Low profile dolly

Abstract

A dolly consists of a generally planar platform having opposed front and rear ends, lateral sides, an upper face and a lower face. The wheels are configured to contact a surface so as to support the platform above the surface when the platform is placed on the surface. The dolly can have a reversible mode or a single platform mode. The platform is relatively low to the ground, and enables one operator to arrange and transport heavy loads with the dolly.

1 . A dolly comprising:
 a generally planar platform having opposed front and rear ends, lateral sides, an upper face and a lower face;   a bumper at least partially surrounding the platform and protruding above said upper face when said upper face is facing upwardly;   a plurality of wheels mounted to the dolly, said wheels being configured to contact a surface so as to support said platform above the surface when the dolly is placed on the surface in a reversible fashion, wherein in a first mode the upper face faces upwardly and in a second mode the lower face faces upwardly, said platform being supported by said wheels above the surface when in either of said first mode or said second mode for selectively carrying a load;   said wheels being configured such that the platform is relatively close to the surface in said first mode and such that the platform is relatively higher off the surface when in said second mode.   
     
     
         2 . A dolly according to  claim 1 , wherein said platform has an at least partially unobstructed lower face to permit said load to overhang the edges of said lower face when said dolly is positioned in said second mode. 
     
     
         3 . A dolly according to  claim 1 , wherein said platform consists of a rectangular sheet having at least one cut out portion. 
     
     
         4 . A dolly according to  claim 1 , wherein when in said first mode, said platform is no higher than 1 inch above said surface. 
     
     
         5 . A dolly according to  claim 1 , wherein when in said first mode, said platform is no higher than ¾ inch above said surface. 
     
     
         6 . A dolly according to  claim 1  wherein the upper face of said platform further comprises a pair of smooth runners spaced apart by a width corresponding to the distance between the feet of a standard filing cabinet. 
     
     
         7 . A dolly according to  claim 1  wherein said plurality of wheels comprise at least two wheels mounted at opposing lateral sides of the dolly at or adjacent to the front end of the platform, each wheel being positioned and configured to extend beyond both the upper face and the lower face of the platform and bumper so as to contact the surface when said platform is in either of said first mode or said second mode. 
     
     
         8 . A dolly according to  claim 1  wherein said plurality of wheels comprise at least one vertically opposing wheel set mounted to said dolly, said wheel set comprising a first wheel positioned and configured to support said dolly in said first mode and a second wheel being positioned and configured so as to support said dolly in said second mode, said first wheel and said second wheel each having an axis of rotation wherein said respective axis of rotation are parallel to each other and displaced vertically relative to each other. 
     
     
         9 . A dolly according to  claim 8  wherein said first wheel and said second wheel are directly opposed to each other in a stacked vertical array, said second wheel projecting upwardly and said first wheel projecting downwardly when said dolly is in said first mode. 
     
     
         10 . A dolly according to  claim 1  wherein two of said wheel sets are spaced horizontally from each other. 
     
     
         11 . A dolly according to  claim 8  further comprising a shelf mounted to the bumper. 
     
     
         12 . A dolly according to  claim 11  wherein the at least one wheel set is mounted to the shelf. 
     
     
         13 . A dolly according to  claim 8  wherein said wheel sets are comprised of castor wheels. 
     
     
         14 . A dolly according to  claim 1 , wherein the bumper includes an end wall member located at the rear end of the platform and a first wall member and a second wall member located at the opposing lateral sides of the platform. 
     
     
         15 . A dolly comprising:
 a generally planar platform having opposed front and rear ends, lateral sides, an upper face and a lower face;   an intermediate panel coupled to said platform at about ninety degrees;   a raised rear end coupled to said intermediate panel at about ninety degrees, wherein said raised rear end is about parallel to said platform;   a plurality of wheels mounted to the dolly, said wheels being configured to contact a surface so as to support said platform above the surface when the dolly is placed on the surface wherein the upper face faces upwardly,   said platform and said raised rear end being supported by said wheels above the surface for selectively carrying a load;   said wheels being configured such that the platform is relatively close to the surface.   
     
     
         16 . A dolly according to  claim 15 , wherein said platform consists of a rectangular sheet having at least one cut out portion. 
     
     
         17 . A dolly according to  claim 15 , wherein said platform is no higher than 1 inch above said surface.