Patent ID: 8251401

Claim:
A transport cart comprising: a main fame; ground engaging wheels attached to the frame; motor means for driving at least one of the wheels; and steering means for steering at least one of the wheels including: a steering column having a first shaft and a second shaft each having a longitudinal axis; a universal joint interconnecting the first shaft to the second shaft and permitting relative pivotal movement of the first shaft and the second shaft about an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axes of the first shaft and the second shaft; means connecting the second shaft to a pinion of a rack and pinion assembly wherein a rack is connected to the at least one of the wheels being steered to impart rotary motion to a pinion when the longitudinal axes of the first shaft and the second shaft are in substantial alignment; and a steering wheel mounted at one end of the first shaft, a hollow tubular shaft surrounding the first shaft and having a first outer end and terminating in a second inner end, a yoke connected to the inner end of the tubular shaft pivotally mounted to the body of the cart about an axis substantially in alignment with the axis of the universal joint about which one of the first shaft, the second shaft, and the first shaft and the second shaft of the steering column pivot.