Stocking cart and method of transporting items using the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11325626-B2
Application number	US-201916654703-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 16, 2019
Priority date	Oct 16, 2018
Publication date	May 10, 2022
Grant date	May 10, 2022

Abstract

A stocking cart includes a base structure having an opening configured to receive forks of a forklift; a plurality of wheels connected to the base structure; a back panel mounted to the base structure and extending opposite from the plurality of wheels; first and second lateral panels mounted to the base structure, the first and second lateral panels and the back panel defining an interior space of the cart; and at least one strap provided on an open side of the cart to provide access to the interior space of the cart, the at least one strap being configured to hold one or more items inside the cart. The cart also includes a linking mechanism configured to connect the cart to another cart.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A stocking cart, comprising:
a base structure having an opening configured to receive forks of a forklift;
a plurality of wheels connected to the base structure;
a lower platform mounted to the base structure, the lower platform being configured to support a weight of items;
a back panel mounted to the base structure and extending opposite from the plurality of wheels, the back panel having a frame, the back panel forming a first lateral side of the cart;
first and second lateral panels mounted to the base structure, the lateral panels forming a second lateral side and a third lateral side of the cart, the first and second lateral panels and the back panel defining an interior space of the cart, at least one of the lateral panels including a shelf, the shelf being pivotally mounted to a rectangular frame of the at least one of the lateral panels, the shelf being supported by two arms, and each of the two arms being attached to the at least one of the lateral panels and the shelf;
at least one strap provided on a fourth side of the cart, the fourth side being open to provide access to the interior space of the cart to load items to or unload items from the cart, the at least one strap being configured to hold one or more items inside the cart; and
a linking mechanism configured and arranged to connect the cart to another cart such that the fourth side of the cart faces a fourth side of the other cart,
wherein the linking mechanism comprises at least one latch that is mounted to a first frame of the first lateral panel or to a second frame of the second lateral panel or both, the at least one latch being configured to slide up and down on the first frame of the first panel or the second frame of the second panel.

2. The stocking cart according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second lateral panels are further attached to the back panel.

3. The stocking cart according to claim 1 , wherein the first lateral panel comprises a first frame and at least one first sub-panel that is removably mounted to the first frame and the second lateral panel comprises a second frame and at least one second sub-panel that is removably mounted to the second frame, wherein the at least one first sub-panel or the at least one second sub-panel is removable to provide access to the interior of the cart to load and unload items.

4. The stocking cart according to claim 3 , wherein the at least one strap is attached to a vertical member of the first frame of the first lateral panel and to a vertical member of the second frame of the second lateral panel.

5. The stocking cart according to claim 1 , further comprising a brake mechanism configured to brake at least two wheels in the plurality of wheels, wherein the brake mechanism is configured to brake the at least two wheels substantially simultaneously.

6. The stocking cart according to claim 1 , wherein at least two wheels in the plurality of wheels are configured to rotate around a vertical axis that is substantially perpendicular to the platform to enable guiding and directing the cart.

7. The stocking cart according to claim 6 , further comprising a rotation locking mechanism configured to lock and unlock a rotation of the at least two wheels around the vertical axis.

8. The stocking cart according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one latch comprises a handle configured to facilitate manipulation of the at least one latch.

9. The stocking cart according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one latch is biased by a resilient member, wherein an end of the resilient member abuts the first frame or the second frame or both and an opposite end of the resilient member abuts the at least one latch so as to bias the at least one latch in a vertical direction.

10. The stocking cart according to claim 1 , wherein the latch further comprises one or more mating linking members, the mating linking members are configured to mate with opposite mating linking members provided on a counterpart frame of a lateral panel of the other cart.

11. A method of transporting items using linked stocking carts, comprising:
receiving pre-loaded and linked first and second stocking carts at a desired location in a storage facility, the first and second stocking carts being linked together using a linking mechanism provided on the first stocking cart, the first stocking cart or both;
unlinking the first stocking cart and the second stocking cart from each other to separate the first and second stocking carts;
rolling the first and second stocking carts separately to designated aisles between shelves in the storage facility; and
unloading the first and second stocking carts and loading the items on the shelves, the first and second stocking carts including a first lateral panel including a shelf, the shelf being pivotally mounted to a rectangular frame of the first lateral panel, the shelf being supported by two arms, and each of the two arms being attached to the first lateral panel and the shelf.

12. The method according to claim 11 , further comprising loading the first and second stocking carts and linking the first and second stocking carts using the linking mechanism at another location in the storage facility prior to receiving the pre-loaded and linked first and second stocking carts at the desired location in the storage facility.

13. The method according to claim 11 , wherein the first stocking cart and the second stocking cart comprise:
a base structure having an opening configured to receive forks of a forklift;
a plurality of wheels connected to the base structure;
a lower platform mounted to the base structure, the lower platform being configured to support a weight of items;
a back panel mounted to the base structure, the back panel having a frame, the back panel forming a first lateral side of the first stocking cart or the second stocking cart;
first and second lateral panels mounted to the base structure, the lateral panels forming a second lateral side and a third lateral side of the first stocking cart or the second stocking cart, the first and second lateral panels and the back panel defining an interior space of the first stocking cart or the second stocking cart;
at least one strap provided on a fourth side of the first stocking cart or the second stocking cart, the fourth side being open to provide access to the interior space of the first stocking cart or the second stocking cart to load items to or unload items from the first stocking cart or the second stocking cart, the at least one strap being configured to hold one or more items inside the first stocking cart or the second stocking cart; and
a linking mechanism configured and arranged to connect the first stocking cart to the second stocking cart such that the fourth side of the first stocking cart faces the fourth side of the second stocking cart.

14. The method according to claim 13 , wherein the linking mechanism comprises at least one latch that is mounted to a first frame of the first lateral panel or to a second frame of the second lateral panel or both, the at least one latch being configured to slide up and down on the first frame of the first panel or the second frame of the second panel.

15. The stocking cart according to claim 14 , wherein the at least one latch is biased by a resilient member, wherein an end of the resilient member abuts the first frame or the second frame or both and an opposite end of the resilient member abuts the at least one latch so as to bias the at least one latch in a vertical direction.

16. A transport system having a plurality of linked stocking carts, the

Assignees

• Walmart Apollo Llc

Inventors

• Sannes Morgan

Classifications

• B62B2205/33

  stowed in a vertical position · CPC title

• B62B3/005 Primary

  Details of storage means, e.g. drawers, bins or racks · CPC title

• B62B3/0606

  manually operated · CPC title

• B62B3/004

  Details of doors or cover lids · CPC title

• B62B3/02 Primary

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