US2689133A - Nesting type store service truck - Google Patents

Description

s. N. GOLDMAN 2,689,133

NEsTTNG TYPE sToRE sERvTcE TRUCK 4 Sheets-Sheet l Sept. 14, 1954 Filed June 17. 1949 Sept- 14, 1954 s. N. GOLDMAN NEsTING TYPE sToEE SERVICE TRUCK 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 17, 1949 7 5 8 9 5 di l j L f ll /l lll/I 6 1% M u J iq mwm ATTORNEY Sept. 14, 1954 S. N. GOLDMAN NESTING TYPE STORE SERVICE TRUCK Filed June 17, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 8f 43 46 7- 72 moa INVENTOR.

ATTOR N EY Sept-v 14, 1954 s. N. GOLDMAN 2,689,133

NESTING TYPE STORE SERVICE TRUCK Filed June 17, :1949 4 SlxeeLS--Shee'rl 4 I N VENTOR. M/gm/ @W @gm ATTOR N EY Patented Sept. 14, 1954 IUNITED STTES PATENT OFFICE 2,689,133 NESTING TYPE STORE SERVICE TRUCK Sylvan N. Goldman, Oklahoma City, Okla. Application June 17, 1949, Serial No. 99,847

21 Claims.

This invention relates to basket carriers, and

particularly to basket carriers of a telescoping type.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a basket carrier in which the carriage structure lper se, which includes a commodity supporting portion, is so constructed and arranged as to facilitate a telescoping operation which eliminates 'any possibility of a locking or inter-engagement of the parts so that nesting structures can be freely nested and freely separated without manual operation other than the movement of one carriage into association with another.

Another object of the invention is to provide a carriage structure in which maximum strength and rigidity is provided with a minimum of parts and so that a desirable assembly may be provided with minimum costs.

Another object of the invention is to construct the upper basket structure so as to permit a telescopic associa-tion.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a partition in the telescopic basket structure which will permit a person using the assembly to segregate perishable commodities from oth* er commodities so as to prevent injury or -destruction to purchases due to shifting of the load or pressure as the commodities are stacked one upon the other.

More specifically, the invention is directed to a wire separator adapted to be positioned at the forward end portion of the basket, the partition being fabricated to extend transversely of the basket structure and being shiftable vto form a separate compartment in the basket, which-compartment can be increased in size and area or decreased in size and area to conform to the wishes of the operator in order to facilitate the holding of variable loads and packages, which may be purchased .and transported.

Other features of the invention will more clearly hereinafter appear by reference to the accompanying drawings and specification, wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, in which:

Fig. l is a perspective view of one form of a telescoping cart and basket showing the partition in position;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary longitudinal section through the basket showing the partition in side elevation;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the partition showing the basket structure in dotted lines;

Fig. 4 is a view of a carrier basket fabricated from Wire;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective showing the structure of the handle of the basket;

Fig. 6 is a similar view showing the wheel mounting; and

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary perspective showing the bumper and adjacent frame structure of the carrier of Fig 4.

The carriage frame embodies a lower support defined by spaced U-shaped metal straps I and 2 which have their free end portions connected to the upright ymembers 3 and 4, these uprights 3 and Il being offset inwardly as at 5 and 6 to provide inner spaced bearing supports for the rear wheels T, the outer bearing supports being formed by the upright members 8 which are riveted or welded to the uprights t and 4 and which extend in a vertical plane and lie flush aga-inst the bearings of the wheels l, the wheel bearings being indicated by reference character 9. Buffers or guards II) are provided on the uprights 8.

Forwardly arranged uprights II and I2 are fixed at their lower ends to the U-shaped frame members I and 2 and are substantially the same height as the rear uprights 3 and 4 and provide supports for the U-shaped frame I4 of the basket structure indicated generally by the reference character A. The lower frame members I and 2 are offset inwardly as at I5 and may receive buffer plates indicated at I6. Vertical spacer members I'I are provided at the forward end portions of the frame members I and 2 and at the front of the frame members I and 2 are the spacer members I8 which project above the upper U-shaped frame member 2 and terminate in enlarged head portions I9 forming stops or guards as will more clearly hereinafter appear.

The supporting elements extend from the front upper portion of the upper U-shaped frame member 2 to the transverse connection 20, to provide a commodity supporting floor structure for the lower frame member 2. This floor structure is formed of straps 2l, which straps converge forwardly to facilitate the movement of the guards or .stops I9 of an associated carria-ge when two carriages are being nested. The floor straps are shown vas four in number with each pair so positioned as to provide ample supporting area but also suitable clearance is provided to facilitate the nesting operation. It will be understood that the number of pairs of forwardly converging supporting straps EI will be determined by the number of guards or stops I9 which may be used in units of this type. Obviously, two, three, or more of these stops or guards i9 may be provided and by having the floor straps diverge towards the rear end of the structure freedom of movement of the stops or guards is provided. The spaced rea-r frame members Stand 4 are rigidly positioned and securely held by the transverse connecting member 22 and the curved reinforcing straps 23, as more clearly shown in Fig. l.

The basket shown includes the front wall 30 and side Walls 3| and 3'2, which side walls are connected by the fabricated bottom structure which is inclined from the horizontal to provide, with the forwardly tapered side walls, a generally conical assembly capable of nesting with `a body of similar construction. Contrary to the usual practice `in structures of this type, the basket is not itself provided with a rear wall, but the rear wall is formed by a swinging panel which is mounted on the handle structure. In Fig. 1 this rear wall is indicated by reference character 33 and the detailed mounting is illustrated in Fig. which will be hereinafter described. In Fig. 1, the handle mounting is carried by the spaced diverging side frame members IIB-48, the arms 8l of the handle structure being positioned intermediate the framing members 46-48 to complete the framing assembly, which may form an integral part of the side frame as shown in Fig. 4, or made separately as shown in Fig. l `and then secured to the frame 3-Il by welding or other suitable means. In both of these assemblies, it is intended that the basket will have an open -top and end structure and will be manufactured and assembled to include the open end and top. When the basket is so constructed its association with the frame carrying the hinged panel 33 will result in the panel 33 forming means for preventing the discharge of material from the basket outwardly and also means for permitting the basket to telescope freely due to the fact that the panel 33, carried on lthe frame, is free to swing upwardly as the parts telescope. In both forms of the invention shown in Figs. 1 and 4, the bottom parts of the swinging panel 33, which is carried by the frame structure, cooperates with a cross bar extending between and connecting the side frame members, `this cross bar being indicated by reference character |00 in Fig. 1 and by reference character 33 in Fig. 4. In Fig. 4, the cross bar 88 will tend to function to prevent commodities from discharging from the bottom of the basket, this cross bar 88 in assembly lying in the general plane with the last of the uprights of the fabricated basket structure.

The partition for the basket A is indicated generally by reference character B and is shown in position in the perspective view of Fig. 1. Referring now to Figs. 2 and 3, it will be seen that this partition is formed as a fabricated panel, the form illustrated being fabricated from wire. The main portion of the panel is flat with the upper marginal portion bent so as to be in vertical position when the partition is swung on its hinge to form the full sized front compartment. Obviously, the amount of deection of the upper marginal edge can be varied in accordance with the hinged movement of the main panel. A U-shaped support is provided for the panel, the central portion of the support being indicated by reference character 34, this central portion lying against the rear face of the separator panel and being adapted lto support the same and slide with the swinging movement of the panel from its inclined to its vertical position as shown in Fig. 2. Each of the arms 35 of the U-shaped support terminates in eyes 36 which wrap about the stay wire 3l (see Fig. 2) at each side of the basket structure, to permit the support to travel a. distance dened by the space between two upright wires of the basket, whereby the support may be swung from vertical to outward position with the movement of the separator panel B, this movement being best shown in Fig. 2. The separator panel or partition B is shown as fabricated from vertical wire rods which are held in place and positioned at their extremities by a marginal rectangular wire frame. To pivotally support the partition B at its base, spaced upright wires of the fabricated partition structure extend beyond the frame and terminate in eyes 36', which latter engage cross wires forming the bottom of the basket, as best shown in Fig. 2. The eyes 36 form pivotal supports for Ithe partition B and permit 'with the required partitioned space.

the latter to swing freely rearwardly to open position or vertically to closed position in vaccordance The positioning of the separator panel may be altered by pivoting the eyes 33 and the hooks 36' at any sui-table point along the length of the basket structure to thus enlarge or reduce the capacity of the separator when swung to its open position as indicated in Fig. 2. A guideway is provided to guide the base 34 of the support during the shifting of `the separator B and to limit the movement of the separator and yto retain it in its fully opened and fully closed positions. The guideway in which the base 34 travels is indicated by reference character 38 and this guideway is formed at each side of the separator panel by the bent ends 39 of a rectangular wire frame, as shown more clearly in Figs. 1 and 3. This wire frame is welded to the cross wires of the fabricated separator to strengthen the latter and has its end portions extending between the side wires of the separator frame and downwardly at the outside of the marginal frame structure to create the guideway 38.

