A cart for transporting items comprises a base portion, comprising: a frame; at least one shelf coupled to the frame; and a set of wheels at the bottom of the frame permitting a movement of the cart; and a collapsible ladder directly attached to the frame.

RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent No. 62/329,357, filed Apr. 29, 2016, entitled “Wheeled Cart for Transporting Store Items,” and Canadian Patent Application No. 2,928,478, filed Apr. 29, 2016, entitled “Wheeled Cart for Transporting Store Items,” the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entireties. 
     
    
     FIELD 
       [0002]    The present inventive concepts relate generally to wheeled carts used in stores and the like for carrying items for stocking on store shelves, and in particular, to a ladder cart that provides improved efficiency and operator safety during operation. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Conventional wheeled carts may include shelves, each constructed and arranged for transporting store items, for example, used for stocking store or warehouse shelves. Manual labor is required to remove an item from any of the cart shelves. Depending on the height of the cart, a top shelf may be difficult to reach by a person or machine designated to remove an item from the top shelf. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY 
       [0004]    In one aspect, provided is a cart for transporting items comprising a base portion, comprising: a frame; at least one shelf coupled to the frame; and a set of wheels at the bottom of the frame permitting a movement of the cart; and a collapsible ladder directly attached to the frame. 
         [0005]    In another aspect, provided is a cart for retrieving items from a top shelf of a store or warehouse, comprising a base portion, comprising: a frame; a plurality of shelves coupled to the frame, the shelves including a top shelf having a lip about a perimeter of the top shelf; and a set of wheels at the bottom of the frame permitting a movement of the cart. The cart further comprising a collapsible ladder directly attached to the frame, the ladder comprising a plurality of steps including a top step platform that supports the weight of a user and allows the user to transport items to and from the top shelf of the store or warehouse or the top shelf of the base portion of the cart. 
         [0006]    In another aspect, provided is a cart for transporting items, comprising: a base portion, comprising: a frame; and a plurality of shelves coupled to the frame; a collapsible ladder directly attached to the base portion; a top latch that transitions between a closed position and an open position to engage or disengage a top step platform of the ladder when raising or lowering the ladder with respect to the base portion; and a bottom latch that disengages the ladder from the frame to allow the ladder to move in a direction of the top latch when a force is applied to the bottom latch. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    The above and further advantages may be better understood by referring to the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals indicate like structural elements and features in various figures. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the concepts. 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a wheeled cart, in accordance with some embodiments. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a wheeled cart, in accordance with other embodiments. 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a close-up view of a safety element coupled to a ladder of a wheeled cart, in accordance with some embodiments. 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a view of an operation of the safety element of  FIG. 3 . 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is another view of the wheeled cart including the safety element of  FIGS. 1-4 . 
           [0013]      FIGS. 6, 7, 8, and 9  are views of a latch release mechanism of a wheeled cart, in accordance with some embodiments. 
           [0014]      FIG. 10  is a view of a caster lock mechanism of a wheeled cart, in accordance with some embodiments. 
           [0015]      FIGS. 11 and 12  are other views of a cart in an open state, in accordance with some embodiments. 
           [0016]      FIG. 13  is a view of a top shelf of a cart, in accordance with some embodiments. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0017]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a wheeled cart  10 , in accordance with some embodiments.  FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a wheeled cart  10 , in accordance with other embodiments. The carts shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , respectively, may differ only in the presence or absence of various physical features, for example, described herein. 
         [0018]    The wheeled cart  10  is constructed for various retail store operations. In some embodiments, the wheeled cart  10  is for transporting store items, for example, used for stocking store or warehouse shelves. In some embodiments, the wheeled cart  10  is constructed and arranged for engaging, or otherwise exchanging packages or other goods with an automated product sorting and/or unload machines. 
         [0019]    The cart  10  includes a ladder  16  coupled to a wheeled base portion  14 . The base portion  14  includes one or more shelves  24  coupled to a frame  22 , or legs  19  of the frame  22 . A set of wheels  26  are coupled to a bottom region of the frame  22  or lowest shelf so that the cart  10  can be readily moved to different locations, for example, for stocking items on the cart  10  at a store. The wheeled base portion  14  may include a handle  25  or the like so that a user can push the cart  10  in a forward direction or otherwise move the cart  10 . 
