Material handling apparatus with shelf extension panel

Claim 2

In material handling apparatus including a rear wall, a pair of generally parallel side walls, and a shelf extending horizontally between said side walls, the improvement comprising: horizontal guideway means carried beneath respective ends of said shelf and extending parallel to the respective side walls; a pair of horizontal guide members supported from respective ones of said side walls at the front edges thereof and being disposed inwardly from and beneath the respective guideway means; a panel adapted to be horizontally stored beneath said shelf, said panel having a plurality of parallel ribs disposed parallel to said side walls, the two outermost ones of said ribs slidingly engaging respective ones of said guide members, said panel also having on its rearward edge a cross-member secured to the upper surfaces of said ribs, said cross-member having laterally projecting ends which engage respective ones of said guideway means; said panel being adapted to be moved to a partially forward position wherein said laterally projecting ends are retained within said guideway means while said two outermost ribs provide a cantilever support for said panel on said guide members, said panel thereby serving as a horizontal extension of said shelf, said guideway means extending forwardly at least to the forward edge of said shelf and having forward stops thereon, whereby said panel may also be moved to a fully forward position and then pivoted upward into a vertical position with said laterally projecting ends of said cross-member being still retained within said guideway means by said forward stops; and latch means cooperatively associated with said side walls and with the forward edge of said panel for latching said panel in its vertical position.

Claim 3

Material handling apparatus as in claim 1 which is a foldable cart including a rear wall supported on a pair of wheels; said side walls being pivotally attached to corresponding edges of said rear wall, and each of said side walls having a wheel supporting its outer edge.

Claim 4

Material handling apparatus as in claim 2 which includes a pair of vertically spaced shelves having their rearward sides pivotally secured to said rear wall, said panel being stored beneath the upper one of said shelves.

Claim 5

A shelf structure comprising: a normally horizontally disposed rectanguLar shelf having beneath its respective ends horizontal guideway means extending parallel to the shelf ends, and also having a pair of horizontal guide members disposed beneath said shelf at the forward edge thereof and disposed inwardly from and beneath the respective guideway means; a movable panel adapted to be supported from said guideway means and said guide members in a stored position beneath said shelf, said panel being of rectangular configuration with laterally projecting posts on its rearward edge; the ends of said panel being slidingly supported upon respective ones of said guide members, and said projecting posts on the rearward edge of said panel being slidingly engaged within corresponding ones of said guideway means; said guideway means extending forwardly at least to the forward edge of said shelf and having front stop means thereon adapted to retain said posts in a forward position of said panel; whereby said panel may be entirely stored beneath said shelf, or may be moved to a partially forward position to provide a shelf extension with said panel ends receiving cantilever support from said guide members, but the removal of said panel from said shelf is prevented by said front stop means.

Claim 6

A shelf structure comprising: a normally horizontally disposed rectanguLar shelf having beneath its respective ends horizontal guideway means extending parallel to the shelf ends, and also having a pair of horizontal guide members disposed beneath said shelf at the forward edge thereof and disposed inwardly from and beneath the respective guideway means; a movable panel adapted to be supported from said guideway means and said guide members in a stored position beneath said shelf, said panel being of rectangular configuration with laterally projecting posts on its rearward edge; the ends of said panel being slidingly supported upon respective ones of said guide members, and said projecting posts on the rearward edge of said panel being slidingly engaged within corresponding ones of said guideway means; said guideway means extending forwardly at least to the forward edge of said shelf and having front stop means thereon adapted to retain said posts in a forward position of said panel; whereby said panel may be entirely stored beneath said shelf, or may be moved to a partially forward position to provide a shelf extension with said panel ends receiving cantilever support from said guide members, but the removal of said panel from said shelf is prevented by said front stop means.

Claim 7

The shelf structure of claim 4 wherein said posts are pivotal in said front stop means so that said panel may be rotated to a vertical position enclosing the space above said shelf.

Claim 8

The shelf structure of claim 4 wherein said panel and guideway means have interengaging stop means which prevent said panel from being moved out to an extended position unless the front edge thereof is first raised upward to disengage said stop means.

Claim 9

A foldable material handling cart comprising: a rear wall supported on a pair of wheels; a pair of side walls pivotally attached to corresponding edges of said rear wall, each of said side walls having a wheel supporting its outer edge, said side walls being pivotable between one position in which they are parallel to each other and perpendicular to said rear wall, and another position in which they are folded back towards the rear wall; a pair of vertically spaced shelves having their rearward sides pivotally secured to said rear wall, said shelves being adapted to be supported by said side walls in said first position of said side walls and being pivotable upward against said rear wall prior to the folding of said side walls towards said rear wall; and a movable panel associated with one of said shelves, said movable panel being slidably supported on means carried beneath said shelf said means comprising horizontal guideway means carried beneath respective ends of said shelf and extending parallel to the respective side walls, a pair of horizontal guide members supported from respective ones of said side walls at the front edges thereof and being disposed inwardly from and beneath the respective guideway means, the ends of said panel being slidingly supported on said guide members and the rearward edge of said panel having laterally projecting posts slidably supported within said guideway means, said movable panel being normally stored beneath said shelf, and being movable to a partially forward position in which said panel provides a shelf extension, said panel when moved to its fully forward position being also upwardly pivotable relative to the associated shelf and having means associated with the ends of said panel for securing same to respective ones of said side walls to thereby enclose the space above said shelf.

Claim 10

A foldable material handling cart comprising: a rear wall supported on a pair of wheels; a pair of side walls pivotally attached to corresponding edges of said rear wall, each of said side walls having a wheel supporting its outer edge, said side walls being pivotable between one position in which they are parallel to each other and perpendicular to said rear wall, and another position in which they are folded back towards the rear wall; a pair of vertically spaced shelves having their rearward sides pivotally secured to said rear wall, said shelves being adapted to be supported by said side walls in said first position of said side walls and being pivotable upward against said rear wall prior to the folding of said side walls towards said rear wall; and a movable panel associated with one of said shelves, said movable panel being slidably supported on means carried beneath said shelf said means comprising horizontal guideway means carried beneath respective ends of said shelf and extending parallel to the respective side walls, a pair of horizontal guide members supported from respective ones of said side walls at the front edges thereof and being disposed inwardly from and beneath the respective guideway means, the ends of said panel being slidingly supported on said guide members and the rearward edge of said panel having laterally projecting posts slidably supported within said guideway means, said movable panel being normally stored beneath said shelf, and being movable to a partially forward position in which said panel provides a shelf extension, said panel when moved to its fully forward position being also upwardly pivotable relative to the associated shelf and having means associated with the ends of said panel for securing same to respective ones of said side walls to thereby enclose the space above said shelf.