GB2101538A

GB2101538A - Nesting luggage trolley

Info

Publication number: GB2101538A
Application number: GB08122990A
Authority: GB
Inventors: August Manss
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1981-05-06
Filing date: 1981-07-24
Publication date: 1983-01-19
Also published as: DE3117767A1; GB2101538B; DE3117767C2

Abstract

The trolley comprises a generally "U" shaped framework (2) supported by a steerable wheel or roller (4) and two fixed wheels or rollers (5) and delimiting the load carrying area (1) formed by grid rods (8) connected to the framework (2) and arranged together with the framework (2) in a plane running at least approximately at the height of the wheel or roller axis. A pivotable handle (6) is coupled to braking elements (34) acting on the fixed wheels or rollers (5). Cavities (24, 25) are arranged centrally of the load carrying area (1) and allow the steerable wheel or roller to be nested and to turn so that a nested set of trollies may be steered. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Nesting luggage trolleys The invention relates to a luggage trolley which can be nested with corresponding trolleys, comprising a support which is basically U-shaped in outline, is supported on the ground by means of one steerable wheeler roller and two fixed wheeler rollers, essentially delimiting a loading surface, in which the load carrying area is formed by support bars, and comprising a handle which is pivotably mounted on struts rising from the support via the rigidly mounted rollers and is coupled with braking elements acting on the rollers.

Different embodiments of luggage trolleys of this type are known and in common use and are available at Railway Stations or Airports in large numbers in order to assist travellers in transporting their luggage from public transport, such as trains or aircraft, to individual means of transport for example taxis. it is very important for the push-type trolleys to have their load carrying area and therefore their overall centre of gravity, as low as possible on the one hand to facilitate loading and on the other hand for ease of manoeuvring.Thus when loading up the trolley, the items of luggage do not have to be raised beyond their normal position when carried to any special extent in order to bring them to the level of the load carrying area of the trolley and also, so that the overall weight is distributed as evenly as possible, more particularly so that the trolley load is evenly distributed over all of the wheels of the rollers. The disadvantage of luggage trolleys of the type stated at the outset which have been known up to now is that the load carrying area is relatively high, thus making it difficult to load the trolley on the one hand and on the other hand resulting in the overall centre of gravity being in an unfavourable position.This results in impaired manoeuvrability of the trolley on the one hand and on the other hand in a shift in weight towards the steerable wheel or roller, to which no braking is applied, as the inclination of the road or pavement increases, and finally the result of this is that the braking elements, which only act on the rear wheels or rollers of the trolley which (on an incline) are not under much load, are no longer in a position to safely brake and secure the loaded trolley on an inclined road or pavement. Moreover, the known luggage trolleys are characterised noticeably by the fact that the pivotable and steerable wheel or roller is suspended in a bearing support, which is arranged within the support delimiting the load carrying area and extends upwardly.Therefore, as a result of the free space required for pivoting the steerable wheel or roller, the useful load carrying area of the trolley is reduced on the one hand but on the other hand the space which these trolleys require when nested in each other is very large as the individual trolleys can only be inserted one into another to the extent allowed by their frameworks. Moreover, the known luggage trolleys are quite long, which not only results in an increase in the space requirement for nested trolleys but also in an increase in the inherent weight of the trolley and also results in impaired manoeuvrability and high manufacturing and basic costs.

The invention seeks to provide a luggage trolley which can be nested in corresponding trolleys, in which the load carrying area, and therefore the overall centre of gravity, are arranged as low as possible with as small as possible a construction length of the trolley, and which can be brought safely to a halt when fully laden, for example, on a gradient of up to 13% exclusively by brakes on the wheels or rollers which operate automatically and act on the rear wheels or rollers, and which also makes it possible to move a number of trolleys, each inserted in the next, obliquely. Finally the luggage on the trolley should also be safely supported and the brakes should be released in the event of any danger, by pressure from the body of the user on the handle.

According to the invention, there is provided a nestable luggage trolley which is pushable and releasable in corresponding trolleys comprising a framework which is U-shaped in basic outline, is supported on the ground by means of a steerable wheel or roller, and two fixedly mounted wheels or rollers and substantially delimits a load carrying area and a handle pivotally mounted on struts projecting upwardly from the framework above the fixedly mounted wheels or rollers and coupled to braking elements acting on the fixed wheels or rollers, wherein grid rods forming the load carrying area are rigidly connected to the framework delimiting the load carrying area and are arranged together with the framework in a plane running at least approximately at the height of the wheel roller axes, a pivot cavity is provided for the steerable wheel or roller of a trolley to be inserted and is arranged centrally of the length of the load carrying area and the steerable wheel or roller is suspended in a bearing support connected to the framework and projecting outwardly over the wheel or roller.

Preferably the pivot cavity has a basic outline shape differing from circular and the bearing support for the steerable wheel or roller comprises a yoke extending over the wheel or roller and a turntable so arranged as to enable the steerable wheel or roller to be pivotable in either rotational sense by less than 1800.

In a luggage trolley having the above mentioned features, the load carrying area is arranged so low that, in order to load the trolley, the luggage does not have to be raised out of its normal position when it is being carried, while on the other hand the overall centre of gravity of the laden trolley is sufficiently low to ensure uniform distribution of the weight on to the front steerable wheel or roller and the rear wheels or rollers and thus the operative brake of the trolley, which only acts on the rear wheels or rollers is able to bring the trolley to a hait safely even on a sloping road or pavement.Because the steerable roller is housed in a bearing support connected at its outer end to the framework delimiting the load carrying area, the overall constructional length of the trolley and therefore its weight and manufacturing cost are reduced, while retaining the useful size of the load carrying area. However, the nested trolleys can be moved obliquely to their longitudinal axis even when inserted one inside another because the steerable wheel or roller of each inserted trolley is provided with at least one free space in the load carrying area of the trolley in front to allow pivoting.The limits of the free space for pivot movement of the steerable wheel or roller of the trolley to be inserted in the load carrying area of the trolley in front may differ from a circular shape, being more particularly in a straight line, and this can ensure that nested trolleys can be easily moved apart since the limitations on the free space for pivot movement of the steerable wheel or roller of the inserted trolley provides some steering control and therefore the steerable wheel or roller of the inserted trolley cannot get caught on the delimitation of the free pivot space of the trolley in front.

Two successive free spaces may be provided for pivot movement of the steerable wheel or roller of the trolley to be inserted, which are not of uniform shape in plan view, and arranged in the load carrying area longitudinally of the framework.

These free spaces may advantageously be provided by the grid rods forming the load carrying area and comprising round stock with a basic outline shaped like a W, open toward the periphery of the framework, thus they may form straight line steering guides for the steerable wheel or roller of the trolley to be inserted in a direction at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the framework. The W-shaped grid rods of the loading surface, as seen in plan view, may be advantageously formed by two intersecting round stock members in each case, which are angled and have dissimilar limbs. They may be reinforced by means of horizontal struts extending to the framework.

The free space for pivot movement is delimited by an opening at the back longitudinally of the framework and in the rear transverse plane of the trolley indicated by the upright struts supporting the handle which opening only allows the passage of the bearing support and the steerable roller of the trolley to be inserted into it. The W-shaped bearing rods of the loading surface may be supported in this region by means of upright vertical props on a crossbeam connecting the struts. As a result the steerable wheel or roller may be automatically aligned into a position approximately parallel to the longitudinal direction of the framework when the trolleys are nested one inside another.

The framework delimiting the load carrying area may be formed from strips of flat material placed on edge and the bearing support carrying the steerable wheel or roller may be connected at its outer end, via a luggage support bracket above and overhanging it, to the framework and the fixed rollers may also be connected to the framework on the outside. They may be at least partially enclosed laterally by bumper brackets and above by safety plates. In order to prevent the surroundings and/or the trolley itself from being damaged by contact with wall projections, equipment in buildings or swing doors, the side surfaces of the bearing support of the steerable wheel or roller, the framework and the bumper brackets are provided, with impact strips comprising rubber or some other material having the same physical properties.

A bracket for upwardly extending the struts may be connected to the upright struts bearing the handle and this projection of the struts can support a plate or some other similar noticeable device which by virtue of its height makes it easier to find discarded trolleys in car parks etc.

In order to enable the trolley user to go up a few steps, such as are present in some cases in older car parks at least one handle bracket may be placed on the top face of the bearing support carrying the steerable wheel or roller, and the user is able to raise the steerable roller with the aid of this handle bracket.

When the trolleys are nested one inside another, the framework of the trolley in front is raised at least in the region of the rear wheels or rollers by the framework of the trolley which is to be inserted in each case so that these rollers leave the ground.

In order to achieve this, the limbs, lying in the rear transverse plane of the trolley, of the grid bars which are W-shaped in basic outline and from the load carrying area, may be angled upwardly of the plane of the loading surface towards the central longitudinal axis of the framework and may be provided with a wear resistant cladding comprising plastics material.Since, in certain embodiments of the trolley the limbs of the framework, which is U-shaped in plan view and delimits the load carrying area, may be made to converge toward the front end of the framework, starting from the rear rollers, the cladding around the limbs of the grid bars, which may comprise plastics material, may be provided with angled portions pointing in a downward direction and arranged in their end regions adjacent the rollers, these angled portions coming into abutment on outer surfaces of the framework of the trolley which is to be inserted when the trolleys are nested one inside the other, and excluding any play between the trolleys, pushed one inside the other, transverse to the longitudinal axes of the trolleys.

The braking elements cooperating with the fixed wheels or rollers may have a V-shaped crosssectional shape corresponding to the profile of the tyres of the wheels or rollers. Their profiled limbs which may form brake blocks and abut against the flank surfaces of the tyres of the rollers may be resilient and elastical in a transverse direction when in their operative position and may be arranged with respect to the horizontal so as to be slightly steeper than the flank surfaces of the tyres of the wheels or rollers.

The braking elements are preferably fo;-med by moulded elements comprising a plastics material and may achieve a servo brake action because of the elasticity of their brake shoes and because of a slightly steeper angle of the brake blocks with respect to the horizontal.

The profiled lambs of the braking elements, which form the brake blocks, preferably have at least two inwardly projecting web ribs following on one from the other longitudinally but at a spacing and these web ribs may alternatively as a web for stripping off dirt or as a braking surface, depending on the direction of movement of the trolleys. In fact, only slight contamination of the tyres is to be expected at the flank surfaces of the tyres of the rollers but the braking action is improved if the side surfaces of the tyres of the wheels or rollers are cleaned initially before the braking surfaces are applied t9 them.

Finally, the handle of the trolley may be coupled to the braking elements via rods arranged in the struts and may have U-shaped configuration in its vertical projection. Its limbs may be bent downwardly, at least in the region of the trolley struts, in the horizontal projection and the handle as a whole may be supported on the struts so as to be pivotable by means of pivot bearings arranged on the struts on both sides in the following manner: The braking rods, connected to the braking elements, are raised and consequently the braking elements are automatically also raised when a horizontally directed force is applied to the handle, whereby it is unimportant whether there is a thrust or pull force applied to the handle.

This arrangement makes manipulation of the trolley easier: the user is not required to pay special attention to releasing the brake when pushing or pulling the trolley.

The invention will now be described in greater detail, by way of example, with reference to the drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a diagrammatic representation of a luggage trolley in accordance with the invention which is pushable and nestable with corresponding trolleys; Figure 2 is a side view of the trolley according to Figure 1 and, Figure 3 shows a partial rear view of the trolley in accordance with the Figures 1 and 2.

The pushable luggage trolley shown in the drawings and nestable with corresponding trolleys substantially comprises a framework 2 delimiting the load carrying area 1, a bearing support 3, connected to the framework 2 at its outer end, for a pivotable wheel or roller serving as a steerable wheel or roller 4, two wheels or rollers 5 connected to the framework 2 and rotating about fixed axes, struts 7 projecting upwards from over the wheels or rollers 5, and supporting a handle 6 pivotably mounted on these struts 7 and coupled via thrust/tension rods to braking elements acting on the rollers 5, and grid rods 8 comprising round stock for providing a storage surface for luggage.

As can be seen from the drawings, the framework 2 delimiting the load carrying surface 1 is formed from flat stock blanks and is connected to the bearing support 3 associated with the steerable wheel or roller 4 by means of an upright bracket 9 serving to provide front support for luggage located on the load carrying area 1. The bearing support 3 is supported by cantilevers 10 connected to the bracket and comprises a turntable 12 for a yoke 13, the turntable being fixed to the cantilevers by means of a screw bolt 11, and the steerable roller 4 is suspended in the yoke 13. The rotatability of the yoke 13 in the turntable 12 is restricted to less than 1 80C in each sense by means known per se but not shown in the drawings.

In the embodiment shown, the limbs 14 of the yoke 13 are rearwardly inclined as compared to the axle 1 5 of the pivotable wheel or roller 4. The rear wheels or rollers 5 rotatably mounted about fixed axes are connected to the outside of the framework 2 delimiting load carrying area 1 and bumper brackets 1 6 surround them. Moreover, the wheels or rollers 5 are covered at least partially in their upper region by safety plates 1 7 so that the luggage on the loading surface 1 cannot come into contact with the wheels or rollers 5.

The grid rods 8 forming the supporting members of the load carrying area 1 comprise round stock and, in plan view, have a substantially W-shaped outline which is open towards the longitudinal limbs of the trolley framework 2. In the embodiment shown, the grid rods 8 of the load carrying area 1 are formed in each case from two angled portions 1 8 and 1 9 of round stock, these having different limbs, in which the two round stock portions 1 8 and 1 9 intersect such that a W-shaped basic outline shape is formed open towards the longitudinal limbs of the trolley framework 2.The grid rods of the load carrying area arranged on the two longitudinal limbs of the trolley framework 2 and in each case having a W-shaped basic outline include or include with the framework 2, two pivot cavities for the steering roller 4 of the respective trolley to be nested arranged one after another longitudinally of the framework, and each of the two pivot cavities has a non-uniform rhomboid outline in plan view. The grid rods 8 of the load carrying area are horizontally supported additionally by means of struts 20 on the framework 2 of the trolley. As is apparent in particular from the view of Figure 1 two pivot cavities 4 and 25 for the steerable wheel or roller 4 of the trollery to be nested, said pivot cavities being non-uniformly rhomboid in plan view, are arranged in succession longitudinally of the framework in the load carrying area 1.The rear pivot cavity 25 as seen longitudinally of the framework 2 therefore delimits an opening in the transverse plane of the trolley bonded by the struts 7, this opening only permitting the passage of the bearing support 3 of a trolley to be nested this bearing support 3 carrying the steerable wheel or roller 4. The limbs of the W-shaped grid rods 8, which are arranged in the rear transverse plane of the trolley, are supported in this region by means of upright members 21 on a crossbeam 22 connecting the struts 7. As can be seen from the view of figure 3, the limbs 26 of the grid rods 8 arranged in the rear transverse plane of the trolley, are upwardly angled as compared to the plane of the load carrying area towards the central longitudinal axis of the trolley and are provided with a wear resistant cladding 27 comprising a plastics material.In their end regions adjacent the wheels or rollers 5, the cladding 27 has angled portions 28 which are downwardly directed.

Also in this region are provided brackets 40 bolted on to the rear wheel or roller supports at each side of the framework 2. These brackets 40 enable engagement of the framework 2 of a further trolley when in nesting configuration and provide for stabilization.

In the embodiment shown, on the top of the bearing support 3 which carries the steerable wheel or roller 4, there are two handles 29 and these handles 29 are bent upwards in a curve from the outer face of the bearing support 3 and are connected to the bracket 9.

An impact strip 30 comprising rubber or a material having the same physical properties is located on the outer ends and side faces of the bearing support 3, the trolley framework 2 and the deflector brackets 1 6 so as to encircle them.

A "U" shaped extension element 23 is detachably connected to the upright struts 7 supporting the handle 6 and extends the struts 7 considerably in an upward direction, this extension element can support a plate sign or a similar device. The element 23 can be connected to the struts 7 by clamping means which are known per se but are not shown in detail in the drawings.

The handle 6 supported and pivotable on the upright struts 7 has a U-shaped configuration in its vertical projection. Its limbs 31 are downwardly bent in its horizontal projection and are supported on the struts 7 by means of pivot bearings 32 arranged on both sides of the struts 7 such that a force engaging the middle part of the handle 6 in a horizontal direction, regardless of whether this is a thrust or tension force, causes an upwardly directed pivot movement of the handle 6 and therefore raises thrust or pull rods 33 coupled to its limbs 31.The braking elements 34 cooperating with the wheels or rollers 5 comprise a moulded plastics member having a V-shaped cross-section approximately corresponding to the profile of the tyres 35 of the wheels or rollers, while their brake blocks 37 abutting the flank surfaces 36 of the tyres 35 of the wheels or rollers in the operative position are resiliently sprung in a transverse direction and are slightly steeper with respect to the horizontal than the flanks surfaces of the wheel or roller tyres 35. The profiled limbs of the braking elements 34 which form the brake blocks 37 are also provided with web ribs 38 which are arranged successively with a spacing in a longitudinal direction and project inwardly.

As can be seen in particular from the view of Figure 2, in the trolley shown, the load carrying area 1 or the framework 2 delimiting this load carrying area surface is arranged in a low-lying plane which intersects the axes of the wheels or rollers 4 and 5, so that above all when the trolley is laden, there is a low-lying overall centre of gravity and therefore a uniform load distribution over all of the wheels or rollers 4 and 5. The upright bracket 9 which serves as a front support for the luggage comprises flat stock and forms the connection between the cantilever bracket supporting the bearing support 3 and the trolley framework 2.

From the same view it is also clear that the arrangement of the bearing support 3 permits almost any desired choice of diameter of the steerable wheels or roller 4 without the space requirement for nested trolleys of this type of construction being increased by an increase in the diameter of the steerable wheel or roller and without the drivability of nested trolleys being impaired.

