US-12623708-B2 - Systems for anchoring equipment

US12623708B2US 12623708 B2US12623708 B2US 12623708B2US-12623708-B2

Abstract

The present invention generally relates to a system for hands-free unlocking and locking of fixed equipment via a mobile cart from a fixed anchor base. The system includes a mobile cart deck and a fixed anchor base with a recoil device. A cable/pulley system and a lever is used to lock and unlock the cart via a trigger-operated locking mechanism. This system allows for easy detachment of fixed equipment for maintenance and access to the sides and/or rear of such equipment. Such a system can be advantageous for use in places with seismic activity and where seismic anchorage of equipment is required by the governing jurisdiction and building codes.

Inventors

Stephen F. Wade

Assignees

Stephen F. Wade

Dates

Publication Date: 20260512
Application Date: 20230922

Claims (20)

1 . A system for unlocking and locking a mobile cart from an anchor base, the system comprising: a cart deck comprising a wheel base, the wheel base comprising a plurality of wheels with corresponding caster rails; a cable/pulley assembly comprising at least a recoil device, the recoil device comprising a recoil member and a recoil spring; a lever; and a fixed anchor base to accommodate the cart deck with means to secure to a foundation; whereby the lever is connected to the cable pulley assembly capable of selectively engaging and disengaging the recoil member from the caster rail to lock and unlock the cart from the fixed anchor base.
2 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein the cart deck comprises a material including metal, composite, wood, plastic and mixtures thereof.
3 . The system according to claim 2 , wherein the metal includes aluminum, steel, zinc, cadmium, copper, brass, nickel, stainless steel and mixtures thereof.
4 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein the recoil member is a rod or a spring pin.
5 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein the cable/pulley assembly and the lever are mounted to the fixed anchor base.
6 . The system according to claim 5 , wherein the recoil device is mounted to the fixed anchor base, whereby the recoil spring comprises two ends, a first end connected to the fixed anchor base and a second end connected to the recoil member.
7 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein the lever includes a pedal or foot-step release.
8 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein the wheel base is mounted to an underside of the cart deck.
9 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein the wheel base includes wheels that include casters and are capable of swiveling.
10 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein the cart deck is horizontal and rectangular.
11 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein the fixed anchor base includes tapered guides.
12 . The system according to claim 1 , further including one or more attachment brackets for attaching tools or equipment.
13 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein the cable/pulley assembly and lever are mounted beneath the cart deck to an underside of the cart deck.
14 . The system according to claim 13 , wherein the recoil device is mounted to the underside of the cart deck, whereby the recoil spring comprises two ends, a first end connected to the underside of the cart deck and a second end connected to the recoil member.
15 . A system for unlocking and locking a mobile cart from an anchor base, the system comprising: a cart deck comprising a wheel base, a cable/pulley assembly and a lever; wherein the wheel base comprises a plurality of wheels with corresponding caster rails, and the cable/pulley assembly comprises at least one recoil device, the recoil device comprising a recoil member and a recoil spring; and a fixed anchor base to accommodate the cart deck with means to secure to a foundation; whereby the lever is connected to the cable pulley assembly capable of selectively engaging and disengaging the recoil member from the caster rail to lock and unlock the cart from the anchor base.
16 . The system according to claim 15 , wherein the lever includes a pedal or foot-step release.
17 . The system according to claim 15 , wherein the cart deck comprises a material including metal, composite, wood, plastic and mixtures thereof.
18 . The system according to claim 17 , wherein the metal includes aluminum, steel, zinc, cadmium, copper, brass, nickel, stainless steel and mixtures thereof.
19 . A system for unlocking and locking a mobile cart from an anchor base, the system comprising: a cart deck comprising a wheel base, the wheel base comprising a plurality of wheels with corresponding caster rails; and a fixed anchor base to accommodate the cart deck with means to secure to a foundation, the fixed anchor base further comprising a cable/pulley assembly and a lever, wherein the cable/pulley assembly comprises at least one recoil device, the recoil device comprising a recoil member and a recoil spring, whereby the lever is connected to the cable pulley assembly capable of selectively engaging and disengaging the recoil member from the caster rail to lock and unlock the cart from the anchor base.
