AU632786B2

AU632786B2 - A movable stackable load carrying vehicle

Info

Publication number: AU632786B2
Application number: AU48630/90A
Authority: AU
Inventors: James Frederick Glover; Joseph James Scuderi
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1989-02-23
Filing date: 1990-01-19
Publication date: 1993-01-14
Anticipated expiration: 2010-01-19
Also published as: AU4863090A

Description

632786

AUSTRALIA

Patents.Act COMPLETE

SPECIFICATION

(ORIGINAL)

Class Application 1 Imber: Lodged: Int. Class "0'00 C',onplete Specificatioi iodgcd: Accepted: Ptiblished: a-)0 Priority -00

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o 0 0 0 D0 0 o C' Related Art: ~0 14 APPLICANT'S REF.: Namne(s) of Applicant(s): JAMES FREDERICK GLOVER and JOSEPI1 JAMES SCUDERI Add~ress(es) of Applicant(s): 22 Farquharson Street M4ount Waverly Victoria Australia Actual Inventor(s)' 254 Ballarat Road Braybrook Victoria Australia 090 0 00000., James Frederick Clover and Joseph James Scuderi Address for Service is: PHILLIPS, ORMONDE ANqD FITZPATRICK Patent and Trade M~trk Attorneys 367 Collins Street Melbourne, Australia, 3000 M015308 190190 Complete Specification for the invention entitled:, A MOVABLE STACKABLE LOAD CARRYING VE1ICLE The following statement is a full description of this havention, including the best method of performing it known to applicant(s): P19/3/84 2 This invention relates generally to a load carrying vehicle and more particularly to a vehicle which may be readily nested with other similar vehicles. The vehicle is applicable as a trolley and it will be convenient to hereinafter describe it in relation to that exemplary application. It is to be appreciated however that the vehicle is not limited to that application.

Various types of vehicles have previously been proposed for use in moving various types of goods. In order to reduce wasted storage space and to facilitate easy movement of a vehicle and in particular of any goods stored in the vehicle, it is desirable that the vehicle be i. nestable and movable. In one known form of nestable vehicle, an opening is provided in the top to allow items to be placed in and removed from said vehicle. In such a vehicle there is also provided a rotatable side member which rotates to allow entry of a portion of another vehicle inside said first vehicle when said other vehicle is pushed against it to deflect the rotatable side member and allow nesting of the vehicles.

A problem with such known vehicles is that it is always necessary to apply force to nest together the vehicles. This force can be significant, particularly if the vehicles are large or the rotatable side member is at least partially jammed. Also, because the goods must be placed in and removed from the top of the vehicle, this can restrict the use of such a vehicle when the goods are very S heavy because of the difficulty in lifting the goods out Sfrom the top of the vehicle. Furthermbre, known vehicles cannot provide secure storage of goods within the vehicle.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a load carrying vehicle which can be used to transport goods placed therein and which can be readily nested with other similar vehicles.

rW-it--hic -in -mnd-4-he- preacnt -invenbi-on- prv±ides d sload carrying vehicle including a e frame, a aoad carrying body suppor e vehicle frame and having an

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i With this in mind the present invention provides a load carrying vehicle including a vehicle frame, a load carrying body supported by the vehicle frame and having a body opening in one side thereof, the load to be carried 5 by the vehicle being placeable within and retrievable from the body only through the body opening, the load carrying body including a plurality of wall sections fixedly located relative to each other to provide a chamber for accommodating the load to be carried by the vehicle,, each of said wall sections uniformly decreasing in size away from the opening to provide a tapered configuration, and support means connectable to and supporting the vehicle to facilitate movement of said vehicle, wherein the load carrying body may be inserted through the opening of and be accommodated within the load carrying body of an adjacent load carrying vehicle to enable nesting of said vehicles.

The vehicle frame preferably includes a lower section supported on said support means and an upper section supporting the load carrying body. The lower section is preferably substantially shaped -nd extends at least substantially horizontally for facilitating nesting of the adjacent vehicle. The upper section is also preferably substantially shaped, extends at least substantially vertically and supports the load carrying body about the periphesry of the opening.

The load carrying vehicle preferably further includes at least one closure means fixedly or removably supported on the vehicle for covering the body opening thereby enclosing the interior chamber. Locking means may be provided for locking the closure means in a closed position to prevent remioval of the load from the load carrying body.

The vehicle may also preferably include at least one storage member supportable within the load carrying body for supporting items within the body, the at least one storage member being preferably removable for allowing nesting of the adjacent vehicle. The storage members may f

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3 1 alternatively be hingeably supported within the load carrying body. The load carrying body may preferably include a base wall section inclined at an angle relative to a horizontal plane and the vehicle preferably further includes a storage member in the form of a shelf hingedly supported adjacent to the inclined base wall, the shelf being supportable between a substantially horizontal position and a folded position 3a li 9 4~bY

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I~i4W R A 4-1111 !w 4 SI-4 immediately adjacent the base wall.

The support means for the vehicle preifrably includes at least one vehicle assembly.

The following description refers to a preferred embodiment of the vehicle of the present invention. To facilitate an understanding of the invention, reference is made in the description to the accompanying drawings where the vehicle is illustrated. It is to be understood, that the invention is not limited to the embodiment as hereinafter described and as illustrated.

In the drawings: °0 Figure 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the o 0o o o0 present invention having two closure doors; a Figure 2 is a side view of the vehicle of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a side view of two vehicles of the type "o shown in Figure 1 nested together; Figure 4a is a cross-sectional side view through IVa-IVa of a lower portion of the vehicle of Figure 1 with a shelf in an operating position; and Figure 4b is a cross-sectional side view of Figure 4a with the shelf in a folded position.

Figures 1 arid 2 illustrate the load carrying vehicle, which includes a vehicle frame 1, a load carrying body 2 having a mouth 6 in ono side thereof, one or more support means in the form of wheel assemblies 5 connected to frame 1, and one or more closure means 13 for closure of said mouth 6.

Vehicle frame 1 provided according to the invention may be of any suitable shape, or size and construction.

Vehicle frame 1 may be made of any materials or combination of materials suitable to provide a frame. Suitable ''materials include metal and/or polymer tubing, rod and/or plate. Preferably vehicle frame 1 includes one or more elongate struts. Vehicle frame 1 may support load carrying body 2. Vehicle frame 1 includes a frame lower section 4 having wheel assemblies 5 connected thereto and a frame upper section 3 having load carrying body 2 integral with or connected thereto. Preferably said lower section 4 is shaped such that at least a portion of lower section 4 of

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i_ (II 1_11_*141_11~1~1(1~i-I 5 other similar vehicles may be located substantially adjacent and be at least partially surrounded by or will at least partially surround said first vehicle lower section 4 such that said lower section 4 of said vehicles may be nested adjacent one another. Preferably said lower section 4 are shaped to allow efficient nesting. In one embodiment said lower section 4 is substantially shaped. Preferably, the shaped lower section 4 does not have parallel sides. Preferably the distance between said lower section sides in the region of the open end of said is greater than the distance between said sides in the region of the bridge of said shape.

0000 9 00 Preferably upper section 3 of frame 1 is integral with or connected to and extends from lower section 4. In one 0 00 form frame upper section 3 is substantially transverse to a floor surface on which vehicle I rests. In one embodiment wherein lower section 4 is substantially shaped, frame upper section 3 may extend from free ends of said shaped lower section 4. In one embodiment frame upper section 3 is also substantially shaped. More preferably both frame i o upper and lower sections 3,4 are substantially shaped I with said "U"s being connected in the region of each free end of each shaped section so that one or more mouths S. and passages are formed by frame 1. In a preferred embodiment frame upper section 3 is substantially rectangular, the plane of which is shaped such that frame lower section 4. It will be appreciated that frame upper St suotsection 3 may be any shape suitable to support a load *carrying body 2.

One or more support struts 7 may be provided affixed to or connecting with said vehicle frame. In an embodiment wherein frame upper section 3 is substantially shaped said support struts 7 may extend between opposite sides of the section. One or more support struts 7 may be provided extending between frame 1 and load carrying body 2 and/or between frame 1 and wheel assemblies Load carrying body 2 is connected to or integral with vehicle frame 1. Preferably, load carrying body 2 is

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6 connected to or integral with upper section 3 of vehicle frame 1. Preferably load carrying body 2 extends from upper section 3 of vehicle frame 1 such that it is located substantially above at least a portion of said lower section 4 of frame 1.

