Mobile cart and methods of handling vehicle parts therewith

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11180206-B2
Application number	US-202016813854-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 10, 2020
Priority date	Mar 10, 2020
Publication date	Nov 23, 2021
Grant date	Nov 23, 2021

Abstract

A mobile cart for use in handling vehicle parts, that includes a base subassembly including a first side and a second side, and a storage subassembly coupled to the base subassembly. The storage subassembly includes a first row of swing arms extending along the first side, and a second row of swing arms extending along the second side. The swing arms in the first row and the second row are positionable between an upright position and a lowered position. When in the upright position, a first slot is defined between each swing arm in the first row, and a second slot is defined between each swing arm in the second row, such that a respective first slot is axially aligned with a respective second slot relative to the mobile cart such that a plurality of retention slots are defined that are oriented and sized to receive a vehicle part therein.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A mobile cart for use in handling vehicle parts, the mobile cart comprising:
a base subassembly comprising a first side and a second side; and
a storage subassembly coupled to the base subassembly, the storage subassembly comprising:
a first row of swing arms extending along the first side of the base subassembly; and
a second row of swing arms extending along the second side of the base subassembly, wherein the swing arms in the first row and the second row are variably positionable between an upright position and a lowered position, and wherein, when in the upright position, a first slot is defined between each swing arm in the first row, and a second slot is defined between each swing arm in the second row, wherein a respective first slot is axially aligned with a respective second slot relative to the mobile cart such that a plurality of retention slots are defined that are oriented and sized to receive a vehicle part therein, wherein the swing arms are oriented obliquely relative to the mobile cart.

2. The mobile cart in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the storage subassembly further comprises:
a first rail extending along the first side of the base subassembly, the first row of swing arms coupled to the first rail;
a second rail extending along the second side of the base subassembly, the second row of swing arms coupled to the second rail; and
a plurality of lock plates coupled to the first rail and the second rail, wherein each swing arm is coupled to a respective lock plate, wherein each respective swing arm is selectively engageable with the respective lock plate for retaining each respective swing arm in the upright position.

3. The mobile cart in accordance with claim 2 , wherein each lock plate comprises a locking slot, and each swing arm comprises a locking pin selectively insertable within the locking slot for retaining each respective swing arm in the upright position.

4. The mobile cart in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the storage subassembly further comprises:
a first rail extending along the first side of the base subassembly, the first row of swing arms coupled to the first rail;
a second rail extending along the second side of the base subassembly, the second row of swing arms coupled to the second rail; and
a plurality of stoppers coupled to the first rail and the second rail, wherein a respective stopper is associated with each swing arm, and the respective stopper and a portion of each respective swing arm define contact points configured to retain the vehicle part therebetween.

5. The mobile cart in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the storage subassembly further comprises a support rail spaced from the first row and the second row, wherein the support rail is configured to receive each swing arm when in the lowered position, and wherein the support rail is configured to simultaneously move the swing arms from the lowered position to the upright position.

6. The mobile cart in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the base subassembly further comprises a first bumper extending from the first side thereof, and a second bumper extending from the second side thereof, wherein a width defined between the first and second bumpers is wider than a width of the storage subassembly.

7. The mobile cart in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the storage subassembly comprises a mounting surface configured to receive the vehicle part thereon, the mounting surface defined at a height of between about 30 inches to about 40 inches above ground level.

8. The mobile cart in accordance with claim 7 further comprising a handle coupled to the base subassembly, the handle comprising a gripping portion, wherein the handle is moveable to selectively position the gripping portion higher than or lower than the mounting surface.

9. A mobile cart for use in handling vehicle parts, the mobile cart comprising:
a first rail extending along the first side of the mobile cart;
a first row of swing arms coupled to the first rail;
a second rail extending along the second side of the mobile cart;
a second row of swing arms coupled to the second rail, wherein the swing arms in the first row and the second row are selectively positionable between an upright position and a lowered position; and
a plurality of stoppers coupled to the first rail and the second rail, wherein a respective stopper is associated with each swing arm, and the respective stopper and a portion of each respective swing arm define contact points configured to retain the vehicle part therebetween.

10. The mobile cart in accordance with claim 9 , wherein, when in the upright position, a first slot is defined between each swing arm in the first row, and a second slot is defined between each swing arm in the second row, wherein a respective first slot is axially aligned with a respective second slot relative to the mobile cart such that a plurality of retention slots are defined that are oriented and sized to receive a vehicle part therein.

11. The mobile cart in accordance with claim 9 further comprising a plurality of lock plates coupled to the first rail and the second rail, wherein each swing arm is coupled to a respective lock plate, wherein each respective swing arm is selectively engageable with the respective lock plate for retaining each respective swing arm in the upright position.

12. The mobile cart in accordance with claim 11 , wherein each lock plate comprises a locking slot, and each swing arm comprises a locking pin selectively insertable within the locking slot for retaining each respective swing arm in the upright position.

13. The mobile cart in accordance with claim 9 further comprising a support rail spaced from the first row and the second row, wherein the support rail is configured to receive each swing arm when in the lowered position, and wherein the support rail is configured to simultaneously move the swing arms from the lowered position to the upright position.

14. The mobile cart in accordance with claim 9 further comprising a mounting surface configured to receive the vehicle part thereon, the mounting surface defined at a height of between about 30 inches to about 40 inches above ground level.

15. The mobile cart in accordance with claim 14 further comprising a handle coupled having a gripping portion, wherein the handle is moveable relative to the mobile cart to selectively position the gripping portion higher than or lower than the mounting surface.

16. A method of handling vehicle parts, the method comprising:
loading a plurality of vehicle parts onto a mobile cart, wherein each vehicle part is positioned within a respective retention slot of a plurality of retention slots on the mobile cart, the plurality of retention slots defined by a plurality of swings arms in an upright position and arranged in a first row and a second row along the mobile cart, wherein a first slot is defined between each swing arm in the first row, and a second slot is defined between each swing arm in the second row, wherein a respective first slot is axially aligned with a respective second slot along the mobile cart to define the plurality of retention slots;
unloading a first vehicle part from the mobile cart, the first vehicle part positioned within a first retention slot; and
positioning the swing arms associated with the first retention slot from the upright position to a lowered position to provide access to a second vehicle part positioned within a second retention slot that is positioned adjacent to the first retention slot.

17. The method in accordance with claim 16

Assignees

• Honda Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Nguyen Khoi
• Briley Samantha Alys Marie
• Hague Ryan William

Classifications

• B62B5/049

  locking against movement by contacting the floor or a wall · CPC title

• B62B3/10

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

• B62D65/18

  Transportation, conveyor or haulage systems specially adapted for motor vehicle or trailer assembly lines {(conveyors and haulage in general B65G)} · CPC title

• B62D63/00 Primary

  Motor vehicles or trailers not otherwise provided for · CPC title

• B62D65/022 Primary

  Transferring or handling sub-units or components, e.g. in work stations or between workstations and transportation systems · CPC title