GB2026952A - Hand trollies - Google Patents

Abstract

The framework of a folding shopping trolley has two lateral tubular members 6 each supported on a wheel and connected to a central tubular member 2 by articulated parallelogram links 5. A slide 3 on the central member 2 is connected to the lateral members 6 by articulated struts 7 to extend and collapse the frame. In the extended and collapsed conditions, the side is locked to the central member 2 by a locking screw 1. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Hand trollies The present invention relates to an improved fold ing framework for hand trollies such as shopping trollies.

More particularly, the invention provides a folding framework which is basically intended for use with shopping trollies, although the said framework could obviously be applied to any other piece of equipment.

In general terms, the framework according to the invention comprises a tubular metal structure, provided with a central tubular part acting as a handle for wheeling it along, to which the parallel side tubular parts carrying the wheel bearings are connected, the said side tubular parts being associated with the central tubular part by means of pairs of sheet metal parts which are hinged at their ends which each constitute part of a number of folding parallelograms which provide for folding and reinforcing of the structure, their positioning being obtained using axial displacement of the central tubular part.

A part which is connected by struts to the side members of the structure slides on the central tubular part carrying the handle, the said part being able to be locked to the central tubular part so as to stabilize the folded and operational positions of the structure.

In order to aid the explanation of the invention, a sheet of drawings is attached to the specification in which one preferred embodiment is given by way of example.

In the drawings: Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of the trolley in the folded position.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to the previous one with the trolley in the semi-folded position.

Fig. 3 shows the trolley in the unfolded state ready for use.

Fig. 4 shows, in cross section, detail of the locking system for the tubular part carrying the handle.

Fig. 5 is diagrammatical view in side elevation, in which the way in which the trolley is stabilized can be seen, which provide stability both in the folded and in the operational positions.

With reference to the drawings, it can be seen that the trolley is constituted by a central frame portion or tubular portion 2, the upper end of which carries a handle; this frame portion or tubular portion 2 has the horizontal sheet metal parts 5 attached to it in a hinged manner, making use of the pivot points shown at 4; the said horizontal sheet metal parts 5 are also attached to the side frame portions 6. The frame portion 2 slides inside a hole 8 which the part shown at 3 carries for this purpose.

Rigidity or locking of the complete frame is obtained by means of a locking screw 1, which car ries a head or handle in order to ease operation of it, and the screw provided on this locks the frame portion 2 by applying pressure to it and thus fixing its position.

In orderto fold the frame, all that is required is to loosen the screw 1, which has the effect of allowing the frame portion 2 to slide freely through hole 8, whilst at the same time pressing down manually on the frame portion 2, and during this displacement the sheet metal parts 5 come to form an angle which is increasinglyacute (Fig. 2) until the position of final folding is achieved (Fig. 1).

The shopping basket 9 is fixed to the framework using conventional means, and folds at the same time as the framework, since it is made of fabric and only carries reinforcing at its sides.

In order to unfold the trolley, the locking device is loosened, by unlocking it using handle 1, so that the tubular part carrying the handle 2 is no longer locked, and by pulling on the said handle in the direction of arrow F, the position of the pivot points 4 will become raised, causingthe sheet metal parts 5 to pass through an arc of circle 900, thus unfoldingthem and leaving them.in a straightened position, this leading to the separation of the legs 6, until the position of final unfolding is reaced, at which point locking is carried out by tightening the locking screw 1.

1. A folding framework for a trolley comprising a tubular structure, made up by a central vertical tubular part having a handle at its upper end, which is connected to two side tubular parts or bars provided with means for carrying wheels, by means of pairs of cross members which are hinged at both ends to the central tubular parts, at common points, and to the side tunular parts; in that the central tubular part slides in a part which is connected to the side tubular parts by means of hinged struts, the said part having a locking member for locking it to the said central tubular part, so that the structure in its unfolded state for use is made rigid, this position corresponding to the aligned state of the pairs of cross members which keep the side tubular parts separated, and which also locks the trolley in its folded position.

2. A framework according to claim 1, wherein the side tubular parts each have an inclined portion at their lower ends, the vertices of these carrying an axle for the respective wheel, whilst the free end portions of the said inclined portions provide props which make it possible for the trolley to be stood in a stable vertical position/ both whilst in service and when folded.

3. A folding framework for a trolley substantially as herein before described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (3)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Hand trollies The present invention relates to an improved fold ing framework for hand trollies such as shopping trollies. More particularly, the invention provides a folding framework which is basically intended for use with shopping trollies, although the said framework could obviously be applied to any other piece of equipment. In general terms, the framework according to the invention comprises a tubular metal structure, provided with a central tubular part acting as a handle for wheeling it along, to which the parallel side tubular parts carrying the wheel bearings are connected, the said side tubular parts being associated with the central tubular part by means of pairs of sheet metal parts which are hinged at their ends which each constitute part of a number of folding parallelograms which provide for folding and reinforcing of the structure, their positioning being obtained using axial displacement of the central tubular part. A part which is connected by struts to the side members of the structure slides on the central tubular part carrying the handle, the said part being able to be locked to the central tubular part so as to stabilize the folded and operational positions of the structure. In order to aid the explanation of the invention, a sheet of drawings is attached to the specification in which one preferred embodiment is given by way of example. In the drawings: Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of the trolley in the folded position. Fig. 2 is a view similar to the previous one with the trolley in the semi-folded position. Fig. 3 shows the trolley in the unfolded state ready for use. Fig. 4 shows, in cross section, detail of the locking system for the tubular part carrying the handle. Fig. 5 is diagrammatical view in side elevation, in which the way in which the trolley is stabilized can be seen, which provide stability both in the folded and in the operational positions. With reference to the drawings, it can be seen that the trolley is constituted by a central frame portion or tubular portion 2, the upper end of which carries a handle; this frame portion or tubular portion 2 has the horizontal sheet metal parts 5 attached to it in a hinged manner, making use of the pivot points shown at 4; the said horizontal sheet metal parts 5 are also attached to the side frame portions 6. The frame portion 2 slides inside a hole 8 which the part shown at 3 carries for this purpose. Rigidity or locking of the complete frame is obtained by means of a locking screw 1, which car ries a head or handle in order to ease operation of it, and the screw provided on this locks the frame portion 2 by applying pressure to it and thus fixing its position. In orderto fold the frame, all that is required is to loosen the screw 1, which has the effect of allowing the frame portion 2 to slide freely through hole 8, whilst at the same time pressing down manually on the frame portion 2, and during this displacement the sheet metal parts 5 come to form an angle which is increasinglyacute (Fig. 2) until the position of final folding is achieved (Fig. 1). The shopping basket 9 is fixed to the framework using conventional means, and folds at the same time as the framework, since it is made of fabric and only carries reinforcing at its sides. In order to unfold the trolley, the locking device is loosened, by unlocking it using handle 1, so that the tubular part carrying the handle 2 is no longer locked, and by pulling on the said handle in the direction of arrow F, the position of the pivot points 4 will become raised, causingthe sheet metal parts 5 to pass through an arc of circle 900, thus unfoldingthem and leaving them.in a straightened position, this leading to the separation of the legs 6, until the position of final unfolding is reaced, at which point locking is carried out by tightening the locking screw 1. CLAIMS

1. A folding framework for a trolley comprising a tubular structure, made up by a central vertical tubular part having a handle at its upper end, which is connected to two side tubular parts or bars provided with means for carrying wheels, by means of pairs of cross members which are hinged at both ends to the central tubular parts, at common points, and to the side tunular parts; in that the central tubular part slides in a part which is connected to the side tubular parts by means of hinged struts, the said part having a locking member for locking it to the said central tubular part, so that the structure in its unfolded state for use is made rigid, this position corresponding to the aligned state of the pairs of cross members which keep the side tubular parts separated, and which also locks the trolley in its folded position.

2. A framework according to claim 1, wherein the side tubular parts each have an inclined portion at their lower ends, the vertices of these carrying an axle for the respective wheel, whilst the free end portions of the said inclined portions provide props which make it possible for the trolley to be stood in a stable vertical position/ both whilst in service and when folded.

3. A folding framework for a trolley substantially as herein before described with reference to the accompanying drawings.