GB2364969A

GB2364969A - Handle attachment arrangement for a shopping trolley

Info

Publication number: GB2364969A
Application number: GB0018087A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Joseph Thompson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-07-25
Filing date: 2000-07-25
Publication date: 2002-02-13
Also published as: GB0018087D0

Abstract

A shopping trolley (1) including a handle (2) attached only to the front end (5) of the trolley basket (4) by arms (3). The arms (3) are not attached to any portion of the basket (4) other than the front end (5). Any pushing force applied to the handle (2) is converted into a pulling force on the front end (5) of the shopping trolley (1).

Description

<Desc/Clms Page number 1> AN IMPROVED SHOPPING TROLLEY This invention relates to an improved shopping trolley. .

It is well known that the Shopping trolley is prone to wobbly wheels, and/or veering uncontrollably to one side or the other. The main reason` for this is that much of the force spent in pushing a heavily laden trolley by its rear end becomes absorbed by the load as first reaction: wheels of wobbly trolley rotating only as result of load itself being moved in the first instance: but to make matters worse, the shopper finds it almost impossible to change direction of heavily laden trolley that is already in motion by way of pushing trolley from behind.

In contrast, should one pull the trolley by its front end rather than push from behind it at once becomes more easily steered. This is explained by the fact that in as much as weight bears vertically downwards only half of load or thereabouts acts upon front wheels. So, in pulling from front the shopper would in fact be causing "half-load" front wheels to rotate in desired direction.

Much in shoppers favour we see that rear end "other half" of load simultaneously adds its weight to momentum now possessed by trolley in as much as front wheels are now being driven in direction shopper wishes trolley to go rear wheels obediently follow behind, thus making steerage of heavily laden trolley easier a fortiori.

To recapitulate; upon front wheels being set in motion rear wheels move ipso facto: consequentially taking heavily laden basket with them in desired direction, and will continue to move only in that direction determined by trolley-pulling shopper.

Shopping trolleys are, however, both designed and intended to be pushed from the rear.

According to the present invention there is provided means for applying the whole of operative's pushing force directly onto front end of shopping trolley basket, in the form of rear located handle purposely detached from a11 regions of trolley basket save for front end of trolley basket.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing in which :Figure 1 shows in perspective a shopping trolley, its handle being fixed triangulated fashion to top and bottom of each side of front end of trolley basket respectively, through two forwards extending arms radiating from each side of trolley handle.

Figure 2 illustrates manner of detachment of trolley handle from body of trolley basket, save for forwards extended arms of handle being firmly fixed to front end thereat, in its there being shown exaggerated clearance between forwards extended arms of trolley handle and sides of trolley basket, and essential clearance also between trolley handle and rear end of trolley basket.

Referring to the drawing the trolley 1 has for its main characteristic handle 2 which is firmly fixed only to front end 5 of trolley basket 4, through forwards extending arms 3 and 6. Gap 9 between forwards extending arms 3 and 6 and sides of trolley basket 8 being so small as to allow contact between their surfaces.

The "pulling forwards from rear" effect provided by forwards extending arms 3 and 6 not being adversely affected in as much as any contact with polished sides of trolley basket 8 would be frictionless.

Storage capacity "concertina-like" of a number of such shopping trolleys 1 not being reduced in comparison with the conventional shopping trolley on account of flatness of forwards extending arms 3 and 6.

Upper arms 3 being in line horizontal or thereabouts with trolley handle 2 and topmost region of front end 5, and second arms 6 radiating at an angle downwards to lower region of front end 5, enables transmission of pushing force through trolley handle 2, dirctly onto font end 5 of heavily laden trolley basket 4 by either a short or tall person.

As direct result of pulling force acting upon front end 5 it would be the most forward of wheels 7 of even the most heavily laden trolley 1 that would be induced first to move in desired direction, rearmost wheels 7 then rotating ipso facto, taking heavily laden trolley 1 in that direction only in which wheels 7 travel, and only in that direction shopper intends heavily laden shopping trolley 1 to go.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. Means for applying the whole of operative's pushing force directly onto front end of shopping trolley basket, in the form of rear located handle purposely detached from all regions of trolley basket save for front end of trolley basket. 2. Means for applying operative's pushing force directly onto front end of tshopping trolley basket as claimed in claim 1 wherein extending arms radiating from trolley handle firmly fix trolley handle only to front end or thereabouts of trolley basket. 3. Means for applying operative's pushing force directly onto front end of shopping trolley substantially as described herein with reference to figures 1 - 2 of accompanying drawing.

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Amended claims have been filed as follows CLAIMS 1. Means for applying the whole of operative's pushing force directly onto front end of shopping trolley basket, in the form of two pairs of forwards extending arms, one pair being securely fixed each side of trolley trolley handle and being securely fixed to top and bottom of its particular side of front end of trolley basket. 2. A trolley as claimed in claim 1 in which two pairs of forwards extending arms radiate forwards, one from each side of trolley handle to its respective side of front end of trolley basket. 3. A trolley as claimed in claim 1 and claim 2 in which two pairs of forwards extending arms are joined together triangulate, embracing both ends of trolley handle and each side of trolley basket. 4. A trolley as claimed in either claim 3 in which triangulate structure fixed to trolley basket at its front end through handle provides means for for either a short or tall shopper to push and directionally control shopping trolley. 6. A trolley as claimed in any preceding claim in which any number of such trolleys may be stored concertina fashion. 7. A trolley as substantially described herein with reference to figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawing.