Rehrig International, Inc.

Alan R Kern

John A LaFleur

Scottlan R Henry

Bruce S Ferris

Christopher M Johnson

George H Hand

Terrill M Porter

Jeffrey W Rosania

John J Refalo, Iii

Chris Johnson

Steven C Decker

Ralph C McCann

Bradley Dean Miller

Thomas Vineyard Hammack

Brad R Schwichtenberg

Goerge Hand

A modular, universal, molded plastic flatbed type cart for carrying and supporting products includes variable product supporting metallic handles located at opposed ends of the cart. The handles include vertically extending posts that define at least one central channel completely open in an upward direction above the bed section of the cart and preferably another upwardly opening side channel located above the cart bed; continuous U-shaped handles, handles with a collapsible tray, and connector rails spanning the handles from one end of the cart to the other. The product handles are usable for manipulating the cart and are integrated into metal cart bed reinforcing elements.

Modular universal flat bed cart with variable support and maneuvering handles

A molded plastic basket for a shopping cart includes side and front walls formed of a molded gridwork of ribs extending at an angle relative to the upright direction of the basket when it is assembled to a shopping cart chassis. The front and side walls intersect each other along convex arcuate curved corner sections with the gridwork ribs continuously flowing around the corner sections up to a mold parting line provided midway around the curved sections. The ribs of the side walls extend parallel to each other to permit molding of the side walls by a transversely moveable mold section that moves towards and away from the side wall area during molding and the ribs of the front wall likewise all extend parallel to each other in a direction generally perpendicular to the direction of the side wall ribs to enable molding of the ribs of the front wall by another moveable section of a mold that moves in a direction generally perpendicular to the direction of motion of the mold section forming the side walls. The gridwork ribs come together along the mold part lines to provide an attractive appearance.

Molded plastic basket and rear panel for shopping cart

A dolly with a one-step injection molded one-piece plastic frame is provided. The frame includes a pair of substantially parallel longitudinal side members and a pair of substantially parallel transverse side members which form a generally rectangular frame having corners. A bottom of the dolly is at least partially formed in a honeycomb/cellular configuration. A plurality of casters are mounted to the bottom of the frame via a plurality of caster fastening bolts which are received in a corresponding plurality of caster fastening holes disposed at the corners. The dolly may also include a riser block disposed on a top of the frame along a side member and secured to the frame by the caster fastening bolts. A rubber pad may be disposed on the riser block and secured between the riser block and the top of the frame. The dolly may also include a channel in the bottom of one or more side members for receiving a reinforcing member.

Dolly with one-piece plastic frame

Plastic bottom tray for a shopping cart

A molded bearing assembly for a molded wheel includes a synthetic resin outer bearing race element embedded in the hub of the molded wheel and having a cylindrical inner sliding, journal type bearing surface. An inner bearing assembly includes two molded synthetic resin bearing halves having continuous cylindrical outer bearing surfaces disposed within the outer bearing race in sliding engagement with the inner bearing surface of the outer race. The bearing halves of the inner bearing assembly abut each other at their inner ends and may include interlocking structural features at their inner ends that enable securing of the bearing halves together at their inner ends while presenting a continuous outer cylindrical bearing sliding surface that cooperates with the adjacent surface of the outer race. A wheel axle extends through the inner bearing assembly and supports the wheel and bearing assembly for rotation relative to a wheel support. The molded wheel and bearing assembly is adapted for use with a shopping cart.

Molded wheel and bearing assembly

A plastic basket of a nestable shopping cart is integrally formed with support projections at upper inner edge portions of the side panels thereof at a position spaced rearward of a front panel. The support projections are adapted to support a pivoting rear gate member of a similarly constructed cart such that, when the two carts are nested, the rear gate panel abuts and is supported by the support projections in order to prevent the rear gate panel from dropping down into the plastic basket during cart nesting.

Integrally molded gate support arrangement for plastic shopping cart

Combined molded plastic shopping cart basket and rear panel

A shopping cart includes a basket made of plastic which is, at least partially, attached to a frame of the cart by a pair of basket supporting members. In a preferred embodiment each of the basket supporting members is a rod that includes a first end portion extending within an opening for supporting members. The opening is formed in an upper section of a respective side panel of the basket. A second end portion of the supporting member extends through a hole formed in a respective tubular post and downward within the tubular post. The second end portion of each of the basket supporting members may be retained within the tubular posts at a position spaced below the hole therein. By other embodiments the second end portion may be inserted into a tube member mounted on each tubular post, or may be wrapped around the tubular posts and then anchored on a cross member. An assembly process is described.

Support assembly for a plastic basket of a shopping cart

A transport and display cart is formed of light weight plastic and metal components including a base unit formed from an open framework in which is disposed and fastened a molded plastic tray. Wheels preferably including casters are provided on the underside of the base unit and opposed ladder units having horizontal bars or rungs are removably connected to opposed ends of the base unit by fitting within post supports rigidly connected to the base unit. Upper shelves include plastic trays that are constructed identical to the tray connected to the base unit and reinforcing rods having downwardly open jaws or hooks at their opposed ends for engaging the horizontal rungs or bars of the opposed ladder units. The upper shelves can be selectively disposed in horizontal or tilted positions simply by hooking the ends of the reinforcing rods over different rungs of the ladder units.

Display cart

A flat bed cart includes a molded resin load carrying bed having longitudinally spaced ends, a generally planar upper side and a bottom side that includes a plurality of ribs, a pair of spaced, longitudinally extending slots and first, second and third sets of integrally molded fastener mounted pads that are located adjacent the first and second ends of the bed and intermediate the ends respectively. The slots receive a pair of longitudinally extending reinforcing bars that carry at their ends upright handle receiving mounts. The handle receiving mounts include members arranged in recesses spaced about the periphery of the bed at the first and second ends thereof. At least one handle is provided which is adapted to be selectively positioned within a respective pair of the upstanding handle receiving mounts. The cart also includes first and second swiveling caster wheel assemblies mounted to the underside of the bed at each end thereof through a pair of support blocks that extend laterally across the bed and a pair of centrally mounted enlarged wheels about which the cart can be pivoted for maneuvering purposes.

Flat bed cart

A platform type hand cart includes a molded resin load carrying bed that is universally adaptable for both nesting and non-nesting cart configurations. The cart bed is slightly tapered from its rearward end to its forward end to enhance nestability, has a downwardly and forwardly sloping rear edge to further enhance nestability and includes various groups of mounting pads integrally molded into the underside of the bed for receiving fasteners used to secure wheel assemblies, a hinge assembly and a bumper assembly. Integrally molded reinforcing rod receiving pads may also be integrally molded into the underside of the bed for receiving structural reinforcing rods to stiffen the bed against deflection under load. By providing a single bed member with all of the various mounting pads required for nesting and non-nesting cart configurations, economies are achieved by permitting use of a single mold to produce a single bed adaptable for nesting and non-nesting cart applications. The molded bed is further provided with a protective rounded edge extending over at least a portion of the sides and the rear of the bed to protect feet and ankles of users of carts incorporating the bed member. The bed member includes mountings pads for assembling an elastomeric bumper to the forward end of the bed.

Growing community of inventors

Richmond, VA, United States of America

Alan R Kern