Dolly edge support device

• US 10,442,450 B2
• Filed: 09/13/2018
• Issued: 10/15/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC (WalMart Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC (WalMart Inc.)
• Inventors: Abohammdan, Tawfeek, Green, Jeffrey D., Mericle, Dorita S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shriver, II, James A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Triggs, James J
• Application Number:
  US16/130,257
• Publication Number:
  US 20190126964A1
• Time in Patent Office: 397 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 2202/12 Boxes, Crates
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 2203/60 Positioning, means on a cart for loads
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 3/04 involving means for grappling or securing in place objects to be carried; Loading or unloading equipment
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 5/0006 Bumpers; Safety devices
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 5/0093 Flat dollys without hand moving equipment

Abstract

Example edge support devices for a dolly are described. The edge support devices include a body including first and second body sections angled relative to each other, a first engagement assembly extending from a bottom surface of the first body section, and a second engagement assembly extending from a bottom surface of the second body section. The first and second engagement assemblies each include a central protrusion and pairs of side protrusions configured to be inserted into openings in the supporting surface of the dolly. The pairs of side protrusions of the first and second engagement assemblies engage the respective openings of the dolly to detachably couple the body of the edge support devices to the dolly.

Claims

1. An edge support device for a dolly, the dolly including a supporting surface and openings in the supporting surface, the edge support device comprising:

a body including a first body section and a second body section angled relative to the first body section, each of the first and second body sections including a top surface and a bottom surface;

a first engagement assembly extending from the bottom surface of the first body section along a first plane, the first engagement assembly including a first central protrusion and a first pair of side protrusions disposed on opposing sides of the first central protrusion configured to be inserted into one of the openings of the dolly, the first pair of side protrusions spaced from the first central protrusion, the first pair of side protrusions and the first central protrusion extending perpendicularly from the bottom surface of the first body section, and a lateral width of the first central protrusion dimensioned greater than a lateral width of each of the first pair of side protrusions as measured along the first plane; and

a second engagement assembly extending from the bottom surface of the second body section along a second plane, the second engagement assembly including a second central protrusion and a second pair of side protrusions disposed on opposing sides of the second central protrusion configured to be inserted into one of the openings of the dolly, the second pair of side protrusions spaced from the second central protrusion, the second pair of side protrusions and the second central protrusion extending perpendicularly from the bottom surface of the second body section, and a lateral width of the second central protrusion dimensioned greater than a lateral width of each of the second pair of side protrusions as measured along the second plane;

wherein the first and second pairs of side protrusions of the first and second engagement assemblies engage the respective openings of the dolly to detachably couple the body to the dolly.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the second body section is angled relative to the first body section by 90°

.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the first and second body sections angled relative to each other to define an L-shaped configuration.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the first and second body sections extend along a first horizontal plane.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the first and second engagement assemblies extend perpendicularly away from the first horizontal plane.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the first engagement assembly extends parallel to the first body section in the first plane and the second engagement assembly extends parallel to the second body section in the second plane.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the first and second central protrusions are rigid structures extending from the bottom surface of the respective first and second body sections.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein a length of the side protrusions is dimensioned greater than a length of each of the respective first and second central protrusions.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein each of the side protrusions is configured to engage with the respective openings of the dolly via a snap fit.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein each of the side protrusions includes an elongated section connected to the bottom surface of the respective first and second body sections at one end.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein each of the side protrusions includes a hook-shaped endpoint at an opposing end of the elongated section.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the hook-shaped endpoints face away from the respective first and second central protrusions.

13. A dolly system, comprising:

a dolly including a supporting surface and openings in the supporting surface, the openings in the supporting surface including a central partial opening and two full openings on opposing sides of the central partial opening, the two full openings extending entirely through the dolly; and

an edge support device, the edge support device including;

a body including a first body section and a second body section angled relative to the first body section, each of the first and second body sections including a top surface and a bottom surface;

a first engagement assembly extending from the bottom surface of the first body section, the first engagement assembly including a first central protrusion and a first pair of side protrusions disposed on opposing sides of the first central protrusion configured to be inserted into one of the openings of the dolly; and

a second engagement assembly extending from the bottom surface of the second body section, the second engagement assembly including a second central protrusion and a second pair of side protrusions disposed on opposing sides of the second central protrusion configured to be inserted into one of the openings of the dolly;

wherein the first and second pairs of side protrusions of the first and second engagement assemblies engage the respective openings of the dolly to detachably couple the edge support device to the dolly; and

wherein during engagement of the first and second pairs of side protrusions of the first and second engagement assemblies with the respective openings of the dolly, the respective first and second central protrusions abut a bottom surface of the central partial opening and the side protrusions pass into and engage the respective two full openings.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the second body section is angled relative to the first body section by 90°

.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the first and second body sections angled relative to each other to define an L-shaped configuration.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the first and second central protrusions are rigid structures extending from the bottom surface of the respective first and second body sections.

17. An edge support device for a dolly, the dolly including a supporting surface and an opening in the supporting surface, the edge support device comprising:

a body including a top surface and a bottom surface; and

an engagement assembly extending from the bottom surface of the body along a plane, the engagement assembly including a central protrusion and a pair of side protrusions disposed on opposing sides of the central protrusion, the pair of side protrusions spaced from the central protrusion, the pair of side protrusions and the central protrusion extending perpendicularly from the bottom surface of the body, and a lateral width of the central protrusion dimensioned greater than a lateral width of each of the pair of side protrusions as measured along the plane;

wherein the central protrusion is a rigid structure extending from the bottom surface of the body; and

wherein the engagement assembly is configured to be inserted into and engaged with the opening of the dolly to detachably couple the body to the dolly.