GB2113622A - Folding wheeled carrier for parcels - Google Patents

Abstract

The carrier has a framework comprised of a rectangular main frame to the lower half of which is hinged a shorter rear frame. Both frames are mounted on axles and wheels. A collapsible container comprised of a rigid rectangular base tray supporting inward-folding extension walls, sits within the framework. The container base is secured to the rear frame by releasable means, and to the main (front) frame by pivotal means, permitting the collapsed container to be folded upward from the rear into line with the main frame. A structure attached to the front of the vehicle acts as a base stand when the vehicle is standing upright in its fully folded position. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Folding wheeled carrier for parcels Technical Field This invention relates to wheeled carriers for parcels.

Background Art Wheeled carriers and hand carts are likely to have been in existence for as long as the wheel itself, and carriers of many different designs have been produced to handle the transportation of parcels of all types. Most existing carriers are non-foldable and cannot be reduced in bulk to any marked degree, but some are stackable and some of nestable design.

Object The object of this invention is to provide a four wheeled carrier for parcels suitable for carrying shopping, which can offer a carrying capacity comparable to that of a supermarket trolley; a collapsing and folding capability allowing it to be easily reduced to a compact unit for storage, and a base stand enabling the folded vehicle to be parked independently.

Disclosure This invention differs from previous disclosures in it's construction and folding arrangements. Two frames mounted on axles and wheels are hinged together so that they can stand astride. The rigid base of a collapsible container which sits within the framework, is secured to the rear frame by releasable means and to the front frame by pivotable means.

This arrangement ensures a stable vehicle when erected, and yet permits the collapsed container to be folded into line with the front frame, allowing the rear frame to be closed to, so that the vehicle is reduced to a compact unit for storage. An integral base stand allows the folded vehicle to be parked in an upright position.

The invention is comprised of four primary units. A rectangular main frame. A shorter rear frame of similar width. A rectangular collapsible container, and a structure forming a base stand.

The main frame consists of two parallel side-members bridged at one end by a rigid tube which forms the propelling handle. The other end of the frame is formed by an axle which carries two wheels. The rear frame consists of two parallel side-members whose top ends are hinged to the main frame below the half-way point. The bottom ends are attached to an axle which carries two wheels.

Both frames are provided with a fixed crossrod or cross-member located between the side-members above the axle and parallel thereto. These act as supports and securing points for the container.

The container consists of a rigid rectangular base tray which carries hinges on the top edges of it's low side walls. These hinges support the container's four main walls and are arranged in such a manner as to permit the main walls to be folded inwardly, flat, one upon the other without snagging. The main walls are made of a rigid sheet or mesh material. The side edges of the front and rear walls are flanged to facilitate the attachment of fasteners to secure the walls together when erected.

The container sits within the framework with about one third of the base tray protruding forward over the main frame support-rod and about the same or a lesser amount lying rearward over the rear frame support-member.

The base tray is secured to the front supportrod in a manner which permits it to pivot upward from the rear when required. The rear of the base tray is secured to the rear supportmember by releasable fasteners.

The front of the container base tray carries a structure designed to perform two functions.

It acts as a fender when the vehicle is in use and as a base stand when the vehicle is fully folded.

When the vehicle is to be folded for parking or storage, the container walls are first folded down flat onto the base tray. The fastener device securing the base tray to the rear frame is released. The base tray rear end is then raised, and the collapsed container pivots on the main frame support-rod causing the front end to descend, taking with it the base stand structure attached thereto. When the leading edges of this structure touch ground, the continuing forward and upward motion of the folding action, levers the wheels from the ground as the vehicle weight is transferred fully to the base stand structure. The movement is continued over the point of balance until the stand is set squarely on the ground with the folded container and both frames arranged in line in a near vertical position.

Drawings The accompanying drawings are provided to illustrate the general design of the invention and to assist with the understanding of the description.

Figure 1 is a front view of the main frame.

Figure 2 is a side view of the folded carrier.

Figure 3 is a side view of the carrier.

Detailed description One embodiment of the invention is now described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The main frame (Fig. 1-1 8 Fig. 3-1) is rectangular, and comprised of two parallel side-members bridged at one end by a length of rigid tube forming the propelling handle.

The other end consists of a suitably attached axle (Fig. (1-2) which carries a wheel (Fig. 1 3) at each extremity. A fixed cross-rod (Fig. 14) is located between the side-members above the axle and parallel thereto.

The rear frame (Fig. 3-2) is of similar width to that of the main frame but is less than half the length. It consists of two parallel sidemembers whose top ends are pivoted to the lower half of the respective main frame sidemembers. In a preferred embodiment, the length of the rear frame is about two-fifths that of the main frame, and pivoted at a point a similar distance above the main frame axle.

The lower ends of the side-members are suitably attached to an axle which carries a wheel at each extremity. This axle is slightly longer than the main frame axle, to permit the wheels to partially overlap when the framework is folded. A fixed cross-rod is located between the side-members above the axle and parallel thereto. In an alternative embodiment a fixed cross-member, fabricated to accommodate releasable fixing components, is located between the side-members above the axle and parallel thereto.

The distance that the rear frame can be extended may be limited by a shoulder or stop provided at the top ends of it's side-members.

In an alternative embodiment, a triangular plate is located a short distance below each pivot point. This plate is fashioned to the required configuration and fixed by it's rear edge to the rear frame side-member so that it lies across the outside faces of the main frame and rear frame side-members. The forward edge of the plate is formed with an inwardfacing flange which abuts against the main frame side-member to act as a stop, when the frame has been extended to the required distance.

The container consists of seven primary parts. A base tray; two primary side walls; two supplementary side walls; a front wall and a rear wall.

The base tray (Fig. 3-3) is rectangular in shape, of sturdy construction with low side walls, and of a suitable width to fit within the framework. The tray floor at the front end is curved upwards sufficiently to prevent any fouling of the axle when the vehicle is folded.

The two primary side walls (Fig. 3-4) measure in height a little less than the base tray is in width, to allow them to lie within it's limits, when folded flat. The two supplementary side walls are shaped as shown in Fig. 3-5. Both the front and rear walls are rectangular in shape but the front wall is also shaped in profile as shown in Fig. 3-6. All walls are made of a suitable rigid sheet or mesh material. The front and rear walls are furnished with a broad flange along each side edge (Fig.

3-7) to provide fixing points for suitable catches, enabling the walls to be secured one to the other when the container is erected.

The lower edges of the container's two primary side walls and those of the front and rear walls, are hinged to the corresponding upper edges of the base tray walls (Fig. 3-8).

The primary side walls swing about an axis of equal height, but the front and rear walls swing about an axis at a slightly higher level, so that all walls can be folded flat inwardly, one upon the other, in a specified sequence without snagging. The width of the rear walls is slightly greater than the width of the base tray, so that when folded down, it's edge flanges fall outside the base tray side walls.

The front wall is of similar width to that of the rear wail but it's edge flanges where necessary, are shaped to permit them to overlap those of the rear wall when the container is collapsed. The lower edges of the two supplementary side walls are hinged (Fig. 3-9) to the upper edges of the respective primary side walls in a manner which permits the supplementary walls to be folded flat against the inside face of the primary walls. Suitable catches hold them in this position when necessary, to simplify the collapsing of the container.

In an alternative embodiment a rigid platform is provided as the base of the container.

In a further alternative embodiment the hinges securing the container main walls to the base tray are made disconnectable by providing extractable pins or by other means, enabling the vehicle to be used with or without an alternative container. In another embodiment the container's side walls are made of a canvas or other flexible material, appropriately attached to the front and rear walls and arranged in a manner which enables the side walls to be raised into position or collapsed with the corresponding movement of the front and rear walls. Appropriate folding stays are provided to stabilise the front and rear walls in the erected position.

The container sits within the erected framework, bearing on the two cross-supports. It is located so that about one third of the base tray protrudes forward over the front support, with about the same or a lesser amount projecting rearward over the rear support. The container is secured to the main (front) frame by it's base and in a manner which permits it to be pivoted upward from the rear. In this embodiment U-bolts are used. In an alternative embodiment the same objective is achieved by the use of a suitably channelled transverse cross-member fitted over the support-rod and fixed to the base tray underside.

The container is secured by it's base to the support-member of the rear frame, by releasable means. In this embodiment the releasable means include two upright staple-like projections attached to the rear frame support-member near each side. Slots are provided in the base tray floor to coincide with these. The staples are designed to protude through the slots sufficiently to expose the apertures. A simple crank is located between the slots, on the inside of the base tray, operated by a rearward pointing lever which protrudes through a slot in the base tray wall. The arms of the crank are connected to two rods which lie across the tray floor in opposite directions and are lined-up on the staples.Lateral move ment of the lever causes the crank to move the rods outwards until the rod-ends penetrate the staples, thus preventing them from being withdrawn through the slots and effectively securing the container releasably, to the rear frame. In an alternative embodiment the base tray is secured to the rear frame by reieasable fasteners or clamps located at each side and operated individually.

In a further alternative embodiment the container is attached to a frame or platform and this frame or platform is then secured to the rear frame by releasable means, and to the front frame by pivotal means permitting the assembly to be pivoted upward from the rear.

The front of the vehicle is provided with a structure (Fig. 3-10) which acts as a fender when the vehicle is in use and as a base stand when it is fully folded. The structure includes a horizontal bar of appropriate section extending across the full width of the container and is attached by brackets to the container base tray at base tray height. The bar carries two shorter bars. These are located near each end.

The shorter bars are bisected by the main bar and set upright and at right angles to it. They consist of straight strips with each end fashioned to provide a forward-protruding convex shape that are able to act as feet when the structure is fulfilling it's role as a base stand.

In an alternative embodiment the vehicle is provided with one or more rods attached to the lower part of the main frame and shaped in a manner which enables it, or them, to act as legs, or as a base stand when the vehicle is fully folded and standing upright.

The object of this invention is explained in the opening paragraphs of this specification, i.e. to provide a pedestrian propelled vehicle with a folding capability and a large capacity container for carrying light goods and parcels.

It is a product primarily intended for private individuals to buy and own, so that they can conveniently transport their shopping from the retailer to their homes.

The wheeled carrier described however, offers advantages which make it attractive to transporting light goods in many other situations both indoors and out. In it's described form, or with an alternative shaped container, or with only the base tray in use as a container, it can be used in commercial or industrial premises such as warehouses, stores, shops, markets, factories, airports and garden centres; or in the garden, in hospitals, hotels and libraries. It's comparatively large carrying capacity for a pedestrian propelled carrier, together with it's need for only a small space for storage when folded, should make it an attractive and saleable product with a wide appeal.

Claims (11)

1. A folding wheeled carrier for parcels comprising; two wheeled frame members hinged together to provide an astridable framework; a collapsible container; means for rigidly spanning and holding the frame members in the astride configuration, such means being pivotable on the forward frame member and secured by releasable means to the rear frame member, enabling the spanning and holding means including the collapsed contrainer, to be pivoted upward from the rear into approximate line with the forward frame member.

2. A folding wheeled carrier as claimed in claim 1 wherein the framework includes a rectangular main frame member lying back at an angle from the vertical and comprised of two parallel side-members bridged at the top end by a cross-piece forming the handle, and spanned at the bottom end by an axle which carries a wheel at each extremity; a rear frame member comprised of two parallel side-members whose top ends are hinged to the lower half of the respective main frame side-members and whose bottom ends are spanned by an axle which carries a wheel at each extremity; and each frame member including a cross-member forming a container support, fixed between the side-members above the axle and parallel thereto.

3. A folding wheeled carrier as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the means for spanning and holding the frame members in the astride configuration, is comprised of the rigid base of a collapsible container.

4. A folding wheeled carrier as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the means for spanning and holding the frame members in the astride configuration, is comprised of a rigid frame adapted to support a collapsible container.

5. A folding wheeled carrier as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the means for spanning and holding the frame members in the astride configuration, is comprised of a rigid platform adapted to support a collapsible container.

6. A folding wheeled carrier as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the collapsible container is comprised of a rigid base tray with low side walls, supporting through hinges, four rigid inward-folding primary walls, the front and rear walls being flanged along their side edges; and two supplementary side walls hingedly attached to the top of the primary side walls.

7. A folding wheeled carrier as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the collapsible container is comprised of a rigid base tray with low side walls, supporting through hinges, a rigid inward-folding front and rear wall; two side walls made of a flexible material, and folding supports for retaining the front and rear walls.

8. A folding wheeled carrier as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the means for supporting the vehicle in a fully folded upright position is provided by a structure located at the front of the container base, and comprised of a horizontal bar supporting a shorter bar near each end. The shorter bars being shaped and positioned so that they are able to act as feet when lying flat on the ground.

9. A folding wheeled carrier as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein the means for supporting the vehicle in a fully folded upright position is provided by a rod or rods appropriately located on the main frame and shaped to act as legs.

10. A folding wheeled carrier as claimed in any preceding claim wherein means for restricting the astridable limits of the two frame members, is provided by flanged triangular-shaped plates attached to the rear frame member, below the frame hinges.

11. A folding wheeled carrier substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.