GB2314816A

GB2314816A - Cleaning trolley with hinged frame.

Info

Publication number: GB2314816A
Application number: GB9613738A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Crisp
Original assignee: Crisp Clean Services Ltd
Current assignee: Crisp Clean Services Ltd
Priority date: 1996-06-28
Filing date: 1996-06-28
Publication date: 1998-01-14
Anticipated expiration: 2016-06-28
Also published as: GB2314816B; GB9613738D0

Abstract

The trolley has a substantially vertical fixed frame 6a (6, Fig. 1) and a hinged frame 7a (7) connected thereto by a pair of hinges 10 for movement between a vertical stowed position and a horizontal projecting position. The hinges comprise spaced parallel spring plates protruding from the hinged frame 7a which carry a pair of aligned pivot pins 14 which are sprung into corresponding sockets in the fixed frame 6a. The hinged frame abuts the fixed frame to support the hinged frame in said projecting position, while a pair of inturned edge portions 15 engage behind the fixed frame 7a to retain the hinged frame in the stowed position.

Description

CLEANING TROLLEYS TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to cleaning trolleys.

BACKGROUND Industrial cleaning trolleys may comprise a base mounted on castors, often with one or more frames upstanding from the base. Such trolleys are used to carry cleaning items such as mops, buckets, mop wringers and rubbish bags.

The present invention seeks to provide a cleaning trolley which is patentably different from any known form of cleaning trolley.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention proposes a cleaning trolley comprising a substantially vertical fixed frame and a hinged frame connected to the fixed frame by a pair of hinges for movement about a substantially horizontal pivot axis between a substantially vertical stowed position adjacent to the fixed frame and a substantially horizontal projecting position, said hinges comprising a pair of spaced substantially parallel members which are upstanding from said hinged frame to carry a pair of axially aligned pivot pins which are rotatably received in corresponding sockets in the fixed frame, and wherein the hinged end of the hinged frame abuts the fixed frame to support the hinged frame in said projecting position.

The upstanding hinge members are preferably formed of springy material such that the pivot pins are sprung into the corresponding sockets.

Retaining means are preferably provided for releasably holding the hinged frame in its stowed position.

In one form of the trolley the sockets are formed in a pair of upright limbs of the fixed frame, said limbs being of substantially round section. In such cases the retaining means preferably comprises a projection which is arranged to engage behind one of said limbs when the hinged frame is placed in its stowed position. Said projection may be carried on one of the upright hinge members, and in fact both of the hinge members may have such a projection to engage the respective limbs. The hinge member may thus be urged outwardly against its inherent resilience to allow the projection to bypass the respective limb.

In a preferred from the said hinge member is formed of flat springy material and the projection is formed by an inturned edge thereof. The said edge preferably extends parallel to and lies against the respective limb when the hinged frame is in its stowed position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The following description and the accompanying drawings referred to therein are included by way of non-limiting example in order to illustrate how the invention may be put into practice. In the drawings: Figure 1 is a general perspective view of a simple form of industrial cleaning trolley of the invention, Figure 2 is a side view of a hinge attached to a hinged frame of the trolley, as viewed from the inside of the hinged frame, Figure 3 is a plan view of the hinge, Figure 4 is a side view of the hinge, looking from the opposite side to Fig. 2, secured to a fixed upright frame of the trolley, Figure 5 is an end view of the hinge, looking from the left in Fig. 4, Figure 6 is a similar side view to Fig. 4, but showing the hinged frame tilted to an inclined position, Figure 7 is an end view of the hinge looking in direction VII of Fig. 6, Figure 8 is a further side view of the hinge similar to Fig. 6 but showing the hinged frame in an upright stowed position, Figure 9 is an end view of the hinge as seen in plan view in Fig. 8, Figure 10 is a side view of a second form of the hinge looking from the same direction as Fig. 2, and Figure 11 is a plan view of the hinge of Fig. 10.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS For the purposes of illustration Fig. 1 shows a simple form of industrial cleaning trolley which comprises a U-shaped horizontal base 1 supported on four castor wheels 2-5. A fixed inverted-U shaped frame 6 is upstanding from the base frame 1, to which is hinged a further U-shaped frame 7. The frames 1, 6 and 7 may be formed from round metal tube.

Referring to the detailed drawings of Fig.s 2 and 3, the opposite ends 7a of the hinged frame 7 may be plugged by end caps 8. The ends of the frame also carry a pair of hinge members 10 which are slightly inset from the end caps 8. The hinge members are formed from slightly springy flat metal plate and are secured to the outside of the frame 7 such as to be upstanding from the ends 7a of the frame, generally parallel, when the frame is horizontal as shown. The hinge plates may each be secured to the frame by welding or in any other convenient manner. In the present example, the bottom part 11 of each plate is curved under the end 7a of the frame and a separate plate 12 is welded to the hinge plate to curve over the top of the frame. The two curved parts are then secured to the frame by rivets 13 or like fasteners.

As can be seen in Fig. 2, the hinge plates 10 are curved to extend beyond the ends of the frame and carry a pair of axially aligned, inwardly directed pivot pins 14. It will also be noted that the upper edge 15 of the plate extends substantially parallel to the underlying part of the frame, but as can be seen in plan view (Fig. 3) a portion of the top edge 15 offset from the pin 14 is slightly inturned to project above the frame 7.

Referring to Fig.s 4 and 5, by springing the frame 7 and/or the hinge members 10 the pins can be inserted into sockets in the side members 6a of the fixed frame 6. (The hinge plates could also be on the inside of the frame 7 so that the pins can be sprung inside the frame 6.) It will be noted that the ends 7a of the hinged frame 7 abut the uprights 6a of the fixed frame 6 to firmly support the hinged frame in a substantially horizontal position. In this position the hinged frame can be used to carry cleaning materials and utensils such as mops, buckets, mop wringers and rubbish bags.

It will further be noted that the inward projections 15 do not interfere with the uprights 6a when the frame 7 is horizontal, but as the frame is pivoted upwards the projections contact the sides of the uprights 6a. This offers a certain amount or resistance to raising of the hinged frame 7 and assists in preventing the hinged frame from bouncing should the trolley be wheeled over a bump for example. If the frame 7 is deliberately raised the limbs 7a of the frame and/or the hinge plate 10 will be sprung outwards allowing the frame to be raised as shown in Fig.s 6 and 7. It will be noted that the pin 14 moves out of its socket slightly, but not sufficient to become disengaged therefrom.

When the hinged frame 7 reaches a substantially vertical position as shown in Fig.s 8 and 9 the pins 14 are permitted to spring fully home into their sockets and the projections 15 locate behind the respective uprights 6a to retain the frame 7 in an upright position. The frame is thus stowed against the fixed frame 6 for convenience of storage of the trolley.

The alternative form of the hinge 20 shown in Fig.s 10 and 11 is stlitåble for lightweight hinged frames 7. The hinge is formed from a singleLlength of springy wire. One end of the wire is in-turned (or out-turned) to form a pivot apivot pin 21 for insertion into the fixed upright 6. The pin 21 is Xåin located above and beyond the end of the frame 7. The wireBerVres-^a downwardly-inclined portion 22 which is bent back to form a horizontal portion 23 which travels along the side of the frame 7 to which it is welded.

At the end of the frame the wire is bent upwardly to form a forwardly-inclined portion 24, which provides support for the mid region of the inclined portion 22.

The hinge 20 again allows the frame 7 to be hinged between a horizontal position supported against the uprights 6a and an upright stowed position resting against the frame 6.

Whilst the above description lays emphasis on those areas which, in combination, are believed to be new, protection is claimed for any inventive combination of the features disclosed herein.

Claims

1. A cleaning trolley comprising a substantially vertical fixed frame and a hinged frame connected to the fixed frame by a pair of hinges for movement about a substantially horizontal pivot axis between a substantially vertical stowed position adjacent to the fixed frame and a substantially horizontal projecting position, said hinges comprising a pair of spaced substantially parallel members which are upstanding from said hinged frame to carry a pair of axially aligned pivot pins which are rotatably received in corresponding sockets in the fixed frame, and wherein the hinged end of the hinged frame abuts the fixed frame to support the hinged frame in said projecting position.

2. A cleaning trolley according to Claim 1, in which said upstanding hinge members are formed of springy material such that the pivot pins are sprung into the corresponding sockets.

3. A cleaning trolley according to Claim 1 or 2, in which the sockets are formed in a pair of upright limbs of the fixed frame, said limbs being of substantially round section.

4. A cleaning trolley according to any preceding claim, in which retaining means are provided for releasably holding the hinged frame in its stowed position.

5. A cleaning trolley according to Claim 4 as appended to Claim 3, in which the retaining means comprises a projection which is arranged to engage behind one of said upright limbs when the hinged frame is placed in its stowed position.

6. A cleaning trolley according to Claim 5, in which said projection is carried on one of the upright hinge members.

7. A cleaning trolley according to Claim 6, in which both of the hinge members have such a projection to engage the respective limbs.

8. A cleaning trolley according to Claim 6 or 7, in which said hinge member is formed of flat springy material and the projection is formed by an inturned edge thereof.

9. A cleaning trolley according to Claim 8, in which said inturned edge extends parallel to and lies against the respective limb when the hinged frame is in its stowed position.

10. A cleaning trolley substantially as described with reference to Figures 1 to 9, or Figures 1, 10 and 11 of the accompanying drawings.