AU2007100757A4 - Trolley for transporting mesh and like products - Google Patents

Description

13/08/2007 20:11 61297136631 DAVID SHANKS ASSOCSM PAGE 03/17 1 TROLLEY FOR TRANSPORTING MESH AND LIKE PRODUCTS FIELD OF THE INVENTION This innovation relates to apparatus for moving sheets of welded wire mesh and like products from one place to another in a manner that is convenient and safe for workers.

BACKGROUND

It is often required to move sheet-type materials from one place to another in manufacturing industry, the building trade and like pursuits. One way in which one sheet or a few sheets of such materials may be moved is to support a lower edge on one or more wheeled trolleys and then wheel the material to its desired destination on the trolley(s). An example of such materials that is known to cause difficulties in practice is the welded wire mesh commonly used as reinforcement in concrete slabs and the like. This can be of considerable weight, yet flexible (hence awkward to handle), and difficult to support securely on a trolley. Slippage between a trolley and a sheet material such as wire mesh (when for example a wheel of the trolley encounters an obstacle) may lead to a loss of control with potential safety consequences.

The present innovation is directed to an improved trolley device for handing of sheets of wire mesh and similar materials. Although particularly intended to facilitate the handling and movement of sheets of wire mesh, it is believed to be suitable for other sheet-type materials.

SUMMARY OF THE INNOVATION The innovation provides a trolley for use in moving of an item in the form of a sheet or panel, the trolley comprising: a body; and at least one pair of wheels mounted to said body; the or each pair of wheels being freely and independently rotatable about an axis extending transversely of the body so as to enable the trolley to be supported by and rolled in a longitudinal direction on a surface, wherein said body is so formed that COMS ID No: ARCS-156839 Received by IP Australia: Time 20:17 Date 2007-08-13 13/OB/2007 20:11 61297136631 DAVID SHANKS ASSOCSM PAGE 04/17 2 a bottom edge portion of an item in the form of a sheet or panel held in a generally upright and longitudinally extending plane by a user can be supported on said body; and said body interlockingly engages with said bottom edge portion to prevent said edge of said item from sliding in said longitudinal direction on said body.

The trolley may have two said pairs of wheels mounted to said body with their respective transversely extending axes of rotation being spaced apart longitudinally on said body. This is particularly convenient where the sheet to be transported is a sheet of wire mesh of the type widely used for reinforcement of concrete slabs and the like, as disclosed in the following detailed description.

In a useful embodiment of the innovation, the trolley is adapted for transport of a sheet of wire mesh, said body being formed with longitudinally spaced apart openings or upwardly facing recesses to receive downwardly extending wires comprised in a bottom edge portion of said sheet of wire mesh so as to interlockingly engage with said sheet of wire mesh.

Preferably, in this embodiment, said openings or recesses are formed in a longitudinally extending surface portion of said body and wherein said body has on opposing sides of said surface portion longitudinally extending guide surfaces that slope inwardly and downwardly towards said openings or recesses so as to guide downwardly extending wires of a sheet of mesh being lowered onto the body towards said openings or recesses.

Everywhere in this specification, the word "comprise" and such derivatives as "comprises", "comprising", and "comprised", where used in relation to a set of items, integers, features or steps is to be taken to mean that those items, integers, features or steps are present, but without precluding the possibility that other items, integers, features or steps are also present.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DIAGRAMS Figure 1 is a perspective view of two trolleys according to the innovation supporting a sheet of wire mesh and being used to move that sheet; Figure 2 is a plan view of one of the trolleys shown in Figure 1; COMS ID No: ARCS-156839 Received by IP Australia: Time 20:17 Date 2007-08-13 13/08/2007 20:11 61297136631 DAVID SHANKS ASSOCSM PAGE 05/17 3 Figure 3 is a end view, looking in the direction of arrow of the trolley shown in Figure 2, supporting a sheet of wire mesh; Figure 4 is a plan view of a sheet of wire mesh supported on two trolleys according to the innovation and being transported in a curved path; Figure 5 is a perspective partial view of one component (frame) of the trolley shown in Figure 2, and Figures 5(b) 5(c) are equivalent perspective partial views of alternative embodiments of the same component.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Figure 1 shows two trolleys 1 being used by a user 2 to transport a sheet 3 of wire mesh of the type often used as reinforcement in concrete slabs and the like. The sheet 3 of wire mesh is of known type, comprising longitudinal wires 4 and lateral wires 5 arranged perpendicularly to each other and welded together.

Referring now also to Figures 2 and 3, trolley 1 comprises an elongate frame 6, two axles 7, 8 parallel to each other and each secured to frame 6 at locations spaced apart along its length, and mounted on each of axles 7 and 8 a pair of wheels 9. Trolley 1 when placed on a flat surface (not shown) is able to roll freely on that surface.

By means described below, each of the trolleys 1 shown in Figure 1 supports mesh sheet 3 from below, so that user 2 can conveniently move sheet 3 by rolling it along on trolleys 1.

Figures 2 and 3 show a trolley 1 in more detail. Frame 6 is of substantially constant cross-section, and is formed from suitable sheet material (eg sheet steel). As best seen in Figure 3, frame 6 has a first sidewall 10, a first sloping wall 11 extending inwardly from an upper edge 15 of sidewall 10 and sloping downwardly to join a central wall 12 that in use is substantially horizontal, a second sloping wall 13 extending upwardly from central wall 12 at a slope similar to that of first sloping wall 11, and a second sidewall 14 extending downwardly from an upper edge 16 of second sloping wall 13. Axles 7 and 8 are mounted to sidewalls 10 and 14 in any suitable manner each with a wheel 9 mounted to each end.

Upper surfaces 17 and 18 of sloping walls 11 and 13 provide guidance to a lower edge of mesh sheet 3 so that sheet 3, if initially placed on trolley 1 COMS ID No: ARCS-156839 Received by IP Australia: Time 20:17 Date 2007-08-13 13/08/2007 20:11 61297136631 DAVID SHANKS ASSOCSM PAGE 06/17 4 in a transversely non-central position, tends to slide downwardly towards central wall 12 to be supported there in the way disclosed below.

Central wall 12 has a row of openings 19 arrayed along its length each pair of adjacent holes 19 being spaced apart by the same distance Holes 19 are provided so that the lower end of at least one lateral wire 5 (the lateral wires 5 being the ones that extend vertically when sheet 3 is supported as shown in Figure 1) is received in a hole 19. Central wall 12 supports the lowermost one of the longitudinal wires of sheet 3. To ensure that wires enter holes 19 relaibly, holes 19 are preferred to be of a diameter close to the width of central wall 12. The receipt of at least one wire 5 in a hole 19 prevents mesh sheet 3 from sliding lengthwise on trolley 1.

Although not essential, frame 6 is preferably made long enough, and the spacing of holes 19 suitably chosen, that more than one (for example two) of wires 19 has its lower end received in a hole 19. For this purpose, distance may be chosen so that the longitudinal spacing of wires 5 of mesh likely to be carried on trolleys 1 is an integral multiple of The key aspect of the innovation is that a trolley is provided for moving mesh sheets in which the mesh sheet is prevented from sliding lengthwise in the trolley by holes 19 (or equivalent formations as disclosed below). Such sliding, if it occurs when the trolley hits an obstacle for example, can be dangerous and inconvenient as easy and safe control and movement of the sheet can be lost.

Trolley 1 is shown with two axles 7 and 8 and two pairs of wheels 9.

This is not the only possible arrangement, but has been found to provide a particular advantage in an effective way. Figure 4 shows a plan view of the sheet 3 being supported and transported as in Figure 1, but with the exception that the mesh sheet 3 has been bent sideways (as seen in plan view) and is partway through a change of direction (from that of arrow to that of arrow With two pairs of wheels 9 on each trolley 1, it has been found that it is quite easy for one or two people moving a mesh sheet 3 to steer it along a non-straight path by such lateral bending of the sheet 3. Once the sheet 3 is initially bent, the change of direction tends to be followed automatically without the need to it can simply be moved ahead and will normally execute COMS ID No: ARCS-156839 Received by IP Australia: Time 20:17 Date 2007-08-13 13/08/2007 20:11 61297136631 DAVID SHAKS ASSOCSM PAGE 07/17 the path change with little deviation and without much continuing effort being required to steer it through the path change. This is a convenience.

