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US 5,395,163 AGranted
Utility cart and latch assembly therefor
AssigneeRubbermaid Commercial Products LLC
InventorsJonathan N. Mandell, Glen E. Tomblin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
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AssigneeRubbermaid Commercial Products LLC
InventorsJonathan N. Mandell, Glen E. Tomblin
Estimating the term…
A utility cart (10) for hauling up to at least 1000 pounds includes a plastic carriage (11) having reinforcement ribs (47) extending from and across the bottom thereof to strengthen the carriage (11), an elongated drawbar member (12) to pull the carriage (11), an axle assembly (15) engaging the carriage (11) and one end of the drawbar member (12) to pivot the carriage (11) with respect to the drawbar member (12), a latch assembly (16) connected to the drawbar member (12) and engaging the carriage (11) to restrain the pivotal movement of the carriage (11) with respect to the drawbar member (12), and at least two wheels (13, 14) attached to the axle assembly (15). The latch assembly (16) includes a body member (53) pivotally connected to the drawbar member (12) and has a gripping portion (56) extending between a first leg portion (57) and a second leg portion (58). A rod (54) attached to the carriage (11) is received by slots (67) in the leg portions (57, 58) to releasably engage the carriage (11) to the drawbar member (12).
A utility cart comprising a plastic tub, a plastic undercarriage connected to the bottom of said tub, said undercarriage including a plurality of walls and a recess in one of said walls, said tub having upwardly extending sidewalls and reinforcement rib means extending along the bottom thereof behind said undercarriage to strengthen said tub, an elongated drawbar member, axle means engaging one end of said drawbar member and extending through said undercarriage so that said tub and undercarriage may pivot with respect to said drawbar member, latch means connected to said drawbar member and engaging said undercarriage to restrain the pivotal movement of said tub and undercarriage with respect to said drawbar member, said latch means being positioned wholly within said recess when the utility cart is in its latched position, and at least two wheels attached to said axle means.
A utility cart comprising a plastic tub and undercarriage, said undercarriage having walls extending upwardly and engaging said tub, a recess in one of said walls, an elongated drawbar member, axle means received by said undercarriage and one end of said drawbar member so that said tub and undercarriage may pivot with respect to said drawbar member, latch means connected to said drawbar member and positioned wholly within said recess when engaged with said undercarriage to restrain the pivotal movement of said tub and undercarriage with respect to said drawbar member, and at least two wheels attached to said axle means.
A latch assembly for securing a carriage to a drawbar member comprising a body member having a gripping portion extending between a first leg portion and a second leg portion, means to engage the carriage formed in said first and second leg portions, and means to connect said first and second leg portions of said body member to the drawbar member and to pivot said body member with respect to the drawbar member, the drawbar member extending between said first and second leg portions.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.