GB2258435A

GB2258435A - A collapsible combination trolley/seat.

Info

Publication number: GB2258435A
Application number: GB9206906A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Robert Mellor
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1991-08-09
Filing date: 1992-03-30
Publication date: 1993-02-10
Also published as: GB9206906D0

Abstract

A dual purpose chassis/seat frame 1, 2 & 3. has two pairs of dual purpose suspension arm/seat legs 4 & 5. which form load carrying suspension units on which to locate separate wheels/axles 8. and a separate handle 20. to form a towable platform trolley which may be converted into a conventional four legged seat by repositioning the suspension arms to act as supporting legs for a seat base, 1. 2 & 3. The structure 15 & 16. being dual purpose to pivot around position 14. to act horizontally as a trolley load platform, or near vertical as a seat back-rest. The suspension arm/seat legs and the back-rest are able to fold flat against the chassis/seat frame after removing the wheels and handle, to allow a compact configuration for easy stowage at home or in a vehicle. <IMAGE>

Description

A COLLAPSIBLE COMBINATION TROLLEY/SEAT.

This invention relates to a collapsible combination trolley/seat.

In many sports, pastimes or leisure activities, it is desirable to combine a trolley with a seat, as a single unit, being collapsible for convenient stowage in small space. An example of this may be shown in the case of fishermen, who may wish to transport items of fishing tackle to the water-side and then arrange to sit comfortably for long periods.

According to the present invention, there is provided a spaceframe chassis which also serves the purpose of a seat base frame structure. Pivotably connected to, or adjacent to each corner of said space frame, is a supporting leg, each leg being provided with a removable section that can be shortened or lengthened with means provided,to allow levelling on uneven ground. Each of these legs are also provided with means of inter-locking with other legs to form load bearing suspension members on which wheel/axle assemblies may be fixedly located to provide a loadbearing flat bed trolley which may be pushed or pulled by hand by locating, with means provided, a separate handle onto said space frame chassis. this handle also being able to partly support part of the load to be carried on the trolley.In order for the trolley to convert into a seat, the seat back-rest is also made to be of dual purpose, with means of converting into a loading platform for said trolley.

A specific embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by reference to the drawings, in which : Fig.1. Shows in perspective, a collapsible combination trolley/ seat assembled by using separate wheel/axles, and handle, into a trolley. The use of dotted lines indicating the structure as converted into a seat.

Fig.2. Shows a side view of a collapsible combination trolley/ seat in a fully collapsed state, for easy stowage. The use of dotted lines indicating the relative position of the structure when converted into a trolley.

Fig. 3. Shows a modified version of the trolley/seat leg arrange ment, with alternative means of inter-locking.

Referring to the drawings, Figs. 1,2 & .

Shows a collapsible combination trolley/seat consisting of two substantially parallel side members 1. suitably spaced by two crossmembers 2 & 3 one at or adjacent to each end of the side members 1. to form a dual purpose space frame structure to form either a trolley chassis or seat base frame. 1,2 & . Pivotably connected at or adjacent to each corner of said space frame is a dual purpose member to act as either a trolley suspension member or a seat supporting leg. Said members 4. being pivoted on crossmember 2. adjacent to the corner of the space frame, and members 5. being pivoted on the side members 1. near to the opposite corners, at point 6.In order for a trolley to withstand side loads during transportation, or a seat to be made stable against rocking side-ways, the members 4. may be diagonnally braced to the crossmember 2. on which they pivot,thereby leaving the members 4. to remain unconnected and free to pivot independently of eachother. The said diagonal braces 7. may be so shaped to include a substantially horizontal section at their outer points where fixedly connected to members 4. Said braces 7 being of a hollow tubular section to allow a separate wheel/ axle to be inserted and located, one axle 8. to each brace 7.

the axles being fixedly held by a wingscrew 9. or other suitable clamping means. The two dual purpose members 5. are fixedly un-connected, being free to pivot independently at pivot point 6 Each member 5 is provided with a bracket/collar 10. being fixedly attached to said member at a suitable distance away from the pivot 6. Said collar 10 is made to allow a wheel axle 8. to pass through it. It may be easily seen, that by rotating each member 4. and each member 5. about their respective pivot points 2 & . that at a given point where each member intersects with the other member the collar 10 will align with the tubular end of the brace 7. to be inter-locked be inserting the axle 8. to be fixedly located by the wingscrew 9. or other suitable clamping means.By the means described of inter-locking the members 4 & in pairs, one pair at each side of the space frame 1,2s3. that two substantially triangular shaped structures are formed, to act as load bearing suspension members for a trolley, said trolley being transportable by locating two or more wheel/axles, as described. With these wheel/axle assemblies 8. removed, the members 4 & are now free to pivot independently to fold flat against the space frame 1,2 & . thus providing a collapsible structure for easy stowage. In order to convert the trolley/ seat from the folded or trolley configuration, into a seat, the members 4 & are pivoted outwardly away from eachother until each one reaches a stop position at a suitable angle to support a seat in a stable manner. The members 4. abutting the side members 1. adjacent to their pivot points on crossmember 2.

