Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US6749208?dq=5708422
Timestamp: 2014-10-21 12:37:16
Document Index: 116236751

Matched Legal Cases: ['art. 2', 'art.\n3', 'art.\n5', 'art. 9', 'art 10', 'art 10', 'art 40', 'arts 40', 'art 40']

Patent US6749208 - Nestable platter cart - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign inAdvanced Patent SearchPatentsA platter cart has a wheeled base and at least one vertical support extending upwardly from each side of the base at a location spaced between the front and rear end of the base. A series of front shelves are secured to extend forwardly from the supports at spaced intervals, and a series of horizontal...http://www.google.com/patents/US6749208?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US6749208 - Nestable platter cartAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS6749208 B2Publication typeGrantApplication numberUS 10/139,694Publication dateJun 15, 2004Filing dateMay 3, 2002Priority dateMay 3, 2002Fee statusLapsedAlso published asUS20030205876Publication number10139694, 139694, US 6749208 B2, US 6749208B2, US-B2-6749208, US6749208 B2, US6749208B2InventorsMiguel J. Orozco, V. John OndrasikOriginal AssigneePrecision Wire Racks And Carts, Inc.Export CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (17), Referenced by (3), Classifications (12), Legal Events (11) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetNestable platter cartUS 6749208 B2Abstract A platter cart has a wheeled base and at least one vertical support extending upwardly from each side of the base at a location spaced between the front and rear end of the base. A series of front shelves are secured to extend forwardly from the supports at spaced intervals, and a series of horizontal rear shelves are secured to extend rearwardly from the supports at spaced intervals. Each rear shelf is vertically offset from the front shelves, so that two platter carts can be nested together by pushing a rearward cart into the end of a front cart with the front shelves of the rearward cart nesting into the spaces between the rear shelves of the front cart.
We claim: 1. A platter cart, comprising:
an upwardly extending support frame having a base, caster wheels secured at the base, an upper end, a rear end, and a forward end, and opposite sides extending upwardly from the base at a location spaced between the ends of the frame; a plurality of spaced, generally horizontal shelves rigidly secured between the opposite sides of the frame, the shelves comprising a series of spaced, horizontal forward shelf parts extending forwardly from the sides of the frame and a series of spaced, horizontal rearward shelf parts extending rearwardly from the sides of the frame; the forward shelf parts being permanently offset at a different height from all of the rearward shelf parts, such that two carts are nested together by interfitting the horizontal forward shelf parts of a rearward cart in the spaces between the horizontal rearward shelf parts of a forward cart. 2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein each shelf has an integral peripheral frame extending around the forward and rearward shelf part, the peripheral frame having a front end, a rear end, and opposite sides, and each side having an inclined portion extending between the offset forward and rearward shelf part.
3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein each shelf part has an outer peripheral frame having opposite sides and a plurality of cross bars extending between the opposite sides of the frame.
4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein each shelf part has an inner end adjacent the sides of the frame, and an upwardly extending ledge at the inner end of each shelf part to form an end stop for a tray placed on the shelf part.
5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base is generally U-shaped, having a forward end, an open rear end, and opposite sides tapering outwardly from the forward end of the base to the open rear end.
6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sides of the frame comprise at least two parallel, vertical support rods extending upwardly from each side of the frame.
7. A platter cart, comprising:
an upwardly extending support frame having a base, caster wheels secured at the base, an upper end, a rear end, and a forward end, and opposite sides extending upwardly from the base at a location spaced between the ends of the frame; a plurality of spaced, generally horizontal shelves secured between the opposite sides of the frame, the shelves comprising a series of spaced forward shelf parts extending forwardly from the sides of the frame and a series of spaced rearward shelf parts extending rearwardly from the sides of the frame; the forward shelf parts being offset at a different height from all of the rearward shelf parts, such that two carts are nested together by interfitting the forward shelf parts of a rearward cart in the spaces between the rearward shelf parts of a forward cart; and the forward and rear shelf parts being formed separately, each shelf part having an inner end secured to the sides of the frame. 8. A platter cart, comprising:
a wheeled base having a plurality of caster wheels, the base having a front end, a rear end, and opposite sides; at least one vertical support extending upwardly from each side of the base at a location spaced between the front and rear end of the base and aligned with the support on the opposite side of the base; a series of horizontal front shelves secured to the supports at spaced intervals and extending forwardly from the supports; and a series of horizontal rear shelves secured to the supports at spaced intervals, each rear shelf being vertically offset from the front shelves; whereby two platter carts can be nested together by pushing a rearward cart into the end of a front cart with the front shelves of the rearward cart nesting into spaces between the rear shelves of the front cart. 9. A platter cart, comprising:
an upwardly extending support frame having a base, caster wheels secured at the base, an upper end, a rear end, and a forward end, and opposite sides extending upwardly from the base at a location spaced between the ends of the frame; a plurality of spaced, generally horizontal shelves rigidly secured between the opposite sides of the frame, the shelves comprising a series of spaced, forward shelf parts extending forwardly from the sides of the frame up to a forward end of the shelf part and a series of spaced, rearward shelf parts extending rearwardly from the sides of the frame up to a rearward end of the shelf part, each front and rear shelf part shelf part being attached to the frame only at the opposite sides of the frame and being free and unsupported at the forward and rear end, respectively, of the respective shelf part; and the forward shelf parts being permanently offset at a different height from all of the rearward shelf parts, such that two carts are nested together by interfitting the forward shelf parts of a rearward cart in the spaces between the rearward shelf parts of a forward cart.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to wheeled platter carts or tray carrying racks for transporting commodities from one location to another, for example from a storage area or freezer to customer accessible shelving in a grocery store or the like. It is particularly concerned with a platter cart which is nestable with other such carts for reducing storage space requirements when the carts are not in use.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved platter cart which can be nested with other identical carts either for storage when not in use, or for transporting a plurality of a loaded carts simultaneously.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the platter cart according to a first embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 2 is a side view showing two carts nested;
FIG. 4 is a left hand end view of the upper portion of the cart;
FIG. 6 is a side view of a cart with an alternative shelf configuration; and
FIG. 7 is a side view of two carts according to FIG. 6 in the nested position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGS. 1 to 5 illustrate a platter cart 10 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The cart 10 basically comprises a support frame having a wheeled base 12 with front and rear caster wheels 13,14, and a pair of upright supports 15 extending upwardly from the opposite sides of the base 12 at an intermediate position between the front and rear of the frame. Each upright support 15 has a vertical strut extending upwardly from each side of the frame, and a cross bar 17 connecting the struts at the upper end of the frame. A plurality of spaced, generally horizontal shelves 16 are secured to the upright supports at spaced intervals along the height of the frame.
FIG. 6 of the drawings illustrates a modified platter cart 40 with an alternative shelf configuration, while FIG. 7 illustrates two carts 40 nested together. In this embodiment, the cart 40 has a wheeled base 42 with caster wheels 13,14 as in the previous embodiment, and an upright support frame 44 extending upwardly from the base on both sides of the cart at a location spaced between the front and rear ends of the cart. The vertical support frame 44 is suitably located approximately at the center of the cart. A first set of spaced front shelves 45 extend forwardly at spaced intervals from the frame 44, while a second set of spaced rear shelves 46 extend rearwardly at spaced intervals from frame 44, each of the rear shelves being offset in height from the front shelves. As in the previous embodiment, each shelf 45, 46 has an end stop or ledge 30 extending across its inner end for locating the inner edge of a tray or platter placed on the shelf.
Patent CitationsCited PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS2928681Sep 7, 1954Mar 15, 1960Wire & Metal Mfg CoNestable wheeled tray carrying rackUS2982422Feb 25, 1958May 2, 1961James E GlymanRack comprised of tubular members integrally joined by reinforcing meansUS2992010Dec 21, 1959Jul 11, 1961Sides Raymond MGrocery cartsUS3212648 *Nov 18, 1963Oct 19, 1965Palmer Shile CoCantilever rackUS3272528Aug 3, 1964Sep 13, 1966Unarco IndustriesNestable cartUS3512654 *May 9, 1968May 19, 1970Jarke CorpModular cantilever adjustable arm rack and joint assemblyUS3527360 *May 24, 1968Sep 8, 1970Thielking Norman ENestable multiple-use vehicleUS3554477 *Feb 28, 1969Jan 12, 1971Midland Machine CorpCantilever storage rackUS3920258Sep 24, 1973Nov 18, 1975Rigulag AbTransportation cartUS4004819Jul 29, 1975Jan 25, 1977Metropolitan Wire CorporationMobile truck provided with improved removable racks for pans, trays and the likeUS4286719 *Nov 27, 1979Sep 1, 1981Palmer-Shile CompanyCantilever storage rackUS4397432 *Jun 2, 1981Aug 9, 1983The Boeing CompanyAdjustable litter support assemblyUS4519512 *Dec 20, 1982May 28, 1985Donald FrazierCantilever rack constructionUS4627542Mar 18, 1983Dec 9, 1986Cornelius Cannon, Inc.Display apparatus having a mechanism for tilting shelvesUS5125520 *Jul 23, 1991Jun 30, 1992Junzaburo KawasakiTray rackUS5538145 *Sep 6, 1994Jul 23, 1996Futscher & Co., H.U.W. Held Gesellschaft M.B.H. & Co. Kg.Rack for supporting mutually spaced-apart platesUS6203035Apr 29, 1998Mar 20, 2001V. John OndrasikNestable platter cart* Cited by examinerReferenced byCiting PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS7540510Jul 7, 2006Jun 2, 2009Chicago Display Marketing CorporationMovable rackUS8540083Mar 16, 2011Sep 24, 2013Isaac WaksulPlate stand for random assortment of platesUS8540084Jun 13, 2011Sep 24, 2013Isaac WaksulPlate stands for various plate assortmentsClassifications U.S. Classification280/79.3, 280/47.35, 211/126.1International ClassificationB62B3/00, B62B3/14, A47F5/13Cooperative ClassificationB62B3/14, B62B3/006, A47F5/137European ClassificationB62B3/00C, B62B3/14, A47F5/13F1Legal EventsDateCodeEventDescriptionAug 7, 2012FPExpired due to failure to pay maintenance feeEffective date: 20120615Aug 5, 2012FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 8Aug 5, 2012SULPSurcharge for late paymentJul 30, 2012PRDPPatent reinstated due to the acceptance of a late maintenance feeEffective date: 20120805Jun 15, 2012REINReinstatement after maintenance fee payment confirmedJun 15, 2012LAPSLapse for failure to pay maintenance feesJan 30, 2012REMIMaintenance fee reminder mailedMay 27, 2008FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 4May 27, 2008SULPSurcharge for late paymentDec 24, 2007REMIMaintenance fee reminder mailedMay 3, 2002ASAssignmentOwner name: PRECISION WIRE RACKS AND CARTS, INC., CALIFORNIAFree format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:OROZCO, MIGUEL J.;ONDRASIK, V. JOHN;REEL/FRAME:012873/0432Effective date: 20020502Owner name: PRECISION WIRE RACKS AND CARTS, INC. 6150 SHEILA SFree format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:OROZCO, MIGUEL J. /AR;REEL/FRAME:012873/0432RotateOriginal ImageGoogle Home - Sitemap - USPTO Bulk Downloads - Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - About Google Patents - Send FeedbackData provided by IFI CLAIMS Patent Services©2012 Google