Abstract:
A wheeled cart capable of rolling along a first environmental surface, which may carry a plurality of storage receptacles in gimballing fashion thereon, and which enables the wheeled cart to be slid onto an elevated second environmental surface. The wheeled cart comprises a base supporting wheels and two upright support posts. A subframe supporting the storage receptacles is pivotally and slidably mounted to the upright support posts. The subframe may be inclined from its usual vertical orientation to a horizontal orientation and slid onto the second environmental surface. The base and support posts may be inclined from their usual vertical orientation to reassume longitudinal alignment with the subframe. Contents of the storage receptacles are thus moved en masse onto the second environmental surface without requiring removal from the wheeled cart, while constantly assuming their orientation relative to a vertical direction because of gimballing action of the storage receptacles.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to wheeled carts for supporting and transporting storage receptacles, and more particularly to a wheeled cart which is adapted to be tilted towards and slid onto an elevated horizontal environmental surface. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Wheeled carts for transporting tools, small parts, work materials, displays, and the like are known. A wheeled cart is practical to move about on a smooth, flat environmental surface. However, should the cart require transport from one locale to another, maneuvering the cart may become difficult. This is particularly true when the cart must be moved from one premises to a transport vehicle to a second premises. The overall weight of the loaded cart may require that a number of people assist in lifting and maneuvering the cart. Also, should the cart be utilized to contain many small objects such as tools, replacement parts, or any other objects which have been placed in organized order within the cart, tipping the cart in the course of moving it may objectionably cause the contained objects to become disorganized. Should the objects contain fluent materials which are not fully enclosed, such as bowls of soup, cans of paint, receptacles of powdered substances, and the like, these fluent materials may be spilled, mixed, and otherwise rendered unuseful when the cart is maneuvered. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The present invention provides a wheeled cart or rack which is adapted to accommodate being tilted from a generally vertical orientation to a generally horizontal orientation without unduly disturbing contents of the wheeled cart or rack. The cart may comprise a base on which are mounted a plurality of wheels and an upwardly projecting support frame. A subframe is supported on the support frame in a manner enabling both pivoting or teetering of the subframe relative to the base, and also, lateral movement of the subframe relative to the base. At least one storage compartment is pivotally mounted to the subframe, so as to remain upright by gimballing action. 
         [0004]    Initially, the frame and subframe are aligned in vertical orientation. When moving the cart from a floor or similar horizontal surface to an elevated horizontal surface, such as a bed of a transport vehicle, a loading dock, a platform of a scaffold, or other surface, the cart is wheeled to close proximity to the elevated surface. The subframe is tilted from its initial vertical orientation relative to the vertically oriented frame until the subframe is horizontally oriented, the frame remaining in the original vertical orientation. The subframe may then be slid horizontally onto the elevated surface. Its weight is borne on integral runners or other support structure as it is slid along the elevated surface. The frame may then be pivoted about the teetering axis until it is once again aligned with the subframe, but with both now horizontally oriented. The frame and subframe may then be locked together to preserve the aligned condition. 
         [0005]    The storage compartment or compartments, suspended from the subframe, remain in their original vertical orientation due to the gimballing action throughout the entire transition of the cart from vertical to horizontal. This preserves the order of the small parts, fluent materials, and other objects which may be contained in organized fashion within the storage compartment or compartments. Yet the cart remains easily tilted and loaded from one surface to another, without requiring either that the storage receptacles or their contents be removed to preserve their original order. This greatly expedites moving the cart and its contents simultaneously when the cart is loaded onto the bed of a transport vehicle or other elevated surface. 
         [0006]    The cart may have a locking arrangement for locking the frame to the subframe and for locking the storage compartments to the subframe to prevent unintended tilting of one relative to the other, which stabilizes the cart and the storage compartments when not being loaded onto the elevated environmental surface. 
         [0007]    A damper may be provided to control otherwise unrestrained swinging of the subframe on the frame. 
         [0008]    A height adjustment may be provided to adjust the final height of the subframe on the frame to accommodate loading onto elevated surfaces of different heights above the floor on which the cart initially rolls. Such accommodation may enable the subframe to slide in a purely horizontal direction onto its new supporting surface. 
         [0009]    It is an object of the invention to provide a wheeled cart which carries at least one storage receptacle, and which can be easily moved from one elevation to another. 
         [0010]    Another object of the invention is to assure that the storage receptacle or receptacles may remain upright throughout the transition in orientation of the cart as it is tilted when being moved from one elevation to another. 
         [0011]    It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof by apparatus for the purposes described which is inexpensive, dependable, and fully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes. 
         [0012]    These and other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]    Various objects, features, and attendant advantages of the present invention will become more fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein: 
           [0014]      FIG. 1  is an environmental side view of a wheeled cart according to at least one aspect of the invention, showing the wheeled cart in an initial position. 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is a side view of the wheeled cart of  FIG. 1 , but showing a component inclined from the initial position. 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is similar to  FIG. 2 , but shows the tilted component fully tilted. 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  is an environmental side view of the wheeled cart of  FIG. 1  being loaded onto a transport vehicle, with a portion of the transport vehicle broken away to reveal otherwise concealed detail. 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  is an environmental side view similar to  FIG. 4 , but showing a further stage of progress of loading the wheeled cart onto the transport vehicle. 
           [0019]      FIG. 6  is an environmental side view similar to  FIG. 5 , but showing a final stage of progress. 
           [0020]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a major component of the wheeled cart of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0021]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of another major component of the wheeled cart of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0022]      FIG. 9  is an exploded perspective detail view showing connection of some of the components of the wheeled cart of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0023]      FIG. 10  is a perspective detail view of a locking bar shown in its assembled position in  FIG. 11 . 
           [0024]      FIG. 11  is an exaggerated enlarged perspective detail view of the components seen at the top center of  FIG. 3 , but with the addition of the locking bar depicted in its entirety in  FIG. 10 , drawn to compressed scale in the length dimension. 
           [0025]      FIG. 12  is a simplified side view of the wheeled cart of  FIG. 1 , shown with an optional feature added. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0026]    The structure of the present invention is best understood when maneuvering of the subject wheeled cart such as the wheeled cart  10  is understood. The wheeled cart  10  is adapted to be readily moved from one horizontal surface to an elevated horizontal surface. This is shown in successive stages of progress in  FIGS. 1-6 . A quick review of these Figs. will give the reader an intuitive general understanding of the function of the wheeled cart  10  before structural details of the wheeled cart  10  are presented. 
         [0027]    Greater detail of the wheeled cart  10  will be described, referring first to  FIG. 1 . The wheeled cart  10  according to at least one aspect of the invention is shown in its usual upright position, supported on a first horizontal environmental surface such as a floor  2 . The wheeled cart  10  may be rolled on its wheels  12 A,  12 B (only two wheels  12 A,  12 B are visible; additional wheels may be present but are concealed from view in the side view of  FIG. 1 ). The wheels  12 A,  12 B may be caster type wheels to facilitate turning the wheeled cart  10  on the floor  2 . 
         [0028]    The wheeled cart may comprise a structural base  14  to which the wheels  12 A,  12 B are mounted to project downwardly from the base, thereby supporting the base  14  above the floor  2 . A support frame  16  projects upwardly from the base  14 . It should be noted at this point that orientational terms such as upwardly and laterally refer to the subject drawing as viewed by an observer. The drawing figures depict their subject matter in orientations of normal use, which could obviously change should the subject wheeled cart  10  be repositioned. Therefore, orientational terms must be understood to provide semantic basis for purposes of description, and do not limit the invention or its component parts in any particular way. 
         [0029]    The support frame  16  may comprise two spaced apart upright support posts fixed to the base  14  (only one upright support post  18 A is visible in the side view of  FIG. 1 ; the concealed support post  18 B, seen in  FIG. 7 , may be similar in structure). A bumper post  20 A may project laterally from the upright support post  18 A. The function of the bumper post  20 A will be explained hereinafter. A subframe  22  may be mounted to the support frame  16  so as to be able to both pivot on the support frame  16  about a horizontal axis (seen in end view in  FIG. 1  as the end of a pin  24 ) and to be able to translate horizontally with respect to the support frame  16  independently of pivoting on the support frame  16  about the pin  24 . This will be addressed hereinafter with reference to  FIG. 2 . 
         [0030]    At least one storage receptacle is pivotably mounted to the subframe  22 . According to one aspect of the invention, preferably at least two storage receptacles and most preferably, three storage receptacles  26 A,  26 B,  26 C are provided and so mounted. 
         [0031]    Each one of the storage receptacles  26 A,  26 B,  26 C may be pivotally mounted to the subframe  22  at a point above the center of gravity of the storage receptacle  26 A,  26 B, or  26 C such that each storage receptacle  26 A,  26 B, or  26 C remains in an upright orientation by gimballing action when the subframe  22  is inclined relative to a vertical direction. For example, pins  28 A,  28 B,  28 C (seen only in end view in  FIG. 1 ) may be fixed to the side rail  18  and project towards the storage receptacles  26 A,  26 B, and  26 C. The storage receptacles  26 A,  26 B,  26 C may comprise journals (not visible in  FIG. 1 ) which receive the pins  28 A,  28 B,  28 C to enable pivoting as described. Additional pins may be provided in the unseen support post  18 B so that each storage receptacle  26 A,  26 B,  26 C is supported stably at two opposed ends. 
         [0032]    Any or all of the storage receptacles  26 A,  26 B,  26 C, not depicted in extreme detail, may comprise at least one drawer (not shown) which can be pulled out from and slid back into the storage receptacle  26 A,  26 B, or  26 C. The storage receptacles  26 A,  26 B,  26 C may take the form of tool chests (not separately shown) for example. Commercially available tool chests having sliding shelves are well known and need not be further detailed herein. 
         [0033]    Still referring again to  FIG. 1 , the upright support post  18 A has a longitudinal center line  70  which is vertically oriented in the initial position of the wheeled cart  10 . The bumper post  20 A is seen to extend from the longitudinal center line  70 , projecting in the same direction as that in which the runners  38 A,  38 B of the subframe  22  project from the side rails  36 A, and  36 B of the subframe  22 . The distance of projection of the bumper post  20 A, which is called out by an arrow  72  is greater than the maximal distance of projection by the runner  38 A from the longitudinal axis  70 , the latter distance being called out by an arrow  74 . It will further be seen that the distance signified by the arrow  74  is smaller than the distance from the longitudinal center line  70  to the projection line  76 , which projection line  76  demarcates the left edge of the base  14 . This distance is called out by an arrow  78 . When considered in the side view of  FIG. 1 , the upright support posts  18 A,  18 B are collectively located geometrically off-center relative to the base  14  such that when the subframe  22  is in longitudinal alignment with the upright support posts  18 A,  18 B, as seen in  FIG. 1 , the combined weights of the upright support posts  18 A,  18 B, the subframe  22 , and the storage receptacles  26 A,  26 B,  26 C are centered relative to the base  14 . 
         [0034]    The base  14  and support frame  16  are seen in perspective view in  FIG. 7 . The upright support post  18 A is seen to be telescopically receiving a stub post  30 A, thus being telescopically adjustable in height above the base  14 . The stub post  30 A is fixed to the base  14  and slides within the hollow interior of the upright support post  18 A. The upright support post  18 A and the stub post  30 A may be secured in any one of a number of relative positions by an arrangement of aligned holes and pin. This type of arrangement is a well known expedient for securing concentric posts together, and need not be further detailed herein. 
         [0035]    The support frame  16  is seen with both upright support posts  18 A,  18 B, the latter being in the depiction of  FIG. 7  a mirror image of the former. Each one of the upright support posts  18 A or  18 B is joined to the other upright support post  18 B or  18 A by a sturdy beam  32  which is solidly fixed to both of the upright support posts  18 A,  18 B. 
         [0036]      FIG. 7  also illustrates an optional screw jack  34  which may be disposed to lift the upright support posts  18 A,  18 B to effect vertical adjustment of height of the upright support posts  18 A,  18 B above the base  14 . The screw jack  34  enables fine adjustment of height while overcoming the combined weight of the support frame  16  and the storage receptacles  26 A,  26 B,  26 C, which weight may be considerable. 
         [0037]      FIG. 8  advantageously depicts the nature of the subframe  22 . The subframe  22  is seen to comprise two parallel spaced apart side rails  36 A (visible in  FIG. 1 ),  36 B (concealed from view in  FIG. 1 ) and two spaced apart runners  38 A (visible in  FIG. 1) and 38B  (concealed from view in  FIG. 1 ). Each runner  38 A or  38 B is coupled to one of the side rails  36 A or  36 B. The runner  38 A may comprise a curved first end  40  structurally joined to an end  44  of the side rail  36 A and an opposed curved second end  42  structurally joined to an opposed end  46  of the side rail  36 A. The runner  38 B may be a mirror image of the runner  38 A, having the same side rail and runner characteristics but in reverse configuration. The side rails  36 A,  36 B and the runners  38 A,  38 B may be joined to one another in parallel, spaced apart relationship by respective end braces  48 ,  50  and center braces  52 ,  54 . 
         [0038]      FIG. 8  also shows longitudinally oriented slots  56  and a mirror image slot  58  hidden in this figure by slide rail  36 B formed respectively in the side rails  36 A,  36 B. Referring again to  FIG. 7 , the upright support post  18 A comprises a projecting finger  60  having an enlarged head in the form for example of a slide block  62  which engages the slot  56  of the side rail  36 A. The upright support post  18 B, being a mirror image of the upright support post  18 A, has an equivalent finger  64  and enlarged head in the form of a slide block  66 . The projecting fingers  60 ,  64  are axially aligned with one another to establish a horizontal axis of pivot  68  extending between the side rails  36 A,  36 B (when the subframe  22  is assembled to the support frame  16 , as seen in  FIG. 1 ) such that the subframe  22  is engaged and supported at two opposed sides and can pivot about the horizontal axis of pivot  68 . 
         [0039]    The subframe  22  can slide laterally with respect to the projecting fingers  60 ,  64  independently of pivoting about the horizontal axis of pivot  68 . Lateral slide is illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . With the subframe  22  and the storage receptacles  26 A,  26 B,  26 C moved to a horizontal orientation, this referring to the longitudinal dimension of the referenced subframe  22  from the vertical orientation seen in  FIG. 1 , the subframe  22  slides laterally to the right, as seen in  FIG. 4 . Lateral sliding is accommodated by the length of the slot  56 . 
         [0040]    This sliding action is illustrated in greater detail in  FIG. 9 . The upright support post  18 A is seen to have a square boss  80  which projects laterally therefrom when the upright support post  18 A is vertically oriented. The finger  60  continues the projection of the square boss  80 . The finger  60  terminates in the slide block  62  which is dimensioned and configured to fit into the hollow interior  86  of the side rail  36 A. The finger  60  passes through the slot  56  formed in the side rail  36 A and engages the slide block  62 . The side rail  36 A can slide laterally, along its longitudinal center line  88  until the finger  60  contacts an end of the slot  56 . Thus the length of the slot  56  limits travel of the side rail  36 A. The slot  56  extends along most of the length of one side of the side rail  36 A, as best seen in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . 
         [0041]    Again referring to  FIG. 9 , the finger  60  may be immovably fixed to the boss  80  and may turn within the slide block  62 , or alternatively, the finger  60  may be fixed to the slide block  62  and turn relative to the boss  80 . The finger  60  may turn relative to both the boss  80  and the slide block  62  if desired. Regardless of which of these options is selected, it is seen that the arrangement of the finger  60  and slide block  62  enables both pivoting of the side rail  36 A bout the axis  90  of the finger  60 , and independently of pivot, enables the side rail  36 A to translate along its length relative to the finger  60  and the upright support post  18 A. A pin  92  is fixed to the side rail  36 A so as to project laterally therefrom in the direction of the storage receptacle  26 A. The pin  92  may enter a close fitting hole  94  formed in a boss  96  and thus be rotatably journaled within the boss  96 . This enables the storage receptacle  26 A to be pivotally suspended from the side rail  36 A. Of course, the side rail  36 B may be formed in mirror image fashion, so that there is provided an opposed pin (not shown) to assure that the storage receptacle  26 A be rotatably journaled at opposed sides. Pivot or rotation of the storage receptacle  26 A is indicated by an arrow  98 . The remaining storage receptacles  26 B,  26 C (see  FIG. 1 ) may be similarly supported. Preferably, the pivot should be located above the midpoint position so that the subframe-rack combination can more easily rest in the vertical/upright position. 
         [0042]    The wheeled cart  10  may comprise a locking feature which releasably locks the subframe  22  in longitudinal alignment with the upright support posts  18 A,  18 B. This is shown in  FIGS. 10 and 11 .  FIG. 10  shows the side rail  36 A assembled to the upright support post  18 A via the boss  80  and the finger  60 . A locking bar  100  may fit slidably in close cooperation with and onto the side rail  36 A. The locking bar may have a top panel  102  from which depends a first short wall  104  and an opposed second short wall  106 . The short wall  104  may have three tabs  106 A,  106 B,  106 C to which are fixed respective sockets  108 A,  108 B, and  108 C. Each socket  108 A,  108 B, or  108 C is dimensioned and configured to fit in close cooperation over the boss of one of the storage receptacles  26 A,  26 B, or  26 C, such as the boss  96  of the storage receptacle  26 A (see  FIG. 9 ). The short wall  106  may have one socket  110  (see  FIG. 10 ), which is dimensioned and configured to fit in close cooperation over the boss  80  of the upright support post  18 A (see  FIG. 10 ). The locking bar  100  may be grasped by an integral handle  112  and slid along the side rail  36 A in directions indicated by an arrow  114 . 
         [0043]    The locking bar  100 , once the sockets  108 A,  108 B,  108 C, and  110  slide over their respective associated bosses  80 ,  96  (and those bosses, not shown) formed on the remaining storage receptacles  26 B and  26 C, the subframe  22  is constrained against pivoting about the axis of the pin  24  (see  FIG. 1 ), and the storage receptacles  26 A,  26 B,  26 C are constrained against pivoting relative to the subframe  22 . The engaged position of the locking bar  100  would be attained when the locking bar  100  is slid along the side rail  36 A until the socket  110  fully engages the boss  80 . In the engaged position, a slot  116  overlies a threaded hole  118 . A threaded fastener such as a bolt  120  may then be screwed into the threaded hole  118  to releasably secure the locking bar  100  in the engaged position to the side rail  36 A of the subframe  22  at any selected location along the length of the side rail  36 A within a limited range of travel corresponding to the length of the slot  116 . A second slot  122  may be provided for redundantly securing the locking bar  100 , for which a second threaded hole (not shown) and a second threaded fastener (not shown) would be provided. 
         [0044]    When the bolt  120  is slackened within the hole  118 , the locking bar  100  may be slid into a disengaged position wherein the sockets  108 A,  108 B,  108 C and  110  are disengaged from their respective bosses such as the bosses  80  and  96 . 
         [0045]    The locking bar  100  is functional to slide into the engaged position, which locks the subframe  22  in longitudinal alignment with the upright support posts  18 A and  18 B, and the disengaged position, wherein the subframe  22  is not locked in longitudinal alignment with the upright support posts  18 A and  18 B. In the engaged position, the locking bar  100  may interact with the storage receptacles  26 A,  26 B,  26 C to oppose pivot of every one of the storage receptacles  26 A,  26 B, and  26 C relative to the subframe  22 . 
         [0046]      FIG. 12  shows the wheeled cart  10  in simplified form, wherein it comprises a damper such as a hydraulic shock absorber  124  which is disposed to limit velocity of pivot of the subframe  22  about the upright support posts  18 A, and  18 B of the support frame  16 . It will be appreciated that in light of the potential weight of the subframe  22  and storage receptacles  26 A,  26 B,  26 C, especially with the latter loaded with metallic objects such as tools, the pivotal mass may become greater than is intuitively anticipated and readily controllable by a person using the wheeled cart  10 . The damper feature may assist in maintaining control of the pivotal assembly or mitigating impacts arising therefrom. The shock absorber  124  may be pivotally anchored to the base  14  by a pin and yoke arrangement  126 , and by an expansible member such as a spring  128  anchored to the subframe  22 . 
         [0047]    In operation, and referring again to  FIGS. 1-6 , the wheeled cart  100  may be rolled along a first horizontal surface such as a floor  2 . When the wheeled cart is to be transported, it may be wheeled close to a transport vehicle such as a pickup truck  4  (not shown in its entirety; see  FIG. 4 ). The subframe  22  may be inclined from the initial vertical orientation of  FIG. 1  until the subframe  22  is horizontally oriented, as seen in  FIG. 3 .  FIG. 2  depicts an intermediate degree of inclination of the subframe  22 . Note that throughout inclination, the storage receptacles  26 A,  26 B,  26 C remain in their original orientation. 
         [0048]    Referring specifically to  FIG. 4 , the wheeled cart  10  is brought into abutment with the bed  6  of the pickup truck  4 . The bumper posts  20 A,  20 B make contact first, preventing the runners  38 A,  38 B from contacting the bed  6 . The subframe  22  may then be slid onto the bed  6 . 
         [0049]    As seen in  FIG. 5 , the base  14  and support frame  16  are tilted upwardly as a unit from the vertical position seen in  FIG. 4 . With all weight of the wheeled cart  10  now imposed on the bed  6  of the pickup truck, the wheeled cart  10  may be slid along the bed  6  on the runners  38 A,  38 B, as seen in  FIG. 6 . The base  14  and support frame  16  may be slid until the finger  60  abuts the distal end  128  of the slot  56 . At this point, the locking bar  100  (see  FIG. 10 ) may be deployed to prevent mutual pivot or rotation between the support frame  16  and the subframe  22 . The wheeled cart  10  may of course be slid fully onto the bed  6  of the pickup truck  4  and suitably restrained or lashed down. 
         [0050]    Upon reaching a destination, the wheeled cart  10  may be lowered to the ground by reversing the above recited procedure, and wheeled to a new desired location. 
         [0051]    Although the invention has been described in terms of certain components being referred to in either the singular or the plural, other arrangements are possible. For example, it is to be understood that due to the conceptual description presented herein, components presented in the plural may be provided in the singular. Illustratively, the wheeled cart  10  may be utilized to carry only one storage receptacle such as the storage receptacle  26 A. The arrangement including a support frame  16  having two upright support posts  18 A,  18 B supporting one subframe  22  may be replaced by a single central support frame on which are mounted two surrounding subframes with associated storage receptacles (this option is not shown). 
         [0052]    The present invention is susceptible to modifications and variations which may be introduced thereto without departing from the inventive concepts. For example, the hydraulic shock absorber  124  of  FIG. 12  may be replaced by an elastic member, a friction generating arrangement, a variable pitch spring, or still other arrangements. 
         [0053]    While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the present invention is not to be limited to the disclosed arrangements, but is intended to cover various arrangements which are included within the spirit and scope of the broadest possible interpretation of the appended claims so as to encompass all modifications and equivalent arrangements which are possible.