Patent Application
20190084602
The present invention relates to utility carts. Such carts typically include a wheeled platform with an upstanding handle at one or both ends. Utility carts are moved manually by pushing or pulling on the handle(s). Such carts may include one or more shelves spaced above the platform, mounted between the handles. An enclosed bin may be mounted on the platform, for holding products, parts, or the like. Often, utility carts include a cabinet mounted on the platform, and sometimes the platform extends far enough beyond the cabinet to carry a cleaning bucket or the like.
While larger carts are sometimes found in factory settings, the utility carts designed for hospitals, medical centers, offices and the like are about two feet by three feet in dimensions. As such, these carts do not carry all the tools, supplies and equipment necessary to do a large cleaning job, as for example the entire floor of a hospital. It may take several carts or several trips from the supply room up the elevator to the floor to be cleaned to get all the necessary supplies and implements in position to do the job. Even with that, heavy floor cleaners usually must be wheeled to the cleaning location separately from the utility cart(s).
The utility cart of the present invention comprises an elongated wheeled platform, at least one tool holder mounted on said platform, and at least one fold down ramp for wheeling wheeled appliances up onto the platform. These and other features, objects and advantages of the present invention will be further understood by reference to the drawings and the Description of the Preferred Embodiments.
The cart 1 of the preferred embodiment comprises a wheeled platform 10, an end frame 20, side frames 30, mid-frame 40, end frame assembly 50, cabinet 60, fold down ramps 70 and tool holders 80 (
Preferred embodiment cart 1 is preferably made of stainless steel. This makes it particularly useful in hospital and other sterile environments. Other materials, e.g. aluminum, plastic, steel, powder coated steel or aluminum, and the like can be used. Wheeled platform 10 provides a sturdy base on which items can be loaded and/or mounted. Four caster wheels 11 provide support for platform 10. Preferably, the casters comprise double bearing quite casters, and at least two are fixed with brakes. Platform 10 is sufficiently large to support a large wheeled commercial floor cleaning machine and multiple additional tools and supplies. Thus, it is preferably about 3 feet by 6 feet, as this provides substantial surface area for loading and mounting large commercial cleaning machines and supporting equipment. Yet even at 3 feet by 6 feet, platform 10 and accordingly cart 1 will fit on most elevators and through most hallways.
Frame members 20, 30, 40 and 50 serve to enclose the space on platform 10 and help keep items placed thereon from falling off. They also provide supports for mounting tool holders 80 at various points on cart 1. The frames are preferably bent tubular members. Stainless steel is used in the preferred embodiment but other types of metal tube can be used as well. End frame member 20 is an inverted U-shaped tubular member having corner posts 20a mounted on platform 10, and a cross bar 20b extending between the tops of corner posts 20a. A tool holder band 21 is secured at its ends to the corner posts 20a near the top thereof. A plurality of tool holders 80 are mounted on tool holder band 21. An end retaining band 22 is secured between the corner post 20a at the lower portion thereof.
There are two similarly constructed side frame members 30 which include a vertical post 30a secured to platform 10 and a cross bar 30b bent from and projecting rearwardly from the top of corner post 30a and secured to the corner post 20a of an end frame member 20. Vertical posts 30a define one end of a ramp opening on each side of platform 10.
A mid-frame 40 of inverted “U” configuration like end frame 20 is mounted across the width of and between the ends of platform 10, a bit closer to the end opposite end frame 20, to provide the ramp opening between its vertical posts 40a and the vertical posts 30a of side frame members 30. It is in each of these side openings that the hinged ramps 70 are positioned. Vertical posts 40a extend upwardly from platform 10 and are joined at their tops by a crossbar 40b, all of which are formed in a bending operation. A tool holder band 41 is mounted between vertical posts 40a, near the top thereof, generally opposite the tool holder band 21 on end frame 20. Like band 21, tool holder band 41 includes a plurality of tool mounting members 80.
Mid-frame 40 also includes a lower mid-frame 45 having a vertical leg 45a mounted inwardly from the side edges of platform 10, and including a cross bar 45b which extends from vertical post 45a back to its juncture with one of the vertical post 40a of mid-frame 40.
End frame assembly 50 comprises two corner frame members 51, an end lower frame member 52 and a pivoting handle 53. Corner frame members 51 include corner posts 51a and rearwardly extending top bars 51b which extend rearwardly to and joined to the vertical posts 40a of mid-frame 40. End lower frame member 52 is formed similarly to lower mid-frame member 45, and extends upwardly as a vertical post 52a from its mount with platform 10, and is bent into an outwardly extending top cross bar 52b which terminates at and is joined to its adjacent corner post 51a.
A pivoting handle 53 is pivotally mounted at pivot 53a on each side to the rearwardly extending top bar 51b. Handle 53 preferably extends about 6-12 inches passed the end of platform 10, such that cart 1 can be conveniently pushed by a user without bumping his feet or shins against the back edge of cart 1 as he walks across the floor with it. Handle 53 can be pivoted upwardly so that it is out of the way for storage of the cart. A chain 53b holds handle 53 in a desired upper position.
Cabinet 60 is a lockable cabinet, having a door 61 which preferably opens to the rear end of the cart, that is the end at which handle 53 projects from. Cabinet 60 is preferably about a five-cubic foot cabinet. Pivoting handle 53 up and out of the way facilitates opening the rearwardly opening door 61. A top tray 62 on the top of cabinet 60 allows one to locate items on the top of the cabinet without easily falling off the edges. A lock box may also be mounted in said top tray 62. Yet a third tool mounting band 63 is secured to the side of cabinet 60 which faces inwardly with respect to platform 10.
The fold down ramps 70 are mounted on platform 10 by hinges 71. Each ramp 70 can be secured in its upper position by a latch 72 (
Each of the tool holder bands 21, 41 and 63 include a plurality of tool holders 80 mounted thereon. Preferably, about 14 tool holders safely secure mop handles, dust mops, brooms and more. Each tool holder 80 comprises a backwall 81, a ramp wall 82 and a roller 83 which rolls in ramp 82. When a tool handle is placed in holder 80 as shown for example in
Of course, it is understood that the foregoing are preferred embodiments of the invention, and that various changes and alterations can be made within the scope of the invention as claimed and interpreted in accordance with the Doctrine of Equivalents.
