, multiple slots extending generally vertically, a first outer wall pin opening, and a second outer wall pin opening and having an inner wall having a bottom, multiple slots extending generally vertically and aligned with the outer wall slots, and a first inner wall pin opening and a second inner wall pin opening aligned with the first and second outer wall pin openings, respectively;
- a cartridge positioned at least partially within said base body including:
- a cartridge body having a first cartridge body pin opening and a second cartridge body pin opening;
- multiple axles extending from the cartridge body and through corresponding slots of the multiple slots in the outer wall and in the inner wall;
- and
- multiple in-line wheels connected to respective axles of said multiple axles so that the wheels can rotate about the axles and the cartridge is slidable up and down with respect to the base body;
- and
- at least two pins including a first pin and a second pin sized and shaped for sliding into and out of the first and second pin openings of the outer wall, the inner wall, and the cartridge body;
- wherein each cartridge may be selectively moved up with respect to the respective base body to a retracted position, wherein none of the wheels of the cartridge extend below the bottoms of the inner and outer walls, and may be held in that position by the first and second securing pins being positioned in the respective first and second securing pin openings of the respective outer wall, cartridge body, and inner wall;
- wherein each cartridge may be moved down with respect to the respective base body to an extended position, wherein all of the wheels of the cartridge extend below the bottoms of the inner and outer walls, and may be held in that position by the first and second securing pins being positioned in the respective first and second securing pin openings of the respective outer wall and inner wall;
- and
- wherein the mobile cart is in the rolling mode when the cartridge of each base system is in the extended position and the mobile cart is in the standing mode when the cartridge of each base system is in the retracted position.
A mobile cart for carrying items, the cart being adjustable between a standing mode and a rolling mode and comprising:
- a platform configured to support the items during operation of the cart;
- and
- a base connected to the platform including a base system on which the mobile cart stands and rolls during operation of the cart, the base system including:
- a base body having an outer wall including a bottom and a plurality of slots extending vertically, an inner wall having a bottom and a plurality of slots extending generally vertically and being aligned with the slots in the outer wall, and a base body securing element;
- a cartridge positioned at least partially within said base body having:
- a cartridge body;
- a plurality of axles extending from the cartridge body and through corresponding slots of the plurality of slots in the outer wall and of the plurality of slots in the inner wall;
- and
- a plurality of wheels rotatably connected to respective axles of said plurality of axles, so that the cartridge is slidable up and down with respect to the base body;
- and
- a cartridge securing element to which the base body securing element may be selectively mated for securing the cartridge in a retracted position when the cartridge is slid up with respect to the base body and in an extended position when the cartridge is slid down with respect to the base body, wherein none of the plurality of wheels extend below the bottom of the inner and the outer walls of the base body when the cartridge is in the retracted position and all of the plurality of wheels extend below the bottom of the inner and outer walls of the base body when the cartridge is in the extended position;
- wherein the mobile cart is in the rolling mode when the cartridge is in the extended position and the mobile cart is in the standing mode when the cartridge is in the retracted position.
A mobile cart for carrying a plurality of fluid canisters, the cart being adjustable between a standing mode and a rolling mode and comprising:
- a frame including a right side, a left side, an upper portion, and a lower portion;
- a platform connected to the lower portion of the frame configured to support the fluid containers during operation of the cart;
- a base connected to the lower portion of the frame having wheels movable between a retracted position and an extended position;
- wherein when all of the wheels are in the retracted position, the cart is in the standing mode, and when all of the wheels are in the extended position, the cart is in the rolling mode;
- and
- wherein the frame forms eight forklift access points at which a forklift can access the cart for lifting and moving the cart including:
- a first forklift access point accessible from a right side of the base formed by one or more forklift openings formed in the base;
- a second forklift access point equivalent to the first access point except being accessible by the forklift from the left side of the base;
- a third forklift access point accessible from a first end of the base formed by the base being configured such that the right base system and the left base system are spaced apart forming a third forklift channel between them, the third forklift channel being generally perpendicular to said first forklift channels;
- a fourth forklift access point equivalent to the third access point except being accessible by the forklift from a second end of the base;
- a fifth forklift access point accessible from the right side of the frame formed by the upper portion of the frame forming another one or more forklift channels;
- a sixth forklift access point equivalent to the fifth access point except being accessible by the forklift from the left side of the frame;
- a seventh forklift access point accessible from a first end of the frame corresponding to the first end of the base formed by the upper portion of the frame forming yet another one or more forklift channels being generally perpendicular to said fifth and sixth channels;
- and
- an eighth forklift access point equivalent to the seventh access point except being accessible by the forklift from the second end of the frame.
A method for simultaneously moving two mobile carts using a single forklift, each cart being configured for carrying a plurality of fluid canisters, being adjustable between a standing mode and a rolling mode, and including a platform configured to support the fluid containers during operation of the cart, a frame connected to the platform including a right side, a left side, an upper portion, and a lower portion, and a base connected to the lower portion of the frame having wheels being movable between a retracted position and an extended position, wherein when all of the wheels are in the retracted position, the cart is in the standing mode, and when all of the wheels are in the extended position, the cart is in the rolling mode, and wherein the base forms a lower central single-fork forklift access channel at which the forklift can access the cart for lifting and moving the cart and/or the upper portion of the frame forms an upper central single-fork forklift access channel at which a forklift can access the cart for lifting and moving the cart, the method comprising:
- engaging a first mobile cart of the two mobile carts by positioning a first lifting fork of the lifting forks of the forklift into one of the lower forklift channel and the upper forklift channel of the first mobile cart;
- engaging a second mobile cart of the two mobile carts by positioning a second lifting fork of the lifting forks of the forklift into the lower forklift channel of the second mobile cart or the upper forklift channel of the second mobile cart, corresponding to the channel by which the first mobile cart is engaged;
- lifting both of the carts engaged in the engaging steps generally simultaneously at a first location;
- and
- simultaneously moving both of the mobile carts lifted in the lifting step to a second location using the forklift.
A method of transporting one or more fluid cylinders, said method comprising the steps of:
- providing a cart comprising a base having a base body and a plurality of wheels movably connected to the base body, the plurality of wheels being selectively movable with respect to the base body between:
- (1) an extended position, in which the cart is adapted to roll, on the plurality of wheels, over a support surface supporting the cart;
- and (2) a retracted position, in which the plurality of wheels is retracted relative to the base body so that the cart cannot roll, on the plurality of wheels, over the support surface;
- placing the one or more fluid cylinders on the cart so that the one or more fluid cylinders are supported by the cart;
- while the one or more fluid cylinders are disposed on the cart, and while the plurality of wheels are in the extended position, rolling the cart, on the wheels, from a first location to a second location;
- and
- after rolling the cart to the second location, moving the plurality of wheels into the retracted position.
A mobile cart for carrying a plurality of fluid canisters, the method comprising:
- a platform configured to support the fluid canisters during operation of the cart;
- and
- a base connected to the platform and including a base body and a plurality of wheels movably connected to the base body so that the wheels can be selectively moved with respect to the base body between:
- (1) an extended position, in which the plurality of wheels extends from the base body so the cart can roll, on the plurality of wheels, over the support surface supporting the cart;
- and (2) a retracted position, in which the plurality of wheels is retracted relative to the base body so that the cart cannot roll, on the plurality of wheels, over the support surface.
A mobile cart for carrying a plurality of fluid canisters, the method comprising:
- a platform configured to support the items during operation of the cart;
- and
- a base system on which the mobile cart stands and rolls during operation of the cart, the base system including:
- a base body having a bottom;
- a cartridge positioned at least partially within the base body having:
- a cartridge body;
- a plurality of axles connected to the cartridge body;
- and
- a plurality of wheels rotatably connected to respective axles of the plurality of axles;
- and
- one or more cartridge securing elements for selectively mating the cartridge and the base body to secure the cartridge and wheels in:
- (1) an extended position wherein the wheels extend below the bottom of the base body or (2) a retracted position wherein the none of the wheels extend below the bottom of the base body.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.