WO1995030567A1

WO1995030567A1 - Bumper unit for a trolley

Info

Publication number: WO1995030567A1
Application number: PCT/NL1995/000166
Authority: WO
Inventors: Gerhardus Jannes Lootens
Original assignee: Gerhardus Jannes Lootens
Priority date: 1994-05-10
Filing date: 1995-05-10
Publication date: 1995-11-16
Also published as: NL9400775A

Abstract

The invention relates to an impact absorption device attached to the front or rear of a trolley (1) to be propelled by humans, for instance a shopping trolley, comprising a rigid board (4) to be attached to the frame of said trolley, and which extends from theframe in a downward direction at the front or the rear of the trolley. As a consequence of these features during a collision of a person the force will be exerted to the foot of a person on a lower level, so that this force is absorbed by the shoe, for instance on the heel of the shoe, so that generally sensitive locations, like the Achilles' tendon and the ankles are avoided. Preferably, the board is dimensioned such that it is normally free hanging, but with subjection to inner forces contains at least one of the nearest pair of wheels and brakes the rotating movement thereof.

Description

BUMPER UNIT FOR A TROLLEY

The invention relates to an impact absorption device to be attached to the front or rear of a trolley to be propelled by humans, for instance a shopping trolley.

Such an impact absorption device, which is in use on for instance shopping trolleys, which are generally used in supermarkets is generally known.

This prior art impact absorption device comprises only a layer of elastic shock absorbing material, which has been provided on a rigid carrier, for instance a rod, which forms the most protruding part of the frame of a shopping trolley, and which is present slightly above and in front of the swivelling front wheels.

During a collasion against persons or obstacles the whole kinetic energy of the shopping trolley being loaded with groceries or being empty must be absorbed by this rod which can lead to a painful experience for the person collided with despite the layer of shock absorbing material.

The aim of the present invention is to provide an impact absorption device, in which during a collision no pain or injury at the collided person is caused.

This aim is reached by a board extending from the frame in a downward direction at the front or the rear of the trolley. As a consequence of this feature during the collision of a person the force will act to the foot of the collided person at a lower level, so that this force absorbed at the shoe, for instance at the so that generally sensitive locations like the Achilles' tendon and the ankels are avoided.

Preferrably, the board is attached to the frame rotatable around the horizontal axis.

According to another preferred embodiment the board has been dimensioned such, that it is normally free hanging, but during submission of inwardly directed forces, contacts at least one of the closest pair of wheels and brakes the rotating movement thereof.

Other preferred embodiments appear from the subclaims. Subsequently, the invention will be closer elucidated with the help of the accompanying drawings, in which: figure 1: is a side view of a shopping trolley to which the impact absorption device according to the invention has been attached: figure 2: is a perspective exploded view of the lower front side of a shopping trolley, where the impact absorption device according to the invention has been attached: figures 3a and 3b: a side view of a detail of a shopping trolley without the impact absorption device according to the present invention at the point of collision with a person from the back, while walking and standing still, respectively; and figure 4: is the front view of a shopping trolley with a preferred embodiment of the impact absorption device according to the invention.

In figure 1 a side view of a shopping trolley 1 has been depicted which has been fitted with the impact absorption device according to the invention. This device according to the invention, which is enlarged depicted in figure 2, consists of a convex board 4 with a mounting 2 hinged around a bar 5 on its top edge.

This hinged mounting 2 could, for example, take the form of a tube opened up lengthwise, made of an elastic, flexible material, with the opening becoming wider at the ends, so that this hinged mounting 2 can be easily slid onto the bar 5 of shopping trolleys 1 generally available to customers in supermarkets.

When this convex board 4 with the hinged mounting 2 has been attached to the bar 5 of the shopping trolley 1, the convex side of the board faces in the forward direction of the shopping trolley 1, as visible in figures 1, 2 and 3, so that in the case of a collision, for example against one or both legs of a person, the convex board 4 of the impact absorption device will be first to make contact with the obstacle. The obstacle, the heel in the case of figure l, will therefore cause the convex board 4 to move backwards and the underside of the board 4 is pressed on at least one of both front wheels 6, thus braking the speed of the shopping trolley 1. In order to achieve this, the length of the convex board 4 must be at least equal to the gauge of both front wheels 6.

Of course the dimensioning of the board must be such that the board is at least as wide as the gauge of the nearest pair of wheels at its part fit for contacting said at least one wheel. So must for instance the heigth of the board 4, the latter being the distance between the top and bottom of the board 4, be larger than the distance between the bar 5 and the front wheels 6. At the same time, when the bottom of the board 4 makes contact with the wheels 6 and thereby slows down the speed of the shopping trolley 1, the board 4 bends and springs due to the flexible elasticity of the convex shape and the choice of material used for the board 4, thus helping to absorb the impact and bring the shopping trolley 1 to a halt, without the person collided with being hurt. Figures 3a and 3b show how - in collision with walking and standing persons, respectively - the shopping trolley 1 with the bar 5 collides with that part of the leg just above the heel of said person, which can be very painful and can even cause injury, while there may also be damage to stockings, etcetera.

A very important feature of the impact absorption device according to the invention is therefore, firstly, the convex shape of the board 4 and secondly, the flexible elasticity of the material used to make the board 4. The described application of the invention for a shopping trolley 1 is therefore distinguished from the existing situation by the fact that the shopping trolley 1 is not only brought to a standstill by the object with which it collides, but also by the braking operation which is effected on the front wheels 6 when the flexible elastic board bends right from the moment of impact. The braking effect can also be increased by fitting the contact surface of the board 4 and wheels 6 with a brake reinforcing surface, like a friction enhancing layer. This could be formed by the material which is for instance used with a caliper brake, or by making the contact surface rough.

In order to allow for easy steering of shopping trolleys, the front wheels 6 are usually swivelling wheels. A possible problem of this is that, in changing direction of the shopping trolley 1 to move backwards, both front wheels 6 swivel outward to the front of the shopping trolley 1 and that the front wheels 6 make contact with the side of the board 4 and fail to lift up this board 4. In order to solve this problem, the top of the board 4 is longer than the bottom and the sides of the board therefore slant downwards, as shown in figure 4, so that the board 4 will also now be lifted by the front wheels 6 swivelling inward. The above problem will not occur as long as one or both of the swivelling wheels 6 swivel inward, as the wheel swivelling inward can then easily lift the board 4 from the inside.

It may be noted that this problem can also be solved by fitting a spring to keep the convex board 4 far enough away from the front wheels 6 to allow for the front wheels 6 to swivel freely outward. Another version of the invention is possible, in which the convex board 4, which can move backwards, begins by effecting a commonly known braking mechanism on the trolley, after which any remaining impetus is dispersed, partly via the obstacle, by the board 4 bending during the collision. Such braking mechanism can for instance be formed by a rim provided at the inner side of the board, or by means of a braking shoe actuated through a lever. Further, use can be made of a braking unit already present on the trolley. However, this variant is only useful on trolleys already fitted with a braking device and is also more complicated. Further, this embodiment is more complicated.

Of course, this invention can be applied not only to shopping trolleys but also to all other kinds of manually operated vehicles such as warehouse trolleys, wheelchairs, push-chairs, prams, children's cars, etcetera. It is noted that such an impact absorption device can also be attached to the front or the rear of such vehicles.

Claims

1. Impact absorption device attached to the front or rear of a trolley to be propelled by humans, for instance a shopping trolley, characterized by a rigid board to be attached to the frame of said trolley, and which extends from the frame in a downward direction at the front or the rear of the trolley.

2. Impact absorption device according to claim 1, characterized in that the board extends downward until at least several centimeters from the level of the ground.

3. Impact absorption device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the board has been attached to the frame rotatable around a horizontal axis.

4. Impact absorption device according to claim 3, characterized in that the board has been dimensioned such that it is normally free hanging, but under subjection of forces directed inwardly contacts at least one of the nearest pair of wheels, and brakes the rotating movement thereof.

5. Impact absorption device according to claim 4 characterized in that the board is at least as wide as the gauge of the nearest pair of wheels at its part, which is fit for the contacting of said at least one wheel.

6. Impact absorption device according to claim 4 or 5 characterized in that the board comprises at its inner side a rim, movable towards said wheel.

7. Impact absorption device according to claim 4, 5 or 6 characterized in that the part of the board which is movable against said at least one wheel comprises a friction enhancing layer.

8. Impact absorption device according to one of the preceding claims characterized in that the board is hollow towards the outer side of the trolley.

9. Impact absorption device according to one of the claims 4-8, characterized in that between the board and the frame a spring has been provided for maintaining the board away from the wheels

10. Impact absorption device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the board is wider at its upper side than at its lower side.

11. Impact absorption device according to claim 8, 9 or 10, characterized in that the most frontal part of the board extends substantially at the heigth of a heel of a person above the ground.

12. Impact absorption device according to claim 8, 9, 10 or 11, characterized in that the board has the shape of a part of a cilinder.

13. Impact absorption device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the outer surface of the board is provided of a shock absorbing layer.

14. Impact absorption device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the board has been made of plastic.

15. Shopping trolley comprising at least one impact absorption device according to one of the preceding claims.