Transport rack

Claim 2

A nestable transport rack, comprising: frame means comprising nestable, wheel supported base frame means having a front end and a rear end, a pair of horizontally spaced, upstanding and parallel side frame members rigidly secured to said base frame means adjacent said rear end and extending upwardly therefrom to define an L-shaped frame; first and second vertically spaced shelf members, first and second support means secured fixedly with respect to said side frame members for pivotally supporting said first and second shelf members for movement between horizontally aligned and vertically aligned positions; side wall means pivotally secured to said side frame members and being pivotable between a first position wherein said side wall means are disposed adjacent opposite lateral sides of said shelf members and extend frontwardly of said side frame members wherein said shelf members are in said horizontally aligned position and a second position parallel to said shelf members when said shelf members are in said vertically aligned position, at least a portion of said nestable, wheel supported base frame means extending frontwardly from said upstanding side frame members, said shelf members and said side wall means when said shelf members are in said vertically aligned position and said side wall means is in said second position for nesting with another of said transport racks, said first support means for said first shelf member being located forwardly of said second support means and the pivot axes of said side wall means so that said first shelf member is spaced forwardly of both the said second position of said side wall means and of the said vertically aligned position of said second shelf member.

Claim 3

A nestable transport rack according to claim 1, wherein said second shelf member is spaced above said first shelf member.

Claim 4

A nestable transport rack according to claim 2, including first and second holding means for releaseably holding said first and second shelf members in said vertically aligned position.

Claim 5

A nestable transport rack according to claim 1, including holding means for releasably holding said side wall means in said second position.

Claim 6

A nestable transport rack according to claim 3, wherein said first holding means comprises first clip means mounted on said side frame members and adapted to releasably engage said second shelf member for releasably holding said second shelf member to said upstanding side frame members.

Claim 7

A nestable transport rack according to claim 5, wherein said second holding means comprises second clip means secured to said first shelf member and pivotal therewith into and out of holding engagement with at least one upstanding side frame member.

Claim 8

A nestable transport rack according to claim 1, including force receiving means extending laterally across the rear end of said base frame means and positioned at an elevation above the axes of said wheels substantially equal to the corresponding positioning of the forwardlymost projecting portion of said first shelf member whereby said first shelf member can abut said force receiving means so that a plurality of said transport racks can be moved by pushing on the rearwardmost one of said plurality.

Claim 9

A nestable transport rack according to claim 7, wherein said force receiving member is a plate mounted laterally between said side frame members.

Claim 10

A nestable transport rack according to claim 1, including also generally horizontally aligned plates arranged on the lower side of said base frame means and having a longitudinal dimension equal to the amount by which one of said racks projects from the other when same are fully nested, whereby said plates provide a positive stop to limit the amount of such nesting.

Claim 11

A nestable transport rack according to claim 9, wherein said plates are the plates on which said wheels are mounted.

Claim 12

A nestable transport rack, comprising: frame means comprising nestable, wheel supported base frame means having a front end and a rear end, a pair of horizontally spaced, upstanding and parallel side frame members rigidly secured to said base frame means adjacent said rear end and extending upwardly therefrom to define a rigid L-shaped frame; first shelf means pivotally secured with respect to said base frame means and pivotable between (1) a generally horizontally aligned first position extending at least partially over and above said wheel supported base means and (2) a vertical second position aligned with said upstanding side frame members, said first shelf means in said first position being supported on and by said base means; second shelf means pivotally secured to said side frame members and spaced vertically upwardly from said first shelf means, said second shelf means being pivotable between a generally horizontally aligned first position parallel to said first shelf means in said first position and a vertically aligned second position parallel to said first shelf means when in its said second position; first and second side wall means pivotally secured with respect to said frame means, said first and second side wall means being pivotable between (1) a first position wherein said side wall means are disposed adjacent opposite lateral sides of said first and second shelf means when said first and second shelf means are in said first positions and (2) a second position parallel to said first and second shelf means when said shelf means are in said second positions, means so limiting the pivotal movement of said side wall means away from said second position that same in said first position are directly above the upper surface of said first shelf means; at least a portion of said nestable wheel supported base frame means extending frontwardly from said upstanding side frame members, said shelf means and said side wall means when said shelf means and said side wall means are all in said second positions for nesting with another of said transport racks.

Claim 13

A nestable transport rack, comprising: frame means comprising nestable, wheel supported base frame means having a front end and a rear end, a pair of horizontally spaced, upstanding and parallel side frame members rigidly secured to said base frame means adjacent said rear end and extending upwardly therefrom to define a rigid L-shaped frame; first shelf means pivotally secured with respect to said base frame means and pivotable between (1) a generally horizontally aligned first position extending at least partially over and above said wheel supported base means and (2) a vertical second position aligned with said upstanding side frame members, said first shelf means in said first position being supported on and by said base means; second shelf means pivotally secured to said side frame members and spaced vertically upwardly from said first shelf means, said second shelf means being pivotable between a generally horizontally aligned first position parallel to said first shelf means in said first position and a vertically aligned second position parallel to said first shelf means when in its said second position; first and second side wall means pivotally secured with respect to said frame means, said first and second side wall means being pivotable between (1) a first position wherein said side wall means are disposed adjacent opposite lateral sides of said first and second shelf means when said first and second shelf means are in said first positions and (2) a second position parallel to said first and second shelf means when said shelf means are in said second positions, means so limiting the pivotal movement of said side wall means away from said second position that same in said first position are directly above the upper surface of said first shelf means; at least a portion of said nestable wheel supported base frame means extending frontwardly from said upstanding side frame members, said shelf means and said side wall means when said shelf means and said side wall means are all in said second positions for nesting with another of said transport racks.

Claim 14

A nestable transport rack, comprising: frame means comprising nestable, wheel supported base frame means haviNg a front end and a rear end, a pair of horizontally spaced, upstanding and parallel side frame members rigidly secured to said base frame means adjacent said rear end and extending upwardly therefrom to define a rigid L-shaped frame; first shelf means pivotally secured with respect to said base frame means and pivotable between (1) a load supporting first position extending generally parallel with said wheel supported base means and (2) a second position pivotally withdrawn therefrom to permit nesting, said first shelf means in at least said first position being supported on and by said base means; second shelf means pivotally secured to said frame members and spaced vertically upwardly from said first shelf means, said second shelf means being pivotable between a generally horizontally aligned first position parallel to said first shelf means in said first position and a vertically aligned second position; first and second side wall means pivotally secured with respect to said frame means, said first and second side wall means being pivotable between (1) a first position wherein said side wall means are disposed adjacent opposite lateral sides of said first and second shelf means when said first and second shelf means are in said first positions and (2) a second position parallel to at least said second shelf means when said second shelf means is in said second position; means so limiting the pivotal movement of said side wall means away from said second position that same in said first position are directly above the upper surface of said first shelf means when the latter are in said first position; at least a portion of said nestable wheel supported base frame means extending frontwardly from said upstanding side frame members and said side wall means when said side wall means are in said second positions for nesting with another of said transport racks.

Claim 15

A nestable transport rack, comprising: frame means comprising nestable, wheel supported base frame means haviNg a front end and a rear end, a pair of horizontally spaced, upstanding and parallel side frame members rigidly secured to said base frame means adjacent said rear end and extending upwardly therefrom to define a rigid L-shaped frame; first shelf means pivotally secured with respect to said base frame means and pivotable between (1) a load supporting first position extending generally parallel with said wheel supported base means and (2) a second position pivotally withdrawn therefrom to permit nesting, said first shelf means in at least said first position being supported on and by said base means; second shelf means pivotally secured to said frame members and spaced vertically upwardly from said first shelf means, said second shelf means being pivotable between a generally horizontally aligned first position parallel to said first shelf means in said first position and a vertically aligned second position; first and second side wall means pivotally secured with respect to said frame means, said first and second side wall means being pivotable between (1) a first position wherein said side wall means are disposed adjacent opposite lateral sides of said first and second shelf means when said first and second shelf means are in said first positions and (2) a second position parallel to at least said second shelf means when said second shelf means is in said second position; means so limiting the pivotal movement of said side wall means away from said second position that same in said first position are directly above the upper surface of said first shelf means when the latter are in said first position; at least a portion of said nestable wheel supported base frame means extending frontwardly from said upstanding side frame members and said side wall means when said side wall means are in said second positions for nesting with another of said transport racks.