GB2500240A

GB2500240A - Trolley for use with a pushchair

Info

Publication number: GB2500240A
Application number: GB201204577A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Brenda Heron
Original assignee: PATHWAYS TO COMM Ltd
Current assignee: PATHWAYS TO COMM Ltd
Priority date: 2012-03-15
Filing date: 2012-03-15
Publication date: 2013-09-18
Anticipated expiration: 2032-03-15
Also published as: GB201204577D0; GB2500240B

Abstract

A trolley 1 for use with a pushchair comprises a first leg assembly 20 comprising one or more wheels 23; a second leg assembly 30 comprising one or more wheels 33; a handle assembly 40 disposed between the leg assemblies; a pushchair receiving region 50 for receiving a pushchair, the receiving region being bounded by the leg assemblies and the handle assembly. The trolley further comprises one or more releasable connectors 25, 35 for connecting the trolley to a pushchair receivable within the receiving region. The first leg assembly comprises one or more than one carrier assembly 100a for receiving articles therein, the at least one carrier assembly being located on an outside of the first leg assembly, thereby outside the receiving region. The handle assembly comprises one or both of: (a) a width adjusting component 41 configurable to adjust the width of the handle assembly such that the width between the leg assemblies is adjustable to provide a wider or narrower receiving region; and (b) a height adjusting component 21, 31 configurable to adjust the height of the leg assemblies such that the height of the handle assembly is adjustable to provide a taller or shorter receiving region.

Description

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Trolley for use with pushchair

Technical Field

5 A trolley for use with a pushchair.

Background

10 Users of pushchairs generally need to push the pushchair with two hands in order to exercise sufficient control over the pushchair. Similarly, users of shopping trolleys generally need to push the trolley with two hands in order to exercise sufficient control over the shopping trolley. This presents a problem when a user, having only two hands, wishes to use both a pushchair and a shopping trolley.

15

One potential solution to this problem is to provide a specialist shopping trolley which includes a space for a child to sit or lie. This approach presents other problems, including what to do with a pushchair (i.e. where to leave it securely) while using the specialist trolley. In addition, it can be inconvenient to transfer a child from a pushchair to a specialist 20 trolley in the event that the child is asleep since the act of transferring the child may cause the child to be disturbed or woken.

Another potential solution to the problem is to use a shopping basket rather than a shopping trolley and perhaps to hang the basket over one of more of the handles of the 25 pushchair. This, however, makes controlling of the pushchair more difficult and raises the risk that the entire pushchair becomes unbalanced, possibly to the extent that the pushchair topples over, especially in the event that the child leaves the pushchair.

Other approaches to this problem have included the provision of a trolley which attaches to 30 the pushchair so that the user has to push either only the trolley or only the pushchair. An example of such an arrangement may be seen in GB 2 438 095. This document discloses a four-wheeled trolley which attaches to the rear of the handles of the pushchair. The user then leans over the trolley in order to push the handles of the pushchair. Pushing the pushchair causes the trolley to follow. This arrangement presents further difficulties. For 35 example, leaning over a shopping trolley to reach the handles of the pushchair can be exceedingly uncomfortable. In addition, the location of the trolley between the user and the

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pushchair introduces a distance between the user and the child preventing the user from watching and interacting with the child. Furthermore, the rigid nature of the trolley chassis and trolley container mean that (a) the trolley is not adjustable for use with a wide range of pushchairs and (b) the trolley cannot be nested with similar trolleys which means that the 5 trolleys take up substantial space when not in use.

Summary of the disclosure

10 Against this background there is provided a trolley for use with a pushchair, the trolley comprising:

a first leg assembly comprising one or more first leg wheels;

a second leg assembly comprising one or more second leg wheels;

a handle assembly disposed between the first leg assembly and the second leg 15 assembly;

a pushchair receiving region for receiving a pushchair, the pushchair receiving region being bounded by the first leg assembly, the second leg assembly and the handle assembly;

one or more releasable connectors for connecting the trolley to a pushchair 20 receivable within the pushchair receiving region; wherein the first leg assembly comprises one or more than one carrier assembly for receiving articles therein, the at least one carrier assembly being located on an outside of the first leg assembly thereby outside the pushchair receiving region.

25 Advantageously, this allows for a trolley which is easily connected to a pushchair to allow the user comfortably to push the trolley and pushchair together as a single controllable wheeled vehicle. Furthermore, it avoids the introduction of a large distance between the user and a child in the pushchair. It avoids the need to transfer a child from a pushchair to a specialist trolley. It allows for a safe and stable means to transport a child and a 30 shopping trolley together. Additionally, in the event that the pushchair comprises a basket behind or beneath a seat portion of the pushchair, the trolley does not hinder access to the basket from the rear of the pushchair.

35

Preferably, the carrier assembly comprises at least one collapsible containment portion which allows the carrier assembly to be at least partially collapsible.

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Advantageously, this means that the trolley occupies a smaller space when the carrier assembly and/or the trolley is not in use.

Preferably, the second leg assembly comprises at least one carrier assembly for receiving 5 and carrying articles therein.

Advantageously, this provides for more space for the carrying of articles in the trolley.

Preferably, the handle assembly comprises a width adjusting component, such as a 10 telescopic adjuster, configurable to adjust the width of the handle assembly such that the width between the first leg assembly and the second leg assembly is adjustable to provide a wider or narrower pushchair receiving region and/or each of the first and second leg assemblies comprises a height adjusting component, such as a telescopic adjuster, configurable to adjust the height of the first and second leg assemblies such that the height 15 of the handle assembly is adjustable to provide a taller or shorter pushchair receiving region.

Advantageously, this allows the trolley to be easily adjusted for use with a variety of different pushchairs, prams, buggies, wheelchairs and other such similar devices.

20

Preferably, the first leg assembly comprises a first leg beam and the second leg assembly comprises a second leg beam, each of the first and second leg beams having its major axis parallel to a surface upon which the one or more wheels of the first and second leg assemblies contact in use, each beam comprising one of the one or more wheels 25 proximate a first end of the beam and a further one of the one or more wheels proximate a second end of the beam opposite the first end of the beam.

Advantageously, this provides for a stable trolley even when independent of a pushchair.

30 Preferably, the first leg beam is at an acute angle from a direction perpendicular to the handle assembly and the second leg beam is at an acute angle from a direction perpendicular to the handle assembly such that the first and second leg beams are non-parallel in order to allow for nesting of multiple trolleys.

35 Advantageously, this allows a plurality of trolleys according to the disclosure to be nested when not in use so as to minimise the space occupied by the said trolleys.

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Preferably, the first end of each of the first leg beam and the second leg beam comprises one wheel and wherein the second end of each of the first leg beam and the second leg beam comprises two wheels and/or at least one of the one or more wheels is a castor 5 wheel which allows rotation through 360 °.

Advantageously, this maximises manoeuvrability of the trolley.

Preferably, at least one of the one or more than one carrier assemblies comprises a 10 releasable catch having a first position and a second position, wherein in the first position the releasable catch is configured to retain the at least one of the one or more than one carrier assemblies in the closed carrier configuration; and in the second position the releasable catch is configured to release the at least one of the one or more than one carrier assemblies into the open carrier configuration.

15

Advantageously, the carrier assembly is easily switched between the open and the closed configurations.

Embodiments of the disclosure will now be described, by way of example only, with 20 reference to the accompanying drawing in which:

Brief description of the drawings

25 Figure 1 shows a perspective view of trolley for use with a pushchair, the trolley in accordance with the disclosure;

Figure 2 shows a rear view of the trolley of Figure 1;

30 Figure 3 shows a front view of the trolley of Figure 1;

Figure 4 shows a top view of the trolley of Figure 1;

Figure 5 shows a bottom view of the trolley of Figure 1;

35

Figure 6 shows a side view of the trolley of Figure 1;

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Figure 7 shows a side view of the trolley of Figure 1, opposite to the side shown in Figure 6;

5 Figure 8 shows a perspective view of the trolley of Figure 1 in use with a pushchair; and

Figure 9 shows a perspective view of a row of nested trolleys each of the kind shown in Figure 1.

10

Detailed description

Figure 1 shows an embodiment of the trolley 1 for use with a pushchair 1000, the trolley 1 being in accordance with the disclosure.

15

The trolley 1 comprises a first leg assembly 20, a second leg assembly 30 and a handle assembly 40 disposed between the first leg assembly 20 and a second leg assembly 30. A pushchair receiving region 50 is bounded by the first leg assembly 20, the second leg assembly 30 and the handle assembly 40. The pushchair receiving region 50 is suitable 20 for receiving a variety of differently sized pushchairs.

The handle assembly 40 comprises one or more telescopically adjustable adjusters 41 for adjusting the width of the handle assembly 40 and thereby adjusting the distance between the first and second leg assemblies 20, 30. This allows the width of the pushchair receiving 25 region 50 to be altered. In a similar fashion, each leg assembly 20, 30 comprises a telescopically adjustable height adjuster 21, 31 for adjusting the height of the first and second leg assemblies 20, 30 thereby adjusting the height of the handle assembly 40. This allows the height of the pushchair receiving region 50 to be altered. By enabling adjustment of the height and width of the pushchair receiving region 50, the trolley 1 is 30 suitable for use with a broad range of pushchairs.

The handle assembly 40 comprises a handle portion 42 by which the user may push the trolley 1 and thereby control its movement.

35 The trolley 1 comprises two releasable connectors 25, 35 best shown in Figures 2 to 5. In the illustrated embodiment, one such releasable connector 25 is included as part of the first

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leg assembly 20 while the second such releasable connector 35 is included as part of the second leg assembly 30. The first releasable connector 25 comprises a pair of handles 26, which when moved together release opposing jaws 27 of a spring-loaded clip. Releasing the handles 26 causes the spring-loaded jaws 27 to close. Similarly, the second releasable 5 connector 35 comprises a pair of handles 36, which when moved together release opposing jaws 37 of a spring-loaded clip. Releasing the handles 36 causes the spring-loaded jaws 37 to close.

In the illustrated embodiment, each of the first and second leg assemblies 20, 30 10 comprises a carrier assembly 100a, 100b. Each carrier assembly 100a, 100b is located on an outside of its respective leg assembly 20, 30, and is thereby outside the pushchair receiving region 50.

The first leg assembly 20 further comprises a first leg 24 and a first leg beam 22 which is 15 disposed at an acute angle with respect to a direction perpendicular to the handle assembly 40. At a first (front) end of the first leg beam 22 is disposed a castor wheel 23a. Two castor wheels 23b are disposed at a second (rear) end of the first leg beam 22. Similarly, the second leg assembly 30 further comprises a second leg 34 and a second leg beam 32 which is disposed at an acute angle with respect to a direction perpendicular to 20 the handle assembly 40. A single castor wheel 33a is disposed at a first (front) end of the second leg beam 32 and a pair of castor wheels 33b is located at a second (rear) end of the second leg beam 32. The acute angle of the first and second leg beams 22, 32 with respect to a direction perpendicular to the handle assembly 40 means that the leg beams 22, 32 taper inward from a rear to a front of the trolley 1. This allows for multiple trollies to 25 be nested for storage.

The carrier assemblies 100a, 100b of the illustrated embodiment are collapsible. Each carrier assembly 100a, 100b comprises an inner panel 112 for connection to its respective leg assembly 20, 30. Each carrier assembly 100a, 100b further comprises a substantially 30 rigid plastic outer panel 114 which is hingedly connected at its lower end to its respective leg assembly 20, 30. Each carrier assembly 100a, 100b further comprises first and second mesh side panels 110 disposed between the inner panel 112 and the outer panel 114.

Each of the first and second mesh side panels 110 is connected at one edge to the inner panel 112 and at another edge to the outer panel 114. When the outer panel 114 is hinged 35 outwards the mesh side panels 110 retain the outer panel 114 relative to the inner panel 112 so as to form an enclosure bounded by the inner panel 112, the outer panel 114 and

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the first and second mesh side panels 110. There is also a mesh base panel 118 to provide a substantially horizontal surface at the bottom of the interior of the carrier assembly 100a, 100b. In this manner there is provided an open carrier configuration of the carrier assembly 100a, 100b such as is suitable for holding articles including those which 5 may be purchased in supermarkets.

When not in use, the carrier assemblies 100a, 100b can be compressed into a closed carrier configuration. For the closed carrier configuration, the outer panel 114 is hinged towards the inner panel 112 causing the mesh side panels 110 and the mesh base panel 10 118 to compress and/or concertina or otherwise bend such that the outer panel 114 sits largely proximate and parallel to the inner panel 112.

Each carrier assembly 100a, 100b comprises a retainer 116 mounted on its respective leg assembly 20, 30. The retainer 116 has a first rotational position and a second rotatable 15 position. In the first rotational position, the retainer 116 cannot pass through an aperture in the outer panel 114. The outer panel 114 can thereby be locked in position approximately parallel to the inner panel 112 using the retainer 116. This maintains the carrier assembly 100a, 100b in the closed position. In the second rotational position, the retainer 116 can pass through the aperture in the outer panel 114. Rotation of the releasable retainer 116 20 from the first rotational position to the second rotational position allows the releasable retainer to pass through the aperture in the outer panel 114. This allows the outer panel 114 to hinge away from the inner panel 112 such that the carrier assembly 100a, 100b moves into the open configuration.