20 . The system according to claim 19 , wherein the lever includes a pedal or foot-step release.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) based on U.S. Provisional Patent Application having Application No. 63/376,983 filed on Sep. 23, 2022, and entitled “Novel Systems for Anchoring Equipment”, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to anchoring systems for equipment and carts that require positive attachment to the floor. More particularly, systems are disclosed that conveniently unlock and lock equipment and carts via a hands-free trigger-operated locking mechanism to allow for servicing and access to the equipment that would otherwise be limited due to fixed attachment. Such a system would be useful in places with seismic activity. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In locations having high seismic activity, efforts are sought to provide seismic anchorage systems for equipment which are easily removable for equipment servicing, access or maintenance. Presently, equipment that require seismic anchorage usually entail anchoring the equipment or cart directly to a supporting structure or floor. Mechanisms to unlock the equipment or cart from the anchorage position usually require manually detaching each connection of anchorage from the supporting structure for release. Typically, seismic anchorage of equipment is custom designed for each piece of equipment and require additional tools to detach the equipment to allow moving the equipment for utility or servicing. These solutions often require a specialized technician to correctly reinstall anchorage of the equipment or cart. Although the above-mentioned systems are adequate to anchor equipment, there are disadvantages. Typically, to release or unbolt the equipment or cart, two or four connections must be detached using available hardware (such as removable bolts and pins), and usually require additional tools for release. Attaching and re-attaching the equipment or cart for anchorage, can result in connection hardware being misplaced or lost, or improper reattachment rendering the equipment unanchored. Additionally, anchoring and re-anchoring such equipment can be tedious, time consuming, difficult and often require professional installation which can be costly. Not being able to have easy access to service equipment or carts (such as data racks) that often need to be fixed to the floor (i.e. anchored), can be frustrating, time consuming and potentially dangerous. For the foregoing reasons, there exists a need to find a solution to provide an unlocking and locking anchoring system for equipment, that is more efficient, less expensive, and can address the above-mentioned problems. Furthermore, it would be advantageous to have a system that is easy to install, can be mass produced, does not require additional tools, is reasonably priced and easy to scale up and convenient to purchase (i.e. “off the shelf”). Additionally, it would be advantageous to have seismic anchorage systems that allow the equipment to be easily moved for service access without a technician, tools, or removeable, loose attachment parts. These features, advantages and other embodiments of the present invention are further made apparent in the remainder of the present description, appended claims and drawings, to those of ordinary skill in the art. SUMMARY The present invention is directed to systems affiliated with anchoring equipment or a cart via a trigger-operated locking mechanism. More specifically, the systems are directed to unlocking and locking equipment or a cart from an anchoring system. According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is a locking system for a mobile cart, the system includes a cart deck with a wheel base; a cable/pulley assembly and a lever; and, a fixed anchor base to accommodate the cart deck with means to secure to a foundation. The wheel base includes at least four wheels with corresponding caster rails. The cable pulley system includes recoil devices (comprising a recoil member and a recoil spring). The recoil member can be a spring pin and typically is mounted in the fixed anchor base and has two ends connected respectively with the wheel base and the recoil spring. The cable/pulley assembly is capable of selectively engaging/disengaging the recoil spring pin with a hole in the caster rail to lock and unlock the cart from the fixed anchor base. The lever connected to the cable pulley system is capable of selectively engaging and disengaging the spring pins from the holes in the caster rails to lock and unlock the cart from the fixed anchor base. Preferably, the lever is a pedal, and when pressed or stepped on, the cable/pulley assembly engages with locking assemblies in the recoil device. To unlock from the fixed anchor base, when the pedal is pressed, the cable/pulley engages by coiling the recoil spring resulting in disengaging and retracting the extended spring pin from the hole in the caster rai