WO2010049729A1

WO2010049729A1 - Trolley

Info

Publication number: WO2010049729A1
Application number: PCT/GB2009/051445
Authority: WO
Inventors: Raymond Fenwick
Original assignee: Raymond Fenwick
Priority date: 2008-10-27
Filing date: 2009-10-27
Publication date: 2010-05-06

Abstract

A trolley (1) with an upper surface of the trolley frame (2) configured to suspend at least one receptacle (16) in the interior trolley space (20). The receptacle (16) is removable from the interior trolley space (20) through an open front end of the frame.

Description

Trolley

Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a trolley; in particular to a shopping trolley assembly.

Background of the Invention

Use of plastic bags for supermarket shopping is discouraged due to environmental issues and many shops now require customers to purchase bags. Customers are encouraged to re-use bags and provide their own bags to carry supermarket shopping.

A number of prior art documents describe bags that are arranged to fit into or onto supermarket trolleys. One such invention is described in US2004/0208397 (Chong-Kuk). This document describes a bag that includes a fixing frame, which is used to suspend the bag inside a conventional shopping cart by attaching the fixing frame to the upper side frames of the trolley.

This is said to overcome the problem of a customer having to transfer items from the cart into a bag or car one by one. Instead, the items are placed in the bag while shopping and when finished, the shopping bag is vertically lifted up from the cart.

Other prior art documents describe trolleys that are adapted to hold one or more receptacles. WO/0074996 (Mirrilees) discloses a trolley assembly including a foldable frame. The frame comprises two generally rectangular tiers, onto which semi-rigid receptacles are held by lugs on the receptacles. In another embodiment, the receptacles may be used like conventional shopping bags which are flexible and include carry straps. In this embodiment the receptacles are supported in seats in the trolley frame. Two rods are threaded through seams in the bags and the ends of the rods are seated in the seats.

There are a number of disadvantages associated with prior art trolleys and bags. For example, they do not address the problem of loading and unloading of the trolley or storage of trolleys. It would therefore be desirable to provide an improved trolley.

Summary of the Invention

One aspect of the invention provides a trolley as specified in Claim 1.

Another aspect of the invention provides a trolley as specified in Claim 19.

Another aspect of the invention provides a receptacle as specified in Claim 21.

The invention provides a trolley comprising a front end, a rear end and a frame defining an interior trolley space, wherein an upper surface of the frame is configured to suspend at least one receptacle in the interior trolley space and the at least one receptacle is removable from the interior trolley space through an open front end of the frame on a conveyor arranged to support a lower surface of the at least one receptacle.

Advantageously, the receptacle is removable from the interior trolley space with at least part of the receptacle below the upper surface of the frame.

Preferably, an upper surface of the trolley has at least one support member.

The support member may have at least one receiving member adapted to receive a suspension member.

The receiving member may be an indent.

Preferably, an end of the suspension member protrudes past the support member.

Advantageously, the suspension member is slidable along at least one support member.

The suspension member may be a rod.

Preferable, the trolley further comprises a receptacle. In a preferred embodiment the receptacle is a bag.

The receptacle may be adapted to receive a suspension member.

Advantageously, the suspension member is slidable in the receptacle.

Preferably, the suspension member further comprises guide members, which in a preferred embodiment are washers.

In one embodiment of the invention, the frame of the trolley may comprise an open rear end.

In one embodiment of the invention at least one support member may be slidable.

The conveyor may comprise rollers.

The conveyor may comprise a pivotable plate.

The trolley may further comprise a scanner.

Another aspect of the invention provides a trolley comprising a front end, a rear end and a frame defining an interior trolley space, wherein an upper surface of the frame is configured to suspend at least one receptacle in the interior trolley space and the at least one receptacle is removable from the interior trolley space through an open front end of the frame.

A further aspect of the invention provides a receptacle configured to co-operate with an upper surface of the trolley.

Brief Description of the Drawings

In the drawings, which illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention by way of example:

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of one embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 shows a side view of one embodiment of the invention. Figure 3 shows a perspective view of one embodiment of the invention.

Figure 4 shows a perspective view of one embodiment of the invention.

Figure 5 shows a perspective view of one embodiment of the receptacle of the invention.

Figure 6 shows a side view of one embodiment of the suspension member of the invention.

Figure 7 shows a side view of one embodiment of the invention having a conveyor.

Figure 8 shows a side view of the conveyor of one embodiment of the invention.

Figure 9 shows a plan view of the conveyor of one embodiment of the invention.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments

As illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, a trolley 1 comprises a frame 2 defining an interior space 20.

In a preferred embodiment, the trolley has four wheels 3, one of which includes a brake.

In a preferred embodiment, the frame 2 is made from tubular steel.

The trolley 1 has a front end 9 and a rear end 10. The width of the trolley 1 is greater at the rear end 10 than at the front end 9.

The frame 2 comprises a main frame body 8. The main frame body 8 includes a handle section 4, which is integral with two substantially vertical sections 5 and a base section 6.

The handle section 4 may be adapted to allow a child seat to be mounted on the frame 2. The handle section 4 may also include a portion to which a hand scanner is attachable. Two side sections 7 of the frame 2 are welded to the main frame body 8. Because of the tapering width of the trolley 1 from the rear end 10 to the front end 9, the side members are spaced closer together at the front end 9 than at the rear end 10.

