IES20000091A2 - Shopping trolley - Google Patents

Abstract

A trolley has a chassis and a basket supported by the chassis. The basket comprises a framework of ribs each having a longitudinal axis and a cross-sectional shape, the cross-sectional shape of at least some, and preferably all of the ribs being generally oval. It has been found that oval ribs tend to promote dripping of spillages from the trolley surfaces, as they do not provide any flat surfaces for the liquids (or other spilt substances) to accumulate on. Preferably, the oval shape defines a major diameter and a minor diameter, the major diameter being at least 1.3 times greater than the minor diameter. <Figure 1>

Description

SHOPPING TROLLEY IE000091 This invention relates to trolleys for carrying goods, and in particular to shopping trolleys or shopping carts.

Such trolleys comprise a basket mounted on a chassis, and are generally pushed by the user around a store as the basket is loaded with goods. Because of the nature of groceries, spillages or leakages are not uncommon, and the store owner is faced with the problem of maintaining the trolleys in clean condition.

If a spillage is allowed to accumulate on the surfaces of the basket or chassis, or if the trolley is cleaned incompletely, the stains being unsightly and sticky, which reflects badly on the store owner, and more importantly, hygiene problems may arise.

Recently, there have been moves to replace conventional steel trolleys with plastic trolleys, for reasons of aesthetics, to reduce storage space, and to overcome handling problems associated with conventional trolleys which occur when the chassis is twisted or bent out of alignment.

However, the designs of such plastic trolleys have tended to provide a greater number of surfaces which allow spillages to accumulate.

When plastic trolleys are moulded, there can be a difficulty in easily removing the finished basket from the mould. This is largely because the shape of the INT CL -2 JNL. NO.22g24L.OF OPEN TO PUBLIC INSPECTION UNDER SECTION £8 AND RULE 23 IE000091 basket is complex, and this usually necessitates the use of one or more male mould sections and one or more female mould sections defining, respectively, the exterior and interior of the basket. Removing the basket from the mould sections is generally difficult, even with the use of compressed air (as is known in the art) .

The present invention has as an object the provision of an improved shopping trolley which overcomes or reduces the problems associated with spillages onto surfaces of the trolley.

The invention also aims to provide a basket design which can be more easily removed from a mould.

The invention provides a trolley comprising a chassis and a basket supported by the chassis, wherein the basket comprises a framework of ribs each having a longitudinal axis and a cross-sectional shape, the cross-sectional shape of at least some of the ribs being generally oval.

It has been found that oval ribs tend to promote dripping of spillages from the trolley surfaces, as they do not provide any flat surfaces for the liquids (or other spilt substances) to accumulate on.

Preferably, the oval shape defines a major diameter and a minor diameter, the major diameter being at least 1.3 times greater than the minor diameter.

IE000091 In a particularly preferred embodiment all of said ribs have an oval cross-section.

According to a further preferred feature of the invention, the longitudinal axes of the majority of the ribs follow a curved path. Preferably, this applies to at least the ribs in the sides of the basket and if the ends and base of the basket are formed from ribs, this feature preferably applies to all of the ribs in the basket.

The invention has particular application in plastic shopping trolley baskets. This is because plastic baskets are typically formed in a mould. It has been found that baskets with oval ribs can be ejected from the mould more easily than other basket rib shapes using, for example compressed air to force the basket from the mould.

The oval shape also provides a high degree of strength, particularly where the major axis, is substantially vertical in normal use.

In a particular design of trolley according to the present invention, the basket is mounted in cantilever fashion on an upright member of the chassis, such that an end of the basket is held on the upright member, and further support is given by one or more transverse ribs under the basket.

Preferably, the or each transverse support rib is oval in cross-section, for the reasons described above. This feature of the invention is applicable to any and IE000091 all trolleys in which support members are provided under the basket, since gravity will naturally drain many spillages onto the support members under the basket, and such members therefore pose one of the greatest problems in respect of spillages.

The invention will now be further illustrated by the following description of an embodiment thereof, given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a trolley according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of a detail of the trolley of Fig. 1, showing the construction of the transverse support ribs; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the chassis of the trolley of Fig. 1; and Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the one of the ribs of the basket of the trolley shown in Figs. 1 and 2 .

In Fig. 1 there is indicated, generally at 10, a shopping trolley according to the invention, comprising a basket 12 mounted on a chassis 14. An end 16 of the basket is provided with a female socket into which a male shaft 18 (indicated in. dotted outline) fits. Shaft 18 extends upwards from an upright member 20 of the chassis. An upright member 20 is provided on either side of the chassis, each upright being IE000091 supported on a foot 22, the foot on each side having a front wheel 24 and a rear wheel 26.

Extending between the feet 22 is a primary transverse support rib 28 which is shown in sectional elevation in Fig. 2. Transverse support rib 28 is oval in crosssection, which promotes dripping of liquids therefrom when spillages occur.

A secondary transverse support rib 30 is also provided, primarily to prevent splaying of the feet.

Each of the transverse support ribs 28,30 is composed of two sections. Thus, primary transverse support rib 28 comprises an upper part 28a and a lower part 28b. Upper’ part 28a is integral with the base 32 of the basket, as is upper part 30a of secondary transverse support rib 30. In Fig. 2 the base of the trolley can be seen to comprise an outer frame 32a and a mesh of ribs 32b.

Lower part 28b of primary transverse support rib 28 extends between the feet 22 of the chassis, as does lower part 30b of secondary transverse support rib 30.

Each of the upper parts 28a,30a is provided with a tongue 34 which mates with a corresponding groove 36 on the respective lower part 28b,30b. The tongues and grooves snap into engagement when the basket 12 is mounted on the chassis. In this fashion, one avoids having a flat surface which is likely to accumulate spillages and dirt. In effect the contact between the IE000091 basket and chassis is hidden within the support ribs 28,30.

Fig. 3 shows the chassis 14 before the basket has been mounted thereon. This more clearly shows the lower parts 28b,30b of the transverse support ribs. It can also be seen that a step 38 is provided on the internal surface 40 of each upright member 20, to aid in supporting the basket thereon.

A third transverse rib 42 extends between the feet 22 towards the front ends 44 thereof, to prevent splaying of the feet.

Referring back to Fig. 1, the basket can be seen to comprise a plurality of ribs 46 which are each oval in cross-section, when viewed perpendicular to their longitudinal axes. A cross-section through one such rib is shown in Fig. 4. Although the ribs have different diameters, the cross-sectional shape is common to the ribs as a whole. This shape has been found to be particularly advantageous for the purposes of easily removing the basket from the male mould sections, while nevertheless retaining the necessary structural strength.

Additionally, the oval shape promotes dripping of spillages to prevent their accumulation. This feature is further assisted by the fact that none of the ribs is straight, and in particular, there are no horizontal surfaces on the ribs on which spillages can lodge.

IE000091 The invention is described herein within the scope not limited to the embodiments which may be modified or departed from of the invention.

Claims (5)

Claims:

1. A trolley comprising a chassis and a basket supported by the chassis, wherein the basket comprises a framework of ribs each having a longitudinal axis and a cross-sectional shape, the cross-sectional shape of at least some of the ribs being generally oval.

2. A trolley according to claim 1, wherein the oval shape defines a major diameter and a minor diameter, the major diameter being at least 1.3 times greater than the minor diameter.

3. A trolley according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the longitudinal axes of the majority of the ribs follow a curved path.

4. A trolley according to any one of claims 1-3, wherein the basket is mounted in cantilever fashion on an upright member of the chassis, such that an end of the basket is held on the upright member, and further support is given by one or more transverse ribs under the basket.

5. A trolley, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 1-4 of the accompanying Drawings .