Combination dolly-pallet

Abstract

The dolly-pallet of the present invention includes a load bearing deck that may be alternately supported by the retractable support skid or the wheel elements. Initial displacement of the skid during the retraction process is along an upward substantially vertical path. Once the retractable support skid is retracted such that the dolly-pallet is being supported by the wheel elements, the retractable support skid may be further displaced along an upward substantially arcuate path so as to move it away form the wheel elements, allowing them to swivel if they are so configured. In this way, the center of mass of the load is lowered vertically, thereby reducing stress on the displacement mechanism until the load is supported by the wheel elements.

1 . A combination dolly-pallet device comprising: 
 (a) a load bearing deck portion;    (b) a plurality of wheel elements attached in fixed relationship to said load bearing deck portion;    (c) at least one retractable contact surface mechanically linked to said load bearing deck portion; and    (d) at least one displacement mechanism associated with said retractable contact surface, said displacement mechanism configured to displace said retractable contact surface along a substantially vertical path between a support state in which at least of portion of the combination dolly-pallet device is supported by said retractable contact surface, and a retracted state in which at least a portion of the combination dolly-pallet device is supported by said plurality of wheel elements.    
   
   
       2 . The combination dolly-pallet device of  claim 1 , further including a fixed leg portion having an internal volume such that said at least one wheel element and said at least one displacement mechanism are at least partially deployed within said internal volume.  
   
   
       3 . The combination dolly-pallet device of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one wheel element is configured to swivel.  
   
   
       4 . The combination dolly-pallet device of  claim 3 , wherein said displacement mechanism is configured so as to displace said retractable contact surface to a position in which said at least one wheel element is free to swivel.  
   
   
       5 . The combination dolly-pallet device of  claim 4 , wherein said displacement mechanism is configured such that after said retractable contact surface is displaced along said substantially vertical path, said retractable contact surface is further displaced along a substantially arcuate path.  
   
   
       6 . The combination dolly-pallet device of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one retractable contact surface is configured as at least a first pair of retractable contact surfaces and said at least one displacement mechanism is configured as at least a first pair of displacement mechanisms, and said first pair of displacement mechanisms are mechanically linked so as to be substantially simultaneously actuated by a common actuation linkage.  
   
   
       7 . The combination dolly-pallet device of  claim 6 , wherein said first pair of retractable contact surfaces is interconnected so as to form a first retractable contact skid.  
   
   
       8 . The combination dolly-pallet device of  claim 7 , further including at least a second pair of interconnected retractable contact surfaces and at least a second pair of displacement mechanisms so as to form at least a second retractable contact skid.  
   
   
       9 . A method for interchanging a dolly-pallet between a non-rolling pallet state and a rolling dolly state, the method comprising: 
 (a) providing a load bearing deck portion;    (b) providing a plurality of wheel elements attached in fixed relationship to said load bearing deck portion;    (c) providing at least one retractable contact surface mechanically linked to said load bearing deck portion;    (d) providing at least one displacement mechanism associated with said retractable contact surface, and    (e) displacing said retractable contact surface along a substantially vertical path between a support state in which at least of portion of the combination dolly-pallet device is supported by said retractable contact surface, and a retracted state in which at least a portion of the combination dolly-pallet device is supported by said plurality of wheel elements.    
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , further including providing a fixed leg portion having an internal volume such that said at least one wheel element and said at least one displacement mechanism are at least partially deployed within said internal volume.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said at least one wheel element is implemented so as to swivel.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said displacement mechanism is implemented so as to displace said retractable contact surface to a position in which said at least one wheel element is free to swivel.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said displacement mechanism is implemented such that after said retractable contact surface is displaced along said substantially vertical path, said retractable contact surface is further displaced along a substantially arcuate path.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said at least one retractable contact surface is implemented as at least a first pair of retractable contact surfaces and said at least one displacement mechanism is configured as at least a first pair of displacement mechanisms, and said first pair of displacement mechanisms are mechanically linked so as to be substantially simultaneously actuated by a common actuation linkage.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , further including interconnecting said first pair of retractable contact surfaces is so as to form a first retractable contact skid.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , further including providing at least a second pair of interconnected retractable contact surfaces and at least a second pair of displacement mechanisms so as to form at least a second retractable contact skid.  
   
   
       17 . A combination dolly-pallet device comprising: 
 (a) a load bearing deck portion;    (b) a plurality of wheel elements attached in fixed relationship to said load bearing deck portion;    (c) at least one retractable contact surface mechanically linked to said load bearing deck portion; and    (d) at least one displacement mechanism associated with said retractable contact surface, said displacement mechanism configured to perform a two-stage displace of said retractable contact surface such that a first stage of said two-stage displacement is a high force/torque motion and a second stage of said two-stage displacement is a low force/torque motion.    
   
   
       18 . The combination dolly-pallet device of  claim 17 , wherein said first stage of said two-stage displacement is sufficient to displace said at least one retractable contact surface when said at least one retractable contact surface is under load.  
   
   
       19 . The combination dolly-pallet device of  claim 17 , wherein said second stage of said two-stage displacement is sufficient to displace said at least one retractable contact surface away from a region of said plurality of wheels when said at least one retractable contact surface is not under load.