GB2290756A - Adjustable and convertible shopping trolley - Google Patents

Adjustable and convertible shopping trolley Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2290756A
GB2290756A GB9412945A GB9412945A GB2290756A GB 2290756 A GB2290756 A GB 2290756A GB 9412945 A GB9412945 A GB 9412945A GB 9412945 A GB9412945 A GB 9412945A GB 2290756 A GB2290756 A GB 2290756A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
trolley
bag container
gas strut
shopping trolley
slide assembly
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
GB9412945A
Other versions
GB2290756B (en
GB9412945D0 (en
Inventor
James Henry Worley
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to GB9412945A priority Critical patent/GB2290756B/en
Publication of GB9412945D0 publication Critical patent/GB9412945D0/en
Publication of GB2290756A publication Critical patent/GB2290756A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of GB2290756B publication Critical patent/GB2290756B/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
    • B62B—HAND-PROPELLED VEHICLES, e.g. HAND CARTS OR PERAMBULATORS; SLEDGES
    • B62B3/00—Hand carts having more than one axis carrying transport wheels; Steering devices therefor; Equipment therefor
    • B62B3/14—Hand carts having more than one axis carrying transport wheels; Steering devices therefor; Equipment therefor characterised by provisions for nesting or stacking, e.g. shopping trolleys
    • B62B3/148—Adaptations facilitating the transport to the counter
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
    • B62B—HAND-PROPELLED VEHICLES, e.g. HAND CARTS OR PERAMBULATORS; SLEDGES
    • B62B2203/00—Grasping, holding, supporting the objects
    • B62B2203/10—Grasping, holding, supporting the objects comprising lifting means
    • B62B2203/13—Grasping, holding, supporting the objects comprising lifting means comprising a self levelling surface

Abstract

The trolley has a vertical slide assembly and a bag container 14 which is constructed to move vertically within it. The energy required to cause that movement is provided by a gas strut or spring assembly which at its base is fixed to the wheeled trolley platform 10 and at its head to a stiffened backplate of the bag container 14. When being loaded the mass weight in the bag container 14 causes the gas strut or spring assembly to compress/re-energise at same time lowering the bag container 14 within the slide assembly. When being unloaded the reverse function is obtained. An arm 19 is arranged to engage the head of the gas strut or spring to fully compress it, as in Figure 1. In this position the arm 19 may be used as a seat. When the arm 19 is rotated to the position in Figure 2, the container 14 can move vertically in response to the weight of the load. <IMAGE>

Description

LOADING AND UNLOADING HEIGHT ADJUSTABLE SHOPPING TROLLEY This invention relates to a shopping trolley, the loading and unloading height of which is adjustable through a mechanical device.
Shopping trolleys are well known vehicles which comprise a base platform mounted upon two or four wheels to which a ba8 container, variously supported structurally, is fitted. The base platform and fitted bag container are propelled manually by means of a push/pull handle and grip usually fitted at one side of and usually towards the rear of the base platform.
These shopping trolleys are, however, designed using small wheel diameters in the range 75 to 150 millimetres and the centres/axle heights are consequently usually within the range 32 to 75 millimetres above ground/rolling surface level.
Additionally, the design of these trolleys dictate that the bag container dimensions shall be greater in height than they are in width and depth and that the base of such a bag container is located as low within the physical construction of the trolley as is possible. Such an arran8ement is perceived as a means to maximise volumetric content of such ba8 containers when fitted to a trolley.
These known designs, however, also create a serious flaw and difficulty for the user, particularly if such a person is pregnant, has spinal injuries, is old, infirm or disabled in that they must signiflcantly bend the spine forward from the waist in order to place an object safely on the bottom of the ba8 container.
According to the present invention there is provided a means for correcting the loading and unloading height of such shopping trolleys comprising a wheeled trolley base platform, a vertical slide assembly fixed to the wheeled base platform, a bag container constructed to move vertically within the slide assembly, a gas strut or spring assembly to provide energised vertical movement to the bag container within the slide assembly and a means of compressing and releasing that gas strut or spring assembly.
A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure I shows the trolley in side view with its bag container in the travelling (down) position.
Figure 2 shows the trolley in side view with its bag container In the stationary load and/or unload (up) position.
Figure 3 shows the trolley in rear view with the fitted gas strut or spring assembly in de-energised condition (up).
Figure 4 shows the trolley in rear view with the fitted gas strut or spring assembly in energised condition (down).
Figure 5 shows the slide assembly and bag container backplate in plan view and shows the guidance lugs fitted and the backplate recessed to accept the gas strut or spring assembly.
Referring to the drawings the trolley comprises a wheeled base platform 10 onto which a tubular frame 11 is fixed in the form of an open rectangle. The rear uprights of the tubular frame 11 are extended upwards to form a push/pull handle and grip 12.
Fitted internally within the open tubular frame 11 the bag container 14 Is provided with a stiffened, recessed backplate 18 which is located by selfrotating luss or other similar low friction means 20 fixed thereto and enabling its vertical movement within a slide assembly 15. These lugs 20 are positioned on the backplate 18 of the bag container 14 so that they allow full extension of the sas strut or spring assembly 16 within the slide assembly 15 and the recessed backplate 18.
The gas strut or spring assembly 16 Is fitted at its base end to a convenient point at the centre of the trolley base platform rear cross member 17 by means of a screw assembly or similar fixing and at its other end to a convenient point at the top centre of the stiffening backplate 18 fitted to the bag container 14 using a similar fixing means.
At the tubular frame 11 upper cross member Ila, a lever arm 19 is fitted which rotates in the arc forward and downwards of that cross member so that it engages the head of the gas strut or spring assembly 16 when it is de-energised (up) and the bag container 14 is either empty or partially loaded. When this lever arm 19 is rotated downwards through 90 degrees of angle from the vertical, the gas strut or spring assembly 16 is fully compressed, irrespective of whether the baa container 14 is partially full, fully loaded or empty. In an advantageous construction, the lever arm 19 may be configured, in dual function, as a seat for the trolley user.A means, (not shown) such as a locking catch, is provided at the front upper cross member llb of the tubular frame 11 to retain the lever arm 19 at its closed (90 degrees forward from the vertical) position.
In operation/use the lever arm 1Q is raised to a point to the rear of the vertical allowing the empty bag container 14 to rise within the slide assembly 15 powered by the stored energy in the gas strut or spring assembly 16 to its full extension.
As the has container 14 is loaded, the total mass of the contents increases so overcoming the resistance of and thereby compressing and re-energising the gas strut or spring assembly 16 in a counter-balancing action. At the point when the force applied by the mass being loaded exceeds the force exerted by the gas strut or spring assembly, the bag container will begin its descent in the slide assembly, thereby providing an automatic self adjustment of the trolley loading height. Conversely, when belong unloaded from this position, the has container will rise as the loaded mass decreases.

Claims (8)

1. A shopping trolley comprising a wheeled trolley base platform, a tubular open rectangular frame fixed thereto, a vertical slide assembly fixed to the wheeled base platform and within the tubular frame, a bag container constructed with a stiffened backplate to move vertically within the slide assembly, a gas strut to provide energised vertical movement of the bag container within the slide assembly. a means of compressing and releasing the gas strut independently of the mass content or weight of the bag container.
2. A shopping trolley as claimed in claim I wherein the gas strut is replaced by a spring assembly.
3. A shopping trolley as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the slide assembly is co-operable with the stiffened bag container backplate and the gas strut or spring assembly as a means of guiding and controlling vertical movement.
4. A shopping trolley as claimed in claim 2 or 3 wherein the stiffened bag container backplate is fitted with self rotating lugs or rollers co-operating with the slide assembly as a means of guidance within it.
5. A shopping trolley as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the means of compressing and releasing the gas strut or spring assembly independently of the mass content or weight of the bag container is configured as a seat for the trolley user.
6. A shopping trolley as claimed in any preceding claim wherein catchment means is provided on the trolley frame to arrest and lock the compressed gas strut or spring assembly.
7. A shopping trolley as claimed in any preceding claim wherein at least one of the trolley platform wheels is replaced by an adjustable leg.
8. A shopping trolley as claimed in any preceding claim wherein at least one of the trolley platform wheels is replaced by a fixed height support and/or balancing leg.
GB9412945A 1994-06-28 1994-06-28 Adjustable and convertible shopping trolley Expired - Fee Related GB2290756B (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9412945A GB2290756B (en) 1994-06-28 1994-06-28 Adjustable and convertible shopping trolley

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9412945A GB2290756B (en) 1994-06-28 1994-06-28 Adjustable and convertible shopping trolley

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB9412945D0 GB9412945D0 (en) 1994-08-17
GB2290756A true GB2290756A (en) 1996-01-10
GB2290756B GB2290756B (en) 1998-01-28

Family

ID=10757436

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB9412945A Expired - Fee Related GB2290756B (en) 1994-06-28 1994-06-28 Adjustable and convertible shopping trolley

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (1) GB2290756B (en)

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2316367A (en) * 1996-08-14 1998-02-25 James Ashley Shopping trolley with movable floor
GB2338458A (en) * 1998-06-20 1999-12-22 Agnes Smith Mcinnes Trolley
WO2000029318A1 (en) * 1998-11-12 2000-05-25 Campbell, Iain, Cameron Person conveying device
GB2399321A (en) * 2003-03-14 2004-09-15 Nigel Oseland Two-wheeled barrow
WO2010079399A1 (en) * 2009-01-06 2010-07-15 Bilge Kum A shopping trolley comprising a moveable supporting surface

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE2520711A1 (en) * 1975-05-09 1976-11-18 Brueder Siegel Kg Draht Und Me Adjustable volume supermarket trolley - with height adjustable floor insert and reset control for stacking
GB2207097A (en) * 1987-07-16 1989-01-25 Stabilus Gmbh A service car or trolley
GB2214470A (en) * 1988-01-14 1989-09-06 Aldo Manta Limited Trolley with movable load platform

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE2520711A1 (en) * 1975-05-09 1976-11-18 Brueder Siegel Kg Draht Und Me Adjustable volume supermarket trolley - with height adjustable floor insert and reset control for stacking
GB2207097A (en) * 1987-07-16 1989-01-25 Stabilus Gmbh A service car or trolley
GB2214470A (en) * 1988-01-14 1989-09-06 Aldo Manta Limited Trolley with movable load platform

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2316367A (en) * 1996-08-14 1998-02-25 James Ashley Shopping trolley with movable floor
GB2338458A (en) * 1998-06-20 1999-12-22 Agnes Smith Mcinnes Trolley
GB2338458B (en) * 1998-06-20 2002-02-13 Agnes Smith Mcinnes Trolley
WO2000029318A1 (en) * 1998-11-12 2000-05-25 Campbell, Iain, Cameron Person conveying device
GB2399321A (en) * 2003-03-14 2004-09-15 Nigel Oseland Two-wheeled barrow
WO2010079399A1 (en) * 2009-01-06 2010-07-15 Bilge Kum A shopping trolley comprising a moveable supporting surface

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB2290756B (en) 1998-01-28
GB9412945D0 (en) 1994-08-17

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
WAP Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1)
710B Request of alter time limits

Free format text: REQUEST UNDER RULE 110(4) OF THE PATENTS RULES 1995 TO EXTEND THE PERIOD PRESCRIBED IN RULE 33(2) FOR FILING FORM 10/77

710B Request of alter time limits
732E Amendments to the register in respect of changes of name or changes affecting rights (sect. 32/1977)
PCNP Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 20010628