MXPA96003725A - Transpo platform cart - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a transport platform trolley, characterized in that it comprises: an elongated platform constituted by a unitary molded plastic member, which has first and second ends separated longitudinally, a generally flat upper side, a lower side and generally vertical side walls, the underside includes a plurality of flanges, a pair of spaced apart longitudinally extending slots and first and second sets of integrally molded fastener inserts, each of the fastener mounting inserts includes a plurality of grouped perforations extending through the upper and lower sides of the platform with the first and second sets of the fastener mounting fasteners being laterally spaced adjacent the first and second ends of the platform, respectively; metal reinforcing bars extending longitudinally respectively, placed within the pair of grooves, a pair of support blocks, each of the support blocks includes a plurality of holes extending therethrough and placed through a respective set of first and second sets of fastener mounting hardware, a plurality of wheel assemblies, and a plurality of fasteners for securing each of the wheel assemblies, reinforcing bars and support blocks simultaneously to the platform with the fasteners arranged with the mounting assemblies. wheel extending at the same time through the holes and inside the mounting hardware

Description

TRANSPORT PLATFORM CART BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1 . Field of invention The present invention pertains to a transport pallet hand truck for use in supporting and transporting articles. 2. Discussion of the prior art.

The transport platform carts are widely used as storage carts and the like in retail environments as well as grocery stores. A particular type of handcar that is widely used in those and other environments includes a platform that has a width that is narrow in design relative to its length. Those types of handcarts, commonly known as "U-boats" typically have widths of approximately 16 to 18 inches and measure up to approximately 63 inches in length. The cars generally include at least one crank and are often provided with up to 6 wheels of sheaves. Due to its narrow design and the use of caster wheels, those types of hand trucks have excellent maneuverability. REF: 22972 Transport pallet trucks of this type currently available for use in a commercial or retail environment are commonly made of painted metal and therefore are somewhat difficult to handle and heavy. The painted metal is quickly scraped, scratched and indented, so that the appearance of the cars deteriorates rapidly after they are placed in use for the first time and maintenance of the cars is expensive and time consuming. Additionally, such metal platforms have numerous welded joints that can break and rust over time, increasing Sun's maintenance problems.

In general, cars constructed in accordance with the prior art do not include certain features to protect the users and the environment in which the cars are used. In certain environments, such as in retail establishments, the lack of protective features can result in considerable damage to stored items and may also jeopardize the ankles of storage patterns. In addition, although the use of numerous wheels of roldana helps significantly to maneuver such cars, the weight of those cars, inherent due to its construction, presents a limit on the maneuverability and handling of the same, which is often a contributing factor. to damage caused when the cart hits retail products or storage patterns.

It has also previously been proposed to form a transport pallet truck with a plastic cover to reduce the total weight associated with the carriage. Although the reduction of the weight of the carriage in this way could improve the maneuverability and handling characteristics thereof, the carriages constructed in this way generally have reduced weight capacities commensurable with the known metallic transport platform carts, are not designed to optimize the Costs of. manufacturing and assembly and can not incorporate several protection features to the user and the environment.

Therefore, there is a need in the art for a lightweight U-boat type cart to be used for holding and transporting articles in various retail and commercial environments, which is durable, has a high load capacity and has unique features that increase the efficiency and economy of manufacturing, while being friendly to the user in a sense to minimize the risk of harm to users and the environment in which the car will be used.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION This invention provides a transport pallet truck that includes an injection molded plastic pallet that is reinforced by longitudinally extending metal bars. Preferably, the platform is constructed using a structural foam process in which an inert gas is injected directly into a molten plastic during injection and which expands during the molding process to provide a finished product having a solid outer skin., resistant and a rigid internal structure. Preferably a high density polyethylene resin material is used and colored so that the pigment extends across the entire platform. By this arrangement, the platform incorporated in the transport pallet carriage of the invention dictates the inherent disadvantages in painted metal carriages that are prone to scraping, indentation, rusting and peeling.

The platform according to the present invention is preferably molded with a grooved or perforated bottom side to further reduce its weight and still maintain its rigidity. The underside is also integrally formed with a pair of longitudinally extending and spaced slots which receive the metal reinforcing bars and numerous fastener mounting inserts integrally molded to secure a plurality of wheel assemblies to the underside of the car. More specifically, the mounting inserts are arranged together located adjacent to each longitudinal end of the platform and intermediaries at those ends. A pair of support blocks are provided, which extend laterally through a respective set of fastener mounting inserts at each end of the platform to mount a first and second sets of caster wheels. These roller wheels are allowed to rotate and are used in combination with larger, non-rotating wheel mounts, secured to the fastener mounting hardware located in the center. With this configuration, the carriage is allowed to rotate on the center wheels, which creates a closed turning radius for optimum maneuverability and also at the same time to be supported selectively, adjustable by at least one set of rotating caster wheels.

The use of molded support blocks extending laterally through the underside of the platform to mount the rotating caster wheels facilitates carriage assembly and further aids the structural rigidity of the carriage. Preferably, the metal reinforcing bars are secured to them, adjacent to each of their ends, a plate that is provided with multiple perforations. Each support block is specifically configured to receive a respective one of the plates so that only a single set of fasteners is required to secure one end of each reinforcing bar, one side of each support block and a rotating caster wheel assembly respective to the elongated platform. To facilitate this assembly process, the underside of the platform is also preferably formed with a plurality of laterally aligned projections against which the support blocks are placed to ensure proper alignment for assembly.

To help minimize the risk of harm to individuals and the environment, the plastic platform is formed with a rounded bottom edge as well as multiple cavities arranged as pairs that are spaced along a periphery of the platform in each of the ends of it. Each of these cavities receives a receiving member of the vertical crank located at the end of a respective reinforcing bar and which is adapted to receive a respective end of a crank. Each crank is preferably formed of metal, ie, chromium-plated chromium, so that it is less likely to oxidize compared to painted cranks, which could tend to scratch and scrape when inserted or removed from the crank-receiving members. . By locating the receiving members of the crank and the crank itself within the outer dimensions of the plastic platform, the contact of the crank members with the accessories and the people in the car use environment were essentially eliminated.

The additional features and advantages of the transport pallet carriage of the present invention will be more readily apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof, when taken in conjunction with the following drawings, wherein similar reference numbers are refer to the corresponding parties and several views.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a perspective view of the transport platform cart of the present invention; Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the transport pallet carriage of Figure 1 with a crank removed therefrom; Figure 3 is a partial exploded view of the transport pallet carriage of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a plan view of a portion of the corner of the platform incorporated in the carriage of Figure 1, with portions of the underside of the platform illustrated in shaded form; Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view taken, generally, along the line V-V of Figure 4; Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view taken, generally, along the line VI-VI of Figure 4; Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view taken, generally, along the line VII-VII of Figure 4; and Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view taken generally through an intermediate portion of the cart of Figure 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED MODALITY With initial reference to Figures 1 and 2, the transport pallet carriage of the present invention is generally indicated at 2 and includes a pallet 6 having first and second longitudinal ends 9, 10 and a central portion 12. The pallet 6 further includes an upper surface 14, which, although not clearly illustrated in the drawings, is preferably textured to minimize the sliding movement of the articles placed thereon. The platform 6 is preferably injection molded using a high density polyethylene resin. More specifically, platform 6 is preferably constructed using a structural foam process in which an inert gas is injected directly into the molten plastic during injection and which expands during the molding process to provide a finished product having a solid, resistant outer shell and a rigid cellular structure. The resin material is also preferably colored so that a pigment is uniformly spread across platform 6. The texture on the upper surface 14 is created simply by the configuration of the mold cavity within which the platform 6 is formed or could be provided by a separate corrugation operation after the molding of the platform 6. The platform 6 is also formed in a manner with a flange 15 extending substantially around the entire periphery of the platform 6. The flange 15 actually defines a lower edge lower rounded platform 6.

The platform 6, also illustrated in Figure 4, is further formed with a plurality of cavities 18 arranged as pairs that are spaced along the periphery of the platform 6 in each of the first and second longitudinal ends 9 and 10 of the same The cavities 18 are each adapted to receive a respective vertical crank receiving assembly 21, which, in turn, is adapted to receive one end 25 of a respective U-shaped crank member 28. The preferred embodiment is provide two such crank members 28, one at each end of the transport platform dolly 2, and are easily removable from their respective vertical crank receiving assemblies 21. Each U-shaped crank member 28 includes first and second separate members. laterally and substantially parallel 31 and 32 which are joined at an upper end thereof by means of an interconnection portion 34. The first and second parallel members 31 and 32 are further interconnected by a plurality of vertically spaced transverse bars 36-38. The respective vertical bars 36-38 of each crank member 28 can be used to hold movable shelves (not shown) if desired. In the preferred embodiment, each U-shaped crank 28 member is constructed of chrome plated, 12-gauge steel tube with a diameter of 1 inch. Each transverse bar 36-38 is preferably welded to the first and second parallel members 31 and 32 and the lower transverse bar 38 further functions as a stop member to limit the degree of insertion of the U-shaped crank member 28 into the pair. of vertical crank receiver assemblies 21. The specific arrangement and connection of the vertical crank receiving assemblies 21 with respect to platform 6 will be discussed more fully hereinafter.

The transport platform cart 2 further includes first and second support blocks 41 and 42 which are arranged in the first and second longitudinal ends 9 and 10 of the platform 6 respectively. The support blocks 41 and 42 are used to mount a plurality of rotating caster wheel assemblies 44 to the platform 6 by means of a plurality of fasteners 48. The transport platform cart 2 is further provided with a pair of cassette assemblies. non-rotating wheel, hubs 53. The specific assembly of the wheel assemblies 44 and 45 to the platform 6 will be described more fully later in connection with a description of the construction of the bottom side of the platform 6.

Referring now to Figure 3, the lower or lower side of the platform 6 is generally indicated at 61 and includes a plurality of intersecting flanges 64, which provide structural rigidity to platform 6, while also reducing to the minimum its weight. The flanges 64 extend and are integrally attached to the sides 67 of the platform 6 as clearly illustrated in Figure 3. The lower side 61 is also formed with a pair of elongated, spaced slots 70 and 71, each of which has an associated depth, which is less than the height of each flange 64 or sides 67 (see also Figure 5). Each elongated slot 70, 71 is adapted to receive a respective metallic reinforcing bar 74, 75, which allows the platform 6 to support higher loads, providing greater flexural stability to the platform 6. Each reinforcing bar 74, 75 has fixed securely thereto a plate 77 at a respective end thereof. Each plate 77 is preferably provided with a pair of spaced through holes 80 and 81 for securing the reinforcing bars 74 and 75 to the platform 6, which shape is discussed below. The lower side 61 of the platform 6 is formed, adjacent to the first and second longitudinal ends 9 and 10, with the first and second sets of fastener mounting fasteners 84 and 85. The fastener mounting fasteners 84 and 85 are configured to an identical and symmetrical shape and are used to secure a respective support block, 41, 42 and the caster wheel assemblies 44 to the platform 6 in an identical manner. The connection of the mounting support blocks 41 and 42 and their associated caster wheel assemblies 44 to the platform 6 in the first and second fastener mounting fasteners 84 and 85 will be described in detail with reference to the portions of each one of the connection arrangements as shown in the drawings.

With reference to Figures 3-6, each set of fastener mounting inserts 84, 85 includes a first and second piercing group 86, 87 with each group preferably including four perforations extending through platform 6 and being arranged in a rectangular pattern. The plate 77 supported by each reinforcing bar 74, 75 at the second longitudinal end 10 of the platform 6 has the through holes 80, 81 respectively aligned with two of the perforations in the groups of perforations 86 and 87. Each support block 41 , 42 is formed with groups of holes arranged in a similar manner 89 and 90 so that, for example, when the support block 42 is placed against the lower side 61 of the platform 6 at the second longitudinal end 10, the groups of holes 89 and 90 are aligned with the groups of perforations 86 and 87 as well as with the through holes 80 and 81 in each plate 77. To assist in the positioning of each support block 41, 42 in an appropriate position against the underside 61 of so that the desired alignment occurs and the structural integrity of the transport platform carriage 2 is further increased, each support block 41, 42 is preferably formed with at least one flat portion 93, as and illustrated better in Figure 5. The flat portion 93 has an associated height substantially equal to the thickness of each plate 77 and is adapted to receive the plates 77 as best illustrated in Figure 5. In addition, the lower side 61 is preferably formed with a first set of laterally separated projections 96, which are longitudinally separated from a second set of laterally separated projections. By this arrangement, the first and second set of laterally separated projections 96 and 97 extend around a respective support block 41, 42 when the support block 41, 42 is placed against the underside 61. Therefore, the first and second laterally separated projections 96 and 97 function to space the support block 41, 42 to an appropriate position where the plates 77 are placed against the flat portion 93 and the different holes 89 and 90 formed in the support block 41, 42 they are aligned with the groups of perforations 86 and 87 formed in platform 6.

Once the support block 41, 42 is properly positioned against the lower side 61, the two rotatable roller wheel assemblies 44, each of which include a mounting plate 101 to which is mounted rotatably a bifurcated clamp 102 through a suitable bearing arrangement (not shown) as is widely known in the art, and a wheel 104 that is rotatably mounted to the bifurcated clamp 102 through a shaft member 107, is arranged against the support block 42. More specifically , the mounting plate 101 is formed with four rectangularly arranged through grooves 108, which are adapted to be aligned with a respective group of holes 89 or 90. Once arranged in this manner, a threaded sleeve portion 111 of each fastener is inserted. 48 through a respective mounting hole 112 provided in the upper surface 14 of the platform 6 (see also Figure 7) and extends through a respective one of the groups of perforations 86 and 87 formed in the platform 6, as well as a respective one of the groups of holes 89 and 90 formed in the support block 41, 42 and through the slot 108 in a respective mounting plate 101. The fasteners 48 close to the first The second and second longitudinal ends 9. and 10 of the platform 6 also extend through a respective through hole 80, 81 formed in each plate 77. The fasteners 48 are inserted continuously until the head 113 of each fastener 48, which it is integrally formed with a polygon-shaped nut portion 114 as better illustrated in Figure 3, it extends into a cavity 115 formed in the upper surface 14 of the platform 6 (see Figure 7). The polygon-shaped nut portion 114 is adapted to extend into a similar (unmarked) cavity formed in the platform 6 to prevent relative rotation of each fastener 48 relative to the platform 6. The nuts 117 are then secured threaded on the sleeve 111 to securely fix the platform 6, the reinforcing bars 74 and 75, the support blocks 41 and 42, and the different rotatable wheel wheel assemblies 44.

Specific reference to Figures 3 and 8, the assembly of the non-rotating, central wheel assemblies to the platform 6 will now be described. Each central wheel assembly 53 is defined by a mounting plate 123, a pair of laterally spaced arms 125 which are fixedly secured to and extend downward from the mounting plate 123 and a wheel 127 having a spindle portion or shaft 130. The spindle portion or shaft 130 is rotatably mounted on a shaft member 132, which it extends between and is secured to the arms 125. In a manner analogous to the mounting of the rotating caster wheel assemblies 44 to the platform 6, the platform 6 is also provided with a plurality of perforations located in the center (unmarked) and each central wheel assembly 53 is secured to platform 6 by means of threaded fasteners 133 and nuts 134, which extend through platform 6 and mounting plate 123.

When the wheel assemblies 44 and 53 are secured to the floor 6 in the manner described above, the transport pallet carriage 2 is adapted to rest on the ground as generally illustrated in Figure 2. As clearly shown in FIG. In this Figure, each wheel 127 of the central wheel assemblies 53 is larger in diameter than the individual wheels 104 of the rotating caster wheel assemblies 44. Within this arrangement, when placed on a substantially horizontal floor surface as shown in Figure 2, only a set of rotatable roller wheel assemblies 44, located on the first and second longitudinal ends 9 and 10 of platform 6 respectively, they will make contact with the ground at any given moment. By this arrangement, the transport pallet carriage 2 can be easily maneuvered through the U-shaped crank member 28 provided at any of the first and second longitudinal ends 9 and 10 of the pallet 6. The carriage of the transport platform 2 it will actually rotate on the center wheels 127 to allow a closed turning radius for optimum maneuverability and can be easily oriented with the help of a rotating caster wheel assembly 44. This greater maneuverability minimizes potential damage to others or products around the transport platform carriage 2. Furthermore, the presence of the flange 15 provides a contact area of reduced area and uniformly contoured in the case of direct coupling with the platform 6. Therefore, the specific configuration of the platform 6 reduces to the minimum the risk of harming others in the environment where the car is used.

