Abstract:
A cart having a two-positionable ramp and a wheeled platform portion, for the lateral transportation of console copiers and other major appliances. The ramp has a first tapered end, and a second engagable end, engagable in two positions with the platform portion. When the ramp&#39;s second end is engaged horizontally, the first end tilts down for loading, with the tapered end being on the ground. Once loaded, the weight shift causes the ramp&#39;s first end to rise. The ramp is removed, and re-engaged vertically to the platform&#39;s second end for lateral movement of the load. The cart can be attached to an adapted stair climbing hand truck for upward/downward movement on stairs with the load retained in place on the cart.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     This invention pertains to a cart for transporting a console copier or other large appliance from a first location to a second location, and both laterally on the same floor as well as up and down stairs.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The movement of large commercial grade copiers, and copier/scanner/printers, a.k.a. “all-in-one” machines are quite cumbersome due to both their bulk and weight. Hand trucks, even ones that can climb stairs, such as those made by the assignee of this patent, cannot carry these bulky machines. There are too many risks involved to do so. The biggest problem is that the hand truck platform will not support the body of the console copier or “all-in-one” due to the physical size of the appliance.  
         [0003]     When these machines need to be relocated, the casters thereon are relatively small and are not intended for negotiating asphalt, concrete, and heavy carpet. Their size is intended to aid short distance relocation primarily for machine service, and perhaps retrieval of dropped items, but not transportation. In addition, these casters have difficulty getting over raised thresholds. As such, the casters cannot roll. The machines need to be moved from a store or facility of the vendor to a vehicle for transport via any of several types of vehicles; such as minivans, full size vans, pickup trucks, and full size trucks; all of which have their bed floor at different elevations. Then the “box”—the vernacular of the trade for the console copiers and “all-in-one” machine—needs to be delivered to an office, which may again require movement and often the climbing of stairs to reach the ultimate installation location.  
         [0004]     There is a need therefore for a cart capable of moving these large units both on level ground and from an elevated platform or truck bed to street level. In order to solve these transportation needs as well as the ability to go up steps either directly or indirectly, the apparatus of this invention came about. It can be loaded with the appliance, and rolled on level ground or downhill without fear of losing the load. The loaded apparatus can be placed on a forklift for a direct vertical lift to a higher elevation such as the bed of a truck. In addition the loaded apparatus can be easily attached with the appliance thereupon, to a stair climbing hand truck.  
         [0005]     The invention accordingly comprises a device possessing the features properties and the relation of components which are exemplified in the following detailed disclosure and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the appended claims.  
         [0006]     For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention reference should be made to the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     A cart having a platform portion and a ramp portion. The ramp portion is a dual function ramp that serves as both a vertical loading ramp and as a vertical retainer/steering guide. The ramp has a tapered first end and an engagable second end, engagable with the platform portion in two dispositions. When the ramp is attached to the cart generally horizontally, the cart back tilts upwardly and the center of gravity changes such that the cart can be loaded with a heavy appliance wherein the leading edge of the ramp touches the ground. Upon loading of the appliance, the center of gravity shifts back to the level or horizontal position. The ramp is then moved from the first horizontal position to the second vertical position, to permit the optionally tying down or strapping of the appliance to prevent movement, for transit. The steering is done by using the now vertical ramp as a steering guide.  
         [0008]     The underside of the platform portion of the apparatus is configured to receive the tines of a fork lift or heavy duty hand truck for raising the loaded apparatus vertically for both removal from trucks and for facility storage prior to the sale thereof. The apparatus is also configured for easy attachment to a stair climbing hand truck.  
         [0009]     It is a first object to provide a cart that can be easily loaded with heavy, bulky appliances without the need for the manual lifting of the appliance.  
         [0010]     It is a second object to provide an appliance cart that tilts for loading and which is self-leveling.  
         [0011]     It is a third object to provide a copier moving cart that can be raised and lowered by a forklift or hand truck.  
         [0012]     It is a fourth object to provide a cart that can be raised up a flight of stairs by attachment thereof to a stair climbing hand truck.  
         [0013]     These recited objects will in part be readily discernable from the specification provided herein and the appended claims. Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part appear hereinafter.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES  
       [0014]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of the apparatus of this invention in a partially exploded view.  
         [0015]      FIG. 2  is a top perspective view of this apparatus with the ramp in the first or horizontal position.  
         [0016]      FIG. 3  is a rear elevational view of the apparatus with the ramp in its vertical position.  
         [0017]      FIG. 4  is a front perspective view with the ramp in its second or vertical position.  
         [0018]      FIG. 5  is a view similar to  FIG. 4  but showing the apparatus in more detail and closeup.  
         [0019]      FIG. 6  is a top plan view of the apparatus.  
         [0020]      FIG. 7  is a bottom perspective view of the apparatus raised in the air while resting on the tines of a stair climbing hand truck.  
         [0021]      FIG. 8  is aside elevational view at a first point in time showing the loading of a console copier onto the ramp portion of this invention.  
         [0022]      FIG. 9  is the same view taken a few moments later, with the copier partially on the ramp.  
         [0023]      FIG. 10  is the same view with the copier now straddling the platform portion and the ramp as it is being loaded.  
         [0024]      FIG. 11  is a time freeze similar view showing the center of gravity being shifted as the copier becomes totally disposed on the platform portion.  
         [0025]      FIG. 12  is a side elevational from the same perspective showing the copier fully loaded.  
         [0026]      FIG. 13  is a top perspective view showing the copier loaded on the platform and strapped to the ramp disposed in the vertical position.  
         [0027]      FIG. 14  is a front perspective view of the apparatus in an elevated position on a hand truck capable of climbing stairs.  
         [0028]      FIG. 15  is a graphical depiction of a stair climbing hand truck carrying the cart of this invention with a copier loaded thereon, up a flight of stairs.  
         [0029]      FIG. 16  is a closeup view of a detail of the attachment of the ramp to the platform in horizontal position.  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0030]     In  FIG. 1 , the cart of this invention is seen in an unassembled view with the ramp portion  11  shown in both its horizontal and vertical dispositions, adjacent the platform portion  14 . The discussion will commence with the ramp portion. For the purpose of the directionality, the end having the locking casters  39  shall be deemed the forward end of the cart and the end with the non-locking casters  40  is deemed the rear end of the cart. Ramp  11  is formed of a skin  21  disposed within an inward facing slot  28  of each of a pair of side members  22 A, 22 B. These side members  22 A, 22 B may be rectangular or square tubes which have a forward positioned upwardly tapered bottom surface  23 . This upwardly tapered zone commences at a point  29  on each side member and terminates at the front edge  30  of the respective side member,  22 A, 22 B. The side members are optionally open at their front and rear surfaces. These side members are best formed as extrusions of plastic or metal.  
         [0031]     The front edge of the skin  21  is aligned with the front edge of each of the side members  22 , but the rear end of the skin terminates prior to the two extensions  24 A and  24 B of the side members  22 A and  22 B respectively. As can be seen, the sheet metal skin  37  forming part of the platform portion  14  is disposed in an inward facing slot of each of the two side members  22 A and  22 B. See  FIG. 1 .  
         [0032]     As noted earlier, each of  22 A and  22 B are square tubes, which tubes are sized for a frictional engagement in the front openings  34 A, 34 B of the two side members  33 A,  33 B of the platform portion  14 . The balance of the construction of the platform portion is similar to but not the exact same as the construction of the ramp, and will now be described.  
         [0033]     The platform is also seen to comprise a skin section  37  disposed within the mirror image slots  56  of the two side rails  33 A, 33 B. The underside of the skin  37  will be discussed infra. A rear wall  20  is disposed at the rear end of the platform portion. The rear wall extends upwardly no higher than the side rails  33 B and  33 A of the platform portion and is disposed between them.  
         [0034]     The front locking casters are riveted or bolted by their mounting plates not seen, to the skin  37  of the ramp by each of four bolts or rivets  41 . The rear non-locking casters are similarly mounted in the two rear corners of the platform portion by bolts/rivets  41 , again as seen in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0035]     The rear of the two preferably tubular side members  33 A, 33 B are closed off by arm receivers  50  which may be welded or otherwise attached to close off the rear open ends of the two tubular side members  33 A, 33 B. The welds  52  attach the flange plate section  53  of the respective arm receivers to the respective side member. Of course an insert not seen, may be provided from the arm receiver into the open tube to aid in the closure of the open rear ends of the side members. Each receiver  50  also has a vertically disposed opening  51  sized to receive an arm  24 A or  24 B of the ramp.  
         [0036]     As can be seen from the second ramp shown spaced from the platform portion, the ramp  11  also has a single reinforcement brace  18  between the tapered sections  23  and a series of spaced cross members  25  on the underside thereof disposed rearwardly of the brace  18  and between the two side members to support the platform skin  37 . These cross members  25  may be tubular or bar stock as may be desired. The bracing members are conventionally attached as by bolts or welding or even adhesive depending upon the nature of the materials employed, high tensile plastic or metal such as steel or aluminum. A conventional security strap  12  to be used to encircle a copier or other large appliance is shown conventionally attached to the ramp. It is within the knowledge of the art as to how to attach a security strap for package retention.  
         [0037]     Reference is now made to  FIGS. 2,3  and  6 .  FIG. 3  is a rear vertical view showing the second ramp—actually the only ramp, relocated to the vertical position and installed for use in the platform portion  14 . Note how the skin facing the viewer is smooth, just as in the front depicted ramp of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 2  is a perspective view while  FIG. 6  is a top plan view of the ramp inserted into the platform, IE, extensions  24 A,  24 B have been inserted into openings  34   a , 34   b .  FIG. 4  is another related figure. It is a perspective view showing the ramp having been relocated from the front horizontal position to the rear vertical position on the platform portion.  
         [0038]     While taken out of order,  FIG. 16  is the next figure for discussion as it is germane to the material currently being discussed. In  FIG. 1 , a pair of spaced lock pins  38  are seen. These pins  38  which are seen closeup and magnified in  FIG. 16  are for insertion through bores  43  of the side members of the cart and then into the respective bore  26  on each of the side member&#39;s extensions  24 A, and  24 B of the ramp. These pins  38  help secure the friction fit. If desired to prevent loss, pins  38  can be attached by a wire and a screw to a suitable area for storage during the non-engaged periods. Such a construction is well known in the art. Note also the presence in this figure of the spaced L-beam guide rails  36  to be discussed in more detail, infra.  
         [0039]     In  FIG. 5 , there is seen a view similar to  FIG. 4 . The brace  18  and the cross members  25  that extend between the side members of the ramp are clearly seen. Whereas brace  18  is recessed, the cross members  25  will rest on the ground to support the ramp when the ramp is in the horizontal position.  
         [0040]     As has been stated earlier, the apparatus of this invention is designed to be carried by a hand truck. This is shown in  FIG. 7 . Here the hand truck  15  is seen with a set of travel rails  60  installed on the basic hand truck. Travel rails  60 , permit the travel arms  61  to be raised and lowered as desired. The attachment of travel rails  60  to a hand truck is known to the art and forms no part of this invention. The raising and lowering of the travel arms is controlled by the motor  62  and its associated gear system, which are well known in the art.  
         [0041]     In  FIG. 7 , the underside of the cart  10 &#39;s platform portion  14 , as well as the ramp portion  11  are seen. The underside of the platform portion  14  of the invention is seen to include a pair of spaced I-beam guide rails  36 , and a series of spaced crossbeams  35  which crossbeams commence at the very front of the platform and terminate at the rear thereof disposed between the two spaced side rails  33 A, 33 B, of the platform portion. The side rails are preferably configured as square or rectangular tubes. The guide rails  36  are two in number  36 A the “longer” outer rails and  36 B the “shorter” inner rails. See  FIG. 7 . The outer rails  36 A extend from the first or front cross member,  35 , to the fourth such spaced cross member, while the inner rails  36 B extend from the second cross member  35  near the front end of the platform portion, to the last cross member at the rear of the platform portion. The guide rails are mounted beneath the series of cross members distal to the platform skin  37  spaced from each other in order to receive the travel arms  61  there between as is seen in  FIG. 7  to ensure no slippage.  
         [0042]     A pair of similar lock pins  63  tethered to a first end of a cable  64  which in turn is attached on its second end to a mount screw  65  attached to, preferably the underside of one of the side rails  33 A, 33 B respectively. The lock pin  63  is used to couple the travel arms  61  of the hand truck to a respective guide rail of the platform portion. This is accomplished through insertion of the respective lock pin through aperture  67  in the respective travel arm of the forklift and the respective guide rail set  36 A, 36 B within which the travel arm  61  is disposed.  
         [0043]     The front locking casters  39  and the rear swivel casters  40  are seen in closer proximity here in  FIG. 7 . Each locking caster  39  includes a conventional fixed mount  46 , and a wheel  49 , while each swivel caster—shown canted in  FIG. 7 , has a conventional swivel mount  47  and a wheel  49 , usually formed of polyurethane. The receiver&#39;s  50 , seen also in  FIG. 1  have already been described. An optional front bumper of urethane or metal may be disposed over the first of the cross-members and beneath the skin  21  of the platform portion.  
       Loading of Copier or Other Large Box Application  
       [0044]      FIGS. 8-12  depicts a side view of the loading of the cart  10  of this invention with a photocopier  12 . This total process utilizes an elapsed time of about one minute if the load has wheels or casters, and perhaps a few moments more if the box has no wheels or casters.  
         [0045]     In  FIG. 8 , the ramp is attached and the center of gravity is leftwardly as is seen by the presence of the tapered sections being tilted such that the bottom surfaces thereof,  23 B is seen to be resting on the ground. In  FIG. 8 , casters  131  of copier  13  are just approaching the tilted cart. Note the disposition of  13 ST, the top of the sorter.  
         [0046]     In  FIG. 9 , casters  131  of the appliance have now been rolled onto the ramp  11 , but the pivot point  29  is such that the cart position has not changed. The top of the sorter  13 ST, has now changed to a smaller angle closer to the ground.  
         [0047]     Moving on to  FIG. 10 , the copier  13  has been pushed further up the ramp such that the casters  131  of the copier are in the pallet portion  14 &#39;s skin re sheet metal surface  37 ; while the casters  132  of the copier are still on the ramp.  
         [0048]     Note how the non-locking casters  40  of the cart rear remain up in the air all through the time period of  FIGS. 8-10 . Here in  FIG. 10 , the disposition of the copier&#39;s sorter top  13 ST is still the same as noted in  FIG. 9 .  
         [0049]     The discussion now moves to  FIG. 11 , which is the superimposed view depicting the moment in time that the center of gravity of the cart changes as the cart is moved rearwardly from the tilted ramp to a position entirely on the platform of the cart. As can be seen section  23 , the tapered lower forward edge of the cart is seen in two positions. These are on the ground, and in the air. When the copier has advanced rearwardly such that the casters  132  near the copier&#39;s sorter have reached that platform such that none of the copier is on the ramp, the center of gravity of the cart which is located in the vicinity of locking casters  39  switches such that the ramp and platform assume an almost horizontal position as shown by the down arrow  32  which depicts the downward movement of the non-locking casters  40 .  
         [0050]     In  FIG. 12 , the copier is fully upon the platform, the change in the center of gravity of the ramp has already changed. The ramp is extending totally horizontally and all four casters beneath the platform are on the ground  17 .  
         [0051]     It is now time to remove the ramp from its position horizontally at the front of the cart and move the ramp to a vertical disposition at the rear of the cart.  
         [0052]     Once loaded, the console copier  13  is seen in  FIG. 13  to be sitting on the cart  10 &#39;s platform  14 , held by restraining strap  12 . Each end of the strap  12  is connected to a tie point  48 , by a strap anchor  45 , in a conventional manner, on the underside of the ramp and a non-scratching buckle  44  is used to tighten the strap to tightly retain the copier  13  or other appliance.  
         [0053]      FIG. 14  is related to  FIGS. 5 and 7  in that this figure also shows the cart  10  disposed upon a hand truck, though the perspective is different. And the viewer is more distant from the two pieces of equipment. Here the buckle  44  self engaged but not around a copier is easily seen. Since the stair climbing hand truck seen in this figure is a prior art item, no further description of it will be given, other than to mention the balance rails  58  which are attached at their proximal ends, normal to their respective travel rail  60 . The distal ends thereof are supported by at least one wheel  59 . Here two are shown for better support. These balance rails  58  change the center of gravity of the stair climbing hand truck with the cart sitting thereon, such that the truck remains upright as is seen in this 14 th  figure.  
         [0054]     The discussion now moves to  FIG. 15 . Here we see the loaded hand truck carrying the cart of this invention with a copier  13  disposed thereon as seen in the static figure,  FIG. 13 . We see the cam wheel set  19  resting at a moment in time on the second tread  69  of “stairs”  68 . Wheels  31 , only of which is seen, of the hand truck is shown in midair, between second riser  70  and the first tread  69 . The mechanics of movement of the stair climbing hand truck need not be discussed as such is well known in the art. Suffice it to say that the balance rails  58  play no part in this upward movement, which retains the cart with the copier in a fixed position safe from harm as the ascendancy goes forth.  
         [0055]      FIG. 16 , the last figure has been discussed supra.  
         [0056]     The copier  13  seen in  FIG. 17  is loaded on a cart  10 , which in turn is disposed upon the travel arms  61  of the hand truck  15 , the cart  10  serves as a pallet or raised platform to permit the forks or travel arms of a hand truck to be placed under the cart to raise and lower the loaded cart vertically for the loading and unloading thereof from a van or truck.  
         [0057]     The use of the cart also provides a measure of safety to the copier or other apparatus from being inadvertently damaged by the tynes, since the cart is interposed between the travel arms (tynes) and the load. Again, see  FIG. 17 . Note that for the ease of drawing the retention straps for the copier base have not been illustrated.  
         [0058]     It is seen that I have disclosed a device which can be used not only for the transportation on a single floor, as well as up/down stairways, for the movement of console copiers—though the lateral and upward movement of these business machines—was the basis for the invention, but also for the movement of household washers, and dryers for homes and apartment buildings, and small refrigerators/freezers as are often found in business offices. Laterally on the cart alone, upwardly/downwardly on stairs, by attachment of the cart onto a stair climbing hand truck.  
         [0059]     Since certain changes may be made in the described apparatus without departing from the scope of the invention herein involved, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description and shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.