Load carrying body 2 includes at least one opening 6 in at least one side. In one embodiment, upper section 3 may at least partially provide a mouth of said opening 6.

In one embodiment wherein frame 1 may form a mouth and passage to provide said opening 6. Preferably, load carrying body 2 has at least three sides 12, a base 9 and a top 11. Load ca.rying body sides, base and top 12,9,11 are t shaped such that load carrying body 2 of one vehicle may readily fit within and be removable from the load carrying till body 2 of another similar vehicle so that the two or more may be readily nested together and separated from each other as illustrated in Figure 3. Preferably, at least one body side remote from said opening 6 provides a rear side Preferably said rear side 10 is smaller in size than an area defined by said sides, base and top 12,9,11 remote from and substantially opposite side rear side 10. More preferably, said rear side 10 is smaller both in width and height than said area remote and opposite said rear side 10. Preferably said remote and opposite sides comprises said opening 6 such that said opening 6 into Laid load carrying body 2 is larger in width and height than said rear side 10. More preferably remaining sides, base and top 12,9,11 gradually and substantially evenly increase in width and height with increased distance away from said smaller rear side Load carrying body 2 may therefore provide a '"tapered" chamber which facilitates the insertion and removal of load carrying body 2 of another body. The taper provided by the inclined base, top and/or sides 9,11,12 does not need to be large to allow easily nesting of the load carrying bodies 2. For example, base 9 may only need to be inclined approximately 10 from horizontal to facilitate removal of a nested load carrying body 2. Base 9 may therefore be

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-rirrxr_--: -i I-ll liii l--YUW-h Ipl- I ~h 7 almost horizontal and may therefore also provide an almost horizontal support surface for goods supported thereon.

To facilitate nesting, the taper of the cavity of load carrying body 2 will generally need to be greater when the distance from rear side 10 to mouth opening 6 is relatively short than when the distance is relatively long in which case only a small taper is required.

Said sides, bottom and top (12,10,9,11) may be constructed of any suitable material. Suitable materials include solid material, lattice material or material of any other known suitable shape or type. Said materials may be constructed of any suitable material or combination of materials. Suitable materials include metal, steel, stainless steel, plaster, polymer or any combination of 0 o 0o0a known materials. Said load carrying body 2 may include one 0o O 0 0 or more support struts or other members.

oo0° Closure means 13 provides temporary closure of said opening. Closure means 13 may be provided by any suitable closure means. Suitable closure means include gates, doors, panels and other known closure means. Said closure means 13 may be fixedly or removably connected to said load carrying vehicle adjacent said opening 6 by any known means including hinged connection, pivotal connection, slidable mounting, clips, bolts, screws and other known means of connection.

Preferably said closure means 13 can be removed from or be moved so that closure means 13 does not restrict or impede insertion of a portion of a load carrying body 2 of a second o. vehicle through an opening 6 in a first vehicle such that 0 the load carrying bodies 2 of said vehicles may be nested ;o ng form-said- -closuro-moans-onncotioninclud'es one or more tubes and one or more rods shaped to rotatably f;i within said tubes. Said closure means 13 may be made of an suitable material including materials referred to above in sepect of sides, bottom and top (12,10,9,11). Preferably sai losure means 13 includes one or more locking members 14. Locki members 14 may be any known members including latches, padlock deadbolts, slide boItS and any other known Inkn members

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1 together. Closure means 13 may for example be hingedly supported so that they may be swung both inwardly into and outwardly from the load carrying body 2. In one form said closure means connection includes one or more tubes and one or more rods shaped to rotatably fit within said tubes. Said closure means 13 may be made of any suitable material including materials referred to above in respect of sides, bottom and top (12, 10, 9, 11). Preferably said closure means 13 includes one or more locking members 14.

Locking members 14 may be any known members includiaj latches, padlocks, deadbolts, slide bolts and any other known locking members.

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8- #44* 4 4444 44 #4 44 4 4 4 44 4 4 4441 4 44 4 4 4 44 444414 4 4*44 4 44 *4 4 4 4444,4 o 4 Preferably said load carrying body 2 whpn closed by closure means 13 and locked by locking members 14 provides secure containment of any items enclosed therein. Preferably said body 2 when closed and locked is tamper proof.

In a further embodiment said load carrying body 2 includes storage members. Storage members may be any suitable shape or type. Suitable storage members include one or more shelves, rails, banging members, baskets or other known storage members.

Preferably storage members is removable or can be adjusted such that, it does not impede insertion of a load carrying body 2 of a second vehicle into load cairrying body 2 of a first vehicle. Storage members may pivot about axes adjacent side 12, base 9 or top 11 of said load carrying body 2. In one embodiment said storage members may be pivotable about at least one axis located adjacent a rear side of said load carrying body 2 remote from opening 6. In another form storage members may be pivotable about at least one axis adjacent side 12 of said load carrying body 2. In another embodiment storage member locating members may be provided. Storage member locating meombers may be any suitable type or shape. Suitable storage member locating members include hookr', rods, slidie rods or bolts, bolts and other known members.

In one embodiment as illustrated in Figures 4a and 4b, storage member 15 is provided adjacent base 9 of the load carrying body 2. Preferably this bottom storage member is adjustable to piovide a substantially horizontal shelf for loading, carrying and/or storage of items in said vehicle. Said bottom storage member 15 may be any suitable shape or type and may be made of any suitable material.

Said bottom storage member 15 may include sides 16 and/or strengthening ribs. Bottom storage member 15 also includes shelf adjustment means to allow removal of said member or adjustment betweeri a folded position wherein said storage member 15 lies substantially proximate the base of load carrying body 2 and an operating position wherein said storage member 1.5 is preferably substantially horizontal and

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00 0 a 0 0 a 00 0 0 0 0 0 00 00 0 0 00 0*60 O000 0 items may be placed thereon. Storage member adjustment means may be any suitable means. Suitable adjustment means include known adjustment means including adjustable locating members, adjustable shelf support members, sliding members, rotatable support struts, one or more hinges, overcentering support struts and other known means. In one form one or more locating portions 17 extend downwardly from at least one side of the plane of bottom storage member 15. Said locating portions 17 ruay temporarily insert onto a portion of said base 9 of said load carrying body 2 to temporarily maintain said bottom storage member 15 in an operating position. Bottom storage member 15 may also include storage member mounting means. Said mounting means locate bottom storage member 15 in said load carrying body 2 and allow bottom storage member 15 t- be adjusted between a folded (Figure 4b) and an operating position (Figure 4a).

Preferably, bottom storage member mounting means is located in the region adjacent the rear side of said load carrying body 2. Storage member mounting means may be any suitable means. Suitable means include one or more hinges, hooks, slide rods or bolts, boltss rotatable struts or other means. In one form storage member mounting means is provided by one or more fingers 18, extending from said bottom storage member 15 which cooperate with either one or more sides 12,10 and/or base 9 of load carrying body 2.

Storage member mounting means may also include storage member attachment means, Storage member attachment means may be any suitab?) means. Suitable means include bolts, screws, rivets or any other known suitable means. In one form attachment means may be provided by bolts extending between storage member 15 and one or more sides 12,10 and/or base 9 of load carrying body 2. Storage member 15 may include one or more slots 8 through which fingers and/or storage member attachment means extend. Said slots 8 may allov said bottom storage member 15 to be slidably moved relative to the sides 10,12 and base 9 of the load carrying body 2.

Connected to vehicle frame lower section 4 are one or 00(110 0 0 4 0 004 40 4 4 #4440 4D 44 44 14I 10 more wheel assemblies 5. Said wheel assemblies 5 may be any suitable wheel assembly. Preferably said wheel assemblies allow said vehicle to be turned and/or manoeuvered.

Preferably at least one of said wheel assemblies 5 is pivotable about an axis substantially transverse to a floor on w.-Ih said vehicle rests such that said vehicle can be turzied. Wheel assemblies 5 may be fixedly or releasably c nected to said vehicle by any suitable means. Suitable means include welding, bolts, glue, screws or any other known suitable means.

Said body 2, vehicle frame 1, support struts 7, storage members 15, and wheel assemblies 5 may be made of any suitable materials. Suitable materials include matal including steel, stainless steel, plastics and any known suitable material or a combination of these.

Said wheel assemblies 5 may include one or more wheels made of any suitable material, Suitable materials for wheels include metal, rubber, plastic or other known suitable materials and a combination of these.

The load carrying vehicle of the present invention can be readily nested with other similar vehicles. Unlike known vehicles, no rotating side members need to be displaced and the vehicles can be simplyng nested with an adjacent vehicle with a minimum of force, the load carrying body 2 of the first vehicle being simply inserted through opening 6 into the load carrjing body 2 of the adjacent vehicle so as to be nested therein. Because a minimum of force is required and because there are no side members to be deflected, accidents involving the trapping of limbs or fingers are minimised or avoided altogether. The side opening 6 of load carrying body 2 also facilitates the transport of heavy items because, unlike known load carrying vehicles, it is not necessary to lift the item u..ardly out from the vehicle. The item can simply be removed in a transverse direction from the vehicle. Furthermore, because closure means 13 can be connected to load carrying vehicle to close off opening 6, the vehicle can also provide secure storage of items therein.

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11 SFinally, it is to be understood that various Salterations, modifications and/or additions may be introduced into the construction and S rangement of parts previously described without departing from the spirit and Sambit of the invention defined in the claims appended hereto.

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Claims

1. A load carrying vehicle including a vehicle frame, a load carrying body supported by the vehicle frame I and having a body opening in ore side thereof, the load to be carried by the vehicle being placeable within and Sretrievable from the body only through the body opening, the load carrying body including a plurality of wall sections fixedly located relative to each oth. to provide a chamber for accommodating the load to be carried by the vehicle, each of said wall sections uniformly decreasing in size away from the opening to provide a tapered configuration, and support means connectab-, to and supporting the vehicle to facilitate movement of said vehicle, wherein the load carrying body may be inserted through the opening of and be accommodated within the load carrying body of an adjacent load carrying vehicle to enable nesting of said vehicles.

2. A load carrying vehicle according to claim 1 wherein the vehicle frame includes a lower section supported on said support means and an upper section supporting the load carrying body,

3. A load carrying vehicle according to Claim 2 wherein the lower section is substantially shaped and extends at least substantially horizontally for facilitating nesting of the adjacent vehicle, and wherein the upper section is substantially shaped, extends at least substantially vertically and supports the load carrying body about the periphery of the opening.

4 A load carrying vehicle according to any preceding claim further including at least one closure means fixedly or removably supported on the vehicle for covering the body opening thereby enclosing the interior chamber.

A load carrying vehicle according to claim 4 further including locking means for locking the closure means in a closed position to prevent removal of the load from the load carrying body.

6. A load carrying vehicle according to claim 4 or 39 2494b VP 12- K wherein the or each closure means includes a door hingedly supported on the vehicle, the door being swingable inwardly or outwardly from the load carrying body so as not to obstruct nesting of the adjacent vehicle.

7. A load carrying vehicle according to any preceding claim further including at least one storage member supportable within the load carrying body for supporting items within the body, the at least one storage member being removable or hingeable for allowing nesting of the adjacent vehicle.

8. A load carrying vehicle according to any preceding claim wherein the load carrying body includes a base wall section inclined at an angle relative to a horizontal plane, and wherein the vehicle further includes a Ptorage member in the form of a shelf hingediy supported adjacent to the inclined base wall, the shelf being 0 a supportable between a substantially horizontal position Sand a folded position immediately adjacent the base wall.

9. A load carrying vehicle according to any preceding claim wherein the support means includes at least 'ne wheel assembly. A load carrying vehicle substantially as hereinbefore described with respect to what is snown in Sthe accompanying drawings. DATED: 11 March 1992 PHILLIPS ORMONDE FITZPATRICK D Attorneys for: JAMES FREDERICK GLOVER and JOSEPH JAMES SCUDERI 3£ 1664b VF 13