Abstract:
A dolly according includes a deck and a plurality of casters extending downward below the deck. A connector is pivotably connected to the deck and is selectively pivotable between a retracted position and a connecting position. The deck also includes a receiver for receiving the connector of a similar dolly adjacent thereto to connect the dolly to the similar dolly.

Description:
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/975,810, filed Sep. 27, 2007. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Dollies are sometimes used to support goods above the ground and transport goods short distances, such as within a warehouse. A dolly includes a deck for supporting the goods and wheels or casters extending down from the deck. Some dollies are connectable to one another in order to provide a larger support surface. 
     SUMMARY 
     A dolly according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a deck and a plurality of casters extending downward below the deck. A connector is pivotably connected to the deck and is selectively pivotable between a retracted position and a connecting position. The deck also includes a receiver for receiving the connector of a similar dolly adjacent thereto to connect the dolly to the similar dolly. 
     In a method of connecting two dollies according to one embodiment, a connector side of a first dolly and a receiver side of a second dolly are brought toward one another. A connector on the first dolly is rotated about a pivot axis generally parallel to a floor on which the first dolly and second dolly rest, from a retracted position toward a connecting position in which the first dolly and the second dolly are connected. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a connector side of a dolly according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is perspective view of a receiver side of the dolly of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the dolly of  FIG. 1  with the upper deck portion removed. 
         FIG. 4  is a bottom perspective view of the upper deck portion and connector of the dolly of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the dolly of  FIG. 1  with the connector in the deployed position. 
         FIG. 6  is an end view of the dolly of  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the dolly of  FIG. 1  during a first connection step to a similar dolly. 
         FIG. 8  illustrates the dollies of  FIG. 7  connected to one another. 
         FIG. 9  is a section view through the dollies of  FIG. 7  taken along line A-A of  FIG. 7  during an initial connection step. 
         FIG. 10  illustrates the dollies of  FIG. 9  during a second connection step. 
         FIG. 11  illustrates the dollies of  FIG. 9  connected to one another. 
         FIG. 12  is a top view of the dolly of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 13  is an end view of the dolly of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 14  is a connector side view of the dolly of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 15  is a receiver side view of the dolly of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     A dolly  10  according to one embodiment of the present invention is shown in  FIG. 1 . The dolly includes a deck  13  for supporting goods thereon, the deck  13  including an upper deck portion  12  and a lower deck portion  14 . The upper deck portion  12  and lower deck portion  14  define a first side recess  15  in which is pivotably mounted a connector  16 . The connector  16  includes a connector bar  18  connected by a plurality of arms to a pivot bar  22 . A plurality of downwardly curved levers  24  extend from the pivot bar  22  generally opposite the arms  20 . A handle  26  is provided at each end of the dolly  10  (one shown). The handle  26  is connected to (or integrally molded with) the pivot bar  22 , such that rotation of the handle  26  causes corresponding rotation of the pivot bar  22 , arms  20 , connector bar  18  and levers  24 . The connector  16  may be metal or a polymer, such as glass-filled nylon. 
     The lower deck portion  14  includes a ledge  30  protruding laterally from the lower deck portion  14 . A plurality of guide ribs  32  extend upward from the ledge  30  adjacent the levers  24 . 
     A pair of pockets  34  are formed in one end of the upper deck portion  12 . The pockets  34  are configured to receive a pair of connectors from a handle (not shown), such as is known to be used in moving dollies. 
     A plurality of wheels or casters  38  extend downwardly from the lower deck portion  14 . A plurality of recesses  40  are formed in the upper surface of the upper deck portion  12  for receiving the wheels of a similar deck stacked thereon. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates the receiver side of the dolly  10 . The upper deck portion  12  includes a protruding portion  44  defining a large recess  46  in the side of the upper deck portion  12 . The lower deck portion  14  includes a ledge  46  further defining the recess  46  in the upper deck portion  12 . The lower deck portion  14  further includes a plurality of vertical protrusions  48  protruding upwardly from the ledge  46 . The ledge  46  further includes a plurality of channels  50  formed in a lower surface of the ledge  46  and opening outwardly. 
     A pair of pockets  34  are also formed in this end of the upper deck portion  12 . The pockets  34  are configured to receive a pair of connectors from a handle (not shown), such as is known to be used in moving dollies. 
     Further, a pair of pockets  64  are also formed in the recess  46 , in the upper deck portion  12  and the lower deck portion  14 . The pockets  64  are configured to receive a pair of connectors from a handle (not shown). The pockets  64  are partially defined by short walls  66  integrally molded with the lower deck portion  14  at the rear of the recess  46 . Because the pockets  64  are formed inside the recess  46 , indicators  68  are molded into the upper surface of the upper deck portion  12 , aligned with the pockets  64 . This assists the user in locating the handle in to the pockets  64 . 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the dolly  10  with the upper deck portion  12  removed. As shown, the pivot bar  22  of the connector  16  is rotatably supported and retained by pivot bar receivers  52 , into which the pivot bar  22  is snapfit. The lower deck portion  14  includes a grid of ribs  54 , some of which include snapfit connectors  56  at upper ends thereof. 
       FIG. 4  is a bottom perspective view of the upper deck portion  12  and connector  16 . The upper deck portion  12  includes a plurality of ribs  60 , some of which have snapfit connectors  62  formed at lower ends thereof. The pockets  64  are partially defined by curved ribs  70  in the upper deck portion  12 . 
       FIG. 5  shows the assembled dolly  10  with the connector  16  in the deployed position. When the handle  26  is rotated to the position shown, the connector  16  is rotated to where the connector bar  18  protrudes from the side of the dolly  10 , as shown in  FIG. 6 . 
       FIG. 7  illustrates the dolly  10  abutting a similar dolly  10 ′. The protruding portion  44 ′ of the dolly  10 ′ fits into the recessed area  15  of the dolly  10 .  FIG. 8  illustrates that when the dolly  10  and the dolly  10 ′ are connected to one another, their decks are spaced slightly apart from one another. The method of connection is described in more detail in  FIGS. 9-11 . Note that the although the casters  38  are always illustrated with the wheels oriented in the same position, it is understood that they would pivot about their axes (e.g. ninety degrees) to permit one or both of the dollies  10 ,  10 ′ to be rolled toward one another. 
     A section view taken through the dollies  10 ,  10 ′ abutting one another, but not yet connected, is shown in  FIG. 9 . In this position, when the dollies  10 ,  10 ′ are first brought into contact with one another, the lower ledge  46 ′ of the dolly  10 ′ contacts the levers  24  of the connector  16  of the dolly  10 . As the dollies  10 ,  10 ′ are urged toward one another, the connector  16  pivots about the pivot bar  22  to the position shown in  FIG. 10 . The dollies  10 ,  10 ′ are then moved apart slightly so that the bar  10  of the connector  16  is connected behind the vertical protrusions  48 ′ of the dolly  10 ′ as shown in  FIG. 11 . The dollies  10 ,  10 ′ are thus connected such that they can support goods on their decks together and be moved along a floor together as a single unit. In order to disconnect the two dollies  10 ,  10 ′, the handle  26  can be rotated back to the position shown in  FIG. 1 . This causes the connector  16  to pivot and move the connector bar  18  out from behind the vertical protrusions  48 ′ of the dolly  10 ′.  FIG. 12  is a top view of the dolly  10 .  FIG. 13  is an end view of the dolly  10 .  FIG. 14  is a connector side view of the dolly  10 .  FIG. 15  is a receiver side view of the dolly  10 . 
     In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes and jurisprudence, exemplary configurations described above are considered to represent a preferred embodiment of the invention. However, it should be noted that the invention can be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described without departing from its spirit or scope. Alphanumeric identifiers on method steps are for convenient reference in dependent claims and do not signify a required sequence of performance unless otherwise indicated in the claims.