Modular hand cart

Claim 2

A modular hand cart comprising: a main cargo support module including a front end, a rear end, and frame means extending longitudinally between said ends, said frame means having a plurality of mounting means at locations spaced longitudinally therealong from adjacent the front end toward the rear end; an undercarriage module having at least one wheel and mounting assembly located and dimensioned to cooperate with said frame means to mount said undercarriage module to said frame means at any desired one of said plurality of mounting means locations, wherein the mounting assembly comprises a plurality of rods positioned, supported and dimensioned to engage a like plurality of spaced apart openings in the longitudinal frame members and spring biased into a position in which they engage those openings when said undercarriage module is in a desired position relative to said support module wherein a manually operable lever is interconnected with said rods to move said rods against said spring bias to release said undercarriage from said support module; and a headboard module pivotally attached to said rear end for pivotal movement to and through a plurality of angular orientations relative to said support module; means for locking said headboard module in any one of said desired orientations; and adjusting means operable to release said locking means to permit a desired change in said orientation; handle means pivotally attached to said headboard module; and handle adjusting means for locking said handles in any desired one of a plurality of orientations relative to said headboard module.

Claim 3

A modular hand cart according to claim 1, wherein the support module comprises a flat cargo carrying platform supported on said frame means, said frame means having longitudinally extending spaced apart parallel frame members each defining a plurality of longitudinally spaced openings constituting said plurality of mounting means.

Claim 4

A modular hand cart according to claim 1, wherein said means for locking said headboard module in a desired orientation relative to said support module comprises at least one member supported on said headboard module and defining a plurality of openings in a semi-circular array centered on the axis of the pivotal attachment of the headboard module on the support module and a headboard support rod for engagement with any desired one of said semi-circular array of openings.

Claim 5

A modular hand cart according to claim 3, wherein said rod is supported on said support module and is movable by said adjusting means into and out of engagement with said desired opening in said semi-circular array of openings.

Claim 6

A modular hand cart according to claim 1, wherein said handle adjusting means comprises a pair of struts of adjustable length connecting said handles to said headboard module at a location remote from the pivotal attachment of the handles to said headboard module.

Claim 7

A modular hand cart according to claim 5, wherein said adjustable length struts are elongate members carrying a longitudinally spaced plurality of holes and said handles carry spring biased pins arranged to engage any one of these holes, thereby to provide said adjustment of length to the struts.

Claim 8

A modular hand cart according to claim 1, wherein means are attached to said front end for supporting an attachment, said means comprising spaced apart brackets defining openings for cooperation with an attachment support to positionally and angularly control the position of that support relative to the support module.

Claim 9

A modular hand cart according to claim 7, wherein the attachment is a stacked lumber support attachment comprising means for attachment to said attachment support and a pair of vertical spaced posts attached thereto.

Claim 10

A modular hand cart according to claim 7, wherein said attachment is a tail board adapted for attachment to said brackets by means of said attachement support, in combination with said headboard module front and rear supports, to facilitate the stacking of a load on the cargo support module.

Claim 11

A modular hand cart according to claim 7, wherein said attachment is a dolly attachment adapted to engage said brackets by way of said attachment support.

Claim 12

A modular hand cart according to claim 2 in combination with an open top container having longitudinally extending spaced apart slides adapted to engage the platform of the support module for restraint and support thereby, and releasable means for longitudinally restraining said open top container relative to said headboard.

Claim 13

The combination of claim 11 further comprising casters supported under said rear end of said support module for operation in combination with said undercarriage module to provide for transport of said hand cart on at least three wheels.

Claim 14

A modular hand cart according to claim 1, wherein said handle adjusting means comprises a pair of struts of fixed length connecting said handles to said headboard module at a location remote from the pivotal attachment of the handles to the headboard module, the position of the struts relative to one of the handles and the headboard module being adjustable to any one of a plurality of positions to provide said plurality of orientations.

Claim 15

A modular hand cart according to claim 13 wherein the plurality of positions are located along the handles.

Claim 16

A hand cart comprising: a main cargo support including a front end, a rear end, and frame means extending longitudinally between said ends with a flat cargo carrying platform supported on said frame means, said frame means having longitudinally extending spaced apart parallel frame members each defining a plurality of longitudinally spaced openings constituting a plurality of mounting locations; and an undercarriage assembly having at least one wheel and mounting means located and dimensioned to cooperate with said frame members to mount said undercarriage assembly to said frame means at any desired one of said plurality of mounting locations, wherein the mounting means comprises a plurality of rods positioned supported and dimensioned to engage a like plurality of said spaced apart openings in the longitudinal frame members and spring biased into a position in which they engage those openings when said undercarriage assembly is in a desired position relative to said support and a manually operable lever interconnected with said rods to move said rods against said spring bias to release said undercarriage from said support module; and a headboard module pivotally attached to said rear end for pivotal movement to and through a plurality of angular orientations relative to said cargo support; and means for locking said headboard module in any one of said desired orientations wherein said means comprises at least one member supported on said headboard module and defining a plurality of openings in a semi-circular array centered on the axis of the pivotal attachment of the headboard module on the support module and a headboard support rod for engagement with any desired one of said semi-circular array of openings; and adjusting mean operable to release said locking means to permit a desired change in said orientation wherein said rod is supported on said support module and is movable by said adjusting means into and out of engagement with said desired opening in said semi-circular array of openings; and handle means pivotally attached to said headboard module; and handle adjusting means for locking said handles in any desired one of a plurality of orientations relative to said headboard module wherein said handle adjusting means comprises a pair of struts of adjustable length connecting said handles to said headboard module at a location remote from the pivotal attachment of the handles to said headboard module wherein said struts are elongate members carrying a longitudinally spaced plurality of holes and said handles carry spring biased pins to engage any one of these holes thereby to provide said adjustment of length to the struts.

Claim 17

A hand cart comprising: a main cargo support including a front end, a rear end, and frame means extending longitudinally between said ends with a flat cargo carrying platform supported on said frame means, said frame means having longitudinally extending spaced apart parallel frame members each defining a plurality of longitudinally spaced openings constituting a plurality of mounting locations; and an undercarriage assembly having at least one wheel and mounting means located and dimensioned to cooperate with said frame members to mount said undercarriage assembly to said frame means at any desired one of said plurality of mounting locations, wherein the mounting means comprises a plurality of rods positioned supported and dimensioned to engage a like plurality of said spaced apart openings in the longitudinal frame members and spring biased into a position in which they engage those openings when said undercarriage assembly is in a desired position relative to said support and a manually operable lever interconnected with said rods to move said rods against said spring bias to release said undercarriage from said support module; and a headboard module pivotally attached to said rear end for pivotal movement to and through a plurality of angular orientations relative to said cargo support; and means for locking said headboard module in any one of said desired orientations wherein said means comprises at least one member supported on said headboard module and defining a plurality of openings in a semi-circular array centered on the axis of the pivotal attachment of the headboard module on the support module and a headboard support rod for engagement with any desired one of said semi-circular array of openings; and adjusting mean operable to release said locking means to permit a desired change in said orientation wherein said rod is supported on said support module and is movable by said adjusting means into and out of engagement with said desired opening in said semi-circular array of openings; and handle means pivotally attached to said headboard module; and handle adjusting means for locking said handles in any desired one of a plurality of orientations relative to said headboard module wherein said handle adjusting means comprises a pair of struts of adjustable length connecting said handles to said headboard module at a location remote from the pivotal attachment of the handles to said headboard module wherein said struts are elongate members carrying a longitudinally spaced plurality of holes and said handles carry spring biased pins to engage any one of these holes thereby to provide said adjustment of length to the struts.

Claim 18

A hand cart which is adjustable to accommodate a wide range of uses comprising: a main cargo support including a front end, a rear end with handle means attached therefor, and frame means extending longitudinally between said ends, said frame means having a plurality of mounting locations spaced longitudinally therealong from adjacent the front end; an undercarriage assembly having at least one wheel and mounting means located and dimensioned to cooperate with said frame means to mount said undercarriage module thereto at any desired one of said plurality of mounting locations to allow said cart to function (a) as a dolly with the main cargo support in a substantially vertical orientation when said undercarriage assembly is mounted adjacent the front end of said frame means and (b) as a substantially horizontal load bearing cart when said undercarriage assembly is mounted intermediate the front end and rear end in a position whereby the main cargo support supports loads substantially over said undercarriage assembly; and a headboard module pivotally attached to said rear end for pivotal movement to and through a plurality of angular orientations relative to said support module and means for locking said headboard module in any one of said desired orientations; wherein said handle means is pivotally attached to said headboard module and handle adjusting means are provided for locking said handles in any desired one of a plurality of orientations relative to said headboard module.

Claim 19

A hand cart which is adjustable to accommodate a wide range of uses comprising: a main cargo support including a front end, a rear end with handle means attached therefor, and frame means extending longitudinally between said ends, said frame means having a plurality of mounting locations spaced longitudinally therealong from adjacent the front end; an undercarriage assembly having at least one wheel and mounting means located and dimensioned to cooperate with said frame means to mount said undercarriage module thereto at any desired one of said plurality of mounting locations to allow said cart to function (a) as a dolly with the main cargo support in a substantially vertical orientation when said undercarriage assembly is mounted adjacent the front end of said frame means and (b) as a substantially horizontal load bearing cart when said undercarriage assembly is mounted intermediate the front end and rear end in a position whereby the main cargo support supports loads substantially over said undercarriage assembly; and a headboard module pivotally attached to said rear end for pivotal movement to and through a plurality of angular orientations relative to said support module and means for locking said headboard module in any one of said desired orientations; wherein said handle means is pivotally attached to said headboard module and handle adjusting means are provided for locking said handles in any desired one of a plurality of orientations relative to said headboard module.