Quiet shelf for an agricultural cart

• US 20030160409A1
• Filed: 02/22/2002
• Published: 08/28/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wellmaster Pipe and Supply, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Wellmaster Pipe and Supply, Inc.
• Inventors: Platteeuw, Anthony M., Hanson, Jeffery G., Wilson, Ernest L.
• Granted Patent: US 6,814,362 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/79.3
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 2202/70 Flowers; Pots; Plants
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 2205/32 Shelves
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 3/005 Details of storage means, e.g. drawers, bins or racks
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 3/006 for stacking objects like trays, bobbins, chains

Abstract

A wheeled agricultural cart for transporting plant materials having at least one removable shelf. The cart has vertical pillars at each corner thereof with a plurality of substantially rectangular vertical slots. Each shelf has a frame including downward facing hook members at each corner thereof. The shelf is removably attached to the cart by insertion of each hook member into a slot on a corresponding vertical pillar. The shelf includes a planar shelf element for supporting the plant materials attached to the frame by an adhesive material having a resiliently deformable thickness. The material maintains a vertically spaced apart relationship between the shelf element and the frame, preventing them from rattling against one another. The preferred adhesive materials are polyurethane adhesive pastes and foam tapes. A method of manufacturing the shelf includes the steps of: preparing the frame; applying the adhesive material to a planar surface of the frame; positioning the shelf element above the planar surface of the frame; applying the shelf element into engagement with the adhesive material; and curing the adhesive material under ambient conditions.

Claims

1. A cart for transporting plant material having a rectangular-like base frame with wheels thereunder and at least one shelf, said cart comprising:

a) Vertical pillar members extending upwardly from said base frame for supporting said shelf therebetween, each pillar having first attachment means;

b) Said shelf having a frame, said frame having a planar surface for supporting a shelf element thereon, said shelf element attached to said planar surface by an adhesive material having a resiliently deformable thickness, said shelf element vertically separated therefrom by said thickness to thereby reduce the vibration of said shelf element;

c) Said frame having second attachment means complementary to said first attachment means for removable attachment of said shelf to each said pillar.

2. The cart of claim 1, wherein said first attachment means includes a plurality of vertical slots.

3. The cart of claim 2, wherein said second attachment means includes a hook member having a downward facing notch for engagement in said slot.

4. The cart of claim 3, wherein said base frame has four corners, said vertical pillar members extending upwardly from each said corner;

and wherein said shelf frame has four corners, said hook members attached to said frame at substantially each said corner.

5. The cart of claim 4, wherein said adhesive material is a polyurethane material.

6. The cart of claim 5, wherein said shelf element is made from a plastic material.

7. The cart of claim 5, wherein said shelf element is made from a metallic material.

8. The cart of claim 5, wherein said shelf element is made from a wooden material.

9. The cart of claim 4, wherein said adhesive material is a foam tape.

10. The cart of claim 9, wherein said shelf element is made from a plastic material.

11. The cart of claim 9, wherein said shelf element is made from a metallic material.

12. The cart of claim 9, wherein said shelf element is made from a wooden material.

13. A method of assembling a shelf for a cart used to transport plant materials comprising:

a) Preparing a rectangular-like frame having planar surfaces for supporting a shelf element thereon;

b) Applying a resiliently deformable adhesive material to said planar surfaces;

c) Positioning a shelf element above said planar surfaces;

d) Applying said shelf element into engagement against said adhesive material;

e) Curing said adhesive material under ambient conditions.