Referring to Figs. 4 to 7, inclusive, a basket carrier has been illustrated in which the structure is substantially entirely fabricated from wire. Although it will be understood that the same principle of structure shown in these figures may be utilized in the fabrication of a basket carrier from heavier tubing, metal straps, or analogous material, it merely being sufficient that in the form of device in question the side frames or upright structure of the carrier be a distinct assembly from the basket, which latter is in fact in the nature of a trough having only one end closed. The primary function of the invention disclosed by Figs. 4 to 7, inclusive, is the provision of a hinged panel, supported at and by the upper end structure of the carrier frame and mounted and constructed entirely independent of the basket assembly, but so arranged tha-t it may function in cooperation with the basket when it is positioned and secured to the frame so .as to operate and function as a closure for the open end thereof. This structure marks a substantial advance in the method and means of assembly of a carrier, providing for a more rigid framing and permitting the use and fabrication of a relatively light, cheap, trough-like assembly which when used with the frame and the parts thereof will complete a compartment for holding commodities. In this structure, the upright rear frame, at each side of the carriage assembly, is formed to include the intermediate inverted U-shaped wicket structure 40, the upper bend portion 4| of which terminates immediately above the bottom rail of the basket, while the bottom extremities of the arms are secured to the plate 42 which forms the outer bearing supports for the rear wheels (see Fig. 6). At this point it will be sufficient to note that the plate 42 has its forward marginal portion 43 curled about the lower extremity of the front arm of the wicket 40, while the lower end portion of the rear arm of the wicket 40 is flattened and welded medially of the upper edge of the plate 42. The arms of the wicket 40 are spaced apart and at each side thereof are the upright wire struts 44 and 45. The forward upright 44 is spaced substantially the same distance as the distance between the wicket arms 40, and at the upper extremity 46 thereof it is inclined rearwardly to a point 41 above the basket and then downwardly at 48l to diverge from the arm 45. At the lower margin of the basket, the element 48 is bent to lie parallel to the upright portion 44 as at 49 and extends downwardly to be bound in the coiled rear marginal edge 50 of the plate 42. The spacing between the wicket arms 40 and the uprights 44 and 45 is substantially identical from the bottom of the basket structure to the wheel support. The foregoing structure is at each side and forms the rear upright carriage frame.

The bottom platform is formed of a plurality of U-shaped wickets 5l, illustrated as four in number, these wickets 5I being arranged horizontally and equally spaced, the spacing being determined by the `downwardly extending arms 52 of an L- shaped frame member, the other arm 53 of which extends horizontally and forms a spacer and brace for the uprights of the rear frame. Another spacing element of L-shaped form is provided .and forms an identical spacer for the horizontal members `5I and the upright rear frame structure. This additional member includes the vertical arm 54 arranged forwardly of the arm 52 and the horizontal arm 55, the latter extending rearwardly, and being spaced above the upper wicket 5I and inwardly of the arm v53 of the rst L-.shaped stay. Additional wickets 56 and 51 are provided above the stay arm 53 to further brace the upright framing, the arms of the wickets 56 and 5l being equally spaced apart land the whole structure being assembled to present a symmetrical structure embodying suitable spacing in the various directions, and inasmuch as the intersection of each of the parts is welded, an extremely rigid assembly is provided. Forward of the upright arms 54, a U-shaped frame member 58 is provided, this lJ-sh-aped frame 58 extending from the inner side faces of the horizontal members 5l close to the bend of the members and hav- 4ing the arms welded at points of intersection with the horizontal members 5|. The base of Ithe U- shaped member 58 forms the outer support for the casters E0, the inner support being provided by the parallel cross member 6l. Both of the horizontal transverse members BI and 5S are held spaced and rigid by the inwardly projecting horizontal extremities 62 of the upright U-shaped frame members 63, the arms of which are relatively closely and equally spaced and welded to the front cf the assembly to provide rigidity of structure. It will be noted that the casters 60 are held in the openings provided by the intersecting members 15S-Sl and 53, as shown in Fig. 4. Stop members 64 extend above the upper frame member 5I and above the wire platform formed by the inclined slats E5. The wire slats 55 are welded at their front ends to the front end portion 66 of the outer U-shaped slat frame element 61, which forms the outer platform supporting elements. The rear ends of the wire slats 55 rest upon and are welded to the cross bars 68, the ends of which are secured at opposite sides of the inner inverted U-shaped frame arms 1G. The members 10 include the outer spaced arms and `the upper horizontal portion 'Il which furnishes one support for the bottom of the fabricated basket structure to be hereinafter described. The members 'l0- ll cooperate with the parts 40, 44 and 45 to add to the rigidity of the carriage side frame assembly and the cross bar 'H may function as the stop for the bottom of the swinging panel 33 or a separate cross brace may be provided as herein set forth.

It will be noted that the frame at each side of the carriage is identical in construction and all of the various parts similarly arranged and positioned to provide a uniform assembly of extremely rigid construction. In assembling the present invention, the side frames formed of th- e parts 40, 44 and 45, including the associated wheel structure, the handle 82, and the panel closure 33, mounted on the handle structure, are fabricated with the side framing connected by the handle structure and by the cross bars hereinafter set forth. The bottom of the carriage and the front wheel mounts are then assembled and connected to 'the side panels with the partial basket structure which is separately fabricated finally positioned and secured so as to be properly associated with the carriage.

The basket is constructed from horizontally arranged intermediate U-shaped brace 12, upper marginal U-shaped brace 13, and lower downwardly and rearwardly inclined bottom brace 14. To this horizontal structure, the arms of a plurality of transverse U-shaped wickets l5 are secured, the -upper extremity of each of the wickets being wrapped about the upper marginal brace 'i3 as shown at 1S. Each of these transverse U-shaped wickets is identically spaced and is held in spaced relation by the L-shaped spacers 'H which are secured at equi-distant points to the front upper marginal edge of the upper brace 13 andextend downwardly therefrom and below the frame 'i2 and lll, being welded at all points of contact with the framing and underlying the transverse wickets I5 at equally spaced points to provide a base mesh work suitably spaced toretain the conventional materials which might be placed in the basket structure by a customer. The wicket 8&3 is arranged inwardly of the inclined arms 46-48 and is welded to the inner faces of these arms as shown, and forms a brace for the lower rear side wall portions of the basket.

The upper inclined arms iii arranged between the inclined arms 4-i8, and forming a part of the carriage frame, are parts of an inverted U-shaped element, the base 82 of which extends transversely to provide a portion of a handle structure completed by a spiral strip which may be of any material including wire, and as shown at 32a. The spiral formation (see Fig. 5) has its outer extremities spaced inwardly of the bends 4l of the inclined frame structure to provide a space for the hanging of the hooked portions 33 of the offset extremities 83a of the basket gate, indicated in the first form by reference character 33. This arrangement properly positions the panel 33 and provides sufficient clearance for its operation and association with the balance of the structure, The hinged panel 33 is formed of a U-shaped frame element 5, the upper ends of which are oifset as previously stated at 33a. This U-shaped frame 85 has spaced transverse braces 86 and the structure is completed by the U-shaped wickets 8?, all of these parts being welded at all points of intersection. It will be noted that the bottom portions of the wickets 3l' drop downwardly below the base of the U-shaped frame 85 and are curved inwardly for engagement with the transverse brace 33 or il at the rear of the frame structure, the brace 3B being a part of the upright frame to brace the latter and separate from the basket structure.

As shown in Fig. 6, the rear rollers 93 have their inner bearings formed by the intersecting oifset shanks S of the short supports di, which latter are welded at the points of intersection with the cross bar 5I as shown. The lower ends of the offset portions 9U of the inner bearing hangers are flattened as at 92 and formed with registering openings through which the bearing bolts extend for supporting the wheels 93.

The two main upright frames are spaced by diagonal braces 95 which connect the transverse platform support with the upper basket support. This framing is designed to prevent distortion of the side frames and to retain the same against lateral displacement. At the same time this framing provides a direct supporting element for the medial portion of the rear of the basket to apply the loading directly to the lower rear frame of the structure.

In Fig. 4 the horizontal U-shaped braces of the basket structure, i. e. the braces l2, 13 and ld, terminate at their free ends in outwardly projecting hooks IDI, these hooks engaging the rear face of the angled handle portion 48 to prevent the basket from being dislodged, it being understood that the basket is made as an independent part of the structure for separable attachment to the carriage frame. rlhe end portions of the horizontal members 'I2 and 'i3 are normally spaced and bound by a rod IIIIOa which lies rearward of the hooks lll a sufficient distance to engage the forward face of the bar 48 of the frame, so that this bar 4B lies in between the hooks and the connecting rod la, this arrangement preventing both forward and rearward movement of the basket which latter is clamped to the U- brace 80 by means of clamp |02. This clamp |02 may be of any form and secures the bottom of the U-brace 8B to the bottom horizontal rod 14 at each side of the assembly. The foregoing structure is utilized for the purpose of providing means for securing a fabricated basket to a prefabricated frame, and as shown in Fig. 4 this frame includes the swinging panel 33 which is hinged on the cross rod or handle bar 82 of the main frame structure.

What I claim is:

l. In a store truck, a pair of spaced side frames, each side frame including forwardly and rearwardly spaced members, the upper portions of which are rearwardly inclined and converge at their upper portions, a handle connecting the upper portions of said rearwardly inclined frame members, said handle being formed of a U- shaped frame, the arms of which are positioned substantially intermediate the spaced rearwardly inclined upper portions of the side frame members, a swinging panel supported by said handle, a cross brace spacing the side frames and adapted to be engaged by said swinging panel to limit the rearward movement of the latter, a plurality of spaced U-shaped rearwardly diverging wickets carried at the bottom of said frame members and projecting forwardly therefrom, swiveled rollers supported by the front portion of said wickets, rollers carried by the lower portion of the side frames, and a platform extending from the side frame members forwardly to the front of said wickets.

2. The structure of claim l characterized in that the arms of the handle member are positioned to lie in substantially the same plane with the spaced rearwardly inclined upper portions of the side frame members, and spaced braces are secured to the side frame members and the said arms to retain the same in relative fixed position.

3. The structure of claim 1 characterized in that the wickets are connected and held in their relatively spaced relation by a plurality of upright members secured thereto, certain of the upright members forming supports for the swiveled rollers.

4. The structure of claim 1 characterized in that the lower portions of the spaced side frames are connected by transverse bars which hold the side frames in spaced relation and support the rear portions of the platform.

5. The structure of claim 1 characterized in that a spacer bar is provided between the side frame members for supporting the bottom portion of an associated basket structure.

6. The structure of claim 1 characterized in that an open ended basket structure is associated with the side frame members and so constructed and arranged that the swinging panel when in its lower position forms a closure for the open end thereof.

7. In a store truck, a pair of upright side frame members each including a multiplicity of spaced vertical members, said frame members being supported at their lower portions by casters and having their upper portions inclined rearwardly and merging together, a handle member connecting the inclined frame members at their junction, a fabricated platform supporting structure projecting from the lower portions of said uprights, said platform structure including a plurality of vertically spaced U-shaped members having forwardly converging portions and rearwardly extending free end portions, the free end portions being arranged between the side upright frame members and being connected thereto to form a spacing structure therefor, a fabricated basket formed with a forwardly tapered portion, said fabricated basket having an open rear end portion confined between the upper portions of the upright frame members and attached thereto, a panel suspended from said handle and adapted to be positioned adjacent the open end portion to provide a closure therefor, means carried between the frame members for engaging the panel member to limit its movement, and side braces for the basket extending from each side frame and forwardly of said frame.

8. In a store truck, a pair of spaced side frames, each side frame including forwardly and rearwardly spaced members, a horizontally arranged U-shaped frame element having its free ends connecting the upper end portions of the spaced side frame members, a pair of rearwardly inclined and converging members extending upwardly from the U-shaped member, a handle connecting the upper portions of said rearwardly inclined frame members, said handle being formed of a U-shaped frame, the arms of which are positioned substantially intermediate the spaced rearwardly inclined upper portions of the rearwardly inclined frame members, a swinging panel supported by said handle, a cross brace spacing the side frames and adaptedto be engaged by the swinging panel to limit the rearward movement of the latter, a plurality of vertically spaced U-shaped rearwardly diverging wickets carried at the bottom of said side frame members and projecting forwardly therefrom and secured to said side frame members and normally spacing the latter, swiveled rollers supported by the front portions of the wickets, rollers carried by the lower portions of the side frames, and a platform extending from the side frame members forwardly to the front of said wickets.

9. The structure of claim 8 characterized in that a platform is provided for the platform supporting structure and includes a plurality of bar members arranged in pairs, with each pair converging forwardly to the front of the platform supporting structure.

10. The structure of claim 8 characterized in that the platform for the platform supporting structure includes a plurality of forwardly converging slats, which slats are positioned below the upper edge of the platform structure.

11. In a store truck, said truck including a pair of side frame members, said side frame members including a plurality of spaced Vertical elements, said elements having their upper portions extending rearwardly and converging, a handle member connecting the converging end portions of said side frame members, cross bars connecting the spaced vertical elements and secured to the latter at their points of intersection for maintaining the parts in relative spaced relation, a wheel for supporting each of the upright side members, said wheel being carried by a plate, and said plate being connected to said spaced upright members, brace elements connecting and spacing the lower portions of said upright members, a platform supported between the lower portions of said side frames, said platform having forwardly tapered side walls, a hinged panel supported from the handle, and an open ended forwardly tapered receptacle carried by the upper rearwardly converging portions of the side frames, said receptacle being so positioned and arranged as to have its open end associated with the panel carried by the cross bar, whereby the panel forms a closure for the open end of the receptacle.

12. The structure of claim 11 characterized in that the open ended receptacle structure is provided with hooks which engage the rear faces of the upper inclined portions of the frame, whereby the basket is secured against displacement.

13. The structure of claim 11 characterized in that the open ended receptacle structure has the upright marginal edges at its open end formed with outwardly extending hooks which engage the upper inclined frame members, and additional means are provided for clamping the receptacle to the frame adjacent the base of the receptacle and forwardly of the frame.

11i. The structure of claim 11 characterized in that spaced upwardly projecting stop members are provided at the forward end of the platform.

15. The structure of claim 8 characterized in that the platform supported between the lower portions of the side frame is formed of a plurality of slat members, and stop members are provided at the front portion of the slat members for movement between the slat members of an associated carrier during a nesting operation.

16. The structure of claim 8 characterized in that the platform supported between the lower portions of the side frame is inclined forwardly and downwardly and is formed of a plurality of forwardly converging spaced members, and stops are provided at the front end of the platform, said stops being so positioned as to be interposed between the spaced members during initial nesting of carriers of similar construction.

17. In a store truck, a pair of spaced side frames, each side frame including forwardly and rearwardly spaced members, a U-shaped frame element connected at its rear free ends to the spaced side frame members, a plurality of vertically spaced U-shaped rearwardly diverging wickets carried at the bottom of said frame and projecting forwardly therefrom and spacing said side frame elements, said diverging wickets being spaced from the U-shaped frame element, a platform supported between the lower portions of the side frame, said platform being inclined forwardly and downwardly and being formed of a plurality of forwardly converging spaced members, vertical stops connecting the vertically spaced wickets at their front portions, said stops being so positioned as to be interposed between said spaced platform members during initial nesting of carriers of smilar construction, swiveled rollers supporting the front of said truck, and additional rollers connected to the lower end portions of the side frames.

18. In a nesting basket carriage for self-service stores or the like, a frame of angular configuration, a basket mounted on said frame, a lower shelf support including forwardly extending and converging frame elements, an open shelf mounted on said shelf support, spaced forwardly and downwardly extending supporting elements forming a part of said open shelf defining openings between said spaced elements, upwardly extending retaining elements positioned at the forward end of said open shelf, said retaining elements being narrower than the openings between the spaced elements and projecting upwardly suiciently far to engage openings similarly defined in a second carriage as said carriages are brought into nesting relationship.

19. The invention of claim 18 further characterized by a cross support element, said cross support element extending transversely between said frame elements toward the rear thereof.

20. In a nesting .basket carriage for self-service stores or the like, a frame of angular configuration, a basket mounted on the frame, casters supporting the frame, and an open shelf mounted on said frame beneath said basket, said shelf including spaced, downwardly inclined supporting elements, said elements converging forwardly, and defining converging openings therebetween, and an upwardly extending retaining member of less width than the rear portion of said opening between said elements, said retaining member being positioned between a pair of said supporting elements at their forward ends and extending upwardly sufficiently far to engage an opening similarly dened in a second carriage of like construction as said carriages are brought into nesting relationship.

21. In a nesting basket carriage for self-service stores or the like, a frame of angular conguration, a basket mounted on the frame, casters supporting the frame, and an open shelf mounted on said frame beneath said basket, said shelf including spaced, downwardly inclined supporting elements, said elements converging forwardly, and defining openings therebetween, and a plurality of retaining members of less width than the rear portion of said openings between said elements, said retaining members each being positioned between a pair of said supporting elements at their forward ends and extending upwardly suniciently far to engage openings similarly defined in a second carriage of like construction as said carriages are brought into nesting relationship.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date D. 156,702 Concklin Jan. 3, 1950 374,161 Wren Nov. 29, 1887 2,181,892 Head Dec. 5, 1939 2,214,042 Burdick Sept. 10, 1940 2,268,392 Gustafson Dec. 30, 1941 2,479,530 Watson Aug. 16, 1949

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