AU632416B2 - Improvements to shopping trolleys - Google Patents

Description

632416 FORM COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA PATENTS ACT 1952 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION (Original) Class Int. Class Application Number: PK 0005 Lodged: 7th May 1990 Complete Specification Lodged: Accepted: Published: Priority: Related Art: SName of Applicant: METRO PRODUCTS CO. PTY. LTD.

SAddress of Applicant: 55-65 BERESFORD AVENUE GREENACRE N.S.W. 2190 Actual Inventor: Address for Service: WATERMARK PATENT TRADEMARK ATTORNEYS, SUITE 6, FLOOR 16, TOWN HALL HOUSE, 456 KENT STREET, SYDNEY, NEW SOUTH WALES, 2000, AUSTRALIA Complete Specification for the invention entitled: IMPROVEMENTS TO SHOPPING TROLLEYS The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us.

1 The present invention relates to shopping trolleys.

Shopping trolleys are commonly used in supermarkets and the like for the convenience of shoppers. Trolleys generally consist of a wire basket, a base portion, wheels attached to the base portion, and a hinged back-flap.

The back-flap is hinged to allow nesting of the front of a trolley into the rear of another trolley, thus making them more space efficient when not in use, and simplifying handling.

However,, two problems often arise in the nesting procedure. Firstly, when a single trolley is required from a nested row of trolleys, attempts to remove one often remove two or more joined together. This is inconvenient for customers.

On the other hand, in a carpark or similar situation, a single

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trolley may well be removed accidentally from a stack, V resulting in possible injury to customers or their property.

Additionally, the collection of trolleys is thereby complicated.

It is an object of the present invention to provide means for more secure connection of nested trolleys.

According to one aspect of the present invention, an improved shopping trolley of conventional construction is provided with outwardly extending means for engaging a second trolley which is nested with it. According to one embodiment, these means comprise one or more outwardly bent portions of the vertical wires which form the basket of the trolley. This bend or kink loosely engages the top of the basket of the trolley to be nested.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Figure 1 shows a perspective view of an end-flap according to an aspect of the present invention; and Figure 2 shows a side view of one kink or bend in the wire according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 1 shows an end-flap for a shopping trolley, which in use would be hingedly connected by hooks 13 to the basket of a trolley (not shown). Extension 20 extends inside the basket from flap 10 and is hinged at point 12. The extension provides a seat or special receptacle within the basket. It can be seen that back flap 10 is formed from an outer frame 11, a number of horizontal bars 15, 16, 17, 19 and 22, and a plurality of vertical bars 14. These bars are inconnected by arc or projection welding as is well known.

The improvement according to the present invention provides in this embodiment kinks 30, 35 in two symmetrically spaced wires. It will be appreciated that there could be only one or alternatively many kinks if desired. Special projecting means could be provided. However, the 2-kink arrangement provides the required benefits with a minimum of alteration to V. existing baskets.

Kinks 30 and 35 are identical in shape. Referring to figure 2, the kink is formed by parts 32, 33 of the wire projecting in a generally perpendicular plane to the flap as a whole. In a preferred version, portion 32 is at an angle of 380 to the line of bar 31, 34.

In use, the kink 30 engages the basket of a trolley inserted into the back flap to enhance the resistance to removal of the basket.

It will be appreciated that numerous modifications are possible within the spirit and scope of this invention.

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Claims (8)

1. An end flap adopted for hinged connection to a shopping trolley, characterised in that one or more outwardly projecting lugs are prpvided on said end flap, the arrangement being nrs--ecf such that in use when said trolley is ee4med with a second trolley, the lug or lugs engage said A second trolley so as to impede accidental separation of said first and second trolleys.

2. An end flap according to claim 1, wherein said lugs are located near the edge of said end flap opposite the hinging axis.

3. An end flap according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the end flap is of welded wire construction, and the lug or lugs are formed by kinks in a wire or wires.

4. An end flap according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein two lugs are symmetrically disposed about the vertical axis of the end flap.

An end flap according to claim 3, wherein the wire kinks have a profile as described with reference to figure 2.

6. A shopping trolley including an end flap according to any one of the preceding claims.

7. A shopping trolley including an end flap substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings.

8. An end flap substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings. Dated this 29th day of September 1992 METRO PRODUCTS CO. PTY LTD WATERMARK PATENT TRADEMARK ATTORNEYS LEVEL 4, AMORY GARDENS, 2 CAVILL AVENUE ASHFIELD, NEW SOUTH WALES 2131. 4