GB2125347A

GB2125347A - Load-bearing frame structure for super-market push carts and the like

Info

Publication number: GB2125347A
Application number: GB08313199A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Romano Peli
Original assignee: TAWI SpA
Current assignee: TAWI SpA
Priority date: 1982-08-05
Filing date: 1983-05-13
Publication date: 1984-03-07
Also published as: IT8222663V0; BE896699A; NL8301726A; DE8314772U1; LU84799A1; FR2531394A3; GB2125347B; GB8313199D0; FR2531394B3

Abstract

The structure comprises a central support bar (1) sloping downwards from its rear end to front end, and attached to the rear end of the central bar (1) are a crosspiece (4) providing support for the cart basket (6) and side members (7) to which are connected the rear wheels (9). At the front end of the central bar (1), there is attached a cross arm (20) which carried the front casters (21); the sloping surface provided by bar 1 is intended to prevent shopping being placed there and possibly overlooked by the cashier. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Load-bearing frame structure for super-market push carts and the like This invention relates to a load-bearing frame structure for carts and the like.

as is known, push-carts in use at super-markets generally comprise a base frame which is mounted on caster wheels and has side members to which a cart basket can be fastened.

According to prior embodiments, the base frame extends prevailingly along a horizontal plane, thus forming an area available to accommodate small boxes or articles in general which may then elude attention as the cart is pushed past the check-out station.

Another disadvantage of conventional approaches is that the construction of the base frame is in general quite an intricate one, which makes the frame manufacturing operations laborious and time-consuming, with obvious adverse reflections on production costs.

This invention sets out to provide a novel type of load-bearing frame structure for carts, which eliminates the traditional base element to define at its bottom no horizontally extending support surface.

Within that general aim, it is possible to arrange that the load-bearing frame structure for carts and the like, according to the invention, while being simple construction-wise, can be mechanically very strong.

It is further possible to arrange that the inventive load-bearing frame structure, by virtue of its peculiar construction, can give full assurance of being highly reliable and safe to use.

It is also possible to arrange that this loadbearing frame structure can be readily made from elements currently available on the market and is highly competitive from a purely economical standpoint.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a load-bearing frame structure for carts and the like, characterized in that it comprises a central support bar sloping downwards from its rear end toward its front end, associated with the rear end of said central bar there being a crosspiece for fastening the cart basket thereto and side members providing support for the rear wheels, and associated with the front end there being a cross arm providing support for the front caster wheels.

Further features and advantages will be apparent from the following detailed description of a load-bearing frame structure for super-market push carts and the like, as illustrated by way of example only in the accompanying drawing, where: Figure 1 is a perspective view showing diagrammatically the load-bearing frame of this invention; and Figure 2 shows a cart incorporating the loadbearing frame according to the invention, as viewed in side elevation.

Making reference to the cited drawing figures, this load-bearing frame structure for carts and the like, which is generally designated with the reference numeral 1, comprises a central support bar 2 having preferably an elongate crosssectional configuration and being set edgewise, which slopes downwards from its rear end toward its front end.

The support bar 2 is formed, at its rear end, which is located at higher level, with a flattened portion 3 to which is attached a cross-piece 4 having side pieces 5 intended for supporting a basket 6 which may have any desired configuration.

The side pieces 5 are connected to the top ends of side members 7 which are arranged polygonally and terminated at the bottom with a connecting link 8 carrying the rear wheels 9.

To further stiffen the structure, a cross-piece 10 is provided which interconnects the two side members 7 and rests below the sloping central support bar 2.

Moreover, a reinforcing brace member 11 is provided which extends from the lower rear end of the side members 7 and is slightly bent at the cross-piece 10 to form a part of a triangle having its vertex above the support bar 2, thereby a coupling to the support bar is provided which is extremely stable and strong.

Provided at the front end of the bar 2 is a cross arm 20 preferably comprising a closed-loop configuration wire and arranged to support the front casters 21.

Above the area spanned by the caster wheels 21 there is located a protective element 22 of trapezoid configuration, which is rigidly connected to the central bar 2, as well as to the cited cross arm 20.

Thus, with the structure just described, the base frame no longer requires the traditional base member, and is in practice composed solely of the central support bar, to the ends of which are connected the side members carrying the rear wheels and basket at the one end, and at the other end the front caster wheels, to thus afford a compact and strong structure which effectively prevents all possibilities of placing articles of any kind beneath the basket.

Further, the configuration selected for the frame enables, as is customary with this type of carts, a number of carts to be nested together, and specifically at least partial nesting of the baskets, to reduce the area occupied by the carts when not in actual use.

It will be appreciated from the foregoing that the invention achieves its objects, and in particular that a load-bearing frame structure for carts has been provided to a novel design based essentially on a central support bar which radically simplifies all its manufacturing operations.

In practicing the invention, the materials used, if compatable with the specific intended application, as well as the dimensions and contingent shapes, may vary to suit individual conditions.

Claims

1. A load-bearing frame structure for carts and the like, characterized in that it comprises a central support bar sloping downwards from its rear end toward its front end, associated with the rear end of said central bar there being a crosspiece for fastening the cart basket thereto and side members providing support for the rear wheel, and associated with the front end there being a cross arm providing support for the front caster wheels.

2. A load-bearing frame structure for carts and the like, according to Claim 1, characterized in that said central support bar has an elongate crosssectional configuration and is arranged edgewise.

3. A load-bearing frame structure for carts and the like, according to one or both of the preceding claims, characterized in that said crosspiece is connected to sideways extending pieces relatively to said central bar to thus define a supporting base for said basket, associated with said side pieces there being said side members carrying the rear wheels, said side members being arranged along the sides of a polygon.

4. A load-bearing frame structure for carts and the like, according to the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a reinforcing crosspiece interconnecting said side members and engaging below said central bar.

5. A load-bearing frame structure for carts and the like, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a reinforcing brace member extending from the lower rear end of said side members and engaging with said reinforcing crosspiece whereat it is bent forwardly to define a substantially triangular portion having its vertex located above said central support bar.

6. A load-bearing frame structure for carts and the like, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises, located at said front caster wheels, a protective element of trapezoid configuration connected to said cross arm and said central support bar.

7. A load-bearing frame structure for supermarket push carts and the like, according to the preceding claims and substantially as herein described and illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawing.