Moving cart assemblies

Abstract

The various aspects of the present invention are directed to moving carts and moving cart assemblies. One embodiment comprises a moving cart assembly with a plurality of interlocking, vertically stackable, storage modules. The modules of this embodiment comprise a frame, preferably having at least four sides, e.g., a top, a back, a right side and a left side. Each module also comprises something to enclose the interior space, such as a pair of doors or a drawer which is selectively slidable into the frame. The needs of a particular office can be readily accommodated by using greater or fewer numbers of drawer modules and/or cabinet-type modules.

What is claimed:  
     
         1 . A moving cart assembly comprising: 
 a plurality of interlocking, vertically stackable storage modules forming a moving cart, each of said modules comprising: 
 a frame comprising two substantially vertical sides, a back section and a horizontal support; and  
 means for enclosing the interior of each of said modules to form a plurality of enclosures; and  
 wheels to facilitate movement of said cart assembly.  
   
     
     
         2 . A moving cart assembly according to  claim 1  wherein at least one of said enclosing means comprises at least one door.  
     
     
         3 . A moving cart assembly according to  claim 2  wherein at least one of said enclosing means comprises a pair of doors.  
     
     
         4 . A moving cart assembly according to  claim 3  wherein said doors are supported by hinges located inside the enclosure.  
     
     
         5 . A moving cart assembly according to  claim 3  wherein said doors are supported by hinges located outside the enclosure.  
     
     
         6 . A moving cart assembly according to  claim 2  wherein said door comprises an identification slot.  
     
     
         7 . A moving cart assembly according to  claim 1  wherein at least one of said enclosing means comprises a drawer.  
     
     
         8 . A moving cart assembly according to  claim 7  wherein said drawer comprises rails spaced to support hanging files.  
     
     
         9 . A moving cart assembly according to  claim 8  comprising rails spaced to support at least two different sizes of hanging files.  
     
     
         10 . A moving cart assembly according to  claim 1  comprising a plurality of connectable carts and means for selectively connecting said carts.  
     
     
         11 . A moving cart assembly according to  claim 10  wherein said connecting means comprises at least one retractable hitch.  
     
     
         12 . A moving cart assembly according to  claim 10  wherein said connecting means comprises a retractable hitch on each cart.  
     
     
         13 . A moving cart assembly according to  claim 1  wherein a plurality of said modules comprise vertically-aligned support ribs.  
     
     
         14 . A moving cart assembly according to  claim 13  wherein at least one of said support ribs is located on said vertical sides of said modules.  
     
     
         15 . A moving cart assembly according to  claim 14  wherein at least some of said support ribs are located on external vertical sides of said modules.  
     
     
         16 . A moving cart assembly according to  claim 13  comprising support ribs located on at least one external, vertical surface of said frame.  
     
     
         17 . A moving cart assembly according to  claim 16  comprising support ribs located on at least one internal, vertical surface of said frame.  
     
     
         18 . A moving cart assembly according to  claim 17  wherein said support ribs are vertically tapered.  
     
     
         19 . A moving cart assembly according to  claim 1  comprising support ribs located on at least one internal, vertical surface of said frame.  
     
     
         20 . A moving cart assembly according to  claim 13  wherein said support ribs are vertically tapered.  
     
     
         21 . A moving cart assembly according to  claim 1  wherein a plurality of said modules comprise a plurality of receptacles and a corresponding plurality of protrusions wherein adjacent modules are vertically interconnected with a protrusion from one module received in a corresponding receptacle of an adjacent module.  
     
     
         22 . A moving cart assembly according to  claim 21  comprising means for securing a plurality of said modules together.  
     
     
         23 . A moving cart assembly according to  claim 22  wherein said securing means comprises an elongated member which passes vertically through portions of a plurality of modules of a cart.  
     
     
         24 . A moving cart assembly according to  claim 22  wherein said securing means comprises an elongated member extending vertically through portions of all modules of a cart.  
     
     
         25 . A moving cart assembly according to  claim 22  wherein said securing means comprises at least one tie-rod.  
     
     
         26 . A moving cart assembly according to  claim 22  wherein said securing means comprises a plurality of tie-rods.  
     
     
         27 . A moving cart assembly according to  claim 22  wherein said securing means comprises an elongated member which passes vertically through said protrusions of a plurality of modules of a cart.  
     
     
         28 . A moving cart assembly according to  claim 1  comprising means for securing a plurality of said modules together.  
     
     
         29 . A moving cart assembly according to  claim 1  comprising means for selectively locking said enclosing means.  
     
     
         30 . A moving cart assembly according to  claim 29  wherein said frames comprise projecting slots and said locking means comprises a bar which is selectively positionable in said slots.  
     
     
         31 . A moving cart assembly according to  claim 1  wherein said frames are vertically tapered.  
     
     
         32 . A moving cart assembly according to  claim 1  comprising a base.  
     
     
         33 . A moving cart assembly according to  claim 32  comprising at least one weight to enhance stability.  
     
     
         34 . A moving cart assembly according to  claim 32  wherein said base comprises means for connecting a cart to another cart.  
     
     
         35 . A moving cart assembly according to  claim 34  wherein said connecting means comprises at least one retractable hitch.  
     
     
         36 . A moving cart assembly according to  claim 35  wherein said connecting means comprises a plurality of retractable hitches.  
     
     
         37 . A moving cart assembly according to  claim 1  wherein said frame is an integrally molded element.  
     
     
         38 . A moving cart assembly according to  claim 37  wherein said frame comprises a material selected from the group consisting of polyethylene and polypropylene.  
     
     
         39 . A moving cart assembly according to  claim 37  wherein said frame comprises high density polyethylene structural foam.  
     
     
         40 . A moving cart assembly according to  claim 37  wherein said frame comprises polypropylene structural foam.  
     
     
         41 . A moving cart assembly according to  claim 37  wherein said frame comprises a structural foam plastic.  
     
     
         42 . A moving cart assembly according to  claim 1  wherein at least one of said modules is a cabinet module having an inside height of at least 20 inches.  
     
     
         43 . A moving cart assembly according to  claim 42  wherein a plurality of said modules are cabinet modules having an inside height of at least 20 inches.  
     
     
         44 . A moving cart assembly according to  claim 42  wherein at least one of said modules is a drawer module having an inside height of at least 11 inches.  
     
     
         45 . A moving cart assembly according to  claim 44  wherein a plurality of said modules are drawer modules having an inside height of at least 11 inches.  
     
     
         46 . A moving cart assembly according to  claim 42  comprising a plurality of cabinet modules each having an inside height of at least 20 inches and a plurality of drawer modules having an inside height of at least 11 inches.  
     
     
         47 . A moving cart assembly according to  claim 1  comprising a plurality of drawers disposed side-by-side on a cart.  
     
     
         48 . A moving cart assembly according to  claim 47  comprising a plurality of cabinets disposed side-by-side on a cart.  
     
     
         49 . A moving cart assembly according to  claim 1  wherein said frames comprise flanges and means for connecting flanges of adjacent frames.  
     
     
         50 . A moving cart assembly according to  claim 49  wherein said connecting means comprises nuts and bolts.  
     
     
         51 . A moving cart assembly according to  claim 1  further comprising means for locking said enclosing means.  
     
     
         52 . A moving cart assembly comprising a plurality of enclosed storage compartments and wheels to facilitate movement of said cart assembly.  
     
     
         53 . A moving cart assembly according to  claim 52  wherein at least one of said compartments comprises at least one door.  
     
     
         54 . A moving cart assembly according to  claim 53  wherein at least one of said compartments comprises a pair of doors.  
     
     
         55 . A moving cart assembly according to  claim 53  wherein said door is supported by hinges located inside the enclosure.  
     
     
         56 . A moving cart assembly according to  claim 53  wherein said door comprises an identification slot.  
     
     
         57 . A moving cart assembly according to  claim 52  wherein at least one of said enclosing means comprises a drawer.  
     
     
         58 . A moving cart assembly according to  claim 57  wherein said drawer comprises rails spaced to support hanging files.  
     
     
         59 . A moving cart assembly according to  claim 58  comprising rails spaced to support at least two different sizes of hanging files.  
     
     
         60 . A moving cart assembly according to  claim 52  comprising a plurality of connectable carts and means for selectively connecting said carts.  
     
     
         61 . A moving cart assembly according to  claim 60  wherein said connecting means comprises at least one retractable hitch.  
     
     
         62 . A moving cart assembly according to  claim 60  wherein said connecting means comprises a retractable hitch on each cart.  
     
     
         63 . A moving cart assembly according to  claim 61  wherein said cart assembly comprises a plurality of modules.  
     
     
         64 . A moving cart assembly according to  claim 63  wherein a plurality of said modules comprise vertically-aligned support ribs and at least one of said support ribs is located on vertical sides of said modules.  
     
     
         65 . A moving cart assembly according to  claim 64  wherein at least some of said support ribs are located on external vertical sides of said modules.  
     
     
         66 . A moving cart assembly according to  claim 64  comprising support ribs located on at least one external, vertical surface of said frame.  
     
     
         67 . A moving cart assembly according to  claim 66  comprising support ribs located on at least one internal, vertical surface of said frame.  
     
     
         68 . A moving cart assembly according to  claim 67  wherein said support ribs are vertically tapered.  
     
     
         69 . A moving cart assembly according to  claim 63  wherein a plurality of said modules comprise a plurality of receptacles and a corresponding plurality of protrusions wherein adjacent modules are vertically interconnected with a protrusion from one module received in a corresponding receptacle of an adjacent module.  
     
     
         70 . A moving cart assembly according to  claim 63  comprising means for securing a plurality of said modules together.  
     
     
         71 . A moving cart assembly according to  claim 70  wherein said securing means comprises an elongated member which passes vertically through portions of a plurality of modules of a cart.  
     
     
         72 . A moving cart assembly according to  claim 70  wherein said securing means comprises an elongated member extending vertically through portions of all modules of a cart.  
     
     
         73 . A moving cart assembly according to  claim 70  wherein said securing means comprises at least one tie-rod.  
     
     
         74 . A moving cart assembly according to  claim 1  comprising means for selectively locking said compartments.  
     
     
         75 . A moving cart assembly according to  claim 52  wherein said base comprises means for connecting a cart to another cart.  
     
     
         76 . A moving cart assembly according to  claim 75  wherein said connecting means comprises at least one retractable hitch.  
     
     
         77 . A moving cart assembly according to  claim 75  wherein said connecting means comprises a plurality of retractable hitches.  
     
     
         78 . A moving cart assembly according to  claim 52  wherein each compartment is an integrally molded element.  
     
     
         79 . A moving cart assembly according to  claim 52  wherein said assembly comprises a material selected from the group consisting of polyethylene and polypropylene.  
     
     
         80 . A moving cart assembly according to  claim 52  wherein said assembly comprises high density polyethylene structural foam.  
     
     
         81 . A moving cart assembly according to  claim 52  wherein said assembly comprises polypropylene structural foam.  
     
     
         82 . A moving cart assembly according to  claim 52  wherein said frame comprises a structural foam plastic.