Abstract:
A utility cart, preferably adapted for medical or food purposes, is provided with a shelf section and a cabinet section. Each section is adapted to store supplies, such as gloves and aprons, utilized in this endeavor. Each section is further adapted to provide a means to dispose of refuse and discharged equipment and supplies. The cart is preferably provided with a wheel assembly for ease of transport.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present invention is a continuation of, was first described in, and claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/037,350, filed Aug. 14, 2014, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to a utility cart, and in particular a cart for carting a plurality of cleaning or medical supplies in bulk or individually. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The push cart finds frequent use as a transportation aid at businesses and work locations for supplies and materials. Its low center of gravity coupled with its high payload capacity makes it ideal for transporting items from vehicles, trucks, work cribs, store rooms, supply cabinets, and the like. However, such transportation duties means transferring items to the cart from one (1) storage location, and then from the cart to another storage location in a separate work action. Also, depending on the material or supplies on the cart, they may be valuable and subject to theft while on the unsecured cart. Additionally, many items such as disposable gloves and aprons may be dispensed directly from the cart, but the unsecured boxes make it difficult to dispense, particularly when using only one (1) hand, as the entire box lifts up when one (1) item is removed. Accordingly, there exists a need for a means by which a various supplies and materials can be stored, transported, and dispensed without the disadvantages as described above. The development of the present invention fulfills this need. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a utility cart, capable of being manipulated and transported by a user, the cart having a bottom, generally rectangular cabinet with a plurality of wheel assemblies having a storage cavity therein, and a securable door assembly providing access to the storage cavity. In different embodiments, the door assembly could include one (1) or two (2) doors. In different embodiments, a plurality of bumpers may be provided, each located at a corner of the cabinet. In different embodiments, at least one (1) interior shelf may be supported within the cavity. A top shelf is located on the upper perimeter of the cabinet and has a perimeter guide rail. A push handle extends away from a first side of the cabinet and sharing the same geometrical plane as the guide rail. At least one (1) container holder is attached to an upper surface of the top shelf. 
     In at least one (1) embodiment, each wheel assembly is an axle and hub having wheels rotatingly affixed to distal ends thereof. In this embodiment, at least two (2) wheel assemblies are drivable and at least two (2) wheel assemblies are fixed. 
     In another embodiment, the push handle is provided with a tray having a plurality of recessed molds, each recess mold may be configured to slidably receive and retain ancillary items therein. 
     In another embodiment, a container lid is provided for each individual container holder. Each container lid is configured to fit within a respective container holder and hold ancillary items placed therein. Some embodiments of the container lids may provide a breach portion, thereby enabling retrieval of the ancillary items. 
     In yet another embodiment, at least one (1) receptacle, each having at least one (1) hook, is configured to be supported on the guide rail. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a utility cart  10  in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a section view along a line A-A as shown on  FIG. 1  of the utility cart  10  in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is another perspective view of the utility cart  10  with exemplary commodities  15  loaded into holders  55  in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a top plan view of the utility cart  10  in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a side view of a front of the utility cart  10  in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the utility cart  10  in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention; and, 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a utility cart  10  in accordance with an alternate embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTIVE KEY 
     
         
         
           
               10  utility cart 
               15  commodities 
               20  cabinet 
               25  top shelf 
               30  storage cavity 
               35  fixed wheel 
               40  steerable wheel 
               45  handle 
               50  tray 
               55  holder 
               60  receptacle 
               65  locking mechanism 
               70  first side 
               75  second side 
               80  rear 
               85  front 
               90  interior shelf 
               95  bottom 
               105  bumper 
               110  rail 
               120  first arm 
               125  second arm 
               130  grab bar 
               135  recess 
               140  container lid 
               145  breach 
               150  receptacle bottom 
               155  hook 
               160  first door 
               165  second door 
           
         
       
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in terms of its preferred embodiment, herein depicted within  FIGS. 1 through 6  and alternately in  FIG. 7 . However, the invention is not limited to the described embodiment and a person skilled in the art will appreciate that many other embodiments of the invention are possible without deviating from the basic concept of the invention, and that any such work around will also fall under scope of this invention. It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only one particular configuration shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
     The terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one (1) of the referenced items. 
     The present invention describes a cabinet  20  having a top shelf  25  and at least one (1) door  160 ,  165  (herein referred to as the “device”)  10 , which is specifically adapted with a handle  45 , holders  55 , and receptacles  60  to store, transport, and dispense various commodities  15  individually or in bulk. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1 through 6 , various views of the utility cart  10 , in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention, are disclosed. The cabinet  20  is envisioned to be a rectangular polyhedron having the approximate dimensions of thirty-six inches (36 in.) in height, eighteen inches (18 in.) in width, and thirty inches (30 in.) in length; however, the invention is not limited to such dimensions. The cabinet  20  is further provided with a top shelf  25 , an interior storage cavity  30  accessed by at least one (1) door  160 ,  165 , a plurality of wheel assemblies  35 ,  40  for transport, and a handle  45 . Other features include a tray  50 , at least one (1) holder  55 , and at least one (1) receptacle  60  to be used for provisions storage or refuse. In addition, the doors  160 ,  165  are capable of being locked in a closed position via a locking mechanism  65 . The configuration of the device  10 , along with the added features, makes the invention suitable for conveniently storing items such as disposable gloves, disposable aprons, or other types of personal protective equipment in a work environment where users may access such items. 
     The cabinet  20  is a rigid structure fabricated from a light-weight, plastic so as to enable manipulation of the device  10  about the wheels  35 ,  40  with the use of one (1) hand; however, other light-weight, rigid materials may be utilized. The cabinet  20  has a first side  70 , a second side  75 , a rear  80 , a front  85 , a top shelf  25 , and a bottom  95 , which are conjoined along all vertical and horizontal edges to form the storage cavity  30  within an interior space of the cabinet  20 . An opening is disposed on the first side  70  to grant access into the storage cavity  30  by means of opening a first door  160  or a second door  165 , or both. It is understood that a similar opening enclosed by similar doors  160 ,  165  may be disposed on the second side  75  as well without limiting the scope of the device  10 . The storage cavity  30  is intended to be used to stack and store various commodity bulk items  15  that are required for a particular work operation. Various embodiments may be provided with at least one (1) interior shelf  90 . The top shelf  25  is a planar member with a rail  110  extending upward from a perimeter edge thereof. The rail  110  is formed around the perimeter of the top shelf  25  (as in an alternate embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 7 ); however, in an another embodiment, at least one (1) edge is absent a portion of the rail  110  to enable unfettered access to the top shelf  30  if such access is desired. At least two (2) fixed wheels  35  and two (2) steerable wheels  40  are affixed to the outer surface of the bottom  95  to enable transportation of the cabinet  20  upon a ground surface. 
