US3778099A

US3778099A - Cart

Info

Publication number: US3778099A
Application number: US00285089A
Authority: US
Inventors: H Rogove; R Rogove
Original assignee: Remember When Sweet Shop Inc
Current assignee: Remember When Sweet Shop Inc
Priority date: 1972-08-30
Filing date: 1972-08-30
Publication date: 1973-12-11
Anticipated expiration: 1990-12-11

Abstract

A vending cart construction is described as including a base and a rotatable display member upstanding from and rotatably attached to the base. Rotation of the display member is provided by a motor means. The base is mounted on a conventional carriage structure and includes outer and inner walls defining a forward storage space and a motor means storage space. A transparent display cover encircles the display member for the purpose of defining therewith an effectively air-tight display space. A door is included in the display cover to allow access to the display space.

Description

United States Patent [1 1 Rogove et al.

[ 1 Dec. 11, 1973 CART [75] Inventors: Harry Rogove; Roslyn Rogove, both of Bayside, NY.

[73] Assignee: Remember When Sweet Shop, Inc.,

Valley Stream, NY.

122] Filed; Aug. 30, I972 [2]] Appl. No.: 285,089

[52] U.S. Cl. 296/21, 40/30 [51] Int. Cl B60p 3/02 [58] Field of Search 296/21, 22, 23

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Vogel 296/21 Primary Examiner-Philip Goodman Attorney-Stanley J. Yavner [57] ABSTRACT A vending cart construction is described as including a base and a rotatable display member upstanding from and rotatably attached to the base. Rotation of the display member is provided by a motor means. The base is mounted on a conventional carriage structure and includes outer and inner walls defining a forward storage space and a motor means storage space. A transparent display cover encircles the display member for the purpose of defining therewith an effectively airtight display space. A door is included in the display cover to allow access to the display space.

6 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTED DEC 1 1 I975 SHEET 2 W 2 CART This invention relates primarily to display constructions and more particularly to portable and rotatable display carts for displaying and vending perishable items such as foodstuffs.

One of the most effective vending schemes in use today is the portable foodstuffs vending business, whereby a small cart or the like is used to transport and dispense foodstuffs such as hot dogs or more exotic foods to the public. Most such vending carts include a three-wheel carriage system and means for storing the foodstuffs in the main body member of the cart. However, such carts are usually unattractive and suffer further from the disadvantage'of the impossibility of displaying the foodstuffs sold. The buying public usually observes the foodstuffs only after it has been ordered and paid for. With todays emphasis on consumer protection, it is especially important to properly display the food to the public during their consideration of whether or not to purchase the item.

Accordingly, a primary object of the present invention is to provide an attractive vending cart whose construction affords an opportunity for observation of the product prior to sale.

A further and more particular object is to provide a vending cart construction which not only displays the foodstuffs sold, but provides the function of protecting the vended items from spoilage and dust during display.

A still further object is to provide a vending cart which affords three hundred sixty degree rotatable display of the foodstuffs sold from any particular vantage point around the cart.

These and other objects are accomplished in one preferred embodiment of the present invention which features a vending cart constructed to provide rotatable display by use of a source of power and a rotatable display member. The venting cart includes a base member which is mounted upon a carriage structure for transportation of the cart and has upstanding therefrom a rotatable display member operated by connection to motor means within the base member. The rotatable display member is mounted within a display member cover which encircles the display member and is transparent for viewing the items mounted therein on the display member. The display member cover is fixed with respect to the base member and provides a total enclosure in cooperation with the base member such that foodstuffs and the like mounted therewithin are protected against the elements and in one embodiment of the invention provides insulation for such foodstuffs. The display member cover further includes a door or the like for providing'access to the displayed foodstuffs.

The above brief description as well as further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more fully appreciated by reference to the following detailed description of a preferred, but nonetheless illustrative embodiment, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front and side perspective view of a vending cart according tothe present invention showing particularly the exterior construction thereof and the rotatable display member within a transparent display member cover;

FIG. 2 is a side sectional view thereof taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1 and showing particularly the mounting and construction of the rotatable display member and the motor means for driving the display member;

FIG. 3 is a top sectional view thereof taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2 and showing particularly the cover door included within the display member cover for providing access to the display member; and

FIG. 4 is a partial, top sectional view of the motor means space defined by the base member and the motor means located therewithin.

Referring in particular to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, a vending cart is shown as including a base member, generally designated 10 mounted upon a carriage structure, generally designated 12. The base member includes side walls 14, a front wall 16 and a back wall 18. Base member 10 further includes a top wall 20 and a bottom wall 22 which define with said side, front and back walls, a base member storage space generally designated 24 (see FIGS. 2 and 4). The aforementioned

outer walls

14, 16, 20 and 22 are used in conjunction with an inner wall 26 to define a forward storage space 24' (FIG. 2) within the base member 10.

Carriage structure 12 is mounted below base member 10 by means of

struts

28, 30. Struts 28 are fixedly attached to bottom wall 22 of base member 10 so that an axle 32 therethrough provides a mounting means for wheels 34.

As shown in more detail in FIG. 2, strut 30 is attached to bottom wall 22 of base member 10 by rivet 36 or the like, which, with washers 38, provides a rotatable adjustment of a forward single wheel 40.

Thus, by use of wheel 40 and a forward handle 42 affixed to side walls 14 of the base member 10, the vending cart may be pushed and pulled in a multitude of directions.

Furthermore, as with conventional carts, the storage space 24 defined by the outer walls of base member 10 is accessible by means of forward sliding doors 44 and rear sliding doors 46. More particularly, forward sliding doors 44 provide access to forward storage space 24 and rear sliding doors 46 provide access to a motor means storage space 24" which encloses motor means, generally designated 50. Motor means 50 will be described hereinafter both by reference to its construction and function with respect to driving a rotatable display member, generally designated 60, which will now be described by reference to all of the figures of the drawings.

Display member 60 includes a display base 62 including upstanding pegs 64 and a lower display member piece 66, defining lower mounting holes 68 for mating with pegs 64. Thus, lower display member piece 66 is fixedly attached to display base 62 for rotation. Furthermore, top surface 70, defined by lower display member piece 66 is usable as a display surface for food container 72 or the like.

Other display member pieces 66 are mounted in the same manner to provide multiple display surfaces, with each display member piece 66' including and defining lower holes 68' for mating with upstanding pegs 64' protruding from the next lower display member piece 66.

For balance or aesthetic considerations, the diameter of circular display surface 70' of an upper display member piece 66' is made less than the diameter of the lower display surface 70. Conversely, all display surface diameters 70, 70', may be of the same diameter and/or of a shape other than circular.

Rotation of display member 60, as previously mentioned, is provided by motor means 50 which includes bushings 52 fixedly attached to display base 62 and further connected by shaft 54 to pulley 56, said bushings, shaft and pulley comprising a drive member for the motor means. The motor means 50 further includes a motor 58, a gear box 57 and a belt 59 for connecting the motor 58 through gear box 57 to the drive member of motor means 50.

More specifically, gear box 57 is of conventional design to provide a reduced rotation of display member 60 with respect to rotation of motor 58.

Motor 58 is manually operated by means of switch 80, connected between motor 58 and a source of power (not shown) by power source connection 82. Switch 80 may be of the conventional toggle switch type whereby motion of handle 80' in one direction energizes and operates motor 58, whereas motion of the switch handle 80' in another direction causes motor 58 to cease operation. I

Surrounding and enclosing display member 60 is a display member cover generally designated 90, which includes display member cover base 92 defining grooves for mounting transparent cover 94 in an upstandingorientation with respect to base member 10. Transparent cover 94 may be further braced and supported by upstanding braces 96. A top cover member, generally designated 98, is provided in the construction of cover member 90 and includes a decorative cover top member 98' and a transparent cover top member 98".

Thus, with the slight exception of clearance space 100 (FIG. 2) between rotating display base 62 and display member cover base 92, the enclosure for display member 60 is effectively air-tight and thus preservative of any foodstuffs or the like located and displayed therewithin. Furthermore, dust and other harmful environmental effects such as weather are kept from the displayed products of the vending cart.

Decorative value is added to the vending cart by means of canopy 110 which is mounted upon canopy struts 112 fixed to the top of display cover member 90. Canopy 110 also provides the function of blocking out direct sunlight from foodstuffs 72 displayed within the vending cart.

In order to provide a more thorough understanding of the construction of a vending cart according to the present invention, a brief description of the operation and use thereof will now be provided: A vendor moves his vending cart to a desired location by pushing the cart with handle 42. Carriage structure 12 is used both to support and transport the vending cart by means of two large rear wheels 34 which are rotatable in one plane only. Forward wheel 40 is used for turning the cart by means of rivet 36 which both mounts and makes laterally rotatable the forward wheel assembly.

Upon reaching the desired vending location, the vendor throws toggle switch handle 80' to commence operation of motor 58. Motor 58 can be connected by power source connection 82 to either a battery or to a more permanent power source if it is available at the location. If a battery is the power source used, motor operation can be initiated even while the vending cart is in transit.

Upon initiation of motor operation, by means of gear reduction box 57, display means 60 are caused to rotate at a rotational speed less than that of motor 58.

Foodstuffs 72 are thus displayed to a purchaser fixed with respect to the vending cart. In other words, the prospective purchaser obtains a three hundred sixty degree view of all foodstuffs mounted anywhere on display surfaces 70,

When a purchaser makes his choice, the vendor obtains access to foodstuffs 72 by means of cover door 114 which slides along track 114' defined by display member cover base 92.

Replenishment of the displayed foodstuffs 72 is accomplished by use of forward storage space 24' where a stock of replenishment items are stored. The rear storage space 24" is used, as previously described, to house motor means 50 and doors 46 are operable to obtain access to motor means 50 for purposes of replacement, repair or adjustment of all or a part of the motor means.

What is claimed is:

l. A vending cart for operation by a source of power comprising a base member, means mounting said base member for imparting motion thereof relative to the ground support for said cart, a display member upstanding from said base member and rotatable relative thereto, and motor means connected to said source of power and said display member, arranged and adapted to cause rotation of said display member, said display member including a plurality of removable display member pieces, each defining display surfaces, said display member pieces each defining bottom surfaces and upstanding pegs protruding from one of said surfaces, said other surface defining mating peg holes for interconnection of said display member pieces.

2. A vending cart for operation by a source of power comprising a base member, means mounting said base member for imparting motion thereof relative to the ground support for said cart, a display member upstanding from said base member and rotatable relative thereto, and motor means connected to said source of power and said display member, arranged and adapted to cause rotation of said display member, said motor means including a drive member fixed with respect to said display member and further including a gear box, a motor and a belt adapted and arranged to rotate said drive member, said motor being connected to a source of power for driving said gear box and imparting reduced rotative motion to said belt which is connected to said drive member, said motor means including switch means connected to said motor and said source of power for selectively causing rotating motion of said display member.

3. A vending cart for operation by a source of power comprising a base member, means mounting said base member for imparting motion thereof relative to the ground support for said cart, a display member upstanding from said base member and rotatable relative thereto, and motor means connected to said source of power and said display member, arranged and adapted to cause rotation of said display member, said vending cart further including a display member cover encircling said display member and upstanding and fixed with respect to said base member, said display member cover including a display member cover top which with the balance of said display member cover and said display member provides an effectively air-tight display space defined therewithin.

4. The invention according to claim 3 wherein said display member cover includes a track and a cover ground support for said cart, a display member upstanding from said base member and rotatable relative thereto, and motor means connected to said source of power and said display member, arranged and adapted to cause rotation of said display member, said base member including outer walls and an inner wall to define therewithin a storage space.

Claims

1. A vending cart for operation by a source of power comprising a base member, means mounting said base member for imparting motion thereof relative to the ground support for said cart, a display member upstanding from said base member and rotatable relative thereto, and motor means connected to said source of power and said display member, arranged and adapted to cause rotation of said display member, said display member including a plurality of removable display member pieces, each defining display surfaces, said display member pieces each defining bottom surfaces and upstanding pegs protruding from one of said surfaces, said other surface defining mating peg holes for interconnection of said display member pieces.

4. The invention according to claim 3 wherein said display member cover includes a track and a cover door, said cover door slidably mating with said track to provide an access capability for said display space.

5. The invention according to claim 3 wherein said display member cover is constructed and arranged to provide insulation for said display space.

6. A vending cart for operation by a source of power comprising a base member, means mounting said base member for imparting motion thereof relative to the ground support for said cart, a display member upstanding from said base member and rotatable relative thereto, and motor means connected to said source of power and said display member, arranged and adapted to cause rotation of said display member, said base member including outer walls and an inner wall to define therewithin a storage space.