GB2099766A - Improvements in or relating to trolleys - Google Patents

Abstract

A shopping trolley has a handle 25 releasably held by pivotable clips 29 to a cross-member 20 of a frame 11 having wheels 16 and having a sub-frame 18 for supporting a shopping bag. The clips 29 can be released to allow the handle 25 to swing down and cross-member 12 can then act as a handle. Feet 23 support the trolley at rest. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to trolleys This invention relates to trolleys, particularly but not exclusively to shopping trolleys.

According to this invention, a trolley comprises a handle which can be moved from an operative to an inoperative position.

The handle may be pivotally mounted.

The trolley may comprise a subsidiary handle operative when the handle is in the operative position.

The trolley may comprise a frame, and means cooperable with the frame for releasably holding the handle in the operative position.

The releasabie means may comprise clips engageable with the frame.

The clips may be pivoted to the handle and be engageable with a cross-member of the frame.

The handle may be U-shaped and be pivoted to the frame near the ends of the arms of the U. The arms may be mounted on elements extending through the arms.

The trolley may include a structure for mounting a shopping bag.

The structure may include ground-engaging feet for supporting the trolley at rest.

The invention may be performed in various ways and one specific embodiment with possibie modifications will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a trolley; and Fig. 2 is a view of part of Fig. 1 on an enlarged scale.

The trolley 10 is made generally from welded steel rod and comprises an inverted U-frame 11 having top cross-member 12 and depending sides 13 whose ends are out-turned at 14 to rotatably receive ground wheels 1 5 each held in place by a steel cap 16. A lower cross-member 17 is welded to the sides 13 near their lower ends. A sub-frame 1 8 comprises rearwardly extending sides 1 9 respectivley welded near one end to the sides 13, and slightly downwardly extending at their outer rear ends which are connected by cross-member 20. Angled legs 21 are welded to cross-members 1 7 and 20 and have leg portions 22 provided with forwardly facing feet 23 which rest on the ground with sides 1 3 vertical.

Alternatively the feet 23 are omitted and the ends of portions 22 are provided with plastics ferrules for resting on the ground. In use the subframe 18 may support a shopping bag which may be secured to the sides 13.

A handle 24 is formed by a U-shaped tubular member 25 having arms 26. Each side 13 has welded to it the free ends of U-shaped members 27, the upper arms 27a of which extend through the arms 25 near the ends thereto which can thus pivot. Plastics ferrules 28 are provided on the ends of the arms 25.

In the operative, up, position shown in full lines, the handle 24 is held by clips 29 engaging with the cross-member 1 2. A peg 30 rotatably extends through the arm 26 and one end of the substantially L-shaped flat clip 29 is welded to the peg. The clips 29 can be rotated to or beyond the position shown dotted in Fig. 2 and the handle 24 can then be rotated to the inoperative position shown dotted. If required the trolley can then be pulled or lifted using cross-member 12 as a handle.

The collapsible or two-part handle is particularly useful for example when taking the trolley on a bus.

The subframe 1 8 could take other forms.

Claims

1. A trolley comprising a handle which can be moved from an operative to an inoperative position.

2. A trolley as claimed in Claim 1, in which the handle is pivotally mounted.

3. A trolley as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, comprising a subsidiary handle operative when the handle is in the inoperative position.

4. A trolley as claimed in any preceding claim, comprising a frame, and means cooperable with the frame for releasably holding the handle in the operative position.

5. A trolley as claimed in Claim 4, in which the releasable means comprises clips engageable with the frame.

6. A trolley as claimed in Claim 5, in which the clips are pivoted to the handle and are engageable with a cross-member of the frame.

7. A trolley as claimed in any of Claims 4 to 6, in which the handle is U-shaped and pivoted to the frame at end regions of the arms of the U.

8. A trolley as claimed in Claim 7, in which the arms are mounted on elements extending through the arms.

9. A trolley as claimed in any preceding claim, including a structure for mounting a shopping bag.

10. A trolley as claimed in Claim 9, in which the structure includes ground engaging feet for supporting the trolley at rest.

11. A trolley substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

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

Claims (11)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to trolleys This invention relates to trolleys, particularly but not exclusively to shopping trolleys. According to this invention, a trolley comprises a handle which can be moved from an operative to an inoperative position. The handle may be pivotally mounted. The trolley may comprise a subsidiary handle operative when the handle is in the operative position. The trolley may comprise a frame, and means cooperable with the frame for releasably holding the handle in the operative position. The releasabie means may comprise clips engageable with the frame. The clips may be pivoted to the handle and be engageable with a cross-member of the frame. The handle may be U-shaped and be pivoted to the frame near the ends of the arms of the U. The arms may be mounted on elements extending through the arms. The trolley may include a structure for mounting a shopping bag. The structure may include ground-engaging feet for supporting the trolley at rest. The invention may be performed in various ways and one specific embodiment with possibie modifications will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a trolley; and Fig. 2 is a view of part of Fig. 1 on an enlarged scale. The trolley 10 is made generally from welded steel rod and comprises an inverted U-frame 11 having top cross-member 12 and depending sides 13 whose ends are out-turned at 14 to rotatably receive ground wheels 1 5 each held in place by a steel cap 16. A lower cross-member 17 is welded to the sides 13 near their lower ends. A sub-frame 1 8 comprises rearwardly extending sides 1 9 respectivley welded near one end to the sides 13, and slightly downwardly extending at their outer rear ends which are connected by cross-member 20. Angled legs 21 are welded to cross-members 1 7 and 20 and have leg portions 22 provided with forwardly facing feet 23 which rest on the ground with sides 1 3 vertical. Alternatively the feet 23 are omitted and the ends of portions 22 are provided with plastics ferrules for resting on the ground. In use the subframe 18 may support a shopping bag which may be secured to the sides 13. A handle 24 is formed by a U-shaped tubular member 25 having arms 26. Each side 13 has welded to it the free ends of U-shaped members 27, the upper arms 27a of which extend through the arms 25 near the ends thereto which can thus pivot. Plastics ferrules 28 are provided on the ends of the arms 25. In the operative, up, position shown in full lines, the handle 24 is held by clips 29 engaging with the cross-member 1 2. A peg 30 rotatably extends through the arm 26 and one end of the substantially L-shaped flat clip 29 is welded to the peg. The clips 29 can be rotated to or beyond the position shown dotted in Fig. 2 and the handle 24 can then be rotated to the inoperative position shown dotted. If required the trolley can then be pulled or lifted using cross-member 12 as a handle. The collapsible or two-part handle is particularly useful for example when taking the trolley on a bus. The subframe 1 8 could take other forms. Claims

1. A trolley comprising a handle which can be moved from an operative to an inoperative position.

2. A trolley as claimed in Claim 1, in which the handle is pivotally mounted.

3. A trolley as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, comprising a subsidiary handle operative when the handle is in the inoperative position.

4. A trolley as claimed in any preceding claim, comprising a frame, and means cooperable with the frame for releasably holding the handle in the operative position.

5. A trolley as claimed in Claim 4, in which the releasable means comprises clips engageable with the frame.

6. A trolley as claimed in Claim 5, in which the clips are pivoted to the handle and are engageable with a cross-member of the frame.

7. A trolley as claimed in any of Claims 4 to 6, in which the handle is U-shaped and pivoted to the frame at end regions of the arms of the U.

8. A trolley as claimed in Claim 7, in which the arms are mounted on elements extending through the arms.

9. A trolley as claimed in any preceding claim, including a structure for mounting a shopping bag.

10. A trolley as claimed in Claim 9, in which the structure includes ground engaging feet for supporting the trolley at rest.

11. A trolley substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.