Abstract:
A collapsible display cart for storing, transporting and displaying merchandise which has a base with shelves for holding merchandise, which can be raised and extended, at least one pair of wheels for moving the cart and a canopy for covering the base in closed condition.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to a collapsible portable display cart of the type which has a base for storing merchandise on shelves, which can be raised to permit shelves to be extended to display merchandise, and has a top canopy which covers the base for storage, and is raised with the shelves to permit access to the merchandise. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Carts for storing, transporting and displaying merchandise are common and can be seen in many locations such as airport terminals and shopping malls. The typical cart is of rectangular configuration, may have a base with two sets of wheels, and open sides with a fixed overhead canopy, with the merchandise usually stacked in the center of the cart. Such carts do not provide ideal or efficient display of merchandise, are difficult to secure, take up a large amount of space for the quantity of merchandise displayed, do not provide for adequate storage of merchandise, and suffer from other shortcomings. 
     The collapsible display cart of the invention does not suffer from prior art problems and provides many positive advantages. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It has now been found that a collapsible, portable, display cart can be obtained, which provides for optimum merchandise display, with a plurality of shelves for merchandise display and with a canopy that can be raised for display, and lowered for secure storage or transport of the merchandise. 
     The principal object of the invention is to provide a collapsible, portable, display cart for displaying and storing a variety of merchandise. 
     A further object of the invention is to provide a collapsible, portable, display cart that provides for secure storage and transport of merchandise. 
     A further object of the invention is to provide a collapsible, portable, display cart that has a plurality of shelves that can be raised and lowered, and extended to display merchandise. 
     A further object of the invention is to provide a collapsible, portable, display cart that is easy to use. 
     A further object of the invention is to provide a collapsible, portable, display cart that is simple to construct, is durable and enjoys a long service life. 
     Other objects and advantageous features of the invention will be apparent from the description and claims. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The nature and characteristic features of the invention will be more readily understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part hereof in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the collapsible, portable, display cart of the invention in condition for merchandise storage or transport, 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the cart of FIG. 1 in the merchandise display condition, 
     FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2, but illustrating the canopy in uncovered condition; 
     FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the operating mechanism of the cart of FIG. 1 in retracted, or closed position; 
     FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 but with the operating mechanism in extended position; 
     FIG. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of a portion of the cart in retracted or closed position, 
     FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 showing a portion of the cart in open condition; 
     FIG. 8 is a bottom view of the cart; 
     FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of the locking/unlocking chain mechanism in position to move to open position, and; 
     FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 9 with the chain mechanism in position to move to closed position. 
    
    
     It should, of course, be understood that the description and drawings herein are merely illustrative and that various modifications and changes can be made in the structures disclosed without departing from the spirit of the invention. 
     Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     When referring to the preferred embodiment, certain terminology will be utilized for the sake of clarity. Use of such terminology is intended to encompass not only the described embodiment, but also technical equivalents which operate and function in substantially the same way to bring about the same result. 
     Referring now more particularly to the drawings and FIGS. 1-3 and  6 ,  7 , a collapsible display cart  10  is therein illustrated. The cart  10  includes a base  11 , of box like rectangular configuration, and open at the top, which has a pair of pneumatic tires  12  carried in swivel brackets  14 , which are mounted to a metallic base panel  15  at the front of base  11 . 
     A pair of pneumatic tires  12 A are provided carried in stationary brackets  14 A, which are also mounted to the panel  15  at the rear of base  11 . 
     The base panel  15  is secured to a metal base frame  16 , which is of tubular construction, and has end members  17 , with side members  18  connected thereto. The end members  17  have vertically extending members  20  connected thereto, with upper side members  21  extending between and connecting the vertical members  20 . 
     Spanning the vertical members  20  at each end are end panels  25 , which are secured to the members  20  in any preferred manner such as by welding. 
     Referring additionally to FIGS. 4 and 5, the end panels  25  each have a vertical channel member  26  secured thereto, and to the end members  17 , with a second vertical channel member  27  engaged therewith, and a third vertical member  28  secured to the second member  27 . 
     A fourth channel member  29  is carried in the third channel member  28 , and a fifth channel member  30  is carried in the fourth channel member  29 . 
     The second channel members  27  are secured to drawer slide panels  31 , which are at each end of the cart  10 , inside vertical members  20 , and end panels  25 . 
     The vertical channel members,  27 ,  28  and  29  are extended and retracted in relation to channel member  26  by a series of sprockets mounted thereto which are connected by an endless chain, to be described. 
     As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the channel members  26  each have a sprocket  35  rotatably mounted therein, connected to a sprocket  36  by a chainloop  37 , which is connected to a sprocket  38  rotatably mounted on channel member  29 , and a sprocket  39  rotatably mounted on channel member  30 . 
     The chain  37  is engaged with a cable  62 . A gear box  41 , is provided which is preferably of 40:1 reduction, which box is carried on the front of cart  10  and on the bottom of base panel  15 . The box  41  has an arm  42  extending therefrom, connected to a torque limiter  43  of well known type which is connected to a shaft  67  for rotation of the gear box mechanism (to be described) to move chain  37  for rotation of sprockets  35 ,  36 ,  38 , and  39  to extend and retract channel members  27 ,  28 ,  29  and  30 , to be described. The torque limiter prevents overwinding of cable  62 . 
     Referring additionally to FIGS. 8-10 the chain  37  is shown coming out of fixed channel  26  and extends to a link  61  of cable  62 , which extends over a center spool  63 , which is rotatably mounted to base frame  16 . From spool  60  cable  62  extends to a spool  66  carried on the shaft  67  of gear box  41 . 
     The cable  62  is also connected by a turnbuckle  68  to a chain  37 , which extends into a channel  26  at the rear of cart  10 . 
     The spool  66  has a control assembly  70  connected thereto to control the direction of rotation of spool  66 , and the consequent raising, lowering of the drawer slide panels  31 , to be described. 
     The directional control assembly  70  includes locking cogs  71 , a tension spring  72 , connected to a locking dog  73 , which is rotatably mounted by pin  74  to box  41 . The locking dog  73  has a shoulder stud  75 , which is engaged by cable  62 , as shown in FIG.  9 . When arm  42  is rotated counter clockwise to raise the drawers and canopy assembly, the tension of the cable  62  across shoulder stud  75  cause dog  73  to disengage from cog  71 . As long as there is tension on cable  62  the cable spool  66  is free to rotate in either direction. The mechanism is designed to cause the dog  73  to engage if the drawer/canopy assembly meets an obstruction when being lowered (such as a drawer being left out). When the drawer/canopy assembly meets an obstruction or reaches the bottom of its intended travel, the cable  62  will start to become slack as it is no longer lifting any weight. When cable  62  becomes slack, it allows tension spring  72  to pull down on the dog  73 , causing it to engage cog  71 . This stops continued clockwise rotation of spool  66  causing the torque limiter  43  to slip and preventing operation beyond the design limits of the cart. 
     As shown in FIG. arm  42  is rotated clockwise to lower the drawer/canopy assembly into base  11 . 
     The slide panels  31  each have a plurality of drawer slides  45  attached to each side of member  27 , and consisting of a fixed member  46 , and a slidable member  47 . The slide panels  31  have a pair of stationary brackets  48 , which support fixed drawers  49 , which extend end to end between panels  31  with bottoms  50 , and open curb members  51  along the front and rear to restrain merchandise (not shown) carried on the drawers  49 . 
     The drawer slides  45  have drawers  52  attached thereto, which extend end to end between slide panels  31 , and movable in and out on slides  45 . 
     The drawers  52  have bottoms  53 , and open curb members  54  along the front and rear edge of the drawers, to restrain merchandise (not shown) carried on the drawers  52 . 
     The fifth channel members  30  as shown in FIGS. 2,  3  are connected to a canopy frame  55  of tubular construction, which includes a header  56 , a top frame  58  connected to header  56 , and a plurality of vertical supports  59  connected to the top frame  58 . As shown in FIG. 2, a canopy cover  57  is provided, preferably of lightweight well known fabric, which is connected to top frame  58 , and supports  59 . The canopy frame  55  and cover  57  as shown in FIG. 1 in the closed position extend over the outside of base  11 . 
     The base  11  is also provided with a pair of sliding doors  75  on each side, carried between base frame  16  and upper side members  21 , with handles  76  and slide locks  77 , for access to base  11  as required. 
     When it is desired to display merchandise, or to gain access to merchandise (not shown) the gear box arm  42  is rotated counterclockwise, causing cable  62  to wind onto spool  66  and chain  37  to be moved, and through rotation of sprockets  35 ,  36 ,  38  and  39  cause channel members  27 ,  28 ,  29  and  30  to extend raising slide panels  31  and canopy frame  55 , until the panels are in the upward position out of base  11 , whereby drawers  52  can be extended and access had to them, and to drawers  49  as shown in FIG.  2 . The arm  42  is rotated in the clockwise direction to move slide panels  31  and drawers  49  and  52  back into base  11 , until the canopy  55  and cover  57  cover base  11 . 
     It will thus be seen that structure has been provided with which the objects of the invention are achieved.