US 7,798,501 B1Granted

Apparatus for transporting and storing multiple stands

OwnerJohn D. Hopkinsinventor

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Abstract

An apparatus for transporting and storing a plurality of stands. Each stand has an elongate, vertically oriented pole having a longitudinal axis and a base supporting the pole with a plurality of legs extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the pole. The apparatus includes a substantially planar base having a front end and a rear end, and a plurality of wheels supporting the substantially planar base. At least one shelf assembly is supported above the substantially planar base. Each shelf assembly has a first half and a second half. A substantially unobstructed slot extends upward from the substantially planar base wherein the first and second halves of the at least one shelf assembly are disposed on opposite sides of the slot. The plurality stands are receivable on the substantially planar base and the at least one shelf assembly, and the poles of said stands are receivable in the slot for arranging the stands on the substantially planar base and the at least one shelf assembly in a vertically staggered configuration.

Claims17

Dependent claims

An apparatus for transporting and storing a plurality of stands, each having an elongate, vertically oriented pole having a longitudinal axis and a base supporting the pole with a plurality of legs extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the pole, comprising:

a substantially planar base having a front end and a rear end;
a plurality of wheels supporting said substantially planar base;
at least one shelf assembly supported above said substantially planar base, and said at least one shelf assembly having a first half and a second half;
a substantially unobstructed slot extending upward from said substantially planar base wherein said first and second halves of said at least one shelf assembly are disposed on opposite sides of said slot;
said plurality stands receivable on said substantially planar base and said at least one shelf assembly, and said poles of said stands receivable in said slot for arranging said stands on said substantially planar base and said at least one shelf assembly in a vertically staggered configuration and for retaining said stands on said substantially planar base and said at least one shelf assembly;
an end wall at said front end of said substantially planar base for retaining said stands on said substantially planar base and said at least one shelf assembly;
a handle attached to said substantially planar base and moveable between a first position and a second position;
and
a cover member that is connected to said handle portion, wherein said cover member is positioned along said rear end of said substantially planar base and adjacent to said at least one shelf assembly to restrain the stands from leaving said substantially planar base and said at least one shelf assembly at said rear end of said substantially planar base when said handle is in said first position, and said cover member does not restrain movement of the stands off of said substantially planar base and said at least one shelf assembly at said rear end of said substantially planar base when said handle is in said second position.

6 more elements

a substantially planar base having a front end, a rear end, a first side, and a second side;
a plurality of wheels supporting said substantially planar base;
a first side wall connected to said substantially planar base and extending along said first side of said substantially planar base from said front end of said substantially planar base to said rear end of said substantially planar base;
a second side wall connected to said substantially planar base along said second side of said substantially planar base and opposite said first side wall, and said second side wall extending from said front end of said substantially planar base to said rear end of said substantially planar base;
a plurality of shelf assemblies supported above said substantially planar base, and each said shelf assembly having a first half that is supported by said first side wall and a second half that is supported by said second side wall;
a cover assembly supported above said substantially planar base having first and second cover halves that are supported by an uppermost surface of each of said first side wall and said second side wall, respectively, and substantially overlie said first and second halves of said plurality of shelf assemblies, respectively;
a substantially unobstructed slot extending upward from said substantially planar base wherein said first and second halves of each said shelf assembly are disposed on opposite sides of said slot and said first and second cover halves are disposed on opposite sides of said slot;
and
said plurality stands receivable on said substantially planar base and said shelf assemblies, and said poles of said stands receivable in said slot for arranging said stands on said substantially planar base and said shelf assemblies in a vertically staggered configuration.

6 more elements

An apparatus for transporting and storage a plurality of stands, each having an elongate, vertically oriented pole having a longitudinal axis and a base supporting the pole with a plurality of legs extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the pole, comprising:

a substantially planar base having a front end and a rear end;
a plurality of wheels supporting said substantially planar base;
a first side wall connected to said substantially planar base and extending from said front end of said substantially planar base to said rear end of said substantially planar base;
a second side wall connected to said substantially planar base opposite said first side wall, and said second side wall extending from said front end of said substantially planar base to said rear end of said substantially planar base;
a plurality of shelf assemblies supported above said substantially planar base, and each said shelf assembly having a first half connected to said first side wall and a second half connected to said second side wall;
a cover assembly supported above said substantially planar base having first and second cover halves that substantially overlie said first and second halves of said plurality of shelf assemblies, respectively;
a plurality of apertures formed through said shelf assemblies, said cover assembly and said substantially planar base for allowing fluids to drain from said shelf assemblies, said cover assembly, and said substantially planar base;
a substantially unobstructed slot extending upward from said substantially planar base wherein said first and second halves of each said shelf assembly are disposed on opposite sides of said slot and said first and second cover halves are disposed on opposite sides of said slot;
and
said plurality stands receivable on said substantially planar base and said shelf assemblies, and said poles of said stands receivable in said slot for arranging said stands on said substantially planar base and said shelf assemblies in a vertically staggered configuration.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.