Abstract: A computer based system is used for providing a comprehensive set of business support services for mobile business operations such as merchandising carts and kiosks. The services include: i.) providing a two-way computerized communication link between the mobile business unit and a headquarters base station via radio telemetry or ground lines, ii.) a data capture facility which polls a variety of intelligent devices, such as temperature sensors and inventory level indicators, packages the data for subsequent transmission to the base station and summaries the data for display on the mobile system control panel, iii.) a base station communication facility which transmits messages and computer commands to remote carts and kiosks and initiates outbound paging, iv.) a base station mass storage and reporting facility which stores historical data related to product sales, cashier settlement, inventory control and in bound messages for subsequent retrieval and reporting.

Abstract: A movable cart for merchandising products wherein a canopy is supported on an upper surface of the body portion of the cart so that it may be raised or lowered relative to the upper surface wherein upwardly extending supports are mounted on four corners of the upper surface and downwardly extending supports are pivotally connected to a frame on which the canopy is mounted and the upwardly and downwardly extending supports are connected together to provide relative sliding movement therebetween and a gas spring is mounted within the upwardly and downwardly extending supports to urge the downwardly extending supports and therefore the canopy away from the upper surface, and locking apparatus is provided to hold the upper and lower supports in a relatively fixed relationship so that the canopy will be maintained at a desired distance above the upper surface.

Abstract: A portable display stand comprising a base member plate provided with a mounting plate so that wheels may be mounted in an operational or stored position on the base member with the base member also being provided with a support system. A plurality of sidewall panels are provided and are hingedly connected together so that they may be moved to an operational position and supported on the support system or moved to a storage position. A top member plate is provided and has a channel system for receiving a portion of the sidewall panels to be supported thereby. A carrying case is provided and has walls defining a cavity for holding the base member plate with the wheels in a stored position, the plurality of sidewall panels in a stored position and the top member plate.

Abstract: A container, particularly useful with steam tables, comprises an open top box like member which is provided with means extending between and supported by opposed side walls of the box like member and which means are constructed to form at least one slot. A pair of lids each having planar means depending from the bottom surface thereof are positioned over the box like member with the depending planar means in the slot so that a lid may be moved to an opened position, be retained in the opened positon by its own construction while something is removed from the box like member and then returned to a closed position or, if desired, the lid may be removed completely from the box like member.

Abstract: A container, particularly useful with steam tables, comprises an open top box like member which is provided with means extending between and supported by opposed side walls of the box like member and which means are constructed to form at least one slot. A pair of lids each having planar means depending from the bottom surface thereof are positioned over the box like member with the depending planar means in the slot so that a lid may be moved to an opened position, be retained in the opened position by its own construction while something is removed from the box like member and then returned to a closed position or, if desired, the lid may be removed completely from the box like member.