Abstract:
Nestable cart includes a top, a bottom spaced apart from the top, and left and right sides extending between the top and the bottom. The bottom may be configured for moving upwardly relative to a rear of the cart, so that the bottom is movable between a horizontally extended use or non-nesting position and a somewhat vertically extending non-use or nesting position. When the bottom is in its nesting position, a further cart may be inserted into a front of the cart for being nested substantially within the cart. The cart and the further cart may be configured for nesting together without interfering with each other.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 10/961,194, filed Oct. 12, 2004, which claims the priority of application No. 60/509,805, filed Oct. 10, 2003; and this application claims the priority of application No. 60/512,772, filed Oct. 21, 2003; and this application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 10/836,401, filed May 3, 2004, and each of which is incorporated herein by reference.  
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The invention relates to carts. More particularly, the invention relates to carts which may be nested within one another in order to reduce the amount of floor space required to store the carts when not in use. Even more particularly, the invention relates to nestable carts particularly suited for use in the food processing, storage, and sales industries.  
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Carts are known, yet there remains a need for carts requiring less space than known carts.  
         [0004]     Known carts require large amounts of floor space, as well as large volume requirements when not in use.  
         [0005]     Known patents in the name of Donald M. Hall, some of which are directed to reducing floor space and volume requirements of devices when in use and not in use, include: 
    Des. 480,528     U.S. Pat. No. 6,474,757     U.S. Pat. No. 6,419,098     U.S. Pat. No. 6,366,313     U.S. Pat. No. 6,322,180     U.S. Pat. No. 6,149,120     U.S. Pat. No. 6,131,399     U.S. Pat. No. 6,062,401     U.S. Pat. No. 5,957,309     U.S. Pat. No. 5,953,871     U.S. Pat. No. 5,628,522     U.S. Pat. No. 5,503,087     U.S. Pat. No. 5,483,782     U.S. Pat. No. 5,471,922     U.S. Pat. No. 5,456,191     U.S. Pat. No. 5,386,787     U.S. Pat. No. 5,330,064    
 
         [0023]     Additional known U.S. patents include: 
    U.S. Pat. No. 4,784,446 to Newhouse;     U.S. Pat. No. 6,209,977 to Vondrejs;     U.S. Pat. No. 5,507,570 to Williams;     U.S. Pat. No. 4,893,885 to Borello;     U.S. Pat. No. 4,491,375 to Ugalde;     U.S. Pat. No. 5,927,837 to Schmidt;     U.S. Pat. No. 3,861,702 to Wilson;     U.S. Pat. No. 2,992,010 to Sides;     U.S. Pat. No. 2,928,681 to Wilson;     U.S. Pat. No. 3,977,689 to Rosa;     U.S. Pat. No. 3,920,258 to Lundstrom;     U.S. Pat. No. 3,874,689 to Morgan;     U.S. Pat. No. 3,861,768 to Wilson; and     U.S. Pat. No. 3,840,242 to Craig.    
 
         [0038]     There is a need for a cart which reduces space requirements.  
       OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0039]     Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a cart that overcomes any drawbacks and disadvantages of known carts.  
         [0040]     Another object of the invention is to provide a cart which can be shipped in a space-saving manner, stored in space-saving manner, and used in a space-saving manner by the end user.  
         [0041]     Another object of the invention is to provide a cart which can be readily nested within one or more carts when not in use.  
         [0042]     Yet another object of the invention is to provide a cart which can be readily opened and closed for access to products supported within the cart.  
         [0043]     A still further object of the invention is to provide a cart having one or more doors, sides, top(s) or bottom(s) which can be secured in a non-use position.  
         [0044]     Another object of the invention is to provide a substantially rectangular, square, or trapezoidal cart, as viewed from above, or below, which reduces storage requirements, while maintaining the benefits of conventional rectangular or square carts.  
         [0045]     Another object of the invention is to provide an inverted U-shaped, V-shaped, or C-shaped cart, when viewed from the front, for example.  
         [0046]     Another object of the invention is to provide an inner cart having wheels which do not engage an outer cart when the inner cart is nested within the outer cart.  
         [0047]     In summary, the invention is directed to a nestable cart requiring less storage space than known carts.  
         [0048]     The inventive cart may include a top, a side extending outwardly away from the top, and a bottom extending outwardly away from the side. The bottom may be spaced apart from the top. The bottom may be movable between a nesting position extending substantially along the side to a non-nesting position.  
         [0049]     The nesting position may be a position adjacent the top.  
         [0050]     The non-nesting or use position may be a position located at a distance from the top or at a position extending away from the side.  
         [0051]     The inventive cart may likewise include a left and right side, and the bottom may be movable between a use position extending between the left and right sides to an open position extending substantially along or adjacent to one of the left and right sides.  
         [0052]     The left and right sides may be sized so that when the bottom is in its nesting position, then a further cart may be nested within the cart, and a still further cart may be nested within the further cart, and so forth with successively smaller further carts or cabinets.  
         [0053]     A cart may include a bottom hingedly attached to the left, right, or side rear.  
         [0054]     A cart may include a bottom which includes a first part and a second part. The first part may be hingedly attached to a left side, and the second part may be hingedly attached to the right side. The first part of the bottom may extend along the left side and the second part of the bottom may extend along the right side in their respective nesting positions. Such construction of a bottom having first and second parts such as first and second halves, allows for a cart having a relatively low and wide configuration, for example.  
         [0055]     A cart may include that the bottom is slidably attached to the side or the rear.  
         [0056]     A cart may include that a securing element is provided to secure the bottom to one or more of the side and rear when the bottom is in its nesting position.  
         [0057]     A cart may include that an engagement element is provided for detachably engaging the bottom in its use or non-nesting position.  
         [0058]     A cart may include that an engagement element is provided for detachably engaging the bottom in its nesting position.  
         [0059]     A cart may include that the engagement element is provided on the rear.  
         [0060]     A cart may include that a mechanical assist, such as a gas piston is provided to assist in moving the bottom from its non-nesting to its nesting position, for example.  
         [0061]     A cart may include that a roller is provided for movably supporting the cart on a surface.  
         [0062]     A cart may include that a runner is provided on one or more of sides, the runner being configured for supporting a tray.  
         [0063]     A cart may include that at least one of the sides includes an insulating panel.  
         [0064]     A cart may include that an airflow passage is provided adjacent at least one of the sides, the airflow passage being configured for enhancing air flow from a lower portion to an upper portion of the at least one of the sides.  
         [0065]     A cart may include that a retractable shelf is provided for increasing the surface area, as viewed from above.  
         [0066]     It should be noted that relative terms such as up, down, left, right, top, and bottom are for convenience only and for ease of understanding, and are not intended to be limiting. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0067]      FIG. 1  is a top perspective view of a nestable cart or cart system according to the invention when one cart is moved into, or out of, a nesting condition with another cart;  
         [0068]      FIG. 2  is a top perspective view of a cart of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0069]      FIG. 3  is a top plan view of a cart of  FIG. 1 ; and  
         [0070]      FIG. 4  is a schematic side view of a further outer cart according to the invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0071]      FIGS. 1-4  illustrate a nesting cart or cart system  10  according to the invention.  
         [0072]     Cart system  10  may include an outer cart  20  defining an opening or interior  24  configured for receiving an inner cart  30 .  
         [0073]     Outer cart  20  may include a first or left side  42  and a second or right side  46 . There may likewise be a top  52  and a rear or rear side  56 . Further, a bottom or bottom shelf  58  may be provided that extends at least partially across the interior of outer cart  20 . Bottom  58  may be hingedly or pivotably or otherwise movably attached to a portion of outer cart  20 . A strengthening element  59 , such as a crossbrace, may be provided on bottom  58 . A pivot  60  may provide the hinged attachment between bottom  58  and the remainder of cart  20 .  
         [0074]     An actuator or handle  62  may be provided for moving bottom shelf  58  between a use or non-nesting position and a non-use or nesting position. A knob  66  may be provided to assist a user in moving handle  62 . Knob  66  may likewise function to withdraw a release pin or actuator for releasing engagement between handle  62  and outer cart  20 . Alternatively, a release pin or actuator  72  could be used in addition to a fixed knob  66  for detachably engaging handle  62  with the remainder of outer cart  20 .  
         [0075]     A catch or engagement element  76  may be provided for limiting downward movement of handle  62  and, hence, bottom  58 .  
         [0076]     A mechanical assist  80  may be provided to assist in the raising (or lowering) of bottom  58 . Mechanical assist  80  may include a piston  84  and a cylinder  86  of a gas cylinder assembly, for example.  
         [0077]     A handle  92  may be provided at one or more locations on outer cart  20  to assist in moving cart  20  from one location to another. Likewise, one or more wheels or roller  96  may be provided in the case where outer cart  20  is to be readily moved.  
         [0078]     Inner or further cart  30  may be configured and sized to nest within interior  24  of outer cart  20  when bottom  58  of outer cart  20  is in its raised or non-use or nesting position.  
         [0079]     Inner cart  30  may include a left side  142 , a right side  146 , and a top or top side  152 .  
         [0080]     A rear or rear side  156  may likewise be provided, as well as a bottom or bottom shelf  158 , and a second or further or upper shelf or bottom  164 .  
         [0081]     An optional slidable or slide-out shelf  168  may be provided that includes an upper surface  170 . Upper surface  170  may be configured for providing an additional storage area or work surface, for example.  
         [0082]     Shelf  168  may be configured as a square, rectangle, trapezoid, or rhombus, for example as shown in  FIG. 3 . A front edge  174  of top  152  and a left face  178  of shelf  170  may extend at an angle  184  relative to each other. The size of angle  184  may be varied depending on the intended use. As shown in  FIG. 3 , in the case where a user stands between or facing edge  174  and left face  178 , as angle  184  is increased, the space available for the user increases.  
         [0083]     A handle  188  may be provided at one or more locations on inner cart  30  to assist in handling or moving cart  30 .  
         [0084]     One or more side wheels  192  may be provided on cart  30 , such as on bottom  158 . One or more front wheels  196 , and one or more rear wheels  198  may likewise be provided. As shown in  FIG. 1 , six wheels may be provided; i.e. wheel  192  under a left portion of cart  30 , two wheels  198  under a rear portion, a right wheel  198  under a right portion, and two wheels  196  under a front portion.  
         [0085]     One or more of wheels  192  and/or  198  may be configured and located for avoiding interference between wheels  192 ,  198 , and the sides or wheels  92  of outer cart  20  when nesting cart  20  and  30 . Still further, wheel  192 ,  198 , and/or wheels  96  of outer cart  20  may be configured and located for avoiding interference with each other when nesting, or being moved in a nested condition, or both. Such may be the case when wheels or swivel casters or a combination of wheels and swivel casters is used.  
         [0086]     In some instances it may be desirable to use different wheel/caster sizes or heights to avoid such interference when nesting carts, or when carts are being moved together in a nested condition, for example.  
         [0087]     Depending on the intended use, the optimizing of the sizing of the inner cart  30  relative to outer cart  20 , while obtaining the largest wheel footprint for each of the carts, may be a consideration.  
         [0088]     There may be applications for which non-swiveling casters are suited.  
         [0089]      FIG. 4  illustrates schematically a side view of a portion of a further outer cart  210  according to the invention.  
         [0090]     Cart  210  may include a side wall  242 , a top  252 , a rear  256 , and a bottom or bottom shelf  258 . Bottom shelf  258  has no handle as in the cart of  FIG. 1 , bottom shelf  258  being pivotably attached at a pivot point or hinge  260  provided on a portion of cart  210 . Pivot point  260  may be located and configured so that when the bottom shelf  258  is moved from its solid line use or non-nesting position shown in  FIG. 4  to its phantom line non-use or nesting position  258  leaning against rear  256 , the angle and disposition of bottom  258  in its non-use or nesting position leaning against rear  256  is selected so that the force of gravity assists in retaining shelf  258  in its nesting position. In the phantom line nesting position of shelf  258 , an inner cart may be nested in cart  210 , as in the cart system of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0091]     A stop  270  may be provided on side wall  242  forwardly of pivot  260 . Stop  270  may be sized and located to carry a maximum share of forces exerted on shelf  258 , for example, to minimize the share of forces exerted on pivot  260 , in use, depending on the physical requirements of pivot  260  and the expected operating conditions. An opposed side wall, additional stop or stops may be provided, as well as other features set forth elsewhere in the description, as will be appreciated.  
         [0092]     One or more runners or L-shaped or otherwise shaped members may be provided in the interior of the cart, for example. Runners may be useful when the cart is used for supporting elements to be at least temporarily stored and slidably supported on such runners, for example. Such stored elements may include trays as used in the food industry, which trays support loaves of bread, other baked goods, foodstuffs, and other objects, depending on the trade. The cart when so configured may be considered to be a rack, for example. Examples of substantially open racks may be seen in ones of the above-listed Donald M. Hall patents.  
         [0093]     The cart may include a bottom shelf having a left half or left part and a right part. In that manner, the top may be used in a location where the interior height of the cart is lower than is required for using a container of equal interior height having a single bottom shelf, as described above in connection with  FIG. 1 .  
         [0094]     It is further contemplated that the bottom or bottom shelf, as well as one or more of the front, sides, and top, may be slidably secured in a holder or groove provided in the remainder of the cart, for example. In such a case, the removable bottom, for example, could be slid out of engagement with the remainder of the cart when not in use, and then slid into engagement with another portion of the cart, such as in a position extending substantially parallel to one of the sides, front, rear or top.  
         [0095]     The illustrated dimensions on the carts are provided by way of example and are not intended to be limiting.  
         [0096]     While this invention has been described as having a preferred design, it is understood that it is capable of further modifications, and uses and/or adaptations of the invention and following in general the principle of the invention and including such departures from the present disclosure as come within the known or customary practice in the art to which the invention pertains, and as may be applied to the central features hereinbefore set forth, and fall within the scope of the claims set forth herein.