US 6,746,039 B2 · Dolly having multiple supports hingedly joined together

Abstract

A dolly for transporting multiple containers. The dolly is provided with a plurality of casters which allow it to spin on its footprint. Supports, each of which can carry a container, are hinged together allowing the dolly to flex when encountering alterations in flooring level. Also provided are large side wheels which reduce the force necessary to push the dolly over a bump or onto a floor which is at a higher elevation. When one support is not carrying a container, the support can be rotated with the hinge to a point at which it is approximately perpendicular to the adjacent support and thereby approximately vertical to the floor. Rotating one support to an approximately vertical position shortens the dolly footprint and aids in storage. Moreover, a support which is rotated to an approximately vertical position can be temporarily maintained in that position by a lock.

Claims15

Dependent claims

A dolly for transporting multiple containers comprising:

at least two supports each having a top surface and an underside;
at least one wheel mounted to each of said at least two supports and extending below the underside of each of said at least two supports;
at least two support mechanisms for supporting containers positioned on the top surfaces of said at least two supports;
and
a hinge attaching a first of said at least two supports to a second of said at least two supports such that at least one of the first and second supports can pivot upwards from a position in which the first and second supports are substantially coplanar,
wherein said hinge defines a pivot line, wherein at least one wheel is mounted along the pivot line, and wherein said wheels mounted to each of the at least two supports and extending below the underside of each of said at least two supports are casters, and wherein an axis of rotation of said at least one wheel mounted along the pivot line of the hinge is fixed with respect to the supports.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Dolly having multiple supports hingedly joined together

Life of this patent

Dolly having multiple supports hingedly joined together

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims15