Reconfigurable carrying devices for material handling

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10729236-B2
Application number	US-201815987496-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 23, 2018
Priority date	May 23, 2018
Publication date	Aug 4, 2020
Grant date	Aug 4, 2020

Abstract

A reconfigurable carrying device, such as a cart, is provided for storing and/or transporting objects. The cart may include a first storage section for receiving the objects, and a second storage section pivotally attached to the first storage section. The second storage section may be movable upwards relative to the first storage section to be positioned on top of the first storage section in a first mode of operation of the cart and may be movable downwards relative to the position in the first mode of operation to be positioned adjacent to the first storage section in a second mode of operation of the cart.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A cart for transporting objects, comprising:
a first storage section comprising a fixed frame, wherein the fixed frame comprising:
a first horizontal base having a first storage surface for receiving the objects, and
at least two first uprights disposed at opposite ends of the first horizontal base; and

a second storage section comprising a movable frame, wherein the movable frame comprising:
a second horizontal base having a second storage surface for receiving the objects, and
at least two second uprights disposed at opposite ends of the second horizontal base, wherein the at least two second uprights are slidably attached to the at least two first uprights, and are configured to cause a vertical movement of the movable frame by slidably moving along the at least two first uprights, wherein the fixed frame comprises a support bar extending from the first horizontal base for resting the movable frame.

2. The cart of claim 1 , wherein:
each of the at least two first uprights comprises a first outer rail extending along a length of a corresponding first upright; and
each of the at least two second uprights comprises a first inner rail extendably coupled to a corresponding first outer rail of the at least two first uprights, wherein the corresponding first outer rail partially houses the first inner rail, wherein the first inner rail slides relative to the corresponding first outer rail to cause the vertical movement of the movable frame.

3. The cart of claim 2 , further comprising:
an actuator disposed on one of the at least two first uprights and connects the fixed frame and the movable frame, wherein the actuator is configured to cause the first inner rail to slide relative to the corresponding first outer rail.

4. The cart of claim 1 , wherein:
the fixed frame further comprises at least one second outer rail disposed horizontally above the first storage surface and connects two of the at least two first uprights, and
the movable frame further comprises at least one second inner rail disposed on a bottom surface of the second horizontal base, wherein the at least one second inner rail is configured to cause a horizontal movement of the movable frame by slidably moving along the at least one second outer rail.

5. The cart of claim 4 , further comprising one or more lock mechanisms disposed on the at least two first uprights to prevent the vertical movement of the movable frame.

6. The cart of claim 4 , wherein:
the fixed frame further comprises at least one third outer rail disposed horizontally and connects two ends of the at least two first uprights, wherein the at least one third outer rail is above and parallel to the at least one second outer rail, and
the movable frame further comprises at least one third inner rail disposed horizontally above the second horizontal base and connects two of the at least two second uprights, wherein the at least one third inner rail is configured to cause the horizontal movement of the movable frame by slidably moving along the at least one third outer rail.

7. The cart of claim 6 , further comprising:
a first pulley secured on the first horizontal base;
a second pulley secured on one of the at least one third outer rail;
a third pulley secured on one of at least one second inner rail;
a fourth pulley secured on one of the at least one third outer inner;
a movable pulley connected to a lever, and
a cable wire wrapping around the movable pulley, the first pulley, the second pulley, the third pulley, the fourth pulley, and the movable pulley, wherein a first end of the cable wire is secured on the first horizontal base and a second end of the cable wire is secured on the one of the at least one third inner rail.

8. The cart of claim 1 , wherein the fixed frame further comprises at least one wheeled assembly disposed on a bottom surface of the first horizontal base.

9. A cart for transporting objects, comprising:
a first storage section comprising a fixed frame, wherein the fixed frame comprising:
a first horizontal base having a first storage surface and a first bottom surface;
at least one wheeled assembly disposed at the first bottom surface of the first horizontal base; and
at least two first uprights disposed at opposite ends on the first storage surface of the first horizontal base;

a second storage section comprising at least one movable frame, wherein the at least one movable frame comprising:
a second horizontal base having a second storage surface and a second bottom surface, and

at least two second uprights disposed at opposite ends on the second horizontal base; and
at least one support arm pivotally coupled to one of the at least two first uprights of the fixed frame at a first end of the at least one support arm and pivotally coupled to the second bottom surface of the at least one movable frame at a second end of the at least one support arm, wherein the at least one support arm is configured to:
move the second end upwards relative to the first end to place the second horizontal base on top of the fixed frame in a first mode of operation of the cart; and
move the second end downwards relative to the first end to place the second horizontal base adjacent to the first horizontal base in a second mode of operation of the cart, further wherein the fixed frame comprises a support bar extending from the first horizontal base for resting the at least one movable frame in the second mode of operation of the cart.

10. The cart of claim 9 , further comprising at least one set of support arms, wherein the at least one set of support arms comprises:
a first support arm pivotally coupled to a front face of the fixed frame at the first end and pivotally coupled to a front face of the at least one movable frame at the second end; and
a second support arm pivotally coupled to a rear face of the fixed frame at the first end and pivotally coupled to a rear face of the at least one movable frame at the second end, wherein the second support arm is disposed parallel to the first support arm.

11. The cart of claim 9 , further comprising one or more storage surfaces disposed above the first storage surface.

12. The cart of claim 9 , further comprising one or more storage surfaces disposed above the second storage surface.

13. The cart of claim 9 , further comprising two movable frames positioned at opposite sides of the fixed frame, wherein each of the two movable frames is pivotally coupled to the fixed frame through at least two supports arms.

14. The cart of claim 9 , wherein moving the second end upwards relative to the first end comprises lifting the at least one movable frame, pivotally attached to the fixed frame through the at least one support arm, upwards relative to the fixed frame.

15. The cart of claim 9 , wherein moving the second end downwards relative to the first end comprises positioning the at least one movable frame, pivotally attached to the fixed frame through the at least one support arm, adjacent to the fixed frame.

16. The cart of claim 9 , further comprising one or more removable bins placed on at least one of the first storage surface or the second storage surface of the cart for receiving one or more objects.

17. The cart of claim 9 , further comprising a mechanical expansion system configured to engage the at least one support arm for lifting the at least one movable frame.

18. The cart of claim 17 , further comprising a lift assist mechanism, wherein the lift assist mechanism comprises:
a first cable wire connected to the first ho

Assignees

• Intelligrated Headquarters Llc

Inventors

• Martin Jr Bernard S

Classifications

• A47B46/005 Primary

  by displacement in a vertical plane; by rotating about a horizontal axis · CPC title

• B62B2206/02

  adjustable in length or width · CPC title

• A47B45/00

  Cabinets, racks or shelf units, characterised by features enabling enlarging in height, length, or depth (sectional furniture A47B87/00) · CPC title

• B62B2206/06

  adjustable in height · CPC title

• B62B3/025

  Foldable roll containers · CPC title