Display cart

• US 5,718,441 A
• Filed: 12/18/1995
• Issued: 02/17/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rehrig International Incorporated (Rehrig United International)
• Original Assignee: Rehrig International Incorporated (Rehrig United International)
• Inventors: Miller, Bradley Dean, Henry, Scottlan R., Kern, Alan R., LaFleur, John A.
• Primary Examiner(s): BOEHLER, ANNE MARIE M
• Application Number:
  US08/574,188
• Time in Patent Office: 792 Days
• Field of Search: 280/79.3, 280/47.34, 280/47.35, 280/79.11, 280/33.997, 280/33.998, 211/126, 211/128, 211/187, 211/188, 211/189, 211/153, 211/194, 211/198, 211/206, 211/208
• US Class Current: 280/79.3
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2031/004 having four vertical uprights
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 57/14 with hooks on the shelves to engage the rungs of the ladder
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 5/12 Tiltable stands
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 5/137 having wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 2202/70 Flowers; Pots; Plants
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 2205/006 dismountable
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 3/16 vertically stackable

Abstract

A transport and display cart is formed of light weight plastic and metal components including a base unit formed from an open framework in which is disposed and fastened a molded plastic tray. Wheels preferably including casters are provided on the underside of the base unit and opposed ladder units having horizontal bars or rungs are removably connected to opposed ends of the base unit by fitting within post supports rigidly connected to the base unit. Upper shelves include plastic trays that are constructed identical to the tray connected to the base unit and reinforcing rods having downwardly open jaws or hooks at their opposed ends for engaging the horizontal rungs or bars of the opposed ladder units. The upper shelves can be selectively disposed in horizontal or tilted positions simply by hooking the ends of the reinforcing rods over different rungs of the ladder units.

Claims

1. A display cart comprising

a base unit comprising a structural framework arranged in a geometric pattern, said pattern providing a central opening in the base unit, said framework having an underside, an upper side, opposed ends and opposed sides;

wheels secured to and depending from the underside of the framework;

post supports secured at the opposed ends of the framework;

a first molded plastic tray having opposed integral side portions and being geometrically configured to fit within the central opening of the base unit with the side portions engaging the opposed sides of the framework;

a plurality of fasteners for securing the side portions of the first tray to the opposed sides of the framework;

a pair of ladder units each comprising spaced vertical posts and a plurality of vertically spaced horizontal bar elements rigidly connected to and extending between the posts, each of said ladder units being removably attached to said post supports at a respective one of the opposed ends of the framework;

at least one additional molded plastic tray having opposed side portions and being, at least dimensionally, substantially identical with said first plastic tray so as to be interchangeable therewith;

a pair of opposed tray support rods rigidly connected to and extending along the opposed side portions of the additional plastic tray, said rods including hooked end portions adapted to be removably secured to a selective said horizontal bar element of a respective one of said pair of ladder units whereby said additional plastic tray can be selectively supported on said opposed ladder units through said hooked end portions in both a substantial horizontal plane and angled with respect to the horizontal plane.

2. A display cart as claimed in claim 1, wherein said framework, support posts and rods constitute tubular members.

3. A display cart as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first and additional plastic trays are permanently secured to said framework and support rods, respectively.

4. A display cart as claimed in claim 3, wherein the opposed side portions of each of said first plastic tray and said additional plastic tray include upper horizontal sections and downwardly extending flange portions.

5. A display cart as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hooked end portions of said tray support rods include lower notches adapted to receive said horizontal bar elements enabling said hooked end portions to be freely dropped vertically over a respective said horizontal bar element.

6. A display cart as claimed in claim 1, wherein said tray support rods are formed of metal.

7. A display cart as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said horizontal bar elements includes a main bar portion and terminal end portions, each said terminal end portion being attached to a respective said vertical post in a downwardly sloping manner.

8. A display cart as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of additional molded plastic trays and a plurality of pairs of opposed tray support rods, each pair of said rods being fixedly secured along opposed side portions of a respective one of said additional molded plastic trays, said plurality of additional molded trays being stackable with a respective pair of said rods being located above the opposed side portions of a respective one of said additional molded trays.

9. A display cart as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of bracket members secured at spaced locations adjacent the opposed ends on the underside of said framework for aligning said base unit with respect to post supports of a similar constructed second base unit when said base unit is stacked upon said second base unit.

10. A display cart as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said ladder units is formed from multiple, interconnected ladder sub-units.

11. A shelf assembly comprising:

a molded, moveable plastic tray member having integral opposed horizontal side portions, end portions, and an apertured central portion extending between the opposed side and end portions; and

a pair of opposed metallic tray support and reinforcing rods extending along and fixedly secured to said opposed horizontal side portions of the tray member so as to be fixedly associated with the tray member and being structurally configured to reinforce said tray member against vertical deflection, said rods including a cross-section configuration and end sections, each of said end sections including a downwardly opening hook section defining a notch in said cross-section configuration, each of said hook sections protecting beyond a respective end portion of the associated tray member;

said support and reinforcing rods each having an inner side facing the associated tray member;

an outer side facing away from the associated tray member; and

an upper side extending along the top surface of the support and reinforcing rod;

wherein each of the opposed side portions of said tray member includes an upper horizontal section and a downwardly extending flange portion, said horizontal section continuously overlying an upper side of an associated support and reinforcing rod along its length, and said flange portion extending along and adjacent an outer side of an associated support and reinforcing rod along its length;

said tray including an integral bottom portion extending below the top surfaces of the associated support and reinforcing rods.