IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0035481
(2011-02-25)
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등록번호 |
US-8567798
(2013-10-29)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
- Rossini, Alfred P.
- Halio, Leonard
- Silverman, Jeffrey M.
- Maloney, David
- Leiter, David
- Bagley, Thomas
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출원인 / 주소 |
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대리인 / 주소 |
Mirick, O'Connell, DeMallie & Lougee, LLP
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인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
3 인용 특허 :
30 |
초록
▼
A multi-wheeled base for a mobile cart includes one or more swiveling, optionally locking, caster wheels and one or more non-swiveling traction wheels to improve the maneuverability of the cart by making it easier to steer and stop. The traction wheels may be manually-engaged traction wheels, which
A multi-wheeled base for a mobile cart includes one or more swiveling, optionally locking, caster wheels and one or more non-swiveling traction wheels to improve the maneuverability of the cart by making it easier to steer and stop. The traction wheels may be manually-engaged traction wheels, which may be operated by a cam and lever. The traction wheels may also be automatically-engaged traction wheels operated by a motor and a threaded shaft, and activated by a motion-sensitive sensor or by an on/off electrical switch or button. The traction wheels are preferably in contact with the floor when the mobile cart is moving, and raised above the surface of the floor when the cart is stationary.
대표청구항
▼
1. A base for a mobile cart, comprising: a frame;a plurality of wheel members mounted to the frame, each wheel member comprising a wheel, where at least two of the wheel members swivel relative to the frame, and at least one of the wheel members is fixed such that it does not swivel relative to the
1. A base for a mobile cart, comprising: a frame;a plurality of wheel members mounted to the frame, each wheel member comprising a wheel, where at least two of the wheel members swivel relative to the frame, and at least one of the wheel members is fixed such that it does not swivel relative to the frame;a traction wheel housing assembly coupled to the frame, the traction wheel housing assembly comprising: a non-swiveling wheel assembly comprising the non-swiveling wheel, a first wheel bracket, and a second wheel bracket, the non-swiveling wheel member rotatably coupled between the first wheel bracket and the second wheel bracket at an axis of rotation, each of the first wheel bracket and the second wheel bracket defining a corresponding first engagement slot and a second engagement slot; anda traction wheel housing, comprising: a first assembly plate and a second assembly plate, the non-swiveling wheel assembly pivotably coupled between the first assembly plate and the second assembly plate at a first end of the traction wheel housing, anda bushing coupled between the first assembly plate and the second assembly plate at a second end of the traction wheel housing, the second end opposing the first end, the bushing at least partially disposed within the first engagement slot and the second engagement slot defined by the corresponding first wheel bracket and second wheel bracket, the first engagement slot and the second engagement slot configured to guide the bushing and limit the motion of the non-swiveling wheel assembly as the non-swiveling wheel assembly pivots between a first position and a second position relative to the traction wheel housing;where the traction wheel housing comprises a wheel-positioning assembly coupled to the non-swiveling wheel assembly; andwhere the wheel-positioning assembly is adapted to move the non-swiveling wheel assembly between the first position and the second position relative to the traction wheel housing and relative to the frame. 2. The base of claim 1, where the wheel-positioning assembly comprises a lever; such that the lever is adapted to raise the non-swiveling wheel assembly when the lever is in a first position, to move the non-swiveling wheel assembly up relative to the frame, and the lever is further adapted to lower the non-swiveling wheel assembly when the lever is in a second position, to move the non-swiveling wheel assembly down relative to the frame. 3. The base of claim 2, where the wheel-positioning assembly further comprises a cam; such that the cam is adapted to engage the non-swiveling wheel assembly when the lever is in the first position, and the cam is further adapted to disengage the non-swiveling wheel assembly when the lever is in the second position. 4. The base of claim 1, where the frame has a generally rectangular shape, and the non-swiveling wheel member is mounted to the approximate center of the frame. 5. The base of claim 1, where the frame has a generally rectangular shape, and the non-swiveling wheel member is mounted to one side of the frame. 6. A base for a mobile cart, comprising: a generally rectangular frame;a plurality of wheel members mounted to the frame, each wheel member comprising a wheel, where at least two of the wheel members swivel relative to the frame, and at least one of the wheel members is fixed such that it does not swivel relative to the frame;a traction wheel housing assembly coupled to the generally rectangular frame, the traction wheel housing assembly comprising: a non-swiveling wheel assembly comprising the non-swiveling wheel, a first wheel bracket, and a second wheel bracket, the non-swiveling wheel member rotatably coupled between the first wheel bracket and the second wheel bracket at an axis of rotation, each of the first wheel bracket and the second wheel bracket defining a corresponding first engagement slot and a second engagement slot; anda traction wheel housing, comprising: a first assembly plate and a second assembly plate, the non-swiveling wheel assembly pivotably coupled between the first assembly plate and the second assembly plate at a first end of the traction wheel housing, anda bushing coupled between the first assembly plate and the second assembly plate at a second end of the traction wheel housing, the second end opposing the first end, the bushing at least partially disposed within the first engagement slot and the second engagement slot defined by the corresponding first wheel bracket and second wheel bracket, the first engagement slot and the second engagement slot configured to guide the bushing and limit the motion of the non-swiveling wheel assembly as the non-swiveling wheel assembly pivots between a first position and a second position relative to the traction wheel housing;where the traction wheel housing comprises a lever, such the lever being adapted to raise the non-swiveling wheel assembly when the lever is in a first position, to move the non-swiveling wheel assembly up relative to the frame, and the lever being further adapted to lower the non-swiveling wheel assembly when the lever is in a second position, to move the non-swiveling wheel assembly down relative to the frame. 7. The base of claim 6, where the traction wheel housing further comprises a cam, such that the cam is adapted to engage the non-swiveling wheel assembly when the lever is in the first position, and the cam is further adapted to disengage the non-swiveling wheel assembly when the lever is in the second position. 8. The base of claim 7, where the frame comprises a front frame member, a rear frame member, two opposing side members and a center frame member coupled to the front frame member and to the rear frame member; where one swiveling wheel member is mounted to the frame proximate each of the four corners of the frame; andwhere the non-swiveling wheel member is mounted to the center frame member proximate the center of the frame. 9. The base of claim 6, where the frame comprises a front frame member, a rear frame member, two opposing side members and a center frame member coupled to the front frame member and to the rear frame member;where one swiveling wheel member is mounted to the frame proximate each of the four corners of the frame; andthe non-swiveling wheel member is mounted to one of the opposing side members. 10. A base for a mobile cart, comprising: a frame;a set of swiveling wheel assemblies coupled to the frame, each swiveling wheel assembly of the set of swiveling wheel assemblies configured to swivel about a vertical axis associated with the frame;a traction wheel housing assembly coupled to the frame, the traction wheel housing assembly comprising: a non-swiveling wheel assembly comprising the non-swiveling wheel, a first wheel bracket, and a second wheel bracket, the non-swiveling wheel member rotatably coupled between the first wheel bracket and the second wheel bracket at an axis of rotation, each of the first wheel bracket and the second wheel bracket defining a corresponding first engagement slot and a second engagement slot, the non-swiveling wheel assembly disposed proximate to a center of a side member of the frame; anda traction wheel housing, comprising: a first assembly plate and a second assembly plate, the non-swiveling wheel assembly pivotably coupled between the first assembly plate and the second assembly plate at a first end of the traction wheel housing, anda bushing coupled between the first assembly plate and the second assembly plate at a second end of the traction wheel housing, the second end opposing the first end, the bushing at least partially disposed within the first engagement slot and the second engagement slot defined by the corresponding first wheel bracket and second wheel bracket, the first engagement slot and the second engagement slot configured to guide the bushing and limit the motion of the non-swiveling wheel assembly as the non-swiveling wheel assembly pivots between a first position and a second position relative to the traction wheel housing. 11. The base of claim 10, wherein the non-swiveling wheel assembly is further disposed proximate to a center of a front member of the frame and a back member of the frame. 12. The base of claim 10, further comprising a spring assembly disposed between the non-swiveling wheel assembly and the frame, the spring assembly configured to exert a pressure between the non-swiveling wheel assembly and the frame to maintain a wheel of the non-swiveling wheel assembly substantially in contact with a support surface. 13. The base of claim 10, wherein the non-swiveling wheel assembly comprises a wheel-positioning assembly coupled to the non-swiveling wheel assembly, the wheel-positioning assembly configured to move the non-swiveling wheel assembly between a first position and a second position relative to the frame. 14. The base of claim 3, wherein the cam is disposed between the non-swiveling wheel assembly and a cover plate of the traction wheel housing, the cover plate configured to rotationally support the lever.
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