The transport platform cart 2 is designed to minimize the risk of potential damage in a specific manner in which the assemblies that receive the vertical crank 21 are arranged with respect to the platform 6. More specifically, each assembly that receives the vertical crank 21 is generally defined by a mounting member that receives the vertical crank 140 (see Figures 3-5) that preferably constitutes a tube. The preferred embodiment shown, as best illustrated in Figure 5, each member receiving the vertical crank 140 is fixedly fastened directly to a respective reinforcing bar 74, 75 by means of a welded joint 146. As shown, each The mounting member receiving the vertical crank 140 is located within a respective cavity 18 formed in the platform 6 as mentioned above. As will be readily apparent from the views of Figures 4 and 5, the location of the mounting member receiving the vertical crank 140 within a corresponding cavity 18 allows the mounting member receiving the vertical cavity 140 to be placed inwardly. of the platform 15. This arrangement substantially eliminates any potential contact between the assemblies receiving the vertical crank 21 with the adjacent objects of the transport platform dolly 2. Since the assemblies receiving the vertical crank 21 are preferably formed of metal, the Direct coupling with those members can cause particular damage to the agent's ankles and also to items arranged in the environment in which the transport platform car 2 is used. By arranging the mounting members receiving the vertical crank 140 within the cavities 18, this problem is substantially alleviated. Further, since the mounting member receiving the vertical crank 140 is located entirely within the outer periphery of the platform 6, it will not get stuck on the cloth articles or the like or cause other direct damage at the height of the platform 6.

From the above description, it will be readily apparent that the transport pallet carriage 2 of the present invention will be much lighter in weight than the corresponding metal carriages associated with the prior art and will still have comparable load carrying characteristics due to its construction . In addition, the transport platform dolly 2 can be easily maneuvered due to the wheel configurations used and was constructed in a manner that took into account various safety considerations.

Although described with respect to a preferred embodiment of the invention, it should be readily understood that various changes and / or modifications can be made to the present invention as described, without departing from the spirit of the invention. In general, the invention is only intended to be limited by the scope of the following claims.

It is noted that in relation to this date, the best method known by the applicant to carry out the aforementioned invention, is the conventional one for the manufacture of the objects to which it relates.

Having described the invention as above, property is claimed as contained in the following:

Claims (27)

1. A transport platform trolley, characterized in that it comprises: an elongated platform constituted by a unitary molded plastic member, which has longitudinally separated first and second ends, a generally flat upper side, a lower side and generally vertical side walls, the lower side includes a plurality of flanges, a pair of spaced apart longitudinally extending slots and first and second sets of integrally molded fastener inserts, each of the fastener mounting inserts includes a plurality of grouped perforations that they extend across the upper and lower sides of the platform with the first and second sets of fastener mounting fasteners being laterally spaced adjacent the first and second ends of the platform, respectively; a pair of longitudinally extending metal reinforcing bars, respectively, positioned within the pair of grooves; a pair of support blocks, each of the support blocks includes a plurality of holes extending therethrough and placed through a respective set of first and second sets of fastener mounting inserts; a plurality of wheel mounts; and a plurality of fasteners for securing each of the wheel assemblies, the reinforcing bars and the support blocks simultaneously to the platform with the fasteners arranged with the wheel assemblies extending both through the holes and into the holes. Substance mounting hardware.

2. The transport pallet carriage according to claim 1, characterized in that each of the reinforcing bars includes first and second end portions separated longitudinally, the transport pallet carriage further comprises a member receiving a vertical crank attached to each of the first and second end portions of the reinforcing bars.

3. The transport platform cart according to claim 2, characterized in that the platform further includes a plurality of cavities arranged as pairs, which are spaced along an outer periphery and open upwards of the platform, each of the members receiving the vertical crank is placed completely within a respective one of the plurality of cavities, so that the adjacent sections of the side wall extend longitudinally beyond the members receiving the vertical crank.

