Apparatus and method for forming a cart

Abstract

A cart for transporting livestock equipment having a first and a second stall dividers and two dollies. The first dolly includes a horizontal member, a pair of wheels, and a pair of outer support members. The second dolly includes a horizontal member, a pair of wheels, and a pair of outer support members. To form a cart, an outer support member of the first dolly is received in one of the vertical members of the first stall divider, and the other outer support member of the first dolly is received in the opening of one of the vertical members of the second stall divider. An outer support member of the second dolly is received in the first stall divider and the outer support member of the second dolly is received in the opening of the second stall divider.

1 . A cart for transporting equipment for showing livestock, comprising:
 a first stall divider having at least two vertical members and a plurality of horizontal members interconnecting the vertical members with one another, the vertical members having an opening in at least one end thereof; and   a second stall divider having at least two vertical members and a plurality of horizontal members connecting the vertical members with one another, the vertical members of the second stall divider having an opening in at least one end thereof;   wherein the first and second stall dividers are positionable in a spaced apart, parallel relationship to define at least a portion of a livestock holding pen;   a first dolly including a horizontal member, a pair of wheels extending from a bottom side of the horizontal member, and a pair of outer support members extending upwardly from the horizontal member; and   a second dolly including a horizontal member, a pair of wheels extending from a bottom side of the horizontal member, and a pair of outer support members extending upwardly from the horizontal members,   wherein one of the outer support members of the first dolly is slidingly received in the opening of one of the vertical members of the first stall divider and the other outer support member of the first dolly is slidingly received in the opening of one of the vertical members of the second stall divider; and wherein one of the outer support members of the second dolly is slidingly received in the opening of the other vertical member of the first stall divider and the other outer support member of the second dolly is slidingly received in the opening of the other vertical member of the second stall divider, such that the first and second stall dividers are rollingly supported by the first and second dollies in a substantially parallel, spaced apart relationship to define an equipment storage space therebetween.   
     
     
         2 . The cart of  claim 1  wherein the vertical members of each of the first and second stall dividers have an opening in each end thereof, and wherein the cart further comprises:
 a first L-shaped member having a first leg and a second leg, a distal end of the first leg being receivable in the opening of the upper end of the vertical member of the first stall divider; and 
 a second L-shaped member having a first leg and a second leg, a distal end of the second leg being receivable in the opening of the upper end of one of the vertical members of the second stall divider and a distal end of the second leg of the second L-shaped member being connectable to a distal end of the second leg of the first L-shaped bar, 
 wherein one of the first and second legs of the first L-shaped member extends from the first dolly to the second dolly and wherein one of the first and second legs of the second L-shaped member extends from the first dolly to the second dolly. 
 
     
     
         3 . The cart of  claim 2  wherein one of the first and second legs of the first L-shaped member extends upwardly from one of the first and second dollies and wherein one of the first and second legs of the second L-shaped member extends upwardly from one of the first and second dollies. 
     
     
         4 . The cart of  claim 2  wherein the first dolly further comprises:
 a first retaining member connected to the upper side of the horizontal member, one of the first and second leg members of the first L-shaped member being received in the first retaining member; and 
 a second retaining member connected to the upper side of the horizontal member, one of the first and second leg members of the second L-shaped member being received in the second retaining member. 
 
     
     
         5 . The cart of  claim 2  wherein each of the first and second L-shaped members has an opening at a proximal end of one of the first and second legs, and wherein the second dolly further comprises a pair of inner support members extending upwardly from the horizontal member and positioned between the outer support members, one of the inner support members of the second dolly being slidingly received in the opening at the proximal end of one of the first and second leg members of the first L-shaped member and the other inner support member of the second dolly being slidingly received in the opening at the proximal end of one of the first and second leg members of the second L-shaped member. 
     
     
         6 . A kit for forming a cart for transporting equipment for showing livestock, the equipment comprising:
 a first stall divider having at least two vertical members and a plurality of horizontal members interconnecting the vertical members with one another, the vertical members having an opening in at least one end thereof; and   a second stall divider having at least two vertical members and a plurality of horizontal members connecting the vertical members with one another, the vertical members of the second stall divider having an opening in at least one end thereof, wherein the first and second stall dividers are positionable in a spaced apart, parallel relationship to define at least a portion of a livestock holding pen, the kit comprising:
 a first dolly including a horizontal member, a pair of wheels extending from a bottom side of the horizontal member, and a pair of outer support members extending upwardly from the horizontal member; 
 a second dolly including a horizontal member, a pair of wheels extending from a bottom side of the horizontal member, and a pair of outer support members extending upwardly from the horizontal members, 
 wherein one of the outer support members of the first dolly is slidingly receivable in the opening of one of the vertical members of the first stall divider and the other outer support member of the first dolly is slidingly receivable in the opening of one of the vertical members of the second stall divider; and wherein one of the outer support members of the second dolly is slidingly receivable in the opening of the other vertical member of the first stall divider and the other outer support member of the second dolly is slidingly receivable in the opening of the other vertical member of the second stall divider, such that the first and second stall dividers are rollingly supportable by the first and second dollies in a substantially parallel, spaced apart relationship to define an equipment storage space therebetween. 
   
     
     
         7 . The kit of  claim 6  wherein the vertical members of each of the first and second stall dividers have an opening in each end thereof, and wherein the kit further comprises:
 a first L-shaped member having a first leg and a second leg, a distal end of the first leg being receivable in the opening of the upper end of the vertical member of the first stall divider; and 
 a second L-shaped member having a first leg and a second leg, a distal end of the second leg being receivable in the opening of the upper end of one of the vertical members of the second stall divider and a distal end of the second leg of the second L-shaped member being connectable to a distal end of the second leg of the first L-shaped bar, 
 wherein one of the first and second legs of the first L-shaped member are extendable from the first dolly to the second dolly and wherein one of the first and second legs of the second L-shaped member are extendable from the first dolly to the second dolly. 
 
     
     
         8 . The kit of  claim 7  wherein one of the first and second legs of the first L-shaped member is extendable extend upwardly from one of the first and second dollies and wherein one of the first and second legs of the second L-shaped member is extendable upwardly from one of the first and second dollies. 
     
     
         9 . The kit of  claim 7  wherein the first dolly further comprises:
 a first retaining member connectable to the upper side of the horizontal member, one of the first and second leg members of the first L-shaped member being receivable in the first retaining member; and 
 a second retaining member connectable to the upper side of the horizontal member, one of the first and second leg members of the second L-shaped member being receivable in the second retaining member. 
 
     
     
         10 . The kit of  claim 7  wherein each of the first and second L-shaped members has an opening at a proximal end of one of the first and second legs, and wherein the second dolly further comprises a pair of inner support members extending upwardly from the horizontal member and positioned between the outer support members, one of the inner support members of the second dolly being slidingly receivable in the opening at the proximal end of one of the first and second leg members of the first L-shaped member and the other inner support member of the second dolly being slidingly receivable in the opening at the proximal end of one of the first and second leg members. 
     
     
         11 . A cart for transporting equipment for showing livestock, comprising:
 a livestock chute comprising:
 a bottom section having a rear end and a forward end, the bottom section having two or more bottom horizontal bars; 
 a top section having a rear end and a forward end, the top section having two or more horizontal bars; 
 at least two rear vertical support members extending between the rear end of the bottom section and the rear end of the top section in a spaced apart relationship relative to one another to define a livestock receiving opening; and 
 a head gate extending between the forward end of the bottom section and the forward end of the top section to support such that the bottom section, the top section, the rear vertical support members, and the head gate cooperate to define an equipment storage space; and 
   a plurality of castor assemblies detachably attached to the bottom horizontal bars of the bottom section such that the livestock chute is rollingly supported by the castor assemblies.