Cart Assembly for Use with a Work Piece and Methods of Use
First Claim
1. A cart assembly configured to move a work piece about a work floor, the cart assembly comprising:
- a base having a top side and a bottom side spaced from the top side, the bottom side configured to be supported on the work floor;
a table positioned on the top side of the base and comprising a first end, a second end spaced from the first end, a pivot disposed towards the first end, and a work surface that extends between the first and second ends and configured to support the work piece, the table pivotally mounted to move about the pivot between a horizontal position and a vertical position;
a tilt mechanism coupled to the table and configured to rotate the table about the pivot between the horizontal position and the vertical position;
a lift mechanism disposed between the base and the table, the lift mechanism configured to move the table relative to the base between a lowered position defining a first distance above the work floor and a raised position defining a second distance above the work floor that is greater than the first distance; and
a trolley comprising wheels configured to be supported on the work floor, the trolley connected to the base and horizontally movable relative to the base along the work floor between a retracted position and an extended position;
wherein in the retracted position, the trolley is vertically overlapped by the first end of the table and in the extended position the trolley is horizontally spaced away from the first end of the table.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A cart assemblies and methods of use for supporting and positioning a work piece during manufacturing. The cart assembly includes a table with a work surface configured to support the work piece. The table is connected to a base that is configured to move the table along a work floor. A lift mechanism adjusts the elevation of the table above the work floor, and a tilt mechanism adjusts an angle of the table relative to the work floor. The lift and tilt mechanisms may be used separately or simultaneously to adjust the position of the table as needed. The cart assembly also includes a trolley. The trolley is configured to receive and support the work piece away from the base. This provides for access to additional sections of the work piece during assembly.
7 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A cart assembly configured to move a work piece about a work floor, the cart assembly comprising:
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a base having a top side and a bottom side spaced from the top side, the bottom side configured to be supported on the work floor; a table positioned on the top side of the base and comprising a first end, a second end spaced from the first end, a pivot disposed towards the first end, and a work surface that extends between the first and second ends and configured to support the work piece, the table pivotally mounted to move about the pivot between a horizontal position and a vertical position; a tilt mechanism coupled to the table and configured to rotate the table about the pivot between the horizontal position and the vertical position; a lift mechanism disposed between the base and the table, the lift mechanism configured to move the table relative to the base between a lowered position defining a first distance above the work floor and a raised position defining a second distance above the work floor that is greater than the first distance; and a trolley comprising wheels configured to be supported on the work floor, the trolley connected to the base and horizontally movable relative to the base along the work floor between a retracted position and an extended position; wherein in the retracted position, the trolley is vertically overlapped by the first end of the table and in the extended position the trolley is horizontally spaced away from the first end of the table. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A cart assembly configured to move a work piece about a work floor, the cart assembly comprising:
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a base with a top side and a bottom side spaced from the top side, the bottom side configured to be supported on the work floor; a table positioned on the top side of the base, the table having a pivot and presenting a work surface configured to support the work piece; a lift mechanism disposed between the base and the table, the lift mechanism configured to move the table relative to the base between a lowered position and a raised position; a tilt mechanism connected to the table and configured to rotate the table about the pivot between a horizontal position and a vertical position; and a trolley configured to be supported on the work floor, the trolley connected to the base and horizontally movable along the work floor relative to the base between a retracted position and an extended position; the cart assembly being movable between first, second, third, fourth, and fifth positions; in the first position the table is in the lowered and horizontal positions and the trolley is in the retracted position; in the second position the table is in the raised and horizontal positions and the trolley is in the retracted position; in the third position the table is in the raised and vertical positions and the trolley is in the retracted position; in the fourth position the table is in the lowered and vertical positions and the trolley is in the retracted position; in the fifth position the table is in the vertical position and the trolley is in the extended position. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of using a cart assembly to move a work piece about a work floor, the method comprising:
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supporting the work piece with a table, the table being attached to a base that is positioned on the work floor; positioning the table and the work piece in a lowered position a first distance from the work floor and with the table and the work piece in a horizontal position; raising the table away from the work floor to a raised position while the work piece is supported on the table and the base is on the work floor and the work piece is in the horizontal position; rotating the table and positioning the work piece transverse to the work floor while the work piece is supported on the table and the base is on the work floor and the table is in the raised position; positioning the work piece vertically over a trolley that is on the work floor and that is attached to base; lowering the table towards the work floor and positioning the work piece onto the trolley while the trolley is on the floor and is attached to the base while the work piece is supported on the table and the base is on the work floor; supporting the work piece on the trolley and removing the work piece from the table; and moving the trolley along the work floor away from the base while the trolley is supporting the work piece. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification