초록 ▼

A cart for transporting a load has a frame having an upper end and a lower end, at least two laterally spaced apart support surfaces secured adjacent the upper end of the frame, and a pair of transversely opposed wheels adjacent the lower end of the frame to rollably support the frame above a surfac

A cart for transporting a load has a frame having an upper end and a lower end, at least two laterally spaced apart support surfaces secured adjacent the upper end of the frame, and a pair of transversely opposed wheels adjacent the lower end of the frame to rollably support the frame above a surface. Each wheel is positionable in either one of two laterally offset positions relative to the support surface. In the first offset position, each wheel is positioned laterally inboard of the support surface, and in the second offset position, the wheel is positioned laterally outboard of the support surface.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A cart for transporting a load, the cart comprising:a) a frame having a left and a right strut assembly, each strut assembly including:i) a respective support surface secured to a respective one of the strut assemblies adjacent an upper end thereof and adapted to bear against a load carried by th

1. A cart for transporting a load, the cart comprising:a) a frame having a left and a right strut assembly, each strut assembly including:i) a respective support surface secured to a respective one of the strut assemblies adjacent an upper end thereof and adapted to bear against a load carried by the cart; andii) a respective axle secured to a respective one of the strut assemblies adjacent a lower end thereof; andb) a wheel mounted on each respective axle, each wheel being laterally offset from the respective support surface;each strut assembly adapted to be separately attachable to the frame in either one of an outboard and an inboard offset position;the outboard offset position providing the wheel laterally outboard of the respective support surface; andthe inboard offset position providing the wheel laterally inboard of the respective support surface.2. The cart according to claim 1 wherein each axle is relatively short, having a fixed end secured to the strut assembly and a free end spaced apart from the fixed end by a distance approximately equal to the lateral extent of the wheel received on each axle.3. The cart according to claim 2 wherein, in the wide track configuration outboard offset position, the free ends of the axles are directed outwardly away from each other, and in the narrow track configuration inboard offset position, the free ends of the axles are directed inwardly towards each other.4. The cart according to claim 1, wherein the frame further comprises at least one cross bar attached to and extending between the left and right strut assemblies.5. The cart according to claim 4, wherein the at least one cross bar is adapted to provide adjustable spacing between the left and right strut assemblies.6. The cart according to claim 5, wherein the at least one cross bar has a plurality of laterally spaced apart holes for selectively receiving a fastener to secure one of the strut assemblies to the at least one cross bar.7. The cart according to claim 4, wherein each strut assembly further comprises a pair of diagonal braces including a forward diagonal brace and a rearward diagonal brace, the forward and rearward diagonal braces each extending between the upper support surface and the axle, and the diagonal braces converging towards each other, being broadly spaced proximate the support surface and narrowly spaced proximate the axle.8. The cart according to claim 7, wherein the at least one cross bar is attached to and extends between a diagonal brace of the left strut assembly and a diagonal brace of the right strut assembly.9. The cart according to claim 7, further comprising a forward cross bar and a rearward cross bar.10. The cart according to claim 9, wherein the forward cross bar is attached to and extends between the forward diagonal braces of the left and right strut assemblies, and the rearward cross bar is attached to and extends between the rearward diagonal braces of the left and right strut assemblies.11. The cart according to claim 10 wherein the point of attachment of the cross bars along the diagonal braces is spaced away sufficiently from the respective axles to provide clearance to accommodate each wheel in both the inboard and outboard offset positions of the strut assemblies.12. A kit of parts for in-the-field assembly of a cart for transporting a load, the kit of parts comprising:a) a left and a right strut assembly, each strut assembly including a respective upper support surface against which a load to be supported by the cart can bear, and a respective axle secured to a respective one of the strut assemblies adjacent a lower end therefore for receiving a wheel;b) at least one cross bar adapted to be secured to and to extend between the strut assemblies;c) two wheels, one wheel for each of the axles, each wheel being laterally offset from the respective support surface when mounted on the axle of a respective strut assembly; andd) frame assembly hardware for securing the strut assemblies to the at least one cross bar, each strut assembly adapted to be separately attachable to the at least one cross bar in either one of an outboard and an inboard offset position;the outboard offset position providing the respective wheel laterally outboard of the respective support surface; andthe inboard offset position providing the respective wheel laterally inboard of the respective support surface.13. The kit of parts according to claim 12 wherein the frame assembly hardware comprises wing nuts to facilitate hand-assembly of the cart.14. The kit of parts according to claim 12 further comprising wheel assembly hardware for securing the wheels to the axles.15. The kit of parts according to claim 12 further comprising a tote bag for containing the kit of parts.16. The kit of parts according to claim 12 wherein the at least one cross bar is adapted to provide adjustable spacing between the left and right strut assemblies.17. The kit of parts according to claim 16, wherein the at least one cross bar has a plurality of laterally spaced apart holes for selectively receiving a fastener to secure one of the strut assemblies to the at least one cross bar.18. The kit of parts according to claim 12, wherein each strut assembly further comprises a pair of diagonal braces including a forward diagonal brace and a rearward diagonal brace, the forward and rearward diagonal braces each extending between the upper support surface and the axle of a respective one of the strut assemblies, and the diagonal braces converging towards each other, being broadly spaced proximate the upper support surface and narrowly spaced proximate the axle.19. The kit of parts according to claim 18, wherein the at least one cross bar is attached to and extends between a diagonal brace of the left strut assembly and a diagonal brace of the right strut assembly.20. The kit of parts according to claim 18, comprising a forward cross bar and a rearward cross bar.21. The kit of parts according to claim 20, wherein the forward cross bar is attached to and extends between the forward diagonal braces of the left and right strut assemblies, and the rearward cross bar is attached to and extends between the rearward diagonal braces of the left and right strut assemblies.22. The kit of parts according to claim 21 wherein the front-to-back spacing between the forward and rearward cross bars provides clearance to accommodate each wheel in both the inboard and outboard offset positions of the strut assemblies.