Carrier

Abstract

A rectangular base body of a load support of a carrier has an adjacent pair of first lateral sides, and an adjacent pair of second lateral sides respectively connected to the first lateral sides. Each first lateral side is formed with inwardly extending first dovetail recesses spaced apart from each other, and first male dovetail portions, each of which is defined by an adjacent pair of the first dovetail recesses. Each second lateral side is formed with second male dovetail portions spaced apart from each other, shaped to correspond with the first dovetail recesses, and disposed on the second lateral sides at locations corresponding to those of the first dovetail recesses in the first lateral sides, and second dovetail recesses, each of which is defined by an adjacent pair of the second male dovetail portions, disposed at locations corresponding to those of the first male dovetail portions.

1 . A carrier comprising a load support that includes: 
 a rectangular base body having top and bottom sides, an adjacent pair of first lateral sides that extend between said top and bottom sides, and an adjacent pair of second lateral sides that extend between said top and bottom sides and that are respectively connected to said first lateral sides;    each of said first lateral sides being formed with a plurality of first dovetail recesses that are spaced apart from each other, each of said first dovetail recesses extending inwardly from a corresponding one of said first lateral sides and being open at said top and bottom sides of said base body, each of said first lateral sides being further formed with a plurality of first male dovetail portions that are spaced apart from each other, each of said first male dovetail portions being defined by an adjacent pair of said first dovetail recesses on the corresponding one of said first lateral sides, each of said first dovetail recesses being gradually enlarged in width inwardly of the corresponding one of said first lateral sides and being gradually reduced in width from said top side to said bottom side of said base body, each of said first male dovetail portions being a mirror image of one of said first dovetail recesses, being gradually reduced in width inwardly of the corresponding one of said first lateral sides, and being gradually enlarged in width from said top side to said bottom side of said base body;    each of said second lateral sides being formed with a plurality of second male dovetail portions that are spaced apart from each other, said second male dovetail portions being shaped to correspond with said first dovetail recesses and being disposed on said second lateral sides at locations corresponding to those of said first dovetail recesses in said first lateral sides, each of said second lateral sides being further formed with a plurality of second dovetail recesses that are spaced apart from each other, each of said second dovetail recesses being defined by an adjacent pair of said second male dovetail portions and being open at said top and bottom sides of said base body, said second dovetail recesses being shaped to correspond with said first male dovetail portions and being disposed at said second lateral sides at locations corresponding to those of said first male dovetail portions on said first lateral sides.    
   
   
       2 . The carrier as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said base body has four corner portions disposed respectively at junctions of said first and second lateral sides.  
   
   
       3 . The carrier as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein: 
 a first one of said corner portions is a recessed portion that extends from an endmost one of said first male dovetail portions on one of said first lateral sides to an endmost one of said first male dovetail portions on the other of said first lateral sides;    a second one of said corner portions is a recessed portion that extends from an endmost one of said second male dovetail portions on one of said second lateral sides to an endmost one of said second male dovetail portions on the other of said second lateral sides; and    each of third and fourth ones of said corner portions is a recessed portion that extends from another endmost one of said first male dovetail portions on one of said first lateral sides to another endmost one of said second male dovetail portions on one of said second lateral sides.    
   
   
       4 . The carrier as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said load support further includes a plurality of wheels mounted on said bottom side of said base body.  
   
   
       5 . The carrier as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said load support further includes a plurality of anchor members for fastening said base body to a surface.  
   
   
       6 . The carrier as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a riser having said base body of said load support mounted removably thereon.  
   
   
       7 . The carrier as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein said base body has a plurality of pin holes formed through said top and bottom sides, said riser having a top side formed with a plurality of positioning pins that are inserted removably into said pin holes.  
   
   
       8 . The carrier as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said base body has a central opening formed through said top and bottom sides.  
   
   
       9 . A modular carrier comprising a plurality of load supports, each of which includes: 
 a rectangular base body having top and bottom sides, an adjacent pair of first lateral sides that extend between said top and bottom sides, and an adjacent pair of second lateral sides that extend between said top and bottom sides and that are respectively connected to said first lateral sides;    each of said first lateral sides being formed with a plurality of first dovetail recesses that are spaced apart from each other, each of said first dovetail recesses extending inwardly from a corresponding one of said first lateral sides and being open at said top and bottom sides of said base body, each of said first lateral sides being further formed with a plurality of first male dovetail portions that are spaced apart from each other, each of said first male dovetail portions being defined by an adjacent pair of said first dovetail recesses on the corresponding one of said first lateral sides, each of said first dovetail recesses being gradually enlarged in width inwardly of the corresponding one of said first lateral sides and being gradually reduced in width from said top side to said bottom side of said base body, each of said first male dovetail portions being a mirror image of one of said first dovetail recesses, being gradually reduced in width inwardly of the corresponding one of said first lateral sides, and being gradually enlarged in width from said top side to said bottom side of said base body;    each of said second lateral sides being formed with a plurality of second male dovetail portions that are spaced apart from each other, said second male dovetail portions being shaped to correspond with said first dovetail recesses and being disposed on said second lateral sides at locations corresponding to those of said first dovetail recesses in said first lateral sides, each of said second lateral sides being further formed with a plurality of second dovetail recesses that are spaced apart from each other, each of said second dovetail recesses being defined by an adjacent pair of said second male dovetail portions and being open at said top and bottom sides of said base body, said second dovetail recesses being shaped to correspond with said first male dovetail portions and being disposed at said second lateral sides at locations corresponding to those of said first male dovetail portions on said first lateral sides;    said first dovetail recesses and said first male dovetail portions on one of said first lateral sides of said base body of one of said load supports interlocking removably and respectively with said second male dovetail portions and said second dovetail recesses on one of said second lateral sides of said base body of an adjacent one of said load supports.    
   
   
       10 . The modular carrier as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein said base body of each of said load supports has four corner portions disposed respectively at junctions of said first and second lateral sides.  
   
   
       11 . The modular carrier as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein: 
 a first one of said corner portions is a recessed portion that extends from an endmost one of said first male dovetail portions on one of said first lateral sides to an endmost one of said first male dovetail portions on the other of said first lateral sides;    a second one of said corner portions is a recessed portion that extends from an endmost one of said second male dovetail portions on one of said second lateral sides to an endmost one of said second male dovetail portions on the other of said second lateral sides; and    each of third and fourth ones of said corner portions is a recessed portion that extends from another endmost one of said first male dovetail portions on one of said first lateral sides to another endmost one of said second male dovetail portions on one of said second lateral sides.    
   
   
       12 . The modular carrier as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein each of said load supports further includes a plurality of wheels mounted on said bottom side of said base body.  
   
   
       13 . The modular carrier as claimed in  claim 9 , further comprising at least one stacking plate stacked on at least one of said load supports, and a plurality of positioning pins for retaining said stacking plate on said at least one of said load supports.  
   
   
       14 . The modular carrier as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein said stacking plate has a construction identical to that of said load supports.  
   
   
       15 . The modular carrier as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein: said base body of each of said load supports has a plurality of pinholes formed through said top and bottom sides, each of said pin holes having a large-diameter upper hole portion, a small-diameter lower hole portion, and an annular shoulder between said upper and lower hole portions; 
 each of said positioning pins having a stop portion that is disposed on said shoulder of a respective one of said pin holes, an insert portion that extends from said stop portion into said lower hole portion of the respective one of said pin holes, and a coupling portion that extends from said stop portion to engage removably said stacking plate.    
   
   
       16 . The carrier as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein said pin holes are arranged proximate to said first and second lateral sides of said base body, adjacent ones of said pin holes having a uniform spacing therebetween.  
   
   
       17 . The carrier as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein each of said load supports further includes a plurality of anchor members for fastening said base body to a surface.  
   
   
       18 . The carrier as claimed in  claim 9 , further comprising at least one riser having said base body of at least one of said load supports mounted removably thereon.  
   
   
       19 . The carrier as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein said base body of each of said load supports has a plurality of pin holes formed through said top and bottom sides, said riser having a top side formed with a plurality of positioning pins that are inserted removably into said pin holes in said base body of said at least one of said load supports.