Stackable rolling rack apparatus

Abstract

A stackable rolling rack apparatus capable of being stacked on a similar rolling rack apparatus includes a base unit having a generally horizontal frame assembly and a plurality of upright side members. Wheels are mounted to the base unit and extend below the lower surface of the frame assembly. Mounting plates are attached to the base unit such that upon stacking each mounting plate cooperatively engages an upright side member of the lower similar rolling rack apparatus. The apparatus includes support assemblies pivotally connected to the base unit. Each support assembly has an upright position and a lowered position. In the upright position each support assembly extends vertically above an upper end portion of the upright side members, and in the lowered position each support assembly is lower than the upper end portion of the upright side members.

1 . A stackable rolling rack apparatus capable of being stacked on a similar rolling rack apparatus, the stackable rolling rack apparatus comprising: 
 a base unit having a generally horizontal frame assembly and a plurality of upright side members, said frame assembly having an upper surface and a lower surface;    a plurality of wheels mounted to said base unit, said plurality of wheels extending below said lower surface of said frame assembly;    a plurality of mounting plates attached to said base unit,    wherein upon stacking, each said mounting plate cooperatively engages an upright side member of the lower similar rolling rack apparatus; and    a pair of support assemblies, each said support assembly pivotally connected to said base unit,    wherein each said support assembly has an upright position and a lowered position, in said upright position each said support assembly extends vertically above an upper end portion of said upright side members, and in said lowered position each said support assembly is lower than said upper end portion of said upright side members.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of upright side members are mounted on said upper surface of said frame assembly and said plurality of mounting plates are attached to said lower surface of said frame assembly.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each said mounting plate has an opening vertically aligned with one said upright side member.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein each said mounting plate opening is slightly larger than said upper end portion of said upright side members.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein each said mounting plate opening is adapted to receive an end portion of one said upright side member upon stacking of the rack apparatus.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 said frame assembly having at least one longitudinal rail member having first and second ends; and    said base unit including a plurality of upright mounting plates, at least one said upright mounting plate attached to said base unit at each end of at least one said longitudinal rail member,    wherein each said support assembly is pivotally connected to at least one said upright mounting plate.    
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each said support assembly in the upright position is locked in place with a spring-biased pin.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each said support assembly remains connected to said base unit during the transition between the upright and lowered positions.  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 said frame assembly having at least one longitudinal rail member having first and second ends; and    a first pair of upright mounting plates attached to said base unit at said first end of said longitudinal rail member, and a second pair of upright mounting plates attached to said base unit at said second end of said longitudinal rail member, each said pair of upright mounting plates including a plunger assembly having a spring-biased pin for locking said support assembly in the upright position.    
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , further comprising a pivot pin pivotally connecting one said support assembly to one said pair of upright mounting plates.  
   
   
       11 . A stackable rolling rack apparatus comprising: 
 a base unit having a pair of transverse end members attached to opposite ends of at least one rail member, each said transverse end member having first and second ends, said base unit including an upright side member at each of said first and second ends of said transverse end members;    a plurality of mounting plates, one said mounting plate attached at or near said end of each said transverse end member, each said mounting plate having an opening vertically aligned with one said upright side member; and    a plurality of wheels, one said wheel attached to each said mounting plate.    
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein each said transverse end member has an upper surface and a lower surface and said upright side member is attached to said upper surface and said mounting plate is attached to said lower surface.  
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein each said mounting plate opening is sized to receive an end portion of one said upright side member.  
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein each said mounting plate opening is adapted to receive an end portion of one said upright side member upon stacking of the rack apparatus.  
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , further comprising: 
 said at least one rail member includes a pair of center rail members;    said base unit includes a first pair and second pair of upright mounting plates, said first pair of upright mounting plates attached to said base unit at a first end of said pair of center rail members and said second pair of upright mounting plates attached at a second end of said pair of center rail members; and    a pair of support assemblies, each said support assembly pivotally connected to one said pair of upright mounting plates.    
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein each said support assembly has an upright position and a lowered position, in said upright position each said support assembly extends vertically above the upper end of said upright side members and in said lowered position each said support assembly is substantially horizontal and lower than the upper end of said upright side members.  
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein said support assembly remains connected to said base unit during the transition between the upright and lowered positions.  
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein each said pair of upright mounting plates includes a plunger assembly having a spring-biased pin for locking said support assembly in the upright position.  
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , further comprising a bolt connecting said support assembly to one said pair of upright mounting plates, said bolt providing a pivot connection between said support assembly and said pair of upright mounting plates.  
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein each said pair of upright mounting plates includes a plunger assembly having a spring-biased pin for locking said support assembly in the upright position.