4. The transport pallet carriage according to claim 2, characterized in that it further comprises at least one crank that includes a pair of separate, substantially parallel members, which end in the respective end sections, each of the end sections being adapted for be received in one of the members that receive the vertical crank from each of the reinforcing bars, respectively.

5. The transport pallet carriage according to claim 4, characterized in that the crank further includes a transverse bar that extends between and interconnects directly to the pair of spaced, substantially parallel members adjacent to the end sections thereof, the transverse bar limits the degree of insertion of the final sections in the members that receive the vertical crank.

6. The transport pallet carriage according to claim 1, characterized in that each of the reinforcing bars includes first and second longitudinally separated end portions, the transport pallet carriage further comprises a plurality of plates, each of the plates being secured to a respective one of the first and second end portions of the reinforcing bars and includes at least one perforation therein, which receives a respective one of the plurality of fasteners, so that the reinforcing bars are attached or connected to the platform simultaneously with support blocks and wheel assemblies.

7. The transport pallet carriage according to claim 6, characterized in that each of the support blocks is formed with at least one flat portion adjacent to the underside of the platform, each of the flat portions receives a respective one of the plurality of plates.

8. The transport pallet carriage according to claim 1, characterized in that the lower side of the pallet is further provided with a set of integrated molded auxiliary fastener mounting inserts, located immediately after the first and second longitudinally spaced ends of the pallet. the platform.

9. The transport pallet carriage according to claim 8, characterized in that it further comprises a pair of auxiliary wheel assemblies, respectively attached to the pallet in the auxiliary fastener mounting hardware.

10. The transport platform car according to claim 9, characterized in that each pair of auxiliary wheel assemblies is directly attached to the underside of the platform and incorporates a wheel that is larger in diameter than the wheels incorporated in each of the wheel mounts attached to support blocks.

11. The transport pallet carriage according to claim 1, characterized in that the lower side is formed with at least one projection extending adjacent to each of the first and second sets of fastener mounting fasteners and against which the torque of respective support blocks are placed.

12. A transport platform cart, characterized in that it comprises; an elongated platform constituted by an integral, unitary molded plastic member having first and second longitudinally spaced ends, a generally flat upper side, a lower side and generally vertical side walls defining an outer periphery of the platform, the side bottom includes a plurality of ridges, at least one longitudinally extending groove and first and second sets of integrally molded fastener mounting inserts adjacent to the first and second ends of the platform, respectively, the platform further includes a plurality of cavities arranged as pairs that are spaced along the outer periphery and open upwards of the platform at each of the first and second ends thereof; a pair of longitudinally extending reinforcing bars, respectively positioned within at least one slot, each of the reinforcing bars includes first and second longitudinally separated end portions, located in the fastener mounting hairpieces; a pair of reinforcement plates supported by the first and second end portions of each of the reinforcing bars, each of the reinforcing plates includes at least one through hole; a plurality of crank assembly units, each of the crank assembly units is attached to a respective one of the first and second end portions of the reinforcing bars and includes a member that receives the vertical crank that is placed inside a respective of the cavities; a plurality of wheel mounts; and members for fastening, each - one of - the wheel assemblies to the platform in a respective one of the mounting hairpieces simultaneously joining the reinforcing bars to the platform extending through the through holes provided in the reinforcement plates .

13. The transport pallet carriage according to claim 12, characterized in that it further comprises at least one crank that includes a pair of separate, substantially parallel members, which end in respective final sections, each of the end sections is adapted to be received in a respective one of the members that receive the vertical crank.

14. The transport pallet carriage according to claim 13, characterized in that the crank further includes a transverse bar that interconnects the pair of separate, substantially parallel members adjacent to the final sections thereof, the transverse bar limits the degree of insertion of the same. the final sections on the members that receive the vertical crank.

15. The transport pallet truck according to claim 12, characterized in that it further comprises a pair of support blocks, each of which includes - a plurality of holes extending therethrough, the support blocks extend in a manner substantially side-to-side through the platform and are positioned between a respective one of the first and second sets of fastener mounting fasteners and a respective one of the wheel assemblies.

16. The transport pallet carriage according to claim 15, characterized in that each of the supporting blocks is formed with at least one flat portion adjacent to the underside of the platform, each of the flat portions receives a respective one of the plurality of plates.

17. The transport pallet carriage according to claim 12, characterized in that the lower side is formed with at least one projection extending adjacent to each of the first and second sets of fastener mounting fasteners and against which the torque of respective support blocks are placed.

18. The transport pallet carriage according to claim 12, characterized in that the lower side of the pallet is further provided with a set of integrally molded and laterally separated auxiliary fastener mounting inserts located between the first and second ends, separated longitudinally of the platform.

19. The transport pallet carriage according to claim 18, characterized in that it further comprises a pair of auxiliary wheel assemblies, respectively fastened to the platform in the auxiliary fastener mounting hairpieces.

20. The transport pallet truck according to claim 19, characterized in that each of the pair of auxiliary wheel assemblies is directly attached to the underside of the platform and incorporates a wheel that is larger in diameter than the wheels incorporated in each of them. the wheel assemblies attached to the support blocks.

21. A transport pallet truck, characterized in that it comprises: an elongated platform constituted by an integrally molded plastic member having first and second longitudinally spaced ends, an upper side generally, a lower side and generally vertical side walls defining an outer periphery of the carriage, the lower side includes a plurality of ridges, a portion of the side walls located in at least one of the first and second longitudinally spaced ends of the platform is provided with at least one cavity on the outer periphery that opens outwardly from the platform; a plurality of crank receiving members, each of the crank receiving members is positioned in at least one cavity; first and second support elements placed on the underside and extending substantially completely laterally across the platform at the first and second longitudinally separated ends, respectively; first and second sets, first and second sets of wheels, are attached to the platform through the first and second support elements respectively with each of the first and second sets of wheels being vertically separated from the underside of the platform by a respective one of the first and second support elements; and a third set of wheels attached to the platform between the first and second ends longitudinally separated.

22. The transport pallet carriage according to claim 21, characterized in that the members receiving the handle extend fully into at least one cavity, so that the adjacent sections of the side wall extend longitudinally beyond the members that they receive the crank.

23. The transport pallet carriage according to claim 21, characterized in that it further comprises a crank having first and second ends, wherein the members receiving the crank are located in at least one of the first and second ends longitudinally separated from the platform which receives the first and second ends of the crank, respectively.

24. The transport pallet carriage according to claim 21, characterized in that the third set of wheels comprises two wheels that are laterally separated on a lower side, each of the two wheels has a first associated diameter and wherein each of the first and second wheel assemblies also comprise two wheels that are laterally spaced on the underside, each of the wheels of the first and second wheel assemblies have a second associated diameter, which is smaller than the first diameter.

25. The transport platform cart according to claim 21, characterized in that each of the support elements comprises a structural block formed of plastic.

26. The transport pallet carriage according to claim 21, characterized in that each first and second support elements extend across the platform a lateral distance, which is greater than a lateral distance caused by at least one cavity.

27. The transport pallet carriage according to claim 21, characterized in that the portion of the side walls is provided with a pair of laterally spaced cavities and each of the crank assembly units are placed in one of the respective cavities. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A pallet truck (2) includes a molded resin cargo transport platform (6), which has longitudinally spaced ends (9,10), a generally flat upper side (14) and a lower side (61) that includes a plurality of flanges (64), a pair of separate slots, which extend longitudinally (70,71) and first, second and third assemblies (84,85) of integrally molded fasteners, mounted on the mounting hardware which are located adjacent to the first and second ends of the platform and intermediate to the ends respectively. The grooves receive a pair of longitudinally extending reinforcing bars (74,75), the assemblies receiving a vertical crank (21) are supported at their ends. The assemblies that receive the crank are arranged in the cavities (18) separated around the periphery of the platform at the first and second ends thereof. At least one crank (28) is provided, which is adapted to be selectively positioned within one of the respective mounts that receive the vertical crank. The carriage also includes first and second rotating caster wheel assemblies (44) mounted on the underside of the platform, at each end thereof through a pair of support blocks (41,42) extending laterally to through the platform, and a pair of large wheels mounted in the center (53) around which the carriage can rotate for maneuvering purposes.