Claims

1. A nestable luggage trolley which is pushable and nestable in corresponding trolleys comprising a framework which is U-shaped in basic outline, is supported on the ground by means of a steerable wheel or roller, and two fixedly mounted wheels or rollers and substantially delimits a load carrying area and a handle pivotally mounted on struts projecting upwardly from the framework above the fixedly mounted wheels or rollers and coupled to braking elements acting on the fixed wheels or rollers, wherein grid rods forming the load carrying area are rigidly connected to the framework delimiting the load carrying area and are arranged together with the framework in a plane running at least approximately at the height of the wheel roller axes, a pivot cavity is provided for the steerable wheel or roller of a trolley to be inserted and is arranged centrally of the length of the load carrying area, and a steerable wheel or roller is suspended in a bearing support connected to the framework and projecting outwardly over the wheel or roller.

2. A trolley according to claim 1, wherein the pivot cavity has a basic outline shape differing from circular.

3. A trolley according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the bearing support for the steerable wheel or roller comprises a yoke extending over the wheel or roller and a turntable so arranged as to enable the steerable wheel or roller to be pivotable in either rotational sense by less than 1 800.

4. A trolley according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein two pivot cavities are provided for the steerable wheel or roller of the trolley to be inserted, are non-uniformly rhomboid in plan view, and are arranged in the load carrying area in succession longitudinally of the framework.

5. A trolley according to claim 4, wherein, that the grid rods forming the load carrying area and comprising round stock have an open W-shaped basic outline, as seen in plan view, towards the periphery of the framework and from linear steering control for the steerable wheel or roller of the trolley to be inserted, this steering control being directed at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the framework.

6. A trolley according to claim 5, wherein the grid rods of the load carrying area which rods are W-shaped in plan view, are formed in each case by two intersecting round stock members, which are angled and have different limbs, and are reinforced by means of struts.

7. A trolley according to any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the pivot cavity in the rear transverse plane of the trolley and at the rear longitudinally of the framework delimits an opening which allows only the passage of the steerable wheel or roller of the trolley to be inserted and that the W-shaped grid rods are supported in this region by means of upright members on a crossbeam connecting the struts.

8. A trolley according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the framework delimiting the load carrying area is formed from flat stock strips lying on edge and the bearing support carrying the steerable wheel or roller is connected to the framework by a bracket and a luggage support bracket projecting therebeyond, and wherein the fixed wheels or rollers are connected to the outside of framework laterally engaged by bumper brackets and are engaged at the top by safety plates at least partially.

9. A trolley according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein an impact strip comprising rubber or a material having the same physical properties is located on the side surfaces of the bearing support, of the framework and of the bumper brackets.

10. A trolley according to any one of claims 1 to 9 wherein a bracket extending the struts in an upward direction is detachably connected to the struts carrying the handles.

11. A trolley according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the bearing support carrying the steerable wheel or roller carries a handle on its upper side.

12. A trolley according to claims 1 to 9 wherein the limbs of the grid rods which form the load carrying area surface and lying in the rear transverse plane of the trolley, are upwardly angled as compared to the plane of the load carrying area towards the central longitudinal axis of the framework and are provided with a wear resistant cladding comprising a plastics material.

13. A trolley according to claim 12, wherein the plastics cladding of the limbs of the grid rods have angled portions which point downwardly in their end regions adjacent the fixed wheels or rollers.

14. A trolley according to any one of claims 1 to 1 3 wherein the braking elements cooperating with the fixed wheels or rollers have a V-shaped cross-sectional shape corresponding to the profile of the tyres of the wheels or rollers and have profiled limbs forming brake blocks and abutting the flank surfaces of the tyres of the wheels or rollers which limbs are resiliently sprung in a transverse direction in their operative position and are slightly steeper as compared to the horizontal than the flank surfaces of the tyres of the wheels or rollers.

1 5. A trolley according to claim 14, wherein the profiled limbs of the brake elements, forming the brake blocks have at leas two inwardly projecting web ribs following one after the other longitudinally at a spacing.

1 6. A trolley according to claims 1 to 13 wherein the handle has a U-shaped configuration in vertical projection and the limbs of the handle are downwardly cranked or bent in the horizontal projection and are pivotally mounted on the struts on both sides such that thrust/pull rods connected to the braking elements are raised in the sense of releasing the braking elements by any force acting on the handle in a horizontal direction.

1 7. A nestable trolley substantially as described herein with reference to the drawings.