AU719723B1

AU719723B1 - A trolley

Info

Publication number: AU719723B1
Application number: AU58348/99A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Bob Harper
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-11-09
Filing date: 1999-11-09
Publication date: 2000-05-18
Anticipated expiration: 2019-11-09

Description

Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

(ORIGINAL)

Name of Applicant: Actual Inventor(s): Address for Service: Invention Title: BOB HARPER BOB HARPER SANDERCOCK COWIE 69 Robinson Street, DANDENONG VIC 3175 A TROLLEY Details of Associated Provisional Application(s): No(s): Australian Provisional Application No. PP6981 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us: -1- 1999-1 I-08.A:240ha1pcr.filc.wpd I la- TITLE: A TROLLEY FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a trolley which is convertible to a workbench, ladder and other uses.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Wagons and trolleys of various types are used for the movement of goods. Some previous patents disclose trolleys or the like which also have uses other than as trolleys.

United States patent 5,642,895 (Wunder) discloses a workbench which is convertible into a trolley. However, this invention is not as stable as is desired as a workbench, and it has no functionality other than as a trolley and as a workbench.

1998-01-23,A:%262harpcr.conp.wpd I -2- Australian patent AU-B-77469/94 (683303) (Donaldson) discloses a trolley which may be used in either of two configurations. However, this invention has no functionality other than as a trolley.

British patent application GB 2,247,612 A (Wright) discloses a table which can be converted into a trolley. However, this invention has no functionality other than as a table and as a trolley. As a table, it cannot provide the degree of stability necessary for a workbench.

United States patent 4,565,382 (Sherman) discloses a portable picnic table which is convertible into a hand truck. This invention has no functionality other than as a table and as a trolley. In addition, it is designed to support only relatively light loads.

British patent 1,519,956 (Newman) discloses a sack trolley which is convertible into a ladder and into a table. However, as a ladder it has limited functionality and does not provide either the working space or the degree of stability which are necessary for a worker to use it when carrying out anything other than the simplest tasks. Similarly, it has limited functionality as a table or workbench.

The present invention accordingly aims to provide a trolley which can function as a trolley in more than one configuration.

The present invention also aims to provide a trolley which is convertible into a configuration in which it can be used as a workbench. As a workbench, the trolley can also be additionally stabilised by force applied by the operator's foot.

The present invention also aims to provide a trolley which can be configured for use as a ladder. When the trolley is in use as a ladder, a portion of the trolley can be used as a support platform for a worker.

The present invention also aims to provide a trolley which reduces the risk of injury to workers.

1998-01-23,A:\262harpc .comp.wpd.2 -3- SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention accordingly provides a trolley which includes: a top frame; a front support frame which is both pivotally and slidably mounted to the top frame, and which has at least one wheel mounted to it remote from the top frame; a rear support frame which is pivotally mounted to the top frame; and a lower frame which is mounted between the front support frame and the rear support frame for pivotal movement relative to both the front support frame and the rear support frame, the mountings of the frames one to another being such that they can be located relative to each other in: at least two positions in which they are mounted in a truncated 'A-frame' configuration in which: the front and rear support frames correspond to the legs of the the top frame and the lower frame are both vertically displaced from each other and substantially parallel to each other so that the top frame corresponds to the top of the truncated and the lower frame corresponds to the cross-piece of the and sliding movement of the front support frame in its pivotal and sliding mounting between two extreme positions moves the wheel between: a position in which it can contact the ground; and 1998-01-23.A:'62harpr.omp.wpd.3 -4a position in which it cannot contact the ground, or in: a configuration in which the frames are: all relatively closely adjacent to each other; and all substantially parallel to each other.

PREFERRED FEATURES OF THE INVENTION Preferably, the lower frame includes: a sub-frame which is pivotally mounted to the front support frame; and at least on strut which is pivotally mounted to both: the sub-frame remote from the front support frame; and the rear support frame.

Preferably, the trolley includes a shoe which: can carry a load; and which is pivotally mounted to the front support frame for pivotal movement between: an 'up' position; and 199-03 -23.A:U262harper.conp.pd,4 a 'down' position in which it can carry the load.

Preferably, the trolley includes a latch which retains the shoe in the 'up' position.

Preferably, the trolley includes a latch which retains the shoe in the 'down' position.

Preferably, the pivotal mounting of the shoe to the front support frame allows pivotal movement of the shoe about the same axis as the wheel axis.

Preferably the trolley includes a latch which retains the components of the trolley in at least one of the truncated 'A-frame' configurations.

Preferably, the latch includes a latch-pin which is -mounted on the rear support frame adjacent the pivotal mounting of the rear support frame to the top frame.

Preferably, the latch retains the trolley in each truncated 'A-frame' configuration by retention of the latch pin in a hole in a plate which is mounted on the top frame.

Preferably, the trolley includes a latch which retains the top frame, the front support frame, the lower frame and the rear support frame in a 'hand trolley' configuration in which they are all relatively closely adjacent to each other and all substantially parallel to each other.

Preferably, when the trolley is in the substantially 'A-frame' configuration, at least one of the rear support frame and the front support frame forms a ladder.

Preferably, the trolley includes a rail which is pivotable into and out of a position in which it forms a handrail to a ladder.

Preferably, when the rail forms a handrail to a ladder, it is latched in place by the latch which operates to retain the trolley in the 'hand trolley' configuration.

Preferably, the trolley includes a tray which is attached to the top frame. It is especially S199801.-23.A:U62harptr.comp.pd,5 preferred that the tray is demountably attached to the top frame.

Preferably, the trolley includes a vice which is attached to the top frame. It is especially preferred that the vice is demountably attached to the top frame.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a perspective view from the rear of one embodiment of a trolley of the present invention when configured for use as a two-wheel trolley.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the trolley of Figure 1, when configured for use as a workbench.

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the trolley when configured as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a side elevational view of the trolley when configured as shown in Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a side elevational view of the trolley when it is in another trolley configuration.

Figure 6 is a detailed cross-sectional view on the line 6-6 of Figure 4.

Figure 7 is a detail view looking in the direction of arrow 7 on Figure 3.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of the present embodiment when it is simultaneously configured for use as a workbench as illustrated in Figure 4 and as a ladder.

Figure 9 is a detailed fragmentary view illustrating another embodiment of the invention.

Figure 10 is an elevational view, partly in cross section, of the embodiment of Figure 9.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood, embodiments of it will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1998-01-23,A:\262haper.comp.wpd,6 7 -7- DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A trolley which is indicated generally at 1 has a top frame 2, a front support frame 3, a rear support frame 4 and a lower frame The front support frame 3 includes opposite legs 6 and 7 which are spaced by upper strut 8 and by lower strut 9. The front frame 3 is slidably pivotally mounted to the top frame 2 by the mounting of the legs 6 and 7 in the mountings 11 and 12 respectively.

Wheels 10 are mounted to the front support frame 3 adjacent the ends of legs 6 and 7 which are remote from the mountings 11 and 12.

The mountings 11 and 12 include plates 13 and 14 which project downwardly from the top frame 2 when the trolley is orientated as shown in Figure 2. The plates 13 and 14 includes slots 16 and 17 which are orientated substantially horizontally in Figure 2. A hinge pin 18 which is screw threaded at its two ends extends coaxially through the upper strut 8 and protrudes through each slot 16 and 17.

At leg 6 of the trolley, a butterfly nut 21 is threaded on the end of the hinge pin 18 adjacent mounting 11 and bears against bearing plate 22. At the opposite side leg 7 of the trolley, a nut 23 is threaded on the end of the hinge pin 18 adjacent mounting 12 and bears against bearing plate 24. The hinge pin 18, the bearing plates 22 and 24, the nut 23 and the butterfly nut 24 move in the mountings 11 and 12 to provide the sliding and pivoting movement of the front frame 3. Loosening of the butterfly nut 21 allows the hinge pin 18 to slide in the slots 16 and 17. Moving of the hinge pin 18 and thus of the upper ends of the legs 6 and 7 between the extreme 'forward' position as illustrated in Figure 4 and the extreme 'rearward' position as illustrated in Figure 5 results in the wheels 10 moving out of, and into, contact with the ground. When the legs 6 and 7 are in the extreme 'forward' position shown in Figure 4, the wheels 10 are not functional and the trolley can be used as a workbench. When the legs 6 and 7 are in the extreme rearward position shown in Figure 5, the trolley can be lifted by handles 87 and used as a trolley.

e RAZ,- C)199"-1 -23.A :262hwpc conmp wpd.7 The plate 14 also has a hole 15 through it, placed lower than slot 17 when the trolley is orientated as shown in Figure 8. The function of this hole 15 is described in detail below in conjunction with the description of the rear support frame 4.

A shoe 26 is pivotally mounted to the end of the front support frame 3 which is remote from the mountings 11 and 12. The shoe 26 is shown in the 'down' position in Figures 1, 3, 4, 7 and 8; and in the 'up' position in Figures 2 and 5. In the present embodiment of the invention, the shoe 26 is mounted to pivot about the axle of the wheels As shown by Figures 3 and 7, the shoe 26 is retained in the 'up' position by use of a pin 27. The pin 27 passes through the leg 6 of the front support frame 3. The pin 27 extends substantially parallel to the pivot axis of the shoe 26. The pin 27 is biased into the position shown in Figure 7 by a spring 28 which is shown in hidden detail, and which carries a handle 29 at its end which is remote from the shoe 26. Hand applied force to the handle 29 retracts pin 27 from the position illustrated in Figure 7, allowing pivoting of the shoe out of, and into, the 'up' position.

As also shown by Figures 3 and 7, the shoe 26 is retained in the 'down' position by use of the bracket 31. The bracket 31 is pivotally mounted to the leg 6 by pin 32, to pivot about an axis which is substantially orthogonal to the pivot axis of the shoe 26. The bracket 31 is biased into the position shown in Figure 7 by the spring 33 which is shown in hidden detail. The bracket 31 has a taper as shown at 34. Pivoting of the shoe 26 downwards from the 'up' position results in a 'camming' action of an edge of the shoe 26 against the bracket, pivoting the bracket out of the way of the shoe 26 and allowing the shoe 26 to rotate into the 'down' position. When the shoe 26 has pivoted into the 'down' position, the bracket 31 snaps back into the position shown in Figure 7. An edge 36 of the bracket 31 then operates to lock the shoe 26 in the 'down' position. The shoe 26 can be pivoted out of the 'down' position by the application of hand force to the bracket against the bias of the spring 33, so that the edge 36 of the bracket 31 moves out of the locking position illustrated in Figure 7.

The rear support frame 4 includes opposite legs 41 and 42 which are spaced by upper strut 43 and lower strut 44. The rear support frame is pivotally mounted to the top frame 1998-01.23.,A:62harpc.conp.wpd,8 -9by pivot mountings 46 and 47 which pass through plates 48 and 49 respectively.

According to alternative preferred embodiments of the invention which are not illustrated, ladder steps are mounted on the rear support frame 4.

As shown in Figure 6, a latch mechanism which is indicated generally at 56 is mounted on leg 41 adjacent the pivot mounting 46. The latch mechanism 56 includes a pin 57, a spring 58 and a slotted lever 59. When the trolley is in the orientation which is shown in Figure 6, the pin 57 passes through the leg 41 and into a hole in the plate 48. The pin 57 is biased into the position shown in Figure 6 by the spring 58. The pin 58 thus functions as a latch bar to lock the leg 41 in the position shown in Figure 4. In order to move the leg 41 from this position, the lever 59 is moved by hand force into the position shown in dotted outline in Figure 6, to withdraw the pin 57 from the hole in the plate 48.

The leg 42 of the rear support frame 4 carries a similar latching mechanism which is indicated generally at 61.

A handrail 51 is also pivotally mounted to the rear support frame 4 by pivot mounting 47. The hand rail 51 preferably includes a first tubular portion 52 which is pivotally mounted adjacent one of its ends at mounting 47, and a second tubular portion 53 which is mounted within first tubular portion 52 for telescoping movement towards and away from mounting 47. The end of the second tubular portion 53 remote from the mounting 47 is flattened and has a hole 54 through it. The axis of the hole 54 is substantially parallel to the pivot axis of the rear support frame 4.

The hand rail 51 is retained in the position illustrated in Figure 2 by a bracket (not illustrated) which protrudes from the top frame 2 and into a slot (not illustrated) in the hand rail.

The latch mechanism 61 which is mounted on the rear support leg 42 can cooperate with either of the hole 15 in plate 14 or the hole 54 in the telescoping portion of the hand rail 51. The latch mechanism 61 can cooperate with the handrail 51 to lock it in the position illustrated in Figure 8. Alternatively, the latch mechanism 61 can cooperate with the hole in the plate 14 in order to lock the trolley in the orientation shown in Figures 1 and 3.

1998-01-23.A:2621harpcur.camnip.wpd9 The lower frame 5 extends between the front support frame 3 and the rear support frame 4 when the trolley is in the configuration shown in Figures 2, 4, 5 and 8. The lower frame 5 includes a sub-frame 62 and two struts 63 and 64. The sub-frame 62 is substantially rectangular, and is pivotally mounted between the legs 6 and 7 of the front support frame 3 at pivot points 66 and 67 on legs 6 and 7 respectively. Struts 63 and 64 extend substantially parallel to each other from between legs 6 and 7. The struts 63 and 64 are pivotally mounted at one end to legs 6 and 7 at pivot points 68 and 69 respectively. The struts 63 and 64 are pivotally mounted, at their other end, to the subframe 62 at pivot points 71 and 72 respectively. The dimensions of the components of the trolley, and the distances between pivot points, are chosen so that: when the trolley is in the configuration shown in Figures 2, 4 and 8 the top frame 2 and the lower frame 5 are substantially parallel to each other and both are substantially horizontal; and when the trolley is in the configuration shown in Figures 1 and 3, the front support frame 3, the top frame 2 and the rear support frame 4 are all substantially parallel to each other.

A planar sheet 73 is mounted on the lower frame 5 to provide a support surface for loads when the trolley is in the configurations shown in Figures 2, 4, 5 and 8.

A tray 74 is mounted on the top frame 2 adjacent the front support frame 3. The tray 74 is suitable for holding small tools, components or the like.

Handles 87 extend from the top frame 2 of the trolley adjacent the rear support frame 4.

Figure 9 shows how the trolley additionally be provided with a demountable vice 76.

According to this embodiment, the top frame 2 includes two hollow tubular side members such as 77. An open end of the tubular member 77 receives a rail 78 of the vice. Two aligned holes 79 through the tubular side member 77 can be aligned with holes 82 through the rail 78 for insertion of a pin 81 which retains the rail 78 in a fixed position within the member 77.

I998.l.23AA:262harT.comp.wpd, -11- The rail 78 carries the ratchet and moveablejaw assembly 83. A fixed jaw 84 of the vice is detachably mounted on the top frame 2 by use of screws 86 which pass through holes in jaw 84 into threaded holes in the top frame 2 (which holes are not illustrated in the drawings). For convenience, it is preferred that the pin 81 and the jaw 84 are chained together with chain 86.

OPERATION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In the configuration of the trolley which is shown in Figures 1 and 3, the top support frame 2, the front support frame 3, the rear support frame 4 and the lower support flame are folded into a relatively 'collapsed' state. As described above with reference to Figures 4 and 6, the trolley is retained in this configuration by the operation of the latch 56 in conjunction with the plate 48. As described above with reference to Figures 3 and 7, the shoe 26 of the trolley is shown in the 'down' position'. When the trolley is in this configuration, the top support frame 2, the front support frame 3 and the shoe 26 define a region for the carrying of a load.

In the configuration of the trolley which is shown in Figure 5, the trolley can be used as a trolley. The wheels 10 are in contact with the ground, and the trolley can be lifted at one side by the handles 87 and wheeled about.

As described above, the trolley can be reconfigured from the configuration of Figure to the configuration of Figures 2, 4 and 8 by loosening the butterfly nut 21 and relatively moving the front support frame 3 forward by sliding the hinge pin 18 forward in the slots 16 and 17. The trolley is then in the position to provide a particularly stable workbench.

The stability of this workbench can be further improved by moving the shoe 26 into the down position and the operator standing on that shoe.

When the trolley is in the configuration of Figures 2, 4 and 8 it is particularly safe to use the struts 43 and 44 of the rear support frame 4 as a ladder. The hand rail 52 is an additional safety feature for a person who is climbing on the ladder, or who is standing on the upper support frame 2 to perform work.

1998-01-23.A:'262hzrpet.comp.wpd1 I

Claims

1. A trolley which includes: a top frame; a front support frame which is both pivotally and slidably mounted to the top frame, and which has at least one wheel mounted to it remote from the top frame; a rear support frame which is pivotally mounted to the top frame; and a lower frame which is mounted between the front support frame and the rear support frame for pivotal movement relative to both the front support frame and the rear support frame, the mountings of the frames one to another being such that they can be located relative to each other in: at least two positions in which they are mounted in a truncated 'A-frame' configuration in which: the front and rear support frames correspond to the legs of the the top frame and the lower frame are both vertically displaced from each other and substantially parallel to each other so that the top frame corresponds to the top of the truncated and the lower frame corresponds to the cross-piece of the and sliding movement of the front support frame in its pivotal and sliding mounting between two extreme positions moves the wheel between:

1998-I23.A:.262hapcr.conp.wpd, 12 -13- a position in which it can contact the ground; and a position in which it cannot contact the ground, or in: a configuration in which the frames are: all relatively closely adjacent to each other; and all substantially parallel to each other.

2. A trolley as defined in Claim 1, in which the lower frame includes: a sub-frame which is pivotally mounted to the front support frame; and at least one strut which is pivotally mounted to both: the sub-frame remote from the front support frame; and the rear support frame.

3. A trolley as claimed in any one of the preceding claims which includes a shoe which: can carry a load; and which is pivotally mounted to the front support frame for pivotal movement between: an 'up' position; and <a 'down' position in which it can carry the load. 1998-01-23,A:\262h pr.conp.wpdl 13 -14-

4. A trolley as claimed in claimed in Claim 3 which includes a latch which retains the shoe in the 'up' position.

5. A trolley as claimed in Claim 3 or Claim 4 which includes a latch which retains the shoe in the 'down' position.

6. A trolley as claimed in any one of Claims 3 to 5 wherein the pivotal mounting of the shoe to the front support frame allows pivotal movement of the shoe about the same axis as the wheel axis.

7. A trolley as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the trolley includes a latch which retains the components of the trolley in at least one of the truncated 'A-frame' configurations.

8. A trolley as claimed in Claim 7 wherein the latch which retains the components of the trolley in truncated 'A-frame' positions includes a latch-pin which is mounted on the rear support frame adjacent the pivotal mounting of the rear support frame to the top frame.

9. A trolley as claimed in Claim 7 or Claim 8 in which the latch retains the trolley in each truncated 'A-frame' configuration by retention of the latch pin in a hole in a plate which is mounted on the top frame.

10. A trolley as claimed in any one of the preceding claims which includes a latch which retains: the top frame; the front support frame; the lower frame; and I998-01-23A:U62hucW.cmp.-pd, 14 the rear support frame, in the configuration in which the frames are: all relatively closely adjacent to each other; and all substantially parallel to each other.

11. A trolley as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein, when the trolley is in a substantially 'A-frame' configuration, at least one of the rear support frame and the front support frame forms a ladder.

12. A trolley as claimed in Claim 11, including a rail which is pivotable into and out of a position in which it forms a handrail to a ladder.

13. A trolley as claimed in Claim 12 wherein, when the rail forms a hand rail to a ladder, it is latched in place by the latch which operates to retain the trolley in the configuration which is defined in

Claim 14. A trolley as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, including a tray which is attached to the top frame. A trolley as claimed in Claim 14 wherein the tray is demountably attached to the top frame. 16. A trolley as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, including a vice which is attached to the top frame. 17. A trolley as claimed in Claim 16 wherein the vice is demountably attached to the top frame. 18. A trolley as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, substantially as described Xwith reference to the drawings. 1998-0I-23.A:'262hpa.comp.wpdjS5 -16- 19. A trolley substantially as described with reference to the drawings. Dated this 15 t h day of March, 2000. SANDERCOCK COWIE PATENT ATTORNEYS FOR BOB HARPER 199-0I-23.A.\262haa.co02.wpd.16