Abstract:
A computer trolley is disclosed for rollingly supporting computer cases, or other structures. The trolley includes a number of pivotable arms which are each pivotable about their own pivot axis. In-line wheels may be rotatably attached to the ends of each arm. The in-line wheels may use precision ball bearings commonly found in in-line skates. Each end of the arms may include a rotatable corner body that is rotatable to accommodate computer cases of varying widths. A removable pedestal may be included that can be attached underneath the center of the trolley to provide additional load support.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to trolleys that retain computer processing units. More particularly, the field of the invention relates to a trolley structure that is a movable platform for the storage of computer hardware.  
           [0002]    The advent of the desktop computer has created multitudinous opportunities for organizing and deploying various elements of the computer system. One element of the desktop computer system that has traditionally been frustrating in terms of the storage options that are reasonably available is the central processing unit (CPU) itself.  
           [0003]    Typically the CPU is housed in a case that is usually rectangular in construction. The composition of the case is usually a light gauge steel material, although portions of the case may be fabricated from plastic materials as well.  
           [0004]    The CPU will typically house not only the circuitry that comprises the mother board, but usually other peripherals such as hard drives, disk drives, various input and output boards and the like. The internal framework is constructed to contain their individual elements and integrates with the case. The result is a unit that can have a significant amount of weight associated with it, given its size. Some CPUs may weigh up to nearly 50 pounds, depending on the particular system.  
           [0005]    The term “desk top” computer has in reality become somewhat of a misnomer. Efficiencies in office planning have made workspace surfaces highly valuable; therefore, elimination of the CPU from the desktop area is now a preferred practice. In this regard, some approaches have been taken to provide cabinetry underneath the work surface in which the CPU may be stored. In these circumstances, access to the rear of the CPU for making various connections becomes difficult since they have to be routed through and in accordance with a particular cabinet structure.  
           [0006]    In other circumstances, bracketry has been mounted underneath a work surface to provide a fixed mounting point for a CPU. This bracketry requires a certain amount of substance to adequately hold the CPU in place and its affixation to the underside of the work surface has to be robust as well. Thus, installation becomes a drawback in some instances owing to weaknesses in the particular mounting points or difficulties that the end user may experience in approaching the installation project.  
           [0007]    Other solutions have been offered for this same problem of storing and locating a CPU case. In one particular instance, U.S. Pat. No. 6,419,198 teaches the use of a rolling support that can compatibly retain a CPU case and to allow it to be moved about underneath a work surface. Difficulties with this concept still exist, however, since the convenience for adjustability of the support unit to the CPU case is not synchronized as between the various support arms. Additionally, considerations for the heft of the CPU and the ease with which it may be moved have not been fully appreciated.  
           [0008]    As a result, there still remain some long felt needs with respect to providing a suitable storage device for CPU cases and for increasing the convenience of employing them.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0009]    The computer trolley of the present invention has provided therein a plurality of support arms that project laterally from a junction and which have mounting surfaces thereon for the retention of a CPU case. Each of the said support arms are in synchronous relationship with each other, that is, movement of one arm causes all of the other arms to pivot about a central junction. The synchronous relationship provides uniform adjustability as between each of the support arms when a CPU case is stored and fitted thereon.  
           [0010]    According to one aspect of the present invention, a computer trolley is provided that includes a plurality of generally horizontal arms, a plurality of wheels attached to the arms, a center connector, and a generally vertical surface positioned above each of the arms. The center connector is attached to the plurality of arms and adapted to allow the arms to pivot with respect to each other such that the angle between at least two of the arms can be adjusted. The generally vertical surface is positioned adjacent to the ends of the arms and is adapted to contact a side of a computer positioned on the trolley and above the arms. The generally vertical surface is pivotable about a generally vertical pivot axis so that the vertical surface can be adjusted to be more fully in contact with the side of the computer, regardless of the angular orientation of the arms.  
           [0011]    According to another aspect of the present invention, a computer trolley is provided that includes a plurality of generally horizontal arms, a plurality of wheels attached to the arms, a center connector, and a removable center pedestal. The wheels include bottoms that are arranged generally in a horizontal plane positioned underneath the arms. The center connector is adapted to allow the plurality of arms to pivot such that the angle between the arms can be adjusted. The removable center pedestal is adapted to be removably secured to the center connector. When so secured, the pedestal extends vertically downward therefrom generally as far as the horizontal plane defined by the bottom of the wheels. The center pedestal limits the amount of downward flexing of the arms when attached to the center connector.  
           [0012]    According to yet another aspect of the present invention, a computer trolley is provided that includes a plurality of generally horizontal arms, a plurality of wheels, and a center connector. The arms are arranged so as to not crisscross each other. The wheels are attached to the plurality of arms generally adjacent ends of the arms. The center connector is adapted to allow the arms to pivot with respect to the center connector so that the angle between the arms can be adjusted.  
           [0013]    According to still another aspect of the present invention, a computer trolley is provided that includes a plurality of generally horizontal arms, a center connector, a plurality of ball bearing sets, a plurality of wheel mounts, and a plurality of wheels. The center connector is adapted to allow the arms to pivot with respect to the center connector so that the angle between the arms can be adjusted. The ball bearings are mounted between each one of the arms and the wheel mounts to thereby allow the wheel mounts to rotate about a generally vertical axis. The wheels are rotatably mounted to the wheel mounts. According to other aspects of the present invention, there may be four arms that are provided wherein the center connector defines four separate vertical axes about which each of the plurality of arms is pivotable. The arms may include a plurality of gear teeth attached to their ends opposite the wheels wherein the gear teeth mesh with each other so that movement of one of the arms causes at least one of the other arms to move. The arms, center connector, and wheel may all be made out of plastic. The center pedestal may also include a bottom surface that is shaped generally like at least a portion of a sphere. The wheels may be shaped to have a non-flat peripheral surface, such as the surface found on the wheels of conventional in-line skates.  
           [0014]    According to its various aspects, the present invention provides a computer trolley that has an increased ease of use for storing and manipulating computer cases. The trolley can be easily fitted to computer cases of different sizes. Further, the trolley provides an ease of rolling, the ability to support large weights, and a high degree of durability. These and other attributes of the present invention will be apparent to one skilled in the art in light of the following written description and the accompanying drawings. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0015]    [0015]FIG. 1 shows a computer trolley of one embodiment of the present invention in a perspective view with a CPU case installed thereon in phantom;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 2 is a side perspective view of the computer trolley of FIG. 1;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 3 is a bottom perspective view of the computer trolley of FIG. 1;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of an outer end of a support arm and a corner and wheel assembly for the computer trolley of FIG. 1;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 5 is a top perspective view of the inner ends of the support arms as installed on a portion of a central connector;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 6 shows two perspective views of the components of the central connector of the present invention as they related to each other in mirror image orientation and just prior to assembly;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 7 is a side perspective view of the inner ends of the support arms in the present invention, with the corresponding components of the central connector assembly orientation;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 8 is a side perspective view of a pedestal support; and  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 9 is a front, elevational view of a wheel and axle which may be used in the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0024]    The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein the numbered elements appearing in the following written description correspond to like numbered elements in the several drawings. A computer trolley  10  according to one aspect of the present invention is depicted in FIG. 1. Trolley  10  is adapted to store and retain objects, such as computer cases. Trolley  10  is illustrated in FIG. 1 with a computer case  12  (in phantom) supported thereon. Trolley  10  includes four support arms  14  that extend outwardly from a central connector  16 . The support arms  14  include a top surface  18  which may contact the underside of the computer case. Support arms  14  are pivotally attached to central connector  16  so that their angular orientation with respect to each other can be adjusted. This adjustment allows trolley  10  to accommodate differently sized computer cases  12 . After a computer case  12  is positioned on trolley  10 , the arms  14  are adjusted so that the vertical surfaces  20  abut against the sides of the computer case  12 . A plurality of wheels  18  attached to the outer ends of arms  14  allow the trolley to be easily moved to any desired position. Wheels  26  are supported on rotatable casters so that trolley  10  can be pushed or pulled in any desired direction. Trolley  10  provides a convenient, durable, lightweight trolley for transporting and moving conventional computers.  
         [0025]    Each of the arms  14  includes an inner end  22  and an outer end  24 . Inner ends  22  are pivotally attached to center connector  16 . Outer ends  24  have wheels  26  mounted thereon, as well as rotatable corner bodies  28 . Rotatable corner bodies  28  include vertical surfaces  20 , as well as horizontal surfaces  30 . Both vertical and horizontal surfaces  20  and  30  may include cushioning material  21  secured thereto in order to help prevent scratching of the computer case by trolley  10 . The cushioning may be secured in any conventional fashion. The cushioning also helps provide a grip on the computer case so that the angular orientation of arms  14  tends to remain in whatever orientation they have been manually moved to.  
         [0026]    The attachment of rotatable corner bodies  28  to arms  14 , as well as the attachment of wheels  26  to arms  14 , is illustrated in more detail in FIG. 4. Each arm  14  includes a circular end face  32 . A vertical aperture  34  is defined generally in the center of end face  32 . Vertical aperture  34  extends completely through end face  32  from its bottom side to its topside. End face  32  includes a top surface  36  about which the bottom surface of the rotatable corner body  28  rotates. Rotatable corner bodies  28  are secured to end faces  32  by way of bolts  38 . Bolts  38  pass through vertical aperture  34  and end face  32  and a vertical aperture  40  defined in rotatable corner bodies  28 . Bolts  38  secure rotatable corner bodies  28  to end faces  32  of arms  14 . This securement, however, is not so tight as to prevent rotatable corner bodies  28  from rotating about the axis defined by bolts  38 . Stated alternatively, rotatable corner bodies  28  are rotatable on top surface  36  of end faces  32 . The rotation of corner bodies  28  allows the orientation of vertical surface  20  to be changed. Vertical surface  20  can thereby be oriented generally parallel, and in contact with, the sides of a computer housing, regardless of the width of the computer housing.  
         [0027]    Wheels  26  are secured to the bottom of end faces  32  by way of a pair of mounting caps  42  (FIG. 4) that define a wheel mount. Each mounting cap  42   a  and  b  includes a vertical aperture  44  which vertically aligns with apertures  40  and  34  when mounting caps  42  are secured to arms  14 . Each mounting cap  42  includes a portion of a frusto-conical surface  46 . When mounting caps  42   a  and  b  are secured together, frusto-conical surface portions  46  join together to form a complete frusto-conical surface. This frusto-conical surface extends vertically into a correspondingly shaped recess (not shown) in the bottom of circular end face  32  of arm  14 .  
         [0028]    Mounting caps  42  further include an arcuate horizontal surface  48 . Horizontal surfaces  48  may either directly contact the underside of circular end faces  32 , or, more preferably, a ball bearing ring  41  having ball bearings  43  secured therein may be placed between horizontal surfaces  48  and the underside of end faces  32  (FIG. 4). In either case, mounting caps  42   a  and  b  are rotatable about the generally vertical axis defined by bolt  38 . This rotation allows the orientation of the axle on wheels  26  to be altered, and is independent of the rotation of rotatable corner bodies  28 . Trolley  10  can thus be moved in any direction on a floor, or other surface, and the wheels  26  will rotate so that they are aligned with the direction of motion. Ball bearing ring  41 , if provided, eases the ability of the wheel mounts to rotate about a generally vertical axis. Ball bearings  43  may be precision ball bearings having diameters that are within 0.5 thousandths of an inch of each other, although other degrees of precision may be used.  
         [0029]    Each mounting cap  42  further includes a horizontal aperture  50 . An axle  52  for wheels  26  fits through horizontal apertures  50 , as well as a horizontal aperture  54  defined in the center of wheel  26  in order to rotatably secure wheel  26  to mounting caps  42 . Wheel  26  is rotatable about the axis generally defined by the longitudinal extent of axle  52 .  
         [0030]    Wheels  26  each include an outer body  56  and a central bearing  58  mounted in the center of the outer body  56 . Wheels  26  are preferably shaped in the same manner as conventional in-line skates. That is, each wheel generally has a non-flat bottom profile. As illustrated in FIG. 9, each wheel  26  includes an exterior or peripheral surface  27  that is curved. In the absence of excess loading, contact with the flat ground is therefore limited to only a small portion or point on peripheral surface  27 .  
         [0031]    Bearings  58  may simply be defined by an internal, cylindrical surface that engages a pin defining axle  52 . In this case, the bearings  58  are preferably made of a plastic while the pin is made of metal, such as steel, to provide a suitable ease of rolling for wheel  26 . Alternatively, bearings  58  may be of the precision type commonly employed in the wheels of recreational, in-line skates, such as Roller Blades. The use of precision bearings of the in-line type of wheel increases the ease with which trolley  10  rolls. In-line bearings provide superior service as compared to solid body, non-bearing rollers and/or wheels.  
         [0032]    The outer bodies  56  of wheels  26  may be molded from a plastic resin that is the same as, or comparable to, plastic resins that are used in the wheel bodies of recreational, in-line skates. In the current embodiment of the present invention, polyurethane is used to mold the wheel bodies  56 . Other types of plastic resins may, of course, be used. The plastic resin may be mixed with other materials to produce a wheel having a selected durometer that is suitable for gripping whatever surface trolley  10  is intended to be used on.  
         [0033]    As has been noted, the ends of arms  14  opposite circular end faces  32  are attached to center connectors  16 . This interconnection is depicted in more detail in FIGS. 5-7. Center connector  16  includes an upper half  60  and a lower half  62 . Upper half  60  includes a flat, top surface  64  that is generally flush with the top surface of arms  14  when center connector  16  is secured to arms  14 . Similarly, lower half  62  includes a bottom surface  66  that is generally flush with the bottom surface of arms  14  when center connector  16  and arms  14  are secured together. A pair of diagonally positioned large cylindrical walls  68  extend upward from lower half  62  of center connector  16  from a side opposite bottom surface  66 . A pair of small cylindrical walls  70  also extend upwardly from lower half  62  of center connector  16 . Small cylindrical walls  70  are also diagonally positioned with respect to each other. Large and small cylindrical wall  68  and  70  are generally positioned at the corners of an imaginary square. Small cylindrical walls  70  include a plurality of slots  72  that extend vertically downward from the top of wall  70 . Large cylindrical wall  68  encloses a plurality of fins  74  that are disposed centrally within large cylindrical wall  68 . Fins  74  extend radially outward from a central aperture  76 . Each fin  74  includes a shortened height portion  78  that is positioned at the periphery of the fin and adjacent to the large cylindrical wall  68 .  
         [0034]    Top half  60  of center connector  16  is constructed the same as lower half  62 . When upper and lower halves  60  and  62  of center connector  16  are secured together, which takes place by moving them vertically towards each other, the small cylindrical walls  70  of one half fit into the large cylindrical walls  68  of the other half. Further, the fins  74  of one half fit into the slots  72  defined in the small cylindrical walls  70  of the other half. Fasteners, such as screws or the like, are inserted into central aperture  76  to maintain the upper and lower halves  60  and  62  of center connector  16  together.  
         [0035]    Before upper and lower halves  60  and  62  of center connector  16  are secured together, arms  14  are positioned in contact with one of halves  60  and  62 . Each arm  14  includes a circular hole  80  defined at its end opposite end face  32 . Circular holes  80  have a diameter that is slightly larger than the outer diameter of large cylindrical walls  68 . Arms  14  are positioned in center connector  16  so that circular holes  80  surround each large cylindrical wall  68 . Because the diameter of circular hole  80  is slightly greater than the outer diameter of large cylindrical wall  68 , each arm  14  is able to rotate about a large cylindrical wall  68 . This rotation takes place around a vertical axis, which is centered at, and runs through, central aperture  76 . Each of the four arms  16  is thus pivotable about a separate vertical axis.  
