Patent Abstract:
An interlocking primary and secondary cart assembly may include a primary cart assembly including a primary support platform configured to support a primary working device and wheels operatively connected to the primary support platform that movably support the primary support platform spaced from a floor and a secondary cart assembly including a secondary support platform configured to support a secondary working device and wheel connected to the secondary platform that moveably support the secondary support platform spaced from the floor. The assembly may further include a lock and release mechanism including a primary lock and release component connected to the primary cart assembly and a secondary lock and release component connected to the secondary cart assembly wherein the secondary lock and release component aligns with the primary lock and release component for locking therewith with the secondary cart assembly positioned on the primary support platform of the primary cart assembly.

Full Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present specification relates to cart assemblies and more specifically, interlocking primary and secondary cart assemblies with lock and release mechanisms. 
     BACKGROUND 
     It is often the case that relatively heavy machines or components of machines must be moved separately, but are then connected together to perform an operation. For example, a user may separately transport a tank and a welder machine when it is desirable to move the welder machine from point A to point B. Such separate moving of relatively heavy objects can provide ergonomics challenges. Accordingly, there exists a need for primary and secondary cart interlocking assemblies for transporting multiple components, where those components may have a use together. 
     SUMMARY 
     In one embodiment, an apparatus for an interlocking primary and secondary cart assembly may include a primary cart assembly including a primary support platform configured to support a primary working device thereon and wheels operatively connected to the primary support platform that movably support the primary support platform spaced from a floor and a secondary cart assembly including a secondary support platform configured to support a secondary working device thereon and wheel operatively connected to the secondary platform that moveably support the secondary support platform spaced from the floor. The assembly may further include a lock and release mechanism including a primary lock and release component connected to the primary cart assembly and a secondary lock and release component connected to the secondary cart assembly wherein the secondary lock and release component aligns with the primary lock and release component for locking therewith with the secondary cart assembly positioned on the primary support platform of the primary cart assembly. 
     In another embodiment, an interlocking primary and secondary cart assembly includes a primary cart assembly having a primary support platform configured to support a primary working device thereon and at least one wheel operatively connected to the primary support platform that movably support the primary support platform spaced from a floor, a secondary cart assembly comprising a secondary support platform configured to support a secondary working device thereon and at least one wheel operatively connected to the secondary platform that moveably support the secondary support platform spaced from the floor and a lock and release mechanism comprising a primary lock and release component connected to the primary cart assembly or the primary working device and a secondary lock and release component connected to the secondary cart assembly wherein the primary support platform of the primary cart assembly is configured to support and connect to the secondary cart assembly and the secondary working device, the secondary lock and release component aligns with the primary lock and release component for locking therewith with the secondary cart assembly positioned on the primary support platform of the primary cart assembly. 
     In another embodiment, a method of using an interlocking primary and secondary cart assembly including the steps of rotating a secondary cart assembly onto a primary support platform of the primary cart assembly, the primary cart assembly comprising a primary support platform configured to support a primary working device thereon and wheels operatively connected to the primary support platform that movably support the primary support platform spaced from a floor, the secondary cart assembly comprising a secondary support platform configured to support a secondary working device thereon and wheels operatively connected to the secondary platform that moveably support the secondary support platform spaced from the floor and securing the secondary cart assembly to the primary cart assembly using a lock and release mechanism thereby allowing for transportation of the interlocking primary and secondary cart assembly as a one piece assembly. 
     These and additional features provided by the embodiments described herein will be more fully understood in view of the following detailed description, in conjunction with the drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The embodiments set forth in the drawings are illustrative and exemplary in nature and not intended to limit the subject matter defined by the claims. The following detailed description of the illustrative embodiments can be understood when read in conjunction with the following drawings, where like structure is indicated with like reference numerals and in which: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a primary cart assembly and a secondary cart assembly in a disconnected configuration moving towards the primary cart assembly according to one or more embodiments shown and described herein; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates the primary cart assembly and the secondary cart assembly in an intermediate configuration positioned to rotate onto the primary cart assembly for interlocking therewith according to one or more embodiments shown and described herein; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates the primary cart assembly and the secondary cart assembly interlocked forming an interconnected primary and secondary cart assembly according to one or more embodiments shown and described herein; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates the interconnected primary and secondary cart assembly with the secondary cart assembly in a folded-in position according to one or more embodiments shown and described herein; 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a top view of the interlocked primary and secondary cart assembly before the secondary cart assembly is secured to the primary cart assembly according to one or more embodiments shown and described herein; and 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a top view of the interlocked primary and secondary cart assembly after securement of the secondary cart assembly to the primary cart assembly according to one or more embodiments shown and described herein. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Embodiments described herein relate to an interlocking primary cart assemblies and secondary cart assemblies to provide an interlocked primary and secondary cart assembly that can be transported as a single unit. The interlocked primary and secondary cart assembly includes a lock and release mechanism that can move between a locked configuration, locking the primary cart assembly and the secondary cart assembly, and a release configuration that allows separation of the primary cart assembly from the secondary cart assembly allowing for separate movement of the primary and secondary cart assemblies relative to one another. 
     The interlocking primary and secondary cart assemblies can provide an improved system for connecting and transporting a welder tank to a welder machine. The primary cart assembly, for example, can be configured to include the welder machine. Similarly, the secondary cart assembly can be configured to include the welder tank for use with the welder machine. The primary cart assembly can be configured to allow the secondary cart assembly to be rotated onto a platform of the primary cart assembly and then secured to the primary cart assembly allowing the entire interlocked primary and secondary cart assembly to be moved together as a one piece assembly during use. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , an interlocking primary and secondary cart assembly  100  includes a primary cart assembly  102  and a secondary cart assembly  104 . In a general sense, the secondary cart assembly  104  is adapted to rest on and travels with the primary cart assembly  102 . The primary cart assembly  102  has a primary support platform  138  that is configured to hold the welding machine  106  or other working device in a generally permanent fixed position. The secondary cart assembly  104  is configured to hold a tank  108  or other working device which supplies fuel or otherwise interacts with the welding machine  106 . 
     The secondary cart assembly  104  includes a handle  110  and a support structure  112  including support beams  114 ,  118 . The support beams  114 ,  118  are connected by a pivot point  162  and include a locking mechanism  116 . The support beams  114 ,  118  connect to a main cart portion  125  at pivot points  120 ,  126  and allow the support structure  112  to fold in to a compressed configuration, such as illustrated in  FIG. 4 . The secondary cart assembly  104  includes a plurality of wheels  122 ,  124  allowing the user to more readily push the secondary cart assembly  104  from a first position to a second position. The wheels  122 ,  124  also support a secondary support platform  130  at a location above the floor and allow pivoting of the secondary support platform  130  relative to the floor. 
     The secondary cart assembly  104  includes the secondary support platform  130  allowing the tank  108  to rest on the secondary support platform  130 . The tank  108  includes an upper end  154  and a lower end  152 . The lower end  152  is adapted to rest on an upper surface  127  of the secondary support platform  130 . 
     The secondary cart assembly  104  further includes a secondary lock and release mechanism  160 . The secondary lock and release mechanism  160  includes a latch  136 . The latch  136  is adapted to connect to a primary lock and release component  161  comprising a hook  148  provided on the welding machine  106 . Alternatively, the hook  148  may be connected directly to the primary car assembly  102  including the welding machine  106 . 
     The primary cart assembly  102  includes a lower support structure  163  comprising the primary support platform  138  and a side support structure  144  comprising a handle  146 . The support structure  138  is adapted to hold the welding machine  106  on the primary support platform  138 . The primary cart assembly  102  further includes the handle  146  and a plurality of wheels  140 ,  142 . The plurality of wheels  140 ,  142  support the primary support platform  138  at a location above the floor. The primary support platform  138  extends to an extended support structure  156  having an upper surface  134 . The extended support structure  156  extends forward, beyond the wheels  142 , and is arranged to engage with a lower surface  132  of the platform  130  of the secondary cart assembly  104  as will described in greater detail below. 
       FIGS. 1-4  illustrate the secondary cart assembly  104  rotating onto the primary cart assembly  102  and locking the secondary cart assembly  104  to a locked configuration. The directional arrow  150 , as illustrated in  FIG. 1 , illustrates the secondary cart assembly  104  moving towards the primary cart assembly  102 .  FIG. 2  illustrates an intermediate second position before rotation where the platform  130  begins to come into contact with the extended support structure  156  of the primary cart assembly  102 . In this example, the secondary support platform  130  is rotated to an elevation at least partially above the extended support structure  156  and is used as a lever to raise the tank  108  onto the primary support platform  138 . 
       FIG. 3  illustrates the secondary cart assembly  104  rotating onto the primary support platform  156  of the primary cart assembly  102 . After the secondary cart assembly  104  is rotated up and onto the primary cart assembly  102 , the secondary cart assembly  104  can be locked to the primary cart assembly  102 . As can be seen, the lock and release mechanism  165  includes the primary lock and release component  161  and secondary lock and release mechanism  160  that align the secondary cart assembly  104  on the support platform  138  of the primary cart assembly  102 . Once the secondary cart assembly  104  is locked to the welding machine  106 , the support structure  112  of the secondary cart assembly  104  may be moved to a compressed configuration, such as illustrated in  FIG. 4 . 
     The lock and release mechanism  165  is illustrated in further detail in  FIGS. 5 and 6 .  FIG. 5  illustrates the lock and release mechanism  165  before the latch  136  has been engaged.  FIGS. 5 and 6  illustrate the secondary cart assembly  104  holding the tank  108  after the secondary cart assembly  104  has been rotated onto the primary support platform  138  of the primary cart assembly  102 . The primary support platform  138  has a sufficient surface area to accept the platform  130 . Specifically, primary support platform  138  may have at least 3 times the length of the platform  130 . Further, when rotating the platform  130  onto the primary support platform  138 , there can be an at least ⅓ overlap of the second support platform  130  over the extended support structure  156  (such as shown in  FIG. 2 ) to allow the user to gain sufficient rotation and leverage. 
     The secondary cart assembly  104  can include a cradle structure  105  configured to hold the tank  108 . The secondary cart assembly  104  includes the secondary lock and release component  160 . The secondary lock and release component  160  includes a handle  170  pivotally connected to the latch  176 . The latch  176  is connected to the handle  170  at a pivot point  174 . The latch  176  includes an aperture  178  arranged to connect with the hook  184  of the welding machine  106 . The latching mechanism  160  is connected to the secondary cart assembly  104  by means of a connector portion  180 . The primary cart assembly  102  (or the welding machine  106 ) includes the primary lock and release component  161  including the hook  184  having a hook portion  186 . The hook portion  186  is arranged to connect with the aperture  176  of the latch  174 . 
     In an unlocked configuration, as illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the lock and release mechanism  165  is illustrated before securement.  FIG. 6  illustrates the lock and release mechanism  165  in a secured and locked position where the latch  176  is provided over and connected to the hook  184 . In some embodiments, the hook  184  may be connected directly to the primary cart assembly  102  rather than connected directly to the welding machine  106 . 
     The secondary lock and release component  160  can be provided approximately midway up the secondary cart assembly  104 . The latching mechanism  160  can be provided at this location to be convenient to the user allowing the user to easily lock and secure the latching mechanism  160 . Further, the secondary lock and release component  160  can be provided at the upper end of the welding machine  106  to raise the center of gravity and provide a more secure connection of the tank cart to the primary cart assembly  102 . 
     Accordingly, provided herein is an improved cart assembly for moving relatively heavy objects. Specifically, the present specification provides for a primary and secondary cart interlocking assemblies for transporting multiple components, where those components may have a use together, such as a welding machine and a corresponding tank. The primary and secondary cart interlocking assemblies allow for simultaneous movement of the primary cart assembly and the secondary cart assembly as a single assembly thereby wielding improved ergonomics to the user. 
     It is noted that the terms “substantially” and “about” may be utilized herein to represent the inherent degree of uncertainty that may be attributed to any quantitative comparison, value, measurement, or other representation. These terms are also utilized herein to represent the degree by which a quantitative representation may vary from a stated reference without resulting in a change in the basic function of the subject matter at issue. 
     While particular embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it should be understood that various other changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimed subject matter. Moreover, although various aspects of the claimed subject matter have been described herein, such aspects need not be utilized in combination. It is therefore intended that the appended claims cover all such changes and modifications that are within the scope of the claimed subject matter.

Technology Classification (CPC): 1