FR3087736A1 - TROLLEY FOR GARDENING - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a transport trolley (1) for garden centers comprising a chassis (10) mounted on wheels (17) and carrying a work surface (13). According to the invention, the carriage comprises means (11, 14) for adjusting the height (h) of the work surface (13).

Description

Garden cart

1. Technical area

The present invention relates to a transport trolley for garden centers.

More specifically, the transport cart is intended for handling and cleaning plants located in the so-called flower market department of a garden center. There are outdoor plants, flowers, vegetable plants and / or shrubs, for example, sold in small (0.65 liter) or medium containers (1 to 4 liters).

2. Prior Art

It is known, and recalled here in a simplified manner, that garden center preparers carry out various operations on plants with a view to marketing them.

For example, during the delivery of plants, it is necessary to unload the delivery truck and transport the plants delivered on Danish (metal) trolleys, commonly known as "rolls" in English terminology, to a storage area specially adapted to ensure their conservation and their sales.

In addition, when preparing the shelving of plants, it is necessary to sort and / or classify them, for example, by references, by colors or by their future location (s). on the shelves of the garden center.

Then, when the plants are put on the shelves (on tablars) and during their marketing, it is necessary to clean them, in particular by removing excess packaging as well as organic waste unfit for marketing.

However, it has been noted that garden preparers do not have suitable means enabling them to carry out all of these operations efficiently and securely.

The absence of such means obliges the preparers to carry out these operations manually which can cause fatigue and pain. For example, for the placement of plants delivered on plates of 15 containers on average, a widespread practice consists in bringing the Danish cart closer to the tablar and carrying the plate of plants on the arm or else using a customer's shopping cart to avoid moving the bulky Danish cart and then unloading the plants at the desired locations.

Such a solution is particularly uncomfortable and dangerous for the preparers and does not allow them to work efficiently.

There is therefore a real need for a solution enabling these drawbacks to be resolved.

3. Summary of the invention

The invention relates to a garden trolley comprising a chassis mounted on wheels and carrying a work surface.

According to the invention, the carriage comprises means for adjusting the height of the work surface.

Such adjustment means make it possible to improve the working conditions of the user by allowing the latter to adjust the height of the work surface according to his preferences. Thus, users with different morphologies can use ergonomically, by adjusting the height of the work surface, the same cart. It is therefore not necessary to invest in several trolleys of different heights. In addition, by allowing the user to adjust the height of the work surface according to his needs, the risks of musculoskeletal disorders are minimized. Such adjustment means therefore improve the safety and comfort of the user. Such a cart allows a preparer to perform all of the operations to be carried out in the course of his work. Such a cart is ergonomic and can be used by a wide range of preparers. It is also compact which allows its circulation and its use in the shelves of garden centers.

According to a particular embodiment, the adjustment means comprise telescopic uprights connecting the work surface to the chassis and cooperating with reversible locking elements.

The implementation of telescopic uprights makes it possible to easily adjust the height of the work surface while minimizing the size and the weight of the adjustment means, and therefore of the transport carriage as a whole.

According to a particular embodiment, each of the telescopic uprights comprises a fixed upright along which slides a movable upright, the fixed upright having first lights and the movable upright having second lights, the reversible blocking elements being configured to pass through one of the first lights and one of the second lights arranged opposite.

Such a configuration makes it possible to immobilize the sliding of the mobile part of the telescopic upright in a reliable and secure manner.

According to a particular embodiment, the reversible locking elements are screws cooperating with nuts.

Such reversible locking means are reliable and inexpensive

According to a particular embodiment, the adjustment means are configured to vary the height of the work surface step by step between a high position and a low position, the high position being spaced from the low position by a value included between 5 and 20 cm.

According to a particular embodiment, the carriage comprises first and second removable receptacles arranged under the work surface, the first removable receptacle being intended to receive and store waste of a first category, and the second removable receptacle being intended to receive and store waste of a second category, different from the first category.

Thus, the sorting of waste can easily be carried out while allowing the user to remain in the work area. Such removable receptacles therefore make it possible to improve the comfort of the user.

According to a particular embodiment, the work surface has an orifice communicating with the interior space of one of the receptacles, or else two orifices, a first orifice communicating with the interior space of the first receptacle and a second orifice communicating with the interior space of the second receptacle.

Thus, the user can introduce waste into one of the receptacles without having to remove the receptacle from the carriage. Such an opening makes it possible to avoid repeated opening of the receptacles and the risks of the appearance of musculoskeletal disorders, such as tendinitis. In addition, such a configuration allows the preparers to work properly in the sales area. Green waste (forming first category waste) is discharged directly into the first receptacle. Thus, for customers and / or preparers, the risk of accidents / nuisances (falls, slips, etc.) linked to the presence of waste on the ground is considerably reduced, even eliminated.

According to a particular embodiment, the trolley comprises a retractable step.

Thus, the comfort of the preparer and his safety are improved, the risks of musculoskeletal disorders being minimized in particular. In addition, such a step makes it possible to minimize the time allocated to unloading operations. Traditionally, in garden centers, the stepladders used for unloading operations in particular are available to all preparers and are, for reasons of space, stored in a corner of the shelf. The fact that such a step is available to the preparer allows the latter to dispense with the use of a stepladder. The presence of such a step in the transport trolley therefore makes it possible to ensure the immediate availability of a raising means and to minimize the movements of the preparer.

According to a particular embodiment, the chassis comprises storage compartments arranged under the worktop.

Thus, the user can easily and quickly have access to all of the equipment which is necessary for him to be able to execute the operations for which he is responsible.

According to a particular embodiment, the carriage comprises at least one storage drawer mounted to slide in a housing opening on two opposite sides of the frame, the drawer comprising on a first face a first drawing member and, on a second face opposite to the first face, a second drawing member so that the drawer can be manipulated from the two opposite sides of the carriage.

Thus, when one of the sides of the carriage is not accessible (when the carriage is pressed against a tablar for example), the drawer remains accessible. It is therefore not necessary to move the carriage to access the drawer. Thus, the movements of the preparer and / or the carriage are minimized. This improves user comfort, and therefore the efficiency of the user, and prevents annoying the customer since the work is done on a sales floor.

4. Drawings

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly on reading the following description of a particular embodiment, given by way of simple illustrative and nonlimiting example, and of the appended drawings, among which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a garden trolley according to an embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is a focused and partially exploded view of an upright of the garden cart of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a view of a first side of the garden cart of Figure 1; and FIG. 4 is a view of a second side of the garden trolley of FIG. 1.

5. Description

5.1. Description of an embodiment

Figure 1 illustrates a garden trolley according to the invention comprising means for adjusting the height of the work surface.

The carriage 1 includes a chassis 10 mounted on wheels 17 and carrying a work surface 13 capable of supporting plants, pots and garden tools for example.

Advantageously, the carriage 1 comprises means 11, 14 for adjusting the height h of the work surface 13 between a low position and a high position.

Such adjustment means make it possible to improve the ergonomics of the carriage 1, and therefore the comfort of the preparer using the carriage. The preparer can thus adjust the height of the work surface according to his preferences (in particular his size). This results in an improvement in the efficiency, and therefore the productivity, of the preparer. In addition, such means for adjusting the height of the work surface allow the cart to be used by a relatively large panel of preparers.

As illustrated, the carriage 1 is in the form of a substantially parallelepiped structure extending along a longitudinal axis X oriented horizontally.

For example, the trolley has a length equal to 84 cm, a width equal to 37 cm and a height h equal to 93 cm in the low position.

The work surface 13, forming the upper surface of the carriage 1, is a parallelepipedal wooden plate, extending horizontally, covered with a steel sheet.

The chassis 10 is mounted on four directional wheels 17. Two of the four directional wheels carry braking means.

The chassis 10 comprises four uprights 11, oriented vertically, formed by hollow metal profiles.

The uprights 11 are arranged near the four corners of the work surface 13. Thus, the carriage 10 comprises a first pair of uprights 11, located at a first longitudinal end of the carriage 10, and a second pair of uprights 11, located at the opposite longitudinal end of the carriage 10.

Each upright 11 has an upper end 11A and a lower end 11B. The upper end 11A of each upright 11 is coupled to the work surface 13 and the lower end 11B of each pair of upright 11 is coupled to a panel 12.

The two panels 12 are perpendicular to the work surface 13. In other words, the two panels 12 are mutually parallel and define two opposite sides of the carriage 10.

Each panel 12 makes it possible to maintain a constant spacing between the uprights 11 of the same pair. The panels 12 are constituent elements of the chassis 10 of the carriage 1.

The panels 12 are also secured to a plate 33, forming a cross member, so as to maintain a constant spacing between each pair of uprights. Such a plate 33 is a constituent element of the chassis 10 of the carriage 1.

The means for adjusting the height h of the work surface 13 include the uprights 11, which are telescopic, and reversible locking elements 14. More specifically, each telescopic upright 11 is associated with a reversible locking element 14.

In the illustrated embodiment, the reversible locking element 14 is a bolt consisting of a screw 14A cooperating with a nut 14B.

Each nut 14B has fins allowing manual assembly and tightening of the nut 14B on the screw 14A. This eliminates the use of specific tools.

Each telescopic upright 11 comprises a first element, or tube, 110 along which is able to slide a second element, or tube, 111, as illustrated in FIG. 2.

As illustrated, the first element 110, called the fixed upright, is secured to one of the two panels 12 and the second element 111, called the movable upright, is secured to the work surface 13.

In other words, the upper end 11A of the telescopic upright 11 corresponds to the movable upright 111 and the lower end 11B corresponds to the fixed upright 110.

More specifically, each fixed upright 110 is coupled to the panel 12, with which it is associated, by means of two fixing means.

In addition, each movable upright 111 is coupled to the work surface 13 by means of a connector 30 and a horizontal section 31. The connector 30 is secured on the one hand to the upper end 11A of the movable upright 111 and on the other hand to the profile 31. The profile 31, which is oriented along the longitudinal axis X, is secured to the work surface 13 by through two bolts 32.

In addition, the fixed and mobile uprights 110, 111 each have several openings uniformly distributed over their length.

More precisely, for each telescopic upright 11, first slots 112 which are formed in the fixed upright 110 and second slots 113 which are provided for the movable uprights 111. The first and second slots 112, 113 are oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal axis the amount.

The first and second lights 112, 113 are configured to be able to be aligned and traversed by the screws 14A of the reversible locking elements 14.

Such adjustment means allow the operator to vary the height of the work surface 13 step by step between a high position and a low position. Their use is relatively simple for the operator and can be carried out completely independently.

In this embodiment, the first five lights are vertically and consecutively spaced 5 cm apart. Thus, the adjustment means make it possible to vary the height of the work surface between five predetermined heights. Thus, the high position of the work surface 13 is spaced from the low position of the work surface 13 by a maximum value of 20 cm. Thus, in the high position, the work surface 13 is located 113 cm from the ground.

Furthermore, the fact of using the uprights of the chassis and screws as means for adjusting the height of the work surface 13 makes it possible to minimize the weight and the bulk of the carriage 1 as a whole. Such adjustment means also have relatively low manufacturing and maintenance costs.

The adjustment of the height h of the work surface 13 of a carriage 1, by means of the adjustment means 11, 14, comprises several steps which must be carried out by the preparer.

When the reversible locking elements 14 are disengaged from the telescopic uprights 11, the preparer can adjust the height h of the work surface 13 by modifying the length of the telescopic uprights 11. Such a step is carried out by sliding the movable uprights 111 along the fixed uprights 110. The movable uprights 111 being fixedly connected to the work surface 13, it is possible to simultaneously adjust the length of all the telescopic uprights 11 by manipulating the work surface 13 (that is to say in raising or lowering the latter).

During this adjustment step, the preparer must also ensure, for each telescopic upright 11, that one of the first lumens 112 of the fixed upright 110 is aligned with one of the second lumens 113 of the movable upright 111.

Then, the preparer maintains, with a first hand, the work surface 13 at the desired height and engages, with the second hand, the reversible locking elements 14 in the telescopic uprights 11 so as to prevent any sliding of the latter

To do this, the preparer inserts, for each telescopic upright 11, the screw 14A in one of the second slots 113 of the movable upright 111 then in one of the first slots 112 of the fixed upright 110 until the end thread of the screw 14A protrudes from the telescopic upright 11.

Then, the preparer assembles the nuts 14B on the screws 14A and tightens the nuts 14B until the telescopic uprights 11 are compressed between the screws 14A and the nuts 14B.

The carriage 1 further comprises a first removable receptacle 15, the interior space of which is intended to receive and store organic waste of plants unfit for marketing, and a second removable receptacle 16, the interior space of which is intended to receive and to store waste of any other nature.

The first and second receptacles 15, 16 are of parallelepiped shape and are located under the work surface 13, in spaces opening onto two opposite lateral sides of the carriage.

The first receptacle 15 rests on a reinforcing plate 18 fixed on the cross-member 33 of the chassis 10. The second receptacle 16 is coupled, by means of sliding slides 19, to the work surface 13.

Furthermore, each receptacle 15, 16 has on its upper face, that is to say the face opposite the work surface 13, an opening (not visible). Thus, the interior space of each receptacle is accessible from the top of the receptacle.

The work surface 13 also has an orifice 131 which communicates with the interior space of the first receptacle 15. Thus, the orifice 131 of the work surface 13 allows the passage of the organic waste situated on the work surface 13 towards the interior space of the first receptacle 15 without requiring the withdrawal of the latter from the carriage.

Such a configuration allows preparers to simplify the plant cleaning operation and to carry out selective sorting at source.

In this embodiment, the orifice 131 is a through opening between 100 and 150 cm ² . Thus, the evacuation of 0.65 liter pots (which have a diameter of 10.5 cm) is relatively easy.

Access to the second receptacle 16 is made by sliding it out of the carriage, on a lateral side of the latter.

In addition, the carriage 1 comprises a step 20 which can be retracted inside the carriage 1.

More specifically, in the retracted position, the step 20 is stored under the second removable receptacle 16, flush with it. The step 20 is further configured to not disturb the sliding of the second removable receptacle 16 and to be easily manipulated.

Such a step 20 in particular allows the preparers to facilitate the shelving of plants, in particular when these are located on the top floors of Danish trolleys, at a height of between 190 and 220 cm.

Such a step therefore makes it possible to improve the comfort of the preparer and his safety, in particular by minimizing the risks of musculoskeletal disorders. Such a step also makes it possible to minimize the time allocated to unloading operations for example. Indeed, the step being at the direct disposal of the preparer, the latter can dispense with the use of a stepladder. In general, such stepladders are common to all preparers. It is therefore recurrent that no stepladder is available. In addition, the stepladders are, to minimize their bulk, stored in a corner of the shelf. Therefore, bypassing the use of a step ladder minimizes the movements of the preparer using the transport trolley having such a step.

Furthermore, the carriage 1 comprises several storage compartments (referenced 21 to 29) which are arranged under the work surface 13 and carried by the chassis 10 of the carriage 1. The storage compartments define two columns located substantially at each longitudinal end of the carriage 1.

Figures 3 and 4 are views of two opposite sides of the carriage 1 showing the structure of the removable receptacles and the storage compartments.

As illustrated, the first removable receptacle 15 comprises a first side wall 151 carrying a first gripping means 152, such as a handle, and a second side wall 153, opposite to the first side wall 151, carrying a second gripping means 154 .

The second removable receptacle 16 comprises a first lateral wall 161 carrying a first gripping means 162 and a second lateral wall 163, opposite to the first lateral wall 161, carrying a second gripping means 164.

Thus, the preparer can easily slide the removable receptacles from one of the two opposite sides of the carriage by grasping with one hand one of the gripping means.

Such a configuration makes it possible to minimize the movements of the preparer since it is not necessary for him to bypass the carriage in order to be able to access the removable receptacles (to slide the latter out of the carriage). It is also not necessary to move the cart if one of the two opposite sides of the cart were to be pressed against a tablar to facilitate the passage of customers in the department.

As illustrated, the storage compartments include a first housing 21, five first drawers 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, a second housing 27 and two second drawers 28, 29.

The first housing 21 is oriented horizontally and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X of the carriage 1. The first housing 21 opens on the two opposite sides of the carriage 1.

Each first drawer 22, 23, 24, 25, 26 is disposed in a housing (not visible) oriented horizontally and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X of the carriage 1. Each housing opens on the two opposite sides of the latter.

Furthermore, each first drawer 22, 23, 24, 25, 26 comprises a first face 221, 231, 241, 251, 261 carrying a first drawing member 222, 232, 242, 252, 262 and a second face 223, 233 , 243, 253, 263, opposite the first face 221, 231, 241, 251, 261, carrying a second drawing member 224, 234, 244, 254, 264.

Such a configuration allows the first drawers to be able to be manipulated from the two opposite sides of the carriage. Thus, the preparer, whether located on one side or the other of the cart, can easily access the contents of the drawers without having to go around the cart or move the cart.

The second housing Tl opens on one side of the carriage 1 and the two second drawers 28, 29 are arranged in housings opening on the opposite side. The two second drawers 28, 29 and the second housing Tl are arranged under one of the first drawers.

5.2. Other characteristics and embodiments

The frame is made by a combination of wooden elements (cross member) and metal (uprights). However, in alternative embodiments, the chassis is made entirely of metal or any other material having improved mechanical strength and resistance to humidity.

Furthermore, the value of the difference between the high position and the low position of the worktop can be between 5 and 20 cm.

In another embodiment, each fixed upright has only four first lights vertically and consecutively spaced 5 cm apart. Thus, the difference between the high position and the low position of the worktop can be between 5 and 15 cm.

In an alternative embodiment, the locking elements are two cylindrical rods of length equal to the depth of the carriage. In addition, the diameter of each cylindrical rod is determined so that the rod can be inserted into the slots of the telescopic uprights. Thus, each rod is configured to immobilize the sliding of the two telescopic uprights located at each longitudinal end of the carriage. For example, the rod is inserted into the openings of the telescopic upright on one side of the carriage, then into the openings of the telescopic upright on the opposite side.

In a particular embodiment of the invention, the work surface may include two orifices, a first orifice communicating with the interior space of the first receptacle and a second orifice communicating with the interior space of the second receptacle. For example, the first and second orifices may have different shapes and / or dimensions so as to avoid any confusion.

In another particular embodiment, the orifice communicating with the interior space of the first receptacle carries, on its interior periphery, a flexible guide element, such as a skirt. Such a guide element makes it possible in particular, when the work surface is in the high position, to ensure that the waste is correctly conveyed towards the interior space of the receptacle.

In another particular embodiment, the first removable receptacle is carried by four wheels. Each wheel cooperates with a removable locking means, such as a brake, making it possible to temporarily immobilize any movement of the receptacle. To ensure the storage of the receptacle under the work surface, the height of the receptacle is reduced by the height of the wheels.

Obviously, the proposed technique is not limited to the embodiments described above and provided only by way of example. It encompasses various modifications, alternative forms and other variants that a person skilled in the art may envisage within the framework of the problem posed and in particular any combination of the different operating modes described above, which can be taken separately or in combination.

Claims (10)

1. Trolley (1) for transporting garden centers comprising a chassis (10) mounted on wheels (17) and carrying a work surface (13), said trolley (1) being characterized in that it comprises adjustment means (11, 14) of the height (h) of the work surface (13). 2. Trolley (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said adjustment means (11, 14) comprise telescopic uprights (11) connecting said work surface (13) to said chassis (10) and cooperating with elements of reversible blocking (14). 3. Trolley (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that each of said telescopic uprights (11) comprises a fixed upright (110) along which slides a movable upright (111), said fixed upright (110) having first lights (112) and said movable upright (111) having second lights (113), said reversible blocking elements (14) being configured to pass through one of the first lights (112) and one of the second lights (113) arranged facing each other -screw. 4. Trolley (1) according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that said reversible locking element (14) are screws (14A) cooperating with nuts (14B). 5. Trolley (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said adjustment means (11, 14) are configured to vary step by step the height (h) of the work surface ( 13) between a high position and a low position, said high position being spaced from said low position by a value between 5 and 20 cm. 6. Trolley (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it comprises first and second receptacles (15, 16) removable arranged under said work surface (13), said first removable receptacle ( 15) being intended to receive and store waste of a first category, and said second removable receptacle (16) being intended to receive and store waste of a second category, different from the first category. 7. Trolley (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that said work surface has an orifice (131) communicating with the interior space of one of said receptacles (15, 16), or else two orifices, a first orifice (131) communicating with the interior space of the first receptacle (15) and a second orifice communicating with the interior space of the second receptacle (16). 8. Trolley (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it comprises a retractable step (20). 9. Trolley (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the chassis (10) comprises storage compartments (21-29) arranged under said work surface 5 (13). 10. Trolley (1) according to claim 9, characterized in that it comprises at least one drawer (2226) for sliding storage mounted in a housing opening on two opposite sides of the chassis, said drawer (22-26) comprising on a first face (221, 231 ... 261) a first drawing member (222, 232 ... 262) and, on a second face (223, 233 ... 263) 10 opposite to said first face (221, 231 ... 261), a second drawing member (224, 234 ... 264) so that said drawer can be manipulated from the two opposite sides of the carriage (1).