GB2497132A

GB2497132A - Interconnectable trolleys comprising a releasable latch

Info

Publication number: GB2497132A
Application number: GB201120761A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Frederick Crisp; David Charles Hudsmith
Original assignee: Crisp Clean Services Ltd
Current assignee: Crisp Clean Services Ltd
Priority date: 2011-12-02
Filing date: 2011-12-02
Publication date: 2013-06-05
Also published as: GB201120761D0

Abstract

A pair of wheel-mounted manually movable trolleys A and B are capable of being wheeled about independently of each other. A rear trolley B is provided with a pivoted connecting latch 60 and the trolleys are configured such that they can be placed together and rigidly joined by engaging the latch 60 such that the two trolleys can be moved as a single rigidly-connected unit. The two trolleys may have U-shaped base frames 1 and 31, the rear base frame 31 being configured to locate within an open rear end of the front base frame 1 and provide a lower abutment. A top frame 33 of the rear trolley B may provide an upper abutment with the upright members 19 and 20 of the front trolley. The latch 60 includes a pair of hook elements 62 and 63 which engage over a bar 22 carried by upright members 19 and 20. Vertical movement of the rear trolley may be prevented by lugs on the base frame of the front trolley.

Description

Crisp Clean Services Limited

INTERCONNECTABLE TROLLEYS

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to wheel-mounted trolleys of the kind which are intended to be manually moved from one place to another.

BACKGROUND

Wheel-mounted trolleys are often used to carry cleaning materials, mops, buckets etc. from one place to another. In many instances large quantities of equipment may need to be moved, which makes the trolleys large and heavy, and potentially restricts access to some areas.

It is known to connect two smaller trolleys together so that they can either be moved around separately or as a single rigidly connected pair. In one such arrangement one of the trolleys is provided with a fixed pair of projecting hooks which are positioned to allow the other trolley to be attached to the hooks, but this arrangement is not very easy to engage and disengage. Another existing system uses rotatable catches which, when the two trolleys are brought together, can be rotated to prevent the trolleys being moved apart. However, in both systems there is a risk that the trolleys will become disconnected if shaken or jolted during movement.

The present invention seeks to provide a new and inventive arrangement for connecting the trolleys which is easy to engage and disengage and also provides a stable and reliable connection.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention proposes a pair of wheel-mounted manually movable trolleys having front and rear ends and provided with mutual location means and a pivoted latch arranged such that the trolleys can be brought together in a front-rear direction and joined by the latch enabling the trolleys to be moved as a single rigidly-connected unit, in which the pivoted latch is arranged to rotate about an axis which extends transverse to the front-rear direction and the latch includes a hook element which engages a detent fixed with the other trolley.

Such an arrangement is easily engaged and disengaged by rotating the latch but is capable of providing a very stable latched configuration.

The pivoted latch preferably comprises at least one hook element.

The or each hook element is preferably arranged to engage a bar on the other trolley. The latch may be biassed to a rest position ready for engagement with the other trolley.

In a preferred configuration each trolley comprises a base frame and a plurality of upright members. Preferably each base frame is substantially U-shaped with an open rear end. The base frame of a rear trolley is preferably configured to locate within the open rear end of the other base frame which is part of a front trolley.

A top frame of the rear trolley may also be arranged to abut the upright members of the front trolley when the two trolleys are connected together.

For even greater stability the two trolleys are preferably provided with vertical location means which prevent relative vertical movement between the two trolleys. Such location means are preferably associated with one of the base frames and may, for example, comprise projecting lugs which are arranged to engage the other base frame.

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 front view of a front and rear pair of cleaning trolleys in accordance with the invention, shown separated from each other, and including an inset detail; Figure 2 is a general front view of the cleaning trolleys, shown interconnected, with another inset detail; Figure 3 is a general rear view of the cleaning trolleys shown in their interconnected positions, including upper and lower inset details; Figure 4 is a general view of a connecting latch which is used to connect the two trolleys; Figure 5 is a side view of the latch in an engaged position; Figure 6 is a side view of the latch in a disengaged position; and Figure 7 is an enlarged portion of Fig. 3 with inset left and right details showing the vertical location lugs.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Reference will firstly be made to Fig.s 1 and 2 which both show a pair of cleaning trolleys, namely a front trolley A and a rear trolley B. Some of the reference signs have been omitted from Fig. 2 for clarity. The front trolley A comprises a horizontal base frame 1 supported on four castor-type wheels 2. A pair of mutually spaced upright frames 3 and 4 are attached to the base frame 1 to support trays 5 and 6 for carrying cleaning materials, buckets and other equipment. Additional trays 7 may be supported on the base frame 1 as shown. Various other attachments may be secured to the upright frames 3 and 4, as required.

The base frame 1 is preferably formed from metal box section of substantially square or rectangular cross-section, but the frame could also be formed of other materials such as round tube or plastics. A length of the box section is bent into a U-shape to provide a straight front member S and two parallel side members 9 and 10, which may be single lengths or interconnected by joints 11 and 12, as shown. The rear end of the base frame remains open, but the side members 9 and 10 are themselves joined by transverse cross members such as additional box section bar 13 (Fig. 3) and rods 14, 15.

Each of the upright frames 3, 4 is formed from a length of substantially round section tube which is again formed into a U-shape comprising a straight top member 18 and two parallel upright members 19 and 20. The bottom ends of the uprights 19 and 20 are rigidly attached to the base frame 1 by screws or other fixings. The two upright frames 3 and 4 are connected to each other by four moulded tray supports 21 which bridge the upright members 19 and 20 to hold the trays 5 and 6 with their lips resting on the supports. Between the tray supports the upright members 19 and 20 of the rear frame 4 are bridged by a bar 22 (inset detail) forming a horizontal rear member.

The rear trolley B comprises a horizontal base frame 31 which is supported on three castor-type wheels 32. A top frame 33 is supported above the base frame 31 by four upright members 34- 37. The upright members and/or the base frame may support trays 38 for holding cleaning materials and equipment, as shown.

The base frame 31 is formed from similar metal box section to that of the front trolley A and is also generally U-shaped with an open rear end. A length of the box section is bent into a U-shape to provide a straight front member 39 and two short rearwardly-extending limbs 40 and 41 which are secured to the inside faces of two parallel side members 42 and 43 spaced apart by the same distance as the side members 9 and 10 of the front trolley A. The side members 42 and 43 are joined by transverse cross members such as rods or box section bar 44 (Fig. 3). A single castor wheel 32 is mounted half way along the front member 39 and two further castor wheels 32 are mounted at the rear ends of the side members 42 and 43.

Referring to Fig. 3, the upright members 34-37 are formed from lengths of round section tube, and may be connected by one or more transverse members 45. The bottom ends of the upright members are rigidly attached to the side members 42 and 43 of the base frame 31, e.g. by screws.

The top frame 33 is secured by screws etc. to the top ends of the upright members 34-37, and may also be formed of round tube.

A length of the tube is bent into a U-shape to provide a straight front member 48 and two parallel side members 49 and 50 which are joined by a straight rear member 51. The top frame may be used to support items such as a wire frame for waste bags, a tray, or other equipment. The front of the top frame 33 projects forward from the front upright members 34 and 35. The rear end of the frame 33 is provided with a pushing handle 52, which may be rigidly fixed to the top frame or connected via rotation joints 53 and 54 which allow the angle and height of the handle to be adjusted.

Referring back to Fig.s 1 and 2, the two front upright members 34 and 35 of trolley B are provided, at the level of the horizontal bar 22 of trolley A, with a pivoted connecting latch 60. As shown in more detail in Fig. 4, the latch includes a horizontal pivot rod 61 and a pair of hook elements 62 and 63. The hook elements are inset from the ends of the pivot rod 61, which are rotatably inserted into corresponding holes in the upright members 34 and 35. The hook elements each have parallel limbs 64 which project from the rod 61, leading into short down-turned sections 65 terminating in end sections 66 which are angled away from the pivot rod 62 thereby forming a pair of shallow angular knees 67.

A projecting handle 68 on one or both of the hook elements is provided to enable the operator to easily rotate the latch about the axis of the rod 61. Such rotation may be limited by contact of the handle 68 with the corresponding upright member 34 or 35.

When separated as in Fig. 1 the trolleys may be wheeled about and used independently of each other. However, when it is desired to move both of the trolleys from one place to another the rear trolley B may be pushed up to the rear of trolley A so that the front member 39 passes between the side members 9 and 10 of base frame 1, as shown in the lower inset detail of Fig. 3. In this position the side members 9 and 10 of the front trolley are aligned with, and make end-to-end contact with, the side members 42 and 43 of the rear trolley, thus providing a lower abutment. An upper abutment is provided by the top frame 33 which abuts the upright members 19 and 20 at the rear of the front trolley A, as shown in the upper inset detail of Fig. 3. It will be appreciated, however, that other means of abutment could be used. The two trolleys are thus positively located relative to one another, both in a front-rear direction and, due to the front of the rear base frame being nested within the rear base frame, in a side-to-side direction. In this condition the trolleys can be locked together by rotating the latch so that the hook elements 62 and 63 engage over the horizontal bar 22 of the front trolley A, as shown in Fig. 5. The angular knees 67 ensure that there is a positive snap-action to ensure proper engagement when the hooks spring over the bar 22.

The two trolleys can now be wheeled about as a single rigidly connected unit.

To separate the two trolleys the latch 60 is rotated to a raised position, as shown in Fig. 6, allowing the trolleys to be pulled apart.

The task of engaging the latch may be somewhat easier if, when not engaged, the latch 60 is biassed towards a generally horizontal position by means of oppositely-acting springs 70 and 71, as indicated in Fig. 5.

