GB2299793A

GB2299793A - Attachment to turn a sack truck into a table.

Info

Publication number: GB2299793A
Application number: GB9526639A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Eugene A Kazmark Jr
Original assignee: REMIN LAB
Current assignee: REMIN LAB
Priority date: 1995-04-11
Filing date: 1995-12-29
Publication date: 1996-10-16
Also published as: GB9526639D0; JPH08282503A; CA2168296A1; DE19600981A1; FR2732938A1; GB2299793A8; CN1137460A

Description

2299793 The present invention relates to an attachment for a hand cart,

and more particularly to an attachment that transforms the cart into a table.

The prior art includes a wide variety of two-wheel and four-wheel hand trucks and carts. Those carts typically include a tube assembly with a handle or handles for holding, pushing, or pulling the cart. They also include a base with a platform that receives loads for transport. The twowheel carts usually include a pair of wheels rotatably mounted proximate the base of the cart while the four-wheel carts also include a pair of wheels rotatably mounted proximate a handle.

one may use the carts described above to transport loads from one location to another. In many applications, the loads require storage or display on tables, shelves, or similar supports after transport. The carts cannot function as transports and storage and display devices. Thus, one must use two different apparatus in those applications.

The table attachment of the present invention cooperates with a wheeled cart to allow the cart to function as a transporting apparatus as well as a storage and display device. It is a simple and durable construction which provides effective and reliable performance. The attachment folds into a flat, plate-like configuration and extends to engage opposite ends of the cart.

In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, an attachable member cooperates with a cart to transform the cart into a table. The member defines a flat surface that serves as a table top when the attachable member lies secured to the cart.

The attachable member preferably includes a plurality of platelike segments disposed in end-to-end relation and pivotally connected to each other. It also preferably includes attaching means for releasably securing the member to a cart. In this embodiment, the attaching means releasably secures one end of the attachable member to one end of the cart and another, opposite end of the member to another, opposite end of the cart.

The invention comprises the attachable member and also the combination of the attachable member and the cart.

The invention will now be further described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the attachable member of the present invention, showing the member in an extended configuration, releasably secured to a four-wheel cart; FIG. 2 is the perspective view of, FIG. 1, showing one end of the attachable member disengaged from the cart; FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 in FIG. 2; FIG. 4 is the perspective view of FIG. 2, showing the attachable member in a partially folded configuration; FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view of the cart and attachable member combination, showing the member in a substantially fully folded configuration with one end of the member remaining in engagement with the pivotable platform of the cart; FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the cart and attachable member, showing the member in a fully folded configuration as it moves out of engagement with the cart; FIG. 7 is a partial perspective view of the cart and attachable member, showing the member folded and separated from the cart; FIG. 8 is a partial perspective view of the cart shown in the figures identified above and of a cover member that covers one side of the cart's tube assembly; FIG. SA is a sectional view taken along line 8A-SA in FIG. 8; FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the cart and cover member, showing the cover member folded and partially withdrawn from engagement with the cart; FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the cart in a retracted position and the attachable member and the cover member in a folded position; FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the cart in an extended position and the attachable member and the cover member folded and secured with a belt to the cart; FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the cart in an extended position with the cover member secured to the cart in an extended configuration and the attachable member folded and secured at one of its end portions to the cart; FIG. 13 is a sectional view taken along line 13-13 in FIG. 12; and FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the cart shown in the above figures.

while the following disclosure describes the invention in connection with one embodiment one should understand that the invention is not limited to this embodiment. Furthermore, one should understand that the drawings are not to scale and that graphic symbols, diagrammatic representatives, and fragmentary views, in part, illustrate the embodiment. In certain instances, the disclosure may not include details which are not necessary for an understanding of the present invention such as conventional details of fabrication and assembly.

Turning now to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows the collapsible cart K, the attachable member M, and the cover member C of the present invention secured together to form a table T. The cart K generally includes a tube assembly 20, including a locking assembly 21; a handle assembly 22, including hand grips 23 and 24 and a pivotable handle bar 25; a base with a pivotable platform support 26 disposed at one end of the tube assembly 20; and a wheel assembly, including a pair of wheels 27 and 28 rotatably mounted proximate the platform support 26 and a pair of casters 29 and 30 mounted to an end portion of the tube assembly 20, opposite the end with the platform 26 (See FIG. 14). The cart opens to an extended configuration in which it may function as a two-wheel hand truck (See FIGS. 11, 12 and 14) or a fourwheel cart (See FIGS. 1, 2 and 4). It also retracts to a compact configuration (See FIG. 10) for storage and transport.

U.K. application No. 9519212.6 provides a more detailed description of the cart K. As noted above, this cart K is extendable and collapsible to a compact configuration for storage. Alternatively, a wide variety of prior art carts may cooperate with the attachable member M and the cover member C to form the table T. The alternate carts may be four- wheel or twowheel carts, and they need not be collapsible and extendable. For example, a two-wheel cart with a slide or similar support at the handle end may replace the cart K used with the embodiment shown in the drawings.

In the position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the cart K lies on its side with the wheels 27 and 28 and the casters 29 and 30 in rolling engagement with a supporting surface. The tube assembly 20 lies generally parallel to the supporting surface, while the platform 26 and the handle bar 25 extend generally perpendicularly to the tube assembly 20 and the supporting surface. (In FIGS. 1 and 2, the handle bar 25 lies approximately 270 from the position shown in FIG. 14.) In this position, the cart K may receive the attachable member M and the cover member C as described below.

The attachable member M is a foldable arrangement of three segments 31, 32 and 33 disposed in end-to-end relation and connected with hinges at 34 and 35. The segment 31 includes a rectangular frame 36 made of metal tube or other similar structural members and a plate 37 welded or otherwise fixedly secured to the frame 36. The segment 31 also includes a cover 38 for the plate 37. This cover is a layer of thermoplastic -6material or any other material that can provide cushioning and prevent sliding of any load L placed on the table T (See FIG. 1). similarly, the segment 32 includes a rectangular frame 39, a plate 40, and a cover 41.

A four member linkage 42 bridges the hinge connection at 34 and provides structural integrity to the connection. This linkage includes bars 43 and 44 pivotally mounted at one end to the frame 36 as at 45 and 46, respectively, and a cross-bar 47 which connects the ends portion of the bars 43 and 44 opposite the pivot connections. These opposite end portions engage the frame 39 and lie in sliding relation with the frame 39. Protrusions (not shown) of the bars 43 and 44 extend into suitably sized slots (not shown) in the frame 39 to provide the sliding engagement. (The fourth member of the linkage 42 is the frame 36.) The segment 33 includes a frame with side members 47 and 48, a cross member 49 and strips 50 and 51. The side members 47 and 48 lie in spaced, parallel relation to one another, welded or otherwise fixedly secured to the cross member 49, and the strips 50 and 51 lie generally perpendicularly to the side members 47 and 48. The strips 50 and 51 lie at one end of the side members 47 and 48; and the cross member 49 lies at a mid portion of the side members. A bracket 52 and a hinge 53 connect an end portion of the side member 47 (opposite the end with the strips 50 and 51) to the frame 39 of the segment 32. Similarly, a bracket 54 and a hinge 55 connect an end portion of the side member 48 (opposite the end with the strips 50 and 51) to the frame 39 of the segment 32 (See FIG. 6). These two connections allow the segment 33 to pivot approximately 90 relative to the segment 32.

The side members 47 and 48 and the cross member 49 of the segment 33 have channel-like cross-sectional configurations. They cooperate with the strips 50 and 51 to form a pocket for receiving an edge portion of the platform 26 and, thus, releasably securing one end of the member M to the cart K. (The -7strips 50 and 51 substantially define the inlet for this pocket.) Hooks 56 and 57 that lie fixedly secured (e.g. welded) to the frame 36 and extend outwardly of the frame 36 (See FIGS. 1 and 2) engage the handle bar 25 to releasably secure an opposite end of the member M to the cart K, as shown in FIG. 1. (FIGS. 2 and 4-7 show the various steps for folding and removing the member M from the cart K.) In its operating position (FIG. 1), the member M has a generally L-like configuration and defines a top surface S for the table T. Alternatively, the member M may have other suitable configurations depending on the shape of the cart K.

The cover member C includes two plates 58 and 59 made of sheet metal or any other suitable material, disposed in endto-end relation, and pivotally connected by a hinge 60 (See FIGS. 8, 8A and 9). The plate 58 includes a frame portion 61 and a plate portion 62, while the plate 59 includes a frame portion 63 and a plate portion 64. As shown in FIG. SA, the frame portion 64 has an open, channel-like configuration at one end to receive the plate segments 65 and 66 of the base of the cart K and releasably secure the cover member C to the cart K. In its operating position, the cover C covers one side of the tube assembly 20 and provides a shelf for the table T. (FIGS. 8 and 9 show the steps for folding and removing the cover C from the cart K; and FIGS. 10-13 show the member M and the cover C in various positions on the cart K.) While the above description and the drawings disclose and illustrate one embodiment, one should understand, of course, that the invention is not limited to this embodiment. Those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains may make modifications and other embodiments employing the principles of this invention, particularly upon considering the foregoing teachings. Therefore, by the appended claims, the applicant intends to cover any modifications and other embodiments as incorporate those features which constitute the essential features of this invention.

