Patent Publication Number: US-7909685-B2

Title: Flexible service cart

Description:
This application claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/772,277; filed Feb. 10, 2006; entitled “Flexible Service Cart;” the entirety of which provisional application is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to service carts useful in a variety of work environments, including facilities for servicing automobiles. More particularly, the present invention relates to service carts that are capable of being flexibly configured to carry and store both diagnostic tools and repair tools to meet the needs of a variety of work environments. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Many work environments, including such work environments as facilities for servicing automobiles, hospitals, factories, and laboratories, have need for tool carts that can store easily-reachable tools needed for repair, such as tools needed to repair an automobile. Industry has provided tool carts in an effort to meet these needs. Many work environments also have need of diagnostic tools, such as a computer, that are easily reachable and industry has provided various computer workstations, computer stands or carts, and diagnostic workstations or carts in an effort to meet these needs. However, there exists a need for service carts that can hold both diagnostic tools and repair tools and that can be easily configurable or customizable for different work environments or worker preferences. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides for service carts that can be advantageously used to hold both diagnostic tools and repair tools and can be flexibly configured or customized for different work environments or worker preferences. The service carts include a cabinet having two side outer-walls, a back outer-wall, a bottom, and a top. In a first preferred embodiment the cabinet includes a plurality of configurable storage spaces with each storage space having a height that is approximately an integer multiple of a minimum storage space height. In a second preferred embodiment, the cabinet includes an electrical outlet box inside the cabinet, the outlet box being electrically connected to an electrical power cord external to the cabinet; and at least one drawer having an electrical outlet positioned inside the drawer and electrically connected to the electrical outlet box. In a third preferred embodiment, the cabinet top comprises a plurality of slots adapted to hold mounting brackets adjustable along a length of the slots. In other preferred embodiment, the cabinet includes a fan that pulls air into the cabinet through a filter. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above and further advantages of this invention 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 the various figures. The drawings are not meant to limit the scope of the invention. For clarity, not every element may be labeled in every figure. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. 
         FIG. 1  shows a configuration in accordance with the present invention, including a back outer-wall, a left-side outer-wall, and a right-side outer-wall. 
         FIG. 2  shows a view of a side inner-wall in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 2A  shows a view of the side inner-wall shown in  FIG. 2  taken in the direction indicated by the line A-A. 
         FIG. 2B  shows a view of the side inner-wall shown in  FIG. 2  taken in the direction indicated by the line B-B. 
         FIG. 3  shows a configuration in accordance with the present invention, wherein the side inner-wall of  FIG. 2  is attached to the left-side outer-wall of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  shows a cabinet of the present invention with vertical bumper-handles and a shelf attached to the cabinet. 
         FIG. 5  shows an embodiment of the present invention illustrating configurable storage spaces. 
         FIG. 6  is a view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 5  rotated 180 degrees so as to illustrate the back of the embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides for service carts that can be advantageously used to hold both diagnostic tools and repair tools and can be flexibly configured, re-configured, and customized for different work environments or worker preferences. The service carts comprise a cabinet having a bottom, a top, two side outer-walls, and a back outer-wall. In preferred embodiments, the service carts of the present invention have a plurality of configurable storage spaces. Each storage space has a height that is approximately an integer multiple of a minimum storage space height. In one preferred embodiment, the minimum, storage space height is about 3 inches. Storage spaces include drawers and shelving space, for example. The storage spaces are configurable or customizable as they can have many different heights and be rearranged in substantially any order from top to bottom. 
     In preferred embodiments, service carts of the present invention have what is referred to herein as “in-the-drawer” power. An electrical outlet box is positioned inside the cabinet and is preferably attached to an inside surface of the back outer-wall. The outlet box is electrically connected to an electrical power cord that passes through the back outer-wall and can be plugged into an available electrical power outlet such as a standard wall outlet. With in-the-drawer power, at least one electrical outlet is positioned inside one or more drawers. Preferably, the electrical outlet is attached to a side, preferably a back wall, of the drawer. The outlet can be attached with any known means such as screws or bolts, for example. An electrical cord connects the electrical outlet in the drawer to the electrical outlet (described above) positioned inside the cabinet and preferably attached to an inside surface of the back outer-wall. As the drawer is opened and closed the electrical outlet and the connecting cord will move accordingly. Thus, the service cart is designed so that there is space between any drawers or shelves and the back-wall of the cabinet sufficient to allow movement of the connecting electrical cord. The in-the-drawer power allows any electronic device to be easily connected to an electrical power supply while the device is in the drawer. This is particularly advantageous for electronic devices that need to be recharged. Whenever the device is in the drawer, it can be easily plugged into the electrical outlet and left to recharge as long as it stays in the drawer. If desired, a lock can be put on the drawer so the recharging device can be secured while recharging. For example, an electronic device can be recharged overnight so that it is fully charged at the start of the next work day. When the device is needed, it can be removed from the drawer by unplugging it or removing from a charging station. 
     In preferred embodiments, At least one of the sides of the cabinet has an inner-wall attached to it. Preferably, both cabinet sides have an inner-wall attached to it. There is sufficient space between the inner-walls and the outer-walls to allow placement and movement of electrical cords. Electrical cords that may be placed between the inner-walls and the outer-walls may include, for example, power cords, including power cords for recharging electronic devices, and communications cables such as USB cables, phone cables, and data cables. The inner-walls have holes sufficient for passage of electrical cords from inside the cabinet, through the holes in the inner-walls, and back to the electrical outlet box (i.e., for power cords) or to a communications plate (i.e., for communication cords). 
     Preferable embodiments of the present invention will also have a communications plate positioned on the back outer-wall. The communications plate will advantageously comprise one or more communications jacks such as USB, RJ11, or RJ45, for example. Communications cables can be plugged into jacks on the outside of the communications plate and communications cables from electronic devices inside the cabinet can be positioned through the holes in the inner-wall(s) or through holes in the back of a drawer, for example, and plugged into jacks on the inside of the cabinet. In this manner, electronic devices can be placed in a drawer, or on a shelf in the cabinet, and plugged into power cables or communications cables. When the devices need to be removed from the cabinet, they can be easily unplugged from any cables and removed from the cabinet. 
       FIG. 1  shows a configuration  100  useful in embodiments of the present invention. The configuration  100  includes a back outer-wall  104 , a left-side outer-wall  102 , and a right-side outer-wall  106 . In preferred embodiments of the present invention, the back outer-wall  104  includes a removable rear-access panel  108 . Also, the back outer-wall  104  will preferably include a hole  110  for inserting a fan (not shown in  FIG. 1 ). All three walls have numerous holes for inserting screws, bolts, rivets, etc. for attaching miscellaneous items as described herein. 
       FIGS. 2 ,  2 A, and  2 B show three different views of a side inner-wall  200 .  FIG. 2A  is a view of the side inner-wall  200  taken in the direction A as indicated.  FIG. 2B  is a view of the side inner-wall  200  taken in the direction B as indicated. Preferably, side inner-walls are manufactured as “hat sections” as shown in  FIG. 2B . The brim  204  of the hat section is typically used to attach the side inner-wall  200  to a side outer-wall as shown in  FIG. 3 . The inside surface  202  of the side inner-wall  202  faces the inside of the cabinet as shown in  FIG. 3 . 
     The side inner-wall  200  includes numerous larger holes  206  and smaller holes  208 . The holes  206 ,  208  can be manufactured as imperforations or imprints, typically referred to as punch-outs, that can be removed to create a true hole in the side inner-wall  200 . The larger holes  206  are sufficiently large to allow passage of electrical cords, such as the cords discussed above. 
     The distance between the smaller holes  208  defines the minimum, storage space height. In one preferred embodiment, these holes are positioned about 3 inches apart, making the minimum, storage space height about 3 inches. These holes  208  are adapted to allow shelves or drawer mounts, for example, to be attached to the side inner-wall  200 . The height of storage spaces in service carts of the present invention are approximately an integer multiple of the minimum, storage space height. For example, if two shelves are positioned at consecutive holes  208 , the distance between the two shelves (that is, the storage space height) would be approximately equal to the minimum, storage space height (for example, 3 inches). If the two shelves are positioned such that there is an unused hole  208  between the two shelves, then the distance between the two shelves would be twice the minimum, storage space height (for example, six inches). 
       FIG. 3  shows a configuration  300  useful in embodiments of the present invention, wherein the side inner-wall  200  has been attached to the left-side outer-wall  102 . The side inner-walls can be attached to side outer-walls in any manner known in the art. 
       FIG. 4  shows a configuration  400  useful in embodiments of the present invention. In this configuration  400 , a rectangular top  404  and a rectangular bottom  402  (or base) are attached to the back outer-wall  104 , the left-side outer-wall  102 , and the right-side outer-wall  106 . A top, bottom, back outer-wall, left-side outer-wall, and right-side outer-wall are collectively referred to herein as a cabinet. Four vertical bumper-handles  408  (three shown) are attached to the top  404  and the bottom  402  near each corner of the top  404  and bottom  402 . A shelf  406  is attached to both the left-side inner-wall  200  and the right-side inner-wall (not shown). 
     In preferred embodiments, the bottom  402  will have four caster assemblies (not shown) attached to it, one caster assembly at each corner of the bottom  402 . Caster assemblies are known in the art and the type of caster assembly and the means for attaching the assemblies to the bottom  402  are not particularly critical to the present invention. In fact, a stationary service cart can be produced in accordance with the present invention without caster assemblies. 
     The vertical bumper-handles  408  serve as bumpers, providing a cushioning effect that enables a user to move the service cart from place to place in a manner that both protects sensitive electronic equipment carried by the service cart and protects other neighboring equipment, vehicles, walls, etc. from damage when inevitable minor collisions occur. The bumper-handles  408  also serve as handles, allowing a user to easily grab on to the cart and pull or push the cart into a desired position. 
     Preferred embodiments of the present invention include a plurality of slots on the top, the slots being adapted to hold mounting brackets adjustable along the length of the slots. In preferred embodiments, the top also includes a lip on at least one side of the top. For example, the top  404  includes a lip  412  on three sides of the top  404 . The lip  412  significantly reduces the chance that loose items will slide or roll off of the top  404 . 
     The top  404  includes eight slots  410  for use with mounting brackets  508  ( FIG. 5 ). Other embodiments may use a greater or a lesser number of slots. The mounting brackets  508  can be adjusted by loosening the brackets  508  and sliding the loosened brackets  508  along the length of the slot to a desired position. Once a bracket  508  is in the desired position it can be tightened again. In this manner, a plurality of mounting brackets  508  can be used to hold in place a computer monitor, for example, with virtually any size or shape base. The plurality of brackets  508  can be adjusted so they are positioned around the monitor base and tightened to hold the monitor base in place. The mounting brackets  508  may also be advantageously utilized to hold other items, such as a laptop computer or electronic tools, for example. 
     The configuration  400  in  FIG. 4  shows a shelf  406  attached to both the left inner-wall  200  and the right inner-wall (not shown) using the fifth row of holes  208  from the bottom  402 . Thus, the height of the storage space below the shelf will be about five times the minimum, storage space height. Since the side inner-walls are not flush against the bottom  402 , the very lowest storage space will have an additional space equal to about the minimum, storage space height. 
       FIG. 5  shows the configuration  400  with a door  506  attached in a manner such that, when the door  506  is closed, it covers the storage space below the shelf  406  and covers the storage space above the shelf  406 . Alternately, doors that are hinged at the bottom to form drop down doors, instead of hinged at the side like the door  506  in  FIG. 5 , can be advantageously utilized in embodiments of the present invention.  FIG. 5  also illustrates a drawer  504  having a height approximately equal to the minimum, storage space height and a larger drawer  502  having a height approximately equal to three times the minimum height. Either or both drawers may have in-the-drawer power as described above. Thus, the configuration  500  provides a storage space below the shelf  406  equal to about five times the minimum height, a storage space above the shelf  406  equal to about five times the minimum height, a first drawer  504  equal to about the minimum height, and a second drawer  502  equal to about three times the minimum height. 
     Service carts of the present invention are re-configurable so they can be customized to a particular user&#39;s needs. For example, the shelf  406  can be raised or lowered, changing the height of the storage space above or below it. If the shelf  406  were raised to the next highest set of holes  208 , then the storage space below the shelf  406  would be increased to a height equal to about six times the minimum height and the storage space above the shelf  406  (and below the first drawer  504 ) would be reduced to a height equal about four times the minimum height. The positions of the first drawer  504  and the second drawer  502  could be exchanged, putting the first drawer  504  on top (that is, closer to the top of the cabinet) and the second drawer  502  just below the first drawer  504 . Alternately, the second drawer  502  could be replaced with two smaller drawers. For example, the second drawer  502  could be replaced with a drawer the same height as the first drawer  405  and another drawer having a height about three times the minimum height. 
       FIG. 6  shows a view of the configuration  500  rotated 180 degrees so that the back outer-wall  104  and the left outer-wall  102  are visible. The back outer-wall  104  includes a rear-access panel  602  that allows a user to easily reach into the inside of the cabinet from the back when the panel  602  is removed. For example, users can reach into the cabinet to add, remove, or reposition electrical cords by pulling the cords through the holes  206  in the side inner-walls. The electrical cords can be easily plugged into or removed from the portion of the communications plate  604  facing the inside of the cabinet. Other equipment may also be inserted into, repositioned, or removed from the cabinet through the rear-access panel  602  as well. The rear-access panel  602  also includes cooling vents that enable the electronic equipment contained within the cabinet to be ventilated. The cooling vents are not required to be on the rear-access panel  602 , but may be positioned in one or more places on any of the outer-walls. 
     The rear outer-wall  104  also includes a communications plate  604 , a fan  606  for venting the cabinet, a power switch  610 , a power cord portal  612 , and a power cord rack  614 . The power cord portal  612  allows a power cord (not shown) that is electrically attached to an electrical outlet box (not shown) inside the cabinet to pass through the back outer-wall  104  so that in can be plugged into any electrical outlet available externally to the cabinet, such as a standard electrically outlet in a wall. When not in use, the power cord can be stored by winding it around the power cord rack  614 . The power switch  610  allows the power inside the cabinet to be turned off while the power cord remains plugged into an outlet. Thus, the power switch  610  serves as a master on/off switch that allows all electrical equipment inside the cabinet to be turned off while the power cord is still plugged into an external outlet. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the fan  606  pulls air into the cabinet, through a filter, at a rate of about 70 cfm. This results in an air flow through the cabinet of the service cart that helps cool any electronic equipment inside the cart. Preferably, the air is pulled into the cabinet at a rate sufficient to provide a positive pressure in the cabinet that reduces the amount of air that can enter the cabinet other that through the fan. The cabinet shown in  FIGS. 4-6  will contain about 30 cf when completely empty (i.e., no equipment or tools). Thus, in a preferred embodiment the fan  606  pulls in a volume of air greater than or equal to about twice the volume of an empty cabinet (the “empty volume”) every minute. Also, because the fan  606  pulls the air into the cabinet through a filter, the pulled-in air is cleaner than the air external to the service cart. In this way, the fan  606  helps keep equipment in the service cart clean in addition to keeping the equipment cool. 
     In accordance with the present invention, novel service carts are provided. The novel service carts are sufficiently flexible to be advantageously utilized as both diagnostic carts and tool carts in a variety of working environments. While the present invention has been shown and described herein with reference to specific embodiments thereof, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that variations, alterations, changes in form and detail, and equivalents may be made or conceived of without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention should be assessed as that of the appended claims and by equivalents thereto.