Land vehicles – Wheeled – Stable vehicles – handle-propelled
Reexamination Certificate
2001-08-21
2002-05-14
Mar, Michael (Department: 3619)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Stable vehicles, handle-propelled
C280S079110, C414S373000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06386560
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to dollies, carts, hand trucks, etc., and more particularly to a dolly configured for movement and carriage of large and heavy appliances (refrigerators, etc.). The present dolly is particularly well adapted for use in moving large refrigerated soft drink vending machines, accommodating their width and height to allow such large machines to pass through a standard doorway while riding on the dolly.
2. Description of the Related Art
Relatively large appliances, such as refrigerators, refrigerated soft drink vending machines, cigarette machines, etc., are quite cumbersome to move from place to place. This is particularly true of machines which include refrigeration systems, as the weight of the compressor motor and other refrigeration components adds considerably to the weight of the machine. Such machines may weigh a half ton, or perhaps even somewhat more.
This is particularly true of soft drink vending machines, which include additional mechanisms (and corresponding weight and bulk) for the vending and money acceptance systems. Additional weight and bulk is required for the protective features of the machine, to prevent theft of money or contents from the machine. These additional mechanisms are generally installed in the door of the machine, thus resulting in a relatively thick door. The door thickness, along with the depth of the remainder of the machine, often results in a machine which is too wide or deep to fit through a standard doorway without swinging the door open, and/or careful maneuvering of the machine. Moreover, the height of such machines is generally quite close to the height of a standard doorway opening, in order to provide as much internal volume as possible. Placing the machine on its side may provide a solution for fitting the machine through a doorway per se, but oftentimes the height or length of the horizontal machine precludes maneuvering in a hallway or the like, and further precludes placement of the machine in a passenger elevator, where no freight elevator is available.
Prior art dollies and the like are generally configured for the transport of more generic articles or devices, and cannot accommodate such a large and heavy machine as a soft drink vending machine. Where such dollies can accommodate such a large and heavy appliance, they do not position the appliance sufficiently low as to fit through a standard doorway in an upright orientation. Moreover, maneuvering of a heavily loaded standard dolly over floor discontinuities (thresholds, etc.) is generally quite difficult.
Accordingly, a need will be seen for a dolly particularly configured for moving large and/or heavy appliances, such as refrigerators, refrigerated soft drink vending machines, etc. The present dolly provides a very low center extending between the caster pairs at each end, to lower the height of a machine carried upright thereon to the maximum extent practicable. The center area of the present dolly may be somewhat narrower than the widths of the wheel assemblies at each end thereof, in order to allow the legs or support feet of the machine to straddle the width of the center area. This allows the machine to ride even lower on the dolly than would be the case if the feet were resting atop the dolly floor. This also provides greater security for the machine resting upon the dolly, as the machine cannot move laterally due to the feet extending downwardly past the floor edge on each side.
The present dolly also includes a removable hand push bar at one end thereof. The bar is easily removed for storing the dolly and bar compactly as desired. A cargo strap may be removably secured to the hand push bar as desired, for even greater security for a machine placed upon the dolly. The present invention also includes means for facilitating movement of the dolly over floor discontinuities (e.g., door thresholds, concrete expansion joints, etc.), by lifting one end of the dolly using a roller lever device to lift the dolly wheels at that end, over the discontinuity.
A discussion of the related art of which the present inventor is aware, and its differences and distinctions from the present invention, is provided below.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,175,312 issued on Mar. 14, 1916 to Howard Simpson, titled “Truck,” describes a device for carriage of a large cylindrical object (barrel, tobacco hogshead, etc.). The floor or support area of the Simpson truck essentially comprises two pairs of angles, with each pair joined to form an inverted, generally “T” shaped member having a wide space therebetween, rather than the continuous, unbroken floor of the present dolly. Moreover, the two wheels at each end of the Simpson truck are interconnected, with a steering end having a linkage to turn the two wheels simultaneously by means of a permanently mounted swiveling handle, and the opposite end having the wheels affixed to a single transverse axle. No means is provided by Simpson for lifting either end of his truck over surface irregularities, as provided by the present invention.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,229,244 issued on Jan. 21, 1941 to Earle W. Husted, titled “Dolly,” describes a device having two parallel, opposed side members and two opposed, parallel end members, defining a rectangular opening in the center thereof. The four wheels are disposed beneath the lower members, thus resulting in a relatively high ride height for an object placed upon the Husted dolly. In contrast, the present dolly provides an unbroken floor upon which the base of the object being carried rests, with the base of the object being between, rather than over, the support wheels. It is also noted that the vertical side rails which provide for attachment of cargo straps, extend upwardly beyond the large article on the Husted dolly and thus likely preclude fitting the dolly and rails upright through a standard doorway.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,414,277 issued on Jan. 14, 1947 to Frederick J. Shepard, Jr. et al., titled “Floor Truck,” describes a device having a solid floor formed of a series of tongue and groove boards secured atop opposed lateral end pieces. The floor of the present truck is formed of a single sheet of metal to provide greater strength and economy of manufacture in comparison to the multipiece floor of the Shepard, Jr. et al. truck. More importantly, the floor of the Shepard, Jr. et al. truck is disposed above the wheels in each embodiment, rather than being lower between the wheels. This results in an excessively high ride height for articles placed upon the Shepard, Jr. et al. truck, particularly in the case of the embodiment of FIGS. 5 through 8 with its larger diameter wheels at one end. It is also noted that only two wheels at one end of the Shepard, Jr. et al. truck caster, thus resulting in poorer maneuverability in comparison to the present dolly with its four castering wheels.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,969,245 issued on Jan. 24, 1961 to Kermit H. Wilson, titled “Device for Transporting And Storing Articles Of Furniture And The Like,” describes a folding cart adapted particularly for the carriage of large, round tables and the like. The Wilson cart is constructed of tubular frame members, having a completely open center incapable of supporting a large, heavy object; the articles carried on the Wilson cart must be carried on edge, with their edges supported by opposed crossmembers. No means for lifting one end of the cart for clearance over floor discontinuities, is disclosed by Wilson.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,215,401 issued on Nov. 2, 1965 to Edward J. Grabarski, titled “Wheeled Hand Truck With Transverse Extension Means And Cam Elevating Means,” describes a device having a pair of opposed side rails with telescoping lateral rails at each end thereof, defining a rectangular opening therethrough rather than the solid, unbroken floor of the present dolly. Moreover, it is noted that the side rails of the Grabarski truck form a straight line above the wheels, thus placing any article(s) carried thereon, above the wheels. The disadvantages of high placement
Litman Richard C.
Mar Michael
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