AU2001100241A4 - Manoeuvrable and steerable trolley chassis running gear "FAST CRG" - Google Patents

Description

Editorial Note: 2001100241 Page 3 is part of claims.

FANG AUSTRALIA SUPER TROLLEY "FAST CRG" Front Page

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 24 May 2001.

(29 June 2000) FANG AUSTRALIA SUPER TROLLEY CHASSIS RUNNING GEAR.

"FAST CRG" Application for INNOVATION PATENT.

IP AUSTRALIA Customer No. 381 0000 826 ABN 7 5448 908 868 INVENTOR:- Laurence Fang 24 Mountain Flat Rd., Narre Warren East, Victoria, 3804.

Australia.

The following statement is a full description of the invention and the front page and following sixteen pages are a TRUE COPY of the Invention and development as known to me.

Dated:- 7th. August 2001, in Melbourne, Australia.

Laurence Fang 24 Mountain Flat Rd., Narre Warren East, Vie. 3804. AUS.

Tel. 03 9796 8679 Mob. 0408 510 357 E-mail lauriefang@hotmail.com FANG AUSTRALIA SUPER TROLLEY CRG.

INVENTOR LAURENCE FANG FAST CRG. 7/08/2001 Pg. 2 Inventor: Fang; Laurence (24 Mountain Flat Rd., Narre Warren East, Victoria, 3804, AUSTRALIA. IP Australia Customer No. 381 0000 826 Innovation Patent Appl. No. 2001100241 7 Aug. 2001. Filed: Current U.S. Class Intern'l Class: Field of Search: Class) 280/47.11;33.991 280/33.991;33.992;33.993;33.996, 280/47.12;47.17;47.34;79.11;47.35 References Cited U.S. Patent Documents.

4248444 4850604 4852679 4934726 5299816 5556118 5558359 5964471 Feb., Jul., Aug., Jun., Apr., Sep., Sep., Oct., 1981 1989 1989 1990 1994 1996 1996 1999 Johnson 280/47 Marchand et al. 280/79 Fry 180/234 Daenens et al. 280/408 Von Braucke et al.

Kern et al. 280/79 Phears Copland 180/47.11 Foreign Patents Documents 9006629 Sep., 1990 DE.

9105672 May., 1991 WO Laurence Fang 24 Mountain Flat Rd., Narre Warren East, Vic. 3804, AUS.

Tel. 03 9796 8679 Mob. 0408 510 357 E-Mail lauriefang@hotmail.com FANG AUSTRALIA SUPER TROLLEY CRG.

INVENTOR LAURENCE FANG FAST CRG. 7/08/2001 Pg. 4 Description FIELD OF INVENTION The invention relates generally to an improved and economically viable running gear- chassis/ground engaging gear for Trolleys such as those used in Supermarkets, Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, Entertainment, Movie, Equine, Homewares, Furniture, Merchandising Areas and the like, and more specifically to an improved running gear which is Economically viable, manoeuvrable, stable, steerable and nestable and also the running gear/ground engaging gear may be attached directly onto equipment, furniture, homewares or the like for improved manoeuvrability, stability, steerability and because of it's simplicity, is economically viable.

Laurence Fang 24 Mountain Flat Rd., Narre Warren East, Vic. 3804, AUS.

Tel. 03 9796 8679 Mob. 0408 510 357 E-Mail lauriefang@hotmail.com FANG AUSTRALIA SUPER TROLLEY CRG.

INVENTOR LAURENCE FANG FAST CRG. 7/08/2001 Pg. BACKGROUND OF INVENTION The running gear/chassis of Trolleys or of the ground engaging gear directly attached to Equipment, Worktables/benches or the like, at the present typically comprises of:- Four castors, Two Castors and two wheels, Two wheels and four castors, Four Castors and one wheel, Two castors and one wheel, Any Number of castors only, Steering mechanisms on Castors, Two wheels and one castor, Four wheels Any number of wheels.

-The above are all biased towards improving steering with load carrying capacity and handling characteristics in a straight line and so on. The above configurations work well in most applications, however in some examples steering the trolley in a straight line may be a problem such as those on all castors, and others which steers well in a straight line, does not steer as well around corers and the more manoeuvrable and steerable examples can be relatively costly and complex.

Laurence Fang 24 Mountain Flat Rd., Narre Warren East, Vic. 3804, AUS.

Tel. 03 9796 8679 Mob. 0408 510 357 E-Mail lauriefang@hotmail.com FANG AUSTRALIA SUPER TROLLEY CRG.

INVENTOR LAURENCE FANG FAST CRG." 7/08/2001 Pg. 6 OBJECTIVES OF INVENTION It is the object of the invention to improve on and to provide an economically viable running gear, ground engaging gear/chassis which is simple but is as manoeuvrable, steerable, stable and nestable compared with the better and more expensive examples mentioned above.

In another embodiment it is also the object of the present invention to allow this running gear/ground engaging gear to be directly attached to the bases of equipment, machinery, toys, homewares and such like, to allow these implements manoeuvrability, stability, steerability and be economically viable due to it's simplicity.

Laurence Fang 24 Mountain Flat Rd., Narre Warren East, Vie. 3804, AUS.

Tel. 03 9796 8679 Mob. 0408 510 357 E-Mail lauriefang@hotmail.com FANG AUSTRALIA SUPER TROLLEY CRG. 7/08/2001 INVENTOR LAURENCE FANG FAST CRG. Pg. 7 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION.

According to the present invention there is provided a manoeuvrable, steerable, stable and economically viable running gear comprising of One fixed wheel and at least three castors which are attached coplanar and below a chassis in a manner which promotes stability, manoeuvrability and steerability.

The said wheel and castors, as the claimed ground engaging gear, may be attached directly on to the equipment/homewares/fumiture/worktables and such like in a manner to promote stability and the said wheel is aligned in the direction of normal longitudinal travel whereby the straight line path of travel is desired and with the said castors, will provide the stability, manoeuvrability and steerability when negotiating a curved path in any direction, and the running gear has the capability to turn completely around the vertical axis of the fixed wheel.

In another embodiment of this present invention:the ground engaging gear comprising of the one fixed wheel and at least three castors, may be fixed to a normal trapezoidal shaped framework/chassis, which is open at the wider end to enable nestability. The running gear the said chassis and ground engaging gear, can be incorporated to support any load or framework for equipment/baskets/shelves/tables/flat decks/ beds and such like, designed in trapezoidal or suitable tapering fashion for their nesting characteristics.

In another embodiment of this present invention:- The wheel and castors in the said running gear may have wheel brakes incorporated to prevent movement of the load/equipment and such like, at rest when required.

In another embodiment of the present invention:- The wheel and castors may be fitted with flexible protective fairings or shrouds for protection of the said wheel and castors from spray painting processes or the weather or chemical elements encounted in their various environments.

Laurence Fang 24 Mountain Flat Rd., Narre Warren East, Vie. 3804, AUS.

Tel. 03 9796 8679 Mob. 0408 510 357 E-Mail lauriefang@hotmail.com FANG AUSTRALIA SUPER TROLLEY CRG. 7/08/2001 INVENTOR:- LAURENCE FANG "FAST CRG." Pg. 8 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is the object of the present invention to provide an improved economically viable, manoeuvrable, steerable, stable and nestable running gear chassis which is adaptable for use as a load carrying platform or for the claimed running gear to be directly attached to equipment, worktables, toys, homewares, beds or such like.

According to the present invention, there is provided a single wheel aligned in the direction to allow normal forward or backward travel, and at least three or more castors pivotal about a respective substantially vertical axis, whereby the said wheel and castors are mounted below a chassis which is a substantially coplanar horizontal framework, which may be trapezoidal in shape when viewed from above and open at the wider end for nestability. Lugs may be provided at the points of attachment for the ground engaging gear and which may be angled slightly upwards to provide nesting characteristics designed to lift the wheel of the successive nesting chassis upwards above the ground to enable a plurality of like nesting trolleys to be manoeuvred from one place to another, supported by their trailing castors and a wheel and castor of the lead chassis. A load carrying framework may be provided above the chassis which may be suitably shaped, typically trapezoidal to provide nestability. The said wheel and at least three castors are fixed near the four corners of the running gear chassis, to provide maximum stability. The position of the wheel and castors may be fixed in any position or order for maximum stability, steerability and manoeuvrability.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention:- The ground engaging gear comprising of the said one fixed wheel and at least three castors, may be fixed directly to the base of equipment, machinery, furniture, toys, homewares and such like, the wheel and at least three castors are attached in a pattern which promotes stability and the wheel and castors may incorporate brakes and/or flexible protective shrouds. The brakes to provide safety or as a requisite in the resting position and secondly the flexible shrouds for the ground engaging gear is to protect the ground engaging gear from chemical or weathering elements such as in the spray painting of the equipment, machinery, furniture, toys, homewares and such like.

Laurence Fang 24 Mountain Flat Rd., Narre Warren East, Vie. 3804, AUS.

Tel. 03 9796 8679 Mob. 0408 510 357 E-Mail lauriefang@hotmail.com FANG AUSTRALIA SUPER TROLLEY CRG.

INVENTOR:- LAURENCE FANG FAST CRG. 7/08/2001 Pg. 9 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will now be described, by way of example, with references to the accompanying drawings FIG 1 is a front perspective view of the components of the "FAST CRG" Ground Engaging Gear, which comprises of said one wheel and three castors.

FIG 2 is a front/back perspective view of a chassis with one embodiment of the arrangement of the "FAST CRG" Ground Engaging Gear.

FIG 3 is a side sectional view of the "FAST CRG" Ground Engaging Gear Chassis -showing the components.

FIG 4 is the other side sectional view of the FAST- Ground Engaging Gear Chassis showing the components.

FIG 5 is the side view of one embodiment of a workbench with shelves on a "FAST CRG" chassis running gear.

FIG 6 is the side view of another embodiment of a load on a "FAST CRG" chassis running gear.

FIG 7 is a front view of the inverted cup shaped flexible shrouds which encase the housings and bearings of the ground engaging gear for protection.

FIG 8 is a Hinged Foldable FAST- Chassis Running Gear with a Medical Trolley Laurence Fang 24 Mountain Flat Rd., Narre Warren East, Vic. 3804, AUS.

Tel. 03 9796 8679 Mob. 0408 510 357 E-Mail lauriefang@hotmail.com FANG AUSTRALIA SUPER TROLLEY CRG. 7/08/2001 INVENTOR LAURENCE FANG FAST CRG." Pg. REFERENCE TO NUMERALS IN DRAWINGS FIG 1 TO 7 1 Wheel, smoothly rotatable around a substantially horizontal axis 2, 3 and 4 Castors, wheels pivotal around a substantially vertical axis, and smoothly rotatable around a substantially horizontal axis 6 7 Structural members of FAST Chassis 8, 13,14 Wheel brake Castor brakes 9, 10,11, 12 Lugs attached to Chassis at points of wheel/castor attachments Support framework for Work Table or Bench Top 16 Work Table Top or Bench Top or Flat Deck 17 Storage Shelves 18 Safety Bumper Bar soft flexible material.

19 Horizontal round tube or bar handle and attachments to frame Container or Equipment on FAST Running Gear Chassis 21, 22, 23,24 Inverted cup like flexible fairing or shroud for protecting the bearings of the Wheel and Castors from spray painting processes or from chemical or weathering elements Another embodiment of FAST Chassis with Hinged foldable leg supports 26 Handle with release and locking positions for locking legs down in the extended position or up in the folded up position 27 Bed mattress or stretcher bed frame with stretcher or a flat deck 28 Pillow Laurence Fang 24 Mountain Flat Rd., Narre Warren East, Vie. 3804, AUS.

Tel. 03 9796 8679 Mob. 0408 510 357 E-Mail iauriefang@hotmail.com FANG AUSTRALIA SUPER TROLLEY CRG. 7/08/2001 INVENTOR:- LAURENCE FANG FAST CRG." Pg. 11 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The main distinguishing factor of the invention is the single wheel located at or near a corner of the chassis, and aligned parallel to the mean longitudinal axis along the line of normal intended forward or backward travel and opposite the said wheel on the respective opposite side of the said mean longitudinal axis is a castor which is free to rotate about its substantially vertical axis as well as its normal substantially horizontal axis, and at least two other similar castors are attached on the opposite side of a mean lateral axis to the the said wheel and castor. Thus this configuration is assymmetrical with respect to the wheel and castor arrangement on opposite sides of the mean longitudinal or lateral axis. The said wheel rotates freely in the direction of normal forward or backward travel and serves as a guide wheel, as the said wheel will resist forces tending to move it laterally at right angles, however the said wheel is capable of rolling in a curved path when turning forces are applied to cause the said wheel to pivot at it's contact point with the ground. Thus these two properties provide the accurate directional control and precise management of manoeuvrability so desired in Trolley Designs. The said wheel and the castors situated at the said perimeter corners of the chassis, provide stability and the required rolling ability in any desired direction, for the manoeuvrability and precise steerability for the convenience of the human operator or attendant. Operating forces of steering are kept to a minimum with smoothly operating said castors and wheel, in conjunction to a maximum specified safe load for the individual operator.

The said wheel and castors are attached below the chassis and coplanar.

The chassis and lugs for attachment of the said wheel and at least three castors may be constructed of steel or any rigid material, and the said chassis may be in the form of an open trapezoidal framework to which may be attached the load carrying superstructure or framework. The trapezoidal shape is conventional for nesting ability. The lugs may have a small incline built in relative to the horizontal plane to provide a lifting and nesting ability which raises the nesting wheel and castor of the nesting chassis up above the ground so that a plurality of like nesting chassis may be manoeuvred easily.

Laurence Fang 24 Mountain Flat Rd., Narre Warren East, Vie. 3804, AUS.

Tel. 03 9796 8679 Mob. 0408 510 357 E-Mail lauriefang@hotmail.com FANG AUSTRALIA SUPER TROLLEY CRG. 7/08/2001 INVENTOR LAURENCE FANG "FAST CRG." Pg. 12 In another embodiment the said running gear may be attached directly to beds, equipment, homewares, furniture or the like and the running gear will provide the desired characteristics of steerability, manoeuvrability and stability at an economically viable cost due to it's simplicity and the ease of modification of existing running gear on equipment and such like, if required.

In one preferred embodiment, as an example, the front end of the trapezoidal chassis will have the said wheel on one side of a mean longitudinal axis and opposite the said wheel is a castor, in the rearward end will be the other two castors situated on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis, and the said ground engaging gear supports a trapezoidal load carrying chassis such as that of trolleys found in supermarkets, and the front lugs for the wheel/castor attachments on each of the said chassis will have a small lifting ability such as an angled arrangement to act as a ramp to lift up the front wheel of the successive nesting cart, which thus provides the ability of like nesting carts to be manoeuvred back to the Trolley Parking Bays provided in Supermarket Areas. The steerability of such Trolleys will still be precise even negotiating diagonally across small slopes.

The said wheel and castors may be protected by flexible fairings or shrouds made up of a material like rubber or plastic when intended for use in spray painting situations or harsh weathering or chemical environments to protect the wheel/castor bearings from seizing up.

The said wheel and castors may be fitted with wheel or castor brakes if so desired for keeping the load and chassis stationary when required.

Although the present invention has been described in terms of a preferred embodiment thereof, it is obvious to a person skilled in the art that various alterations and modifications are possible without departing from the scope of the present invention which is set forth in the claims.

Laurence Fang 24 Mountain Flat Rd., Narre Warren East, Vie. 3804, AUS.

Tel. 0397968679 Mob. 0408 510 357 E-Mail lauriefangahotmail.com

Claims (4)

1. A Steerable, Manoeuvrable, Stable Running Gear Chassis, comprising:- a generally horizontal, trapezoidal chassis open at the wider end a closed narrower end opposite sides and a central longitudinal axis, a wheel and at least three castors attached to and supporting the chassis in a substantially horizontal orientation spaced above the ground, the configuration whereby the wheel is aligned parallel to the direction of the longitudinal axis in the normal direction of forward or backward travel and is located at or near one corer of the chassis and with the said castors attached to the remaining three corers of the chassis, the lugs for attaching the said wheel and castors in the said positions above and the front lugs of a plurality of nesting chassis fit in a nesting position such that the leading wheels of the chassis of the second or successive nesting chassis is lifted slightly off the ground, this allows a plurality of like chassis and their load carrying attachments to be manoeuvred from one place to another.

2 The configuration of the said wheel/castor arrangement, in Claim 1, which may be attached directly to the base or chassis of equipment, toys, furniture, homewares, beds and such like.

3 A steerable, manoeuvrable, and nestable shopping type trolley of conventional trapezoidal design with the said running gear and chassis in Claim 1.

4 A steerable, manoeuvrable, steerable and nestable flat bed trolley or work table in conventional trapezoidal design with the running gear and chassis in Claim 1. Flexible protective fairings for the said wheel or castors in Claim 1. Laurence Fang 24 Mountain Flat Rd., Narre Warren East, Vie. 3804, AUS. Tel. 03 9796 8679 Mob. 0408 510 357 E-Mail lauriefang@hotmail.com