Light weight pick cart

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11130511-B2
Application number	US-201916513975-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 17, 2019
Priority date	Aug 2, 2018
Publication date	Sep 28, 2021
Grant date	Sep 28, 2021

Abstract

Various configurations of light weight pick carts are disclosed; some embodiments may alternate between a first configuration having two shelf racks and a second configuration having both a shelf rack and a flatbed. A first shelf rack has multiple accessory support units attached, having multiple different configurations to facilitate holding differing shapes, sizes, or weights of accessories. Swivel casters and multiple handle locations can enhance maneuverability; and proper selection of material and use of perforation and wire frames may reduce weight to ease operation. For stability, a removable second shelf rack may engage the first shelf rack using hooks, while a removable flatbed unit may engage the first shelf rack using notches. The second shelf rack provides more discrete storage locations, while the flatbed permits transportation of larger or heavier items. This versatility enhances the utility of the cart.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A light weight pick cart comprising:
a frame;
a first shelf rack attached to the frame, the first shelf rack having at least two pairs of vertical members and at least three vertical shelf divisions;
a perforated top shelf of the first shelf rack that provides a perforated fixed-position flat surface without raised edges at the top of the light weight pick cart;
a first handle attached to the frame through a first pair of the at least two pairs of vertical members of the first shelf rack;
a pair of secondary handles, each of the pair of secondary handles disposed on one vertical member of a second pair of the at least two pairs of vertical members of the first shelf rack, wherein each of the pair of secondary handles is curved in at least one dimension;
at least five accessory support units attached to the first shelf rack, the five accessory support units having at least three different configurations;
at least four wheels attached to the frame, each of the four wheels disposed nearby a corner of the frame, wherein at least two wheels of the four wheels comprise swivel casters;
a removable second shelf rack, the second shelf rack having at least two other pairs of vertical members and at least three other vertical shelf divisions, wherein a perforated top shelf of the second shelf rack provides a second perforated fixed-position flat surface, and wherein at least one other pair of vertical members of the at least two other pairs of vertical members of the removable second shelf rack is attached to the frame along the plane of at least one pair of vertical members of the at least two pairs of vertical members of the first shelf rack; and
a removable flatbed unit,
wherein the second shelf rack and the removeable flatbed unit may alternately attach to the frame adjacent to the first shelf rack such that the light weight pick cart is convertible between a first configuration having the first shelf rack and the removable second shelf rack and a second configuration having the first shelf rack and the removable flatbed unit.

2. The light weight pick cart of claim 1 wherein the first handle is attached to the frame through a first pair of the two pairs of vertical members of the first shelf rack.

3. The light weight pick cart of claim 2 wherein the first handle is curved in at least two dimensions.

4. The light weight pick cart of claim 1 wherein at least one of the five accessory support units comprises a flat shelf having at least one hole.

5. The light weight pick cart of claim 1 wherein at least one of the five accessory support units comprises a perforated wire frame basket.

6. The light weight pick cart of claim 1 wherein at least one of the five accessory support units comprises a first hook of a first size and disposed in a first orientation.

7. The light weight pick cart of claim 6 wherein at least one of the five accessory support units comprises a second hook differing from the first hook in either size or orientation.

8. The light weight pick cart of claim 1 wherein the at least four wheels comprise swivel casters.

9. The light weight pick cart of claim 1 wherein the swivel casters are lockable to prevent swiveling.

10. The light weight pick cart of claim 1 further comprising a fifth wheel disposed on a first long edge of the frame and a sixth wheel disposed on a second long edge of the frame, opposite the first long edge of the frame.

11. The light weight pick cart of claim 1 wherein the second shelf rack comprises a pair of hooks, each of the hooks disposed on one vertical member of a first pair of the two pairs of vertical members of the second shelf rack.

12. The light weight pick cart of claim 1 wherein the first shelf rack comprises a pair of slots, each of the slots disposed on one vertical member of a second pair of the two pairs of vertical members of the first shelf rack, wherein each slot is configured to engage one of the hooks of the second shelf rack.

13. The light weight pick cart of claim 1 wherein the removable flatbed unit comprises a pair of notches, each notch of the pair of notches configured to engage one vertical member of a second pair of the two pairs of vertical members of the first shelf rack.

14. The light weight pick cart of claim 1 wherein the weight of the cart in the first configuration is below 150 pounds.

15. The light weight pick cart of claim 1 wherein the frame, the first shelf rack, and the second shelf rack are comprised of aluminum.

16. A light weight pick cart comprising:
a frame comprised of aluminum;
a first shelf rack comprised of aluminum and attached to the frame, the first shelf rack having at least two pairs of vertical members and at least three vertical shelf divisions;
a perforated top shelf of the first shelf rack that provides a perforated fixed-position flat surface without raised edges at the top of the light weight pick cart;
a removable second shelf rack comprised of aluminum and attached to the frame, the removable second shelf rack having at least two other pairs of vertical members and at least three other vertical shelf divisions, wherein a top shelf of the second shelf rack provides a second perforated fixed-position flat surface, and wherein at least one other pair of vertical members of the at least two other pairs of vertical members of the removable second shelf rack is attached to the frame along the plane of at least one pair of vertical members of the at least two pairs of vertical members of the first shelf rack;
a first handle attached to the frame through a first pair of the at least two pairs of vertical members of the first shelf rack, wherein the first handle is curved in at least two dimensions;
a pair of secondary handles, each of the of secondary handles disposed on one vertical member of a second pair of the at least two pairs of vertical members of the first shelf rack, wherein each of the of secondary handles is curved in at least one dimension;
at least five accessory support units attached to the first shelf rack, the five accessory support units having at least three different configurations,
wherein at least one of the five accessory support units comprises a flat shelf having at least one hole,
wherein at least one of the five accessory support units comprises a basket,
wherein at least one of the five accessory support units comprises a first hook of a first size and disposed in a first orientation, and
wherein at least one of the five accessory support units comprises a second hook differing from the first hook in either size or orientation;

at least four wheels attached to the frame, each of the four wheels disposed nearby a corner of the frame, wherein at least two wheels of the four wheels comprise swivel casters.

Assignees

• Walmart Apollo Llc

Inventors

• Abohammdan Tawfeek
• Green Jeff
• Durkee Paul

Classifications

• B62B5/0466

  by turning the wheels in different directions, e.g. toe-in · CPC title

• B62B3/10

  characterised by supports specially adapted to objects of definite shape · CPC title

• B62B2202/12

  Boxes, Crates · CPC title

• B62B3/02

  involving parts being adjustable, collapsible, attachable, detachable or convertible · CPC title

• B62B5/061 Primary

  both ends or periphery of cart fitted with handles · CPC title