WO2018067861A1

WO2018067861A1 - Shelf stocking cart with ladder

Info

Publication number: WO2018067861A1
Application number: PCT/US2017/055405
Authority: WO
Inventors: James Knutson; Arturo Gonzalez
Original assignee: Spg International Llc
Priority date: 2016-10-05
Filing date: 2017-10-05
Publication date: 2018-04-12

Abstract

A cart includes a wheeled base having a first body that defines a first support surface and a first handle assembly having a first pair of handle uprights and a first seat member. The cart further includes a second handle assembly having a second pair of handle uprights and a second seat member. The first handle assembly and the second handle assembly are coupleable to the wheeled base. The cart further includes a middle support member having a second body that defines a second support surface. The middle support member is configured to be supported between the first handle assembly and the second handle assembly. The cart further includes a climbing apparatus having a step and a slidable seat member. The slidable seat member is configured to be supported on the first support surface and maintained in position by the first seat member.

Description

SHELF STOCKING CART WITH LADDER

BACKGROUND

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a shelf stocking cart, and more particularly to a wheeled shelf stocking cart having a number of accessories.

SUMMARY

[0002] In one embodiment, a cart includes a wheeled base having a first body that defines a first support surface and a first handle assembly having a first pair of handle uprights and a first seat member that extends between the first pair of handle uprights. The first handle assembly is coupleable to the wheeled base. The cart further includes a second handle assembly having a second pair of handle uprights and a second seat member that extends between the second pair of handle uprights. The second handle assembly is coupleable to the wheeled base. The cart further includes a middle support member having a second body that defines a second support surface. The middle support member is configured to be supported between the first handle assembly and the second handle assembly. The cart further includes a climbing apparatus having a step and a slidable seat member. The third seat member is configured to be supported on the first support surface and maintained in position by the first seat member.

[0003] In another embodiment, a cart includes a wheeled base having a first body that defines a first support surface and a first handle assembly having a first pair of handle uprights, a first shelf support member that extends between the first pair of handle uprights, and a first seat member that extends between the first pair of handle uprights. The first handle assembly is coupleable to the wheeled base. The cart further includes a second handle assembly having a second pair of handle uprights, a second shelf support member that extends between the second pair of handle uprights, a third shelf support member that extends between the second pair of handle uprights and is spaced from the second support member, and a second seat member that extends between the second pair of handle uprights and that is spaced from the second and the third shelf support member. The second handle assembly is coupleable to the wheeled base. The cart further includes a middle support member having a second body that defines a second support surface. The middle support member is configured to be supported between the first handle assembly and the second handle assembly. The cart further includes a lateral support member having a coupling section and a supporting section that presents a third support surface and is pivotable relative to the coupling section. The coupling section includes a wall portion that, when the lateral support member is assembled with the wheeled base and the second handle assembly, is supported on the first body and secured thereto by the second seat member.

[0004] In yet another embodiment, a cart including a wheeled base having a first body that defines a first support surface and a first handle assembly having a first pair of handle uprights and a first seat member that extends between the first pair of handle uprights. The first handle assembly is coupleable to the wheeled base. The cart further includes a second handle assembly having a second pair of handle uprights and a second seat member that extends between the second pair of handle uprights. The second handle assembly is coupleable to the wheeled base. The cart further includes a climbing apparatus including at least one step, wherein when assembled with the wheeled base, is translatable relative to the wheeled base between a first position in which the climbing apparatus hinders the cart from rolling via the wheeled base, and a second position in which the climbing apparatus does not hinder the cart from rolling via the wheeled base.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0005] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a shelf stocking cart with a ladder, an upper lateral shelf, and a lower lateral shelf, with the upper lateral shelf and the lower lateral shelf rotated to an extended position.

[0006] Fig. 2 is another perspective view of the shelf stocking cart of Fig. 1, with the upper lateral shelf and the lower lateral shelf rotated to a retracted position.

[0007] Fig. 3 is an exploded view of the shelf stocking cart of Fig. 1.

[0008] Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a wheeled base of the shelf stocking cart of Fig. 1.

[0009] Fig. 5 is a side view of the wheeled base of Fig. 4.

[0010] Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a handle assembly of the shelf stocking cart of Fig. 1. [0011] Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a shelf mount of the shelf stocking cart of Fig. 1.

[0012] Fig. 8 is another perspective view of the shelf mount of Fig. 7.

[0013] Fig. 9 is a side view of the shelf mount of Fig. 7.

[0014] Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a middle shelf of the shelf stocking cart of Fig. 1.

[0015] Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the ladder of the shelf stocking cart of Fig. 1.

[0016] Fig. 12 is a close-up, partial perspective view of a portion of the ladder of Fig. 11.

[0017] Fig. 13 is a perspective view of the upper lateral shelf of the shelf stocking cart of Fig. 1.

[0018] Fig. 14 is another perspective view of the upper lateral shelf of Fig. 13.

[0019] Fig. 15 is a perspective view of the lower lateral shelf of the shelf stocking cart of Fig. 1.

[0020] Fig. 16 is a side view of the lower lateral shelf of Fig. 15.

[0021] Fig. 17 is a close-up, partial perspective view of a middle shelf coupled to the handle assembly via a shelf mount and the upper lateral shelf coupled to the handle assembly.

[0022] Fig. 18 is a close-up, partial perspective view of middle shelves coupled to the handle assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0023] Before any embodiments of the disclosure are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The disclosure is capable of supporting other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. [0024] Referring to Figs. 1-3, a shelf stocking cart 10 includes a wheeled base 14, two handle assemblies 18a, 18b, a plurality of middle shelves 22 mounted to the handle assemblies 18 by shelf mounts 26, and optional accessories to include a ladder 30, an upper lateral shelf 34, and a lower lateral shelf 38.

[0025] Referring also to Figs. 4 and 5, the wheeled base 14 includes a rectangular body 42 having four sides 46a-d, and a planar deck 50 configured to hold and support a number of objects, e.g., food products. The wheeled base 14 also includes a plurality of wheels 58 for moving the shelf stocking cart 10 along the ground or other support surface. In the illustrated embodiment of Figs. 4-5, the wheeled base 14 includes six casters or wheels 58a, 58b, with one wheel 58a positioned at each corner of the rectangular body 42 and a wheel 58b centrally positioned on each of the long sides 46b, 46d of the rectangular body 42. The wheels 58b positioned on each of the long sides 46b, 46d have a larger diameter than the wheels 58a positioned at the corners. The smaller wheels 58a allow for easier maneuverability of the shelf stocking cart 10 and are coupled to the rectangular body 42 by an extension 62 for simultaneous contact with the ground. In other embodiments, the wheels 58b positioned on each of the long sides 46b, 46d of the rectangular body 42 may be omitted, the large wheels 58b may be replaced with small wheels 58a and an extension 62 at that location, or the small wheels 58a and the extension 62 may be replaced by large wheels 58b at the corners.

[0026] The wheeled base 14 further includes four handle sockets 54 for holding a handle upright of a handle assembly 18a, 18b, as explained in greater detail below. Each handle socket 54 is fixed to the outside or end portion of one of the short sides 46a, 46c of the rectangular body 42, each being adjacent a respective corner of the wheeled base 14.

[0027] Referring to Fig. 6, the first handle assembly 18a and the second handle assembly 18b are substantially identical to one another. Each handle assembly 18a, 18b includes a U-shaped outer frame 66 constructed of two handle uprights 70a, 70b and a linking member 74. The two handle uprights 70a, 70b are configured to be inserted into a respective pair of the handle sockets 54 along one of the short sides 46a, 46c of the rectangular body 42, as illustrated in Figs. 1-2. As illustrated in Fig. 1, the two handle uprights 70a, 70b are oriented parallel to one another along a vertical axis A when assembled (alternatively, axis A is normal to the ground or support surface or normal to the planar deck 50). The linking member 74 includes two bends 78 and a center portion 82, which is oriented perpendicular to the axis A. The outer frame 66 may be completely constructed of metal piping of the same diameter for uniformity.

[0028] A wire-frame grid 86 is constructed as an interior frame extending between the two handle uprights 70a, 70b. The wire-frame grid 86 includes shelf support members 90 generally parallel to the center portion 82, frame support members 94 orthogonal to the shelf support members 90, and a seat member 98. In the illustrated embodiment of Fig. 6, the shelf support members 90 are welded or otherwise affixed to the handle uprights 70a, 70b and are uniformly spaced (e.g., 1 inch spacing) in the direction of the axis A. In other embodiments, the shelf support members 90 may be uniformly spaced from each other by any value between one half of an inch to 3 inches. The frame support members 94 are fixed to the shelf support members 90 by known methods to provide a backing for the shelf support members 90. The frame support members 94 are uniformly spaced in a direction perpendicular to the axis A and extend from the uppermost shelf support 90 member to the seat member 98. The shelf support members 90 and the frame support members 94 may be constructed of steel wires. The seat member 98, like the shelf support members 90, is fixed at each end to a respective handle upright 70a, 70b. The seat member 98 provides a stop for the handle assembly 18a, 18b when the associated handle uprights 70a, 70b are inserted into the handle sockets 54.

[0029] Referring to Figs. 7-9, each shelf mount 26 includes a generally S-shaped cross section having a hook section 102 and a support section 106. The hook section 102 includes two hook portions 110 positioned near opposite ends 114a, 114b of the shelf mount 26. In particular, the hook portions 110 are configured to concurrently hang over a single shelf support member 90. The support section 106 includes a trough or mount 118 which is configured to receive a portion of a middle shelf 22, as explained in greater detail below. In other embodiments any functional number of hook portions 110 may be provided and the mount 118 need not be continuous between each end 114a, 114b of the shelf mount 26.

[0030] Referring to Fig. 10, each middle shelf 22 includes a rectangular body 122 that provides a planar surface 126 configured to hold and support a number of objects, e.g., food products. The rectangular body 122 includes two long sides 130b, 130d and two short sides 130a, 130c. Each side 130a-130d includes an associated overhang 134a-d. The overhangs 134a, 134c of the short sides 130a, 130c extend farther along a direction normal to the planar surface 126 than the overhangs 134b, 134d of the long sides 130b, 130d (see also Fig. 18) and are configured to extend over a respective mount 118 of the shelf mount 26, as explained in greater detail below.

[0031] Referring again to Fig. 1, the shelf stocking cart 10 may include a ladder 30 (or other climbing apparatus to aid in ascending or descending) positioned on one of the first and the second handle assemblies 18a, 18b. Referring to Figs. 11 and 12, the ladder 30 includes a handhold section 138, a plurality of steps 142a, 142b, and a slidable seat member 146, all of which are coupled to two legs 150. The hand-hold section 138 includes two handles 154 configured to be gripped by an operator. Each handle 154 is positioned at an end of a respective one of the two legs 150. Each step 142a, 142b is fixed to the two legs 150 by securing members 158, 162, 166. In the illustrated embodiment of Fig. 11, the ladder 30 includes two steps 142a, 142, but the ladder 30 may include a fewer or greater number of steps 142 in other embodiments. A first securing member 158 is U-shaped and extends around the two steps 142a, 142b such that the first securing member 158 is fixed to each end of each step 142a, 142b. The ends of the first securing member 158 (i.e., the open top of the 'U') are secured to the two legs 150, as illustrated in Fig. 11. A second securing member 162 and a third securing member 166 extend between a respective leg 150 and the first securing member 158 such that the first securing member 158 is angled away from the two legs 150 so the steps are more easily accessible by an operator. The slidable seat member 146 extends between the two legs 150 and is configured to provide a stop for the ladder 30. The slidable seat member 146 has an L-shaped cross-section and includes a support section 170 with two holes 174a, 178a (174b, 178b) at each end. The slidable seat member 146 is configured to slide along the two legs 150 via inner holes 174a, 174b within a range defined by the relative positioning of two sets of rings 182 removably secured to the legs 150, as illustrated in Fig. 12. Each ring 182 is coupled to a respective leg 150 by a fastener (not illustrated) such that when the fastener is tightened, the inner diameter of the ring 182 decreases and frictionally couples the ring 182 to the leg 150. The outer holes 178a, 178 are sized to receive the handle uprights 70a, 70b, as explained in greater detail below. [0032] Referring to Figs. 13-14, the shelf stocking cart 10 may include an upper lateral shelf 34. The upper lateral shelf 34, like the ladder 30, may be positioned on one of the first and the second handle assemblies 18a, 18b. The upper lateral shelf 34 includes two identical attaching sections 186 and a supporting section 190 pivotable relative to the attaching sections 186 about a first pivot axis C.

[0033] The supporting section 190 includes a body 194 having a planar surface 198 configured to hold and support a number of objects, e.g., food products, and two legs 202 extending from the body 194 each rotatably coupled to the associated attaching section 186 by a pin (not illustrated) positioned in an opening 206.

[0034] Each attaching section 186 includes a hinge section 210 for coupling to one of the legs 202, a hanger 214 for hooking over a shelf supporting member 90 of one of the handle assemblies 18a, 18b, and a locking limb 218 to further secure the upper lateral shelf 34 to the respective handle assembly 18a, 18b. The locking limb 218 includes a first portion 226 and a second portion 230 angled relative to the first portion 226.

[0035] When assembled to the supporting section 190, the hinge section 210 partially encloses one of the legs 202 of the supporting section 190 therein, and an arcuate stop portion 222 provides a rotational limit for the supporting section 190, as further illustrated in Fig. 13. In the illustrated embodiment, this limit of rotation may be such that the planar surface 198 of the upper lateral shelf 34 is parallel with the planar surface of the planar deck 50 when the upper lateral shelf 34 is assembled on one of the handle assemblies 18a, 18b.

[0036] As illustrated in Fig. 1, and like the upper lateral shelf 34, the lower lateral shelf 38 is configured to be positioned on a handle assembly 18a, 18b opposite the ladder 30 (i.e., on the same side as the upper lateral shelf 34). Referring also to Figs. 15 and 16, the lower lateral shelf 38 includes an attachment section 234 and a supporting section 238 that is pivotable relative to the attachment section 234 about a second pivot axis D.

[0037] The supporting section 238 of the lower lateral shelf 38 includes a body 242 having a planar surface 246 configured to hold and support a number of objects, e.g., food products, and two legs 250 extending from the body 242 that are rotatably coupled to the associated attaching section 234 by a pin (not illustrated) in an opening 254.

[0038] The attachment section 234 includes an L-shaped fastening section 258 and two hinge sections 262, each for coupling to one of the legs 250 of the supporting section 238. The reshaped fastening section 258 includes a first wall 266 configured to sit upon the planar deck 50 of the rectangular body 42 of the wheeled base 14 and a second wall 270 configured to rest against one of the short sides 46a, 46c of the rectangular body 42. In the illustrated embodiment of Figs. 15-16, the first wall 266 is angled about 85 degrees relative to the second wall 270. In other embodiments, the angle between the first and second walls 266, 270 may be 90 degrees to fit more uniformly against the rectangular body 42 of the wheeled base 14. The hinge sections 262 of the attachment section 234 of the lower lateral shelf 38 are identical to the hinge sections 210 described above of the attaching section 186 of the upper lateral shelf 34. When assembled to the supporting section 238, the hinge sections 262 of the lower lateral shelf 38 partially enclose one of the legs 250 of the supporting section 238 therein and an arcuate stop portion 274 provides a rotational limit for the supporting section 238 of the lower lateral shelf 38, as further illustrated in Fig. 16. In the illustrated embodiment, this limit of rotation may be such that the planar surface 246 of the lower lateral shelf 38 is parallel with the planar surface of the planar deck 50, when the lower lateral shelf 38 is assembled on one of the handle assemblies 18a, 18b.

[0039] As assembled, the two handle assemblies 18a, 18b are coupled to the wheeled base 14 by inserting the handle uprights 70a, 70b of each into a pair of handle sockets 54 on one of the short sides 46a, 46c of the wheeled base 14. The middle shelves 22 are positioned on the interior of the handle assemblies 18a, 18b via the shelf mounts 26. Specifically, each shelf mount 26 is coupled to the wheeled base 14 and the handle assemblies 18a, 18b by hooking the two hooks 110 over a single shelf support member 90 at the desired height. The overhangs 134a, 134c on the short side 130a, 130c are positioned over respective mounts 118 to prevent the middle shelf 22 from sliding longitudinally (i.e., forward and backward with respect to Fig. 18) while the overhangs 134b, 134d on the long sides 130b, 130d are positioned over the mounts 118 to prevent the middle shelf 22 from sliding transversely (i.e., to the left and right with respect to Fig. 18). When assembled, the planar surface 126 of the middle shelf 22 is substantially parallel with the ground or support surface. [0040] As illustrated in Figs. 1-2, the ladder 30, the upper lateral shelf 34, and the lower lateral shelf 38 are positioned on the exterior side of a respective handle assembly 18a, 18b. The ladder 30 is positioned on one of the handle assemblies 18a, whereas the upper lateral shelf 34 and the lower lateral shelf 38 are positioned on the other of the two handle assemblies 18b.

[0041] The handle uprights 70a, 70b of the handle assembly (either assembly 18a or assembly 18b) extend through the outer holes 178a, 178b of the support section 170 of the slidable seat member 146 such that the support section 170 of the slidable seat member 146 rests upon the planar deck 50 of the wheeled base 14 and the seat member 98 rests upon the support section 170 when the uprights 70a, 70b are further received in the sockets 54. Once the ladder 50 is coupled to the handle assembly, the legs 150 are movable relative to the wheeled base 14 in a direction parallel to the axis A due to the slidable relationship between the slidable seat member 146 and the two legs 150. By resting the seat member 98 upon the support section 170, the weight of the handle assembly maintains the position of the slidable seat member 146 relative to the planar deck 50 of the wheeled base 14. Gravity influences the ladder 30 so the legs 150 of the ladder 30 are contacting the ground when not being influenced by an operator. The ladder 30 may be used to hinder rolling of the shelf stocking cart 10 when the legs 150 engage the floor. To prevent the legs 150 of the ladder 30 from skidding along the ground while the shelf stocking cart 10 is being wheeled about, the operator may slide the legs 150 through the inner holes 174a, 174b so the plurality of steps 142a, 142b are moved farther away from the slidable seat member 146 (e.g., upward as illustrated in Fig. 12) and then hold the ladder 30 in this raised position. In other embodiments, the ladder 30 may have a resting or locking mechanism (not illustrated) so the legs 150 do not freely slide along the inner holes 174a, 174b of the slidable seat member, i.e., so an operator does not have to hold the ladder 30 in the raised position.

[0042] Referring again to Figs. 13, 14, and 17, to couple the upper lateral shelf 34 to one of the handle assemblies 18a, 18b, the second portion 230 of the locking limb 218 is inserted between adjacent shelf support members 90 and the hanger 214 hooked over another one of the shelf support members 90 of the same handle assembly 18a, 18b. The upper lateral shelf 34 may be dropped into place as illustrated in Fig. 17 such that contact between the hangers 214, locking limbs 218, and respective support members 90 removably secures the upper lateral shelf 34 to the handle assembly (either assembly 18a or assembly 18b, whichever is not associated with the ladder 30 should the ladder 30 be assembled) and the support section 190 is free to pivot about the first pivot axis C.

