GB2252536A

GB2252536A - Collapsible trolleys

Info

Publication number: GB2252536A
Application number: GB9114747A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Joseph John Jolleys
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1991-02-09
Filing date: 1991-07-09
Publication date: 1992-08-12
Also published as: GB9114747D0; GB9105697D0

Abstract

A trolley 10 has a collapsible frame comprising pairs of legs 12A, 12B pivotally connected in scissor fashion. Cross pieces 13 and 14 provide locations for removable trays 24A and 28. The tray 24A is designed for cleaning uses but may be replaced by a tray designed for serving purposes. A slidable member 42 may be moved from a stowed to an in use position where it can support a waste bag. <IMAGE>

Description

Title: Trolleys DESCRIPTION This invention concerns trolleys.

Trolleys, such as for carrying cleaning equipment or for serving from, are known which have a fixed structure designed for a particular purpose. Such trolleys occupy a significant amount of storage space when not in use and are not versatile.

One object of this invention is to provide a trolley that may have versatility.

Another object of this invention is to provide a trolley that may be disassembled for storage.

According to this invention there is provided a trolley comprising a wheeled collapsible frame having locations for one or more removable trays.

A preferred frame comprises two pairs of legs pivotably connected scissor fashion with means for holding the legs in an in use relationship. The means for holding the legs in an in use relationship may be a pivotable latch member on one pair of legs that engages a pin or the like of the other pair of legs. Release of the latch member will then allow the pairs of legs to be pivotted to lie against each other for storage.

Each leg of a pair is preferably linked to the other by a cross piece providing one location for a tray. Thus, the two pair of legs may provide locations for opposite ends of a tray. Preferably a tray has end formations that sit on the cross pieces. Preferably those end formations are in the form of channels which fit over the cross pieces.

For additional trays, additional cross pieces between each leg of a pair of legs may be provided and location of the tray be as for the aforementioned first tray.

An uppermost tray may be designed for a particular use. For example, for a cleaning trolley the tray may have a complete upstanding surround and may also be compartmentalised. Another form of uppermost tray, particularly for serving purposes, has only three upstanding sides leaving a fourth side open so that articles, such as cups of tea, can be slid onto and off the tray easily and without the possibility of spillage caused by contact of the article with a side of the tray.

Preferably also the tray may have means for carrying a waste disposal bag. Such means may be a support frame that is preferably retractable. The support frame may be arranged to be slidably carried by a tray. The surround may be a U-shaped, preferably substantially square cornered member whose legs are slidable in tubular passages formed in or attached to the tray. Then a plastics waste bag can be provided on the frame with the edges of the bag folded over the frame. When not required the frame can be slid into the passages referred to.

The additional lower tray or trays may be of any desired formation. Typically such trays will have four upstanding sides and no compartments.

Preferably the trolleys of the invention are generally made from a relatively light material such as aluminium or plastics material. The frame is preferably made of tubular material.

Trolleys of the invention may have the following advantages: 1. Light construction; 2. . Versatility, for example, in being usable either for cleaning or for serving purposes by substitution of trays; 3. Disassemblable for storage.

This invention will now be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a trolley of the invention adapted for cleaning use; Figure 2 shows a trolley of the invention adapted for serving use; Figure 3 shows one way of folding a trolley; and Figure 4 shows another way of folding a trolley.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, a trolley 10 comprises two pairs of legs 12A and 12B. Each pair of legs is formed as a substantially square cornered Ushaped member providing an upper cross piece 13A, B. A lower cross piece 14A, B is provided just below a bend in each leg. A wheel 16 is fitted at the bottom of each leg. The pair of legs 12A, B are pivottally connected in scissor fashion by pivot pins 18. A locking bar 20 is pivottally connected by a pin 21 to each leg of one pair and is arranged to latch on locking pins 22 of each of the other pair of legs.

The upper cross pieces 13A, B provide locations for a first tray 24 which may be either of the type 24A shown in Figure 1 which is intended for cleaning materials 26 or the type 24B shown in Figure 2, which is intended for serving. The lower cross pieces 14 provide locations for a second tray 28 which is for storage purposes.

The tray 24A (Figure 1) has four sides 30, 32, 34 and 36. One pair of opposed side 30, 34 are continued and bent back on themselves to form downwardly channels to fit over the cross pieces 13A, B. The other pair of opposed sides 34, 36 have at their upper edges tubes 40 for receiving ends of U-shaped bag support frame 42.

Thus, the frame 42 can be slid in and out depending on whether a plastics waste bag 44 is to be fitted. The tray 24A has two dividers 46, 48 to form three compartments within the tray.

The tray 24B (Figure 2) has three sides 50, 52 and 54. One pair of opposed sides 50, 54 are continued and bent back on themselves to form downwardly open channels to fit over the cross pieces 13A, B. The tray has on its underside alongside its longest sides a pair of tubes 56 for ends of U-shaped bag support frame 58, which can be slid in an out either to be out of the way of for fitting of a plastics waste bay 60 thereto.

The second tray 28 is the same as the tray 24A except that it has no dividers.

For example, for cleaning purposes a tray 24A will be fitted to the trolley as shown in Figure 1 and for serving purposes a tray 24B will be fitted as shown in Figure 2. The open side of tray 24B allows items such as cups of tea to be slid off the tray rather than be lifted over a side thereof, which reduces the risk of spillage.

When the trolley is not in use, the trays may be removed and the legs folded down as shown in either Figure 3 or Figure 4 allowing the trolley to be stored in a relatively small space.

Claims

1. A trolley comprising a wheeled collapsible frame having locations for one or more removable trays.

2. A trolley as claimed in claim 1, wherein the frame comprises two pairs of legs pivotally connected scissor fashion with means for holding the legs in an in use relationship.

3. A trolley as claimed in claim 2, wherein the means for holding is a pivotable latch member on one pair of legs that engages a pin or the like of the other pair of legs.

4. A trolley as claimed in claim 2 or 3, wherein each pair of legs has at least one cross piece providing one location for a tray.

5. A trolley as claimed in claim 4, wherein a tray has end formations that sit on a pair of cross pieces.

6. A trolley as claimed in claim 5, wherein said end formations are downwardly open channels.

7. A trolley as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein an uppermost tray has a complete upstanding surround.

8. A trolley as claimed in claim 7, wherein the uppermost tray has compartments.

9. A trolley as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein an uppermost tray has an open side.

10. A trolley as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9 having means for carrying a waste disposal bag.

11. A trolley as claimed in claim 10, wherein said carrying means comprises a retractable support frame.

12. A trolley as claimed in claim 11, wherein said support frame is arranged to be slidably carried by a tray.

13. A trolley as claimed in claim 12, wherein the support frame is generally U-shaped with its legs slidable in.tubular passages of or attached to a tray.

14. A trolley as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 13 wherein a lower tray has four upstanding sides and no compartments.

15. A trolley substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures i, 3 and 4 or Figures 2, 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.