TRANSPORTATION CARRIER

Abstract: The subject invention concerns a box-shaped transport cart. The front side (1) is open whereas the rest of the cart sides consist of fixed panels. The cart has one foldable bottom section (10) which may be folded to an upright position and one fixed bottom section (9). With the foldable bottom sections of two carts in their vertically upright positions, the carts may be nested, one in the other, to form a compacted unit in which the fixed bottom sections form a bottom common to the compacted unit on which to transport return packages.

Description: TRANSPORTATION CARRIER The subject invention concerns a cart for conveying and handling goods and having wheels, castors, runners and similar means for easy transport of goods from the producer to the consumer by way of lorry or truck, the cart being of the kind wherein the opposite pairs of the cart panels are disposed in an essentially parallel relationship and the front is open or consists of an openable front panel whereas the rest of the cart panels are fixed. To transport goods load-carrier units that support and protect the goods are often used. The units are generally provided with castors, which is expedient, also when the main transport is by means of e.g. lorries. Transport carts of many various types exist. A common feature is that they may be compacted into nesting relationship for storage or when transported in an empty condition. A common type of cart comprises wedge-shaped side panels, a bottom and a foldable rear panel, allowing nesting of the carts. A typical example of this kind of cart is the common shopping trolley. The wedge shape is, however, a definite drawback from a space-utilization point of view. This becomes very obvious when one wishes to transport box-like items in this type of cart. The loss of space laterally then becomes considerable. For the transport of box-shaped items or packages the most practical configuration of the transport cart used therefore is a box-shaped cart, i.e. one having parallel sides and right-angular corners. In order to allow nesting of empty carts of this type, the side panels of the cart usually are foldable outwards and the shelves removable, as is shown in the Swedish Patent Application 8604421-1, or they are foldable, as is shown in WO86/02610. As a rule, this arrangement allows the empty carts to be nested in a closely compacted relationship. However, at the same time it suffers from several serious drawbacks. When the side panels of the cart are folded outwards in order to nest the cart, the latter as a rule becomes very wobbly and unstable, and the operators run the risk of getting squeezed between the stationary and the foldable panels. The foldability as such also has wearing effects on the cart structure. In addition, return packages cannot be accommodated in the nesting carts, which in many cases is a considerable drawback. One prior-art cart used to transport eggs is arranged to carry return packages also when in a nesting or compacted condition. This cart has an open front whereas the rest of the side panels and the bottom are fixed. The cart is stable and does not expose the users to squeezing hazards. To nest one cart in another the shelves are removed from both carts and are placed in one of the carts together with the return packages from both carts. The second cart is turned upside down and is inserted into the first one. Viewed from above, this arrangement may be • described as follows. The fixed side panels of each cart could be regarded as U-shaped forks which are turned with the tines of the forks facing each other and interdigited into a closed unit having a volume only slightly exceeding that of a single cart. In other words, one of the carts carries the shelves, the return packages, and the second cart. However, this arrangement suffers from several drawbacks. It is very heavy to turn over the empty cart and insert it into the other one. The handling exposes the carts to considerable wear and the personnel to injury hazards. The shelves of the various carts become mixed up, which increases the requirement of manufacture precision of the shelves and the carts. The purpose of the subject invention is to provide a cart which is well suited to transport box-shaped goods or box-shaped packages and which is arranged in such a manner that empty carts may be nested one in the other in a simple manner without the side panels having to be folded outwards or the carts having to be turned over. Another purpose is to provide a cart which is arranged in such a manner that return packages may be transported in a nesting pair of carts. In addition, the external dimensions of the nesting pair of carts should only slightly exceed those of a single cart. Nc separate pieces or components should be included. The purposes outlined above are achieved in a transport cart in accordance with the invention presenting the characteristics defined in the appended claims. The transport cart in accordance with the invention preferably is box-shaped, having an open front or openable front panel whereas the remaining side panels are fixed. The bottom panel is essentially horizontal and arranged to be at least partly folded upwards into abutment against a fixed side panel. With the foldable bottom panel sections in their upright position it is possible to nest two identical carts, running on their wheels or similar means, one in the other, to form one single compact unit. When fixed bottom panel sections are used, these preferably form a bottom common to both carts of the assembled compact unit, allowing return packages to be supported by and transported on this bottom. The pair of carts is interlocked by means of a simple locking member. The cart has been devised with a view to transport eggs which are packaged in box-like packages. Like in many other applications it is in this instance necessary that the return packages can be accommodated inside the nesting carts to be returned to the producer. In this case a fully loaded cart weighs approximately 500 kilos and it is wheeled from the poultry-farm onto the loading platform of a truck for further transportation. The cart is formed with a number of specially devised means to facilitate the transport. It has swivel castors which may be locked by means of a spring-loaded catch to provide directional stability. The catch preferably is designed in such a manner that it must be in its active position to allow the bottom panel to be folded downwards into its load- receiving position. In addition, the foldable bottom panel is designed to allow the cart to be lifted by means of a fork-lift truck. Preferably, all shelves are foldable, an arrangement that eliminates all separate parts. Further characteristics of and advantages in connection with the invention will be described in closer detail in the following with reference to various embodiments, wherein identical numeral references in the various drawing figures refer to corresponding components. In the drawings: Fig. 1 illustrates in a perspective view a transport cart with the bottom panel in the vertically folded position and four shelves, likewise in the vertically folded position. Fig. 2 illustrates the cart in a position wherein the bottom panel as well as the shelves are ir their horizontally folded positions. Fig. 3 shows the manner of raising th'^ two uppermost shelves to their vertical positions. Fig. 4 illustrates the bottom panel of the cart in the horizontal, load-receiving position. Fig. 5 illustrates the lifting of the rear edge of the bottom panel, corresponding to the firrt stage of the folding-upwards of the bottom panel. Fig. 6 illustrates the final stage of raising the bottom panel to the vertical position. Fig. 7 illustrates the manner in which the return packages of one of the carts are stored on the fixed bottom panel section of the cart. Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the initial stage of moving two carts into nesting, interdigited position. Fig. 9 illustrates the same position as seen from above. Fig. 10 illustrates the two carts in a perspective view in their fully nesting position, and Fig. 11 illustrates the same situation as seen from above. Since the cart has two identical side panels comprising a number of identical components, the panels and the components pertaining thereto will be identified by means of the reference number together with the suffix a and b, respectively, for instance side panels 3a and 3b. When a component changes direction, it is referred to with the addition of the suffix ' and so on, such as for instance the downwardly depending front edge 12'. In Fig. 1, reference numeral designates an open front. Opposite thereto is a fixed and closed rear panel 2 and at the sides two fixed and closed side panels 3a and 3b. The closed panels are constructed from vertical and horizontal round bars in the conventional manner. The checkerwork spacing is sufficiently narrow to prevent packages from falling out without the panel being closed, functionally speaking. The fixed panels are securely attached to a U-shaped load-carrying unit having bottom reinforcement profile members 4, 5, and 6. Four castors 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b are secured to said profile members. The cart has one stationary, that is, not foldable bottom panel section 9 and one foldable bottom panel section 10. The latter is formed with a recess 11 for easy folding of the panel section. In accordance with the embodiment illustrated it covers the entire bottom panel but it may be smaller, provided that it is big enough to receive support from the stationary bottom panel section 9 and from the reinforcement profile members 4 and 5. Above the bottom panel there are, in succession, three identical shelves 12, 13, and 14. These shelves are formed with a f ont edge 12' , 13' , and 14' which is bent downwards, i.e. with a vertically downwardly depending front edge, as is most clearly apparent from Figs. 2 and 3. When the shelf is in its horizontal position, the edge prevents items supported on the shelf below, alternatively on the bottom panel, from falling out of the cart. This arrangement of the shelf edge to retain the goods in position is a more practical solution than one involving a vertically upright shelf edge inasmuch as an edge, thus designed, would interfere with the loading and unloading operatings. In addition, the downwardly depending edge reinforces the shelf. The top part of the cart there is a specially designed top shelf 15. The top shelf is equipped at its front edge with a fixed L-shaped profile member 16 having closed end plates 17a and 17b. When this shelf is in its horizontal position, the front edge and the profile member side portions will enclose the upper front corners of the cart, keeping them together and providing protection. At the same time, the entire cart is stabilized and the grip of the edge about the corners serves to lock the shelf in position, whereby it becomes impossible to push the shelf backwards without first raising it. The shelves 12, 13, 14 and hingedly connected to the rear panel in such a manner that they may be folded into an upright position in abutment against the panel. However, they are also easily removable, without the use of tools, for e.g. repair or cleaning. Pivot pins attached to the associated shelf at the rearmost part thereof at either side adjacent the side panels serve as the shelf articulation points. The pivot pins slide in longitudinal grooves extending alongside each side panel, from the lowermost shelf 12 upwards, past the shelf 14. Inside the grooves abutment means are provided for the pivot pins of each shelf to limit movement downwards but not upwards. The horizontal round bars 18a, 18b, 19a, 19b, 20a, 20b of the cart panels serve to support the shelves. Over most of their extension, these bars extend externally of the cart panels but at their ends they project into the interior of the cart. At their rear ends they serve as the shelf pivot-pin abutment means and at their front as an abutment to the shelf itself. The horizontal end parts 18a', 18b', 19a', 19b', 20a', 20b' provide precisely this abutment function. Owing to this arrangement, a shelf may be lifted from its horizontal position adjacent one side panel until the pivot pin associated therewith is lifted clear of the groove. Thereafter, the shelf may be pulled towards the side panel in question until the pivot pin inside the groove at the opposite side is likewise freed and the shelf may be removed. The hinging arrangements concerning the top shelf differs somewhat from that of the rest of the shelves, as is most clearly illustrated in Fig. 3. The uppermost round bar 21 of the rear panel serves as a hinge on which this shelf is articulated. The lateral edges 15a' and 15b' of the shelf adjacent the cart side panels are bent downwards and extend internally of the side panels and along approximately half their lengthwise extension they are formed with grooves 22a and 22b in which the round bar 21 is received. From its horizontal, load-receiving position the shelf must first be lifted somewhat upwards so as to disengage it from its gripping position about the front corners of the cart. When thus disengaged, the shelf may be pushed backwards as far as allowed by the grooves formed in the shelf and thereafter be folded upwards, into a vertical position in abutment against the external face of the rear panel of the cart. A principally possible alternative would be to arrange for the top shelf to be accommodated in the interior of the cart when in its upright position, but this solution would complicate the shelf pivoting movements while at the same time the shelf could easily interfere with the shelf below. As appears from Fig. 1, the top shelf 15 projects only slightly above the shelf 14 below when in its upper, vertical position. When in their upright position, the two shelves 14 and 15 extend respectively externally and internally of the rear panel. The foldable bottom panel section 10 has a rein¬ forced, downwards bent front edge 23 of a special design. It comprises a U-shaped profile member which, when pushed backwards, towards the rear panel, grips the reinforcement profile members 4 and 6 at each side panel. In this position, the reinforced front edge 23, together with the lateral reinforcement profile members 4 and 6, form a frame extending around the perimeter of the cart bottom and of sufficient strength to allow a fully loaded cart to be lifted by means of a fork lift truck. To allow movement of the bottom panel towards or away from the rear panel in a simple manner and locking thereof in the rear position, the bottom panel hinging means are of a special design. The articulation points of the bottom panel which may be formed by e.g. pivot pins, are securely attached to the bottom panel at either side thereof and are directed towards the side panels. The side panels are formed with partly free attachments for the pivot pins. As appears from Figs. 4 to 6 they are designed in such a manner that rods 24a and 24b attached to their respective one of the side panels and movable in the plane of the side panels, limit the movement of the bottom panel towards the free or open cart side. When the bottom panel assumes its horizontal load-receiving position illustrated in Fig. 4, the pivot pins are supported by horizontal supports 25a and 25b. From there, each rod extends upwards in the form of a vertical section 24a' , 24b' with the result that the bottom panel will be retained in its horizontal position in such a manner that it cannot be pulled towards the open side of the cart. On the other hand, the rear panel end may be lifted with the aid of the recess 11 formed in the bottom panel. Above the vertical section the rod is bent, forming a diagonal rod section 24a" , 24b", which extends upwards and forwards towards the open cart side. Owing to this arrangement it becomes possible, as soon as the pivot pins move upwards along the diagonal rod sections, to begin to pull the bottom panel forwards, which happens automatically wher the user lifts the panel upwards and outwards, see Fig. 5. As a result, the reinforced front edge 23 of the panel will be dis¬ engaged from the reinforcement profile members 4 and 6, thus allowing the bottom panel to be swunσ upwards, as illustrated in Fig. 6. As mentioned previously, the castors are swivel castors. The castor 8a may be locked against movement by means of a catch, thus blocking the cart against movement in the longitudinal direction thereof, i. e. in the direction from side panel 3a towards side panel 3b. A handle 26 is provided to operate the catch, which is spring-loaded in such a manner that by setting the handle in the position illustrated for the purpose of locking the castors, the spring-loaded catch affects the associated castor in such a manner that the latter will be locked as soon as it assumes a position wherein it extends in the longitudinal direction of the cart. This will happen as soon as the operator begins to push the cart in the lengthwise direction thereof. With the handle in the un¬ blocking position, the bottom panel cannot be folded completely into its fully load-receiving position. To affect this, it is necessary that in said unlocked position, a handle-actuated member assumes such a position that it prevents the pivot pin associated with the bottom panel from reaching its horizontal support 25a. This is an important feature since it ensures that the operator does not forget to put the catch in the locking position prior to loading. The truck driver thus can rely on the fully- loaded carts on the truck loading platform being completely stable against movement. When two empty carts have been moved into a nesting position, they are retained in that position by means of a simple locking mechanism 27, see Figs. 1 and 10. The locking mechanism is attached to the horizontal round bar 19a and engages the corresponding round bar T.9b of the other cart. As appears from the claims, the invention is considerably broader than appears from the embodiment described in the aforegoing. For instance, the various shelves may be arranged so as to be folded upright into abutment against different fixed panels. In addition, the fixed bottom panel section may be eliminated and the entire bottom panel of one cart be folded into its upright position and the other cart be moved into nesting position therein sidewise, i.e. with one of its sides inserted in the U-shaped configuration formed by the first cart. This arrangement requires that a predetermined relationship exists between the length and the width of the cart and it precludes the use of completely square carts.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A cart for transport of goods and having wheels, castors, runners and similar means for easy transport from e.g. a producer to a consumer by way of lorry or truck, said cart being of the kind wherein the opposite pairs of the cart panels are disposed in an essentially parallel relationship and the front (1) is open or consists of an openable panel whereas the rest of the cart panels are fixed, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the bottom panel of the cart is essentially horizontal and that at least a section of said bottom panel is hingedly arranged to be folded to a vertical position in abutment against one of the fixed cart panels, preferably against the rear panel (2), in such a manner that two identical carts, following folding of the bottom panel section of at least one of said carts into an upright position, may be nesting, one in the other, with the unfolded bottom panel sections of the two carts forming one single bottom plane which is common to both carts of said pair of nesting carts, and which is used in the transportation of return packages or similar items. 2. A cart as claimed in claim 1, c h a r a c t e r¬ i s e d in that the bottom panel of the cart consists of one fixed bottom panel section (9) in addition to said foldable bottom panel section (10), whereby when the two carts are moved into nesting relationship the fixed bottom panel section of one of the carts projects into the opening formed in the bottom panel of the second cart when the foldable bottom panel sections of the two carts are folded upwards and inversely, such that the open side (11) of one of the carts assumes a position immediately adjacent the rear panel (2) of the second cart when the two carts are in their extreme compacted nesting position. 3. A cart as claimed in claim 2, c h a r a c t e r¬ i z e d in that the fixed bottom panel section (9) is wedge-shaped. 4. A cart as claimed in claim 2, c h a r a c t e r¬ i z e d in that the entire cart bottom panel or the major portion thereof is arranged to be folded to an upright position in such a manner that when the carts are nesting one in the other the shorter fixed side panel of one of the carts penetrates into the opening formed in the other cart when the foldable bottom panel section or sections thereof have been folded upright and, in the extreme compacted nesting position of the two carts, assumes a position close to the rear panel of the other cart, allowing return packages, if needed, to be placed on the unfolded bottom panel section of the first-mentioned cart. 5. A cart as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the foldable bottom panel section (10) is arranged to be raised to an upright position against the rear panel (2), that it has attachment means (24a, 24b) which in addition to allowing raising movements of said bottom panel section also allow the bottom panel to be moved in a directio towards or away from the rear panel, and in that the bottom panel section is formed with a reinforced front edge (23) of such a configuration that it may engage pa-ts of the cart connected with the associated fixed side panel, whereby when the front edge is in its lowermost anr 1 extreme pull- out position and the bottom panel is moved towards the rear panel, the front edge will engage said cart parts, whereby folding of the bottom panel upwards is positively prevented, when the cart is lifted by auxiliary means, such as by a fork lift truck, which engage the cart both below said front edge and below the edge of one of the fixed panels, preferably the edge (5) of the rear panel. 6. A cart as claimed in claim 5, c h a r a c t e r¬ i z e d in that each articulation point is securely attached to its associated foldable bottom panel section and in that its attachment to the associated fixed side panel is designed in such a manner that from the lower horizontal position of the bottom panel section the associated articulation point is initially moved upwards in an essentially vertical direction and then in a direction upwards and away from the rear panel. 7. A cart as claimed in anyone of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that an essentially horizontal shelf (12) is provided above the bottom panel of the cart, said shelf being arranged to be raised into an upright position in abutment against one of the fixed panels. 8. A cart as claimed in claim 7, c h a r a c t e r- i z e d in that said shelf (12) has a front edge in the shape of a vertically downwards directed member (12' ), whereby during lowering movements of said shelf said edge prevents goods stored on the shelf below from falling out of the cart while at the same time said edge reinforces the shelf. 9. A cart as claimed in claim 7, c h a r a c t e r¬ i z e d in that said shelf (12) has two articulation points, formed e.g. by pivot pins, each one of which is securely attached to the shelf, and in that corresponding attachments in the respective one of the fixed panels are in the form of grooves having abutment means to limit downwards movements of the articulation point but no abutment means for limitation of upwards movements, whereby the shelf may be removed by lifting one side thereof to move the associated articulation point upwards and free of the groove, thus allowing the articulation point at the opposite sideto be likewise lifted off its groove. 10. A cart as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that at least one, essentially horizontal shelf (15) positioned adjacent or close to the upper face of the cart, is hingedly connected to an adjacent one of the fixed panels so as to be raised to a vertically upright position, the articulation points of said shelf running in grooves (22a, 22b) along the sides (15a', 15b') of said shelf, thus allowing the shelf to be pushed relatively to its articulation points and to be moved downwards alongside said fixed panel into a vertically upright position in abutment against said panel. 11. A cart as claimed in claim 9, c h a r a c t e r¬ i z e d in that a shelf (15) positioned at the upper face of the cart has a vertically downwards prolonged front edge (16) including an adjoining lateral portion (17a, 17b) on either side designed in such a manner that in the lower, horizontal position of the shelf the upper corner of the cart, at the open side, will be enclosed by said shelf in such a manner that in this position the shelf cannot be moved towards the rear panel (12) while at the same time said upper corners are kept together and are stabilized. 12. A cart as claimed in claims 8-10, c h a r a c t e r- i z e d in that all shelves are arranged to be raised into abutment against the same fixed panel, preferably the rear panel (2). 13. A cart as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that at least one of the castors (8a) is locked against turning movement. 14. A cart as claimed in claim 12, c h a r a c t e r¬ i z e d in that the castor locking control means (26) is designed in such a manner that it is forced to be in its locked position in order that the foldable bottom panel (10) may be lowered to its horizontal, load-receiving position, and preferably said control means is arranged to be shifted to the locking position by the foldable bottom panel when the latter is moved to its horizontal position.

Inventors: KAELL ROLAND, KAELL, ROLAND
Applicants: KAELL ROLAND, KAELL, ROLAND
Application year: 1991
Main classification: B65D19
IPC codes: B62B3