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US 3,971,568 AGranted
Self-supporting nesting cart
AssigneeTradewind Industries, Inc.
InventorLeonard E. Wright
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An improved self-supporting nesting cart comprising a rigid end frame and a swivel end frame spatially positioned by back frame means supporting at least one folding shelf disposed between the rigid end frame and the swivel end frame, the cart having a use profile and a nesting profile. In the nesting profile, the shelf is positioned in a folded-in position and the swivel end frame is positioned in a folded position. Selectively engageable latching means retain the shelf in the folded-in position and the swivel end frame in the folded position when the cart is in the nesting profile. Catch means interconnect adjacent carts while nesting, and tow bar means permit single or plural cart transporting.
Claims15
A self-supporting combination folding and nesting cart, comprising:
- a first end frame having a side portion;
- a back frame assembly comprising:
- a corner post having a nesting cavity;
- a lower cross member having one end connected to and extending normal to the side portion of the first end frame, the other end of the lower cross member connected to the corner post;
- and
- a mid-horizontal cross member having one end connected to and extending normal to the side portion of the first end frame, the other end of the mid-horizontal cross member connected to the corner post;
- a second end frame pivotally connected to the corner post and selectively positionable in a folded position wherein the second end frame is adjacent to the back frame assembly, and in an extended position wherein the second end frame is normal to the back frame assembly and parallel to the first end frame;
- wheel means for movably supporting the first end frame, the second end frame and the back frame assembly;
- a first shelf pivotally connected to the lower cross member and selectively positionable in a folded-in position wherein the first shelf is parallel to and against the back frame assembly, and in a folded-out position wherein the first shelf is normal to the first end frame, the second end frame and the back frame assembly;
- a second shelf spatially removed from the first shelf and pivotally connected to the mid-horizontal cross member, the second shelf being selectively positionable in a folded-in position wherein the second shelf is parallel to and against the back frame, and in a folded-out position wherein the second shelf is normal to the first end frame, the second end frame and the back frame assembly, the cart being in an L-shaped profile when the first shelf and the second shelf are in the folded-in position and the second end frame is in the folded position;
- a hook member pivotally supported by the top of the corner post member and projecting therefrom a distance determined to be hookingly engageable with the nesting cavity of another cart of like construction placed in nesting relation to the cart when both carts are in the L-shaped profile, nesting relation being defined as having the first end frames and the back frame assemblies of both carts being respectively in adjacent and parallel relationship;
- and
- spring means connected to the hook member for biasing the hook member in hooking engagement with the nesting cavity of the other cart.
10 more elements
A self-supporting combination folding and nesting cart, comprising:
- a shelf assembly, comprising:
- an elongated corner post member having a nesting cavity;
- a back frame comprising a first cross member having two ends, one end of the first cross member connected to the corner post member, the first cross member extending normal to the corner post member;
- a first shelf pivotally attached to the first cross member and pivotal to a folded-in position and to a folded-out position;
- a first end frame connected to the other end of the first cross member;
- a second end frame pivotally attached to the corner post member, the second end frame being pivotal to a folded position, and alternately, the second end frame being pivotal to an extended position, the cart being in a nesting profile when the second end frame is pivoted to the folded position and the first shelf is pivoted to the folded-in position, and the cart alternately being in a use profile when the second end frame is pivoted to the extended position and the first shelf is pivoted to the folded-out position;
- first latching means connected to the corner post member for selectively retaining the first shelf in the folded-in position;
- second latching means connected to the back frame for selectively retaining the second end frame in the folded position;
- shelf supporting means for selectively supporting and retaining the first shelf in the folded-out position;
- means for movably supporting the first end frame, the second end frame and the shelf assembly on a supporting surface;
- and
- catch means for attaching the cart to a second cart of like construction placed in nesting relation to the cart, each of the carts being in the nesting profile, and nesting relation being defined as having the first end frame of the cart in adjacent and parallel relationship to the first end frame of the second cart, and the back frame of the cart in adjacent and parallel relationship to the back frame of the second cart, the catch means comprising;
- a hook member pivotally supported by the top of the corner post member and projecting therefrom a distance determined to be hookingly engagable with the nesting cavity of the second cart placed in nesting relation to the cart;
- and
- spring means for biasing the hook member in hooking engagement with the nesting cavity of the second cart.
12 more elements
A self-supporting combination folding and nesting cart, comprising:
- a vertical fixed end frame;
- a vertical corner post member having a nesting cavity;
- a first horizontal cross member connected to and extending between the fixed end frame and the corner post member;
- a second horizontal cross member connected to and extending between the fixed end frame and the corner post member, the second horizontal cross member spatially removed a predetermined distance from the first horizontal cross member;
- a vertical swivel end frame pivotally supported by the corner post member and selectively rotatable to a folded position wherein the swivel end frame is parallel to the first horizontal cross member, and to an extended position wherein the swivel end frame is parallel to the fixed end frame;
- a first shelf hingedly supported by the first horizontal cross member and rotatable to a horizontal position and to a vertical position;
- first shelf latching means connected to the corner post member for selectively retaining the first shelf in the vertical position;
- first shelf connecting means for connecting the first shelf to the fixed end frame and the swivel end frame when the swivel end frame is in the extended position and the first shelf is in the horizontal position;
- a second shelf hingedly supported by the second horizontal cross member and rotatable to a horizontal position and to a vertical position;
- second shelf latching means for selectively retaining the second shelf in the vertical position;
- and
- second shelf connecting means for connecting the second shelf to the fixed end frame and to the swivel end frame when the swivel end frame is in the extended position and the second shelf is in the horizontal position;
- swivel end frame latching means for selectively retaining the swivel end frame when the swivel end frame is in the folded position and when the first shelf and the second shelf are in the vertical position;
- wheel means for rollingly supporting the fixed end frame and the swivel end frame on a support surface;
- and
- catch means for attaching the cart to another cart of like construction placed in nesting relation to the cart, nesting relation defined as being the condition of having the first and second shelves of each cart in the vertical position, the swivel end frame of each cart in the folded position, and wherein the fixed end frame of the cart is in adjacent and parallel relationship to the fixed end frame of the other cart, and the first and second horizontal cross members of the cart are in adjacent and parallel relationship to the first and second horizontal cross members of the other cart, the catch means comprising:
- a hook member pivotally supported by the top of the corner post member and projecting therefrom a distance determined to be hookingly engagable with the nesting cavity of the other cart placed in nesting relation to the cart;
- and
- spring means for biasing the hook member in hooking engagement with the nesting cavity.
16 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.