GB2255053A - Beach trolley. - Google Patents

Abstract

The trolley is provided with ball wheels 9 and a support foot 16, 17 to enable it to travel and stand stably on soft surfaces. Compartments 12 and 13 are suitable for carrying rolled up objects such as a wind break, and a central cavity 15 has a lower part which provides either or both of an insulated compartment for food or a lockable compartment for valuables. Arms 18 may be used to carry folded chairs. The handle 21 may be used to support an umbrella or may form part of it. <IMAGE>

Description

TROLLEY This invention relates to trolleys especially for use on beaches.

In principle a day on the beach with family or friends can be a very appealing prospect. Reality can be different. Car-parking space at sea-side resorts can be both limited and remote. Having located a parking space the potential bather is faced with the difficulty of reaching the beach accompanied by towels, inflatable air beds, wind breaks, costumes, books, parasols, cool boxes of drinks, chairs, squalling children and other impedimenta. This is all difficult enough on hard surfaces but on uneven soft sand it can appear well nigh impossible. Having arrived one worries about returning all the material to the car and the ensuing traffic jam.

The day out can be more stressful than a poor day working in a city. My invention seeks to reduce at least some of these problems.

Embodiments of my invention will be described by reference to the accompanying drawings of which; Figure 1 is a plan view of a back panel Figure 2 is a sectional view of the back panel along A-A Figure 3 is an end view of the back panel Figure 4 is a plan view of a top panel Figure 5 is a perspective view of a trolley and Figure 6 is a perspective view of the trolley and accessories My invention comprises a trolley. The trolley can comprise back panel 1. Back panel is a substantially rectangular member having at least a degree of rigidity.

I prefer to form it of injection moulded plastics material, or glass fibre reinforced plastics material.

Other light strong and non-corrodible material is not preferred in view of its propensity to rusting a moist, saline environment.

Back panel 1 can be planar. However the outside face 2 may be provided with stiffening ribs (not shown). The inside face 3 may comprise a rim 4 with a recessed central cavity 5. Situated within the cavity is axle bearing 6. Bearing 6 can be a plain sleeve bearing formed of the same material of and integral with the back panel. The bearing surface is quite large and hence will not become unserviceable due to wear for a considerable time even if sand enters the edges of the bearing.

More sophisticated bearings may be used, such as ball or roller bearings. It will generally be found however that the cost disadvantage outweighs the superior performance if any.

A plain axle 8 runs in the bearing. The axle ends are provided with wheels. I prefer to provide ball wheels 9 especially of plastics material because they show only a limited tendency to sink into soft surfaces.

The axle wheel base is preferably less than the width of the back panel so that the wheels do not protrude from the sides. This is preferred because it enables the body size to be selected so that the whole trolley passes through a standard doorway and hence maximise storage space.

The trolley further comprises a front panel 10.

Panel 10 is preferably also of plastics material and may very conveniently be prepared as any extrusion which can then be cut to the correct length for fitment to the back panel 1. Front panel 10 is provided by a plurality of up-standing members 11 which abut the back panel defining the trolley sides and if desired internal chambers. The front panel may be joined to the back panel by adhesives, reins, screws etc. If both panels are made of the appropriate plastics material hf welding can be used.

I prefer to provide two small outer chambers 12, 13 which can accommodate a rolled up wind break 14. The central cavity 15 can accommodate towels, mats and so forth. The base of the central cavity can be provided with either or both of an insulated compartment for helping to keep food and drink at a desired temperature or a lockable compartment for storing valuables. Access to either compartment can be by means of an internal or external door.

The base of the front panel is provided with a support leg 16 for supporting the trolley in an upright position. Preferably leg 16 is provided with a foot 17 to reduce the possibility of the leg sinking into the sand. Leg 16 can be telescopic, it may be hinged or it may be removable so as to reduce the volume required for storage of the trolley.

Arms 18 may extend from the front panel. They too may be removable or hingeable to reduce storage bulk. It is intended that folded chairs 19 will be carried on the arms 18. The ends cf the arms may be enlarged 20 to prevent the chairs falling off in use.

The rear of the back panel 1 is provided with handle 21. Handle 21 can be provided with a plurality of holes (not shown) through which fastening means extend. For example the back panel may be provided with two threaded studs fixed relative to it. Handle 21 is mounted via the holes on the studs and fastened for example with wing nuts. In another embodiment wing bolts pass through the holes and engage a threaded portion of the back panel.

The top portion of the handle may be curved and provided with a hand grip 22. The lower portion may if desired be provided with a ground engaging foot or spike which may be movable relative to the body. In some embodiments of the invention parts of the handle may be usuable as parts of an umbrella.

For example the curved top portion may be removed and replaced by a parasol (not shown). It may not be necessary to demount the handle from the trolley. If a ground engaging spike, the trolley wheels and foot are employed the user may be spared the trauma of hammering the parasol support into unyielding ground.

I prefer that my trolley is finished in a light colour both as an aesthetic measure and to help to keep and the contents cool.

My invention enables the aforesaid impedimenta to be wheeled relatively easily to and from the beach.

Claims (5)

1. A trolley comprising of a front panel anid a back panel, with upstanding mcxbers whitch abut the back panel defining the trolley sides, whereof two outer ailed a central cavity are formed, with an insulated lockable compartment at the base.

A leg with a round flat foot, telescopic or hinged, positioned at the base of the front panel, uses the two ball wheels situated beneth each side, to provide a stable platforn.

2. A trolley as darned in claim 1. wherein removable or hingeable arms are provided on the front panel.

3, A trolley as claimed in claim 1. wherein a handle with a plurality of holes through which fastening means extend is provided.

4. A trolley as claimed in claims 2 and 3 wherein the handle may be adapted for use whith an umbrella and a ground engaging spike used with wheels and foot for increased stability,

5. A trolley substantially as described herein with references to figures 1-6 of the accompanying drawings