     The handle  45  extends from the rear  80  of the cabinet  20  in generally the same geometric plane as that of the rail  110 . The handle  45  comprises a first arm  120  and second arm  125 , both extending from the rail  110  and connected by a grab bar  130  at a proximal end. The handle  45  is configured to enable a user to grasp the grab bar  130  with at least one (1) hand and push or pull the device  10 . In an alternative embodiment, the handle  45  is provided with a tray  50 , which is envisioned to have a plurality of recesses  135  each configured to accommodate and retain various commodities  15 , such as writing utensils, cylindrical containers, and the like. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the cabinet  20  is provided with a first door  160  and a second door  165 , each attached the first side  70 , and/or second side  75 , and configured to obstruct the opening when both  160 ,  165  are in closed positions and grant access to the opening when in open positions. In alternate embodiments, the doors  160 ,  165  may be attached to the cabinet  20  by means or hinges, or a sliding arrangement. In this embodiment, the first door  160  is provided with a door flange (not shown) protruding from an edge of the first door  160  and configured to rest behind the second door  165  when the doors  160 ,  165  are in a closed position, provided the first door  160  is closed before the second door  165 . The second door  165  is provided with a locking mechanism  110  so that when locked the second door  165  prevents the opening of the first door  160  due to the door flange. It is envisioned for the locking mechanism  65  to comprise a bar-latch (not shown) engaged with a tumbler key lock (not shown), which is operated by insertion of a key into a key guide (not shown); however, other locking mechanisms  65  may be utilized without deviating from the teachings of the device  10 . With the use of a bar-latch, a latch-catch is formed into an edge of the first side  70  and is positioned to be engaged by the bar-latch when the second door  165  is closed and the bar-latch is rotated by a key into a locked position. In a locked position, the engagement of the bar-latch with the latch-catch arrests pivotal motioning of the first and second doors  160 ,  165  about the hinges. In an alternative embodiment, only a single first door  160  hingedly attached to an edge of the first side  70 , or second side  75  if the opening is also located on the second side  75 , and is configured to obstruct the opening when in a closed position and grant access to the opening when in an open position. It is envisioned for this first door  160  to be provided with the locking mechanism  65  as well to selectively secure the door  50  in a closed position. 
     In an alternative embodiment of the invention, at least one (1) holder  55  is disposed on an upper surface of the top shelf  25 . Each holder  55  is rectangular, extending perpendicularly from the top shelf  25 . Accompanying each holder  55  is a container lid  140 , where each container lid  140  is preferably a transparent plastic material and has a specifically shaped breach  145  formed into a top surface thereof. Each individual container lid  140  fits within an individual holder  55  and serves to hold commodities  15  placed within the holder  55 , but also enables access thereto via the breach  145 . This access through the breach  145  facilitates retrieval of commodities  15  with the use of one (1) hand in the case where multi-tasking again pre-occupies the second hand. 
     In a further embodiment of the invention, at least one (1) receptacle  60  is provided to allow a user to place extra provisions or even use as a refuse container. Each receptacle  60  is preferably a five-sided container that forms a slight taper towards the receptacle bottom  150 . A top perimeter edge of at least one (1) side of each receptacle  60  is provided with at least one (1) hook  155 . Each hook  155  has a general “J”-shape and is configured to grapple an edge of the rail  110  and allow the receptacle  100  to hang along a side  120 ,  130 ,  140  of the cabinet  20 . The hooked  290  configuration of each receptacle  100  enables adjustable placement of each receptacle  100  along the rail  110  with the use of one (1) hand if, again, the second hand is pre-occupied. 
     A plurality of foam bumpers  105  are located at the corners of the cabinet  20  to obviate the marring of any object, or minimize any injury to a passer-by, which may be inadvertently contacted by the device  10 . The bumpers may be located at several points along each corner and may be composed of other materials without limiting the scope of the device  10 . 
     The preferred embodiment of the present invention can be utilized in a simple and straightforward manner with little or no training. After initial purchase or acquisition of the device  10 , it would be assembled as indicated in  FIG. 1 . The method of utilizing the device  10  may be achieved by performing the following steps: acquiring a model of the device  10  to suit the needs of a user; unlocking the locking mechanism  65  and swinging open the doors  160 ,  165 ; stocking the storage cavity  30  with the selected commodities  15 ; swinging the doors  160 , 165  closed and securing them with the locking mechanism  65 ; removing the container lids  140  and placing containers of commodities  15  within the holders  55 ; replacing the container lids  140  onto the holders  55 ; placing various commodities  15  as necessary into the recesses  135  of the tray  50 ; removably securing as many receptacles  60  as is desired to the rail  110 ; either using the receptacles  60  as a provisions container or a refuse container; grasping the grab bar  130  of the handle  45  and transporting the device  10  upon the wheels  35 ,  40  to a work station; and, availing one&#39;s self of the convenient accessibility of the device  10 . 
     The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention and method of use to the precise forms disclosed. Obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, and to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is understood that various omissions or substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstance may suggest or render expedient, but is intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims of the present invention.