[0043] Referring again to Figs. 15 and 16, to couple the lower lateral shelf 38 to one of the handle assemblies 18a, 18b, the L-shaped fastening section 258 is positioned against the rectangular body 42 of the wheeled base 14 and the associated handle assembly 18a, 18b is positioned into its respective pair of handle sockets 54 of the wheeled base 14. The first wall 266 of the fastening section 258 is positioned against the planar deck 50 of the wheeled base 14 and the second wall 270 of the fastening section 258 is positioned against the short side 46a, 46c. The seat member 98 of the handle assembly secures the lower lateral shelf 38 in position by sandwiching the first wall 266 of the fastening section 258 between the seat member 98 of the handle assembly and the planar deck 50 of the wheeled base 14. In this secured position, the support section 238 of the lower lateral shelf 38 is pivotable about the second pivot axis D relative to the wheeled base 14.

[0044] In some embodiments, only some of the optional accessories, such as the ladder 30, the upper lateral shelf 34, and the lower lateral shelf 38, are assembled to form the shelf stocking cart 10. Furthermore, the shelf stocking cart 10 may include a plurality of upper lateral shelves 34 on each handle assembly 18a, 18b, a ladder 30 positioned on each handle assembly 18a, 18b, or a lower lateral shelf 38 positioned on each handle assembly 18a, 18b.

[0045] In some embodiments, one or a plurality of the shelves 22 (or of the upper lateral shelves 34 or lower lateral shelves 38) may be replaced with one or more baskets, bins, hooks, or other forms of support member (not illustrated). For example, a basket configured to couple to the handle assemblies 18a, 18b in a similar fashion as a shelf 22, i.e., via two respective shelf mounts 26.

[0046] Thus, the disclosure provides, among other things, a shelf stocking cart. While the above describes example embodiments of the present disclosure, these descriptions should not be viewed in a limiting sense. Rather, several variations and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

Claims

1. A cart comprising:

a wheeled base including a first body that defines a first support surface;

a first handle assembly including a first pair of handle uprights and a first seat member that extends between the first pair of handle uprights, wherein the first handle assembly is coupleable to the wheeled base;

a second handle assembly including a second pair of handle uprights and a second seat member that extends between the second pair of handle uprights, wherein the second handle assembly is coupleable to the wheeled base;

a middle support member including a second body that defines a second support surface, wherein the middle support member is configured to be supported by the first handle assembly and the second handle assembly; and

a climbing apparatus having two legs, a step, and a third seat member, wherein the third seat member is configured to be supported on the first body and secured to the first body by the first seat member.

2. The cart according to claim 1, wherein the climbing apparatus is configured to be secured to the first body by the first seat member such that, when the climbing apparatus is assembled with the wheeled base and the first handle assembly, the third seat member is between the first body and the first seat member.

3. The cart according to claim 2, wherein the two legs and the step are translatable relative to the wheeled base between a first position and a second position, wherein, when the climbing apparatus is in the first position, the climbing apparatus hinders the cart from rolling via the wheeled base, and wherein, when the climbing apparatus is in the second position, the climbing apparatus does not hinder the cart from rolling via the wheeled base.

4. The cart according to claim 1, wherein the two legs and the step are translatable relative to the wheeled base between a first position and a second position, wherein, when in the first position, the two legs hinder the cart from rolling via the wheeled base, and wherein, when in the second position, the two legs do not hinder the cart from rolling via the wheeled base.

5. The cart according to claim 1, further including a lateral support member having a third body that defines a third support surface, and wherein the lateral support member is configured to be coupled to the second handle assembly.

6. The cart according to claim 5, wherein the lateral support member is a first lateral support member, wherein the cart further includes a second lateral support member having a fourth body that defines a fourth support surface, and wherein the second lateral support member is configured to be coupled to the second handle assembly.

7. The cart according to claim 5, wherein the third body is pivotable relative to the middle support member.

8. The cart according to claim 5, wherein the lateral support member includes an attachment section having a wall that is configured to be supported on the wheeled base and that is configured to be secured to the wheeled base by the second seat member.

9. The car according to claim 8, wherein, when the lateral support member is assembled with the wheeled base and the second handle assembly, the wall is between the first body and the second seat member.

