Abstract:
An improved computer storage cart is provided which comprises an interior space defined by a top portion and a bottom portion joined to spaced apart opposing sidewalls and a back portion. Further, a plurality of vertically spaced apart shelves are located in the interior space for holding the computers or other rechargeable equipment. One or more doors are provided to secure the interior space and one or more electrical units having one or more electrical receptacles are positioned adjacent the shelves and proximate at least one door.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to computer storage carts, and more particularly to computer storage carts that provide for a source of power conveniently located within the cart. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Storage carts of various types are well known in the art. Such devices are typically used to store items inside of the carts. Some of the carts known in the art have legs and some of the carts have wheels to provide for ease of transport of the cart from location to location. Some storage carts are used to store computers such as, for example, laptop and notebook computers. Found on some of the computer storage carts used to store laptop or notebook computers is a source of power located within or near the cart in order to provide for the computer&#39;s batteries to be recharged while the computers are stored within the cart. 
   However, previous computer storage carts have some inherent disadvantages. One of the disadvantages with existing computer storage carts is that they do not provide a source of power that is easily accessible by a user. Some of the existing carts have the source of power located to the rear of the cart. Other carts have the source of power located on a bottom shelf of the cart. These locations are not easily accessible by users of the cart and make it difficult for a user to insert a computer&#39;s recharging cord into the appropriate power supply. The present invention overcomes these and other problems inherent in existing computer storage carts. 
   The present invention provides a computer storage cart that allows users to easily access the cart&#39;s power source to enable a user to quickly insert the computer&#39;s charging cord into the appropriate power supply of the cart. The present invention provides electrical units containing multiple outlets where the electrical units are conveniently located in front of the cart&#39;s storage shelves where they are easily accessible by a user. 
   The principal object of the present invention is to provide an improved computer storage cart that has a conveniently located and accessible source of power in the front portion of the cart. 
   Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel computer storage cart that can securely store laptop and notebook computers. 
   Still another object of the present invention is to provide a novel computer storage cart which can be locked. 
   A further object of the present invention is to provide a novel computer storage cart which can be easily moved from location to location. 
   A further object of the present invention is to provide a novel computer storage cart which is simple in design and inexpensive to construct, and is durable and rugged in structure. 
   Still further objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the ensuing description and drawings of the invention. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   These and other objects are achieved by a computer storage cart of the present invention. In one form of the invention, a computer storage cart is provided which comprises an interior space defined by a top portion and a bottom portion joined to spaced apart opposing sidewalls and a back portion. Further, a plurality of vertically spaced apart shelves are located in the interior space for holding the computers or other rechargeable equipment. One or more doors are provided to secure the interior space and one or more electrical units having one or more electrical receptacles are positioned adjacent the shelves and proximate at least one door. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of one embodiment of the computer storage cart of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is front view of the computer storage cart of  FIG. 1  shown with the doors removed for clarity; 
       FIG. 3  is a view of the right side of the computer storage cart of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 4  is a view of the top of the computer storage cart of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 5  is a view of the left side of the computer storage cart of  FIG. 1  shown with the left side panels removed for clarity; 
       FIG. 6  is a view of the rear portion of the computer storage cart of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 7  is a view of the bottom of the computer storage cart of  FIG. 1 ; and 
       FIG. 8  is a side view of a portion of a shelf shown aligned with a shelf mounting tab of the computer storage cart of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 9  is a front perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the computer storage cart; 
       FIG. 10  is a view of the left side of the computer storage cart of  FIG. 9  shown with the left side panels and the left side outlet electrical unit removed for clarity; 
       FIG. 11  is a view of the left side of another alternate embodiment of the computer storage cart shown with the left side panels and the left side outlet electrical unit removed for clarity; and 
       FIG. 12  is a partial front perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the outlet electrical unit and means for attaching the electrical unit to the computer storage cart. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one embodiment of the computer storage cart  10  constructed in accordance with the present invention.  FIG. 2  is a front view of the computer storage cart of  FIG. 1 . In  FIGS. 1 and 2 , shown is one embodiment of a computer storage cart  10  having a top  16 , a bottom  20 , a rear panel  28  (best shown in  FIG. 5 ). As shown in  FIGS. 3 ,  4  and  5 , one embodiment of the storage cart  10  also has a right inner panel  32  and a right outer panel  36 , a left inner panel  40  and a left outer panel  44 . In yet other embodiments, cart  10  may have a one panel construction on each the right and left portion of cart  10 . Also shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3  are doors  24 , handle  25  attached to door  24 , shelves  60 , a handle  68  attached cart  10 , electrical units  76 , swivel casters  52  and casters  56  attached to bottom  20 , leg brackets  64 , locking mechanism  72  and a grommet hole  17  incorporated into top  16 . 
   As best shown in  FIG. 5 , one embodiment of computer storage cart  10  has grommet holes  29  and cord holder  30  disposed on rear panel  28 . Also, as best shown in  FIG. 8 , shelf mounting tabs  50  may be provided and attached to the right inner panel  32  and the left inner panel  40 . 
   Storage cart  10  may have, in one embodiment, seven shelves  60 . Each shelf  60  may store three computers and the bottom  20  may store an additional three computers for a total of  24  computers capable of being stored in cart  10 . In yet other embodiments of storage cart  10 , there may be more than or less than seven shelves  60 . Each shelf  60  may, in other forms of cart  10 , store less than or more than three computers. Shelves  60  may attach to the left inner panel  40  and right inner panel  32  by attaching shelves  60  to mounting tabs  50 . In yet other embodiments, shelves  60  may be positioned within cart  10  by any other type of fastener or connecting device that would provide for proper operation of cart  10 . For example, shelves  60  may be attached to and fixed within cart  10  by screws, pins, bolts and nuts, adhesives or any other fastener and/or connector. Shelf  60  may be constructed of metal, plastic, wood or any other type of material that will provide for proper operation of cart  10  and provide the necessary support for the computers. 
   In one embodiment of computer storage cart  10 , as best shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3 , cart  10  may have two doors  24  having a locking mechanism  72  and a handle  25  substantially as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3 . Doors  24  may be movably connected to cart  10 . Doors  24 , when in the closed position as shown in  FIG. 3 , may be secured and locked using lock mechanism  72 . In other embodiments of cart  10 , there may be one door  24  or two or more doors  24  attached to storage cart  10 . In yet other forms of storage cart  10 , doors  24  may be slidably connected to cart  10 . Doors  24  may be constructed of metal, plastic, wood or any other type of material that will provide for proper operation of cart  10 . In yet another embodiment, doors  24  may be three-point locking doors with a padlock loop. As shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 3 , a padlock  73  may be used to secure doors  24  by inserting the padlock  73  into a padlock loop  74 . In yet still other embodiments of cart  10 , other locking mechanisms may be used to secure doors  24 . 
   As shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3  and  7 , cart  10  may also have swivel casters  52  and casters  56 . In one embodiment, cart  10  may have two swivel casters positioned at one end of cart  10  and may have two non-swivel casters  56  positioned at the opposite end of cart  10 . In yet other embodiments, cart  10  may have any number of casters  56  and swivel casters  52  located in any position and attached to cart  10 . As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 5 , swivel casters  52  and casters  56  may be mounted to the bottom  20 . Casters  52  and  56  may further have a locking mechanism which when locked will prevent the casters  52  and  56  from moving and thereby maintain cart  10  in a fixed location. 
   Doors  24 , rear panel  28 , right inner panel  32 , right outer panel  36 , left inner panel  40 , left outer panel  44 , top  16  and bottom  20  may have a plurality of holes  46 . Holes  46  provide ventilation for cart  10  so that the heat generated by the recharging of the devices stored in cart  10  will dissipate through holes  46 . In yet other embodiments of cart  10 , slots or other configurations may be used to provide for ventilation of cart  10 . 
   As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 6 , holes  17  may be provided in top  16  and/or rear panel  28  to provide for a power supply cord to easily and conveniently be passed through the holes  17  and into or out of cart  10 . In yet other embodiments of cart  10 , holes  17  may be positioned and located in right outer panel  36 , left inner panel  40 , right inner panel  32 , left outer panel  44  and/or bottom  20 . As shown in  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 5 , a cord holder  30  may be attached to rear panel  27 . In yet other embodiments of cart  10 , cord holders  30  may be provided on any other portion of cart  10 , such as for example, on right outer panel  36  and/or left outer panel  44 . 
   Top  16 , bottom  20 , rear panel  28 , right inner panel  32 , right outer panel  36 , left inner panel  40 , left outer panel  44  may be attached to leg brackets  64  as shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3  and  4 . Connecting devices such as screws, pins, bolts and nuts, adhesives, or any other connecting means or device may be used to attach the various components to leg brackets  64 . 
   As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , storage cart  10  may have a handle  68  attached to storage cart  10 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , in one embodiment, handle  68  may be attached to the right side of storage cart  10 . In yet other embodiments, handle  68  or more than one handle  68  may be attached to cart  10  anywhere on cart  10  that will provide for ease of use of cart  10  by a user. To move cart  10 , a user would grab handle  68  and either pull or push cart  10  in a direction that the user wanted to move cart  10 . For example, a user may wish to move computer cart  10  from one room to another room. 
   As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 6 , storage cart  10  may have one or more electrical units  76 . In one embodiment, electrical units  76  may each have electrical receptacles  78  and an electrical cord  84 . In yet other embodiments, electrical units  76  may have a circuit breaker  80  and/or an on-off power switch  82 . As shown in  FIG. 1  each electrical unit  76 , in one form, has fourteen electrical receptacles  78  (seven receptacles  78  on opposite sides of unit  76 ). Electrical units  76 , as best shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , are positioned in front of shelves  60  to provide easy user access to the electrical receptacle  78 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , electrical units  76  are positioned adjacent shelves  60  and doors  24 . When a user places a computer or other device  12  on a shelf  60  within cart  10 , the computer&#39;s electrical cord for recharging is easily inserted into the corresponding electrical receptacle  78 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , in one form of cart  10 , cord  84  of electrical unit  76  may pass through grommet hole  29  disposed in rear panel  28 . Cord  84  may then be connected to an external power source rated for the appropriate voltage.  FIG. 1  shows electrical units  76  having electrical receptacles  78  facing toward left inner panel  40  and right panel  32 . In other embodiments of cart  10 , electrical receptacles  78  may be disposed on electrical units  76  so that electrical receptacles  78  face only to the left side of cart  10 , only the right side of cart  10 , only the doors  24  and/or only the rear panel  28 . Electrical receptacles  78  may be positioned and disposed on electrical units  76  in any order and in any combination and on any side of electrical unit  76  that is required for the particular application of storage cart  10 . In one form of cart  10 , as shown in  FIG. 1 , electrical unit  76  may have fourteen electrical receptacles on each unit  76 . In yet other embodiments of cart  10 , any number of electrical receptacles  78  may be disposed on electrical unit  76 . In one form of cart  10 , electrical unit  76  may be attached at one end to top  16  and attached at the opposite end to bottom  20 . Many different types of fasteners and connecting devices and/or adhesives may be used to position and securely or removably fix electrical unit  76  within cart  10 . For example, screws, nuts and bolts, pins and other fastening devices may be used to fix electrical unit  76  to storage cart  10 . 
   In one embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 12 , connectors  86  may be provided to attach electrical units  76  to cart  10 . Connectors  86  have a slot or hole  87 , a pin or threaded portion  88 , a tab  89  and a knob  96 . In this embodiment, electrical units  76  may have tab  77 . In use, connector  86  would be aligned with the corresponding receiving elements in cart  10 , top  16  and bottom  20 . Pins or screws  88  are received by bottom  20  at a hole in bottom  20 . Tabs  77  are received by slots or holes  87  and tabs  89  are received by holes or slots positioned in bottom  20  and top  16 . 
   In use, storage cart  10  may be used in a variety of different locations and applications. For example, storage cart  10  may be used in offices, schools, community facilities, and anywhere else that secure computer storage and recharging capabilities are necessary. A user may open doors  24  and insert a computer or computers  12  or other device onto a shelf  60 . A user would then insert the computer&#39;s electrical charging cord into the desired electrical receptacle  78  located on electrical units  76 . If electrical unit  76  contains an on-off power switch  82 , a user can select between the desired switch setting. The user may insert as many computers  12  into cart  10  in position on shelf  60  as cart  10  is designed to hold. The user may then shut and lock doors  24 . If storage cart  10  contains a lock mechanism  72  or other appropriate locking device, the user may then lock doors  24  to prevent access to the computers  12  being recharged within storage cart  10  from unauthorized access. The user may desire to move cart  10  to another location or another room while the computers  12  are located within cart  10 . The user would simply disconnect electrical unit  76 , cord  84  from the external power source and wrap cord  84  around cord holder  30  for secure storage of cord  84 . The user may then simply push or pull handle  68  to steer cart  10  to the desired location. Once cart  10  is in place in a new location, the user may lock casters  56  and swivel casters  52  so the cart does not roll if someone leans against the cart. Cord  84  may then be unwrapped to the desired length from cord holder  30  and cord  84  may then be connected to the appropriate power source. While the computers  12  stored inside locked cart  10  are being charged, they will have a tendency to generate heat during the charging process. This heat may escape through ventilation holes  46  located in cart  10 . 
     FIG. 9  is a front perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the computer storage cart.  FIG. 10  is a view of the left side of the computer storage cart of  FIG. 9  shown with the left side panels and the left side electrical unit  76  removed for clarity. As shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10 , in one embodiment, the electrical units  76  may be positioned at the right side and left side of cart  10  substantially as shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10 . 
     FIG. 11  is a left side view of another alternate embodiment of the computer storage cart shown with the left side panels and the left side electrical unit  76  removed for clarity. As shown in  FIG. 11 , in one embodiment, the electrical units  76  may be positioned at the rear of cart  10  adjacent the rear panel  28 . In this embodiment, a portion of shelves  60  may be removed to provide for positioning of electrical units  76 . In yet other embodiments, shelves  60  may be provided in shorter lengths that do not extend to the rear panel  28  but instead extend only to the front most edge of electrical units  76 . 
   In yet other uses, cart  10  may be used to store and/or recharge many different of types of devices in addition to computers. For example, personal digital assistants (PDA) have become commonly used in a variety of different settings. In this application of cart  10 , a personal digital assistant would simply be placed on an appropriate shelf  60  and plugged into the appropriate electrical receptacle  78 . Other devices that may contain battery packs or rechargeable batteries may also be placed into cart  10  on shelves  60  to provide for secure, ventilated storage of the devices while they are recharging within cart  10 . 
   Specific embodiments of novel methods and apparatus for construction of novel computer storage carts according to the present invention have been described for the purpose of illustrating the manner in which the invention is made and used. It should be understood that the implementation of other variations and modifications of the invention and its various aspects will be apparent to one skilled in the art, and that the invention is not limited by the specific embodiments described. Therefore, it is contemplated to cover the present invention any and all modifications, variations, or equivalents that fall within the true spirit and scope of the basic underlying principles disclosed and claims herein.