Transport dolly incorporating a carousel

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12522268-B2
Application number	US-202318333910-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 13, 2023
Priority date	Jun 13, 2023
Publication date	Jan 13, 2026
Grant date	Jan 13, 2026

Abstract

A dolly structured for transport of component parts bins to and from plant floor work sites includes a base and a carousel rotatably connected to the base. The carousel has a pair of opposed open sides, with each side structured to enable an entire array or arrangement of component parts bins to be loaded or unloaded onto the carousel at the same time. The dolly also incorporates a first locking mechanism structured to lock the carousel in any of four orientations spaced apart at intervals of 90° during rotation of the carousel. The arrangement described provides flexibility in loading and unloading the carousel with parts bins, decreases the total amount of space needed to load and unload the dolly, and the amount of space needed to maneuver the dolly into a position and orientation that is usable by a worker on the assembly line, and improves user safety.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A dolly comprising:
a base; and a carousel rotatably connected to the base, the carousel including a first wall and a locking mechanism, the locking mechanism including: a locking member; a locking member receptacle mounted on the base and including an opening positioned along a rotational arc of the locking member and structured to receive the locking member therein when the locking mechanism is in a locked condition; a first arm rotatably connected to the locking member and rotatably connected to the first wall so that rotation of the first arm in a first rotational direction moves the locking member in a direction away from the locking member receptacle opening; and a second arm rotatably connected to the locking member and rotatably connected to the first wall so that rotation of the second arm in a second rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction moves the locking member in a direction away from the locking member receptacle opening.

2 . The dolly of claim 1 , wherein the locking mechanism is structured to automatically configure to a locked condition responsive to rotation of the carousel to any of a plurality of predetermined rotational orientations, and structured to be manually configurable to an unlocked condition.

3 . The dolly of claim 1 , wherein the locking member receptacle includes:
a first ramp positioned along the rotational arc of the locking member and extending downwardly from the opening along a first side of the opening; and a second ramp positioned along the rotational arc of the locking member and extending downwardly from the opening along a second side of the opening opposite the first side.

4 . The dolly of claim 1 , wherein the locking mechanism is structured to be manually rotatable between a locked condition preventing rotation of the carousel with respect to the base, and an unlocked condition enabling rotation of the carousel with respect to the base.

5 . The dolly of claim 1 , wherein the carousel comprises:
a collapsible curtain assembly structured to be configurable to any of a stowed condition and a deployed condition; a first corner post including a notch formed therealong; and a second corner post spaced apart from the first corner post and including a notch formed therealong, each of the first corner post notch and the second corner post notch being structured to receive therein a portion of a curtain retaining member extending from the curtain assembly, to maintain the curtain assembly in the deployed condition.

6 . The dolly of claim 1 , wherein the carousel comprises:
a post; another post spaced apart from the post; a wall extending between the post and the other post; and a collapsible curtain supported above the wall and extending between the post and the other post.

7 . A dolly comprising:
a base; a carousel rotatably connected to the base; and a locking mechanism rotatably coupled to the base and structured to be manually rotatable between a locked condition preventing rotation of the carousel with respect to the base, and an unlocked condition enabling rotation of the carousel with respect to the base, the locking mechanism including: a pair of arms rotatably coupled to the base, each arm being structured to abut a wall of the carousel when the locking mechanism is in the locked condition, to prevent rotation of the carousel; and a connecting member operably connecting the arms so that the arms are simultaneously rotatable to any of the locked and unlocked conditions by manually rotating either of the arms.

8 . A dolly comprising:
a base; and a carousel rotatably connected to the base and including a floor having a first cavity formed therein, and a first collapsible curtain assembly received in the first cavity.

Assignees

• Toyota Eng & Mfg North America
• Toyota Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Abraham James Joseph Alan
• Mclachlin Jeff Wayne

Classifications

• B65D19/08

  made wholly or mainly of metal · CPC title

• B62B3/005

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

• B62B3/04 Primary

  involving means for grappling or securing in place objects to be carried; Loading or unloading equipment · CPC title