Patent US4253677A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4253677A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Folding utility cart
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1979-08-10
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Granted: 1981-03-03
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Expires: 1999-08-10
Abstract
Abstract A folding utility cart including a rectangular floor panel, a pair of side walls hinged along respective side edges of the floor panel for pivotal movement between vertical erected positions and horizontal, generally prone positions atop the floor panel, and a pair of opposed side wheels journaled relative to the respective side walls. Front and rear end wall panels are slidably received between respective ends of the side walls in their erected positions, and said front and rear end panels each include a pair of oppositely laterally extended top edge projections including downwardly extended fixed pins to engage through holes in top rail portions of the side walls to securely lock the side, front and rear walls in fully erected positions. At their rear ends, the side wall top rails include sleeve sockets to slidably receive the respective ends of a generally U-shaped handle, and the rear pin holes extend through the sleeves and handle ends in a manner whereby the rear wall pins serve to lock the handle in place when the rear wall is properly engaged between the side wall rear ends in their erected positions. Downwardly projecting lugs from the bottom edges of the front and rear walls respectively engage front and rear edge portions of the floor panel.
Inventors
- 👤 Carl R. Wissler
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 12:56
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62B; B62B1/00; B62B1/18; B62B1/20; B62B1/208; B62B2205/00; B62B2205/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
263 words
A folding utility cart comprising an open top load carrying box including a generally rectangular floor panel, a pair of generally rectangular side wall panels hingedly connected along respective longitudinal side edge portions of said floor panel for respective opposite inward pivotal movement from vertical box forming positions to substantially flat positions atop said floor panel; (a) a pair of wheels, each of which is rotatably journaled relative to one of said side wall panels in a manner whereby said pair are substantially in axial alignment for rolling engagement on a support surface with said side wall panels in said vertical positions, and are individually companionately positioned with said related side wall panels by said pivotal movements thereof; (b) generally rectangular removable front and rear end wall panels; (c) means to position said front and rear end wall panels in respective spanning relation between opposed front and rear vertical edges of said pair of side wall panels in their vertical positions; (d) a generally U-shaped handle extending outwardly from one end of said cart for manual manipulation thereof; (e) socket means fixed relative to said side wall panels to slidably receive respective end portions of said U-shaped handle with said side wall panels in said vertical positions; (f) means, carried by said front and rear end wall panels, to lock said side, front and rear wall panels in vertical positions when said front and rear wall panels are inserted in said means to position, and to lock said U-shaped handle end portions in said socket means when said end portions are positioned therein.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
263 words
A folding utility cart comprising an open top load carrying box including a generally rectangular floor panel, a pair of generally rectangular side wall panels hingedly connected along respective longitudinal side edge portions of said floor panel for respective opposite inward pivotal movement from vertical box forming positions to substantially flat positions atop said floor panel; (a) a pair of wheels, each of which is rotatably journaled relative to one of said side wall panels in a manner whereby said pair are substantially in axial alignment for rolling engagement on a support surface with said side wall panels in said vertical positions, and are individually companionately positioned with said related side wall panels by said pivotal movements thereof; (b) generally rectangular removable front and rear end wall panels; (c) means to position said front and rear end wall panels in respective spanning relation between opposed front and rear vertical edges of said pair of side wall panels in their vertical positions; (d) a generally U-shaped handle extending outwardly from one end of said cart for manual manipulation thereof; (e) socket means fixed relative to said side wall panels to slidably receive respective end portions of said U-shaped handle with said side wall panels in said vertical positions; (f) means, carried by said front and rear end wall panels, to lock said side, front and rear wall panels in vertical positions when said front and rear wall panels are inserted in said means to position, and to lock said U-shaped handle end portions in said socket means when said end portions are positioned therein.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
73 words
The cart as defined in claim 1 wherein said means to position includes corresponding pairs of angle members fixed along front and rear edges of said side wall panels, each of said pairs of angle members including oppositely inwardly extending flanges to respectively engage over opposed outer vertical side edge portions of said front and rear end panels to preclude outward movement thereof when said side wall panels are in said vertical positions.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
56 words
The cart as defined in claim 2 wherein said means to position further includes lug means extending downwardly from bottom edge portions of said front and rear end wall panels, intermediate the widths thereof, to engage respectively over front and rear edge portions of said floor panel to preclude inward movement of said bottom edge portions.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
83 words
The cart as defined in claim 1 wherein said means to lock comprises a pair of downwardly extending lock pins, fixed relative to oppositely, laterally outwardly extending side extensions from top edges of each of said front and rear end wall panels, said pairs of lock pins being positioned for through engagement in respective front and rear end pairs of holes formed in respective top edge reinforcing rails of said side wall panels, when said side wall panels are in said vertical positions.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
92 words
The cart as defined in claim 4 wherein said socket means comprises a pair of sleeve sockets fixed relative to top rear end portions of said side wall panels, said sleeve sockets including through holes in adjacent vertical alignment with said reinforcing rails rear end pair of holes, said end handle portions including through holes, alignable with said socket holes, and said lock pins being of such lengths so as to penetrate through said holes in said reinforcing rails and sleeve sockets, and said handle end portions when inserted in said sockets.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
70 words
The cart as defined in claim 5 including a second pair of sleeve sockets fixed relative to top front end portions of said side wall panels, said second sleeve sockets including through holes in adjacent vertical alignment with said reinforcing rails front end pair of holes whereby said end handle portions may be selectively locked in said rear or front end sockets by said front or rear wall lock pins.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
The cart as defined in claim 1 including a telescopic trailer hitch means fixed to an underside of said floor panel in a generally central longitudinal disposition adjacent one end of said cart.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
72 words
The cart as defined in claim 7 wherein said trailer hitch means includes a first tubular member fixed to said floor panel and a pair of telescopic members engaged therein for movement between fully retracted and extended positions and including lock means to selectively maintain said telescopic members in said fully retracted or extended positions as well and an intermediate extended position, and including hitch means fixed to an outer end thereof.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1984-03-02 | 1984-09-01 | 1985-03-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-03-02 | 1988-09-01 | 1989-03-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-03-02 | 1992-09-01 | 1993-03-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |