Back to results
US 8,016,300 B2Granted
Mobile cart having a retractable-wheel base system
AssigneeCramer Decker Industries
InventorsPaul Cramer, Steven Coffman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A mobile cart for carrying a plurality of fluid canisters. The cart includes a platform configured to support the fluid canisters. The cart also includes a base having a base body and a plurality of wheels movably connected to the base body so that the wheels can be selectively moved with respect to the base body between an extended position and a retracted position. In the extended position, the plurality of wheels extends from the base body so the cart can roll, on the plurality of wheels, over the support surface supporting the cart. In the retracted position, the plurality of wheels is retracted relative to the base body so that the cart cannot roll, on the plurality of wheels, over the support surface.
Claims17
A mobile cart for carrying a plurality of fluid canisters, the cart being adjustable between a standing mode and a rolling mode and comprising:
- a platform configured to support the fluid canisters during operation of the cart;
- a base connected adjacent the platform including a right base system and a left base system on which the mobile cart stands and rolls during operation of the cart, each of said base systems including:
- a base body having an outer wall having a bottom, multiple slots extending generally vertically, a first outer wall pin opening, and a second outer wall pin opening and having an inner wall having a bottom, multiple slots extending generally vertically and aligned with the outer wall slots, and a first inner wall pin opening and a second inner wall pin opening aligned with the first and second outer wall pin openings, respectively;
- a cartridge positioned at least partially within said base body including:
- a cartridge body having a first cartridge body pin opening and a second cartridge body pin opening;
- multiple axles extending from the cartridge body and through corresponding slots of the multiple slots in the outer wall and in the inner wall;
- and
- multiple in-line wheels connected to respective axles of said multiple axles so that the wheels can rotate about the axles and the cartridge is slidable up and down with respect to the base body;
- and
- at least two pins including a first pin and a second pin sized and shaped for sliding into and out of the first and second pin openings of the outer wall, the inner wall, and the cartridge body;
- wherein each cartridge may be selectively moved up with respect to the respective base body to a retracted position, wherein none of the wheels of the cartridge extend below the bottoms of the inner and outer walls, and may be held in that position by the first and second pins being positioned in the respective first and second pin openings of the respective outer wall, cartridge body, and inner wall;
- wherein each cartridge may be moved down with respect to the respective base body to an extended position, wherein all of the wheels of the cartridge extend below the bottoms of the inner and outer walls, and may be held in that position by the first and second pins being positioned in the respective first and second pin openings of the respective outer wall and inner wall;
- and
- wherein the mobile cart is in the rolling mode when the cartridge of each base system is in the extended position and the mobile cart is in the standing mode when the cartridge of each base system is in the retracted position.
11 more elements
A mobile cart for carrying items, the cart being adjustable between a standing mode and a rolling mode and comprising:
- a platform configured to support the items during operation of the cart;
- and
- a base connected to the platform including a base system on which the mobile cart stands and rolls during operation of the cart, the base system including:
- a base body having an outer wall including a bottom and a plurality of slots extending vertically, an inner wall having a bottom and a plurality of slots extending generally vertically and being aligned with the slots in the outer wall, and a base body securing element;
- a cartridge positioned at least partially within said base body having:
- a cartridge body;
- a plurality of axles extending from the cartridge body and through corresponding slots of the plurality of slots in the outer wall and of the plurality of slots in the inner wall;
- and
- a plurality of wheels rotatably connected to respective axles of said plurality of axles, so that the cartridge is slidable up and down with respect to the base body;
- and
- a cartridge securing element to which the base body securing element may be selectively mated for securing the cartridge in a retracted position when the cartridge is slid up with respect to the base body and in an extended position when the cartridge is slid down with respect to the base body, wherein none of the plurality of wheels extend below the bottom of the inner and the outer walls of the base body when the cartridge is in the retracted position and all of the plurality of wheels extend below the bottom of the inner and outer walls of the base body when the cartridge is in the extended position;
- wherein the mobile cart is in the rolling mode when the cartridge is in the extended position and the mobile cart is in the standing mode when the cartridge is in the retracted position.
9 more elements
A mobile cart for carrying a plurality of fluid canisters, the mobile cart comprising:
- a platform configured to support the fluid canisters during operation of the cart;
- and
- a base connected to the platform and including a base body and a plurality of wheels movably connected to the base body so that the wheels can be selectively moved with respect to the base body between:
- (1) an extended position, in which the plurality of wheels extends from the base body so the cart can roll, on the plurality of wheels, over the support surface supporting the cart;
- and (2) a retracted position, in which the plurality of wheels is retracted relative to the base body so that the cart cannot roll, on the plurality of wheels, over the support surface;
- wherein:
- the base body has at least one wall having a bottom, multiple slots extending generally vertically, a first wall pin opening, and a second wall pin opening;
- the base further includes:
- a cartridge positioned at least partially within the base body, the cartridge having a cartridge body having a first cartridge body pin opening and a second cartridge body pin opening;
- and
- multiple axles extending from the cartridge body and through corresponding slots of the multiple slots in the wall;
- the wheels are connected to respective axles of the multiple axles so that the wheels can rotate about the axles and the cartridge is slidable up and down with respect to the base body;
- and
- one or more securing elements configured and positioned to selectively secure the cartridge to the base body to secure the wheels in the retracted position or the extended position.
11 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.