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Title: Business machine cart with trunk loading attachment
Claims: What is claimed is: 1. A cart for transporting and demonstrating business machines and the like comprising an elongated track defining tubular frame having an essentially planar lower portion and a curved upper portion, wheel at the lowermost end of said lower portion, a carriage for a business machine mounted on said frame for movement from a lowermost transport position in which the carriage lies adjacent said wheels to an uppermost demonstration portion in which the carriage lies adjacent the uppermost end of said frame, means for positioning said frame in an inclined position in which the carriage will be horizontally disposed when in its uppermost demonstration position, and spring assist means mounted on the upper portion of said frame, said spring assist means comprises a spiral spring adapted to be unwound as the carriage is moved from the demonstration position of the transport position, and latch means for connecting the outermost end of said spiral spring to said carriage as said carriage is moved from its uppermost demonstration position to its lowermost transport position and for disconnecting said spiral spring when the carriage is returned to its uppermost demonstration position. 2. The cart construction claimed in claim 1 wherein the latch means for connecting said spiral spring to said carriage comprises a latch arm mounted on said carriage and latch arm engaging means mounted on the outermost end of said spiral spring, said latch arm engaging means being positioned to engage said latch arm as said carriage commences movement from the uppermost demonstration position toward the lowermost transport position and to release said latch arm as the carriage reapproaches its uppermost demonstration position. 3. The cart construction claimed in claim 2 wherein said latch arm engaging means comprises an elongated spring plate having a U-shaped channel at one end, and wherein said latch arm is spring biased in the direction of said spring plate and mounts a cross pin engagable in said U-shaped channel as the carriage commences movement toward the transport position. 4. The cart construction claimed in claim 3 including locking means for releasably securing said carriage in the demonstration position. 5. The cart construction claimed in claim 4 including safety latch means on the lowermost portion of said frame for releasably securing said carriage in its lowermost transport position. 6. The cart construction claimed in claim 1 wherein said frame is defined by a spaced apart pair of tubular frame members connected together in parallel relation to define a track, said carriage being movably mounted on said frame members by sets of rollers engaging opposite sides of each of said frame members. 7. The cart construction claimed in claim 6 wherein the upper and lower portions of said frame comprise separate frame sections, including clamping means for detachably securing the sections together. 8. The cart construction claimed in claim 1 wherein the means for positioning the frame in an inclined position comprises a support leg having means for detachably connecting said support leg to said frame in a frame supporting position. 9. The cart construction claimed in claim 8 including means for detachably connecting said support leg to said frame in a storage position in which said support leg lies along and is clamped to said frame. 10. The cart construction claimed in claim 1 wherein the means for positioning the frame in an inclined position comprises a handlebar depending from the upper portion of said frame, said handlebar being adapted to seat on the top of a desk or like support. 11. The cart construction claimed in claim 1 in combination with a frame extension adapted to be detachably connected to the uppermost end of said frame, a base member adapted to be supported on the floor of an automobile trunk, an adjustable support projecting upwardly from said base member, menas on said adjustable support for engaging said frame extension, said carriage being movable along said frame extension to deposit the carriage in the automobile trunk. 12. The cart construction claimed in claim 11 wherein said adjustable support comprises a "T" support havan upwardly opening channel, and wherein said frame extension has a pivot rod adapted to be received in said channel, whereby said frame extension may be pivoted about said "T" support. 13. The cart construction claimed in claim 12 wherein said frame extension has rollers at its rearmost end, said rollers being adapted to seat on said base member, stop means for said frame extension at the rearmost end of said base member, said stop means being engagable by said frame extension when said frame extension is removed from said "T" support and lowered onto said base member. 14. In combination in a cart for transporting and demonstrating business machines and the like: a wheel section comprising a frame having a pair of spaced apart parallel tubular frame members defining a track, wheels at the lowermost end of said wheel section, and a foot angularly disposed with respect to said wheels to support said wheel section in an upright position; a handle section comprising a frame having a pair of spaced apart parallel tubular frame members defining a track, means for detachably connecting said handle section to said wheel section with the track forming frame members of said handle section extending in prolongation of the track forming frame members of said wheel section, the upper end of said handle section being curved, and a handlebar attached to the uppermost end of said wheel section; a carriage, roller means on said carriage mounting said carriage for movement along the track defining frame members of said wheel and handle sections, said carriage being movable from a transport position in which it lies adjacent the lowermost end of said wheel section to a demonstration position in which it lies adjacent the uppermost end of said handle section; spring assist means mounted on said handle section, said spring assist means comprising a spiral spring, means operatively connecting the outermost end of said spiral spring to said carriage, whereby said spiral spring will be unwound as the carriage moves from the demonstration position to the transport position and will rewind as the carriage moves from the transport position to the demonstration position; and a trunk loading means, said trunk loading means comprising a frame extension, said frame extension comprising a pair of spaced apart parallel tubular frame members defining a track, means for detachably connecting said frame extension to the uppermost end of said handle section with the track forming frame members of said frame extension in prolongation of the track forming frame members of said handle section, a base member adapted to be placed on the floor of an automobile trunk, an adjustable support projecting upwardly from said base member, and means for pivotally supporting said frame extension on said support, whereby said carriage may be moved along said frame extension and deposited on said base member. 15. The cart construction claimed in claim 14 including a support leg, means for detachably securing said support leg to said wheel and handle sections in a storage position, and means for detachably connecting said support leg to said wheel and leg sections in an operative position in which said wheel and frame sections are supported in a free-standing inclined position by said support leg. Other info: Inventors: Bourgraf, Elroy E. (Cincinnati, OH, US) Dunn, Robert E. (Washington Ch., OH, US) Self, Kenneth R. (Washington Ch., OH, US) Application Number: 942188 Filing Date: 1978-09-14 Publication_date: 1981-02-17 Assignee: Ferno-Washington, Inc. (Wilmington, OH) Primary Class(es): 414/343 414/462, 414/540, 414/602 Other Classes: US Patent Ref:
Other Refs: Primary Examiner: Oresky, Lawrence J. Assistant Examiner: Attorney: |
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