Accessory connector

An accessory connector includes a disk having an upper end and a lower end, a front side and a back side. A hook is positioned at the upper end of the back side of the disk, and a foot is positioned at the lower end of the back side of the disk, and extending laterally away from the disk. An accessory is positioned on the front side of the disk, so that the accessory can be attached to a cart by attaching the accessory connector to the cart.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It can be useful to have a cart for holding and portably carrying a variety of household items such as cleaning supplies, food items, or office supplies. In some instances, it may be desirable to attach further accessories to the cart, such as by hanging or attaching them to an outer surface of the cart. The location for attachment may be beneficial, but there is no convenient and effective way to removably attach a variety of objects to such a cart.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An accessory connector preferably includes a disk having an upper end and a lower end, a front side and a back side. A hook is positioned at the upper end of the back side of the disk, and a foot is positioned at the lower end of the back side of the disk, and extending laterally away from the disk. An accessory is positioned on the front side of the disk, so that the accessory can be attached to a cart by attaching the accessory connector to the cart.

In some versions, the foot comprises an upper tab and a lower tab, the upper tab extending away from the disk for a first distance and the lower tab extending away from the disk for a second distance, the second distance being greater than the first distance.

The particular accessories may vary, but in some versions the accessory comprises a roll holder, one or more accessory hooks, a bin, or a tag plate.

In some examples, the hook comprises a plurality of hooks.

The accessories, via the accessory connector, may be attached to a cart in which the cart has a base and a sidewall extending upward to a rim, a corner (which may be rounded) being formed at the intersection of the base and the sidewall, so that the accessory connector is removably attachable to the cart by connecting the hook to the rim and coupling the foot to the corner.

In some examples, the sidewall of the cart includes an inner surface and an outer surface, the accessory connector being removably attachable to the outer surface whereby when the accessory connector is attached to the cart, the disk is in contact with the outer surface of the sidewall.

In additional versions, the accessory connector is fashioned for attaching an accessory to a container and includes a hook positioned at an upper end of the accessory connector and extending laterally away from the accessory connector in a first direction. A foot is positioned at a lower end of the accessory connector and extending laterally away from the accessory connector in the first direction. A substantially planar surface extends between the hook and the foot, with an accessory attached to the accessory connector so that it extends away from the accessory connector in a second direction opposite to the first direction.

In preferred versions, the container has a base and a sidewall joining at a corner, the sidewall extending upwardly from the base and terminating in a rim, wherein the accessory connector is removably attachable to the container by connecting the hook to the rim and connecting the foot to the corner.

In some versions, the foot comprises an upper tab and a lower tab, the upper tab extending away from the disk for a first distance and the lower tab extending away from the disk for a second distance, the second distance being greater than the first distance.

Most preferably, the accessory connector comprises a connector height between the hook and the lower tab, and the container comprises a container height from the base to the rim, the connector height being substantially equal to the container height.

In preferred examples, the substantially planar surface is in contact with the outer surface of the sidewall when the accessory connector is attached to the cart.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

An exemplary cart100having a plurality of containers130,140is illustrated in isometric view inFIG.1, with a single container130shown in front elevational view inFIG.2A. In the illustrated example, the cart includes one or more containers130,140, each having a base101and peripheral sidewalls102extending upwardly to a rim103, defining an interior space between the base and sidewalls. A bottom corner104is positioned at the intersection of the sidewall and the base, and in the illustrated example the bottom corner is rounded. The rim103of the container may have an enlarged or beaded finish. The cart optionally may include additional features such as handles interior dividers. In one version, the cart has one or more pillars150providing a support structure for multiple containers (for example, two or more) to be positioned above one another. A base or pedestal108provides a platform for the cart on a floor or other surface. In some versions, the pedestal is in the nature of a foot as illustrated, while in other versions the pedestal includes wheels or casters so that the cart may be freely rolled or wheeled from one location to another as desired.

In some instances, it may be useful to carry additional items with the cart, or to hang them from the cart, even though the interior of the cart may be full. In such a case, it may be desirable to have a connector for additional accessories which may be supported by or carried by the cart. As illustrated inFIGS.3-42, a preferred accessory connector includes one or more upper hooks, a lower foot which may be in the form of upper and lower tabs, and a disk forming an intermediate surface which is preferably planar.

FIGS.3-10depict a preferred roll holder, in which the roll holder300includes an accessory connector200and a lower bar310for holding a rolled item such as a roll of paper towels. In one example, with reference toFIG.4, the accessory connector includes a disk210which is preferably planar and which, in the preferred version, has an oblong perimeter. The accessory connector200includes one or more upper hooks220,221and a lower foot230. In the preferred example, the lower foot includes an upper laterally extending tab231and a lower laterally extending tab232, in which the lower tab is longer and thereby extends farther away from the disk than the upper tab.

