Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
21 ~7261
MULTI-PURPOSE DOLLY-TRUCK
Richard G. Stich
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention generally relates to an apparatus
and method for conveying objects and in particular to
an apparatus and method for conveying a bucket of
liquid for short distances with rolling motion of a
dolly and over small obstacles with tilting motion of a
truck.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Buckets of various sorts are utilized for numerous
activities and can have a bail type handle. Some
common uses of such buckets are for holding paint, dry
wall joint compound, chemicals, food, plastics,
asphalt, tar, farm feed and cleaning fluids. When
buckets are emptied of material, they are commonly used
for holding water, other liquids, tools, nails, screws
and other small parts. Such buckets are commonly
carried by hand, sometimes physically straining the
neck, shoulders, forearms, back, and/or wrists, of the
persons carrying the buckets.
To transport such buckets, dollies with caster
wheels are used in the prior art. A caster wheel is a
wheel mounted to permit the wheel to swivel freely.
Caster wheels permit short distance rolling movements
of a dolly. Using a dolly, a bucket can be moved on a
floor without lifting or tipping the dolly.
One disadvantage of prior art dollies is that a
dolly can convey an open bucket only on a smooth floor.
Any drag or any obstacle such as extension cords,
stairs and sudden floor elevation changes will stop the
dolly's motion and can spill a liquid contained in the
bucket being carried by the dolly. Moreover, a dolly's
front wheels cannot be raised to, for instance, go over
an extension cord. Going up or down stairs with a
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dolly is also difficult because the swiveling nature of
caster wheels frequently results in one wheel facing
the stairs while another wheel is in a different
position, which can, in turn, result in dragging. To
negotiate such obstacles, the dolly and bucket both
have to be carried over the obstacle.
Also in the prior art, hand trucks are used to
transport buckets. A typical prior art hand truck has
a handle and a pair of non-swiveling, parallel truck
wheels on which the hand truck can be pivoted. Using a
hand truck, a sealed bucket can be lifted from its
upright position and moved in a tilted position and
over obstacles such as extension cords and stairs.
Although a hand truck can negotiate obstacles, a
hand truck cannot easily be rolled along a floor (in an
upright position) as necessary for short distance
movements in cases where work commonly starts and stops
(such as, for example, painting hallways, maintaining
hardware, moving containers around a kitchen, cleaning
with mops in the bucket, vacuuming a floor and
dispensing liquid on a driveway). Moreover, a hand
truck cannot convey open containers of liquid because
the liquid can spill when a hand truck is tilted.
Liquid sloshed out of an open bucket can land on the
floor and be conveyed by the wheels or cause the floor
to be slippery and thus dangerous.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
In accordance with this invention, a single
apparatus called a "dolly-truck" is provided which has
caster wheels for short distance rolling movement of an
object in an upright position as well as truck wheels
for moving the object in a tilted position over
obstacles. Thus, the dolly-truck has the versatility
to be used as a dolly and can be tilted back and to be
used as a hand truck. The dolly-truck provides a very
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21 ~7261
stable mechanical structure for moving objects such as
open or closed buckets, various kinds of barrel
containers, and five-gallon open containers.
The dolly-truck of this invention has a
stabilizing body structure, utilizing caster wheels
mounted at a sufficient distance from the body center
to provide stability to the dolly-truck. In one
embodiment of this invention, the dolly-truck body
includes a retaining wall to hold the object being
transported in place during movement of the dolly-
truck. In a variation of this embodiment, thé
retaining wall has holes so that labels on the object
are visible. In another variation of this embodiment,
the retaining wall includes a retaining ring typically
but not necessarily at the top of the retaining wall
with retaining knobs which permit the object to be
securely fastened to the dolly-truck. The retaining
wall and ring have closed circular shapes in one
embodiment and open semicircular shapes in another
embodiment.
The dolly-truck also has a handle which is
adjustably attached to the dolly-truck body. In one
embodiment, the handle is frictionally supported in
extension tubes of the retaining wall by adjustment
knobs. The handle can be raised or lowered, depending
on the height of the user. The adjustment knobs, when
tightened, prevent the handle from moving either up or
down in the extension tubes while the dolly-truck is
being utilized. The handle is used by a user to roll
the dolly-truck in an upright position along a floor or
surface and also to move the dolly-truck in a tilted
position over obstacles. The handle has a brace for
stability. In one embodiment, the brace has a shape
which permits two or more buckets (either filled or
empty) to be stacked one on top of the other and moved
by a single dolly-truck. If the handle interferes with
21 87261
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any given process, the handle can be detached from the
retaining wall and the retaining ring can be used to
lift and carry the dolly-truck with its load when
necessary.
In another embodiment, the dolly-truck has a kick
ring to permit short distance rolling movement in the
upright position by a user pushing on the kick ring
with the user's foot. The kick ring frees the user's
hands while the dolly-truck is propelled by foot. In
one embodiment, a spill surface formed between the kick
ring and the retaining wall holds any liquid spilled
during any movement (in either the upright or tilted
position). The spill surface can also be used to carry
tools.
In one embodiment, the dolly-truck has shielded
ball caster wheels which carry load easily on flat,
smooth, and carpeted surfaces. The shielded ball
caster wheels also prevent spilled liquid from being
conveyed or tracked by the wheels. The body of the
dolly-truck is formed from one piece of injection
molded, high-strength plastic. The parts of the dolly
truck which hold the handle, the truck wheels and the
caster wheels are molded into the body. To assemble
the dolly-truck, the axle and the truck wheels are
attached and the caster wheels are popped into molded
holes in the bottom of the unit. The handle is placed
into the extension tubes and the adjustment knobs are
tightened to secure the handle to the body.
In alternative embodiments, the dolly-truck is
made out of fiberglass, steel tubing and/or formed out
~ of aluminum, and retains one or more of the same major
features discussed above.
'- 2 1 8726 1
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of a dolly-truck
in an upright position in accordance with this
invention .
FIG. 2A illustrates a bottom view of the body of
the dolly-truck taken in the Y direction shown in
FIG. 1.
FIG. 2B illustrates a sleeve and a corresponding
caster wheel for use in the body of FIG. 2A.
FIG. 3A illustrates an isometric cross-sectional
view of the body of the dolly-truck taken in the X-X
direction shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 3B illustrates a close-up of a portion of the
body cross-section circled in FIG. 3A.
FIG. 3C illustrates the assembly of the caster
wheel of FIG. 2B into the body of FIG. 3B.
FIG. 3D illustrates a locking caster wheel.
FIG. 4 illustrates one embodiment of a dolly-truck
in a tilted position in accordance with this invention.
FIG. 5 illustrates a bottom view of one embodiment
of a dolly-truck.
FIGs. 6A, 6B and 6C illustrate a dolly-truck
handle brace having lid clips for holding the lid of a
bucket in accordance with this invention.
FIGs. 7A, 7B and 7C illustrate a dolly-truck
having an open semicircular retaining wall and an open
semicircular retaining ring in accordance with this
invention.
DETATT~T~n DESCRIPTION
FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of a dolly-truck
18A in accordance with this invention. As shown in
FIG. 1, a dolly-truck 18A includes a body 17 for
supporting the object to be conveyed, such as, for
example, an open bucket of liquid (shown in FIGs. 7A
and 7B for another embodiment). Body 17 includes a
21 ~7261
base 12 having an upper surface 12A, a lower surface
12B and a periphery 12C. In one embodiment, base 12 is
a fiberglass disk 3/4 inch thick and 16 inches in
diameter.
On periphery 12C of base 12 are provided a number
of caster wheel supports 9A, 9B and 9C. Although only
three caster wheel supports 9A, 9B and 9C are visible
in FIG. 1, dolly-truck 18A in this embodiment has a
total of five caster wheel supports which are
integrally connected to base 12 (see FIG. 2). Other
numbers of caster wheel supports such as three, four,
six or more can also be used if desired.
FIG. 2A shows a bottom view of body 17 of dolly-
truck 18A of FIG. 1 as seen in the Y (i.e. vertical)
direction. As shown in FIG. 2A, caster wheel supports
9A, 9B, 9C, 9D and 9E are arranged at five corner-
points of a hexagon which is substantially enclosed in
periphery 12C of base 12 (Fig. 1). In one embodiment,
caster wheel supports 9A, 9B, 9C, 9D and 9E are metal
sleeves approximately 1 inch in outer diameter, 1/4
inch in inner diameter and 2 inches in length. FIG. 2B
illustrates a typical sleeve 9F which can be used as
one of caster wheel supports 9A, 9B, 9C, 9D and 9E
(FIG. 2A).
On periphery 12C of base 12 are also provided a
pair of truck wheel supports 13A and 13B integrally
connected to base 12. Truck wheel supports 13A and 13B
are arranged equidistant from a sixth corner-point 19
of the hexagon. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2,
body 17 is provided with ribs 16A, 16B, 16C, 16D, 16E
and 16F on lower surface 12B of base 12 to provide
additional structural strength to base 12. Other
structural features can also be used to provide
strength to base 12. In one embodiment, no such
additional features are provided in base 12 for
strength.
21 87261
Referring back to FIG. 1, dolly-truck 18A has five
caster wheels (such as lOA, lOB and lOC) supported by
caster wheel supports (such as 9A, 9B and 9C). The
five caster wheels lOA, lOB, lOC, lOD and lOE of dolly-
truck 18A are supported such that the centers of allfive caster wheels lOA, lOB, lOC, lOD and lOE lie in
one plane (not shown explicitly). The five caster
wheels lOA, lOB, lOC, lOD and lOE provide dolly-truck
18A with rolling movement over short distances in an
upright position. The distance d4 between caster
wheels lOA, lOB, lOC, lOD and lOE from the center of
base 12 is 9 inches, which is greater than the 6 inch
radius of a bucket conveyed in one embodiment.
Therefore periphery 12C completely encloses the area of
upper surface 12A covered by the object being conveyed.
Such an arrangement ensures stability of dolly-truck
18A allowing dolly-truck 18A to be propelled by foot
and to be tilted easily. Also base 12 is at a distance
d5 of approximately 4 inches from the ground surface
20. Base 12 being close to the ground surface 20
provides stability to dolly-truck 18A.
Caster wheels lOA, lOB, lOC, lOD and lOE can be
any caster wheel such as ball caster wheel lOF
illustrated in FIG. 2B. In one embodiment ball caster
wheels lOA, lOB, lOC, lOD and lOE and sleeves 9A, 9B,
9C, 9D and 9E are shielded chrome ball caster Part # CH
2051CP of Baker Sales Designers Hardware Catalog, 1993
available at any hardware store, such as Channel City
Lumber, 35 Aero Camino, Goleta, California.
Dolly-truck 18A of FIG. 1 also has an axle 11
supported by truck wheel supports 13A and 13B. Two
truck wheels 14A and 14B are mounted on axle 11 in a
casterless manner, with 3/8 inch axle cap nuts Part #
887H from Hillman Fastner Catalog 1993 available at
Mission Hardware 5754 Hollister Avenue, Goleta,
California. Although an axle 11 is used in the
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embodiment of dolly-truck 18A illustrated in FIG. 1,
truck wheels 14A and 14B can be attached to a body 17
by any other mechanism provided the truck wheels 14A
and 14B are mounted parallel to each other in a non-
swivelling casterless manner. In one embodiment, truckwheels 14A and 14B are 4 inch rubber wheels Part #
WS.R.40 156 N3 from Baker Sales Designers Hardware
Catalog, 1993.
Truck wheel supports 13A and 13B extend forward
from base 12 for a distance sufficient to provide
clearance between truck wheels 14A and 14B and nearby
caster wheels lOA and lOB respectively. The distance
between a tangent to periphery 12 and a line parallel
to the tangent passing through the center of axle 11
(shown dotted in FIG. 2) is the distance dl in FIG. 2.
In one embodiment, truck wheels 14A and 14B extend
distance dl of 4 inches from the periphery of base 12.
Also, truck wheel supports 13A and 13B are
positioned such that truck wheels 14A and 14B have a
clearance from ground surface 20 when caster wheels
lOA, lOB and lOC are in contact with ground surface 20.
Clearance d2 (FIG. 1) is the distance between ground
surface 20 and a plane parallel to ground surface 20
and tangential to truck wheels 14A and 14B. In one
embodiment, truck wheels 14A and 14B have a diameter of
3 3/4 inches and are mounted on truck wheel supports
13A and 13B so as to have a clearance of d2 1/4 inch
from ground surface 20. Truck wheels 14A and 14B allow
dolly-truck 18A to convey an object over obstacles or
negotiate stairs with tilting motion of a hand truck.
Thus, when dolly-truck 18A is moved in an upright
position (see FIG. 1), dolly-truck 18A moves with
caster wheels lOA, lOB, lOC, lOD and lOE in contact
with ground surface 20. The clearance d2 between the
truck wheels and the ground surface allows the dolly-
truck 18A to be moved on caster wheels in the upright
21 87261
position without any interference from the casterless
truck wheels 14A and 14B.
To negotiate obstacles, dolly-truck 18A is tilted
using handle 1 and moved in a tilted position, in which
case the caster wheels lOA, lOB, lOC, lOD and lOE are
off (i.e. do not contact) ground surface 20, and truck
wheels 14A and 14B are in contact with ground surface
20, similar to the tilted position of dolly-truck 18B
in FIG. 4. Dolly-truck 18A can be moved easily in a
tilted position on truck wheels 14A and 14B because
truck wheels 14A and 14B are mounted parallel to each
other in a non-swivelling casterless manner.
Furthermore, truck wheels 14A and 14B can be positioned
along the edge of a stair to go up or down staircases.
The small amount of clearance d2 of 1/4 inch
allows dolly-truck 18A to move from the upright
position into the tilted position within a small tilt
angle ~ (FIG. 4) of 10~. Such a small tilt angle
allows a dolly-truck containing an open bucket with a
liquid to be tilted without spilling the liquid on to
ground surface 20. A larger tilt angle can be used if
the center of mass of the liquid is low. Accordingly,
dolly-truck 18A has the versatility to be used as a
dolly for omnidirectional movement and at any time to
be tilted and be used as a hand truck for negotiating
obstacles.
FIG. 3A shows an isometric cross-sectional view of
body 17 of dolly-truck 18A taken in the X-X direction
shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 3B shows a close-up view of a
portion circled in FIG. 3A of the cross-section of the
body 17. Body 17 includes a retaining wall 6 mounted
in a central portion of upper surface 12A of base 12.
In one embodiment, retaining wall 6 is formed integral
with base 12 and has a diameter of 12 inches and height
of 7 inches. Retaining wall 6 serves to hold the
21 8726~
object being transported in its place on upper surface
12A of base 12 during movement of dolly-truck 18A.
Retaining wall 6 has a retaining ring 3 with a lip
3L at its free end. Retaining ring 3 serves to keep
the top of the object being conveyed from moving
substantially when dolly-truck 18A is moved or tilted.
To improve visibility of an object's label, retaining
wall 6 is provided with holes 6A, 6B, 6C, 6D and 6E
(see FIG. l) in one embodiment. In the embodiment of
dolly-truck 18A of FIG. 3B, each caster wheel support
(such as 9C) is mounted in a slot (such as slot 15B).
To assemble dolly-truck 18A, axle 11 and truck wheels
14A and 14B are attached and sleeves 9A, 9B, 9C, 9D and
9E are epoxied into the corresponding holes such as
hole 15B of body 17 (FIG. 3C). Other methods of
joining sleeves 9A, 9B, 9C, 9D and 9E into their
corresponding holes can also be used. Then caster
wheels 10A, 10B, 10C, 10D and 10E are popped into
sleeves 9A, 9B, 9C, 9D and 9E.
In one embodiment of dolly-truck 18A, body 17
includes a kick-ring 8 mounted on a top portion of
periphery 12C of base 12. Kick-ring 8 allows short
distance rolling of dolly-truck 18A in the upright
position by a user pushing on kick-ring 8 with the
user's foot which frees the user's hands. In one
embodiment, kick ring 8 has a cross-sectional diameter
of 1 inch.
In one embodiment of dolly-truck 18A, adequate
clearance is provided between kick-ring 8 and retaining
wall 6 to expose an annular portion of upper surface
12A of base 12. The annular portion forms a spill
surface 7 that holds any contents (such as a liquid or
a powdery chemical) spilled from an open bucket during
any movement (in the upright or tilted position) of
dolly-truck 18. In one embodiment, spill surface 7 is
approximately 2 ~ inch annular surface (see annular
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2 1 8726 1
surface width "d3" in FIG. 3A) around retaining wall 6.
Spill surface 7 can also be used to carry tools.
In one embodiment of dolly-truck 18A, caster wheel
supports 9A, 9B and 9C are placed adjacent to and
integrally connected with kick-ring 8 (see FIG. 3B).
Such a distant placement of caster wheels from the
center of base 12 provides greater stability to dolly-
truck 18A which permits propulsion by foot and easy
tilting.
Referring back to FIG. 1, dolly-truck 18A also
includes an optional adjustable handle 1 which is
connected to and extends forward and upward from body
17. Handle 1 has two arms lA and lB which are mounted
in extension tubes 5A and 5B of retaining wall 6 and
frictionally held in place in the extension tubes 5A
and 5B by adjustment knobs 4A and 4B. Handle arms lA
and lB are connected to each other by a handle brace
2A. The two arms of handle 1 are placed into extension
tubes 5A and 5B and adjustment knobs 4A and 4B are
tightened to secure handle 1 to body 17. Thus handle 1
is securely and rigidly attached to body 17 by knobs 4A
and 4B so that body 17 tilts on truck wheels 14A and
14B when handle 1 is pushed downward. In one
embodiment, handle 1 is a single tube of aluminum of
13/16 inch outer diameter, 5/8 inch inner diameter and
38 inches in length, formed into a U shape as shown in
FIGs. 1 and 5. Adjustment knobs 4A and 4B can be any
knobs such as rosette knob for a 1/4 inch Allen screw,
Part # SPI 99-607-4 of Swiss Precision Instrument
Catalog, 1993 from Specialty Tool of Bolt, 108 Aero
Camino, Goleta, California.
Extension tubes 5A and 5B are formed as an
integral part of retaining wall 6 and are supported by
a solid portion 6F of wall 6. Extension tubes 5A and
5B have longitudinal holes (not shown) in the Y
direction of sufficient diameter to accept arms lA and
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- 21 87261
lB of handle 1. In one embodiment, longitudinal holes
5A and 5B have a diameter of 1 1/4 inch, a length of 7
inches, and longitudinal hole of diameter of 3/4 inch
and 6~ inches depth. Also, extension tubes 5A and 5B
have lateral holes (not shown) which are threaded to
accept screws extending from adjustment knobs 4A and
4B. Handle 1 can be raised or lowered depending on the
height of the user. Adjustment knobs 4A and 4B can be
unscrewed to allow handle 1 to be moved up and/or down
to adjust the length of handle 1. The length of handle
1 can be adjusted by an amount equal to the length of
extension tubes 5A and 5B.
Handle 1 is used by a user to move dolly-truck 18A
in a rolling movement in an upright position (FIG. lA)
similar to a conventional dolly and also to move dolly-
truck 18A in a tilted position over obstacles (FIG. 4A)
similar to a conventional hand truck. If handle 1
interferes with any given process or use of the dolly-
truck, handle 1 can be completely removed from
extension tubes 5A and 5B of retaining wall 6. Then
retaining ring 3 is used to lift and carry dolly-truck
18A (and the bucket) when necessary. Such a
configuration is especially advantageous for short
distance movement activities such as painting, because
body 17 of the dolly-truck 18A can be pushed by foot.
In one embodiment of this invention, instead of a
ball caster wheel such as part number CH2051CP (above)
a grip neck stem locking caster wheel such as part
number 472-31-0012-00-00 of Plastic Guide Catalog 20-E,
1994 available from Plastic Guide-Comtek Division, 105
Progress Lane, Waterbury, CT 06705. Such a locking
caster wheel allows the caster wheel to be locked which
in turn allows dolly-truck 18A to remain stationary on
a tilted surface.
FIG. 4 shows an alternative embodiment of a dolly-
truck 18B in accordance with this invention. Dolly-
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truck 18B has the same features as those discussed
above for dolly-truck 18A of FIG. 1, except for caster
wheel supports, caster wheels and handle brace. Many
of the same reference numerals are used in FIGs. 1 and
4 for convenience.
Caster wheel supports 20A, 20B, 20C, 20D and 20E
of dolly-truck 18B are arranged equidistant from each
other at corner-points of a pentagon as shown in a
bottom view in FIG. 5. Two caster wheel supports 20A
and 2OB are arranged adjacent truck wheel supports 2lA
and 21B. Caster wheels 22A, 22B, 22C, 22D and 22E
which are supported by caster wheel supports 2OA, 2OB,
20C, 20D and 20E are shielded ball caster wheels. The
shields on the balls prevent spilled liquid from being
conveyed or tracked by wheels 22A, 22B, 22C, 22D and
22E.
Also in the embodiment of FIG. 4, retaining ring 3
has retaining knobs 3A, 3B, 3C and 3D (similar to
adjustment knobs 4A and 4B) having screws which secure
the object being carried firmly to dolly-truck 18B.
Dolly-truck 18B also has a handle brace 2B which
is different from handle brace 2A of dolly-truck 18A.
Handle brace 2B has a surface contoured to allow
stacking of a number of buckets, one on top of another
and moved by dolly-truck 18B.
In one embodiment, body 17 of dolly-truck 18A is
formed as a single piece of fiber-glass and in
alternative embodiments body 17 is formed of
polyethylene or other polymeric material, of metals
such as steel and/or aluminum or other material. Holes
(such as holes 15A and 15B) are either molded into body
17 as body 17 is being formed or drilled into body 17
after body 17 has been formed.
In one embodiment, body 17 of dolly-truck 18A is
formed as one piece of injection molded, high-strength
plastic. Extension tubes 5A and 5B, truck wheel
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21 87261
supports 13A and 13B, caster wheel supports 9A, 9B, 9C,
9D and 9E, retaining wall 6, retaining ring 3, kick
ring, 8 base 12 and ribs 16A, 16B, 16C, 16D, 16E and
16F are all molded into body 17.
FIG. 6A illustrates one embodiment of a handle
brace 30 for use in a dolly truck in accordance with
this invention. Handle brace 30 has a brace body 31
which has an inner surface 3lA contoured to allow
stacking of a number of buckets one on top of another.
In one embodiment, surface 31A has a cylindrical
curvature with a radius of 6 inches. Handle brace 30
also includes arm sleeves 35A and 35B on outer surface
31B of brace body 31. Arm sleeves 35A and 35B are
similar to extension tubes 5A and 5B (above) and have
an outer diameter of 1-% inch and an inner diameter of
3/4 inch. Handle brace 30 has a height H = 2-~ inches.
Also included in handle brace 30 are lid clips 32A and
32B. Lid clips 32A and 32B preferably of a somewhat
elastic material capable of being bent out of position
and then snapping back into position, are supported at
one end by arm sleeves 35A and 35B respectively. At
the other end, lid clips 32A and 32B are provided with
finger grips 33A and 33B respectively. Lid clips 32A
and 32B are formed in the shape of an L with the
shorter leg having a length Sl = 3/8ths inch and the
longer leg having a length S2 = ~ inch.
Lid clips 32A and 32B are used to hold a lid 37 of
a 5 gallon bucket 42 in a dolly truck 40 as shown in
FIG. 6B. The arms of handle 41 are passed through arm
sleeves 35A and 35B of handle brace 30. A lid 37 is
- supported by lid clips 32A and 32B by pulling finger
grips 33A and 33B outward and sliding lid 37 in the
space between lid clip 32A and 32B and arm sleeve 35A
and 35B respectively (FIG. 6C), and releasing finger
grips 33A and 33B.
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- 21 87261
FIG. 7A illustrates another embodiment of a dolly
truck 50 in accordance with this invention. Dolly
truck 50 has a retaining wall 51 and a retaining ring
52 which are open, and in all other respects dolly
truck 50 has the same components as dolly truck 18A of
FIG. 1. The open arrangement of dolly-truck 50's
retaining wall and retaining ring FIG. 7A permits a
bucket 55 to be placed on upper surface 54A of base 54
without bucket 55 having to be lifted over the
retaining ring (which is necessary for dolly-truck 18A
of FIG. 1).
FIGs. 7B and 7C illustrate two views of dolly
truck 50 of FIG. 7A. In the specific embodiment shown
in FIGs. 7A, 7B and 7C, retaining wall 51 and retaining
ring 52 are semi-circular in shape. However, any other
open shape can be used in accordance with this
invention. Bucket 55 is securely held in place on base
54 by retaining knobs 53A and 53B (similar to retaining
knobs 3A, 3B, 3C, and 3D of FIG. 4 above).
A dolly-truck as described above can be (1)
scooted along in the upright position by pushing with
one's foot on a dolly-truck kick ring, (2) pushed
forward by use of a dolly handle, or (3) dragged with a
paint extension pole (used for rolling wall surfaces)
inside an open bucket carried by the dolly-truck.
Persons skilled in the art can use the above
discussed embodiments as a basis for the necessary
elements to be cohesively implemented to provide a
durable, washable and stable embodiment of a dolly-
truck.
Although the present invention has been describedin connection with the above described illustrative
embodiments, the present invention is not limited
thereto. For example, instead of forming body 17 as an
integral piece, various parts of body 17 can be formed
separately and joined together by conventional methods.
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- 21 87261
Also, retaining wall 6 can be formed as a solid surface
without holes 6A, 6B, 6C, 6D and 6E. Moreover, instead
of five caster wheels and two truck wheels, any number
of caster wheels and truck wheels can be used in
accordance with this invention. Furthermore, although
handle 1 is described as being connected to body 17 via
extension tubes 5A and 5B, a handle can be connected to
a body in any conventional manner. Therefore, various
modifications and adaptations of the above discussed
embodiments are encompassed by this invention as set
forth in the appended claims.
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