GB2033847A - Handling cart panel assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

A panel assembly is provided for a handling cart of the type intended for transporting miscellaneous articles, notably in stores and warehouses, adapted to be detachably mounted on a cart base structure. The panel assembly comprises a device 6 for retaining the panel 5 on the base structure 1 when the cart is turned upside-down for transporting same in its empty condition. The device is self-locking and adapted to be released by the operator's foot. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Handling cart panel assembly This invention relates in general to material handling carts and has specific reference to an improved panel therefor.

Carts of this type are now very popular and currently used for transporting miscellaneous articles and goods, notably in shops, stores and warehouses.

It is known that chain-store handling companies utilize preferably, for delivering products or goods, whether foodstuffs or others, to their branch stores, a fleet of handling carts consisting in most instances of a rolling or static base structure to which panels adapted to retain the cart contents are secured. As a rule, these panels are detachable and thus permit of saving room for the storage or the return of empty carts in orto lorries, stores or warehouses.

However, certain users do not remove these detachable panels and prefer transporting the empty carts in their assembled condition, each cart receiving another cart but disposed upside down, that is, with the base structure topmost and resting upon the top of the lateral panels of the underlying carts, In this case, the panels of the turn up cart, which are simply fitted in corresponding recesses formed in the base structure, get loose and fall.

It is the primary object of this invention to avoid this inconvenience by providing an improved panel for carts of this type, which remains attached to the base structure when the cart is turned upside down.

To this end and according to this invention the panel is provided with a device for retaining the panel with respect to the base structure of the empty cart when the latter is turned upside down for transport purposes.

According to a typical form of embodiment of this invention, the retaining device is located at the base of the panel and comprises a strap pivoted to a horizontal pivot member rigid with the panel, the lower end of the strap being so bent and shaped as to snappily engage a tube forming an integral part of the base structure.

When the vertical end uprights of the panel are driven home into their recesses, the bent end portion of the strap fits automatically around the base tube and causes the panel to be retained by this tube when the cart is turned upside down.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will appear as the following description proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawing illustrating diagrammatically by way of example a typical form of embodiment of a panel according to this invention. In the drawing: Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a handling cart equipped with a panel according to this invention; Figure2 is a part-sectional, part-elevational view showing on a larger scale the panel retaining device illustrated in Figure 1, before the panel is engaged in the cart base structure;; Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 but showing the panel partially engaged into the sockets provided for receiving its end uprights, and Figure 4 is a view similar to Figures 2 and 3, showing the position of the panel retaining device when the panel uprights are fitted completely into the corresponding recesses of the cart base structure.

The handling cart illustrated in Figure 1 comprises a base structure or frame 1 supported by wheels 2 and provided with corner brackets 3 formed with recesses adapted to receive the lower portions of the vertical uprights 4 of a pair of lateral panels such as 5.

These panels 5 may be moved from the base structure 1 by simply pulling them vertically upwards so as to extract the lower ends of their uprights out from the recesses formed in corner brackets 3.

According to this invention, each lateral panel of the cart, such as 5, is provided with a device designated in general by the reference numeral 6, for retaining said panel on the base structure 1 when the cart is turned upside down for transporting same in its empty condition. In the form of embodiment illustrated, the retaining device 6 is located at the base of panel 5 and substantially intermediate the ends thereof, and comprises a strap 7 pivotally mounted to a horizontal pivot member 8 rigid with the panel grip or grating 9. The lower end 7a of this strap 7 is bent upwards so that it can fit around a tube 11 forming an intergral part of the base structure 1.

The upper end portion 7b of strap 7 is wrapped around the horizontal pivot member 8 to permit the pivotal movements of strap 7 about this member 8.

According to a specific feature characterizing this invention, the strap 7 is provided with a resilient member 12 adapted snappily to retain the strap 7 in the position in which it fits around the tube 11. In the form of embodiment illustrated, this resilient member 12 consists of a spring blade secured to the strap 7 by means of a rivet 13 extending through a notch 14 formed in the upper portion of strap 7, as shown in Figure 1, this spring blade 12 extending upwardly so as to bear resiliently against a vertical element 15 of grid 9. The upper portion of strap 7 thus comprises two lugs disposed on either side of spring blade 12 and surrounding with their ends 7b the pivot member 8.

The spring blade 12 bent to a shape such that its upper end bears resiliently against the vertical element 15 will thus exert a resilient return pressure in the clockwise direction, as seen in Figure 3, against the strap 7, this pressure increasing as the strap is moved away from its vertical inoperative position, as shown by the arrow in Figure 3.

When the lower ends of the uprights 4 of panel 5 are engaged into the corner brackets 3, the bent end 7a of the strap slips on the base frame (Figure 3). A vertical downward thrust sufficient to overcome the antagonistic effort exerted by spring blade 12 on strap 7 causes the latter to escape so that its bent end 7a will eventually fit snappily under the tube 11 of the base structure at the end of the assembling operation, due to the pressure exerted by spring blade 12, so that an automatic snap-fitting action is obtained.

The panel 5 is thus positively retained and its vertical uprights 4 are safely prevented from being disconnected from the recesses of corner brackets 3 when the cart is turned upside down.

The pivoted strap 7 may serve the same locking function even if the return spring 12 is omitted therefrom, since it will constantly assume its locking position by gravity. However, in this case the straps equipping the cart panels will not remain in position when the cart is turned upside down, and will fall back by gravity.

To remove the panel 5, it is only necessary for the operatorto lift the lower portion 7a of strap 7 in order to release same from the tube 11, against the antagonistic force of spring blade 12. This operation may be accomplished without any appreciable effort from the operator who can easily remove the strap 7 with his foot while keeping his hands free for disassembling the thus released panel.

Of course, the invention should not be construed as being strictly limited by the specific form of embodiment shown and described herein, since many modifications and changes may be brought thereto without departing from the basic principles of the invention as set forth in the accompanying claims. Thus, the strap 7 may be replaced by any other equivalent element capable of performing the same function, i.e. locking the panel Sin position, when the cart is turned upside down.

Claims (6)

1. A panel for handling cart of the type intended for transporting miscellaneous articles, notably in stores and warehouses, adapted to be detachably mounted on a cart base structure, characterised in that it comprises a device for retaining the panel on the base structure when the cart is turned upsidedown for transporting same in its empty condition, this device being self-locking and adapted to be released by the operator's foot.

2. A panel according to claim 1, characterised in that the retaining device is located at the base of the panel and comprises a strap pivotally mounted to a horizontal pivot member rigid with the panel, and that the end of this strap is bent so that it can fit around a tube forming an integral part of the cart base structure.

3. A panel according to claim 2, characterised in that the strap is provided with a resilient member capable of retaining same in the position in which it fits around the tube of the base structure, for example in the form of a spring blade secured to said strap and extending upwards so as to bear resiliently against a vertical element of a grid constituting one part of said panel, said resilient member being adapted to retain the panel on the base structure when the cart is turned upside down for transporting same in its empty condition.

4. A panel according to claim 3, characterised in that the spring blade extends through a notch formed in the upper portion of the strap.

5. A device for retaining a panel of a handling cart, characterised in that it is constructed according to anyone of the preceding claims 2 to 4.

6. A panel assembly substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawing.