GB2465171A

GB2465171A - Trolley Device for a Container

Info

Publication number: GB2465171A
Application number: GB0820351A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Donald Milne Downie
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-11-06
Filing date: 2008-11-06
Publication date: 2010-05-12
Anticipated expiration: 2028-11-06
Also published as: GB2465171B; GB0820351D0

Abstract

A trolley device 10 comprises a rigid base 11, a first side member 12 and a second side member 13. The second side member has a vertical slot 14 therethrough, a pivoting assembly comprising one or more wheel brackets (16, figure 3) and a wheel flange 15 extending at right angles to a respective wheel bracket. A wheel (or roller) 20 is rotatably attached to each flange distally from the bracket and a web member (17) connects the bracket and the flange. The web member has a hole (18) therethrough for receiving a connecting pin 19, the pin being received in the hole and in the slot. The pivoting member is pivotable around the pin between a first position in which the flange and the associated wheel are adjacent to the base and the pin is at the lower end of the slot, and a second position in which the top of the wheel flange substantially abuts the first side member and the pin is at the upper end of the slot. The device can be attached to the underside of a non-rigid bag or sack to facilitate loading of the bag with shopping and for pulling the loaded bag along a surface (floor, sidewalk, etc).

Description

Trolley Device for a Container The present invention relates to a trolley device, and more particularly, to a trolley device which facilitates movement over a surface of a container, e.g. a non-rigid container such as a bag or sack made from paper, fibres or plastics material. The invention also relates to such a container in combination with a trolley device.

Non-rigid bags are widely used for merchandise such as items purchased from retail shops and stores. Some shops often provide such bags for customers at low cost or free of charge.

A problem arises with such bags when customers have to manually move the filled bags significant distances, especially in areas where there are no convenient car parks or where travel by public transport is involved. Trolley devices for bags have been suggested to address this and other problems, but they have not proved completely satisfactory.

WO 20061131310 discloses a trolley device which comprises a platform mounted on wheels which can be folded flat against the underside of the platform. The platform is received in a recess in the bottom of a container (e.g., a carton, sack or bag), the container being mounted on the upper side of the platform. The platform has legs underneath so that it can stand stably on the floor or other surface. A drawback of this device is that it is relatively bulky and relatively heavy. Another drawback is that when the bag is being filled, the bottom of the bag is only partially supported by the platform and the bag tends to collapse and close during filling.

GB 2444596A discloses a trolley device comprising a plate having a first part for receipt in the bottom of the bag and a second part which is for location outside the bag and which is offset vertically downwards relative to the first part by a distance (approximately) equal to the thickness of the bottom of the bag. The second part is provided with resilient "claws" for retaining the axles of wheels while permitting rotation thereof. A drawback of this device is that the wheels are offset from the centreline or centre of gravity of the bag. A consequence is that the bag tilts and drags on the ground when pulled along, requiring effort by the user to counteract the drag and to avoid damage from friction with the ground.

US 4596397 discloses a shopping trundler comprising a base plate having a flat central platform and trough-shaped members at the forward and rear sides of the central platform. Wheels are located at the lateral sides of the central platform. A bag rests on the base plate and is attached to the front and rear of the trundler by fastenings of the press-stud type. A drawback of this trundler is that the bag tends to close under the influence of the trough-shaped members while the bag is being loaded with merchandise. This is highly inconvenient for the customer filling the bag.

CH 630790 discloses a shopping trolley comprising a spring-opened carrier bag and a supporting mechanism generally beneath the bag. The supporting mechanism comprises foldable wheels which can be locked in one position folded beneath the bag and another position in which the wheels support the bag so that the trolley can be wheeled. A drawback of this shopping trolley is that the bag and supporting mechanism are not separable. As a result, the trolley is bulky and heavy to carry when not in use for transporting merchandise.

The present invention provides a trolley device for use with a container, particularly (but not exclusively) for a non-rigid container such as a bag or sack made from paper, textile or plastics material.

I

The present invention provides a trolley device as set out in claim I of the set of claims following this description. Optional and/or preferred features are specified in other claims of the said set of claims following this description.

The invention is now further described by way of non-limitative example and with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a perspective underneath view of a trolley device; Fig. 2 is and underneath plan view of the trolley of Fig. 1 with one wheel removed, showing the form of the rigid base, inter alia; Fig. 3 is a front view of the trolley of Fig. 2 in vertical cross-section; Fig. 4 is a view of the trolley device of Figs. I to 3 clipped to a relatively rigid flat member; Fig. 5 is a side view of a container supported on a trolley device; Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional representation of Fig. 5 perpendicular to the side view of Fig. 5; Figs. 7 to 10 are perspective underneath and top views of a container and a trolley device in various configurations.

Figs. 1 to 3 show a trolley 10 comprising a rigid base 11, a first side member 12 projecting downwardly from the base 11, a second side memberl3 projecting downwards from the base 11 substantially at right angles to the first side member 12.

The second side member 13 has a slot 14 therethrough which is preferably substantially vertical. The trolley 10 further comprises pivoting assemblies each comprising a wheel bracket 16, a wheel flange 15 extending substantially perpendicularly to the respective wheel brackets 16, and a triangular web member 17 connecting the wheel flange 15 and the wheel bracket 16. The web member 17 has a circular hole 18 therethrough for receiving a connecting pin 19 (Fig. 1). The connecting pin 19 is received in the hole 18 and also in the slot 14 in the second side member 13. A wheel (or roller) 20 is mounted for rotation on an axle 21 (Fig. 3) connected to the inner face of the wheel flange 15. Each of the two pivotable assemblies (comprising a wheel flange 15, wheel bracket 16, and a wheel 20) is pivotable around the connecting pin 19 between (a) a first position in which the wheel flange 15 and the associated wheel (or roller) 20 is adjacent to the underside of the rigid base 11, and the connecting pin 19 is at the lower end of the slot 14, and (b) a second position in which the top of the wheel flange 15 substantially abuts the first side member 12 and the connecting pin 19 is at the upper end of the slot 14.

In the second position, the wheel flange 15 extends downwardly from the underside of the rigid base 11 with the wheels 20 in rolling contact with the surface beneath the trolley device 10. The wheel flanges 15 are locked in the second position by the engagement of the connecting pin 19 with the walls of the slot 14. In the second position, the trolley device 10 can be used to support a load, such as a container (not shown in Figs. I to 3) containing merchandise.

The trolley device 10 can be secured directly or indirectly to a container by means of a suitable clip 22 (Fig. 3). The clip 22 as shown is a springy piece of metal or plastics material attached at one side to the top of the rigid base 11, the other side defining with the rigid base a horizontal slot 23 (Fig. 3) in which a part of the container may be received and gripped temporarily or permanently. When the trolley device is not in use, the connecting pin 19 can be allowed to fall towards the bottom of the slot 14 allowing that the wheel brackets 15 to pivot on the pin 19 into the said first position in which they lie adjacent to the underside of the rigid base 11 in a "folded" configuration. The trolley device 10, in its folded configuration, is small and compact and can be placed in the user's pocket or handbag until required for use in supporting another container.

The trolley device may have the following approximate dimensions: length 18cm, width 10cm, thickness 2cm. The wheels 20 may have a diameter of about 5 to 8cm, e.g., about 7cm. The device may be fonned partially or wholly from plastics material, and may thus be sufficiently small and light to be carried in a pocket or handbage when not in use.

In Fig. 4, a trolley device 10 is clipped to a flat member 25 by means of a spring clip 22 as described with reference to Fig. 3. The flat member 25 may. be useful for forming the bottom of a non-rigid container such as a paper sack (not shown in Fig. 4).

In Fig. 5, a trolley device 10 is shown in combination with a container 26. In this instance, the container 26 is a non-rigid sack formed of paper or plastics material.

The flat member 25 (Fig. 4) is shown in Fig. 5 to be an extended part of a relatively rigid flat sheet which is bent back on itself, as is now described. The flat sheet comprises a lower part 27 which is attached to the flat member 25 by hinge means 28, and upper part 29 formed by folding the flat sheet back on itself The flat sheet may be of any suitable material such as plastics material, cardboard or a stiffened paper composition. In the embodiments of Figs. 4 and 5, the flat sheet (and the flat member 25) is of corrugated cardboard. The hinge means 28 may be a crease formed across the flat sheet to permit hinging movement of the flat member 25. The upper part 29 may be attached to the lower part (other than to the flat member 25) by adhesive between the two parts. The upper surface of the upper part 29 may be adhered to the base of the container 26 by adhesive and/or by mechanical means such as staples and/or studs. Thus, the container 26 is provided with the rigid upper part 29, the rigid lower part 27, and the hinged flat member 25. The trolley device 10 is attached (e.g., temporarily) to the container assembly (container 26, upper part 29, lower part 27 and flat member 25). The flat member 25 and attached trolley device 10 can swing about the hinge 28 to a disposition in which the flat member 25 extends away from the flat sheet and container 26 with the trolley device 10 inverted and alongside the container 26, rather than underneath the container 26. This latter disposition is shown in chain lines in Fig. 5, wherein the flat member 25 and the trolley device 10 are shown as being to the left of the container 26, the trolley device being inverted. This disposition permits the container 26 to stand upright on the upper part 29, which tends to maintain the container 26 stable and open, facilitating its loading with merchandise.

When the container 26 is lifted, the flat member 25 and attached trolley device pivot downwards about the hinge 28, under the action of gravity, and hang from the hinge 28 beneath the container 26 as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5. When the loaded container 26 is set down, the flat member 25 and trolley device 10 pivot upwards (to the right, as depicted in Fig. 5) to the disposition shown in full lines in Fi& 5 so that the loaded container 26 is then supported on the wheels of the trolley device 10. The relative dimensions of the various parts described are such that in the full-line disposition of Fig. 5, the wheels of the trolley device are under the centre of the container 26 (i.e., about halfway between the front and back of the container 26) or the wheels may be under the centre of gravity of the container 26 so that the combined container and trolley device can be pulled along a surface relatively easily.

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic representation at right angles to the view of Fig. 5 showing one wheel 20 in a vertical disposition for supporting the container 26, the other wheel being folded, e.g., as depicted in Fig. 1.

Figs. 7 to 10 show, diagrammatically, various arrangements of a trolley device 10 and container 26. In Figs. 7 and 8, the trolley device is in the disposition shown in chain lines in Fig. 5, wherein the container 26 stands on a flat base and is open at its top to receive merchandise. In Fig. 9, the container 26 has been raised or lifted causing the attached trolley device 10 to pivot about the hinge 28. In Fig. 10, the trolley device 10 is beneath the container 26 and can be pulled along by a handle 35 attached to the top front region of the container.

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. A trolley device comprising a rigid base, a first side member projecting downwardly from a side region of the rigid base, a second side member projecting downwardly from the base substantially at right angles to the first side member, the second side member having a vertical slot thereThrough, a pivoting assembly comprising one or more wheel brackets, a wheel flange extending at right angles to a respective wheel bracket, a wheel (or roller) rotatably attached to the wheel flange distally from the wheel bracket, a web member connecting the wheel bracket and the wheel flange between the wheel (or roller) and the wheel bracket, the web member having a hole therethrough for receiving a connecting pin, a connecting pin received in the circular hole and in the vertical slot in the second side member, the pivoting member being pivotable around the connecting pin between (a) a first position in which the wheel flange and the associated wheel (or roller) are adjacent to the rigid base and the connecting pin is at the lower end of the vertical slot, and (b) a second position in which the top of the wheel flange substantially abuts the first side member and the connecting pin is at the upper end of the vertical slot.
2. The device of claim 1 wherein the wheel(s) or roller(s) have a diameter of from 5 to 7 cm.
3. The device of claims 1 or 2 comprising two wheels (or rollers) each rotatably mounted on respective wheel brackets.
4. The device of claim 3 wherein the wheel brackets are separated by a distance of from 15 to 20cm.
5. The device of any of claims I to 4 comprising, for the or each wheel or roller, a respective wheel bracket, web member and connecting pin, the or each connecting pin being received in the respective vertical slot in the second side member.
6. The device of any of claims I to 5 comprising a stop member for the or each wheel or roller, the stop member projecting downwards from the rigid base and being separated from the respective first side member by a distance substantially equal to the width of the web member when the latter is in the said second position.
7. The device of any preceding claim comprising securing means for securing the device directly or indirectly to a container, such as a non-rigid container (e.g., a sack or bag).
8. The device of claim 7 wherein said securing means comprises a clip, e.g., a spring clip.
9. The device of claim 7 or claimS wherein said securing means comprises a support plate which is securable relative to the non-rigid container, and a hinged plate hingedly attached at one end to the support plate and secured relative to the rigid base by the said clip.
10. The device of claim 8 or claim 9 wherein the clip is permanently associated with the rigid base.
11. The device of any preceding claim wherein the rigid base has dimensions in the following ranges: length 20 to 25cm; width 10 to 15cm.
12. A merchandise carner comprising a trolley device according to any of claims 1 to ii and a non-rigid merchandise bag.
13. The carrier of claim 12 wherein the support plate is permanently associated with the bag.
14. The carrier of claim 13 wherein the support plate provides or forms part of the bottom of the bag.
15. The earner of claims 1301 14 wherein the support plate is attached to or forms at least part of the underside of the bag.
16. The carrier of any of claims 12 to 15 wherein the said support plate is received in a slot or fold at the bottom region of the bag.
17. The earner of any of claims 12 to 16 wherein the hinged plate hinges between a first position in which the wheel(s) or roller(s) is/are located alongside the bottom of the bag, for facilitating loading of merchandise into the bag, and a second position in which the wheel(s) or roller(s) isf are located underneath the bag, thereby facilitating movement of the carrier on the wheel(s) or roller(s).
18. The carrier of claim 17 wherein in the said second position, the wheels or rollers are under the centre of the bag or substantially under the centre of gravity of the bag.
19. The carrier of any of claims 12 to 18 comprising pulling means (such as a handle or cord) for pulling the carrier on its wheel(s) or roller(s) along a surface.