Foldable utility cart with lift mechanism

A utility cart, comprising:

• a pair of spaced, generally parallel channel members having upper and lower ends;
• a pair of toothed racks connected to the channel members and slidable therealong;
• a basket connected to the racks and projecting forwardly of the cart;
• a shaft disposed adjacent the toothed racks for rotation about a horizontal axis;
• a pair of pinions carried by a shaft, the pinions being in engagement with the racks;
• a driven pulley carried by the shaft;
• a drive pulley supported for rotational movement;
• a crank arm having a handle connected to the drive pulley;
• and
• a drive belt reeved about the drive pulley and the driven pulley, whereby rotation of the crank arm will cause the pinions to be rotated so as to move the racks relative to the channel members.

A utility cart, comprising:

• a frame having a pair of spaced tube members having upper and lower ends, a pair of spaced channel members having upper and lower ends, the tube members and the channel members being disposed parallel with each other, the channel members being disposed between the tube members, the tube members and the channel members being connected to each other by upper and lower braces and intermediate brackets;
• a wheeled support connected to the frame, including:
• a collar disposed about each of the tube members and slidable therealong;
• a pair of front legs each having first and second ends, the first end connected to one of the collars and the second end supporting a wheel;
• a pair of rear legs each having first and second ends, the first end connected to one of the collars and the second end supporting a wheel;
• links connected pivotally at one end to the lower portion of the tube members and connected pivotally at the other end to the front and rear legs at a location intermediate the first and second ends;
• a lift bar connected to each of the collars, the lift bar being movable from a raised position where the collars are raised along the tube members and the legs and wheels are moved toward each other, to a lowered position where the collars are lowered along the tube members and the legs and wheels are moved away from each other such that the front and rear legs are generally parallel with each other and the wheels are extended to support the cart for movement on the ground;
• a basket carrier assembly connected to the frame, including:
• a pair of toothed racks connected to the channel members and slidable therealong;
• a platform connected to the racks and projecting forwardly of the cart;
• a shaft connected to the intermediate brackets for rotation about a horizontal axis;
• a pair of pinions carried by the shaft, the pinions being in engagement with the racks;
• a driven pulley carried by the shaft;
• a drive pulley connected to the upper brace for rotation about a horizontal axis;
• a crank arm having a handle connected to the drive pulley;
• and
• a drive belt reeved about the drive pulley and the driven pulley, whereby rotation of the crank arm will cause the pinions to be rotated so as to move the racks relative to the channel members;
• a basket disposed on the platform;
• and
• a handle connected to the upper brace.