GB2059882A - Improvements in or relating to apparatus for forming a wheeled trolley or a stool - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus which may be assembled to form a first trolley for carrying such loads as domestic containers of liquid gas, a second trolley with a greater ground clearance for carrying lighter loads over rough terrain, or a stool. When not in use, the dismantled apparatus may be compactly stowed. A frame assembly 21, with a handle 29 attached is releasably secured to an other frame assembly 12 as shown to form the first trolley, or with the free ends of the members 19, 20 received in sockets 17, 18 to form the second trolley or the stool. When forming the stool, the handle engages the ground, and webbing 26 forms the seat and member 13 the back and the frame assembly 21 and wheel support 7 are positioned relatively as illustrated. When forming the second trolley the wheel support 7 is pivoted to be parallel with the frame assembly 12 and the handle is directed away from the ground. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to con,veying means The pr.esent invention relates to apparatus comprising a dismantlable truck or trolley.

According to the present invention, there is provided an apparatus comprising a plurality of means for enabling the apparatus to be wheeled, each of which means is mounted on a support member, a chassis integral with or connected to the or each support member and pivotally mounted with respect to a first frame means, the arrangement being such that at least one support member or part of the chassis can bear on part of the first frame mens, and a second frame means connected to or integral with handle means, the first frame means being releasably connected to the second frame means.

An apparatus in accordance with the invention may be conveniently assembled to form a trolley wherein the first frame means is releasably connected to the second frame means in such a way that the second frame means forms an extension of the first frame means.

An apparatus in accordance with the invention may also be conveniently assembled to form a stool wherein the second frame means is releasably connected to the first frame means in such a way that the handle means rests on the ground and wherein the first frame means or the chassis is supported by the ground; the second frame means preferably forms a frame for a seat.

Furthermore, an apparatus in accordance with the invention may be conveniently assembled to form a trolley wherein the second frame means defines a means for carrying a load and is connected to the first frame means in such a way that the first frame means and the second frame means cooperate to hold the chassis substantially parallel to the first frame means.

The apparatus of the present invention is compactly stowable when dismantled and can be assembled in a number of ways.

First, the apparatus can be assembled to form a truck or trolley for transporting such heavy items as containers of liquid gas. A camper or boat owner may well find such a truck useful, and it is apparent that such a truck could be of use around the home.

The apparatus may also be assembled into the form of a truck for carrying less heavy articles over rough terrain. When assembled in this form, the apparatus provides a carrying structure with greater clearance above the ground than the previous form. Such a truck may be of use to an angler who has to transport his tackle over rough ground to a stream or lake.

A third way in which the apparatus can be assembled is so as to form a stool. Thus, once a fisherman has reached his favourtie angling spot he may off-load his tackle from the truck and readily convert his truck into a stool on which he may comfortably sit while fishing.

If it is not desired to use the apparatus to transport tackle, the fisherman may carry the apparatus in a net bag which conveniently doubles as a keep net.

The apparatus of the present invention could also be of use on, for example, a family picnic: the truck which is used to carry the food to the picnic site would not be redundant during the picinic since it could be used as a stool.

When the apparatus is not in use and when it is to be transported, for example by car or boat, the apparatus can be stowed neatly in a small space so as not to take up room inconveniently. The apparatus of the present invention could therefore conveniently be taken on a camping, caravanning or canal boat holiday during which it could be used for a number useful tasks and would take up only a small amount of valuable storage space when not being used.

The stowability of an apparatus in accordance with the invention may also be an advantage in distribution and marketing. Such an apparatus can be packed in its dismantled form in a carton when it is to be transported from the manufacturer to the distributer or retailer. This may be especially useful if the apparatus is to be transported by container.

For a better understanding of the present invention, and to show how the same may be put into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 9 shows a perspective view of an apparatus in accordance with the present invention, when assembled to form a truck or trolley for transporting heavy objects, Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the apparatus of Fig. 1 when assembled to form a stool, Figure 3 shows a detailed perspective view of a telescopic snap-fastener for releasably coupling various parts of the apparatus of Fig.

1, Figure 4 shows a perspective view of the apparatus of Fig. 1, when assembled to form a truck or trolley for carrying relatively light loads over rough terrain, and Figure 5 shows a schematic perspective view of a net bag containing a kit of parts which may be assembled to form an apparatus in accordance with the invention.

Referring now to the drawings, and in particular to Fig. 1, there is shown an apparatus according to the invention having a pair of tyred wheels 1 and 2 each mounted on a respective U-shaped wheel support member 3 or 4 for rotation about horizontal axes. The Ushaped wheel support membrs 3 and 4 are in parallel substantially vertical planes with the arms of each U-shaped member being substantially horizontal; one U-shaped wheel support member is to each side of the truck, and the wheels 1 and 2 rotate about axes each situate at a point furthest from the open end of the respective U-shaped member. Each of the U-shaped members 3 and 4 is made of aluminium or alloy tubing, and the lower arm of each U-shaped member 3 and 4 is adapted to couple releasably by means of respective telescopic snap-fasteners 5 and 6 to a chassis member 7.The end of each lower arm of the U-shaped members 3 and 4 is formed with a pair of aligned small U-shaped recesses or scallops 3a and 4a respectively (Fig. 5) for a purpose to be described hereinafter. The chassis member 7 is formed of aluminium or alloy tubing bent into a wide "U" shaped structure with a flattened base. The lower arm of each U-shaped wheel support member 3 and 4 is connected to a respective arm of the flattened U-shaped chassis member 7. The chassis member 7 is in a plane at right angles to the plane of the U-shaped wheel support members 3 and 4 and forms a bridge between the two wheel support members 3 and 4.

The operation of the telescopic snap-fasteners 5 and 6 will be described in more detail hereinafter.

The flattened U-shaped chassis member 7 is provided with two metal rods 8 and 9. The rods 8 and 9 are parallel to the flattened base of the chassis member 7 and are in the same plane as the chassis member 7. The rods 8 and 9 are connected to the arms of the flattened U-shaped chassis member 7, the rod 8 extending merely between the two arms but the rod 9 extending through each of the two arms and protruding beyond. The rods 8 and 9 provide support for an object to be carried by the apparatus when assembled into this truck position.

At the outside of each arm of the chassis member 7, the rod 9 is journalled across one of the two up-standing metal tubular members, 10 and 11 which form part of a first frame assembly 1 2. In addition to the two tubular parallel up-standing members 10 and 11, the first frame 1 2 comprises two spanning members 1 3 and 14. The spanning members 1 3 and 14 are rigid metal strips which span the width of the first frame 1 2 between the up-standing tubular members 10 and 11.

Both the upper spanning member 1 3 and the lower spanning member 1 4 have planar portions where the spanning members 1 3 and 14 are welded to the up-standing tubular members 10 and 11 and also comprise a gently arcuate section between the two planar portions. In each planar portion of the lower spanning member 14, there are provided two holes or other suitable seats 1 5 and 1 6 for seating the otherwise free end of each of the U-shaped wheel support members 3 and 4.

Thus, one end of each wheel support member 3 and 4 is coupled by means of the telescopic snap-joints 5 and 6 to the chassis member 7; the chassis member 7 can pivot with respect to the first frame 1 2 about an axis along rod 9; and the other end of each of the wheel support members 3 and 4 can seat on a portion of the frame member 1 2 to form a rigid structure. The purpose of each of the Ushaped recesses 3a and 4a is to form a bush or guide partially surrounding the rod 9 which acts as an axle. Thus any unwanted lateral movement of the rod 9 is effectively curtailed.

The recesses 3a and 4a further help to lock the first frame assembly 1 2 with respect to relative rotatary motion of the U-shaped members 3 and 4 and thus help to reduce wear of the telescopic snap-fastening mechanisms 5 and 6.

It will be appreciated that the rods 8 and d; in addition to the chassis member 7, form basal supports for a load to be carried. The spanning members 1 3 and 14 also form a support for a load. To each of the upstanding tubular members 10 and 11 is weided a shor tunnel member (17 and 18 respectively) on the inside of the frame 1 2 and above the lower spanning member 1 4. The tunnel members 1 7 and 1 8 are each formed of a short piece of metal tubing of the same internal diameter as the upstanding tubular members 10 and 11. The tunnel members 1 7 and 18 are so welded that their axes are parallel to the arms of the chassis members 7 when the apparatus is assembled as shown in Fig.

The tunnel members 1 7 and 1 8 are for use when the apparatus is to be otherwise assembled and they will be described in more detail hereinafter.

Two longitudinal tubular members 19 and 20 form part of a second frame 21 and engage, respectively, by means of telescopic snap fasteners 22 and 23 in the upper ends of the upstanding tubular members 10 and 11 of the first frame 1 2. Thus, the longitudinal members 1 9 and 20 form continuations of the upstanding members 10 and 11 respectively. The frame 21 is further provided with an upper tubular cross member 24 and a lower tubular cross member 25. The cross members 24 and 25 connect the longitudinal members 1 9 and 20 so as to form substantially a square with the longitudinal members: 1 9 and 20 protruding slightly. A web of fibrereinforced plastics material 26 spans the second frame 21 and the longitudinal members 19 and 20 of the second frame 21 are contained in hems of the material 26.

Whereas the lower protruding ends of the longitudinal members 1 9 and 20 engage, by means of telescopic snap-fasteners 22 and 23, with the tubular members 10 and 11 of the frame 12; the upper protruding ends of the longitudinal members 1 9 and 20 engage, also by means of telescopic snap-fasteners 27 and 28, with a handle 29 formed of a single piece of metal tubing of the same internal diameter as the up-standing members 10 and 11. The handle 29 forms three sides of a square with rounded corners, the two free arms of the square having been bent near the free ends out of the plane of the square at an angle of about 30".Thus, when the free ends of the handle 29 are connected to the longitudinal members 1 9 and 20, the handle substantially defines a plane at approximately 30 to the plane of the second frame 21.

It would be appreciated that, in use of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 as a trolley or truck, an object to be carried is placed on the chassis member 7 and the rods 8 and 9. As the handle 29 is tipped to the left and away from the view point of the Fig. 1, much of the weight of the object will be bourne by the spanning members 1 3 and 14. As the trolley is pulled by hand by means of the handle 29, the wheel bearing members 2 and 4 are seated firmly against their respective seats 1 5 and 1 6 in the lower spanning member 1 4 so that the weight of the object is transmitted to the wheels 1 and 2.It may be found that for the trolley to be pulled most comfortably, the plane of the first and second frames 1 2 and 21 is, in use, upwardly inclined by a few degrees to the horizontal.

Fig. 2 shows an apparatus of the present invention when assembled into a stool. The arrangement of the wheels 1 and 2, the wheel support members 3 and 4 the chassis member 7 the rods 8 and 9 and the frame 1 2 is the same as described for Fig. 1 in which the apparatus forms a trolley for carrying heavy loads. However, the lower ends of the longitudinal members 1 9 and 20 of the second frame 21 are not now engaged in the upper, free ends of the up-standing tubular members 10 and 11 of the first frame 1 2 but are engaged instead through the tunnel member 1 7 and 1 8 respectively.Thus the plane of the second frame member 21 is now substantially perpendicular to the plane of the first frame member 1 2. The plastics webbing 26 forms the seat of the stool and the handle 29 forms a front support.

The material 26 may take the form of an inflatable air cushion to form a comfortable seat. In one particularly convenient embodiment, there is provided a double air cushion with two adjacent inflatable portions. The first inflatable portion would thus form a seat and be stitched or otherwise secured to the second frame 21. The second inflatable portion would be hingedly attached to the first inflatable portion along a line close to and parallel with the cross member 25 which forms the rear cross member of the second frame 21 (and hence the seat) when the apparatus is assembled as a stool. The second inflatable portion would preferably be located to the side of the first inflatable portion away from the inclination of the handle 29.Thus when the apparatus is in the form of a stool, the second inflatable portion could be pivoted about the line close to the cross member 25 and releasably secured to a convenient portion of the up-standing first frame assembly 1 2 such as the upper spanning member 1 3. The inflated double air cushion would then form a comfortable backed seat. When the apparatus was not in use as a stool, the deflated second portion could be made to lie flat against the deflated first portion and be releasably secured to keep it in that position.

To form the apparatus as a stool as shown in Fig. 2 from the apparatus assembled as a trolley as shown in Fig. 1, the longitudinal frame members 1 9 and 20 of the second frame 21 are released from the up-standing tubular members 10 and 11 of the first frame 12. The second frame 21 and the handle 29 are rotated through 90 about a horizontal axis so that the plane of the frame 21 is now substantially horizontal and the handle 29 is inclined towards the ground.The second frame 21 and the handle 29 are lowered, on the side of the first frame 1 2 away from the wheels 1 and 2, and then the protruding ends of the longitudinal members 1 9 and 20 of the second frame are inserted into their respective tunnel members 1 7 and 1 8. The snap-fasteners of each of the longitudinal members 1 9 and 20 ensure that the second frame 21 is releasably secured at right angles to the first frame 12.

The lowermost limb of the handle 29 rests on the ground and so a portable stool is formed with the second frame 21 being supported at the front by the handle 29 and at the rear by the first frame 1 2. The first frame 1 2 is connected to the chassis member 7 and the wheels 1 and 2 which rest on the ground.

The telescopic snap-fastener 30, which in Fig. 2 is one of the telescopic snap-fasteners used to couple the handle 29 releasably to the second frame 21, is shown in greater detail in Fig. 3. This telescopic snap-fastener 30 is typical of the snap-fasteners used in the apparatus shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 3 shows the longitudinal member 20 lying horizontally provided with a hole on the lowermost surface. Through the hole protrudes a rounded stud 31, the base of which is secured to a spring-leaf 32. The spring-leaf 32 is anchored to the internal surface of the longitudinal member 20 and the stud is free to move radially with respect to the longitudinal member 20. The stud 31 can thus be pressed into the longitudinal member 20 but cannot escape from the longitudinal member 20. The internal diameter of the tubular handle 29 is, in the region of the snap-fastener 30, fractionally greater than the external diameter of the longitudinal member 20, and so the longitudinal member 20 can thus slide inside the tubular handle 29. In the tube wall of the handle 29 are drilled a number of holes 33, one of which is aligned with the stud 31 of the longitudinal member 20.The diameter of each hole 33 is such that the stud 31 may protrude through each hole 33.

To fasten the longitudinal member 20 releasably to the handle 29, the end of the longitudinal member 20 is inserted into the end of the handle 29 and the stud 31 is pressed into the body of the longitudinal member 20 by thumb pressure. The longitudinal member 20 is now further pushed into the handle 29 until the stud 31 engages with the hole 33 and then the spring leaf 32 causes the stud 31 to project through both the longitudinal member 20 and the handle 29. The longitudinal member 20 and the handle 29 are now secured together but can be released simply by depressing the stud 31 by thumb pressure and withdrawing the longitudinal member 20 over the rounded stud 31 from the handle 29.

Fig. 4 shows the apparatus of the invention assembled so as to form a truck or trolley suitable for moving relatively light loads over rought terrain. The wheel support mernbers 3 and 4 bearing the wheels 1 and 2, are connected to the chassis 7 in the same way as they were in the apparatus when assembled as a trolley for carrying heavy loads (as shown in Fig. 1) and in the apparatus when assembled as a stool (as shown in Fig. 3).

However, when the apparatus is assembled as a trolley for crossing rough terrain, the chassis 7 is pivoted about the rod 9 so that the plane defined by the chassis 7 is substantially parallel to the plane of the first frame 1 2. Thus, it will be appreciated that the free end of each wheel support member 3 and 4 does not bear and is not seated on the lower spanning member 14 of the first frame 12.

The chassis member 7 now forms an inverted "U" with a flattened base, and this flattened base extends across the space between the up-standing tubular members 10 and 11 of the first frame 1 2 in the region of the tunnel members 1 7 and 18. It will be seen that the chassis member 7 will be held in place by the second frame 21.

The second frame 21 is attached to the handle 29 by telescopic snap-fasteners as described before. In assembly of an apparatus according to the invention into the form shown in Fig. 4, the second frame 21 is held in a horizontal plane for insertion of the longitudinal members 1 9 and 20 in the tunnel members 1 8 and 1 7 respectively. The second frame 21 is so orientated that the handle 29 is inclined away from the ground.The second frame 21 is now attached to the first frame 1 2 by pushing the protruding ends of the longitudinal members 119 and 20 through the tunnel members 18 and 1 7. The inverted Ushaped chassis member 7 is thus held in place on the side of the second frame 21 by resting against the transverse member 25 which is parallel with and adjacent to the flattened base of the inverted U-shaped chassis member 7; on the side of the first frame 12, the two depending arms of the inverted U-shaped chassis member 7 bear against the spanning member 14 of the first frame 1 2.

The transverse member 25 of the second frame 21 is secured to the flattened base of the inverted U-shaped chassis member 7 by means of a bolt 34 whose shaft extends through holes drilled in the base of the inverted U-shaped chassis member 7 and the transverse member 25. The bolt 34 is secured by a nut 35.

Thus the apparatus as assembled in the form shown in Fig. 4 forms a truck or trolley for conveying goods over rough ground.

When assembled in this form, the appar7;ics has greater clearance above the g zund than when it is assembled as a trolley tor conveying heavy loads as shown in Fig. 1. Goods ar placed on the web 26 spanning the second frame 21. The upper spanning m .nt-r 1 the first frame 1 2 and the upper poitions above the tunnel members 1 7 and 1 8 of the upstanding tubular members 10 and 11 of the first frame 1 2 form a back rest to help prevent the load from falling off. The trolley towed by the handle 29.

When not in use, the apparatus may be dismantled. The handle 29 is released by means of the telescopic snap-fasteners, from the second frame 21. The second frame 21 is released, again by means of telescopic sna"- fasteners, from the first frame 12 whether the longitudinal members 1 9 and 20 of the second frame were secured vertically in the tubu- lar up-standing members 10 and 11 of th first frame 1 2 or whether they were secured in the tunnel members 1 8 and 1 7. if necessary, the nut 35 and bolt 34 are removed from the transverse member 25 of the sec -n 4 frame 21 and from the flattened base portions.

of the inverted U-shaped chassis member 7.

The first frame 1 2 remains pivotally mounted, by means of the rod 9, to the chassis member 7; but the wheel support members 3 and 4 are released by means of the telescopic snapfasteners, from the chassis member 7. The wheels 1 and 2 remain rotatably secured to the wheel support members 3 and 4 respectively.

Thus, there are five main components to be stored: the wheels 1 and 2, each with an attached respective wheel support member 3 and 4, the first frame 1 2 and chassis construction wherein the chassis member 7 can be pivoted about the rod 9 to be substantially coplanar with the first frame 12, the planar second frame 21 and the substantially planar handle 29.

As shown in Fig. 5, the parts forming an apparatus in accordance with the present invention can be carried in a net bag 36 having a pair of handles 37. Such a bag may be of particular use to a fisherman who could use the net bag 36 as a keep net while fishing.

It is to be noted that the various tubular elements of the apparatus need not be made of aluminium or aluminium alloy but could instead be made, for example, of stainless steel or plastics material coated steel.

Claims (22)

1. An apparatus comprising a plurality of means for enabling the apparatus to be wheeled, each of which means is mounted on a support member, a chassis integral with or connected to the or each support member and pivotally mounted with respect to a first frame means, the arrangement being such that at least one support member or part of the chassis can bear on part of the first frame means, and a second frame means connected to or integral with handle means, the first frame means being releasably connected to the second frame means.

2. An apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein the first frame means is releasably connected to the second frame means in such a way that the second frame means forms an extension of the first frame means and wherein the apparatus forms a trolley.

3. An apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein the second frame means is releasably connected to the first frame means in such a way that the handle means rest on the ground and wherein the first frame means or the chassis is supported by the ground so that the apparatus forms a stool with the second frame means forming a frame for a seat.

4. An apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein the second frame means defines a means for carrying a load and is connected to the first frame means in such a way that the first frame means and the second frame means cooperate to hold the chassis substantially parallel to the first frame means and wherein the apparatus forms a trolley.

5. An apparatus according to Claim 4 provided with securing means for releasable securing the second frame means to the chassis.

6. An apparatus according to any one of Claims 1 to 5, wherein each support member is releasably connected to the chassis.

7. An apparatus according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, wherein the second frame means is releasably connected to the handle means.

8. An apparatus according to any one of Claims 1 to 7, wherein the handle means comprises a metal tube bent in the form of three sides of a rectangle, the ends of the tube being bent in the same direction out of the plane of the rest of the rectangle.

9. An apparatus according to any one of Claims 1 to 8, wherein the second frame means comprises two transverse tubular members and two longitudinal tubular members, the transverse and longitudinal members being connected so as to form a square with each longitudinal members protruding beyond each transverse member and wherein a web connected to a plurality of the members spans the area enclosed by the members.

10. An apparatus according to Claim 9, wherein the web forms part of a first inflatable air cushion.

11. An apparatus according to Claim 10, wherein a second inflatable air cushion is integral with or connected to the first inflatable air cushion and is pivotable with respect to the first inflatable air cushion.

1 2. An apparatus according to any one of Claims 1 to 11, wherein the first frame means is substantially planar and comprises two substantially parallel metal tubular members interconnected by two metal strips, each tubular member having a short tubular tunnel member welded to the tubular member, the central axis of each tunnel member being substantially parallel to the plane of the first frame.

1 3. An apparatus according to any one of Claims 1 to 12, wherein the chassis comprises a flat based U-shaped metal tubular chassis member and a plurality of metal rods spanning the distance across the mouth of the flat based U-shaped chassis member, one of which rods is journalled across the arms of the tubular member and through part of the first frame means and forms an axis for relative pivotal motion of the first frame means and the chassis.

1 4. An apparatus according to any one of Claims 1 to 13, wherein each support member comprises a substantially U-shaped tubular support member and wherein each means for enabling the apparatus to be wheeled is a wheel mounted for rotation about an axis substantially perpendicular to the plane of the U-shaped member.

1 5. An apparatus according to claim 14 when dependent on Claim 13, wherein one end of each U-shaped tubular support member is adapted to be inserted into a respective arm of the flat based U-shaped chassis member, each of the said ends being provided with a pair of opposed recesses adapted to act as a bush for and partially surround the rod which forms an axis for relative pivotal motion of the first frame means and the chassis.

1 6. An apparatus according to Claim 13, wherein each recess is substantially U-shaped.

1 7. A kit of parts from which an apparatus in accordance with Claim 1 may be assembled, which kit comprises a plurality of means for enabling the apparatus to be wheeled, each of which means is mountable on a support member, a chassis connectable to the or each support member and pivotally mounted with respect to a first frame means, at least one support member or part of the chassis being adapted to bear, in the assembled apparatus, on part of the first frame means, and a second frame means releasably connectable with handle means, the first frame means being releasably connectable to the second frame means.

1 8. A kit in parts according to Claim 17, which kit is transportable in a net bag.

1 9. A kit of parts according to Claim 1 8, wherein the net bag is suitable for use as a fisherman's keep net.

20. An apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, Figs. 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings.

21. A kit of parts for an apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with Fig.

5 of the accompanying drawings.

22. Any novel feature or combination of features described herein.