Nevertheless, other numbers and arrangements of wheels may be used, without losing the above key aspect of the innovation. For example, the following possible arrangements (not shown) are amongst those that can be used: A single transversely extending axle only on the trolley, with two wheels thereon; A single wheel (or roller) only with a transversely extending axis of rotation; Two wheels on the trolley respectively arranged for rotation about front and rear transversely extending axes of rotation.

It will be readily apparent that there are alternatives to holes 19 that can also receive or engage the lower ends of vertically extending wires 5 of sheet mesh 3 so as to prevent longitudinal movement between the sheet 3 in a trolley.

Figure 5(a) shows in perspective view one end of the frame 6 (with axles and wheels omitted) and Figures 5(b) to 5(f) show exactly equivalent views of some of these alternatives for comparison.

Figure 5(b) shows longitudinally extending slots 30 punched in central wall 31 (equivalent to central wall 12) of a frame 32 otherwise similar to frame 6. Slots 30 lend themselves to carrying several mesh sheets, arranged faceto-face in a trolley at once since wire bottom ends of several sheets placed face-to-face can be accommodated in them.

Figure 5(c) shows dimples 33 (as opposed to through-holes) pressformed in central wall 34 (equivalent to central wall 12) of a frame otherwise similar to frame 6. Ends of wires 5 can be received in such dimples 33.

Many other ways will suggest themselves to provide a trolley with the positive anti-slipping facility of the innovation.

Without any intention to limit the scope of the innovation, frame 6 can be conveniently formed by bending sheet metal (eg steel) into shape. Another possibility is to use a suitable extrusion for example in an aluminium alloy.

COMS ID No: ARCS-156839 Received by IP Australia: Time 20:17 Date 2007-08-13 13/08/2007 20:11 61297136631 DAVID SHNKS ASSOCSM PAGE 08/17 6 It will be recognized that the principle whereby the bottom of a sheet or panel being carried interlockingly engages with the trolley can be applied to other items than wire mesh. For example, sheets of so-called expanded or perforated metal of the type used typically in industrial stairs and footplates, and having perforations and distortions in a regular pattern to provide a footgripping surface could be carried by a trolley similar to trolley 1, but formed so as to interlock with that material.

Many other variations on the several inventions described will readily suggest themselves to persons skilled in the art.

COMS ID No: ARCS-156839 Received by IP Australia: Time 20:17 Date 2007-08-13

Claims (4)

1. A trolley for use in moving of an item in the form of a sheet or panel, the trolley comprising: a body; and at least one pair of wheels mounted to said body; the or each pair of wheels being freely and independently rotatable about an axis extending transversely of the body so as to enable the trolley to be supported by and rolled in a longitudinal direction on a surface, wherein said body is so formed that a bottom edge portion of an item in the form of a sheet or panel held in a generally upright and longitudinally extending plane by a user can be supported on said body; and said body interlockingly engages with said bottom edge portion to prevent said edge of said item from sliding in said longitudinal direction on said body.

2. A trolley according to claim 1 having two said pairs of wheels mounted to said body with their respective transversely extending axes of rotation being spaced apart longitudinally on said body.

3. A trolley according to claim 1 or 2 adapted for transport of a sheet of wire mesh wherein said body is formed with longitudinally spaced apart openings or upwardly facing recesses to receive downwardly extending wires comprised in a bottom edge portion of said sheet of wire mesh so as to interlockingly engage with said sheet of wire mesh. COMS ID No: ARCS-156839 Received by IP Australia: Time 20:17 Date 2007-08-13 13/08/2007 20:11 61297136531 DAVID SHANKS ASSOCSM PAGE 10/17 8 O

4. A trolley according to claim 3 wherein said openings or recesses are NC formed in a longitudinally extending surface portion of said body and jwherein said body has on opposing sides of said surface portion longitudinally extending guide surfaces that slope inwardly and downwardly towards said openings or recesses so as to guide downwardly extending wires of a sheet of mesh being lowered onto the body towards said openings or recesses. A trolley substantially as herein described by reference to Figures 1, 2, 3 and COMS ID No: ARCS-156839 Received by IP Australia: Time 20:17 Date 2007-08-13