25 In use, a user obtains a trolley 1, perhaps from a nested row of trollies such as that shown in Figure 9. The user adjusts the handle assembly 40 of the trolley 1 to the appropriate height for their pushchair 1000 using the telescopic adjusters 21, 31 on the first and second leg assemblies 20, 30. The user also adjusts the trolley 1 to the appropriate width for their pushchair 1000 using the telescopic adjuster 41 of the handle assembly 40.

30

Once the trolley 1 is appropriately adjusted, the user aligns the trolley 1 with their pushchair 1000 such that at least a rear portion of the pushchair 1000 is received within the pushchair receiving region 50. The user uses the first and second releasable connectors 25, 35 to connect the trolley to first and second handles, respectively, of the pushchair 1000. Once 35 the jaws 27, 37 of each releasable connector 25, 35 are gripping the handles or other suitable component(s) of the pushchair 1000, the user may use the handle portion 42 of the

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handle assembly 40 of the trolley 1 to control not only the trolley 1 but also the pushchair 1000 which is received into the pushchair receiving region 50 and retained therein by the releasable connectors 25, 35.

5 Figure 8 shows a typical pushchair 1000 when attached to the trolley 1.

The user can rotate the retainer 116 of one or both carrier assemblies 100a, 100b from the first rotational position to the second rotational position in order to release one or both carrier assemblies from the closed configuration to the open configuration. In the open 10 configuration, each carrier assembly can be used, for example, to hold provisions collected while browsing in a supermarket.

Various amendments and modifications to the illustrated embodiment may be made without falling outside the scope of the claims.

15

For example, different means for adjustment of the height and width of the pushchair receiving region 50 will be contemplated by the skilled person. The disclosure is not limited to the use of telescopic height and width adjustment.

20 Different releasable connectors 25, 35 are also contemplated. Examples include hook and loop fastenings, loops, resilient C-shaped clips, etc. Furthermore, different arragements of, numbers of and positions of releasable connectors 116 are also within the scope of the disclosure. It is necessary only that there is a feature which allows each carrier assembly 100a, 100b to be retained in the closed position when not in use. This may, for example, 25 simply be achieved by one or more biasing means.

The number and configuration of the carrier assemblies 100a, 100b can be altered. In particular, it is possible to have an entirely rigid carrier assembly 100a, 100b or an entirely flexible carrier assembly 100a, 100b or a carrier assembly 100a, 100b with any 30 combination of flexible and/or rigid components. Furthermore, it is possible to have a carrier assembly 100a, 100b which expands and contracts by means other than being hingedly connected. For example, the carrier assembly 100a, 100b may compress in a concertina fashion wherein the outer panel 114 of the carrier assembly 100a, 100b is parallel to the inner panel 112 of the carrier assembly 100a, 100b in both the closed and 35 the open carrier configurations.

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In short, the carrier assemblies are not necessarily collapsible and, if they are collapsible, may be collapsible by any means, not limited to collapsible mesh.

Different embodiments of leg assembly 20, 30 are also contemplated. For example, the leg 5 assemblies 20, 30 may comprise more than a substantially vertical leg 24, 34 and a substantially horizontal beam 22, 32. Instead, the leg assemblies might adopt a triangular form, for example.

Different numbers of wheels and different positions of wheels are also contemplated. 10 While the illustrated embodiment shows castors, any kind of wheel may be contemplated as long as it provides sufficient manoeuvrability. For example, a ball type wheel having a more spherical than cylindrical form may be employed in place of one or more castors.

While the trolley 1 is shown in Figure 8 in use with a particular style of pushchair 1000 15 having two handles, the trolley 1 is also appropriate for use with a considerable range of other styles of pushchair. Other pushchairs with which the trolley 1 is suitable for use include those having a single handle (i.e. a handle bar) by connecting the releasable connectors 25, 35 (or alternative releasable connectors) to other appropriate components of the pushchair.

20

While, in the illustrated embodiment, the releasable connectors 25, 35 are located on the first and second leg assemblies 20, 30, the releasable connectors 25, 35 might be located anywhere else on the trolley 1 so long as they are suitable for connecting the trolley 1 to a pushchair 1000. Furthermore, the disclosure is not limited to requiring two releasable 25 connectors.

By providing a nestable trolley 1 with carrier assemblies 100a, 100b storable in a closed configuration, this allows for easy and space-saving storage of multiple trolleys 1 according to the disclosure when not in use. This is illustrated in Figure 9.

30

Height and width adjustability of the trolley 1 renders it suitable for use with a variety of different pushchairs, wheelchairs and other wheeled devices.

35

While the word pushchair is used throughout this specification, is it to be understood that the trolley of the disclosure is for use with any wheeled device, not necessarily limited to a pushchair. Other terms for pushchair include (but are not limited to) buggy, stroller,

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perambulator, pram and baby carriage. Furthermore, the trolley 1 may be equally suitable for use with a wheelchair.

Similarly, while the term shopping trolley is used throughout this specification, it is to be 5 understood that the term shopping trolley may be substituted by any of the terms shopping cart, carriage, trundler, wagon or similar.

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Claims

Claims

1. A trolley for use with a pushchair, the trolley comprising:

a first leg assembly comprising one or more first leg wheels;

5 a second leg assembly comprising one or more second leg wheels;

a handle assembly disposed between the first leg assembly and the second leg assembly;

a pushchair receiving region for receiving a pushchair, the pushchair receiving region being bounded by the first leg assembly, the second leg assembly and the handle 10 assembly;

one or more releasable connectors for connecting the trolley to a pushchair receivable within the pushchair receiving region; wherein the first leg assembly comprises one or more than one carrier assembly for receiving articles therein, the at least one carrier assembly being located on an outside of 15 the first leg assembly thereby outside the pushchair receiving region.

2. The trolley of claim 1 wherein the carrier assembly comprises at least one collapsible containment portion which allows the carrier assembly to be at least partially collapsible.

20

3. The trolley of any preceding claim wherein the second leg assembly comprises at least one carrier assembly for receiving and carrying articles therein.

4. The trolley of any preceding claim wherein the handle assembly comprises a width 25 adjusting component, such as a telescopic adjuster, configurable to adjust the width of the handle assembly such that the width between the first leg assembly and the second leg assembly is adjustable to provide a wider or narrower pushchair receiving region.

5. The trolley of any preceding claim wherein each of the first and second leg 30 assemblies comprises a height adjusting component, such as a telescopic adjuster,

configurable to adjust the height of the first and second leg assemblies such that the height of the handle assembly is adjustable to provide a taller or shorter pushchair receiving region.

35 6. The trolley of any preceding claim wherein the first leg assembly comprises a first leg beam and the second leg assembly comprises a second leg beam, each of the first and

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second leg beams having its major axis parallel to a surface upon which the one or more wheels of the first and second leg assemblies contact in use, each beam comprising one of the one or more wheels proximate a first end of the beam and a further one of the one or more wheels proximate a second end of the beam opposite the first end of the beam.

5

7. The trolley of claim 6 wherein the first leg beam is at an acute angle from a direction perpendicular to the handle assembly and the second leg beam is at an acute angle from a direction perpendicular to the handle assembly such that the first and second leg beams are non-parallel in order to allow for nesting of multiple trolleys.

10

8. The trolley of claim 6 or claim 7 wherein the first end of each of the first leg beam and the second leg beam comprises one wheel and wherein the second end of each of the first leg beam and the second leg beam comprises two wheels.

15 9. The trolley of any preceding claim wherein at least one of the one or more wheels is a castor wheel which allows rotation through 360 °.

10. The trolley of any preceding claim wherein at least one of the one or more than one carrier assemblies comprises:

20 an inner panel connected to the first leg assembly,

a substantially rigid plastic outer panel which is hingedly connected at its lower end to the first leg assembly;

first and second side panels disposed between the inner panel and the outer panel; such that the first and second side panels retain the outer panel relative to the inner 25 panel when the outer panel is hinged outwardly with respect to the inner panel thereby to form an enclosure bounded by the inner panel, the outer panel, and the first and second side panels so as to provide an open carrier configuration, and wherein the first and second side panels compress so as to substantially compress the enclosure when the outer panel is hinged inwardly with respect to the inner panel so as 30 to provide a closed carrier configuration.

11. The trolley of claim 10 wherein the first and/or second side panels are mesh.

12. The trolley of claim 10 or claim 11 wherein at least one of the one or more than one 35 carrier assemblies comprises a releasable catch having a first position and a second position, wherein:

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in the first position the releasable catch is configured to retain the at least one of the one or more than one carrier assemblies in the closed carrier configuration; and in the second position the releasable catch is configured to release the at least one of the one or more than one carrier assemblies into the open carrier configuration.

5

13. The trolley of any preceding claim wherein, in use with a pushchair, the at least one carrier assembly is located at least partially alongside a seat portion of the pushchair.

14. A trolley assembly comprising the trolley of any preceding claim and a pushchair.

10

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

14

Amendmnts to the claims have been filed as follows

Claims

1. A trolley for use with a pushchair, the trolley comprising:

a first leg assembly comprising one or more first leg wheels;

5 a second leg assembly comprising one or more second leg wheels;

a handle assembly disposed between the first leg assembly and the second leg assembly;

a pushchair receiving region for receiving a pushchair, the pushchair receiving region being bounded by the first leg assembly, the second leg assembly and the handle 10 assembly;

one or more releasable connectors for connecting the trolley to a pushchair receivable within the pushchair receiving region; wherein the first leg assembly comprises one or more than one carrier assembly for receiving articles therein, the at least one carrier assembly being located on an outside of 15 the first leg assembly, thereby outside the pushchair receiving region; and wherein the handle assembly comprises one or both of:

(a) a width adjusting component configurable to adjust the width of the handle assembly such that the width between the first leg assembly and the second leg assembly is adjustable to provide a wider or narrower pushchair receiving region; and C3 20 (b) a height adjusting component configurable to adjust the height of the first and second leg assemblies such that the height of the handle assembly is adjustable to provide a taller or shorter pushchair receiving region.

2. The trolley of claim 1 wherein the carrier assembly comprises at least one 25 collapsible containment portion which allows the carrier assembly to be at least partially collapsible.

CM

CO

3. The trolley of any preceding claim wherein the second leg assembly comprises at least one carrier assembly for receiving and carrying articles therein.

30

4. The trolley of any preceding claim wherein, where present, the width adjusting component comprises a telescopic adjuster.

5. The trolley of any preceding claim wherein, where present, the height adjusting 35 component comprises a telescopic adjuster.

15

CM

6. The trolley of any preceding claim wherein the first leg assembly comprises a first leg beam and the second leg assembly comprises a second leg beam, each of the first and second leg beams having its major axis parallel to a surface upon which the one or more wheels of the first and second leg assemblies contact in use, each beam comprising one of

5 the one or more wheels proximate a first end of the beam and a further one of the one or more wheels proximate a second end of the beam opposite the first end of the beam.

7. The trolley of claim 6 wherein the first leg beam is at an acute angle from a direction perpendicular to the handle assembly and the second leg beam is at an acute angle from a

10 direction perpendicular to the handle assembly such that the first and second leg beams are non-parallel in order to allow for nesting of multiple trolleys.

8. The trolley of claim 6 or claim 7 wherein the first end of each of the first leg beam and the second leg beam comprises one wheel and wherein the second end of each of the

15 first leg beam and the second leg beam comprises two wheels.

9. The trolley of any preceding claim wherein at least one of the one or more wheels is a castor wheel which allows rotation through 360 °.

20 10. The trolley of any preceding claim wherein at least one of the one or more than one

CO

* carrier assemblies comprises:

an inner panel connected to the first leg assembly,

a substantially rigid plastic outer panel which is hingedly connected at its lower end to the first leg assembly;

25 first and second side panels disposed between the inner panel and the outer panel;

such that the first and second side panels retain the outer panel relative to the inner panel when the outer panel is hinged outwardly with respect to the inner panel thereby to form an enclosure bounded by the inner panel, the outer panel, and the first and second side panels so as to provide an open carrier configuration, and 30 wherein the first and second side panels compress so as to substantially compress the enclosure when the outer panel is hinged inwardly with respect to the inner panel so as to provide a closed carrier configuration.

11. The trolley of claim 10 wherein the first and/or second side panels are mesh.

35

16

AMENDMENTS TO THE CLAIMS FILED AS FOLLOWS:-

12. The trolley of claim 10 or claim 11 wherein at least one of the one or more than one carrier assemblies comprises a releasable catch having a first position and a second position, wherein:

in the first position the releasable catch is configured to retain the at least one of the 5 one or more than one carrier assemblies in the closed carrier configuration; and in the second position the releasable catch is configured to release the at least one of the one or more than one carrier assemblies into the open carrier configuration.

13. The trolley of any preceding claim wherein, in use with a pushchair, the at least one 10 carrier assembly is located at least partially alongside a seat portion of the pushchair.

14. A trolley assembly comprising the trolley of any preceding claim and a pushchair.

15. A trolley substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the 15 accompanying drawings.

CM

O CO