The members 5. lying against the side members 1 at a point 18.

where said side members are angled substantially downwards and backwards at the required angle, this point being the position of crossmember 3. In order that the leg structure of a seat may be further strengthened against side-ways rocking, the two members 5. when positioned as described, to act as seat legs, may be provided with means of releasably engaging the crossmember 3. by attaching a pipe clip or similar fastener ll,-oneash leg 5. to engage extended spigots 12.or similar engagement means, positioned on the crossmember 3. to engage when said legs 5.

reach their stop position, resting against side members 1. at the point 18. Alternatively, said leg members 5. may be used successfully without the engagement means described, providing the leg structure is rigid enough. The seat may be levelled on uneven ground by providing each member 4 & with a removable or retractable section 13. to be clamped at a chosen extended length by a wingscrew or similar clamping means. Alternatively, said seat may be used on substantially level ground with the leg members 4 & being of a fixed length, without the removable or retractable sections 13. as described. A bracket 25. is fix -edly attached to each side frame 1. at a suitable point 14. at which to pivot a seat back-rest which also has a dual purpose, as will be described.The said seat back-rest 15. may pivot to a near vertical position in order to lean on when sitting, this position being set by allowing part of its structure, near to the pivot pointl4. to abut or lie against the side members 1.

Said seat back-rest 15 may be made of a tubular structure of generally inverted U-shaped configuration with a material infill of canvas or nylon stretched across it in order to support a seated person, or alternatively made of a "solid metal pressing or plastic moulding, not requiring the material infill.

In order for the seat as described so far, to convert into a trolley, the seat back-rest is made pivotable to fold down substantially horizontally over the space frame 1,2 & . Said seat back-rest 15 being provided with two crossmembers 16. or more if required to serve the purpose also as a type of luggage rack or load platform for a trolley. Should the seat back structure be of the alternative type described ie. a pressing or moulding, then the crossmembers 16. would not necessarily be needed to support the load or luggage. It would be possible also to combine both types of structure, ie, a pressing or moulded back-rest 15. also carrying the required number of crossmembers 16.Likewise the area between the side frames 1. of the space frame 1,2, 3. in order to serve as a seat base would also require a support -ing "infill" which again may be of a material such as canvas or nylon 19. suspended between the side frames 1. or alternatively, as in the case of the seat back-rest 15. be of pressed metal or moulded plastic or other suitable material attached to the space frame structure by screws or pop rivets or similar means. The trolley as described, in order to be pushed or pulled by hand is provided with a separate handle 20. which is inserted into a socket 21. which is attached to the crossmember 3, or to any other suitable place on the trolley chassis 1.2 & . by other suit -able means. The example combination trolley/seat as described, uses a handle 20 fixedly located in the socket 21. by means or a wingscrew 27. In order that the removable handle 20. may support part of the load or luggage to be carried on the trolley, as would be desirable in the case of transporting a long fishing rod bag, a supporting bracket or cradle 22. is provided, being pivotably located near to the upper end of handle 20. the reason to pivot this bracket or cradle 22 is to allow said handle and cradle to be removed and folded parallel to eachother for easy stowage, for instance,in the fishing rod bag. The load to be carried being provided with securing means by way of anchor points 26. on the handle cradle 22. or at 17. on the spaceframe, at which points straps or elastic bungee chord may be used to secure the load.

A number of modifications to the collapsible combination trolley/seat could occur to those persons skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention.

For example, if the seat was required for use on a mainly level surface, the four independently pivoting support legs 4 & could be replaced by two pairs of substantially U-shaped supporting legs 28 pivotably located at the same points 2 & . These legs 28 not being provided with any adjustable sections 13. Alternatively a combination of both types of leg could be used, with the generally U-shaped non-adjustable legs supporting the rear of the seat and the independently pivoting adjustable type leg 4. supporting the front of the seat, or with the reverse of this configuration. In any of the examples described, the supporting legs 4 or 5 or 28 could still be provided with means of inter-locking to provide generally triangular shaped load bearing structures as previously described, by inserting a wheel axle 8. through them or through suitable attachments on them, or by connecting said legs together by alternative means, suchis a bracket 29 & wingscrew 30 allowing the wheel axles to be located in a non-relative way. An arrangement of a combination so described, being shown in figure.3 .

Claims

CLAIMS.

Claim 1. A collapsible combination trolley/seat, comprising a dual purpose structure with means provided to serve as either a flat bed wheeled trolley chassis with a removable handle which partly supports the load to be carried, a means of providing a loading area on said trolley chassis on which to support and secure the load, a means of providing a seat base to support a seated person, a means of providing a seat back-rest that a seated person may lean back on, a means of supporting said seat structure on the ground.
Claim 2. A collapsible combination trolley/seat according to claim 1. in which the supporting legs of a seat may combine and connect together either singly or in pairs so as to act as a a load bearing structure or structures on which to attach two or more wheels in order to convert said seat into a trolley.
Claim 3. A collapsible combination trolley/seat according to claim 1, 2. In which the supporting legs of a seat may be connected together either singly or in pairs by using a wheel axle or axles to make said connection, in order to act as load bearing structures when converting a seat into a trolley.
Claim 4. A collapsible combination trolley/seat according to any preceding claim, in which a seat back-rest is provided with means of acting as a loading platform for a trolley, with the means provided of supporting and securing said load.
Claim 5. A collapsible combination trolley/seat according to claim 1. in which a supporting leg of a seat is provided with means of bracing said leg to prevent lateral instability of the seat by means other than fixedly connecting two legs together.
Claim 6. A collapsible combination trolley/seat according to claim 1,2,3. In which two unconnected independently pivoting legs are provided with means of being releasably connected to a crossmember which forms part of the structure on which said legs are pivoted.
Claim 7. A collapsible combination trolley/seat, according to any preceding claim, in which a removable trolley towing handle is provided with a supporting bracket to bear a proportion of trolleys load, with means provided of folding said supporting CLAIMS.

bracket substantially parallel to said handle for easy stowage.
Claim 8. A collapsible combination trolley/seat, substantially as described herein with reference to figures 1 & 2. with or without any one of the modifications described herein with reference to figure. 3.