         [0020]    The ladder  16  may be coupled to a frame  19  of the base portion  14 , which may include one or more frame legs and/or handle  25 , for example. The ladder  16  is configured to open and close relative to the base portion  14 , described herein. The ladder  16  is preferably directly coupled to an end of the base portion  14 , whereby a user may stand on any of the ladder steps for being proximal to any of the shelves  24 . In doing so, the ladder  16  includes two or more legs  32 , a set of moveable support mechanisms  34 , for example, including hinges, brackets, supports, linkages, and so on, for opening and closing the ladder  16  against the base portion  14  of the cart  10 , and at least one step member  36  and a top step platform  38  extending between and rotatably coupled to the legs  32 . When the ladder  14  is in an open position as shown in  FIGS. 12-17 , the legs  32  are widened to separate from the base  14  by a distance, and in a closed position, the legs  32  are closer to the base  14  than when in the open position. For example, a support mechanism  34  may include a hinge between two rigid tubular or other elongated elements. One element may be coupled to a ladder leg  32  and the other element may be coupled to the cart frame  22 . The hinge permits an acute angle to be formed between the two elements, resulting in the ladder leg  32 , and the step members coupled thereto, to move in a direction of the base  14 , and for the step members  36  and top step platform  38  to fold, for example, in a vertical or near vertical position, until the legs  32  are substantially parallel to the frame legs  19 , for example, shown in  FIG. 2 . However, in some cases, the ladder step members  36  may not completely fold, and may extend at an angle tangential to the legs  32 , for example, shown in  FIG. 1 . In some embodiments, the top step platform  38  has a surface area of other geometry that is greater than that of the other step members  36 . In other embodiments, the top step platform  38  has a same or similar geometry as the other step members  36 . 
         [0021]    The ladder  16  may further include a support element  37  at a top of each leg  32  for receiving a bottom surface of the top step platform  38 . The top step platform  38  is positioned over a top region of the legs  32  relative to the legs  32 . The support element  37 , for example, may be coupled by bolts or other coupling mechanism to both the leg  32  and the top step platform  38 , as shown in  FIG. 5 , so that the support element  37  may function as a hinge as well as a protective device and/or support device with respect to preventing direct contact between the legs  32  and the step platform  38 . For example, the support element  37  may move up and down with the legs  32  during a transition between an open state and a close state of the ladder  16 . The support element  37  may be formed of metal, plastic or other material for providing a protective interface between the leg  32  and the step platform  38 , which may otherwise experience excessive abrasion or wear and tear due to the metal components of these elements when the ladder  16  is in an open state. The support element  37  may also provide stability and support for the top step platform  38 , for example, by including a base positioned under the top step  38  and supporting the weight of a user. The support element  37  may have a distinctive color, for example, yellow, that distinguishes the support element  37  from neighboring leg  32  and step platform  38  to warn a user of a possible “pinch point” where a user's hand or other body part is prone to injury during a transition between an open and closed state of the ladder  16 . 
         [0022]    In some embodiments, when in a closed position, a top of the top step platform  38  is aligned with the cart handle  25 , for example, shown in  FIG. 5 . This permits a safety clip  40 , also referred to as a top latch, to be provided, as described herein. To transition between a closed position and an open position, a side of the top step platform  38  may abut a stabilizing bar  27  or the like coupled to and extending between two front ladder legs  19 . 
         [0023]    The legs  32 , support mechanism  34 , step members  36 , and/or top step platform  38  are coupled to each other by bolts, screws, adhesives, and/or other well-known coupling mechanisms. The legs  32 , support mechanism  34 , step members  36 , and top step platform  38  can be formed of aluminum, sheet metal, plastic, wood, and/or related rigid materials, or a combination thereof. 
         [0024]    In some embodiments, the steps  36  and or top step platform  38  includes one or more grip elements  31 , for example, anti-slip adhesive strips, which may prevent a user on the ladder from slipping. 
         [0025]    As shown in  FIGS. 3-6 , one or more safety clips  40  can be coupled to the ladder  16 . A safety clip  40  is constructed and arranged to prevent or otherwise reduce the risk of “pinching”, or when a user's hand is injured when the hand is positioned in a space (S) between an edge of a step member  36  or top step platform  38  and the handle  25  of the cart of the wheeled base portion  14 . More specifically, the space (S) may be between an edge of the top step platform  38  and a region of the handle  25 , or bar  27 , extending between two front frame legs  19 . The safety clip  40  provides for a two handed operation, where one hand is on the safety clip  40  and the other hand is on another part of the ladder  16 , for example, to open or close the ladder  16 . 
         [0026]    The safety clip  40  includes a base portion  41  and a grip portion  42  that extends from the base portion  41 , for example, perpendicular or tangential to the base portion  41 . The safety clip  40  may be formed of plastic or other rigid material. The safety clip  40  can rotate about a bolt  45  or other coupling mechanism that holds the safety clip  40  against the cart handle  25 , or frame. As shown in  FIGS. 3-6 , the safety clip  40  can pivot or swivel about the axis of the coupling mechanism  45  to engage or disengage the step member  36  and/or top step platform  38  with respect to the cart base portion  14 , for example, when raising or lowering the ladder  16  relative to the stationary base portion  14 . This may be achieved by a user's thumb and forefinger of a first hand gripping the grip portion  42  and applying a force to rotate the clip  40  about the coupling's axis. The user's other hand can be used to move the ladder  16  accordingly. 
