Meal delivery cart

• US 6,672,601 B1
• Filed: 05/12/2000
• Issued: 01/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: COUNTY OF ALAMEDA, THE, A POLITICAL SUBDIVISION OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
• Original Assignee: County of Alameda A Political Subdivision of The State of California
• Inventors: Hofheins, Leonard L., Thornock, Del M., Shikany, Lou
• Primary Examiner(s): Johnson, Brian L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): FISCHMANN, BRYAN R
• Application Number:
  US09/569,993
• Time in Patent Office: 1,334 Days
• Field of Search: 280/47.34, 280/47.35, 280/79.11, 280/651, 280/79.3, 280/33.998, 280/47.36, 280/79.2, 623/71, 623/72, 312/299, 312/304, 248/346.03, D34/19, D34/20, D34/21, D34/22, D34/25, 492/08, 494/13, 492/09, 491/55, 491/52, 494/49, 220/592.2, 220/1.5, 70/2, 70/96, 70/97, 702/81, 702/82, 702/83, 702/84, 70D/IG.46
• US Class Current: 280/47.34
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 10/06 for restaurant service systems table equipment A47G ; dirty crockery transport in association with crockery washing machines A47L15/00
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 2202/90 Vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 2204/02 comprising a heating unit
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 2204/04 comprising a cooling unit
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 2204/06 comprising insulating materials
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 5/0063 guiding, e.g. by a rail

Abstract

An improved meal delivery system and a method for delivery of pre-cooked, chilled meals from a central distribution station to a plurality of remote locations in cooperation with an Automatic Guided Vehicle system, and in particular a one-piece, molded, insulated meal-delivery cart for transportation of chilled meals.

Claims

1. A meal delivery cart comprising:

a one-piece molded enclosure defining an interior storage space, said enclosure having one open side for access to said interior storage space, and

two overlapping doors slidably disposed in said open side, each said door a single molded unit identical to the other door, each said door moveable between an open position and a closed position, such that when both doors are in the closed position, they close off the interior storage space of said enclosure, and each said door including a following side, a leading side, and an inclined surface forming a continuous slope between said following side and said leading side, said following side of each of said doors having a thickness greater than said leading side, said following sides of said inclined surfaces in sliding abutment when said doors are each in said closed position, thereby forming a seal.

2. The meal delivery cart as recited in claim 1 wherein:

when said enclosure is closed, said enclosure and said doors are at least sufficiently insulated to maintain meals which have been pre-chilled to approximately 35°

F. and placed in said interior storage space, at a temperature of no more than 40°

F. for one hour in 100°

F. ambient conditions in direct sunlight.

3. A meal delivery cart comprising:

a one-piece molded enclosure defining an interior storage space, said enclosure having one open side for access to said interior storage space, and said interior storage space of said enclosure having a floor, said floor having a plurality of troughs disposed approximately perpendicular to and sloping downwardly towards said open side of said enclosure, and

two overlapping doors slidably disposed in said open side, each said door moveable between an open position and a closed position, such that when both doors are in the closed position, they close off the interior storage space of said enclosure.

4. The meal delivery cart as recited in claim 3 wherein:

said floor includes a plurality of spaced apart strips, said troughs interspersed there between, each said strip having a horizontal top surface, said top surfaces of said strips collectively forming a horizontal surface for placing articles in the enclosure.

5. The meal delivery cart of claim 3, wherein:

said open side comprises a dual raceway having a forward raceway and a back raceway, said dual raceway having a plurality of shoulders, each of said doors having a downward reaching tongue for sliding disposition in one of said raceways in a tongue-and-groove configuration, said shoulders having a plurality of transverse grooves for draining liquids from said troughs, said transverse grooves blocked and said interior storage space sealed off by said doors when in said closed position.

6. A meal delivery cart comprising:

a one-piece molded enclosure defining an interior storage space, said enclosure having one open side for access to said interior storage space, said enclosure further having an integral top portion having a uniform slope at least steep enough to prevent articles placed anywhere on said top portion from being retained thereon, and

two overlapping doors slidably disposed in said open side, each said door moveable between an open position and a closed position, such that when both doors are in the closed position, they close off the interior storage space of said enclosure.

7. The meal delivery cart as recited in claim 6 wherein:

said slope of said cover is approximately 30°

to horizontal.

8. The meal delivery cart of claim 6, wherein:

said cover is an integrated portion of said molded enclosure.

9. A meal delivery cart for use in cooperation with a carrier vehicle having a flat top having a raised position for lifting objects placed thereon, the meal delivery cart comprising:

a one-piece molded enclosure defining an interior storage space, said enclosure having one open side for access to said interior storage space, and two overlapping doors slidably disposed in said open side, each said door moveable between an open position and a closed position, such that when both doors are in the closed position, they close off the interior storage space of said enclosure, said enclosure further having a flat bottom surface for lying on the flat top of a carrier vehicle, and said enclosure having a base including a bottom surface and a plurality of recesses,

a wheeled chassis, said enclosure mounted on said wheeled chassis, said wheeled chassis having a forward side and a back side, said forward side and said back side each having two corners, each corner having a wheel depending therefrom, said wheels depending from said corners of said front side and said wheels depending from said corners of said back side spaced apart sufficiently to allow a carrier vehicle to pass freely between them for positioning itself underneath said enclosure, and

said wheeled chassis further including a plurality of cross-members, each said cross-member having a lower surface, said cross-members of said chassis mating with said recesses of said enclosure base, said lower surface of said cross-members and said bottom surface of said base positioned in a common plane.

10. The meal delivery cart of claim 9, wherein:

said bottom surface of said base and said lower surfaces of said plurality of cross-members forming a substantially continuous flat surface.

11. The meal delivery cart of claim 10, wherein:

when said doors are in said closed position, said wheeled chassis and said enclosure mounted thereon have collectively no hidden horizontal surfaces.

12. A meal delivery cart for use in cooperation with an automatic guided vehicle system, the automatic guided vehicle system comprising a plurality of carrier vehicles, each carrier vehicle having two opposing vertical sides, each side including at least one outwardly extending horizontal anti-tip arm, the meal delivery cart comprising:

a one-piece molded enclosure defining an interior storage space, said enclosure having one open side for access to said interior storage space,

two overlapping doors slidably disposed in said open side, each said door moveable between an open position and a closed position, such that when both doors are in the closed position, they close off the interior storage space of said enclosure, and

a wheeled chassis, said enclosure mounted on said wheeled chassis, said chassis having two spaced apart anti-tip brackets disposed in facing relation, each bracket having a vertical portion including a lower end, said vertical portion depending from said chassis, each said bracket further having an inwardly extending horizontal plate attached to said lower end of said vertical portion for disposition beneath an outwardly extending anti-tip arm of a carrier vehicle such that tipping of the cart presses one of said horizontal plates upwardly against an above-disposed anti-tip arm, thereby preventing the cart from overturning.

13. The meal delivery cart of claim 12, the carrier vehicles each having a flat top having a lowermost position, the lowermost position having an elevation at least as high as said horizontal plate of said anti-tip brackets, the flat top also having a raised position for lifting objects, the meal delivery cart further comprising:

said wheeled chassis having a forward side and a back side, said forward side and said back side each having two corners, a forward wheel depending from each corner at said forward side, and a back wheel depending from each corner at said back side, said wheels having bottom surfaces for resting on a supporting surface,

said enclosure further having a flat bottom surface, said wheeled chassis having no obstructions between said forward wheels and said back wheels and no obstructions between said bottom surfaces of said wheels and a horizontal plane at least as high as said horizontal plates of said anti-tip brackets, defining thereby an obstruction-free area for passage of one of the carrier vehicles between said back wheels to position itself below said enclosure between said forward wheels and said back wheels and providing a clearance between said forward wheels and said back wheels for elevating the flat top of a carrier vehicle so positioned into the raised position for engaging said flat bottom surface and lifting said enclosure.

14. The meal delivery cart as recited in claim 12, wherein:

said chassis includes means for towing said cart.

15. The meal delivery cart as recited in claim 14, wherein:

said means for towing comprises at least one threaded eyelet.

16. A meal delivery cart comprising:

a one-piece molded enclosure defining an interior storage space, said enclosure having one open side for access to said interior storage space, said interior storage space of said enclosure having a floor, said floor having a plurality of troughs disposed approximately perpendicular to and sloping downwardly towards said open side of said enclosure, said floor further including a plurality of spaced apart strips, said troughs interspersed there between, each said strip having a horizontal top surface, said top surfaces of said strips collectively forming a horizontal surface for placing articles in the enclosure,

two overlapping doors slidably disposed in said open side of said enclosure, each said door moveable between an open position and a closed position, such that when both doors are in the closed position, they close off said interior storage spaces,

when said enclosure is closed, said enclosure at least sufficiently insulated to maintain meals which have been pre-chilled to approximately 35°

F. and placed in said interior storage space, at no more than 40°

F. for one hour in 100°

F. ambient conditions in direct sunlight, and

a wheeled chassis, said enclosure mounted on said wheeled chassis.

17. The meal delivery cart as recited in claim 16, wherein:

said enclosure has two opposing side walls, and each said side wall includes a handle for maneuvering said cart.

18. A meal delivery cart for use in cooperation with an automatic guided vehicle system, the automatic guided vehicle system comprising a plurality of carrier vehicles, each carrier vehicle having two opposing vertical sides, each side including at least one outwardly extending horizontal anti-tip arm, each carrier vehicle further having a flat top having a raised position, said meal delivery cart comprising:

a one-piece molded enclosure defining an interior storage space, said enclosure having one open side for access to said interior storage space, said interior storage space of said enclosure having a floor, said floor having a plurality of troughs disposed approximately perpendicular to and sloping downwardly towards said open side of said enclosure, said floor further including a plurality of spaced apart strips, said troughs interspersed there between, each said strip having a horizontal top surface, said top surfaces of said strips collectively forming a horizontal surface for placing articles in the enclosure,

two overlapping doors slidably disposed in said open side, each said door being a single molded unit identical to the other door, each said door moveable between an open position and a closed position, such that when both doors are in the closed position, they close off the interior storage space of said enclosure, each said door including a following side and a leading side, said following side of each of said doors having a thickness greater than said leading side, said following sides of said door in sliding abutment when said doors are each in said closed position, thereby forming a seal,

when said enclosure is closed, said enclosure is at least sufficiently insulated to maintain meals which have been pre-chilled to approximately 35°

F. and placed in said interior storage space, at no more than 40°

F. for one hour in 100°

F. ambient conditions in direct sunlight,

said enclosure including a cover having a slope sufficiently steep to prevent articles placed on top of the cover from being there retained,

a wheeled chassis, said enclosure mounted on said wheeled chassis,

said enclosure having a flat bottom surface for lying on the flat top of a carrier vehicle when in the raised position,

each said chassis having a front side and a rear side, said chassis further having two anti-tip brackets depending respectively from said front side and from said back side of said chassis, said anti-tip brackets disposed in facing relation, each bracket having a vertical portion including a lower end, said vertical portion depending from said chassis, each said bracket further having an inwardly extending horizontal plate attached to said lower end of said vertical portion for disposition beneath an anti-tip arm of a side of a carrier vehicle when said enclosure is positioned above one of the carrier vehicles, such that tipping of the cart presses one of said horizontal plates upwardly against an above-disposed anti-tip arm, thereby preventing the cart from overturning.

19. The meal delivery cart as recited in claim 18, wherein:

said enclosure has two opposing side walls, and each said side wall includes a handle for maneuvering said cart, and

said chassis includes at least one threaded eyelet for towing said cart.

20. A meal delivery cart comprising:

a one-piece molded enclosure defining an interior storage space, said enclosure having one open side for access to said interior storage space, and

two overlapping doors slidably disposed in said open side, each said door moveable between an open position and a closed position, such that when both doors are in the closed position, they close off the interior storage space of said enclosure, and with said doors in said closed position each of said doors and said enclosure having substantially continuous, uninterrupted exterior surfaces, said exterior surfaces having substantially no horizontal surfaces.

21. A meal delivery cart comprising:

a one-piece molded enclosure defining an interior storage space, said enclosure having one open side for access to said interior storage space,

two overlapping doors slidably disposed in said open side, each said door moveable between an open position and a closed position, such that when both doors are in the closed position, they close off the interior storage space of said enclosure, and with said doors in said closed position, said enclosure and said doors collectively having an exterior surface, said exterior surface having no openings and no horizontal surfaces, and

at least one handle for maneuvering the cart, said handle having at least one bar and at least two spaced braces, each said brace projecting from said exterior surface and having an outwardly facing convex surface and a substantially vertical side face, said convex surface having a upper portion having an acute downward slope, said convex surface intersecting with said exterior surface of said enclosure at said upper portion, each said brace further having no horizontal surfaces, said bar extending between an opposing pair of said vertical side faces of said at least two spaced braces.

22. The meal delivery cart of claim 21, wherein:

said at least one handle comprises two handles on opposite sides of said enclosure.

23. The meal delivery cart of claim 21, wherein:

said at least two spaced braces comprises three spaced braces, and said at least one bar comprises two bars, each of said two bars extending between an opposing pair of said vertical side faces of two of said three spaced braces.

24. The meal delivery cart of claim 21, wherein:

each of said braces is a molded part of said enclosure.

25. A meal delivery cart comprising:

a one-piece molded enclosure defining an interior storage space, said enclosure having two opposing side walls, one open side for access to said interior storage space, and two overlapping doors slidably disposed in said open side, each said door moveable between an open position and a closed position, such that when both doors are in the closed position they close off the interior storage space of said enclosure, each said door having a laterally projecting hasp, each said side wall having a slot for sliding projection there through of said hasp, when each said door is in said closed position said hasp projecting through said slot, said hasps for accepting locks to lock said doors in said closed position.

26. The meal delivery cart of claim 25, wherein:

each said hasp is molded into one of said doors.

27. The meal delivery cart of claim 25, further comprising:

each said side wall having a catch having a hole, said hole at least sized to hold a lock for said hasp when said door is in said open position.