Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US7192237?ie=ISO-8859-1&dq=6721967
Timestamp: 2014-12-28 09:36:27
Document Index: 682798099

Matched Legal Cases: ['art.\n1', 'art.\n8', 'arts 21', 'art 21', 'arts 21', 'arts 21', 'art 21', 'arts 21', 'art 21', 'art 21', 'art 21', 'art 21', 'art 21', 'art 21', 'arts 21', 'arts 21', 'arts 21', 'art 21', 'arts 21', 'art 4', 'arts 21', 'arts 21', 'arts 21', 'arts 21', 'arts 21', 'arts 21', 'arts 21', 'arts 21', 'arts 21', 'art 21', 'arts 21', 'arts 21', 'art 21', 'art 127', 'art 21', 'arts 21', 'arts 21', 'arts 2', 'arts 21', 'arts 21', 'arts 21', 'arts 21', 'arts 21', 'arts 21', 'arts 22', 'arts 22', 'arts 22', 'art 21']

Patent US7192237 - Accessible cart for use with beverage distribution system - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign inAdvanced Patent SearchPatentsA series of transport carts are positioned in side by side relation in fore and aft extending spaced apart rows disposed along a delivery van to leave an aisle between them. The carts have wheel supported upright frames with bottom supports for the products disposed at a level above the floor of the...http://www.google.com/patents/US7192237?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US7192237 - Accessible cart for use with beverage distribution systemAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS7192237 B2Publication typeGrantApplication numberUS 10/675,196Publication dateMar 20, 2007Filing dateSep 30, 2003Priority dateMay 20, 1998Fee statusPaidAlso published asCA2272764A1, CA2272764C, DE69940870D1, EP0959011A1, EP0959011B1, US6626634, US7025548, US7873542, US20010041131, US20040067129, US20040071520, US20040071521, US20090299921Publication number10675196, 675196, US 7192237 B2, US 7192237B2, US-B2-7192237, US7192237 B2, US7192237B2InventorsNorman C. Strohfus, Robert W. Grace, David J. GlancyOriginal AssigneeStrohfus Norman C, Grace Robert W, Glancy David JExport CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (12), Classifications (63), Legal Events (3) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetAccessible cart for use with beverage distribution systemUS 7192237 B2Abstract A series of transport carts are positioned in side by side relation in fore and aft extending spaced apart rows disposed along a delivery van to leave an aisle between them. The carts have wheel supported upright frames with bottom supports for the products disposed at a level above the floor of the van and open fronts from which the carts can be unloaded. The carts have rear posts which are disengageably locked in track sections provided in longitudinally spaced relation along the van side walls. Pallets with discs projecting downwardly from the floors of the pallets support the product stacks on the cart bottom supports. A hand truck with a bifurcated nose plate defining disc receiving arms engages under each pallet to enable removal of a pallet and product stack from the cart.
1. In a stacked product transport cart, wheel supported for travel into a delivery vehicle body having a floor, to join like carts positioned in fore to aft extending laterally spaced rows leaving an aisle between them in the delivery vehicle body, the cart having bottom supports on which stacks of product are to be supported at a level above said vehicle body floor, side and rear cart walls with interior sides, and a front side permitting the unloading of product from said bottom supports; the improvement comprising:
(a) a first group of securing parts provided on a first of said side cart walls extending generally laterally across said wall on said interior side thereof; and
(b) a tarp connected to the cart and extending from a second of said side walls across the front side and having a clip engaging with a securing part on said first side the clip of the tarp is disengageable from the securing part to provide access within the cart;
wherein the first side wall has a second group of securing parts vertically spaced apart from the first group of securing parts and the tarp has a first clip disengagably secured with a securing part in the first group and a second clip disengagably secured to a securing part in the second group.
2. The improvement of claim 1 further comprising securing parts mounted within tracks provided on the first side cart wall.
3. The improvement of claim 2 wherein the clip comprises a locking mechanism associated with the tarp and the locking mechanism cooperates with a securing part on a track.
4. The improvement of claim 2 wherein the tarp has vertical edges and is disengageably secured to one of said securing parts on the first side cart wall to wrap about products within the cart from the open front side thereof and disengageably secured to a securing part on another side wall.
5. The improvement of claim 2 wherein the clip comprises a hook-like fitting for interlocking with opening in the track comprising the securing parts.
6. The improvement of claim 1 wherein the groups of securing parts extend laterally from the first side wall onto the rear wall, and a clip is attached to a securing part on the rear wall.
7. The improvement of claim 6 wherein said rear wall has an exterior side with a securing fitting thereon for receiving a clip on said tarp when the tarp is folded to a stowed inoperative position in which it extends exteriorly alongside one of the side walls and rear wall of said cart.
8. The improvement of claim 1 comprising at least one batten pocket connected to the tarp and one batten located therein.
9. The improvement of claim 1 wherein the tarp further comprises a pocket having a see through panel and holding order information.
10. The improvement of claim 1 wherein the clip is attached to the tarp by a strap having a tightening buckle.
11. A vehicle body in combination with a transport cart, supported for positioning into said vehicle body having a floor, to join like carts positioned in fore to aft extending laterally spaced rows leaving an aisle between them in the vehicle body, the carts having a bottom support on which at least one product configuration is supported on a pallet at a level above said vehicle body floor and having an accessible front side to permit the unloading of said pallet and product from said bottom support; the carts comprising: a door moveable across at least a portion of a front of the cart to urge the product configuration therein against a rear wall of the cart wherein the carts are separated in bays along side walls of the vehicle body thereby providing an aisle therebetween wherein the door is at the front of the carts and is located along the aisle when the carts are loaded on the transportation vehicle wherein the separation of the carts into bays along the side walls of the vehicle body provides an aisle between the carts extending fore-to-aft in the vehicle body to an intermediate point within the vehicle body and further comprises the placement of a bulk pallet in the vehicle body aft of the intermediate point and a raised floor in the aisle and a ramp located at a rearward end of the aisle.
12. The combination of claim 11 wherein the door further comprises a tarp.
13. The combination of claim 12 further comprising at least one batten pocket connected to the tarp and at least one batten located therein.
14. The combination of claim 12 further comprising a pocket on the tarp having a see through panel and holding order information.
15. The combination of claim 12 further comprising a strap with a tightening buckle on the tarp to urge the tarp against the product configuration.
This invention is both a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/910,236 filed Jul. 20, 2001 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,626,634 issued on Sep. 30, 2003 which is in turn a division of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/315,403 filed May 20, 1999 and entitled to the priority of both U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60/094,439, filed Jul. 28, 1998, now abandoned, and Ser. No. 60/086,135 filed May 20, 1998 now abandoned, and a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/910,235, filed Jul. 20,2001, which is a 371 of PCT application No. PCT/US99/10844, filed Jan. 5, 2000, entitled to the priority of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60/116,473, filed Jan. 20, 1999, all of which are incorporated herein, and relates generally to the methods and apparatus to facilitate the distribution of beverages, and more particularly to the manufacture and handling of transportation devices and methods for carrying products such as stacked cases of beverage containers for transport in a delivery vehicle. Typically, the vehicle moves the carts from a manufacturing facility or distribution center to a retailer.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The dominant method of beverage distribution essentially has considered the beverage truck driver a salesman. The driver's truck is loaded with a selection of beverages, and the driver calls on accounts on a route. At each account, the driver determines what beverages are required or desired by the account, then the driver locates the beverages in his truck, unloads the beverages and delivers them to the account. This process would be relatively easy if only a single beverage were involved. For instance, if the driver only distributed a single brand of soda, his truck would be completely loaded with that one beverage, and it could be easily unloaded at each account, and accounts could be serviced until the truck was completely empty. However, most trucks are loaded with a variety of brands and container sizes, requiring considerable effort by the driver to fill an order.
Side loading route trucks are typically used for commercial deliveries to sales outlets that receive merchandise through a door at ground level, as opposed to a loading dock. Most bulk deliveries for large accounts are made utilizing tractor trailer units to deliver to a loading dock. The trailer has a rear door that open into a large interior area with a flat floor. The typical chain store wants such bulk delivery trucks in and out of their loading docks within a very narrow time span each morning. Furthermore, chain stores usually prefer to be the first delivery on a route. In order to satisfy these customer requirements, bottlers employ a large number of bulk rigs. Some of these bulk rigs maybe left idle for much of the day following morning deliveries. The number of bulk rigs that are needed can be reduced by attempting to negotiate appropriate delivery times with chain stores, however this has not been a totally satisfactory solution. In an effort to overcome this problem, U.S. Pat. No. 4,659,132 describes a side load trailer which can be configured to carry bulk pallets. While this invention addresses the need to more efficiently utilize trailers, it does not provide for more efficient delivery of beverages to route accounts.
It is also an object of the present invention to facilitate the loading of beverage trucks with beverages sorted by account order rather than stock keeping unit or �SKU.�
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A transport and delivery system constructed and operated according to the invention utilizes a series of preferably wheeled cart shaving up standing back and side retention members or walls, which have been loaded at a manufacturing and/or distribution facility with stacks of containers advantageously presorted by brand and quantity according to the orders to be filled. These stacks are preferably built on mini-pallets such that a given cart maybe loaded with one or several (four for example) of such mini-stacks.
The location of each prefilled order may be recorded as to which cart or carts are involved, and as to the particular location of the stack or stacks within the carts. For example, a given order might be contained in cart No. 4, stacks 1�3. Once filled with product, the carts are wheeled into an elongate delivery van or trailer of conventional manufacture and positioned so that the carts line the opposite walls of the trailer in two laterally spaced rows leaving a center aisle down the middle of the trailer wide enough to access the carts with a two-wheeled hand truck.
According to the operation of the system, the carts, once loaded into and locked in the trailer, are transported along with the hand truck from the manufacturing and/or distribution center to the various retail delivery sites. Since the orders for each site may be prebuilt according to the type and quantity of the various brands of beverages or other products, the operator need only locate the order, remove the ministack(s) of containers from the cart(s) with the hand truck, and wheel the load(s) along the elevated false floor formed by the deck sections, down the ramp and onto the elevated lift gate, which is then lowered to the ground to enable the operator to wheel the order into the facility of the business receiving them. When the deliveries are completed, the emptied trailer may then be returned to the distribution center where the deck sections are returned to their stowed positions, and the empty carts are unlocked and removed from the trailer. The trailer can then be loaded with a waiting set of carts preloaded with additional orders, and the offloaded emptied carts can be recycled to handle future orders.
FIG. 5G is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken generally along lines 5G�5G of FIG. 5A;
FIG. 8B is an enlarged fragmentary sectional plan view taken generally along lines 8B�8B of FIG. 8A; and
FIG. 9D is a fragmentary side elevational view showing details of the cart locking system,
DETAILED DESCRIPTION FIG. 1 shows the communication which takes place prior to the loading and delivering of beverage products according to the present invention. Specifically, bulk customers such as mass-market and supermarket stores 13 with loading docks, smaller retailers accepting delivery at ground level 12, and even individual vending machines, communicate their product needs by telephone 9, 14 as illustrated, computer networks and satellite linkages to the data processing facilities 16 of the beverage manufacturer. The order information is processed at the data center 16 and made available to the personnel in the beverage warehouse 10. Traditionally, both bulk delivery tractor-trailer trucks for mass-market and supermarket stores and side load route trucks for smaller accounts would be utilized as delivery vehicles 17. However, according to the present invention, both bulk and route accounts may be delivered from the same trailers. Accordingly, a preferred delivery trailer will comprise a 28′-6″ long rear entry trailer, typically with a 102″ outer width and 98″ inner width. The trailer requires approximately 12-�′ road clearance. The trailer is provided with a rail-type lift gate, which is ICC bar and dock lock compatible. Preferably the lift gate will be able to proceed from up to down location within 15 seconds, and have a capacity of 3,500 to 4,000 lbs. The gate should have approximately a 5′ deep work area, with a 16″ taper downward toward the ground. Also, it is preferable that the ramp operational controls travel with the operator. An optional curbside ramp may also be provided.
FIG. 2 illustrates one method of utilizing the mini-pallets 30 and mini-pallet containers 21 according to the present invention to prepare account orders for loading in delivery vehicles. A person designated as the order filler 19 for a particular route will be provided with a printout or handheld computer display showing the orders of each customer on the route. Preferably the printouts will then be attached to clips 26 on the mobile beverage carts 21 for easy reference during picking and delivery. The order filler 19 will take an empty mobile beverage cart 21 and place four stacks including mini-pallets 30 on the floor of that container 21. It will be understood that mini-pallet containers 21 could be configured for less or more stacks but four is a good compromise of weight, maneuverability and efficiency. Furthermore, a plurality of mini-pallet containers 21 could be joined together such as by connector 24. Each customer order is then built separately and column stacked 31 on one or more of the mini-pallets 30. Once the mini-pallet container 21 is full or the order is complete, the filler 19 may load a delivery vehicle 17 (shown in FIG. 1).
A product support and delivery system constructed according to the present invention is shown generally at 20 in FIGS. 3 and 4 and comprises a plurality of wheeled modules or carts 21, position able within a van trailer 22 along opposite side walls 23 thereof on a floor 124 of the trailer 22 in longitudinally extending rows R1, R2 which extend from a front wall 125 of the trailer 22 toward the back 126 thereof. Space is provided between the adjacent rows R1, R2 , defining a center aisle for accommodating the passage of a hand truck 127 (FIGS. 8A, 8B) used by an operator to remove multiple mini-stacks of palleted containers 31 from the carts 21 for transport to a retail sales facility.
The interior of the trailer 22 is preferably wood with an E-track on the sides and front. The walls and ceiling should be insulated and there should be interior light with a light switch inside the trailer 22. Typical trailers 22 shown in FIGS. 3, 4, 9A, 9B, and 11A will hold 7 mobile beverage carts such as mini-pallet containers 21, 121 as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, along each side, and the center aisle may be utilized to hold pallets to form a false bottom and a curb ramp 154. Optional equipment will include a heater, an automatic trailer door opener, a box for deposit returns, and pineal hooks in order to allow a single tracker to pull two or three trailers.
Turning now to the construction of the cart 21, and with reference to FIGS. 5, 7C, 9C and 11B, and initially to FIGS. 5, the identical carts 21 each include a rigid frame structure provided by a rectangular base frame 28 mounting a set off our caster wheels 29, one of which is lockable via a lock pin mechanism 130 (FIG. 5C) to preclude normal movement of the cart 21 when locked. A floor or product support member 131 on the cart 21 is carried by the base frame 28 to provide a surface above the van floor on which the stacked containers 31 are supported. A set of front 32 and back 33 vertical corner rails are fixed at their lower ends to the corners of the base frame 28 and extend upwardly therefrom. They are interconnected along three sides adjacent their upper ends by upper side 34 and back 35 cross rails.
Each cart 21 is closed on three of its sides and incorporates a pair of side panels 136 and a back panel 137. The front 138 of the cart 21 is open to permit loading and unloading of the stacked containers 31 (FIG. 5C) from the cart 21. The side and back panels 136, 137 are secured to the framing of the cart and maybe fabricated from any of a number of tough, generally rigid materials, such as aluminum plating or synthetic plastic sheets. The panels 136, 137 are preferably molded organic polymeric structures fabricated from materials such as a heavy gauge thermoformed polypropylene or polyethylene, engineered plastics, or the like, to provide lightweight, durable, corrosion resistant, readily cleanable walls for the cart 21. FIG. 5H illustrates the preferred manner of securing the panels 136, 137 to the rails 32�35 and base 28. The rails 32�35 are preferably formed as extrusions and include a channel or groove 39 in which a peripheral tongue 40 on the panels 36,37 is received, such that the panels 136, 137 are captured and permanently retained by the base 28 and rails 32�35 without need for fasteners.
Two rows of commercially available E-track 46 a, 46 b extend horizontally along and are secured to the interior surface of the side 136 and back 137 panels. One row 46 a is located about midway up the panels 136, 137, and an upper row 46 b is located adjacent the upper ends of the panels 136, 137. The E-track 46 is accommodated within recesses or channels 47 formed in the panels 136, 137, as illustrated in FIG. 5G, such that the face of the E-track 46 lies generally flush with the inner surface of the panels 136, 137. The E-track sections 46 maybe joined to the panels 36, 37 by means of rivets 48 or the like extending through openings 48 a. The tracks 46 have a series of punched out openings 49 that receive angular end hooks or clips 50 (FIG. 5F) secured to the opposite side edges of a retaining tarp or curtain 51. The tarp 51 can be removed from the stowed position shown and, as illustrated diagrammatically in broken lines in FIG. 5F, the tarp 51 is operative to wrap about a partial load to assist in securing the stack of containers from tipping forwardly out of the carts 21 during transport. The full extension of the E-track 46 across the side 136 and back 137 panels enables the tarp 51 to secure virtually any size load. The general use of an E-track 46 and belt or curtain 51 securement system is known, per se, for retaining cargo in a trailer.
In use, a plurality of the carts 21, located at a manufacturing or distribution center, are loaded with one or more mini-stacks of the containers 31 according to the brand and quantity called for by the particular retail orders to be delivered on a delivery route. The illustrated carts 21 are designed to hold four such mini-stacks of containers 31 two deep and two wide within the bay of each cart 21 as illustrated in FIG. 4. In this way, each order is preassembled on the mini-pallets 30 and loaded onto the carts 21 in preparation for delivery to the retail sites. The location of each order is recorded such that an order might be contained in cart 4, pallet 2, for example. The carts 21 are equipped with a clip board B (FIG. 5A) secured thereto, with clip a, for holding written records.
FIG. 7B shows a canvas panel 122 in detail with straps 123, ending at E-track buckles 141 and having tightening buckles 142. The panel 122 is also fitted with a plurality of see-through pockets 149 on each side which may be used in lieu of the clip a to hold customer order information. Modified flexible doors 122 a shown in FIG. 7A maybe utilized to secure mini-pallets loads 31 in the aisle of the trailer as shown in FIGS. 10A and 11A. The preferred embodiment of a canvas panel 122 is about 5′ in height and about 39″ in width with a plurality of battens in batten pockets 143 to provide vertical rigidity. In addition to batten pockets 143 at the edges of canvas door 122, there is an additional batten pocket inset approximately 16″ from the left side and another batten pocket inset approximately 7″ from the right hand side. The canvas strap 123 will typically overhang the width of the canvas panel section by approximately 5″ on each side. The alternative canvas door 122 a utilized across the trailer aisle is typically approximately 54″ in width with the middle batten pockets inset approximately 7″ from each side.
Returning to the loading process, once the mini-pallet container 21 has been loaded and the product secured with canvas door 122 the mini-pallet container 21 is brought to the dock area where a checker will review the product in the container 21 against the pallet tickets attached to clip a or placed in pockets 149 for approval. Once approved, the mini-pallet container 21 is rolled into the trailer 22 and attached to the trailer wall as by a positioning lock system 56 (shown in FIG. 7C).
Once loaded, the carts 21 are wheeled into the trailer 22 and positioned end-to-end along the side walls 23 forming the two long rows R1, R2 of carts, as illustrated best in FIG. 3. The front-to-back depth of the carts 21 is dimensioned to leave space between the cart rows R1, R2 to define the center walkway or aisle extending the length of the trailer 22. It is of sufficient width to accommodate the operator and a hand truck 127 (FIGS. 8A and 8B). The carts 21 are oriented such that their open fronts face the aisle. In the present example, the carts 21 have a depth of about 29 inches, providing the aisle formed within a conventional van or enclosed trailer with a width of about 40 inches between the rows R1, R2.
Referring to FIGS. 4 and 9C, 7C, 9D and 9E, a cart positioning/lock system 56 is provided for properly locating and locking the carts 21 in position within the trailer 22. The system 56 includes a plurality of cart brackets 57, fixed to the van side walls 23 at predetermined locations along the length of the trailer 22, which engage corresponding portions of the carts 21 to locate and secure the carts 21 in position. The locations of the brackets 57 correspond preferably with the locations of the ends of the carts 21 when positioned in their rows R1, R2 along the sides 23 and preferably in relation to the location of upright locking post portions 58 projecting from the back corners of each cart 21. Referring also to FIGS. 4 and 5, the locking posts 58 preferably comprise extended sections of the back corner rails 33 which project above the top rails 34, 35 of the carts 21. The upper ends of the locking posts 58 are each fitted with an enlarged end cap 59 having sides 60 thereof (shown in FIG. 9D) projecting laterally outwardly of the posts 58 and fabricated preferably of a tough, low friction, non-marring material such as polypropylene, polyethylene, glass-filled nylon, or the like. The end caps 59 each have a top wall 61 that extends across the top of the post 58 on which it is mounted and each is formed with an opening or socket 62 therein for purposes to be explained hereinafter.
The brackets 57 are fabricated of a strong, rigid material such as aluminum or structural plastic material, and each has abase portion 63 that is secured by rivets R or the like to the side wall 23, 24 of the trailer 22, and preferably to a cargo track 64 that is fixed to the side wall 23, 24 and extends the length of the trailer in position to mount the brackets 57. The base portions 63 of the brackets 57 support cart retaining portions 65 which are configured and positioned to retain the locking posts 58 of the carts 21. The cart-retaining bracket portions 65 preferably have generally an L-shaped configuration, including a top wall portion 66 that extends transversely away from the side wall 23 on which the bracket 57 is mounted in a generally horizontal plane above the level of the top posts 58. They further include a forward retaining wall section 67 that projects downwardly from the top wall portion 66 to a level below the free ends of the locking posts 58, and preferably beyond the end caps 59 as best shown in FIGS. 7C and 9D. The L-shaped configuration of the cart-retaining portions 65 provides a locking channel 68 that is closed at the top and front by the top wall and retaining wall sections 66, 67, open at the bottom, and open at opposite longitudinal ends 69.
Alternative means of securing the mini-pallet containers to the trailer 22 walls are possible as illustrated in FIGS. 9F and 9G where the pin lock consists of a base plate 171 with protruding upper and lower clevis type members 180 each having first apertures 174 and second apertures 177. A U-shaped member 172 having blades 179 on either side of channel 178 is then placed between the clevis members 180 and restrained there by nut 175 and bolt 173. When so restrained by the bolt 173 passing through channel 178 and first apertures 174, the U-shaped member 172 is free to turn from side to side. A mobile beverage cart 21 is then pushed into position against the protruding clevis type members 180 and the U-shaped member 172 pushed against the corner post 27 of the mobile beverage cart until one of the forward plates 179 restrains that post from moving forward. Pin 176 is then placed through second apertures 177 of the clevis type member 180. This prevents the U-shaped member 172 from rotating to free the corner post 27. A similar pin lock 170 is also applied to the opposite rear lower post of the mini-pallet container 21. Once all fourteen mini-pallet containers 21 are in the trailer 22, the fold down floors 25 are lowered forming a false floor. In addition, the fold down floors 25 tend to restrain the lower portions of the mini-pallet containers from rolling away from the trailer walls 56. Alternatively, if fold down flooring 25 is not provided on the mini-pallet containers 21, plastic pallets may be placed in the aisle 158 to accomplish a similar purpose. At the end of the false floor created either by pallets or fold down floor 25, a ramp section 154 is added to permit use of handcart 127 b. Referring now particularly to FIG. 9E, the top wall section 66 of each bracket 57 is formed with an opening 70 that is positioned to align with the socket 62 in the end cap 59 of the aft locking post 58 of each cart 21 (that is, the locking post 58 of each cart nearest the rear end 26 of the trailer 22). A locking pin 71 associated with each bracket 57 is extendable into the aligned openings 70, 62 to lock the carts 21 to the brackets 57 and positively locate and secure the carts 21 longitudinally of the trailer 22. In other words, the carts 2, when locked, are precluded from longitudinal movement in the trailer 22 and are positively located in fixed positions with respect to the other carts 21 within a row and apart from the other row to thereby maintain the width of the aisle 158 within predetermined limits. The opening 70 in each bracket 57 is preferably elongated in the lateral direction as illustrated in FIG. 9E to permit limited lateral movement of the carts 21.
Referring now to FIG. 11B, it will be seen that the floors 131 of the carts 21 are elevated above the level of the floor 124 of the trailer 22 on which the carts 21 are supported. The leading front edge of each cart floor 131 maybe, for example, about 7� inches above the floor 24 of the trailer 22.
According to the invention, it is desirable to be able to unload the mini-pallets 30 of the containers 31 from the carts 21 using a two-wheeled hand truck 127. In effecting this, it is further operatively desirable to support the hand truck 127 at generally the level of the cart floors 31 for engaging, lifting and transporting the mini-stacks 31 with the hand truck 127. According to the invention, a false elevated floor FF is provided in the aisle 158 between the rows R1, R2 to provide an upper surface that is substantially level with the almost abutting forward edges of the cart floors 131. While various methods of constructing a false floor FF, such as by laying down overturned pallets or multiple false floor sections in the aisle 158 are possible, the safest approach is to integrate such false flooring with the beverage carts 21.
With particular attention to FIG. 5C, 5I, and 5J, the deck sections 72 have support legs 73 mounted pivotally at 73 a to the underside of the deck sections 72 adjacent the forward free edges 72 c of the deck sections 72. The legs 73 may be referenced singly or multiply as leg structure. The legs 73 are coupled adjacent their lower free ends to forwardly extending brackets 28 a, fixed to the base frame 28, by linkages, including rigid, non-foldable links 74, pivoted at their respective front and rear ends to the legs 73 and base frame 28 brackets 28 a. The links 74 react to and are moveable with the pivoting movement of the deck sections 72 to position the legs 73 between a retracted position folded beneath and into the deck sections 72 when the deck sections are moved to the stowed position (FIG. 5), and an extended floor-engaging vertical position in response to movement of the deck sections 72 to the horizontal use position (FIG. 5C). The links 74 are pivoted at 74 a and 74 b. It will be seen that the pivots 72 e, 74 a, 73 a, and 74 b are arranged in generally parallelogram configuration in FIG. 5C with the pivot or hinge point 72 e of the deck to the cart floor being rearward of link pivots 74 a. The deck sections 72 may be fabricated of any of a number of materials such as aluminum decking or various organic polymeric materials, such as polypropylene, polyethylene, an engineered plastic or resin, or glass-filled plastics. The deck sections 72 in the illustrated embodiment are injection molded plastic members, whose upper surface 72 f is continuous and preferably molded with traction enhancing features represented by the stippled markings in FIG. 5D. The upper surface 72 f is backed by structural ribbing 75, as shown in FIGS. 5I and 5J, to render the deck sections 72 rigid and capable of supporting the composite weight of an operator, hand truck, and a load of stacked containers 31. The underside is preferably formed with recesses 76 of such dimension and location as to accommodate the folding of the legs 73 and the links 74 (FIG. 5I) into nested position within the deck section 72 when the deck section is moved to the stowed vertical position.
When the compressing gas springs move past center (i.e. hinge axis 72 e) the gas springs exert pressure below the hinge axis 22 e so that downward pressure is exerted on the deck 72 and legs 73. This locks or retains the deck in horizontal position. When the deck 72 is to be restored to stowed position, little lifting force is required to extend the gas springs sufficiently to unlock deck 72 and legs 73. As the deck swings up past the hinging axis 72 e, the gas springs 77, which were compressed when swung downwardly, assist the upward pivoting movement of deck 72 and the pivoting of legs 73 via links 74 toward nested position. As shown best in FIGS. 4, 11B, and 9C, the predetermined length and width dimensions of the substantially abutting deck sections 72 are so selected as to provide a near-continuous elevated false floor surface along the aisle 158 at the same level as the front edge of the floor 31 of the carts 22, while the deck sections 72 of longitudinally adjacent and laterally opposite carts 22 may be sized to substantially abut one another, it is preferred that some play be provided to account for tolerances and variations in the positioning of the carts by the brackets 57. For example, about a half to one inch spacing S between the facing sides 72 a, 72 b and front edges 72 c of adjacent deck sections 72 will provide a near-continuous false floor FF while allowing for variations in tolerance and positioning (FIG. 9C).
Upon arrival at a point of delivery, the operator simply wheels the hand truck 127 down the aisle along the elevated false floor FF and selects the cart or carts 22 and location or locations of the mini-stacks of containers 31 within the cart(s) corresponding to the particular order involved. The hand truck 27 (FIG. 8A), except for the nose plate which will be described hereinafter, is of conventional construction and has an upright handled frame 93 mounting a pair of wheels 94 off the back of the frame 93, and a nose plate 95 off the front of the frame 93. A typical hand truck is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,997,182.
The mini-pallets involved with the present system has, in addition to side feet 98, a downwardly projecting central disc or piloting pad 99 that is generally cylindrical in configuration and engages the floor 31 of the cart 21. The pad 99 is spaced inwardly from the front edge of the mini-pallet 30. One preferred embodiment of the mini-pallets 30 according to the present invention, designed in cooperation with Rehrig Pacific Company, Inc., is illustrated in FIGS. 6A�D. The primary functional aspects of the mini-pallets 30 include an upper open work planar surface 133 approximately 11″�17″ in size. This size will accommodate a case of 12 ounce canned beverages and other equivalent SKU package sizes. The mini-pallet 30 should not have a raised flange at the edges as the various SKUs have differing dimensions. Furthermore, mini-pallets 30 have a central support 34, or piloting pad 99 (FIG. 6B), which is preferably circular in shape. At the longitudinal edges of mini-pallets 30 are supporting legs 99 which together with the center support 134 provide approximately �″ clearance for the planar open work surface 133. The planar surface 133 preferably contains many openings not only to reduce the amount of material used in manufacture, but also to permit easy drainage for any inadvertent beverage leakage. Bevels at the ends of supporting legs 99 are preferably approximately 45�. The diameter of the center support 134 is preferably about 3″.
The mini-pallets 30 are adapted to be utilized in connection with specially configured hand-trucks. A suitable hand-truck is the narrow aisle configuration of hand-truck model number B16-D-1040-C45-62 available from MagLine, Inc. The wing or tongue 96 of hand truck 127 shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B is specifically adapted to include a recess 100 sized only slightly larger than the center support 99 of mini-pallet 30. The tongue 96 maybe inserted in the approximate �″ clearance space 131 beneath a loaded mini-pallet 30. In this fashion hand truck 127 maybe used to easily lift the mini-pallet and any stack of soft drinks 31 on the pallet 30. The mating of the tongue recess 100 of hand truck 127 and the central support member 99 of the mini-pallet assists in the positioning of the hand truck tongue 96 centrally beneath the mini-pallet 30. When stacked, the central support 99 and edge supports 98 of atop mini-pallet 30 fit into corresponding indentations 129, 128 as shown in FIG. 8B, of a bottom mini-pallet.
If a combination route is being assembled with both bulk and route accounts, the last two mini-pallet containers 21 on either side of the aisle 158 maybe rolled in the aisle 158 toward the front of the trailer 22 and secured using an aisle canvas door 122 a. This will permit the loading of four bulk pallets 159 in the rear of trailer 22 as illustrated in FIG. 9A. As previously mentioned, the use of aisle pallet doors will also permit the loading of separate mini-pallet 30 and product 31 stacks in the aisle 158 as shown in FIGS. 11A and 10A.
If not too voluminous, the entire order, which may include multiple mini-pallet stacks 31, may be placed on the lift gate 152 and lowered to ground level for delivery. Once the delivery is completed, the driver then returns to the vehicle with any returned product, shells, or empty mini-pallets 30 and places them into an empty mini-pallet container 21 and secures the load with the canvas door 122 and straps 123. The driver then proceeds to the next account. When the route is complete the vehicle returns to the beverage warehouse 10 and is checked in at the gate or dock. Prior to loading for the next route, the vehicle is backed into the dock to be stripped. If plastic pallets are utilized in the aisle to form a false floor, they are removed or alternatively folding floor sections 25 are folded up, and each mini-pallet container 21 is released from the wall and rolled off the trailer 22 by an order filler 19. The canvas doors 122 to the mini-pallet containers 21 are opened and wrapped around to the back or side of the containers 21 and attached. Then the mini-pallet containers 21 are ready for the order filler 19 to pull around the warehouse 10, possibly using a man ride tugger vehicle, to return any shells or returned product to the appropriate location within the warehouse, and commence the order filling process previously described.
It will be appreciated that this delivery system provides increased productivity and maximizes case delivery per hour on delivery routes, in large part by reduction of frequency of handling product. In addition, this results in improved customer service levels, reduced instances of misloaded products, provides more time for delivery personnel to attend to product presentation in the customer outlet, and permits a driver to more accurately meet customer delivery window times. The mini-pallets 30 according the present invention will reduce product damage both during handling with hand trucks 127, and when utilized as abase for in-store product displays by retailers.
An alternative mini-pallet container 121 depicted in FIG. 12, maybe utilized to avoid the maintenance issues associated with casters 21 on mini-pallet containers 21. Such a mini-pallet container 121 would require a fork lift 19, utilizing a custom clip attachment, to load and unload mini-pallet containers 121 from the truck trailer 22. These mini-pallet containers 121 could be placed on a man ride pallet jack (not shown) to be traveled around the warehouse 10 by the order filler 19. In all other material respects, the use of the mini-pallet container 121 in FIG. 10 is similar to the mini-pallet container 21 depicted in FIGS. 3A through 3D. It will be noted that unless the mini-pallet containers have casters 21, it will not be possible to place a bulk load 59 at the end of the trailer 22 and maintain the extra mini-pallet containers 21 in the aisle of the trailer 50. However, a combination trailer can still be loaded simply by utilizing only 10 or 12 mini-pallet containers 121 as shown in FIG. 9, where ten mini-pallet containers 121 are in place together with four bulk pallets 159 for loading dock delivery.
It will be understood that yet another variation of the use of account loaded mini-pallets 30 maybe undertaken without the use of mini-pallet containers 21, 121. In this scenario, the product stacks 31 are built to account orders on mini-pallets 30 within the warehouse and then loaded by hand truck 127 into appropriate bays 157 on the trailer 22. FIG. 10A shows the use of mini-pallets 30 without any mini-pallet containers 21, 121. In this setting, it is unnecessary to have flooring such as provided by fold down floors 25 to raise the height of the hand truck 127 to the level of the mini-pallets 30 within mini-pallet containers 21, 121.
Patent CitationsCited PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS2950126 *Aug 28, 1959Aug 23, 1960Hamilton Caster & Mfg CoMobile binUS3057489 *Aug 5, 1960Oct 9, 1962John Gilliam Equipment Co IncCase positioning body for trucksUS4084714 *Oct 8, 1976Apr 18, 1978Williams Melvin LPoultry-handling systemUS4120076 *Apr 7, 1977Oct 17, 1978Lebre Charles J PSystem employing a strap for stowing containers against a wallUS4294185 *Sep 8, 1978Oct 13, 1981Nordstrom Immo RSystem for securing containers in a ship's holdUS5199729 *Jul 26, 1991Apr 6, 1993Watkins Aircraft Support Products, Inc.Stowable shelf bag cartUS5255765 *May 19, 1992Oct 26, 1993Loonatickle, Inc.Removable luggage coverUS5673984 *Apr 18, 1996Oct 7, 1997Herman Miller, Inc.Transport cartUS5875904 *Nov 1, 1994Mar 2, 1999Vorstenbosch; Albertus FranciscusBox-like transport containerUS5975613 *Jul 10, 1998Nov 2, 1999Sippel; Melanie A.Stroller shading deviceUS6099220 *May 13, 1999Aug 8, 2000Kinedyne CorporationCart lockUS6655892 *Jul 20, 2001Dec 2, 2003Coca-Cola Enterprises, Inc.Beverage distribution system and method of its manufacture and operation* Cited by examinerClassifications U.S. Classification414/334, 414/340, 414/345, 280/79.3, 414/788, 280/79.11, 414/790.1, 414/498International ClassificationB62B3/00, B62B3/04, B60P7/08, B60P3/055, B65G57/00, B65D71/70, B60P7/13, B65D19/00Cooperative ClassificationB65D19/0026, G06Q20/203, B65D71/70, B65D2519/00034, G06Q10/083, B65D2519/00796, B60P7/08, B62B2501/065, B60P3/055, B62B2207/02, B62B2203/07, B65D2519/00318, G06Q99/00, B65D2519/00786, B62B3/04, B62B5/087, B65D2519/00308, B65D2519/00323, B65D2519/00268, B65D2519/00273, B65D2519/00069, B60P7/13, B62B3/16, B65D2519/00363, B62B2202/12, B65D2519/00338, B65D2519/00771, G06Q10/087, B65D2519/00412, B65D2519/00333, B65D2519/00288, B65D2519/008, B62B2203/70, B62B1/10, B65D2519/0094, B65D2519/00407European ClassificationG06Q20/203, G06Q10/087, G06Q99/00, G06Q10/083, B60P3/055, B65D19/00C1B4C1, B62B3/04, B60P7/13, B65D71/70, B60P7/08, B62B3/00BLegal EventsDateCodeEventDescriptionAug 27, 2014FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 8Feb 2, 2011ASAssignmentEffective date: 20101002Free format text: CHANGE OF NAME;ASSIGNOR:COCA-COLA ENTERPRISES INC.;REEL/FRAME:025734/0368Owner name: COCA-COLA REFRESHMENTS USA, INC., GEORGIAJun 23, 2010FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 4RotateOriginal ImageGoogle Home - Sitemap - USPTO Bulk Downloads - Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - About Google Patents - Send FeedbackData provided by IFI CLAIMS Patent Services©2012 Google