         [0027]    As shown in  FIGS. 7-9 , a latch release mechanism  50 , also referred to as a lower ladder latch or bottom latch, may be coupled to a spring-based pin  51  or the like that extends from the frame  22 , for example, a frame leg  19 , and extends through a hole in a frame support leg  39  and through holes  52 ,  53  in the latch release mechanism  50 , in order to position the mechanism  50  between the ladder  16  and frame  22 , and release the ladder  16  with respect to the cart frame  14  so that the ladder  16  can transition between a closed position and an open position. For example, the latch release mechanism  50  can release the ladder  16  from a locked position. A body surface  58  of the latch release mechanism  50  is positioned against the frame leg  19 , and may include an indentation  56 , groove, or the like that mates with a protrusion (not shown) or other contour of the frame  22 . Therefore, when a force is applied against the tab  57  when a user presses the tab  57 , an extension  54  of the latch release mechanism  50  is separated from the frame support leg  39  adjacent the frame leg  19 , allowing a cross-bar or other element of the ladder  16  to pivot about a bolt or other coupling mechanism extending through both the frame support leg  39  and ladder  16 . The user can use the other hand to lift the top step  38  of the ladder while pressing the tab  57  with the other hand until the top step  38  rotates upward about an axis extending between two pivot points of the ladder legs  32 , for example, 30-45 degrees from the horizontal position. Subsequently, in an operation including raising the ladder, the ladder can be lifted upward past the top latch  40  until the top step rests against a stop bar of the frame  19 . The top latch  40  may spring back into position, locking the ladder  16  in a stowed position by abutting the top step  38  proximal the stop bar, for example, shown in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0028]    As shown in  FIG. 10 , the wheels  26  of the cart  10  may include a caster lock mechanism  60 , for providing additional safety. This safety caster lock mechanism  60  includes an internal brake that prevents at least one wheel  26  from rolling freely, thereby preventing unwanted or unexpected movement of the cart  10  when a user is standing on the steps  36 ,  38  of the ladder  16  coupled to the base portion  14 . 
         [0029]    Referring  FIG. 12 , a corner brace  61  may be coupled about the frame  19  of the cart base  14 . 
         [0030]    As shown in  FIG. 13 , a top shelf  24  of the wheeled base portion  14  of the cart  10  may include a lip  29 , protrusion, or the like that extends in a substantially perpendicular direction from a planar surface of the shelf  24 . In preferred embodiments, the lip  29  is part of the top shelf  24 . The lip  29  may be at least one inch high, but not limited thereto. The lip  29  may be at all four sides of the shelf  24 , or perimeter of the shelf  24 . Alternatively, a lip  29  may be at one, two, or three sides of the shelf  24 , or at a portion thereof. The lip  29  may improve a user's experience with respect to stocking functions, for example, preventing items from sliding or falling off the shelf  24 . In some embodiments, the lip  29  permits partial case stocking, which allows for an improvement in perpetual inventory corrections and elimination of modular degradation of areas where consumers purchase products. 
         [0031]    More specifically, stores typically stock shelves using a full case stocking model where all the units in a case, for example, a case of cola or beer, which must fit on the shelf  24  when stocking. If a full case cannot fit, then the entire case must be stored in the stockroom. Due to supply chain limitations (forecasting, delivery latency, etc,) not being able to support a “truck to shelf” perfection of delivery times, a partial case stocking model may be employed. In this model, if only one can of cola or beer from a case, box, or the like may fit on the shelf, then the stocking person may stock the one can and put the remainder of loose cans from that case on the topstock store shelf (distinguished from the top shelf  24  of the cart  10 ), for example, a shelf above a four foot section on the sales floor in ambient areas of the store. 
         [0032]    The shelf lip  29  allows for loose items from the remainder of cases to be efficiently handled without likely possibility of loose units falling from the top shelf  24 . The lip  29  also allows efficiency (due to purposeful dimensions of cart shelf) to be able to put the cart  10  in a predetermined store section, e.g., a four foot section of the store and work items down from the topstock store shelf to the shelf  24  of the cart  10 , referred to as downstocking. The lip  29  permits a user to park the cart  10  in one area, batch the work in that section, without the need to move the cart  10 . 
         [0033]    Another feature of the cart  10  allows a retail store to use the cart  10  when performing an automated business process using a device referred to as an “automated section work” which includes a mobile electronic device such as a personal assistant, smartphone, and so on, which allows a stocking person to make error free adjustments to item count (increment and decrement) to increase accuracy of perpetual inventory. 
         [0034]    The foregoing and other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art from the following more particular description of the invention and the accompanying drawings. 
         [0035]    A number of implementations have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that the foregoing description is intended to illustrate and not to limit the scope of the inventive concepts which are defined by the scope of the claims. Other examples are within the scope of the following claims.