To ensure that the two trolleys always remain firmly connected and maintain good stability it is important that one trolley is unable to move vertically relative to the other, particularly, in this example, the lighter rear trolley. As shown in Fig. 7, this is achieved by providing a pair of vertical location tabs 81 and 82 which prolect inwardly from the top face of the side members 9 and 10 of trolley A. These tabs may be screwed or welded to the side members or held between the side members and the uprights 19 and 20 as shown. When the two trolleys are placed together the base frame of trolley B is prevented from lifting by contact between the tabs 81 and 82 and the limbs 40 and 41 which extend rearwards from the front member 39. Movement in the opposite direction may be prevented by engagement of the limbs 40 and 41 with bumpers 85 and 86 which cover the castor wheels 2, or any other suitable means.

Whilst the above description places emphasis on the areas which are believed to be new and addresses specific problems which have been identified, it is intended that the features disclosed herein may be used in any combination which is capable of providing a -10 -new and useful advance in the art.

* * * * * * * *

Claims

<claim-text>-11 -CLAIMS1. A pair of wheel-mounted manually movable trolleys having front and rear ends and provided with mutual location means and a pivoted latch arranged such that the trolleys can be brought together in a front-rear direction and joined by the latch enabling the trolleys to be moved as a single rigidly-connected unit, in which the pivoted latch is arranged to rotate about an axis which extends transverse to the front-rear direction and the latch includes a hook element which engages a detent fixed with the other trolley.</claim-text> <claim-text>2. A pair of trolleys according to Claim 1 in which the mutual location means provides relative location both in the front-rear direction and laterally from side to side.</claim-text> <claim-text>3. A pair of trolleys according to Claim 2 in which the mutual location means is also arranged to prevent one trolley from lifting relative to the other.</claim-text> <claim-text>4. A pair of trolleys according to any preceding claim in which the pivoted latch comprises a plurality of such hook elements.</claim-text> <claim-text>5. A pair of trolleys according to any preceding claim in which the detent comprises a transversely extending bar fixed with the other trolley.</claim-text> <claim-text>-12 - 6. A pair of trolleys according to Claim 5 in which the bar extends between a pair of upright members of the respective trolley.</claim-text> <claim-text>7. A pair of trolleys according to Claims 5 or 6 in which the hook element includes a knee which is arranged to provide positive engagement with the bar.</claim-text> <claim-text>8. A pair of trolleys according to any preceding claim in which the hook element projects from a pivot rod.</claim-text> <claim-text>9. A pair of trolleys according to Claim 8 in which opposite ends of the pivot rod are rotatably engaged with two upright members of the respective trolley.</claim-text> <claim-text>10. A pair of trolleys according to any preceding claim in which the pivoted latch is biassed to a rest position ready for engagement with the other trolley.</claim-text> <claim-text>11. A pair of trolleys according to any preceding claim in which each trolley comprises a base frame and a plurality of upright members upstanding from the base frame.</claim-text> <claim-text>12. A pair of trolleys according to Claim 11 in which each base frame is substantially U-shaped with an open rear end.</claim-text> <claim-text>13. A pair of trolleys according to Claim 12 in which the mutual location means comprises the base frame of a rear trolley which is -13 -configured to locate within the open rear end of the base frame of a front trolley.</claim-text> <claim-text>14. A pair of trolleys according to Claim 13 in which the base frame of the rear trolley comprises a U-shaped front member which is secured to the opposing faces of two side members.</claim-text> <claim-text>15. A pair of trolleys according to Claim 14 in which the base frame of the front trolley includes a pair of side members which, at the open rear end, abut the side members of the rear trolley.</claim-text> <claim-text>16. A pair of trolleys according to any of Claims 11 to 15 in which each base frame is formed of metal tube.</claim-text> <claim-text>17. A pair of trolleys according to any of Claims 11 to 15 in which each base frame is supported on castor-type wheels.</claim-text> <claim-text>18. A pair of trolleys according to any of Claims 11 to 17 in which the mutual location means includes the upright members of the two trolleys.</claim-text> <claim-text>19. A pair of trolleys according to Claim 18 in which the mutual location means comprises a top frame of the rear trolley which abuts the upright members of the front trolley when the two trolleys are connected together.</claim-text> <claim-text>20. A pair of trolleys according to Claim 3, in which the mutual location means comprise abutments which prevents one trolley -14 -from lifting relative to the other.</claim-text> <claim-text>21. A pair of trolleys according to Claim 20 in which the abutments are associated with one of the base frames.</claim-text> <claim-text>22. A pair of trolleys according to Claim 21 in which the abutments comprise projecting lugs which are arranged to engage the other base frame.</claim-text> <claim-text>23. A pair of wheel-mounted manually movable trolleys substantially as described with reference to the drawings.* * * * * * * *</claim-text>