US3840242A

US3840242A - Transport rack

Info

Publication number: US3840242A
Application number: US00270158A
Authority: US
Inventors: F Craig; W Schray
Original assignee: United Steel and Wire Co
Current assignee: United Steel and Wire Co
Priority date: 1972-07-10
Filing date: 1972-07-10
Publication date: 1974-10-08
Anticipated expiration: 1991-10-08

Abstract

A nestable transport rack having frame means which is composed of a nestable wheel supported base frame and a pair of horizontally spaced, upstanding and parallel side frame members rigidly secured to the base frame and extending upwardly therefrom. Shelf means are pivotally secured to the frame means and are pivotable between a generally horizontal position and a vertical position, the vertical position being parallel with the upstanding side frame members. Side wall means are provided which are pivotally secured to each of the side frame members and are pivotable between a first position on opposite lateral sides of the shelf means when the shelf means are in the horizontal position and a second position parallel to the shelf means when the shelf means are in the vertical position. At least a portion of the nestable, wheel supported base frame extends frontwardly of the upstanding side frame members and the shelf means when the shelf means is in the vertical position and the side wall means is in the second position parallel to the shelf means and is capable of nesting with another of the transport racks.

Description

[451 Oct. 8, 1974 I TRANSPORT RACK [75] Inventors: Frank G. Craig, Sr.; Walter H.

Sehray, both of Battle Creek. Mich.

[73] Assignee: United Steel and Wire Company,

Battle Creek, Mich.

[22] Filed: July 10, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 270,158

[52] U.S. Cl. 280/3339 H, 280/36 R [51] Int. Cl B62b 3/02 [58] Field of Search280/33.99 R. 33.99 H, 33.99 T,

280/3399 S, 36 R, 43.1 B, 43.1 R, 47.26;

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 315,208 9/1969 Sweden 280/3399 R 241,993 12/1964 Austria .1 280/3399 R 252,120

2/1967 Austria 280/3399 H Primary ExaminerDavid Schonberg Assistant Examiner-David M. Mitchell Attorney, Agent. or FirmWoodhams, Blanchard and Flynn 5 7 ABSTRACT A nestable transport rack having frame means which is composed of a nestable wheel supported base frame and a pair of horizontally spaced, upstanding and parallel side frame members rigidly secured to the base frame and extending upwardly therefrom. Shelf means are pivotally secured to the frame means and are pivotable between a generally horizontal position and a vertical position, the vertical position being parallel with the upstanding side frame members. Side wall means are providedwhich are pivotally secured to each of the side frame members and are pivotable between a first position on opposite lateral sides of the shelf means when the shelf means are in the horizontal means and is capable of nesting with another of the transport racks.

12 Claims, ll Drawing Figures III PATENTED 913T 8 I 74 sumami 1 TRANSPORT RACK FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a transport rack and, more particularly, relates to a collapsible transport rack wherein the wheel supported base frame extends frontwardly from the collapsed shelves and side walls so that the entire assembly, while in the collapsed condition, is supported by the wheel supported frame and capable of nesting with another similar transport rack.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The use of transport racks of various types has increased in popularity both for transporting merchandise to and from varied locations as well as for displaying merchandise within a store. However, the transport racks which have been known heretofore have been large and bulky and difficult to store when not in use. There has long been a strong desire on the part of store management to utilize as efficiently as possible the existing storage space but this desire has been heretofore hampered by the desire to also have a large number of transport racks.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention:

1. To provide a transport rack which requires a minimum of space for storage.

2. To provide a storable. rack, as aforesaid, which is easily transportable both in the assembled and collapsed conditions.

3. To provide a transport rack, as aforesaid, which isv self-supporting even when in the collapsed position.

4. To provide a transport rack, as aforesaid, which is durable and sturdy to both carry substantial loads and be capable of a long and reliable use. I

Other objects and purposes of this invention will be apparent to persons acquainted with apparatus of this general type upon reading the following specification and inspecting the'accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the transport rack in the condition of use;

FIGS. l-A and l-B are partially broken views illustrating details;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the transport rack in the collapsed condition;

FIG. 3 is a top elevational view taken along the lin llllll of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line IVIV of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line V-V of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line VI-VI of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along the line VII- VII of FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along the line VIII- -VIII of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along the line IX-IX of FIG. 1.

Certain terminology will be used in the following description for convenience in reference only and will not be limiting. The words up, down and right and left will designate directions in the drawings to which reference is made. The words front" and rear will refer to the front and rear of the transport rack, the front being the end of the transport rack illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. The words in and out will refer to terconnecting cross piece 18. The cross piece 18 is lodirections toward and away from, respectively, the geometric center of the device and designated parts thereof. Such terminology will include the words above specifically mentioned, derivatives thereof and words of similar import.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In general, the objects and purposes of the invention are met by providing a nestable transport rack having frame means which comprise a nestable wheel supported base frame and a pair of horizontally spaced, upstanding and parallel side frame members, rigidly secured to the base frame and extending upwardly therefrom. Shelf means, independent of the wheel supported base frame, are pivotally related to the side frame members and are pivotable between a generally horizontal position and avertical position, which vertical position is parallel with the upstanding side frame v DETAILED DESCRIPTION A transport rack 10 (FIGS. 1 and 2) comprises a wheel supported base frame 11 and a pair of horizontally spaced, upstanding and parallel side frame members l2 and 13. The wheel supported base frame 11 comprises a U-shaped tubular frame member 14 having a pair of lateral

side leg members

16 and 17 and an in cated at the front end of the transport rack 10 and the

legs

16 and 17 diverge rearwardly away therefrom. The U-shaped tubular frame member 14 opens outwardly at the rearward end of the transport rack.

A mounting plate 19 is secured, as by welding, to the underside of the

legs

16 and 17 and the cross piece 18 of the U-shaped tubular frame 14. A pair of pivotal wheels 21 are secured to the underside of mounting plate 19. A pair of plates .22 and 23 are secured, as by welding, to the underside of the

legs

16 and 17, respectively, adjacent the rear ends thereof. The

plates

22 and 23 extend laterally outwardly from the

legs

16 and 17. A flange 24 is secured, as by welding, to the upper surface of the plate 22 and a flange 26 is secured, as also by welding, to the upper surface of the plate 23. A pair of horizontally spaced and stationarily mounted wheels 25 are mounted to the undersurfaces of the

plates

22 and 23.

The side frame member 12 comprises a pair of horizontally spaced, upstanding and parallel tubular mem-.

bers

27 and 28 which are fixedly secured at their lower most ends to the upper surface of the plate 22. The tubular member 28 is mounted forwardly of the tubular member 27. A mounting plate 29 is secured, as by welding, to the upper ends of the

tubular members

27 and 28.

The side frame member 13 comprises a pair of horizontally spaced, upstanding and parallel

tubular members

31 and 32 which are fixedly secured, as by welding, to the plate 23. The tubular member 32 is mounted forwardly of the tubular member 31 as illustrated in FIG. 7. A plate 33 is fixedly secured, as by welding, to the upper end of the

tubular members

31 and 32 and is preferably coplanar with the plate 29.

The

tubular members

27 and 31 of the

side frame members

12 and 13, respectively, define an upright plane which is generally perpendicular to the plane of the U-shaped tubular member 14 which forms a part of the base frame 11. A plurality of

tubular members

36, 37 and 38 (FIG. 4) are secured to and extend between the

tubular members

27 and 31. A wire member 39 is secured, as by welding, to the uppermost surface of the tubular member 36. Similarly, a wire member 41 is secured, as by welding, to the lower surface of the tubular member 37. A plurality of horizontally spaced and vertically extending wire members 42 are secured to and extend between the

wire members

39 and 41. An intermediate transverse wire member 43 (FIG. 1) is secured, as by welding, to each of the vertically extending wire members 42. The combination of

wire members

39, 41, 42 and 43 define a wire meshlike lower back wall for the transport rack 10.

A wire member 44 is secured to the uppermost surface of the tubular member 37 and a wire member 46 is secured, as by welding, to the lowermost surface of the tubular member 38. A plurality of horizontally spaced and vertically extending wire members 47 are secured to and extend between the

wire members

44 and 46. A transverse wire member 48exte'nds perpendicular to the wire members 47 and are secured to each thereof as by welding The combination of

wire members

44, 46, 47 and 48 define a wire meshlike upper rear wall portion for the transport rack 10.

A plate 51 (FIG. 4) having a plurality of downwardly extending

peripheral flanges

52, 53, 54 and 55 is secured, as by welding, to the undersurface of the tubular member 36 and to the

side frame members

12 and 13 and extends between the

side frame members

12 and 13. The downwardly extending flanges 52 and 54 are weldably secured to the

tubular members

31 and 32 of the side frame 13 and the

tubular members

27 and 28 of the tubular side frame 12, respectively. The flanges 52 and 54 also extend frontwardly of the downwardly extending flange 55 and are each secured, as by welding, to the

flanges

26 and 24, respectively. The plane of the plate 51 is spaced vertically above the plane of the tubular frame member 14.

A mounting bracket 56 (FIGS. 3 and 5) is secured, as by welding, between each of the

tubular members

27 and 28 and the

tubular members

31 and 32 of the

side frame members

12 and 13 intermediate the top and bottom thereof. Axially aligned openings 57 are provided in each of the mounting brackets 56. A rod 58 having threaded opposite ends, (one threaded end 59 being illustrated in FIG. 5) is received in the axially aligned openings 57 in the brackets 56 and nuts 61 are provided on the ends to prevent an axial movement of the rod 58 relative to the brackets 56. A tubular member 62 is telescoped over the rod 58 between the bars 56.

A U-shaped frame 63 (FIGS. 1 and 2) having a pair of parallel

tubular leg members

64 and 66 and an interconnecting front cross piece 67 is pivotally secured to the rod 58 (FIG. 5). The tubular member 62 is secured to and extends between the free ends of the

legs

64 and 66. A sheet of metal or the like 68 is secured .to the U- shaped frame 63 to define a merchandise carrying shelf 69. The shelf 69 is further reinforced by a transverse bar 73 which extends between the

legs

64 and 66 as illustrated in FIG. 2 to further support the sheet metal 68. The sheet of metal 68 may be perforated if desired. The axis of the rod 58 is located forwardly of the tubular member 37 so that the shelf 69 is pivotable between the solid line position illustrated in FIG. 4 to the broken line position.

A clip 71 (FIG. 6) is secured, as by welding, to and extends between the inside surfaces of the

tubular members

31 and 32 of the side frame 13. The clip 71 has an inwardly extending shoulder 72 which projects into the path of movement of the leg 66 of the shelf 69 when the shelf 69 is in the broken line position illustrated in FIG. 4 (see also FIG. 6). The clip 71 is flexible to permit the leg 66 to move past the shoulder 72 so that the shelf 69 can be held by the shoulder 72 on the clip 71 in the position illustrated in broken lines in FIG.

A shelf 76 (FIGS. 1 and 2) comprises a U-shaped tubular frame member 77 having a pair of

side legs

78 and 79 and an interconnecting front cross piece 81. Transverse

interconnecting cross pieces

82 and 83 are provided which are secured, as by welding, to and extend between the

legs

78 and 79 as illustrated in FIG. 2. A suitable panel 84, as a sheet of metal or the like, is secured, as by welding, to the upper surface of the U- shaped frame 77. The free ends of the

legs

78 and 79 each have an opening 86 (FIG. 7) therethrough which is positioned in an axially aligned relationship to the opening 87 through the

flanges

24 and 26. Bolts 88 are received in the axially aligned

openings

87 and 86 and a nut 89 is provided on the end thereof to pivotally secure the shelf 76 to the

flanges

24 and 26 of the base frame 11. The pivot axis defined by the bolts 88 is located below and forwardly of the pivot axis defined by the rod 58 for the shelf 69. The shelf 76 is pivotal between the solid line position illustrated in FIG. 1 to the solid line position illustrated in FIG. 2 and the broken line position illustrated in FIG. 4. When in the solid line position, said shelf is preferably at a height above the axes of the casters (i.e., above the floor) equal to that of the flange 53 (FIG. 4) and said shelf preferably projects forwardly slightly beyond crossbar 18 of the base frame. Thus, where .two or more transport racks are longitudinally aligned, as for movement of two or more of them by a single workman, the forward edge of the lower shelf 76 will bear against the rearward surface of the flange 53 so as to provide a solid transfer of force from one such transport rack to the other. Thus, when the bottom shelf is down, regardless of the position of the upper shelf (or shelves) and side frames, a train of transport racks can be made as aforesaid, but when the bottom shelf is up, and assuming the upper shelf (or shelves) and the side frames to be collapsed, the forward end of one base frame will pass under the rearward end of a similar base frame and the racks can nest.

A clip 91 (FIGS. 1, 2 and 8) is secured to the underside of the shelf 76 and has a flange 92 thereon which extends upwardly therefrom as illustrated in FIG. 1. The clip 91 has a ridge 93 at the upper end which extends transversely of the flange 92. A second clip 94 is secured to and beneath the opposite side of the shelf 76 and has a flange 96 which extends upwardly therefrom as illustrated in FIG. 1. Both the flange 96 of the clip 94 and the flange 92 of the clip 91 extend upwardly at least beyond the upper surface of the shelf 76. The ridge 93 on the flange 92 of the clip 91 is located at a position above the end of the flange 96 of the clip 94 for a purpose which will become apparent hereinbelow.

The transport rack further comprises a pair of

side walls

101 and 102 as illustrated in FIG. 1. The side wall 101 comprises a tubular member 104 mounted in any convenient manner on, and rotatably around its axis with respect to, the rightward (FIGS. 1 and 2) side of the frame structure above described. In the illustrated embodiment the bottom end of the member 104 is supported on a shoulder on and encircles a portion of the pivot plug 131 (FIG. l-A) which is fixed as by welding to the caster plate 23. The upper end telescopes over a threaded plug 132 (FIG. l-B) which is detachably mounted on the plate 33 by a screw 133. The side wall 101 further includes a U-shaped frame 106 comprising a pair of legs 107 and; 108 and a vertically extending interconnecting cross piece 109. The free end of the legs 107 and 108 are fixedly secured, as by welding, to the tubular member 104. An intermediate tubular member 110 is secured to and extends between the

tubular members

104 and 109. A wire member 111 is fixedly secured, as by welding, to the innermost surface of the cross piece 109. A wire member 112 is fixedly secured, as by welding, to the innermost surface of the tubular member 104. A plurality of horizontal, vertically spaced wire members 113 are fixedly secured, as by welding, to the

wire members

111 and 112 and extend therebetween. A vertically extending wire member 114 is secured to each of the wire members 113 intermediate the ends thereof and is secured, as by welding, at opposite ends to the

tubular members

107 and 110 of the frame 106. Similarly, a wire member 116 is secured to each of the wire members 113 and is fixedly secured, as by welding, at opposite ends to the tubular member 110 and the tubular member 108 of the frame 106.

Referring now to FIG. 9, the wire member 114 is bent inwardly as at 117 adjacent the tubular member 110. A stop member 118, comprising a piece of sheet metal bent into the form of a step having a pair of horizontally spaced, vertically extending,

legs

119 and 121 interconnected by a horizontally extending leg 122, is secured, as by welding, to the tubular member 110. The

plane of the leg 121 is spaced inwardly from the plane of the leg 119 and is vertically offset therefrom. The cross piece 122 defines a limiting surface for the leg 66 of the shelf 69 when the shelf 69 is moved from the broken line position illustrated in FIG. 4 to the solid line position. The inwardly bent portion 117 of the wire member 114 is engaged by the tubular member 66 to swing the side wall 101 into engagement with the flange 96 secured to the bottom shelf 76 to prevent rattling when the transport rack is moved.

The side wall 102 is identical in construction to the side wall 101 and the parts of the side wall 102 will be referred to by the same reference numerals designating corresponding parts of the side wall 101 but with the suffix A added thereto. However, the side wall 102 is 104A is mounted in the same manner as above described for the member 104 except that the pivot axis is more forward of the transport rack 10 as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 8. The side wall 102 also includes U- shaped frame 106A comprising a pair of

legs

107A and 108A and a vertically extending interconnecting cross piece 109A. The free end of the

legs

107A and 108A are fixedly secured, as by welding, to the tubular member 104A. An intermediate tubular member 110A is secured to and extends between the

tubular members

104A and 109A. A wire member 111A is fixedly secured, as by welding, to the innermost surface of the cross piece 109A. A wire member 112A is fixedly secured, as by welding, to the innermost surface of the tubular member 104A. A plurality of horizontal, vertically spaced wire members 113A are fixedly secured, as by welding, to the wire members 111A and 112A and extend therebetween. A vertically extending wire member 114A is secured to each of the wire members 113A intermediate the ends thereof and is secured, as by welding, at opposite ends to the

tubular members

107A and 110A of the U-shaped frame 106A. Similarly, a wire member 116A is secured to each of the wire members 113A and is fixedly secured, as by welding, at opposite ends to the tubular member 110A and the tubular member 108A of the frame 106A.

The wire member 114A is bent inwardly at 117A (FIG. 1) and there is provided stop, support and tightening means on the tubular member 110A which is a mirror image of that illustrated in FIG. 9 and above described. It functions similarly to the parts shown in FIG.

9 and hence needs no further description.

The parts are so arranged and aligned that when said racks are longitudinally aligned and held against relative transverse movement, as by a plurality of same being placed into transporting means, such as a truck, the forward edges of the forward

vertical members

109 and 109A will bear directly against the rearward edges of the rearward

vertical members

27 and 31 to provide for transfer of force therebetween through members having adequate strength therefor.

OPERATION The operation of the device embodying the invention will be apparent to skilled persons. However, the following is a brief description thereof offered for convemence. v

The transport rack 10, when in the condition of use illustrated in FIG. 1 has the vertically spaced

shelves

69 and 76 positioned between the

side walls

101 and 102. The shelf 69 is supported on its one side on the leg 122 of the bracket 118 and the bend 117 in the wire member 114 and on its other side on the counterpart of said bracket structure associated with the bend 117A. These members engage the

tubular members

66 and 64 of the shelf 69 and cause the

side walls

101 and 102 to be swung outwardly to engage the flange 96 of the clip a 94 and the flange 92 of the clip 91. In such position, as clearly appearing in the drawings, the

side walls

101 and 102 are directly above but close to the bottom shelf 76 so that a load on the upper shelf 63 sufficient to distort the structure will be transferred to and supported by the shelf 76. The shelf 76 is supported on the upper surface of the U-shaped frame 14 of the base frame 11, in this embodiment through a channel (FIGS. 2 and 4) extending across the shelf 76 and the lower legs of the

clips

91 and 94. Merchandise may be stored ordisplayed on the upper surface of the

shelves

69 and 76.

When it is desired to store the transport rack 10, the shelf 69 is first pivoted about the axis of the rod 58 from the position illustrated in FIG. 1 to the broken line position illustrated in FIG. 4. The leg 66 of the shelf 69 will be permitted to move past the ridge 72 on the clip 71 (FIG. 6) and will hold the shelf 69 in a position which is vertically aligned with the

side frame members

12 and 13. Next, the

side walls

101 and 102 may be pivoted about the axes of their

members

104 and 104A to the position illustrated in FIG. 8. The pivot axis of the member 104 is located further rearwardly on the transport rack than is the pivot axis of the member 104A. As a result, the side wall 101 is pivoted inwardlyv first to a position wherein same is parallel to the shelf 69 in the collapsed position. Next, the side wall 102 is pivoted to a position wherein same becomes parallel with the side wall 101. The shelf 76 may then be pivoted upwardly to the broken line position illustrated in FIG. 4. In this position, the ridge 93 (FIG. 8) on the clip 91 is flexed outwardly and then rearwardly of the tubular member 104A to hold the shelf 76 in the stored position illustrated in broken lines in FIG. 4. The transport rack, in the collapsed condition shown in FIG. 2, is permitted to be wheeled about to a position wherein the frontwardly extending portion of the base frame 11 is permitted to be telescoped into the rearwardly opening portion of the base frame 11 of a next adjacent transport rack for nesting therewith and storage. The amount of such telescoping is limited by the

caster plates

22 and 23, namely, by the forward edges of such caster plates in one transport rack striking the rearward edges of the corresponding caster plates in the next forward transport rack. Thus, there is obtained a positive limit to said telescoping and there is no danger of one rack becoming wedged into the next forward rack.

It will be appreciated that the collapsing and latching of the upper shelf 63 independently of the lower shelf 76 provides a feature of both safety and convenience in that if desired an operator can load or otherwise work with the lower shelf 76 without the upper shelf being in his way and same can be temporarily latched in place to avoid any danger of the upper shelf dropping down and injuring a workman who may be bending over the lower shelf. Further, by keeping the upper shelf latched in collapsed condition, taller articles can be placed on the lower shelf or such may be suspended by a suitable bracket, rod. or other means, from the upper end of the rack.

While in the present embodiment the side and back panels have been shown as made of wires welded together, it will be recognized that this is a matter of choice in the design of a given rack and said panels may equally well be made of any convenient panel-forming material, such as similarly welded rod, expanded metal or plastic or metal sheet material.

Likewise it will be recognized that although there is in this embodiment shown only one shelf, namely, shelf 69 above the bottom shelf 76, multiple similar shelves may be provided if desired.

Although a particular preferred embodiment of the invention has been disclosed in detail for illustrative purposes, it will be recognized that variations or modifications of the disclosed apparatus, including the rearrangement of parts, lie within the scope of the present invention.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A nestable transport rack, comprising:

frame means comprising nestable, wheel supported base frame means having a front end and a rear end, a pair of horizontally spaced, upstanding and parallel side frame members rigidly secured to said base frame means adjacent said rear end and extending upwardly therefrom to define an L-shaped frame;

first and second vertically spaced shelf members, first and second support means secured fixedly with respect to said side frame members for pivotally supporting said first and second shelf members for movement between horizontally aligned and vertically aligned positions;

side wall means pivotally secured to said side frame members and being pivotable between a first position wherein said side wall means are disposed adjacent opposite lateral sides of said shelf members and extend frontwardly of said side frame members wherein said shelf members are in said horizontally aligned position and a second position parallel to said shelf members when said shelf members are in said vertically aligned position, at least a portion of said nestable, wheel supported base frame means extending frontwardly from said upstanding side frame members, said shelf members and said side wall means when said shelf members are in said vertically aligned position and said side wall means is in said second position for nesting with another of said transport racks, said first support means for said first shelf member being located forwardly of said second support means and the pivot axes of said side wall means so that said first shelf member is spaced forwardly of both the said second position of said side wall means and of the said vertically aligned position of said second shelf member.

2. A nestable transport rack according to claim 1, wherein said second shelf member is spaced above said first shelf member.

3. A nestable transport rack according to claim 2, including first and second holding means for releaseably holding said first and second shelf members in said vertically aligned position.

4. A nestable transport rack according to claim 1, in-

cluding holding means for releasably holding said side wall means in said second position.

5. A nestable transport rack according to claim 3, wherein said first holding means comprises first clip means mounted on said side frame members and adapted to releasably engage said second shelf member for releasably holding said second shelf member to said upstanding side frame members.

6. A nestable transport rack according to claim 5, wherein said second holding means comprises second clip means secured to said first shelf member and pivotal therewith into and out of holding engagement with at least one upstanding side frame member.

7. A nestable transport rack according to claim 1, in-

cluding force receiving means extending laterally across the rear end of said base frame means and positioned at an elevation above the axes of said wheels substantially equal to the corresponding positioning of force receiving means so that a plurality of said transport racks can be moved by pushing on the rearwardmost one of said plurality.

8. A nestable transport rack according to claim 7, wherein said force receiving member is a plate mounted laterally between said side frame members.

9. A nestable transport rack according to claim 1, including also generally horizontally aligned plates arranged on the lower side of said base frame means and having a longitudinal dimension equal to the amount by which one of said racks projects from the other when same are fully nested, whereby said plates provide a positive stop to limit the amount of such nesting.

10. A nestable transport rack according to claim 9, wherein said plates are the plates on which said wheels are mounted.

11. A nestable transport rack, comprising frame means comprising nestable, wheel supported base frame means having a front end and a rear end, a pair of horizontally spaced, upstanding and parallel side frame members rigidly secured to said base frame means adjacent said rear end and extending upwardly therefrom to define a rigid L shaped frame; first shelf means pivotally secured with respect to said base frame means and pivotable between (1) a generally horizontally aligned first position extending at least partially over and above said wheel supported base means and (2) a vertical second position aligned with said upstanding side frame members, said first shelf means in said first position being supported on and by said base means;

second shelf means pivotally secured to said side frame members and spaced vertically upwardly from said first shelf means, said second shelf means being pivotable between a generally horizontally aligned first position parallel to said first shelf means in said first position and a vertically aligned second position parallel to said first shelf means when in its said second position;

first and second side wall means pivotally secured with respect to said frame means, said first and second side wall means being pivotable between (1) a first position wherein said side wall means are disposed adjacent opposite lateral sides of said first and second shelf means when said first and second shelf means are in said first positions and (2) a second position parallel to said first and second shelf means when said shelf means are in said second positions, means so limiting the pivotal movement of said side wall means away from said second position that same in said first position are directly above the upper surface of said first shelf means;

at least a portion of said nestable wheel supported base frame means extending frontwardly from said upstanding side frame members, said shelf means and said side wall means when said shelf means and said side wall means are all in said second positions for nesting with another of said transport racks.

12. A nestable transport rack, comprising:

frame means comprising nestable, wheel supported base frame means having a front end and a rear end, a pair of horizontally spaced, upstanding and parallel side frame members rigidly secured to said base frame means-adjacent said rear end and extending upwardly therefrom to define a rigid L- shaped frame;

first shelf means pivotally secured with respect to said base frame means and pivotable between (1) a load supporting first position extending generally parallel with said wheel supported base means and (2) a second position pivotally withdrawn'therefrom to permit nesting, said first shelf means in at least said first position being supported on and by said base means;

second shelf means pivotally secured to said frame members and spaced vertically upwardly from said first shelf means, said second shelf means being pivotable between a generally horizontally aligned first position parallel to said first shelf means in said first position and a vertically aligned second position;

first and second side wall means pivotally secured with respect to said frame means, said first and second side wall means being pivotable between (1) a first position wherein said side wall means are disposed adjacent opposite lateral sides of said first and second shelf means when said first and second shelf means are in said first positions and (2) a second position parallel to at least said second shelf means when said second shelf means is in said second position;

means so limiting the pivotal movement of said side wall means away from said second position that same in said first position are directly above the upper surface of said first shelf means when the latter are in said first position;

at least a portion of said nestable wheel supported base frame means extending frontwardly from said upstanding side frame members and said side wall means when said side wall means are in said second positions for nesting with another of said transport racks.

Claims

1. A nestable transport rack, comprising: frame means comprising nestable, wheel supported base frame means having a front end and a rear end, a pair of horizontally spaced, upstanding and parallel side frame members rigidly secured to said base frame means adjacent said rear end and extending upwardly therefrom to define an L-shaped frame; first and second vertically spaced shelf members, first and second support means secured fixedly with respect to said side frame members for pivotally supporting said first and second shelf members for movement between horizontally aligned and vertically aligned positions; side wall means pivotally secured to said side frame members and being pivotable between a first position wherein said side wall means are disposed adjacent opposite lateral sides of said shelf members and extend frontwardly of said side frame members wherein said shelf members are in said horizontally aligned position and a second position parallel to said shelf members when said shelf members are in said vertically aligned position, at least a portion of said nestable, wheel supported base frame means extending frontwardly from said upstanding side frame members, said shelf members and said side wall means when said shelf members are in said vertically aligned position and said side wall means is in said second position for nesting with another of said transport racks, said first support means for said first shelf member being located forwardly of said second support means and the pivot axes of said side wall means so that said first shelf member is spaced forwardly of both the said second position of said side wall means and of the said vertically aligned position of said second shelf member.

4. A nestable transport rack according to claim 1, including holding means for releasably holding said side wall means in said second position.

7. A nestable transport rack according to claim 1, including force receiving means extending laterally across the rear end of said base frame means and positioned at an elevation above the axes of said wheels substantially equal to the corresponding positioning of the forwardlymost projecting portion of said first shelf member whereby said first shelf member can abut said force receiving means so that a plurality of said transport racks can be moved by pushing on the rearwardmost one of said plurality.

11. A nestable transport rack, comprising: frame means comprising nestable, wheel supported base frame means having a front end and a rear end, a pair of horizontally spaced, upstanding and parallel side frame members rigidly secured to said base frame means adjacent said rear end and extending upwardly therefrom to define a rigid L-shaped frame; first shelf means pivotally secured with respect to said base frame means and pivotable between (1) a generally horizontally aligned first position extending at least partially over and above said wheel supported base means and (2) a vertical second position aligned with said upstanding side frame members, said first shelf means in said first position being supported on and by said base means; second shelf means pivotally secured to said side frame members and spaced vertically upwardly from said first shelf means, said second shelf means being pivotable between a generally horizontally aligned first position parallel to said first shelf means in said first position and a vertically aligned second position parallel to said first shelf means when in its said second position; first and second side wall means pivotally secured with respect to said frame means, said first and second side wall means being pivotable between (1) a first position wherein said side wall means are disposed adjacent opposite lateral sides of said first and second shelf means when said first and second shelf means are in said first positions and (2) a second position parallel to said first and second shelf means when said shelf means are in said second positions, means so limiting the pivotal movement of said side wall means away from said second position that same in said first position are directly above the upper surface of said first shelf means; at least a portion of said nestable wheel supported base frame means extending frontwardly from said upstanding side frame members, said shelf means and said side wall means when said shelf means and said side wall means are all in said second positions for nesting with another of said transport racks.

12. A nestable transport rack, comprising: frame means comprising nestable, wheel supported base frame means haviNg a front end and a rear end, a pair of horizontally spaced, upstanding and parallel side frame members rigidly secured to said base frame means adjacent said rear end and extending upwardly therefrom to define a rigid L-shaped frame; first shelf means pivotally secured with respect to said base frame means and pivotable between (1) a load supporting first position extending generally parallel with said wheel supported base means and (2) a second position pivotally withdrawn therefrom to permit nesting, said first shelf means in at least said first position being supported on and by said base means; second shelf means pivotally secured to said frame members and spaced vertically upwardly from said first shelf means, said second shelf means being pivotable between a generally horizontally aligned first position parallel to said first shelf means in said first position and a vertically aligned second position; first and second side wall means pivotally secured with respect to said frame means, said first and second side wall means being pivotable between (1) a first position wherein said side wall means are disposed adjacent opposite lateral sides of said first and second shelf means when said first and second shelf means are in said first positions and (2) a second position parallel to at least said second shelf means when said second shelf means is in said second position; means so limiting the pivotal movement of said side wall means away from said second position that same in said first position are directly above the upper surface of said first shelf means when the latter are in said first position; at least a portion of said nestable wheel supported base frame means extending frontwardly from said upstanding side frame members and said side wall means when said side wall means are in said second positions for nesting with another of said transport racks.