AU605935B2

AU605935B2 - A steerable trolley

Info

Publication number: AU605935B2
Application number: AU25922/88A
Authority: AU
Inventors: John Edward Hayter
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1988-05-25
Filing date: 1988-11-28
Publication date: 1991-01-24
Anticipated expiration: 2008-11-28
Also published as: AU2592288A

Description

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z This document contains the amendments made under Section 49 and is correct for printing.

COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA The Patents Name of Applicant: Address of Applicant: Act 1952-1969 JOHN EDWARD HAYTER 34 Tubbs Street Clontarf Queensland 4019 Australia 44 9 0 0 0 o 00 o 04 D009 90 OS 0 0 t I o o 0 t 00 t4 0:04 4*I Actual Inventor: Address for Service: JOHN EDWARD HAYTER 0 0 o 4e a 4 i i 4 4* G.R. CULLEN COMPANY, Patent Trade Mark Attorneys, Dalgety House, 79 Eagle Street, Brisbane, Qld. 4000, Australia.

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR THE INVENTION ENTITLED: A STEERABLE TROLLEY The following statement is a full description of the invention including the best method of performing it known to me: i 2 THIS INVENTION relates to a steerable trolley. In particular, the invention is directed to a steerable trolley having an improved steering handle.

Known trolleys typically comprise a frame mounted on castor wheels located at the bottom corners of the frame.

As the castor wheels are able to swivel full circle, such known trolleys have been found to be unwieldy. The trolleys o 0 are difficult to push in a straight line and, even when 0 0 driven in a straight line, the trolleys may skew, especially 00 ao o :I0 if any one of the castor wheels encounters a small 0 4a obstruction. Consequently, if the trolleys are being pushed 0 along narrow aisles, hallways or passageways, they may accidentally knock against walls and damage the walls and/or O "the goods being carried on the trolley. Such trolleys are 0 0 0 S015 also difficult to steer on soft floors, e.g. thick pile carpet, particularly when carrying a heavy weight such as a televisicn set. The trolleys are commonly steered by o1Ot exerting directional forces on the load on the trolley, and there is a tendency to apply excessive force when the castor wheels become "bogged down" in the carpet. Such excessive force may result in the load being displaced from the trolley or even causing the trolley to overbalance.

Although the provision of larger fixed-axle wheels on the trolley facilitates its movement, the trolley consequently becomes much more difficult to steer. In particular, the trolley is less manoeuvrable as it has a c 'r C 3 much greater turning circle.

It is an object of the present invention to overcome or at least substantially ameliorate the abovedescribed problems of prior art trolleys by providing an improved steerable trolley which is easier to manoeuvre.

The steerable trolley of the present invention comprises a wheeled frame having at least one pair of .o ground-engaging wheels mounted at respective opposite ends of "o a steerable axle, a generally horizontal steering handle :10 located approximately at waist height at one end of said o o trolley, the handle being pivotally connected to the frame of the trolley, and steering link means interconnecting the '-.ndle and the steerable axle, whereby the trolley can be pushed and steered by said handle.

Thus, unlike prior art trolleys which are steered by applying directional forces to the trolley frame or to the goods carried on the trolley, the trolley of the present .1 ,invention can be steered simply and accurately by the handle .which is connected to the steerable axle of the trolley.

Preferably, the trolley has a second pair of ground-engaging wheels at respective opposite ends of a second steerable axle which is spaced from the first steerable axle. Both axles are pivotally connected between their ends to the underside of the trolley frame. A rigid link member interconnects opposite sides of the first and second axles so that the axles counter-rotate when the 1 ul steering handle is turned. This enables a small turning circle to be achieved, and hence greater manoeuvrability.

The first and second axles are typically located at the rear and front ends of the trolley, respectively.

Advantageously, the trolley also comprises a third pair of coaxial ground-engaging wheels located between the first and second pair of wheels. The third pair of wheels o adds stability to the trolley during sharp turns when the 0 first and second axles are at their maximum angular 1 0 rotation.

00 i o~ Preferably, the steering handle itself is spaced 0 from the trolley frame and has a connecting member extending orthogonally thereto, the distal end of the connecting member 4 0 0 being pivotally connected to the trolley frame. The 0 15 connecting member and handle rotate in the horizontal plane about a vertical pivot axis. The handle and steering link means may be integrally formed.

In the preferred embodiment, the steering link 4 means comprises a pair of upright links whose upper ends are connected to opposite ends of the handle and whose lower ends are connected to respective spacer members which, in turn, are connected to opposite ends of the first steerable axle so that the vertical links are spaced from the trolley frame.

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In this manner, when the handle is turned, the vertical links circumvent the frame to allow greater angular rotation of the handle.

-4 The wheels of the trolley preferably have a diameter greater than 10 centimetres, and typically around centimetres so that the trolley can travel easily over soft floors, such as thick pile carpet.

The trolley frame may be provided with a load platform or a number of shelves for carrying items. For example, the trolley may be used for carrying a relatively heavy load such as a television set. Alternatively, the trolley can be adapted for use as a shopping trolley, as a baggage trolley at airports, a tea trolley, or the like.

In order that the invention may be more fully understood and put into practice, a preferred embodiment Ithereof will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a front perspective view of the trolley of the preferred embodiment adapted for use as a television trolley, and Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the frame and steering mechanism of the trolley of Fig. 1, the remainder of the trolley being omitted for clarity.

As shown in the drawings, the steerable trolley of the preferred embodiment comprises an open rectangular frame 11 mounted on three pairs of ground-engaging wheels.

The first pair of ground-engaging wheels 12 and the second pair of ground-engaging wheels 13 are mounted on respective steerable axles 15, 16 at the rear and front of the trolley ~j respectively. The steerable axles 15, 16 are pivotally connected between their ends to the underside of the trolley frame 11 in any suitable manner, for example by swivel joints 18, 19, so that the axles 15, 16 can pivot about respective vertical axes. The third pair of ground-engaging wheels 14 are mounted on a fixed axle 17 between the first and second pairs of wheels.

The trolley 10 is provided with a generally horizontal handle 20 located approximately at waist height for ease of pushing and steering. The handle 20 is spaced from the trolley frame 11 and pivotally connected thereto by means of an orthogonal connecting member 25 having one end connected to the handle 20, and its other end pivotally connected to the trolley frame 11. The connecting member oo 11 is pivotable about a vertical axis so that the handle 20 can be steered in the horizontal plane.

The steering handle 20 is connected to the steerable axis 15 by means of steering links which comprise Sa spaced vertical legs 21, 22 whose upper ends are connected to respective opposite ends of the handle 20 and whose lower ends are connected to respective spacer members 23, 24 which, in turn, are connected to respective opposite ends of the steerable axis 15. The pivot axes of the connector member and steerable axle 15 are aligned so that the rigid structure comprising the connector member 25, handle 20, vertical legs 21, 22, spacer members 23, 24 and steerable axle 15, pivots r;l i ii ;i i i .e 1

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i i 7 about a single vertical axis. The spacer members 23, 24 serve to maintain the legs 21, 22 spaced from the trolley frame 11 that upon turning of the handle 20, the vertical legs 21, 22 circumvent the trolley frame, and in particular the vertical legs 11A, 11B of the trolley frame. This allows the handle 20 to be turned to a greater extent.

Furthermore, opposite ends of the steerable axles i 15, 16 are interconnected by a rigid link member 17 so that 41 the axles 15, 16 rotate in opposite senses when the handle 1. I0 is turned. This enables the trolley to turn sharper, and hence increases manoeuvrability.

To enable the trolley to travel easily over soft floors, such as thick pile carpet, the wheels preferably have a diameter greater than 10 centimetres, and typically of the 15 order of 15 centimetres.

The trolley frame 11 is suitably constructed from square metal tube, and may be provided with one or more shelves for carrying and displaying goods, such as the television set 26 illustrated.

The foregoing describes only one embodiment of the invention, and modifications which are obvious to those skilled in the art may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

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Claims

1. A steerable trolley comprising a wheeled frame having at least one pair of ground- engaging wheels mounted at respective opposite ends of a steerable axle, a generally horizontal steering handle located approximately at waist height at one end of said trolley, said handle being pivotally connected to said frame, and steering link means interconnecting said handle and said steerable axle, whereby said trolley can be pushed and steered by said handle.

2. A steerable trolley as claimed in claim 1, wherein said wheeled frame has a second pair of ground-engaging wheels at respective opposite ends of a second steerable axle spaced from said first steerable axle, said first and second axles being pivotally connected between their ends to the trolley frame, said trolley further comprising a rigid link member interconnecting opposite ends of said first and second axles whereby said axles are constrained to turn in opposite senses.

3. A steerable trolley as claimed in claim 2, wherein said first and second axles are located at opposite ends of said trolley.

4. A steerable trolley as claimed in claim 2 or 3 further comprising a third pair of ground-engaging wheels, each mounted on a fixed axle, said third pair of wheels being 0 00o 0 0 00 0 0 00 ~0 0 0 04 000 0% 0 00 00 0 0O 0 0 04 0 40 t 1 t 4 locatec said w] of gro wheels said tI

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9. having respec horizc trolle bar ai pushed 4404 4I I9 located between said first and second pair of wheels. A steerable trolley as claimed in claim 1, wherein said wheeled frame further comprises second and third pairs of ground-engaging wheels, said first and second pair of wheels being located at opposite ends of said trolley and said third pair of wheels being located therebetween. 6. A steerable trolley as claimed in any preceding a claim, wherein said handle is spaced from said frame and has 0 0 o a connecting member extending therefrom, the distal end of Ssaid connecting member being pivotally connected to said 0 0 frame. 00 0 0 7. A steerable trolley as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said steering link means comprises a pair of 0 upright links whose upper ends are connected to respective o 0 opposite ends of said. handle and whose lower ends are o oaa connected to respective spacer members, which in turn, are Ao, connected to opposite ends of said first steerable axle such that said e i links are spaced from said frame and circumvent the frame when said handle is turned. 8. A steerable trolley as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said frame comprises at least one shelf, and each wheel has a diameter greater than 10 centimetres. 9. A S trolley comprising a wheeled frame having at least one pair of ground-engaging wheels mounted at respective opposite ends of a steerable axle, a generally horizontal steering handle bar located\at one end of said trolley, and steering link means interconnecting said handle bar and said steerable axle, whereby said trolley can be V \pushed and steered by said handle bar. A steerable trolley substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. DATED this twenty-eighth day of November 1988. JOHN EDWARD HAYTER By his Patent Attorneys G. R. CULLEN CO. 44 4 0 41 4 44 0*4 I C 44 0 44 0444 ~4 4 ~4 4 4 44 44 4 444 4 44 4 I 44 4 44 4 44 04 4 4 44 4 4~ 44 4 4 44 44~~ 4 41 4 4 4 4. 4: