GB2318549A

GB2318549A - Trolley for use with a wheelchair

Info

Publication number: GB2318549A
Application number: GB9622273A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Raby Nigel Andrew Muers; Brian Woolley
Original assignee: HANDICART TROLLEYS
Current assignee: HANDICART TROLLEYS
Priority date: 1996-10-25
Filing date: 1996-10-25
Publication date: 1998-04-29
Also published as: GB9622273D0

Abstract

The present invention relates to a trolley for use with a wheelchair, the trolley consisting of a load-carrying basket 11 mounted on a wheeled frame which also includes two clamping arms to secure the trolley in front of the wheelchair. It is often difficult for a disabled person in a wheelchair to reach into the bottom of the load-carrying basket 11. Therefore, the present invention provides a second load-carrying portion 12 in the form of a tray which is mounted above the basket 11. Preferably the tray 12 is movable between a first position in which it is close to the wheelchair but impedes access into the basket 11 and a second position in which it is further from the wheelchair but allows easy access into the basket 11 (See Fig.3).

Description

TROLLEY FOR USE WITH A WHEELCHAIR The present invention relates to a trolley for use with a wheelchair.

An example of such a trolley is disclosed in European patent 102848. The trolley described therein consists of a load-carrying basket supported on a wheeled frame. Two clamping arms are provided to secure the trolley to a wheelchair frame such that in use the trolley is located in front of the wheelchair with the clamping arms fixed to the wheelchair frame at either side of the user's legs.

A problem associated with this type of trolley is that in order to ensure a secure fixing the trolley is some distance from the wheelchair, making it difficult for a person sitting in the wheelchair to reach into the basket. One approach to this problem has been to produce a higher trolley which is secured closer to the wheelchair but this type of trolley has a more limited load-carrying capacity and inhibits forward visibility for the wheelchair user.

The present invention provides a trolley for attachment to a wheelchair, comprising a frame, means to attach the frame to a wheelchair, a plurality of wheels attached to the frame ,a first load-carrying portion supported on the frame and a second loadcarrying portion mounted vertically spaced above the bottom of the first load-carrying portion.

This configuration is advantageous because it allows the wheelchair user to place items on a secondary load-carrying part, situated over the main load-carrying part, where they are easier to reach than items pladed in the bottom of the main loadcarrying portion.

Preferably, the second load-carrying portion is movable with respect to the first load-carrying portion between a first position in which it impedes access to the first load-carrying portion from the wheelchair and a second position in which it does not impede access to the first load-carrying portion from the wheelchair Thus, the second load-carrying portion can be moved to allow the wheelchair user to reach into the first load-carrying portion without being hindered by the second load-carrying portion.

Preferably the second load-carrying portion is slidable with respect to the first load-carrying portion between a first position in which it overlies part of the first load-carrying portion closest to the wheelchair and a second position in which it overlies part of the first load-carrying portion remote from the wheelchair.

In this configuration, the second load-carrying portion can be slid close to the user when it is needed and slid away from the user to allow access to the first load-carrying portion when that part is needed, the second load-carrying portion remaining in a position to support items placed thereon.

Advantageously, the second load-carrying portion is pivotable with respect to the first load-carrying portion between a first position in which it overlies a part of the first load-carrying portion and a second position in which it is adjacent to the first loadcarrying portion.

In this way, the second load-carrying portion can be moved completely out of way when it is not needed to allow uninhibited access to the whole of the first load-carrying portion.

In a preferred embodiment, the second loadcarrying portion is mounted by means of a support structure comprising an elongate member affixed parallel to and spaced from the first load-carrying portion, the second load-carrying portion having at least one bracket defining an opening which receives the elongate member.

Thus, the support structure is simple, with a minimum number of different parts, reducing manufacturing costs and simplifying assembly.

The support structure may itself be secured to the frame of the trolley.

This configuration allows for the possibility of having a trolley in which the first load-carrying portion is removable and replaceable with a different size or type of container without the need to refit the support structure and second load-carrying portion to each type of first load-carrying portion.

In the preferred embodiment, the first loadcarrying portion comprises an open topped container and the second load-carrying portion comprises a tray.

Thus, the first load-carrying portion has a relatively large capacity and the second load-carrying portion provides a surface for carrying smaller items and does not impede forward visibility for the wheelchair user.

It is also preferable if the second load-carrying portion is provided with handle means in order to facilitate use and movement thereof.

In a further aspect of the invention there is provided a method of assembling a trolley of the type described above, comprising the steps of: providing a trolley having a frame, means to attach the frame to a wheelchair, a plurality of wheels attached to the frame and a first load-carrying portion supported on the frame; attaching a support structure to a part of the trolley and mounting a second load-carrying portion on the support structure so as to be vertically spaced above the bottom of the first loadcarrying portion.

The invention will now be described in detail by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: FIGURE 1 is a plan view of part of a trolley in accordance with the present invention, from which the wheeled frame and camping arms have been omitted for clarity; FIGURE 2 shows a side view of the part of the trolley shown in Figure 1; FIGURE 3 shows a view of the trolley of Figure 1 at the side facing the wheelchair in use; FIGURE 4 is a plan view of the tray used in Figures 1 to 3; and FIGURE 5 is a front view of the tray of Figure 4.

The load-carrying parts of a trolley in accordance with the present invention are shown in Figures 1 to 3. The trolley 10 comprises a main loadcarrying portion 11 which is preferably a container which is open at the top and is typically made in the form of a basket of thick metal wire. It should be noted that while a typical shape of load-carrying basket is illustrated the invention is equally applicable to baskets of different shapes and to loadcarrying containers which are made of different materials.

The load-carrying basket 11 is mounted on a frame having wheels and clamping arms for attaching the trolley to a wheelchair. The frame, wheels and clamping arms have been omitted from the drawings for clarity although the aforementioned European patent 102848 provides one example of a suitable frame.

Above the load-carrying basket 11 there is supported a second load-carrying portion, preferably in the form of a tray 12. The area of the tray 12 amounts to about half or less than half the open area of the top of the basket 11. Thus, the tray 12 can be used to support items whilst still allowing some access into the main load-carrying basket 11 in which further items can be placed. The tray 12 is preferably slightly wider than the basket 11 and rests on the opposite edges thereof as best seen in Figure 3.

The tray 12 may be provided with a lip 17 around its periphery to prevent smaller items slipping off the tray. A deeper tray having a larger lip or wall around its periphery could be provided if desired.

Alternatively, the second load-carrying portion may comprise a basket or box or any other form of container as required.

The tray 12 is mounted on a support structure as described below. At one side of the tray there are affixed two downwardly extending brackets 13 each having an opening 14. A guide member 15, for example in the form of an elongate rod, is attached spaced from and parallel to one side of the load-carrying basket 11. The brackets 13 are slidably received on the guide member 15 so that the tray 12 is slidable back and forth across the open top of the basket 11 as shown by arrows A in Figures 1 and 2.

The guide member 15 may be attached directly to the first load-carrying basket 11 as shown in Figure 1. Alternatively, additional parts may be provided so as to attach the guide member to the frame itself.

This may be useful if, for example, the basket 11 is removable and replaceable by a different size or type of container. Mounting the tray 12 to the frame rather than the basket 11 would obviate the need to refit it to each different type of container and the tray would remain in a load-carrying position in the absence of the basket.

Although two brackets 13 are illustrated, it will be apparent that a single bracket could be used although in this case the tray 12 might become angled with respect to the guide member and jam against it.

Thus, use of two spaced brackets ensures that the tray 12 remains in alignment with the guide member and is easily slidable thereon. More than two brackets could also be used although this is not necessary.

As seen in Figures 1 and 4, the brackets are preferably situated towards the rear of the tray 12 allowing the tray to be slid towards the user to a maximum extent overhanging the edge of the loadcarrying basket 11 which is closest to the user. In this position the tray 12 is in easy reach of the wheelchair user, while some access to the basket 11 is available for another person to load items into it.

If the wheelchair user requires access to the basket 11 the tray 12 is simply slid away from the wheelchair to reveal access to the basket 11 at a location nearest the wheelchair.

When the tray 12 is not required, it may be pivoted about the guide member 15 as shown in Figure 3 until it is substantially vertical and hangs adjacent the side of the load-carrying basket 11. In this way, completely uninhibited access to the basket 11 is possible and the tray is conveniently folded away but it is ready for reuse whenever required.

Various modifications to the trolley will be apparent to those skilled in the art. For example, the opening 14 in each bracket 13 may simply be a hole or the bracket 13 may be in the form of a hook, in which case the tray 12 may be completely detached from the trolley if desired. It would also be possible for the guide member 15 to be too short to allow the tray 12 to slide back and forth across the basket 11 so that only pivoting movement is possible, although this design would be less versatile than the sliding and pivoting version.

From the aforementioned description, it will be apparent that the present invention provides an improved trolley for use with a wheelchair. The trolley provides a load-carrying area for smaller items within easy reach of the wheelchair user whilst still allowing further items to be carried in the main load-carrying basket. Furthermore, the load-carrying tray can be moved out of the way when is not required but remains attached to the trolley so that it can be brought back into use quickly and easily when required.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A trolley for attachment to a wheelchair, comprising a frame, means to attach the frame to a wheelchair, a plurality of wheels attached to the frame , a first load-carrying portion supported on the frame, and a second load-carrying portion mounted vertically spaced above the bottom of the first loadcarrying portion.

2. A trolley as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second load-carrying portion is movable with respect to the first load-carrying portion between a first position in which it impedes access to the first loadcarrying portion from the wheelchair and a second position in which it does not impede access to the first load-carrying portion from the wheelchair

3. A trolley as claimed in claim 2, wherein the second load-carrying portion is slidable with respect to the first load-carrying portion between a first position in which it overlies part of the first loadcarrying portion closest to the wheelchair and a second position in which it overlies part of the first load-carrying portion remote from the wheelchair.

4. A trolley as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the second load-carrying portion is rotatable with respect to the first load-carrying portion between a first position in which it overlies part of the first load-carrying portion and a second position in which it is adjacent the first load-carrying portion.

5. A trolley as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the second load-carrying portion is mounted by means of a support structure comprising an elongate member parallel to and spaced from the first loadcarrying portion, the second load-carrying portion having at least one bracket defining an opening which receives the elongate member.

6. A trolley as claimed in claim 5, wherein the support structure is secured to the frame.

7. A trolley as claimed in ant preceding claim, wherein the first load-carrying portion comprises an open-topped container and the second load-carrying portion comprises a tray.

8. A trolley as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the second load-carrying portion is provided with handle means.

9. A method of assembling a trolley as claimed in any preceding claim, comprising the steps of: providing a trolley having a frame, means to attach the frame to a wheelchair, a plurality of wheels attached to the frame and a first load-carrying portion supported on the frame; attaching a support structure to a part of the trolley and mounting a second load-carrying portion on the support structure so as to be vertically spaced above the bottom of the first load-carrying portion.

10. A trolley substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.