FR2753674A1 - ADDITIONAL LOAD CARRIER FOR A PROVISIONAL TROLLEY - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a shopping cart (10) comprising a frame (14, 16, 18), a goods receiving basket (12) mounted on said frame and an additional load carrier (28). The additional load carrier has a load carrying part and comprises guide means (32, 36) received at least partially in passages (20) defined by said frame and by said goods receiving basket (12). The arrangement is such that the additional load carrier (28) is guided to obtain a substantially planar sliding movement relative to the carriage, thanks to the cooperation between said guide means (32, 36) and said passages (20).

Description

if the invention relates to shopping carts and more

  particularly to an additional load carrier

  intended for a shopping trolley.

  Known shopping carts used in supermarkets conventionally include a frame having wheels fixed in the corner regions of the frame, a basket which is fixed to the frame by welding and a push handle which is fixed on the rear end

upper basket.

  In order to improve the load carrying capacity of the shopping trolleys, it is known to provide an additional load carrier comprising a structure of the type

  shelf and a support structure for the shelf.

  Usually, the shelf and its support structure are arranged to allow the shelf to be pulled out of the cart to allow goods such as crates of beer to be transported there. The support structure is often relatively complicated and can only be mounted

  on the cart for which it was specifically designed.

  In addition, the complexity of known support structures is such that mounting after manufacture on existing carriages is impossible or uneconomic. Examples of known additional load carriers are described in

  US2890058, US2903269, DE2742958 and DE3448335.

  We will appreciate that it would be advantageous to provide an additional load carrier which: has a support structure which is simple and inexpensive to manufacture; is capable of being easily mounted on a wide range of cart designs; and can be easily mounted after

  manufacturing on existing trolleys.

  An objective of the invention is to master at least

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  partially the disadvantages described above which are

  associated with known additional load carriers.

  Consequently, the invention provides a shopping trolley comprising a chassis, at least one basket for receiving goods mounted on said chassis and an additional load carrier having a load carrying part and comprising guide means received at least partially in at least one of the passages defined by said chassis and / or one or one of said goods receiving baskets, the arrangement being such that said additional load carrier is guided in order to obtain a substantially planar sliding movement relative to the carriage thanks to the cooperation between said guide means and the or

each of said passages.

  The trolley according to the invention may further include a

  or more of the following :.

  - Said additional load carrier is guided to move in a plane substantially parallel to a lower face of or one of said goods receiving baskets, - the or each of said passages is defined by said chassis and by said lower face of the or one of said goods receiving baskets, - said guide means at least partially define said load-bearing part, said chassis comprises a plurality of elements extending transversely and at least two elements arranged on said elements s' extending transversely and extending substantially in the direction of the length of the carriage, the or one of said goods receiving baskets being arranged in such a way that the or at least one of said passages is defined by said extending elements transversely, by said elements extending lengthwise and by said lower surface of said receiving basket d e goods,

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  - Said additional load carrier comprises an actuation means arranged to be able to operate by the introduction of a similar carriage into an end portion of the carriage to ensure that said additional load carrier is moved towards the interior of the carriage to a non-use position to facilitate the fitting of the carriages, - said actuating means is fixed, so that it can be released, on the carriage, - said actuating means is mounted, so as to be able pivot, on the carriage, - said actuating means comprises a substantially U-shaped element whose free ends are mounted on the carriage, said U-shaped element defining an opening through which, during use, the front end of a basket for receiving goods from a similar cart can be inserted, said actuation means further comprises a drive means connected to said element nt U-shaped and which can be engaged by the underside of a basket for receiving goods from another carriage inserted into said opening, whereby said additional load carrier is driven to a position of no use during the fitting of the carriages, - said drive means can slide so as to be received in at least one opening defined by said load-carrying part, - said drive means defines a handle by which the load carrier additional can be moved to a position of use, - said drive means comprises a stop means arranged to limit the movement of said additional load carrier out of the carriage and to define a fully extended position of use of the additional load carrier, said additional load carrier is equipped with a means intended to resist the displacement of the carrier of additional load towards the interior of the carriage when the additional load carrier is in a position of use, - said resistance means comprises at least one notch defined in said drive means and which can engage with or at at least one of said openings defined by said load-bearing part, - said guide means comprises a plurality of elongated elements arranged in parallel in a spaced manner

one another.

  The invention also includes an additional load carrier for a shopping cart, said additional load carrier having a load carrying portion and comprising guide means for being slidably received in at least one elongated passage defined by the chassis. and / or the goods receiving basket of such a carriage so that, in service, the load carrier is guided to obtain a substantially planar sliding movement relative to the carriage thanks to the cooperation between

  said guide means and the or each of said passages.

  The additional load carrier may further include one or more of the following characteristics: - said guide means at least partially define said load-bearing part, said guide means comprises a plurality of elongated elements arranged in parallel so as to be

away from each other.

  In order for the invention to be clearly understood, an embodiment thereof will now only be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, on

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  which: Figure 1 is a partial side elevation of a shopping cart equipped with an additional load carrier, which is shown in its non-use position; 2 shows the carriage of Figure 1, the additional load carrier being partially extended; Figure 3 shows the trolley of Figure 1, the additional load carrier being fully extended; Figure 4 is an enlarged view of part of Figure 3; Figure 5 is a partial plan view of the cart of Figure 1, the goods receiving basket being removed; Figure 6 is a rear end elevation of the carriage of Figure 1, the gate of the rear end

  of the goods receiving basket being removed.

  Referring to the drawings, a shopping cart 10 includes a frame and a basket for receiving goods

12 disposed on the chassis.

  The chassis comprises two lateral elements 14 which extend lengthwise of the carriage 10 and which

  are spaced apart from each other in parallel.

  The lateral elements 14 are connected to one another by two transverse chassis elements 16. The chassis further comprises two mounting elements 18 on which the basket for receiving goods rests. As shown in Figure 5, the mounting elements 18 are each generally U-shaped and extend in the direction of the length of the carriage 10, their free ends being arranged at the rear end of the carriage. The mounting elements 18 are arranged on the transverse elements of

chassis 16 and welded thereto.

  As best seen in Figure 6, the transverse frame elements 16, the mounting elements 18 and the underside of the basket 12 which rests on the elements 18

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  define three passages 20 which extend in the direction of

the length of the carriage.

  Casters 24 are mounted at opposite ends

  side elements 14, in a conventional manner.

  The carriage 10 is equipped with an additional load carrier 28. The carrier 28 is installed at the rear end of the carriage and it can move from a non-use position (shown in FIG. 1) to a position d fully extended or deployed use

(shown in Figure 3).

  As best seen in Figure 5, the carrier 28 comprises an outer base member which is generally U-shaped in a plane and which consists of a central transverse portion 30 and respective elongated guide branches 32 s extending from the ends of the central part 30. The guide branches 32 are received in the two outermost passages among the three passages 20 and they are generally L-shaped so that the central part 10 is arranged below of the plan

passages 20.

  The carrier 28 further includes an inner U-shaped base member which includes a transverse central portion 34 and a respective elongated guide leg

  36 arranged at the ends of the central part 34.

  The interior base element has the same configuration as the exterior base element, but is narrower so that the guide branches 36 are each arranged in the

central passage of passages 20.

  The central parts 30, 34 of the basic elements are arranged in abutment and they are connected together by welding. The carrier 28 further comprises an actuation means by which it can be automatically returned to the

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  non-use position shown in Figure 1, by introducing the basket of another carriage into the rear end of the basket 12, to allow

nesting of carts.

  The actuating means comprises an element 40 forming a generally U-shaped frame which is mounted so as to be able to pivot at the rear of the basket 12. The free ends of the frame element are mounted on the opposite sides of the basket from the by means of relative locking devices 42 in two parts. The locking devices 42 fix the frame element to the carriage so that it can be released by means of screws or the like. Preferably security screws are used in order to prevent

  unauthorized removal of carrier 28 from the carriage.

  As best seen in Figure 6, the frame member 40 defines an opening which has a width greater than that of the basket 12 so that the basket or another of these baskets can be introduced into the part

  rear of basket 12 to be nested.

  The actuating means further comprises a drive element 44 which is fixed by sampling to the frame element 40. The drive element 44 is slidably received in a slot having a generally rectangular shape 48 defined by the inner element forming the base and by a rod 50 which is fixed at the respective ends of the guide branches 36 of the inner element

  forming a base, in the region of its central part 34.

  The drive element 44 consists of a curved rod to define two branches which can slide in the slot 48. The branches of the drive element 44 are connected to each other by a lower part in U shape 44 'which extends at an angle to the respective axes of the branches and which is arranged to limit the extension of the carrier 28, thus defining a position

  of fully extended or deployed wearer.

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  - The upper part of the drive element 44 is equipped with a hand grip 52 extending transversely which is used as a lever by means of which a user can pull the carrier 28 to an extended position or deployed, as explained in more detail below. Referring to Figure 4, each of the branches of the drive element 44 has a notch 56 which is defined therein. The notches 56 are arranged to engage with the rod 30 when the carrier is in its fully extended position. The engagement of the rod 50 and the notches 56 forms a friction block sufficient to resist the displacement of the support inside the carriage and thereby maintain the carrier in its fully extended position of use, but it can be easily defeated when the drive element 44 is actuated by the basket of another carriage 10 during

nesting of carts.

  We will now describe the use of the carrier 28, particularly with reference to Figures 1 to 3. Starting from the non-use position shown in Figure 1, in order to provide the carriage 12 with an additional capacity of

  loading port, for example, a crate of beer

  track, the user grabs the hand grip 52 and pulls the drive member 44 out of the back of the cart. As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the drive member 44 moves in an arc when pulled from the carriage because of its fixed connection with the frame member 40. When the element drive 44 rocks upwards and away from the rear end of the carriage, its branches slide in the slot 44 causing the interior and exterior base elements to be pulled towards

  outside, or backwards, of the carriage 12.

  By continuously pulling on the hand grip 52, the carrier 28 is gradually moved to its position

  of full use shown in Figure 3.

  The user is prevented from removing the basic elements

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  inside and outside beyond the fully extended position by the abutment of the hook-shaped lower part 44 ′ of the driving element 44 with the underside of the central part 30 of the base element exterior, as shown in Figures 3 and 4. In this position, the notches 56 engage so as to be able to cooperate with the rod 50, so that the carrier is

locked in position.

  It will be appreciated, with reference to FIG. 3, that in the extended state of the carrier 28, certain parts of the guide branches 32, 36 disposed towards the rear of the rear end of the carriage define the load-bearing part of the carrier on which a load such as a crate of beer 60, indicated in virtual lines, can

be worn.

  It will be noted that in the extended position of the carrier 28 the frame member 40 can provide lateral support to the load. Likewise, the drive element can act as a rear end stop to prevent

  load to fall from the rear end of the carrier 28.

  It will be appreciated that during the extension operation of the carrier 28, the pivoting movement of the frame element 40 and the drive element 44 causes a sliding displacement in a plane of the interior and exterior base elements which are forced to move in a plane substantially parallel to the underside of the basket 12, thanks to the cooperation between the guide branches 32, 36 and the respective passages 20 in which

they are received.

  When the trolley 10 is not in service, it can be stored in an interlocking arrangement with similar trolleys, whether or not these trolleys are equipped with an additional load carrier 28. With reference to FIG. 3, if another carriage is to be fitted with the carriage 10, the basket of the other carriage is pushed towards

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  the rear of the carriage 10, bringing the front end of the basket of this carriage into contact with the hand grip 52 of the drive element 44. The continuous movement of the other carriage ensures that the underside of its basket moves on the drive element 44 acting like a cam and gradually driving the element

  drive down and back of the carriage 10.

  The downward pivoting movement of the drive member 44 is transmitted to the interior and exterior base members by the arms of the drive member, which slide in the slot 48, causing the interior base members and outside are driven towards the inside of the carriage. As in the extension movement of the carrier, the interior and exterior base elements are forced to move in a plane substantially parallel to the underside of the basket 12, thanks to the cooperation between the guide branches 32, 36 and the

  respective passages 20 in which they are received.

  The drive element 44 is arranged in such a way that the carrier 28 can be driven to the non-use position shown in FIG. 1, by introducing the basket of another carriage into the basket 12 of the carriage 10. We will appreciate that when it is in this position, the carrier does not present any obstacle to

  the fitting of the carriage 10 with similar carriages.

  To avoid any doubt, the basket 12 is equipped with a rear end door which can tilt up and forward of the carriage 10 to allow that

nesting occurs.

  It will be understood that the carrier 28 is arranged in such a way that its displacement from the fully extended position of use to its non-use position can be reached automatically during the fitting of the carriages. The movement of the carrier is obtained thanks to the fact that the basket of the rear carriage acts on the drive element 44 of the front carriage. We will also appreciate

  that although in the detailed description of the nesting

  of the carriages, reference has been made to the rear carriage which is pushed into the rear end of the front carriage, the nesting can be obtained by moving the rear end of the front carriage towards the front end of the rear carriage. All that is required is a relative displacement between the two carriages which bring the basket of the rear carriage into contact with the element

  drive 44 of the front carriage.

  It will be appreciated that the carrier 28 has a simple robust structure which can be manufactured at low cost and easily mounted on a carriage; all that is required in order to mount the carrier on the carriage is that the guide branches 32, 36 are introduced into the passages 20 and that the frame element 40 is blocked on the basket 12 by means of the locking devices 42. The carrier 28 can thus be easily mounted after manufacture on trolleys in the field, since no special equipment and no modification of the structure of the trolley are

requested.

  It will be understood that the simple robust structure of the carrier 28 can be obtained at least in part since the movement of the basic elements of the carrier is controlled using the existing structure of the carriage. In fact, the guide passages 20 intended for the wearer are defined by

  the chassis and the underside of the cart basket.

  It will be appreciated that although in the embodiment described, the passages for the guide branches of the additional load carrier are defined by the chassis and by a portion of the underside of the basket, the chassis or the basket could, if that is desired, have a configuration to define passages for the guide branches according to the design of the carriage. It should be understood that although the preferred state of use of the carrier 28 is the position completely

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  range shown in Figure 3, the carrier can be used in a full range of extended positions such as those shown in Figure 2. In addition, notches such as the notches 56 may be provided in a certain range of position on the drive element, for defining a plurality of locked operating positions

of the wearer 28.

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Claims (19)

  1. Shopping trolley (10), comprising a chassis (14,16,18), at least one basket (12) for receiving goods mounted on said chassis (14,16,18) and a load carrier (28) additional having a load-bearing part and comprising guide means (32, 36) received at least partially in at least one of the passages (20) defined by said chassis (14,16,18) and / or by or one of said baskets (12) for receiving goods, the arrangement being such that said carrier (28) of additional load is guided to obtain a substantially planar sliding movement relative to the carriage (10), thanks to the cooperation between said guide means   (32,36) and the or each of said passages (20).   2. Trolley according to claim 1, wherein said carrier (28) of additional load is guided to move in a plane substantially parallel to a lower face of or one of said baskets (12) for receiving goods. 3. Trolley according to claim 2, wherein the or each of said passages (20) is defined by said chassis (14,16,18) and by said bottom face of or one of said baskets (12) receiving goods.   4. Trolley according to claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said guide means (32,36) define at least   partially said load-bearing part.   5. Trolley according to claim 3 or claim 4, when claim 4 is dependent on claim 3, wherein said chassis (14,16,18) comprises a plurality of elements extending transversely and at least two elements arranged on said elements extending transversely and extending substantially in the direction of the length of the carriage (10), the or one of said goods receiving baskets being arranged in such a way that the 14 2753674   or at least one of said passages (20) is defined by said elements extending transversely, by said elements extending lengthwise and by said face   bottom of said basket (12) for receiving goods.   6. Trolley according to any one of the claims   previous, wherein said additional load carrier (28) comprises an actuating means (40,44) arranged to be able to operate by the introduction of a similar carriage (10) in an end portion of the carriage (10) to cause said additional load carrier (28) to be moved inwardly of the carriage (10) to a non-use position for   facilitate the fitting of the carriages (10).   7. Trolley according to claim 6, wherein said actuating means (40,44) is fixed, so that it can be released, on the carriage (10).   8. Trolley according to claim 6 or 7, wherein said actuating means (40,44) is mounted, so as to be able swivel on the carriage.   9. Trolley according to claim 8, wherein said actuating means (40,44) comprises an element (40) substantially U-shaped whose free ends are mounted on the trolley (10), said element (40) in U-shape defining an opening through which, during use, the front end of a basket (12) for receiving goods from a similar carriage (10) can be introduced. 10. Trolley according to claim 9, wherein said actuating means (40,44) further comprises a drive means (44) connected to said element (40) in a U shape and which can engage by the face lower of a basket (12) for receiving goods from another carriage (10) inserted into said opening, whereby said additional load carrier is driven to a position of no 2753674   use during nesting of carts.   11. Trolley according to claim 10, wherein said drive means (44) can slide so as to be received in at least one opening defined by said part. load carrier.   12. Trolley according to claim 10 or 11, wherein said drive means (44) defines a handle (52) by which the carrier (28) of additional load   can be moved to a position of use.   13. Trolley according to claim 10, 11 or 12 wherein said drive means (44) comprises a stop means arranged to limit the movement of said carrier (28) of additional load towards the outside of the trolley and to define a position of fully extended use of the additional load carrier.   14. Trolley according to claim 13, in which said additional load carrier (28) is equipped with means (56) intended to resist movement of the additional load carrier towards the interior of the trolley (10) when the carrier ( 28) additional load is in a position of use.   15. Trolley according to claim 14, when dependent on claim 11, wherein said resistance means comprises at least one notch (56) defined in said drive means (44) and which can engage with the or at least one of said openings defined by said load bearing part.   16. Trolley according to any one of the claims   previous, wherein said guide means (32,36) comprises a plurality of elongated elements arranged in   parallel so spaced from each other.   17. Carrier (28) of additional load intended for a 16 2753674   shopping trolley, said additional load carrier (28) comprising a load carrying part and comprising guide means (32, 36) to be received in a sliding manner in at least one elongated passage (20) defined by the chassis (14 , 16,18) and / or by the basket (12) for receiving goods from such a carriage (10) so that, during use, the load carrier (28) is guided to obtain a substantially sliding movement plane in relation to the carriage thanks to the cooperation between the said   guide means and the or each of said passages (20).   18. Additional load carrier according to claim 17, wherein said guide means (32,36) define   at least partially said load-bearing part.   19. Additional load carrier according to claim 17 or 18, wherein said guide means (32,36> comprise a plurality of elongated elements arranged in   parallel so as to be separated from each other.