GB2506137A

GB2506137A - Trolley with shopping basket support

Info

Publication number: GB2506137A
Application number: GB201216826A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kumar Varma
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2012-09-20
Filing date: 2012-09-20
Publication date: 2014-03-26
Also published as: GB201216826D0

Abstract

A trolley with a fold down shopping basket stabilising unit (2) for supporting a metal or plastics shopping basket (5) provided by retail stores. The trolley has an adjustable clip (3) to hold the shopping basket (5) in a secure position. The trolley can be pushed or pulled by a handle (4) and is easy to manoeuvre using wheels (9, 10). When shopping is complete, the shopping basket (5) is returned to the store and the goods are put into a storage bag (7) at the base of the trolley. The trolley is wheeled home with the shopping. The trolley may be stored flat for convenience.

Description

I

A TROLLY COMPRISING

A SHOPPING BASKET STABILISING UNIT

This invention relates to a trolley and, more especially, this invention relates to a trolley with a shopping basket stabilising unit.

For the convenience of customers, conventional metal and plastics trolleys and baskets are provided in most retail stores. The trolley and baskets are not meant to be taken off the premises. For large purchases, the trolleys are wheeled around the stores, so that customers do not struggle with the weight of their shopping. At a checkout, the trolleys are emptied and the customer then carries their purchases in bags. The trolleys are stored. The stored trolleys take up valuable space.

For smaller purchases, baskets are supplied with handles. Customers with a smaller amount of shopping can then carry the basket around the store with their purchases inside the basket. Often purchases can be heavier than anticipated. Also, carrying a basket often becomes uncomfortable. Further, the time between arrival at a store and reaching a checkout can be long, causing unnecessary strains. Many stores now only offer customers shopping baskets to carry around Many customers shop at stores within a kilometre of their homes.

Many customers have to carry heavy bags of 3 -8 kilos of purchases back to their homes, and at a frequency of more than three times a week. This causes fatigue and strains. The majority of customers are female. There is a growing market of shoppers that are retired and elderly.

It is an aim of the present invention to improve known trolleys, and to facilitate the carrying of a shopping basket within stores.

Accordingly, in one non-limiting embodiment of the present invention there is provided a trolley comprising a shopping basket stabilising unit, the shopping basket stabilising unit including arms which are fixed to a frame of the trolley, and the arms being such that they fold down to support a shopping basket.

The trolley of the present invention is advantageous in that it facilitates the carrying of a shopping basket within a store. After goods are purchased, the basket is able to be returned. A customer is able to pack their purchases in a storage bag and walk home with ease, using the trolley of the present invention.

The stores may be any suitable and appropriate stores such for example as convenience stores, supermarkets, DIY stores, pharmacies, department stores, and garden centres.

The trolley may be made from a metal or a plastics material. The shopping basket may be made from a metal or a plastics material. The shopping basket may carry the purchases of customers to a checkout counter for payment.

-The trolley may be one in which the folding arms hold a basket at approximately waist height. The folding arms may also hold a bag at waist height to contain all the purchases.

The trolley may be one in which the arms are lockable arms.

The trolley may be one in which the frame is an adjustable frame to* suit the height of a variety of shopping baskets The trolley may include a vertically adjustable clip to hold the shopping basket secure in place.

the trolley may include wheels that can manoeuvre around stores.

There may be three or four of the wheels. The trolley may then be easily pulled or pushed using a grab handle on the trolley. The trolley may enable the easy carrying of the shopping and the taking of the shopping to a person's home or other establishment.

The trolley may include a storage bag for keeping the shopping secure after the shopping has been purchased. The storage bag may be a removable storage bag.

The shopping trolley may be one which folds flat when it is not in use.

The shopping trolley may include the shopping basket.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a front view of a trolley; Figure 2 is a side view of the trolley shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a front view of an alternative trolley of the present invention; Figure 4 is a front view of a further alternative trolley of the present invention; Figure 5 is a front perspective view of part of a further alternative trolley of the present invention; and Figure 6 is a front perspective view of a further alternative trolley of the present invention.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, there is shown a trolley of the present invention. The trolley has wheels 9, 10. The advantage of the trolley is that it is able to provide a customer with their own upright trolley to push or pull to a store, using grab handles 4. On arrival at the store, the customer simply has to unlock folding arms 2, adjust the height of a frame 1, and place a metal or plastics store basket 5 on the.arms 2.

The basket 5 is held securely by a spring loaded adjustable clip 3, at a top handle of the trolley.

The trolley is able to be manoeuvred around a store by the large rear wheels 9, and the small front 360° rotational casters 10. These are supported on a folding base frame 8.

When at a checkout counter, the basket 5 is able to be removed and purchases are able to be packed into a storage bag 7, at a lower compartment of the trolley. The storage bag 7 is provided with pockets. The storage bag 7 is removable for cleaning.

The trolley is easy to navigate to a person's home. The purchases are easily able to be removed. The trolley may then be collapsed and stored flat.

Figure 3 shows an alternative embodiment of the present invention in which a single vertical adjustable frame 11 is a panel construction with flat support arms 13.

Figure 4 shows an alternative embodiment of the present invention in which a single vertical adjustable frame 12 is of a tubular construction with a cross bar to support tubular arms 13.

Figure 6 shows an alternative embodiment of the present invention in which a base frame 15 is of a triangular construction with three wheels. The wheels are large rear wheels and a 360° single front wheel 16 for easier manoeuvrability Figure 6 shows a further alternative embodiment of the present invention in which a clip 17 is used to secure the basket. The clip 17 is adjustable up and down. The clip 17 is then able to be fixed in a desired position. The trolley frame has an adjustable frame part 18. A storage back 21 is fixed to fold down arms.

The trolley of the present invention is able to be owned by a customer and wheeled to the store. The trolley may be empty or it may already have some purchases in a storage bag. On arrival, the folding arms are locked down in position and the basket is placed on the top of the arms. So that the basket is secure, there is provided an adjustable spring clip to hold the basket in position. The customer wheels the trolley around the store, filling the basket with purchases. At a checkout, the basket is returned to the store and the purchases placed into the storage bag at the lower part of the trolley. The trolley is then wheeled home with the goods purchased. After the bag is * emptied, the trolley can be collapsed and easily Stored away.

It is to be appreciated that the embodiments of the invention described above with reference to the accompanying drawings have been given by way of example only and that modifications may be effected. Individual components shown in the drawings are not limited to use in their drawings and they may be used in other drawings and in all aspects of the invention.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A trolley comprising a shopping basket stabilising unit, the shopping basket stabilising unit including arms which are fixed to a frame of the trolley, and the arms being such that they fold down to support a shopping basket.
2. A trolley according to claim 1 in which the arms are lockable arms.
3. A trolley according to claim I or claim 2 in which the frame is an adjustable frame to suit the height of a variety of shopping baskets.
4. A trolley according to any one of the preceding claims and including a vertically adjustable clip to hold the shopping basket secure in place.
5. A trolley according to any one of the preceding claims and including wheels that can manoeuvre around stores.
6. A trolley according to claim 5 in which there are three or four of the wheels.
7. A trolley according to any one of the preceding claims that can be pulled or pushed easily using a grab handle.
8. A trolley according to any one of the preceding claims that can easily carry shopping and be taken home.
9. A trolley according to any one of the preceding claims and including a storage bag for keeping shopping secure after the shopping has been purchased.
10. A trolley according to claim 9 in which the storage bag is a removable storage bag.
11. A trolley according to any one of the preceding claims and that folds down flat when not in use.
12. A trolley according to any one of the preceding claims and including the shopping basket.
13. A trolley according to claim 12 in which the shopping basket is made of a metal or a plastics material.
14. A trolley substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.Amendments to the Claims have been filed as followsCLAIMS1. A trolley comprising a shopping basket stabilising unit, the shopping basket stabilising unit including arms which are fixed to a frame of the trolley, and which are such that they fold down to support a shopping basket by a springloaded adjustable clip attached to an adjustable frame to hold the shopping basket secure in place.2. A trolley according to claim 1 in which the arms are lockable arms.3. A trolley according to claim 1 or claim 2 in which the frame is an adjustable frame to suit the height of a variety of shopping baskets.4. A trolley according to any one of the preceding claims and including wheels that can manoeuvre around stores.* . 5. A trolley according to claim 4 in which there are three or four of theSwheels. S. * . .6-A trolley according to any one of the preceding claims that can be *SSS pulled or pushed easily using a grab handle.S *S.S7. A trolley according to any one of the preceding claims that can easily carry shopping and be taken home.8. A trolley according to any one of the preceding claims and including a storage bag for keeping shopping secure after the shopping has been purchased.9. A trolley according to claim 8 in which the storage bag is a removable storage bag.10-A trolley according to any one of the preceding claims and that folds down flat when not in use.11. A trolley according to any one of the preceding claims and including the shopping basket.12. A trolley according to claim 11 in which the shopping basket is made of * * 0 * . a metal or a plastics material. * * 0: :* 13. A trolley substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. * **** *0*