Bakery dolly

A dolly includes a deck having a support area. A plurality of wheels support the deck. A peripheral lip projects upward relative to the support area of the deck and extends at least partially about a periphery of the deck. The peripheral lip includes a ramped portion. A stack of bakery trays can be tipped and slid onto the dolly over the ramped portion of the peripheral lip.

BACKGROUND

A dolly for bakery trays typically includes a deck supported by casters. A stack of bakery trays can be supported on the dolly for moving the bakery trays.

Some types of bakery trays include a base with side walls and front and rear walls extending upwardly from a periphery of the base. The front and rear walls are shorter than the side walls. Stacking feet protrude outwardly from the side walls. The stacking feet may provide multiple stacking heights for the trays when they are stacked in different relative orientations.

SUMMARY

A dolly includes a deck having a support area. A plurality of wheels support the deck. A peripheral lip projects upward relative to the support area of the deck and extends at least partially about a periphery of the deck. The peripheral lip includes a ramped portion. A stack of bakery trays can be tipped and slid onto the dolly over the ramped portion of the peripheral lip.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1-6show a dolly210according to a first embodiment. The dolly210includes a deck having a central support surface212circumscribing a central opening214. The deck includes a plurality of reinforcement channels including end reinforcement channels216(which could have ribs extending therethrough) and side reinforcement channels218(which could have transverse ribs extending therethrough). The central support surface212of the deck further includes outer side reinforcement channels220(again, shown without ribs, but which could have ribs extending therethrough). Each end of the dolly210includes a recessed area222outward of the central support surface212. Reinforcement channels224are formed in the recessed areas222and could optionally include perpendicular ribs (not shown) therethrough. In this example, the deck of the dolly210has side edges that are longer than the end edges, which is preferred; however, it is possible that in some applications, the end edges could be longer.

Caster-receiving pockets226are formed adjacent corners of the dolly210through the central support surface212and recessed areas222. The caster-receiving pockets226are aligned with casters234extending downward from an under side of the dolly210.

A peripheral lip228extends around the periphery of the dolly210. The peripheral lip228may include an inner wall portion230spaced inwardly from an outer wall portion232. The inner wall portion230and the outer wall portion232are joined continuously at an upper edge thereof. The double-walled peripheral lip228provides increased strength and durability to the dolly210. The double-walled peripheral lip228provides increased stiffness to the deck. Recesses236are formed in one end portion of the peripheral lip228. The recesses236in this embodiment are formed through the inner wall portion230of the peripheral lip228but not through the outer wall portion232of the peripheral lip228, but could optionally extend all the way through the peripheral lip228.

The opposite end of the peripheral lip228includes a ramped portion248of reduced height relative to the rest of the peripheral lip228but still higher than the adjacent recessed area222. The ramped portion248includes a vertical shoulder portion facing the recessed area222. The ramped portion248is lower than the adjacent side portions of the peripheral lip228, which form guide members at either side of the ramped portion248. The ramped portion248angles down outward of the deck. The ramped portion248may be considered a chamfered portion of the peripheral lip228.

FIG. 2is a section view through the dolly210, taken through the recesses236and caster-receiving pockets226.FIG. 2shows the relative heights of the different surfaces. The peripheral lip228is the uppermost surface of the dolly210. The uppermost (and innermost) edge of the ramped portion248is slightly lower than the uppermost surface of the peripheral lip228. The bottom of each of the recesses236is slightly higher than or coplanar with the central support surface212. The central support surface212is slightly lower than the uppermost, innermost edge of the ramped portion248and slightly higher than the leading edge of the ramped portion248. The recessed areas222of the deck are lower than the central support surface212. The bottoms of the caster-receiving pockets226are the lowest surfaces on the upper surface of the dolly210.

FIG. 3is an end view of the dolly210.FIG. 4shows a tray50stacked on the dolly210. Generally, a stack of a plurality of trays50would be stacked on the dolly210, but only the bottom tray50is shown for illustration.

In use, the user can tip a stack of trays50while pushing the dolly210toward the stack of trays50with their foot, so that the ramped portion248of the dolly210contacts the tipped bottom tray50. The user can then slide the stack of trays50up the ramped surface248of the dolly210, with the projecting side portions of the peripheral lip228at either side of the ramped surface248guiding the bottom tray50onto the deck of the dolly210.

As shown inFIGS. 5 and 6, the bottom tray50interlocks with the deck of the dolly210. The feet58are received in the recesses236in the peripheral lip228of the dolly210, which help align the bottom tray50on the dolly210. The tray50is received between the sides and ends of the peripheral lip228.

FIG. 7shows a dolly310according to a second embodiment. The dolly310includes a deck having a central support surface312circumscribing a central opening314. In this embodiment, the central support surface312is generally planar other than caster-receiving pockets326. In this example as well, the deck of the dolly310has side edges that are longer than the end edges, which is preferred; however, it is possible that in some applications, the end edges could be longer.

Caster-receiving pockets326are formed adjacent corners of the dolly310through the central support surface312. The caster-receiving pockets326are aligned with casters334extending downward from an under side of the dolly310.

A peripheral lip328extends around the periphery of the dolly310. The peripheral lip328may include an inner wall portion330spaced inwardly from an outer wall portion332. The inner wall portion330and the outer wall portion332are joined continuously at an upper edge thereof. The double-walled peripheral lip328provides increased strength and durability to the dolly310. The double-walled peripheral lip328provides increased stiffness to the deck. Recesses336are formed in a first end portion of the peripheral lip328. The recesses336are formed through the inner wall portion330of the peripheral lip328but not through the outer wall portion332of the peripheral lip328, but could optionally extend all the way through the peripheral lip328.

The opposite, second end portion of the peripheral lip328includes a ramped portion348(or it may be considered a chamfered portion of the peripheral lip328) of reduced height relative to the rest of the peripheral lip328. The ramped portion348is lower than the adjacent side portions of the peripheral lip328, which form guide members at either side of the ramped portion348. The ramped portion348angles down outward of the deck and includes a vertical shoulder portion facing inward of the deck (e.g. facing toward the first end portion of the peripheral lip328). The ramped portion348promotes the sliding of tray stacks onto the dolly deck. The vertical shoulder portion retains the tray stack on the dolly310. Notches350are formed in the ramped portion348adjacent each long edge to allow for the drag rail on the base of the tray to slide in the notches350on the top deck of the dolly310. The upper surfaces of the side portions of the peripheral lip328are tapered downward toward the second end portion of the dolly310.

The opposite side portions of the peripheral lip328are generally perpendicular to the end portions of the peripheral lip328. The side portions of the peripheral lip328include stepped portions352projecting inward toward one another adjacent the first end portion of the peripheral lip328to reduce the distance between inner surfaces of the side portions of the peripheral lip328. This provides a tighter fit with the tray stacked on the dolly310. Each side portion includes a pair of interlocking members354projecting upward from the peripheral lip328. Each interlocking member354has a ramped surface facing the second end of the dolly310and vertical shoulder facing the first end of the dolly310.

FIG. 8is a top view of the dolly310.FIG. 9is a bottom view of the dolly310.FIG. 10is a side view of the dolly310.FIG. 11shows a view of the second end of the dolly310.FIG. 12shows a view of the first end of the dolly310.

FIG. 13shows a tray50stacked on the dolly310. Generally, a stack of a plurality of trays50would be stacked on the dolly310, but only the bottom tray50is shown. The base of the bottom tray50slides over the ramped portion348of the peripheral lip328with the drag rails passing through the notches350. The base of the bottom tray50slides onto the central support surface312and is retained by the peripheral lip328on all sides.

In use, the user can tip a stack of trays50while pushing the dolly310toward the stack of trays50with their foot, so that the ramped portion348of the dolly310contacts the tipped bottom tray50. The user can then slide the stack of trays50up the ramped surface348of the dolly310, with the projecting side portions of the peripheral lip328at either side of the ramped surface348guiding the bottom tray50onto the deck of the dolly310.

In both embodiments the deck is preferably injection molded as a single piece of plastic. Alternatively, the deck can be thermoformed and optionally can be reinforced with metal or composite reinforcement bars.