GB2591443A - A directional wheel stop - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a directional wheel stop 100. The direction wheel stop when in use is in contact with the ground. The wheel stop has a recess 10 defined in its body with an opening at an upper surface. The recess is arranged to receive and retain at least one wheel. At least two ramps 20 are formed in the body of the wheel stop that define channels for guiding the at least one wheel to and from the recess. The recess has at least one drain hole 15 is provided in the recess to allow liquid to escape therefrom. The ramp may be tapered from a perimeter edge of the wheel stop to provide a lateral guide to the wheel and may have sidewalls 25. The recess may be concave in order to guide the wheel. The wheel stop may feature at least one aperture for receiving a securing mean. The wheel stop may also be made of recycled material and be formed from luminescent material or have reflective means. In other embodiments the wheel stop may comprise magnetic means of securing the wheel.

Description

A directional wheel stop

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a directional wheel stop, in particular but not exclusively a directional wheel stop for holding a shopping trolley alongside a vehicle.

Background

When using a trolley it is often important to be able to fix the trolley in a location to prevent movement whilst the trolley is loaded or unloaded. Traditionally this may be achieved by a brake which locks at least one of the wheels so that the trolley is prevented from moving.

Such braking mechanisms can increase the cost and weight of the trolley, therefore many trolleys, such as shopping trolleys are not fitted with such mechanism. As a result a user is usually forced to hold the trolley in position during loading and unloading, in particular where the ground is uneven or not level and the trolley is liable to roll if unattended. If the trolley rolls away when unattended there is a high risk of potential damage to nearby items such a vehicles and a risk of injury people or animals.

Attempts are often made to fit simple, cheap brakes, however these are often 25 difficult to use or prone to failure, leading to the same problems mentioned above.

Prior Art

EP2889202 (HOCKER) discloses a roll-away protection for trolleys that is mounted on the floor that is circular, has a raised edge and a recess.

USD817161 (HAMANN) discloses an ornamental design for a caster wheel lock.

The present invention provides a means to direct a wheel to a location in 5 which it sits whilst the trolley is locked in position.

Summary of the Invention

According to the present invention there is provided a directional wheel stop having a body which when in use is in contact with the ground; a recess is defined by an opening at an upper surface in the body, the recess is dimensioned and arranged to receive and retain at least one wheel; and at least two ramps are formed in the body at opposing locations extending along an upper surface of the body, the ramps defining channels for guiding the at least one wheel to and from the recess; wherein at least one drain hole is provided in the recess to allow liquid to escape therefrom.

In this way a trolley user can secure a trolley wheel in the recess of the wheel 20 stop in order to prevent the trolley from rolling away whilst being loaded or unloaded. For example whilst the contents of a shopping trolley are unloaded to a vehicle.

Preferably the wheel stop is arranged adjacent to the loading or unloading 25 location. For example a wheel stop may be arranged at each parking space.

The wheel stop has two opposed ramps along which at least one wheel is rolled to or from the recess.

The two separate ramps may define an entrance ramp and an exit ramp. In this way a wheel can be rolled up a first ramp and down a second ramp which enables the wheel to enter and leave the wheel stop travelling in one direction.

In order to remove the wheel from the recess force must be applied in order for the wheel to be rolled over the lip of the recess and onto one of the ramps.

Preferably the ramp is tapered from a perimeter edge of the wheel stop to the end of the ramp that is adjacent to the recess to provide a lateral guide to the at least one wheel(s). The ramp has a wider entrance for receiving the wheel from the ground and the ramp tapers to a narrower exit that guides the wheel to the recess. This makes it easier to direct at least one of the wheels of the trolley and ensures that the trolley is positioned in a preferred location.

The ramp defines a channel along which a wheel travels to and from the recess. The ramp has side walls to retain the at least one wheel as it moves along the channel. The walls serve to prevent the wheel from diverting from the ramp as the wheel is rolled up or down the ramp. The walls further assists with positioning the trolley at the loading or unloading location, for example adjacent to a vehicle.

In some preferred embodiments the ramp includes an inclined section and at least one level section. The inclined section elevates the wheel from ground level to height from which the wheel can enter the recess. The inclined section of the ramp extends to a point at which the wheel is positioned higher than the recess. A level section may then be provided from the top of the incline to the lip of the recess. In this way a user becomes aware of when the trolley wheel has reached the top of inclined section of the ramp and is about to drop into the recess.

In some embodiments a level section may also be provided at the entrance to the ramp to ensure the wheel is easily guided along the channel and does not miss the ramp. A level section at ground level ensures the wheel is already engaged at the entrance to the ramp before a user exerts more energy to push or pull the trolley up the incline of the ramp.

In preferred embodiments the wheel stop is substantially rectangular thus defining four perimeter faces. Two of the opposing faces have the ramps to enable a wheel to be rolled up the first ramp to the recess and down the 5 second ramp from the recess. As the ramps are only located at opposed locations on the upper face of the wheel stop, the trolley can only be wheel on and off along one linear axis. This limits the direction of travel of the trolley and assists with installation of the wheel stops as the orientation of a trolley is determined by the orientation of the channels on wheel stop. For example for 10 a trolley to stopped parallel to a vehicle the two channels defined by the ramps would also be arranged to be parallel to the vehicle.

In a preferred embodiment the recess is concave in order to guide the wheel to the deepest part thereof. This further secures the wheel in the recess and 15 helps to limit movement of the trolley.

In preferred embodiments at least one drain hole is provided at the deepest point of the recess to allow any collected liquid to drain away. This has the advantage of preventing formation of ice from any collected water on the 20 wheel stop.

Typically the wheel stop has at least one aperture in the body for receiving a securing means, such a bolt or anchor pin. In this way the wheel stop can be readily secured to the ground and removed or replaced as required Preferably an upper surface of the wheel stop has a reflective means and/or may be formed from or include a luminescent material. This enables the wheel stop to be easily identified in low light or dark conditions.

The position of the reflective means or luminescent material may also serve as a guide to help a user to identify the ramp thus making it easier to engage the wheel.

In some embodiments the wheel stop may have coloured portions to indicate the ramp and the recess.

The wheel stop is formed from a strong, durable material. Preferably the 5 wheel stop is formed from a neoprene rubber combination, which has a life span of 10-20 years dependant on elements/location. This material is 100% recyclable.

In preferred embodiments a lower face of the wheel stop has drainage 10 channels along which water collected on an upper surface of the body, for example in the recess, is allowed to drain onto the ground, away from the wheel stop.

In some embodiments the wheel stop may include magnetic means for 15 attracting a wheel or wheel component and maintaining it within the recess. In this way, even when the trolley is fully loaded with items it is held more securely.

It is appreciated that the magnetic connection between the wheel and the 20 wheel stop is arranged so that the magnetic connection can be easily overcome by a user pulling or pushing the trolley.

Preferably a material with magnetic means is arranged in the recess. The magnetic material may be embedded in the body of the trolley lock.

Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example and with reference to the Figures in which:

Brief Description of Figures

Figure 1 shows upper isometric view of a preferred embodiment of the wheel stop; Figure 2 shows an underside isometric view of a preferred embodiment of the wheel stop; Figure 3A shows a side view of the wheel stop; Figure 3B shows an end view of the wheel stop; Figure 3C shows a detailed top view of the wheel stop; and Figure 3D shows detail view of a section indicated by a circle on Figure 3A.

Detailed Description of Figures

Figures 1 to 3 show a preferred embodiment of the directional wheel stop.

The wheel stop 100 is a substantially rectangular plate that is attached to the 20 ground in use.

The wheel stop 100 has a recess 10 for receiving the wheel(s) and two ramps 20 for guiding the wheel(s) to the recess 10.

The ramp defines a channel along which wheels are rolled. The channel is defined by side walls 25 that contain the wheel (not shown) within the channel defined by the ramp 20. The ramp 20 is widest at the perimeter edge of the wheel stop and tapers towards the recess. In this way the wheel is easily received and guided to the recess 10.

The recess 10 is a sunken, oval space in which a wheel is held in position so as to stop a trolley in a fixed position.

The recess 10 has four drain holes 15 through which collected liquid, such as rainwater, can escape.

The wheel stop 100 has two apertures 30, one arranged through each ramp 5 20. The apertures 30 enable a bolt (not shown) to pass through so that wheel stop can be secured to the ground.

Figures 3A, 3B, 3C and 3D show views of the wheel stop with dashed lines indicating parts that are not visible in normal use, but indicating where these 10 parts are if viewed as cross section.

The recess 10 is oval shaped and has four circular drain hols 15 that pass through the recess 10.

The two opposed ramps 20 have angled walls 25 that are not perpendicular to the ramps. The walls 25 raise up from the ramp 20 to define a channel from which a wheel cannot easily deviate. The channels are indicated by arrows 'A'.

With reference to Figure 3D it can be seen that the ramp 20 is inclined 20A from ground level and then has a flat region 20B that leads to the recess 10.

The recess 10 has a curved lip 11 over which the wheel rolls to enter the recess 10.

The recess 10 has a flat base.

The apertures 30 for securing the wheel stop to the ground are T-shaped in cross section to correspond to the shape of a bolt. In this way a bolt head (not 30 shown) is seated securely within the aperture 30.

The wheel stop 100 has a number of drainage channels 40 provided on a lower face of the trolley stop that allow any liquid collected on an upper surface of the body, such as rain water, to be drained through the drain holes and then directed by the drainage channels 40 from the drain holes to the edges of the wheel stop When viewed from an underside view (Figure 2) the drainage channels 40 provide multiple routes along which liquid can escape from beneath the device. Each channel is provided at a different direction to allow liquid to always be able to drain away, irrespective of the angle of the ground upon which the wheel stop is mounted. In this way liquid can always drain away even when the ground is not level.

The invention has been described by way of examples only and it will be appreciated that variation may be made to the above-mentioned embodiments, for example by modifying the wheel stop for devices other than shopping trolleys, such as a drinks trolley or trolley for transporting or delivering stock, without departing from the scope of invention as defined by the claims.

Claims (12)

1. Claims 1 A directional wheel stop having a body which when in use is in contact with the ground; a recess is defined by an opening at an upper surface in the body, the recess is dimensioned and arranged to receive and retain at least one wheel; and at least two ramps are formed in the body at opposing locations extending along an upper surface of the body, the ramps defining channels for guiding the at least one wheel to and from the recess; wherein at least one drain hole is provided in the recess to allow liquid to escape therefrom.
2. 2. A directional wheel stop according to claim 1 wherein the ramp is tapered from a perimeter edge of the wheel stop to the end of the ramp to provide a lateral guide to the at least one wheel(s)
3. 3. A directional wheel stop according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the ramp has side walls to retain the at least one wheel.
4. 4. A directional wheel stop according to any preceding claim wherein the ramp includes an inclined section and a level section.
5. 5. A directional wheel stop according to any preceding claim wherein the wheel stop is substantially rectangular.
6. 6. A directional wheel stop according to any preceding claim wherein the recess is concave in order to guide the wheel to the deepest part thereof.
7. 7. A directional wheel stop according to claim 6 wherein the at least one drain hole is provided at the deepest point of the recess.
8. 8. A directional wheel stop according to any preceding claim has at least one aperture in the wheel stop for receiving a securing means.
9. 9. A directional wheel stop according to any preceding claim wherein an upper surface of the wheel stop has a reflective means.
10. 10.A directional wheel stop according to any preceding claim wherein at least part of the wheel stop is formed from a luminescent material.
11. 11.A directional wheel stop according to any preceding formed from recycled rubber.
12. 12.A directional wheel stop according to any preceding claim wherein a lower face of the wheel stop has drainage channels.