Paper sheet material handling cart having central brake assembly

Abstract

An improved, mobile, compartmentalized cart for newspaper inserts or other sheet-type items is provided which includes selectively operable brake mechanism for fixing the cart against translatory movement while at the same time allowing the cart to rotate for providing easy individual access to the respective cart compartments. The cart is preferably provided with a central, elongated, axially reciprocable, spring-biased rod having a floor-engaging brake pad on the lower end thereof, with the cart being rotatable about an upright axis coincident with the rod. A cam latch is secured to the upper end of the rod for selectively raising the pad from the floor-engaging position thereof, and for holding the pad in such position. The cam latch is especially configured for allowing the rod and pad to shift downwardly, under the influence of the biasing spring, to a point where the pad is below the level of engagement between the floor and the cart casters. In this way a positive braking function is assured, even in the event of depressions or other irregularities in the floor surface.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.