The same accessory connector200attached to the roll holder300is illustrated in a left side elevational view inFIG.7and the right side elevational view inFIG.8. As best seen in these side views, the one or more hooks (such as hook221) define a channel223between the hook and the disk210. The lower foot includes an upper tab231as described above, in which the upper tab231extends a distance D1laterally away from the disk, on the same side of the disk as the hook. A lower tab232extends laterally away from the disk in the same direction (see direction arrow A) but for a larger distance D2which, in one example, is twice as long as D1. The accessory (in this case, the roll holder) extends away from the accessory connector in an opposite direction (that is, in the direction of arrow B). Most preferably, the upper tab231will engage the sidewall of the container and serve to maintain a distance D1between the container sidewall and the disk210, or similar surface of the accessory, along the entire height of the sidewall, as seen inFIG.2B. This serves to maintain a parallel relationship between the accessory and the container sidewall, such that a plane defined by and extending through the disk is parallel to a plane defined by the sidewall of the container to which the accessory is attached.

The roll holder300may be attached to the cart by inserting the upper rim103of the cart into the channel223of the hook221so that the hook will secure the disk (and thereby the roll holder) to the cart. The rear planar surface of the disk will be adjacent the planar sidewall of the cart. The lower foot230engages and is in contact with the lower rounded corner of the cart, with the lower tab232extending to the bottom of the cart. Most preferably, a connector height H1is defined between an interior surface of the channel of the hook221and the lower tab232, in which the connector height H1(seeFIG.8) is the same as a cart height H2(seeFIG.2) extending from the bottom of the cart to the rim of the cart. In this fashion, the accessory connector200will snugly receive the sidewall of the cart when it is attached to the cart, firmly securing the accessory connector to the sidewall of the cart.

An array of additional accessories may be attached to a cart in the manner described above, using an accessory connector as shown and described. Examples include a bin as shown inFIGS.11-18, a divided bin (having dividers forming interior compartments) as shown inFIGS.19-26, a plate with hooks as shown inFIGS.27-34, and a tag plate as shown inFIGS.35-42. Yet other accessories may also be coupled to an accessory connector, beyond those in the accompanying illustrations.

In the preferred version of the bin400as shown inFIGS.11-18, the accessory connector is integrated into the bin, such that the disk210is integrally formed with a sidewall of the bin. In this illustrated version, a pair of hooks220,221is provided, positioned at an upper end of the bin and spaced apart from one another. A lower foot230is positioned at the bottom of the bin. Aside from being integrally formed into the outer sidewall of the bin, the accessory connector ofFIGS.11-18is otherwise configured in the same fashion as that ofFIGS.3-10, with the same dimensional relationships.

A preferred divided bin500is shown inFIGS.19-26. The preferred divided bin includes multiple interior bin compartments, and in this illustrated example four such compartments510-513are shown. As with the single bin400, the accessory connector is integrated into the bin, such that the disk210is integrally formed with a rear sidewall of the bin. In this illustrated version, a pair of hooks220,221is provided, positioned at an upper end of the bin and spaced apart from one another. A lower foot230is positioned at the bottom of the bin. Aside from being integrally formed into the outer sidewall of the bin, the accessory connector ofFIGS.19-26is otherwise configured in the same fashion as that ofFIGS.3-10, with the same dimensional relationships.

A preferred plate with hooks is shown inFIGS.27-34. The preferred plate with hooks includes a disk210or plate, having a front side210a(seeFIG.27) and a back side210b(seeFIG.28). The front side210ais configured with one or more hooks, including a pair of hooks610,611in the illustrated example. The back side210bis configured as an accessor connector in the manner as described above. The disk210is formed on the back side of the plate. In this illustrated version, a single hook221is provided, positioned at an upper end of the plate. A lower foot230is positioned at the bottom of the plate. Aside from being formed on the rearward side of a plate having hooks, the accessory connector ofFIGS.27-34is otherwise configured in the same fashion as that ofFIGS.3-10, with the same dimensional relationships.

As one additional example, a tag plate700is illustrated inFIGS.35-42. Essentially, the tag plate700is structurally similar to the plate with hooks600except that there are no hooks in the tag plate, instead, the front side is substantially flat in order to accommodate the attachment of a sign or a label. The preferred tag plate includes a disk210or plate, having a front side210a(seeFIG.35) and a back side210b(seeFIG.36). The front side210ais formed with a substantially flat face in the illustrated example so that a tag or label may be attached or adhered to it. The back side210bis configured as an accessory connector in the manner as described above. The disk210is formed on the back side of the plate. In this illustrated version, a pair of hooks220,221is provided, positioned at an upper end of the plate. A lower foot230is positioned at the bottom of the plate. Aside from being formed on the rearward side of a plate having hooks, the accessory connector ofFIGS.27-34is otherwise configured in the same fashion as that ofFIGS.3-10, with the same dimensional relationships.

In use, any one or more of the above accessories may be attached to the exemplary cart in the manner as described above, thereby providing for a removable attachment of the accessories via the accessory connector as described and illustrated.