10. The cart according to claim 1, wherein the middle support member is a first middle support member, wherein the cart further includes

a second middle support member having a third body that defines a third support surface, wherein the second middle support member is configured to be supported by the first handle assembly and the second handle assembly; and

a third middle support member having a fourth body that defines a fourth support surface, wherein the third middle support member is configured to be supported by the first handle assembly and the second handle assembly, and

wherein the first, second, third, and fourth support surfaces are parallel when the cart is assembled.

11. A cart compri sing :

a wheeled base including a first body that defines a first support surface;

a first handle assembly including a first pair of handle uprights, a first shelf support member that extends between the first pair of handle uprights, and a first seat member that extends between the first pair of handle uprights, wherein the first handle assembly is coupleable to the wheeled base;

a second handle assembly including a second pair of handle uprights, a second shelf support member that extends between the second pair of handle uprights, a third shelf support member that extends between the second pair of handle uprights and that is spaced from the second support member, and a second seat member that extends between the second pair of handle uprights and that is spaced from the second and the third shelf support member, wherein the second handle assembly is coupleable to the wheeled base;

a lateral support member including a coupling section and a supporting section that provides a third support surface and that is pivotable relative to the coupling section, wherein the coupling section includes a wall that, when the lateral support member is assembled with the wheeled base and the second handle assembly, is supported on the first body and secured to the first body by the second seat member.

12. The cart according to claim 11, wherein, when the lateral support member is assembled with the wheeled base and the second handle assembly, the wall is between the first body and the second seat member.

13. The cart according to claim 11, wherein the lateral support member is a first lateral support member, wherein the cart further includes a second lateral support member having a second coupling section and a second supporting section that defines a fourth support surface and that is pivotable relative to the second coupling section, wherein the second coupling section includes a hanger configured to hook over the second shelf supporting member and a locking limb configured to further attach the second lateral support member to the second handle assembly.

14. The cart according to claim 13, wherein the hook has a longitudinally extending end, wherein the locking limb has a longitudinally extending first portion that extends at a non- parallel angle relative to the end of the hook and a longitudinally extending second portion that extends parallel relative to the end of the hook, and wherein, when the second lateral support member is assembled with the second handle assembly, the locking limb is configured to hook over the third shelf support member such that at least one of the first portion and the second portion abuts the third shelf support member.

15. The cart according to claim 11, further including a climbing apparatus having two legs, a step, and a third seat member, wherein the climbing apparatus is configured to be secured to the wheeled base by the first seat member.

16. The cart according to claim 15, wherein the two legs and the step are translatable relative to the wheeled base between a first position and a second position, wherein, when in the first position, the two legs hinder the cart from rolling via the wheeled base, and wherein, when in the second position, the two legs do not hinder the cart from rolling via the wheeled base.

17. A cart compri sing :

a wheeled base including a first body that defines a first support surface;

a middle support member including a second body that defines a second support surface, wherein the middle support member is configured to be supported by the first handle assembly and the second handle assembly; and a climbing apparatus, when assembled with the wheeled base, that is translatable relative to the wheeled base between a first position and a second position, wherein, when the climbing apparatus is in the first position, the climbing apparatus hinders the climbing apparatus from rolling via the wheeled base, and wherein, when the climbing apparatus is in the second position, the climbing apparatus does not hinder the cart from rolling via the wheeled base.

18. The cart according to claim 17, wherein the climbing apparatus includes two legs, a step, and a third seat member that is translatable relative to the two legs, and wherein, when the climbing apparatus is assembled with the wheeled base and the first handle assembly, the third seat member is supported on the first body and secured to the first body by the first seat member such that the third seat member is between the first body and the first seat member.

19. The cart according to claim 18, wherein, when the climbing apparatus is assembled with the wheeled base and the first handle assembly, the third seat member does not move relative to the wheeled base and the first handle assembly between the first and the second position.

20. The cart according to claim 18, further including a lateral support member having a coupling section and a supporting section that provides a third support surface and that is pivotable relative to the coupling section, wherein the coupling section includes a wall that, when the lateral support member is assembled with the wheeled base and the second handle assembly, is supported on the first body and secured to the first body by the second seat member.