         [0036]    Each of the ends of arms  14  adjacent circular holes  80  further include a plurality of teeth  82 . Large cylindrical walls  68  are positioned in center connector  16  at appropriate distances from each other so that the teeth  82  of each arm  14  will engage the teeth of two adjacent arms  14 . Teeth  82  ensure that when a single arm  14  is rotated about its vertical axis, defined through central aperture  76 , this will cause the two adjacent arms  14  to also rotate about their respective vertical axes. Further, these two arms will also cause the fourth arm  14  to rotate about its vertical axis through the engagement of its teeth  82  with the teeth of the other two arms  14 . Thus, if one arm  14  is moved outwardly to accommodate a relatively wide computer case, all of the other three arms will also pivot outwardly due to the interaction of their teeth  82 .  
         [0037]    Upper and lower halves  60  and  62  of center connector  16  further include a pair of sidewalls  84 . Each sidewall  84  includes two ends  86 . Ends  86  of sidewalls  84  limit the amount of outward pivoting of the arms  14 . Specifically, arms  14  can be pivoted outwardly only until the sides of the arms  14  abut against ends  86 . Thereafter, ends  86  prevent any further outward pivoting of arms  14 . The position of ends  86  of sidewalls  84  can be set at any desired location to allow any desired maximum extent of pivoting of arms  14 .  
         [0038]    Upper and lower halves  60  and  62  further include a center hole  88  positioned generally in their centers. Center hole  88  is dimensioned to removably receive an optional pedestal  90  (FIGS. 2-3 and  8 ). Pedestal  90  extends vertically downward from the bottom surface  66  of lower half  62  when it is used. Pedestal  90  provides additional support to trolley  10  if an especially heavy computer case, or other item, is being supported. Pedestal  90  extends downwardly almost as far as the bottoms of wheels  26 . Specifically, the bottom of pedestal  90  may terminate about one eighth of an inch above the plane defined by the four bottom points of wheels  26 . This clearance helps prevent the bottom of pedestal  90  from unduly inhibiting the ease of motion of trolley  10 . When an especially heavy load is positioned on trolley  10 , the arms  14  will flex sufficiently to allow the bottom surface of pedestal  90  to come in contact with the floor. Pedestal  90  will therefore help support the load carried by trolley  10 .  
         [0039]    Pedestal  90  includes an upper plug  92  (FIG. 8) that is dimensioned to fit into center hole  88 . Upper plug  92  may have an outer surface whose diameter is sufficiently close to the inner diameter of center hole  88  so that pedestal  90  will be frictionally retained in center hole  88 . However, pedestal  90  can be easily removed by a user from center hole  88  by simply pulling it out of center hole  88 , if pedestal  90  is not desired to be used. Pedestal  90  further includes a shoulder  94  that limits the depth at which plug  92  may be inserted into center hole  88 . The bottom  96  of pedestal  90  is generally spherically shaped in order to ease the movement of trolley  10  over a variety of different types of surfaces.  
         [0040]    While a variety of different materials may be used to manufacture trolley  10 , the arms  14 , center connector  16 , rotatable corner bodies  28 , mounting caps  42 , and pedestal  90  are all molded out of nylon. Axles  52  may be made of metal or any other suitable material. Similarly, the fasteners used to secure upper and lower halves  60  and  62  of center connecter  16  together may be any conventional fastener made of metal, or other suitable material. The fastener or fasteners used to rotatably secure corner bodies  28  and mounting caps  42  to arms  14  may also be made out of metal, or any other suitable material.  
         [0041]    While the present invention has been described in terms of the preferred embodiments depicted in the drawings and discussed in the specification, it will be understood by one skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to these particular preferred embodiments, but includes any and all such modifications that are within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.