Claims

-8CLAIMS

1. In combination with collapsible cart having a tube assembly with a plurality of tubes disposed in telescoping relation, a base with a pivotable platform member, and a plurality of wheels, an attachable member for releasably engaging the base at one end and the tube assembly at an opposite end, said attachable member defining a flat surface that serves as a table top when the attachable member lies secured to the cart.

2. A combination as claimed in claim 1, wherein the attachable member is foldable.

3. A combination as claimed in claim 2, wherein the attachable member includes a plurality of platelike segments that fold into a stack in which the plate-like segments lie in face-to-face relation with each other and that unfold to an L-shaped configuration for securing to the cart.

4. A combination as claimed in claim 1, wherein the attachable member includes a plurality of plate segments disposed in end-to-end relation with each segment being pivotably connected to the next adjacent segment.

S. A combination as claimed in claim 4, wherein the attachable member is foldable into a flat, platelike configuration and extendable into a generally Lshaped configuration.

6. A combination as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one wheel is rotatably mounted to the tube assembly proximate the base and at least one other wheel is rotatably mounted to an end portion of the tube assembly opposite the base.

A combination as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the tube assembly includes two sets of tubes disposed in generally parallel relation, with each set having at least two tubes disposed in telescoping relation.

8. A combination as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cart includes locking means for locking the tube assembly in an extended configuration and unlocking the tube assembly so that it may collapse to a retracted configuration.

9. A combination as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the tube assembly includes handle means for holding the cart.

10. A combination as claimed in claim 9, wherein the handle means includes hand grips and a pivoting bar having a generally channel-like configuration.

11. A combination as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the attachable member includes first attaching means for releasably securing one end portion of the attachable member to the base of the cart and a second attaching means for releasably securing another, opposite end portion of the attachable member to the tube assembly of the cart.

12. A combination as claimed in claim 11, wherein the first attaching means includes a pocket defined by the attachable member for receiving an end portion of the pivotable platform member, and the second attaching means includes at least one hook.

13. A combination as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a cover member including securing means for releasably securing the cover member to the cart and covering substantially one side of the tube assembly.

14. In combination with a cart having a base _10with a platform member and having a tube assembly with handle means for holding the cart, an attachable member for releasably engaging the cart, said attachable member defining a flat surface that serves as a table top when the attachable member lies secured to the cart.

15. A combination as claimed in claim 14, wherein the attachable member includes a plurality of plate segments disposed in end-to-end relation with each segment being pivotably connected to the next adjacent segment.

16. A combination as claimed in claim 15, wherein the attachable member is foldable into a flat, plate-like configuration and extendable into a generally L-shaped configuration.

17. A combination as claimed in claim 14, 15 or wherein the attachable member includes first attaching means for releasably securing one end portion of the attachable member to the base of the cart and a second attaching means for releasably securing another, opposite end portion of the attachable member to the tube assembly of the cart.

18. A combination as claimed in claim 17, wherein the first attaching means includes a pocket defined by the attachable member for receiving an end portion of the pivotable platform member, and the second attaching means includes at least one hook.

19. A combination as claimed in any one of claims 14 to 18, further comprising a cover member including securing means for releasably securing the cover member to the cart and covering substantially one side of the tube assembly.

20. An attachable member that cooperates with a hand cart to transform the cart into a table, said _11attachable member comprising a plurality of plate segments disposed in end-to-end relation with each segment being pivotably connected to the next adjacent segment; first attaching means for releasably securing one end portion of the attachable member to a first end portion of the cart; and a second attaching means for releasably securing another, opposite end portion of the attachable member to a second, opposite end portion of the cart.

21. A member as claimed in claim 20, wherein the first attaching means includes a pocket defined by an end portion of the attachable member, and the second attaching means includes at least one hook.

22. A member as claimed in claim 20 or 21, wherein the attachable member is foldable into a flat, plate-like configuration and extendable into a generally L-shaped configuration.

23. An attachable member that cooperates with a hand cart to transform the cart into a table, said attachable member comprising a plurality of plate segments disposed in end-to-end relation with each segment being pivotably connected to the next adjacent segment; and attaching means for releasably securing the member to a cart.

24. A combination as claimed in claim 1, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in any one of the accompanying drawings.

25. A combination as claimed in claim 14, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in any one of the accompanying drawings.

26. An attachable member as claimed in claim 20, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference -12to and as illustrated in any one of the accompanying drawings.

27. An attachable member as claimed in claim 23, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in any one of the accompanying drawings.