GB2138750A - Trolleys - Google Patents

Abstract

A furniture trolley is provided having a pair of legs 1, each mounted on a castor 2, and two fixed shelves (3, 4). The shelves (3, 4) are in the form of a frame, preferably of trapezium-shape in plan, with one side thereof missing. This allows the trolleys to be nested when not in use, thereby saving considerable space in a furniture factory. In use, a sofa is placed on one shelf and two easy chairs on the other. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Trolleys The present invention relates to trolleys for storing and transporting furniture and in particular for storing and transporting three-piece suites, i.e.

a set of two padded upholstered chairs and a settee.

When a three-piece suite has been manufactured, it is placed on a trolley for storage.

The trolley presently used has four vertical legs joined by two pairs of horizontal cross-bars, one pair being located directly above the other and the settee is placed on the lower cross-bars and the two chairs on the upper cross-bars. The legs are mounted on castors so that the trolley is readily transportable over the factory floor. The stacking of suites on these trolleys reduces the amount of floor area needed to store the suites.

The object of the present invention is to reduce still further the amount of floor-space needed to make three-piece suites. This is achieved, according to the present invention, by using a novel type of trolley.

The present invention provides a trolley for storing furniture, the trolley comprising a pair of legs and two shelves located one above the other and rigidly secured to the legs, wherein each shelf is a frame open along one side thereof and the arrangement is such that the trolley is nestable with a second trolley of identical design with each shelf of the trolley nesting inside the corresponding shelf of the second trolley.

The trolley of the present invention reduces the amount of floor space needed to make threepiece suites because empty trolleys i.e. trolleys not supporting suites, can be nested together and so take up far less space.

Nesting furniture trolleys have previously been proposed, but they could only be nested once the top shelf had been collapsed and this was highly inconvenient. This is not necessary, and indeed not possible with the trolley of the present invention.

Preferably a castor is fixed to the bottom of each leg of the trolley of the present invention and also at least one or more castor(s) is fixed on the underside of the lower shelf to provide the trolley with a stable support. Wheels could be used instead of the castors supporting the legs.

In a preferred embodiment, each shelf is a shaped length of tube or rod or each shelf may be formed by welding together sections of tube or rod. Preferably, each shelf has a general shape of a trapezium without its base, the open side of the trapezium being adjacent to the legs of the trolley.

The shelf may extend forwardly of the legs which allows a second trolley to be brought up from behind and nested with this first trolley, each shelf of the second trolley nesting in the corresponding shelf of the first trolley.

A trolley in accordance with the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a front elevation of the trolley; Figure 2 is a side elevation of the trolley; Figure 3 is a plan view of the trolley; Figure 4 is a side elevation of two nested trolleys; Figure 5 is a plan view of two nested trolleys.

The trolley consists of two legs 1, each of which is mounted on a castor 2. Welded to the legs is an upper shelf 3 and a lower shelf 4 each of which is formed by a length of tube or rod bent into a tapered, e.g. trapezium, shape with one side 3a, 4a open. In order to provide a stable support for the trolley, castors 5 are fixed to the underside of the lower shelf 4 by means of castor plates 6.

In order to increase the ability of each shelf to support the furniture, a support member 7 is fixed, e.g. by welding, to the upper surface of each shelf 3 and 4, although the support members 7 may be fixed to the underneath of the shelves.

In use, three-piece suites may be stored on the trolley with the chairs on the top shelf 3 and the sofa on the lower shelf. The castors allow the stacked trolley to be easily transported across the factory floor.

When not in use for storing furniture, the trolleys can be nested as shown in Figures 4 and 5, thereby saving a considerable amount of floor space.

1. A trolley for storing furniture, the trolley comprising a pair of legs and two shelves rigidly secured to the legs, wherein each shelf is a frame open along one side thereof and wherein the arrangement is such that the trolley is nestable with a second trolley of identical design with each shelf of the trolley nesting inside the corresponding shelf of the second trolley.

2. A trolley as claimed in claim 1, wherein a support member is fixed to one or both of the shelves.

3. A trolley as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the shelves each have the general shape of a trapezium without its base.

4. A trolley as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the bottom of the trolley is provided with castors.

5. A trolley substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in, any one of Figures 1 to 5 of the accompanying drawings.

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

Claims (5)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Trolleys The present invention relates to trolleys for storing and transporting furniture and in particular for storing and transporting three-piece suites, i.e. a set of two padded upholstered chairs and a settee. When a three-piece suite has been manufactured, it is placed on a trolley for storage. The trolley presently used has four vertical legs joined by two pairs of horizontal cross-bars, one pair being located directly above the other and the settee is placed on the lower cross-bars and the two chairs on the upper cross-bars. The legs are mounted on castors so that the trolley is readily transportable over the factory floor. The stacking of suites on these trolleys reduces the amount of floor area needed to store the suites. The object of the present invention is to reduce still further the amount of floor-space needed to make three-piece suites. This is achieved, according to the present invention, by using a novel type of trolley. The present invention provides a trolley for storing furniture, the trolley comprising a pair of legs and two shelves located one above the other and rigidly secured to the legs, wherein each shelf is a frame open along one side thereof and the arrangement is such that the trolley is nestable with a second trolley of identical design with each shelf of the trolley nesting inside the corresponding shelf of the second trolley. The trolley of the present invention reduces the amount of floor space needed to make threepiece suites because empty trolleys i.e. trolleys not supporting suites, can be nested together and so take up far less space. Nesting furniture trolleys have previously been proposed, but they could only be nested once the top shelf had been collapsed and this was highly inconvenient. This is not necessary, and indeed not possible with the trolley of the present invention. Preferably a castor is fixed to the bottom of each leg of the trolley of the present invention and also at least one or more castor(s) is fixed on the underside of the lower shelf to provide the trolley with a stable support. Wheels could be used instead of the castors supporting the legs. In a preferred embodiment, each shelf is a shaped length of tube or rod or each shelf may be formed by welding together sections of tube or rod. Preferably, each shelf has a general shape of a trapezium without its base, the open side of the trapezium being adjacent to the legs of the trolley. The shelf may extend forwardly of the legs which allows a second trolley to be brought up from behind and nested with this first trolley, each shelf of the second trolley nesting in the corresponding shelf of the first trolley. A trolley in accordance with the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a front elevation of the trolley; Figure 2 is a side elevation of the trolley; Figure 3 is a plan view of the trolley; Figure 4 is a side elevation of two nested trolleys; Figure 5 is a plan view of two nested trolleys. The trolley consists of two legs 1, each of which is mounted on a castor 2. Welded to the legs is an upper shelf 3 and a lower shelf 4 each of which is formed by a length of tube or rod bent into a tapered, e.g. trapezium, shape with one side 3a, 4a open. In order to provide a stable support for the trolley, castors 5 are fixed to the underside of the lower shelf 4 by means of castor plates 6. In order to increase the ability of each shelf to support the furniture, a support member 7 is fixed, e.g. by welding, to the upper surface of each shelf 3 and 4, although the support members 7 may be fixed to the underneath of the shelves. In use, three-piece suites may be stored on the trolley with the chairs on the top shelf 3 and the sofa on the lower shelf. The castors allow the stacked trolley to be easily transported across the factory floor. When not in use for storing furniture, the trolleys can be nested as shown in Figures 4 and 5, thereby saving a considerable amount of floor space. CLAIMS

1. A trolley for storing furniture, the trolley comprising a pair of legs and two shelves rigidly secured to the legs, wherein each shelf is a frame open along one side thereof and wherein the arrangement is such that the trolley is nestable with a second trolley of identical design with each shelf of the trolley nesting inside the corresponding shelf of the second trolley.

2. A trolley as claimed in claim 1, wherein a support member is fixed to one or both of the shelves.

3. A trolley as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the shelves each have the general shape of a trapezium without its base.

4. A trolley as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the bottom of the trolley is provided with castors.

5. A trolley substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in, any one of Figures 1 to 5 of the accompanying drawings.