Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
SECURITY CART
FIELD
[0002] The present disclosure relates to security carts and more particularly
to security carts
that are collapsible, nestable and utilized to secure and transport a wide
variety of goods.
BACKGROUND
[0004] U.S. Patent No. 3,191,959 discloses a hand cart having a generally
rectangular main
frame, a pair of side structures hingedly connected to parallel side portions
of the frame for
independent swinging movement relative to the frame, and a bottom structure
hingedly
connected to a horizontal lower portion of the frame for independent swinging
movement.
The side and bottom structurcs together with the frames serve to define a
vertically extending
carrying space that is open at its front, when the side and bottom structures
extend in planes at
right angles to the general plane of the frame, wheel means mounted on the
lower end of the
cart, and means for detachably securing the lower edges of the side structures
to the bottom
structure. The securing means is detached by swinging the side structures in
directions away
from the bottom structure and about the axes of the pivotal connections
between the side
structures and the main frame. The side and bottom structures when the
security means is
disengaged are collapsible upon each other adjacent the front side of the
frame.
[0005] U.S. Patent No. 3,840,242 discloses a nestable transport rack having
frame means
which is composed of a nestable wheel supported base frame and a pair of
horizontally
spaced, upstanding and parallel side frame members rigidly secured to the base
frame and
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extending upwardly therefrom. Shelf means are pivotally secured to the frame
means and are
pivotable between a generally horizontal position and a vertical position, the
vertical position
being parallel with the upstanding side frame members. Sidewall means are
provided which
are pivotally secured to each of the side frame members and are pivotable
between a first
position on opposite lateral sides of the shelf means when the shelf means are
in the
horizontal position, and a second position parallel to the shelf means when
the shelf means is
in the horizontal position. At least a portion of the nestable, wheel-
supported base frame
extends frontwardly of the upstanding side frame members and the shelf means
when the
shelf means is in the vertical position and the sidewall means is in the
second position parallel
to the shelf means and is capable of nesting with another of the transport
racks.
[0006] U.S. Patent No. 4, 346, 906 discloses a roll pallet comprising a frame,
an end wall and
a deck. Also, there may be two sidewalls pivotally connected to the end wall.
The deck can
be pivoted into a raised position in which it is parallel to the end wall, and
the sidewalls can
be folded inwardly. The pallet can then be nested, for storage, with another
similar pallet, by
virtue of the shape of the frame, which comprises two converging limbs. The
frame is
provided with wheels and the deck is provided with stabilizing wheels which
resist toppling
of the pallet when it is carrying a load.
[0007] U.S. Patent No. 5,873,204 discloses a wheeled cart having a base and
three sidewalls
extending therearound and upward therefrom. A pair of partial doors is
hingedly secured to
and extends along edges of two opposing sidewalls for permitting partial
coverage of a fourth
side of the cart. Each partial door includes a spring-biased manually operable
pin for
cooperating with a plurality of slots in the cart base. The base front edge
also has an inwardly
angled portion along the length thereof that angles up to a horizontal
shoulder. The horizontal
shoulder includes the first pair of the plurality of pin retaining slots. A
vertical portion then
rises from the level of the shoulder to thc level of the main area of the cart
base. In this mode,
the end of the pin rides up on the angled portion when the door is closed with
sufficient force,
thereby overcoming the biasing force of the spring. The pins of each door will
then insert into
the first slots in the shoulder area. The vertical edge prevents any further
movement of the
doors inward as the pins thereof are blocked thereby.
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SUMMARY
f0008] Through research and experimentation, the present inventors have
determined that a
need exists to design and construct a mobile cart that provides enhancements
in support of
doors and sidewalls relative to a base shelf and a base frame, collapsibility
and latching of the
doors, sidewalls and the basc shelf, braking of caster wheels on the base
frame, and an e-track
strapping arrangement for securing the cart or objects placed within the cart.
100091 In one example, the present disclosure relates to a security cart
including a rear wall
having a pair of side extensions projecting forwardly therefrom and a bottom
supporting
member extending forwardly from the rear wall in support of the side
extensions. A base
frame has a pair of diverging limbs interconnected at front ends thereof by a
front crosspiece.
The limbs have front ends provided with a set of front wheels, and rear ends
provided with a
pair of rear wheels supported beneath the bottom supporting member of the rear
wall. A base
shelf is supported in a horizontal load bearing position upon the base frame
when the cart is in
transport and loading conditions, and is pivotally mounted about a rear edge
to the bottom
supporting member of the rear wall for movement to a raised position. A first
sidewall is
pivotally connected to one of the side extensions of the rear wall and to the
bottom supporting
member. The first sidewall is pivoted between a first position locked and
supported on one of
the side edges of the base shelf and a second position folded parallel to the
rear wall. A first
door is pivotally attached to the first sidewall. The first door is pivoted
between a first
position locked over a front edge of the base shelf, and a second position
unlocked from the
base shelf and folded with the first sidewall parallel to the rear wall. A
second sidewall is
pivotally connected to the other of the side extensions of the rear wall and
to the bottom
supporting member. The second sidewall is pivoted between a first position
locked and
supported on another side edge of the base shelf, and a second position folded
parallel to the
rear wall and forwardly of the first door in its second position. A second
door is pivotally
attached to the second sidewall. The second door is pivoted between a first
position locked
over the front edge of the base shelf, and a second position unlocked from the
base shelf and
folded with the second sidewall parallel to the rear wall and forwardly of the
first sidewall in
its second position. The base shelf is pivoted from the horizontal position to
the raised
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position for retaining the first sidewall, the first door, the second sidewall
and the second door
in their second positions when the cart is in the collapsed position.
[0010] In another example, the security cart has a second wall provided with a
retaining latch
arrangement for holding the base shelf in the raised position. With the base
shelf in the raised
position, the retaining latch arrangement is movable about a vertical axis
from a first position
lying against the second sidewall to a second position swung away from thc
second sidewall
and to a third position engaged with the base shelf'. The retaining latch
arrangement includes
a spring biased to hold the retaining latch arrangement in the first and third
positions.
Latching rod arrangements are provided on the first sidewall, the first door,
the second
sidewall and the second door, and are engagable and disengagable with
retaining brackets on
the base shelf.
[0011] In a further example, the first sidewall is provided with a first
latching rod
arrangement having a first latching rod. The second sidewall is provided with
a second
latching rod arrangement provided with a second latching rod. The base shelf
has opposed
side edges, each being provided with a side retaining bracket configured with
a locking
aperture, a ramped portion leading to the aperture and a stop tab. Each
latching rod is
engagable and disengagable with the ramped portion and locking aperture, and
each stop tab
prevents each of the first and second sidewalls from swinging outwardly from
the base shelf
BRIEF DESCRIPTION
100121 Figure 1 is a front perspective view of a mobile security cart in
accordance with the
present disclosure.
[0013] Figure 2 is a rear perspective view of the security cart.
[0014] Figure 3 is a bottom perspective view of the security cart shown in
Figure 2.
[0015] Figure 4 is an enlarged detail view of an upper door latching pin
arrangement of the
security cart taken on line 4-4 of Figure 1, and shown in an extended locking
condition.
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[0016] Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4 showing the upper door latching
pin arrangement
in a retracted unlocked condition.
[0017] Figure 6 is an enlarged detail front view showing a latching rod
arrangement for doors
of the security cart.
[0018] Figure 7 is a partial sectional view of the latching rod arrangement
taken on line 7-7 of
Figure 6 and showing the latching rod arrangement in an extended locking
condition.
[0019] Figure 8 is view similar to Figure 7 showing the latching rod
arrangement in a
retracted unlocked condition.
[0020] Figure 9 is front perspective view of the security cart with its doors
unlocked and
opened and showing an e-track strapping arrangement provided on the security
cart.
[0021] Figure 10 is a fragmentary enlarged left side view of the security cart
shown in Figure
9 illustrating a latching rod arrangement for a left sidewall and a pivotal
connection between
the left sidewall and the left front door.
[0022] Figure 11 is an enlarged sectional view of the latching rod arrangement
of Figure 10
shown in an extended locking condition.
[0023] Figure 12 is a view similar to Figure 11 showing the latching rod
arrangement in a
retracted unlocked condition.
100241 Figure 13 is a front perspective view of the security cart showing the
left sidewall and
the left front door folded inwardly.
[0025] Figure 14 is a front perspective view of the security cart showing a
right sidewall and
a right door folded inwardly over the left sidewall and left front door as
shown in Figure 13.
[0026] Figure 15 is a front perspective view of the security cart in a fully
folded collapsed
position showing a base shelf folded in an upright raised position and
retained against the
folded sidewall and doors shown in Figure 14.
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[0027] Figure 16 is an enlarged detail view of a retaining arrangement for
holding the base
shelf in the upright raised position taken on line 16-16 of Figure 14 showing
the manner in
which the retaining arrangement is operated.
[0028] Figure 17 is an enlarged detail view of the retaining arrangement fbr
holding the base
shelf in the upright raised position as taken on line 17-17 of Figure 15.
100291 Figure 18 is a perspective view of two collapsed security carts in a
nested condition.
[0030] Figure 19 is a partial bottom view of the nested security carts shown
in Figure 18.
[0031] Figure 20 is an enlarged detail perspective view of a braking mechanism
for a caster
wheel used on the security cart.
[0032] Figure 21 is a bottom perspective view of Figure 20.
[0033] Figure 22 is an enlarged sectional view of the braking mechanism taken
on line 22-22
of Figure 20 showing the braking mechanism in an unlocked mode.
[0034] Figure 23 is a view similar to Figure 22 showing the braking mechanism
in a locked
mode.
[0035] Figure 24 is a perspective view similar to Figure 9 showing the
security cart equipped
with a further e-track strapping arrangement.
[0036] Figure 25 is an exploded view of a mounting bracket used on the
security cart for
receiving and securing an e-track strap.
[0037] Figure 26 is a perspective view of the security cart showing the doors
folded
outwardly upon the sidewalls.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0038] The mobile security cart 10 of the present disclosure is illustrated in
various Figures 1-
26, and is generally comprised of a rear wall 12, a wheel supported base frame
14, a base
shelf 16, a pair of opposed sidewalls 18, 20 and a pair of opposed doors 22,
24.
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[0039] As seen Figures 1-3, the cart 10 in a preferred transport condition
defines an open top
four-sided conveyance which is used to secure and carry a variety of items. As
will be seen in
other figures, the cart 10 is variously configurable for loading, and, when
desired, can be fully
folded into a collapsed, nestable condition, such as shown in Figure 15.
[0040] Referring to Figures 2, 3, 15 and 18, the rear wall 12 has upper and
lower horizontally
extending members 26, 28, respectively, opposing vertically extending side
members 30, 32,
respectively, an intermediate horizontally extending reinforcement member 34,
and a number
vertically extending reinforcing members 36. Lower member 28 is provided with
a pair of
mounting brackets 37 which can be used to retain e-track straps inside the
rear wall 12 as will
be further explained hereafter. The rear wall 12 also has a series of
intersecting horizontally
and vertically extending wire members 38, 40, respectively, extending between
the upper and
lower members 26, 28 and the side members 30, 32. A bottom shelf-like
supporting member
42 extends forwardly from the lower member 28. A pair of fixed side extensions
44, 46,
respectively, project forwardly from the side members 30, 32. Together, the
rear wall 12 and
the side extensions 44, 46 define a U-shaped stub frame.
[0041] The base frame 14 has a generally V-shaped construction having a pair
of laterally
diverging limbs 48, 50 and an interconnecting front crosspiece 52. A
reinforcing crosspiece
54 is located behind crosspiece 52 and also interconnects the limbs 48, 50.
Bottom front
comers of the base frame 14 are provided with attachment devices 56 for
mounting a pair of
front wheel casters 58 thereto. A rear end of limb 48 is joined to a mounting
structure 60
provided with a rear wheel swivel caster 62. A rear end of limb 50 is secured
to a mounting
structure 64 equipped with another rear wheel caster 66. The mounting
structures 60, 64
underlie and are connected to opposed ends of the supporting member 42 of the
rear wall 12.
As will be described hereafter, the mounting structure 60 is configured with
an actuable
braking mechanism 68 (Figure 1) for permitting and preventing rotation and
rolling travel of
the wheel caster 62 so as to selectively enable and disable transit of cart
10.
[0042] As best seen in Figures 3 and 14, the base shelf 16 is configured for
support and
retention upon the base frame 14. The base shelf 16 has a generally
rectangular shape
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including a front edge 70, opposing side edges 72, 74 and a rear edge 76. The
front edge 70
includes a front retaining bracket 78 for maintaining the doors 22, 24 in a
locked position as
shown in Figure I. As best seen in Figure 15, the bottom of front edge 70 has
a number of U-
shaped spacers 79 depending therefrom which are engagable with the upper end
of base frame
crosspiece 52. The side edges 72, 74 are provided with respective side
retaining brackets 80,
82 for holding the sidewalls 18, 20 in a locked position. The rear edge 76 is
pivotally
connected to the front end of the support member 42 of the rear wall 12 by a
series of spaced
apart hinges 84 so that the basc shelf 16 can be moved about a horizontal
pivot axis between a
horizontal load bearing support position (e.g. Figures 1 and 13) and a raised
nestable position
(Figure 15). In the latter figure, it can be seen that a number of retaining
member 86 extend
across the length and a number of retaining members 88 extend across the width
of base shelf
16 on a bottom surface thereof. One of the members 86 carries a pair of
retaining clips 90
which are frictionally engaged with the reinforcing crosspiece 54 on the base
frame 14 as
shown in Figure 3, so that the base shelf 16 is normally retained upon the
base frame 14 in the
horizontal position for supporting items to be transported in the cart 10. In
the horizontal
position of Figure 14, an upper surface 89 of the shelf base 16 is slightly
below an upper
surface 91 of the supporting member 42.
[0043] Referring now to Figure 1, the sidewall 18 includes upper and lower
horizontally
extending members 92, 94, respectively, a vertical rear member 96, and a
vertical front
member 98. The rear member 96 is pivotally connected to the extension 44 of
rear wall 12 by
three vertically spaced apart pivot connections 100 so that the sidewall 18
may pivot relative
to extension 44. The sidewall 18 is provided with solid panels 102 which are
configured with
pockets 104 for holding various information related to cart contents or
destination. The
sidewall 18 also includes a number of intersecting horizontally and vertically
extending wire
members 106, 108, respectively, extending between the members 92, 94, 96, 98
and a
horizontally extending intermediate reinforcing member 110. A front portion of
the sidewall
18 is provided with a first spring-biased latching arrangement 112 for
enabling the sidewall
18 to be held in and released from a locked position relative to the base
shelf 16. A rear
portion of sidewall 18 includes a spring-biased shelf base retaining latch
arrangement 114
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which can be utilized to hold the base shelf 16 in the raised position shown
in Figure 15. The
lower member 94 is formed with a mounting bracket 116 for a purpose similar to
mounting
brackets 37 on rear wall 12.
[0044] As seen in Figures 2 and 3, the sidcwall 20 includes upper and lower
horizontally
extending members 118, 120, respectively, a vertical rear member 122 and a
vertical front
member 124. The rear member 122 is pivotally connected to the extension 46 of
rear wall 12
by three vertically spaced apart pivot connections 126 so that the sidewall 20
may pivot
relative to extension 46. The sidewall 20 is provided with solid panels 128,
one of which is
provided with pockets 130 similar to pockets 104 on sidewall 18. The sidewall
20 also
includes a set of intersecting horizontally and vertically extending wire
members 132, 134,
respectively, and a horizontally intermediate reinforcing member 136. The
lower member
120 includes a mounting bracket 138 used for a similar purpose as mounting
bracket 116 with
an e-track strap. A front portion of the sidewall 20 is provided with a second
spring-biased
latching rod arrangcmcnt 139 for enabling thc sidewall 20 to be held in and
released from a
locked position relative to base shelf 16.
[0045] Referring to Figures 1, 9 and 13, the door 22 includes upper and lower
horizontally
extending members 140, 142. respectively, a vertical inner member 144 and a
vertical outer
member 146. The inner member 144 includes an upper door latching pin
arrangement 148
and a third spring-biased latching rod arrangement 150 for enabling the door
22 to be held in
and released from a locked position relative to the base shelf 16. The inner
member 144 also
includes a set of vertically spaced retaining brackets 152 which are engagable
with the
opposing door 24. The door 22 is further provided with a vertical reinforcing
number 154 and
intersecting horizontally and vertically extending wire members 156, 158,
respectively. The
outer member 146 is pivotally connected to front member 198 on sidewall 18 by
a set of four
vertically spaced apart pivot hinges 160 so that the door 20 can pivot about a
vertical pivot
axis relative to sidewall 18. The door 20 has a vertically extending solid
panel 161 and a
horizontally extending solid panel 162 with a lower member 164 on which a
portion of the
third latching rod arrangement 150 is mounted.
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[0046] As seen in Figures 1 and 9, door 24 includes upper and lower
horizontally extending
members 166, 168, a vertical inner member 170 and a vertical outer member 172.
The inner
member 170 has a receiving portion 174 for the latching pin arrangement 148 on
opposing
door 22, and a fourth spring-biased latching rod arrangement 176 for enabling
the door 24 to
be held in and released from a locked position relative to the base shelf 16.
The door 24
further includes vertical reinforcing members 178, a horizontal reinforcing
member 180 and a
set of intersecting horizontally and vertically extending wire members 182,
184, respectively.
The outer member 172 is pivotally connected to front member 124 on sidewall 20
by a set of
four vertically spaced pivot hinges 186 (Figure 1) so that the door 24 can
pivot about a
vertical pivot axis relative to sidewall 20. As best seen in Figure 9, the
door 24 has a width
which is greater than the width of door 22.
[0047] Referring now to Figures 4 and 5, the upper door latching pin
arrangement 148 on
door 22 cooperates with the receiving portion 174 on door 24 to control
locking and
unlocking and support of the doors 22, 24 at the upper cnds thereof. The
latching pin
arrangement 148 includes a mounting bracket 188 for receiving and retaining a
movable
hardened L-shaped latching pin 190 having a bent handle 192 and a pin end 194.
The
mounting bracket 188 includes a U-shaped bracket 196 which partially surrounds
the door
inner member 144. The bracket 196 includes an angled portion 198 engagable
with a U-
shaped bracket 200 of receiving portion 174 that wraps around the portion of
door inner
member 170. The angled bracket 196 and the bracket 200 are designed to push
both doors 22,
24 apart at the top to counteract sagging that occurs due to the weight of the
doors 22, 24, and
to avoid misalignment thereof.
[0048] In use, the latching pin 190 is slidably mounted relative to the doors
22, 24 and
includes a surrounding spring 202 mounted for biasing the pin end 194 through
aligned holes
in the inner members 144, 170 and the brackets 196, 200 so that the upper ends
of the doors
22, 24 are in locked position as shown in Figure 4. When it is desired to
unlock the upper
ends of the doors 22, 24, the handle 192 is pulled in the direction of arrow A
against the bias
of spring 202 to the phantom line position of Figure 4. The handle 192 is then
rotated in the
direction of arrow B, and engaged in a recess 204 on an end of mounting
bracket 188 as seen
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in Figure 5, so that the pin end 194 is retracted from the aligned holes in
door inner member
170 and the bracket 200.
[0049] Figures 6, 7 and 18 illustrate the spring-biased latching rod
arrangements 150, 176 for
controlling locking and unlocking of the doors 22, 24 relative to the base
shelf 16. The
latching rod arrangement 150 includes an elongated locking rod 206 having a U-
shaped
handle 208 and a rod end 210 (Figures 7 and 8). The rod 206 and the handle 208
are slidably
mounted for up and down movement as indicated by arrows C and arrows D through
holes
formed through member 164 on door 22. The lower end of rod 206 also passes
through
aligned openings in a guide 211 and lower member 142. Rod end 210 is movable
into an out
of locking engagement with an aperture 212 formed on one side of the front
retaining bracket
78 secured to the front edge 70 of base shelf 16. Rod 206 includes a spring
214 mounted
thereon for normally biasing the rod 206 in a downward direction so that rod
end 210 is
inserted within the aperture 212 to retain the door 22 in a locked position
(Figure 7). When it
is desired to unlock door 22, the handle 208 is lifted upwardly in the
direction of arrow El
(Fig. 8) against the bias of spring 214 so that the rod end 210 is withdrawn
from the aperture
212. With the rod end 210 withdrawn, the door 22 is unlocked and can be swung
outwardly
in the direction of arrow E2 as illustrated by the phantom lines in Figure S.
[0050] As seen in Figure 13, the front retaining bracket 78 at the center
front edge 70 of base
shelf 16 includes a pair of identical spaced apart door retaining members 216,
218 separated
by a recess 220. As seen in Figures 7 and 8, each of the members 216, 218 has
the aperture
212, a vertical portion 222 attached to base shelf front edge 70, an upwardly-
angled ramp
portion 224 and a downwardly-angled ramp portion 226 engaged against upper
surface 89 of
base shelf 16. When swung open, the door 22 can be grasped and quickly pushed
closed,
such as by slamming the door 22, so that, by overcoming the bias of spring
214, the rod end
210 rides up over the upwardly-angled ramp portion 224, and is thereafter
biased into locking
engagement with the aperture 212.
[0051] The latching rod arrangement 176 for door 24 is similar in structure
and function to
latching rod arrangement 150 described above. The handle 208 of latching rod
arrangement
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176 moves up and down in the direction of arrows F and G and the lower end of
rod 206 of
latching rod arrangement 176 passes through a hole in lower member 168 of door
24. When
both doors 22, 24 are in their locked position as shown in Figure 6, the lower
ends of door
inner members 144, 170 are retained in the recess 220 formed in the front
retaining bracket
78. Retaining brackets 152 on inner member 154 of door 22 are engaged with the
inner
member 170 of door 24. It should be understood that even if handle 206 on door
24 is raised,
door 24 cannot be swung outwardly if latching rod arrangement 150 on door 22
is in the
locked position because of the retaining brackets 152. The handle 208 on door
22 is provided
with a retainer 228 for receiving a locking pin (not shown) attached by a
lanyard to the cart 10
when it is desired to keep the doors 22, 24 in their locked positions such as
during transit of
the cart 10. This provides a backup restraint system to keep the doors 22, 24
locked, if for
some reason the rod ends 210 are not retained in apertures 212.
100521 Turning now to Figures 10-12, the latching rod arrangement 139 on
sidewall 20
cooperates with the side retaining bracket 82 on the base shelf 16 to control
locking and
unlocking of the sidewall 20 relative to the base shelf 16. The latching rod
arrangement 139
is similar to latching rod arrangements 150, 176 on doors 22, 24, and includes
the elongated
locking rod 206 having the U-shaped handle 208 and the rod end 210. The rod
206 and the
handle 208 are slidably mounted for up and down movement in the direction of
arrows H and
I through holes formed in member 136. The lower end of rod 206 passes through
an opening
in a guide 211 mounted on lower member 120. The rod end 206 is movable into
and out of
engagement with the aperture 212 formed on the side retaining bracket 82. The
rod 206
includes a spring 214 for biasing the rod 206 downwardly so that the rod end
210 is inserted
in the aperture 212 and engages an element 229 to shelf base 16 to retain the
sidewall 20 in
the locked position (Figure l 1). When it is dcsired to unlock the sidewall
20, the handle 208
is raised in the direction of arrow J1 (Fig. 12) to withdraw the rod end 210
from the aperture
212 enabling the sidcwall 20 to be swung inwardly over the shelf base 16 in
the direction of
arrow J2.
100531 The side retaining bracket 82 includes a vertical portion 230 secured
to side edge 74 of
shelf base 16, and a downwardly-angled ramp portion 232 engaged with the upper
surface 89
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of the base shelf 16. The ramp portion 232 functions similar to ramp portion
224 in lifting
and locating the sidewall 20 so that the rod end 210 is re-engaged in aperture
212 to place
sidewall 20 in the locked position, such as when the sidewall 20 is swung back
in a direction
opposite arrow .12. In addition, the side retaining bracket 82 includes an
upstanding tab 234
which functions as a stop element to continuously prevent the sidewall 20 from
being swung
outwardly of the cart 10.
[0054] The latching arrangement 112 for sidewall 18 cooperates with the side
retaining
bracket 80 to control locking and unlocking of the sidewall 18. Similarities
in structure and
function are found in latching rod arrangement 112 for sidewall 18 and
latching rod
arrangement 139 for sidewall 20, as well as in side retaining bracket 82 and
side retaining
bracket 80.
[0055] Figures 16 and 17 illustrate the retaining latch arrangement 114 on
sidewall 18 for
holding the base shelf 16 in the raised position shown in Figure 15. The latch
arrangement
114 includes respective upper and lower spaced apart brackets 236, 238 fixed
on the rear
member 96 of sidewall 18. The latch arrangement 114 also includes a rod 240
which passes
through aligned holes formed in the brackets 236, 238. The rod 240 includes a
spring 242 and
an L-shaped latching finger 244 provided with a U-shaped handle 246. The rod
240, the
latching finger 244 and the handle 246 are normally biased downwardly by the
spring 242 as
shown in Figure 17, such as when the sidewall 18 is in a locked position or
being swung
therefrom. The latch arrangement 114 is configured such that the rod 240, the
latch finger
244 and the handle 246 are first slidable up as represented by arrow K against
the bias of
spring 242, then rotatable as represented by arrow L and last released
downwardly aided by
the release force of spring 242 as represented by arrow M. Figure 17
illustrates the latching
finger 244 engaged with a bottom surface of and retaining the base shelf 16
when the base
shelf 16 is moved to the raised position as will be further described below.
[0056] Figures 20-23 illustrate the braking mechanism 68 incorporated in the
mounting
structure 60 for the rear wheel swivel caster 62. The braking mechanism 68 is
a commercially
available product identified as Model 761168 and produced by Blickle Rader and
Rollen
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GMBH, Rosenfeld, Germany. The brake mechanism 68 includes a brake pedal 248
attached
to a hex rod 250 which is drivingly inserted in a cam element 252 of a cam
mechanism 254.
The cam element 252 is engaged with a head 256 of a plunger 258 surrounded by
a spring
260. A bottom end of the plunger 258 is joined by a fastener 262 to a brake
shoe 264 which is
engagable and disengagable with a rolling outer surface 266 of caster 62. In
an unlocked
position shown in Figure 22, the brake pedal 248 is upwardly-angled and the
spring 260 acts
to bias the plunger head 256 so that the braking shoe 264 is disengaged from
thc surface 266
of caster 62. In this unlocked position, the cart 10 is free to travel. In a
locked position
shown in Figure 23, the brake pedal 248, when pushed downwardly by foot
pressure, rotates
the hex rod 250 clockwise causing the cam element 252 to push the plunger 258
downwardly
resulting in frictional braking contact of the brake shoe 264 with the surface
266 of caster 62
so that travel of cart 10 is prevented. Suitable guarding structure 268 is
provided to protect
the brake mechanism 68. The braking mechanism 68 locks the swivel caster 62 in
any desired
position and is designed to fit within a desired footprint of the cart 10.
[0057] The cart 10 is provided with e-track straps which can be used to secure
large loads
(e.g. an engine or transmission) within the cart 10 and prevent such loads
from sliding therein.
In addition, the cart 10 is provided externally with e-track straps used in
securing the cart 10
during transit to a support surface, such as the inside wall of a truck. As is
well-known,
typical e-track straps feature a cinched strap connected to a buckle with a
spring-biased clip
which is removably engaged with a slotted connector that has been bolted to a
support
structure.
[0058] According to the present disclosure, the slotted connector is formed as
a mounting
bracket 270 (Figure 25) fixed such as by welding to a vertical support member
272 on the cart
10, and formed with a receiving slot 274 for engaging a buckle end 276 of an e-
track strap
278. Such mounting bracket structure is exemplified by the mounting brackets
37 (Figure 2)
on the bottom of rear wall 12, and the mounting brackets 116, 138 (Figures 1
and 2) on the
bottom of sidewalls 18, 20, respectively. A mounting brackct 280 (Figure 9) is
provided on
the extension of sidewall 18, and a mounting bracket 282 (Figure 2) is
provided on the
14
CA 02887926 2015-04-13
extension of sidewall 20. The mounting brackets 37, 116, 138, 280, 282 provide
for an easy
connection of a buckle end of an e-track strap at various locations on the
cart.
[0059] Figure 24 illustrates a pair of space e-track straps 284 extending
vertically along the
inside of rear wall 12. The straps 284 have upper ends hooked to the top of
rear wall 12 and
lower buckle ends coupled to the brackets 37 (Figure 2). Alternatively, strap
284 could
extend vertically along inside surfaces of sidewalls 18, 20 using respective
mounting brackets
116, 138 as bottom connectors. Another e-track strap 286 extends horizontally
along the
inside of sidewall 20 and is used to secure an item against the sidewall 20.
Further e-track
straps 288 are provided on the exterior sidewalls 18, 20 such as for securing
the cart 10 within
a truck.
[0060] It should be appreciated that with the cart 10 in the transport
condition shown in
Figure 1, the sidewalls 18, 20 and the doors 22, 24 are supported over the
peripheral edges of
the base shelf 16. In addition, the sidewalls 18, 20 which are coupled to the
doors 22, 24 are
supported at the front lower ends upon the base shelf 16, such as exemplified
in Figure 11
which helps prevent sagging of the sidewalls 18, 20 and the doors 22, 24.
Further structural
support for the doors 22, 24 is provided by the upper door latch pin
arrangement 148, and
bracket arrangement 196, 198 between the upper ends of the doors 22, 24
prevents
misalignment thereof.
[0061] In use, release of the upper door latching pin arrangement 148 and the
door latching
rod arrangements 150, 176 permit the doors 22, 24 to be swung outwardly in the
directions of
arrows N and 0 as shown in Figure 9 so that items may be loaded into the cart
10. If desired,
during a loading operation, the doors 22, 24 can be further folded outwardly
against the
outside of the sidewalls 18, 20 as depicted in Figure 26. Once loading is
finished, the doors
22, 24 are again placed in locked position using the latching rod arrangements
150, 176 and
the latching pin arrangement 148.
[0062] If it is desired to fold the cart 10 to a collapsed condition once the
doors 22, 24 have
been opened as shown in Figure 9, first the latching rod arrangement 139 on
sidewall 20 is
released. As seen in Figure 13, this enables the sidewall 20 and the door 24
to be swung
CA 02887926 2015-04-13
inwardly upon the support member 42 in the direction of arrow P towards the
rear wall 12
such that the sidewall 20 and the door 24 are supported above the supporting
member 42 at
the bottom of rear wall 24 and forwardly in parallel relationship therewith.
Next, as shown in
Figure 14, the latching rod arrangement 112 on sidewall 18 is released so that
the sidewall 18
and the door 22 are pivoted together upon support member 42 in the direction
of arrow Q
towards the rear wall 12 and positioned against the sidewall 20 and the door
24 and over the
supporting member 42. Then, as seen in Figure 15, the base shelf 16 is pivoted
upwardly
relative to a front edge of the supporting member 42 so that the base shelf 16
is placed in the
raised position. Lastly, the retaining latch arrangement 114 on the folded
sidewall 18 is
manipulated as previously described and shown in Figure 16 to engage the
raised front edge
of the base shelf 16, and maintain the base shelf 16 in the raised position so
that the sidewalls
18, 20 and the doors 22, 24 cannot move. At this point the cart 10 is in the
fully collapsed
position.
[0063] If there are multiple carts 10 in the folded collapsed position, the
carts 10 due the
configuration of the base frame 14 may be conveniently nested as depicted in
Figures 18 and
19.
[0064] In the present disclosure, certain terms have been used for brevity,
clearness and
understanding. No unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond
the
requirement of the prior art because such terms are used for descriptive
purposes only and are
intended to be broadly construed. The different configurations, systems, and
method steps
described herein may be used alone or in combination with other
configurations, systems and
method steps. It is to be expected that various equivalents, alternatives and
modifications are
possible within the scope of the appended claims.
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