At the front end 9 of the trolley the space between the two side sections 7 provides an open front end 21 of the trolley 1.

The trolley 1 may further include supports 12 extending between sections of the frame 2 for added strength and stability. One or more panels 19, may be included in the frame 2. The panels have a surface area to which advertising may be applied and they also help to restrict movement of bags and/or items held in the bags, in the interior space 20.

The space between the substantially vertical sections 5 and the tapered arrangement of the trolley 1 allows nesting of several trolleys together. Support 12' also acts as a guide bar to aid in nesting of trolleys together. Support 12" also acts as a stop to prevent jamming of nested trolleys.

As illustrated in more detail in Figure 3, the frame 2 further comprises substantially parallel support members 11. In a preferred embodiment the support members 11 have a flat upper surface 11a and a flat inner surface lib. The support members 11 include receiving elements 13 in the surface 11, which in a preferred embodiment, are grooves or indents.

The receiving elements 13 are shaped to receive rods 14. The rods 14 are preferably made from nylon and are sized such that each rod 14 fits inside a loop 15 in a bag 16. In a preferred embodiment the rods 14 are around 530mm in length and have a diameter of around 20mm. The ends 14a of the rods 14 fit into receiving elements 13 and support the bags 16 in the trolley 2, as shown in Figures 3 and 4. In an alternative embodiment, hooks or other fasteners may be attached to the ends of the rods, which may hook on to a support member to suspend the bags on the trolley.

Washers 17, which may be nylon washers, are attached at the ends of each rod 14. The washers 17 prevent the bag 16 from sliding on the rod 14 and also prevent the rod 16 from sliding in the receiving elements 13. When a bag 16 is suspended in the trolley 1, the washers 17 rest against the inner surface lib of each support member 11. The end 14a of each rod 14 extends beyond the support member 11.

Figure 5 shows a bag 16 with loops 15 at two sides of the upper surface.

The bags 16 have handles 18 on each side so that they can be used like conventional shopping bags.

In a preferred embodiment the bags are foldable bags made of a hardwearing, biodegradable material with a reinforced base for strength.

It is envisaged that the bags will be purchased by a customer or given free to a customer. A customer can then store them in the boot of a car to be re-used and loaded into a trolley 1 , on each shopping trip.

Different sizes of bags 16 may be suitable for use with the trolley 1. In a preferred embodiment the bags are around 500mm in length, 300mm in width and between 400-600mm in height.

In one embodiment, the bags 18 may extend down close to the base section 6 of the frame 2. The trolley has a large capacity and is capable of holding the same amount of items as a conventional shopping trolley. The trolley 4 is preferably arranged to receive four bags, but alternative embodiments holding different numbers of bags are envisaged. Four bags is the optimum number since fewer bags results in heavier loads in each bag. In an alternative embodiment, the receptacles may be something other than bags, for example more rigid structures, such as boxes.

At the beginning of a shopping trip, the re-usable bags 16 are positioned in the trolley such that the ends 14a of the rods 14 are located in receiving elements 13 on the trolley 1.

Items are placed in the bags 16 during shopping and after payment at a checkout, the bags are unloaded from the trolley 1 at the end of the shopping trip.

To unload the bags 16 from the trolley 1, a user may lift the bags 16 vertically from the trolley 1 using the handles 18. However, if the bags 16 are filled with shopping items, they may be quite heavy.

Using the trolley 1, it is only necessary for a user to lift each bag 16 vertically from the trolley 1 by a very small distance, corresponding to the depth of the receiving element 13, which, in a preferred embodiment, has a depth of 22mm.

The ends of the rods 14a may then be rested on the upper surface 11a of the support member 11 and may be slid along the support member 11 and out of the interior space 20 through the open front end 21 of the trolley 1. In this way the support member 11 supports the weight of the bags 16 when unloading them from the trolley and it is not necessary to lift a bag 16 vertically over the sides of the trolley.

Sliding of the bags 16 out of the trolley is facilitated by the washers 17, which act as guides along the inner surface lib of the support member 11 during sliding. It is also made easier since the rods 14 are free to rotate inside the loops 15 of the bags. The support members 11 may be lower at the front end 9 of the trolley 1 than at the rear end 10, so the bags 16 may be slid along the support member 11 in a downwards motion towards the front end 9 of the trolley. The frame 2 and/or the support member 11 may have a rounded edge at the front end 9 of the trolley to assist in sliding bags 16 from the trolley.

In an alternative embodiment, the bags 16 may be slid along the support member 11 towards the rear end 10 of the trolley 1 and removed from an open rear end of the trolley.

The trolley 1 has a number of advantages over prior art trolleys. The invention is environmentally friendly since there is no need for conventional plastic carrier bags and the trolley itself uses minimum amount of material. This also makes the trolley inexpensive to make and easy to manufacture.

The bags remain upright in the back of a car and are easier to carry than conventional plastic shopping bags.

Unloading of the trolley is made easier by having an open front end and a support surface for sliding out bags with items of shopping in them. Nesting of trolleys is improved as the trolley also has an open rear end and tapered frame structure.

In another embodiment of the invention, one or both of the support members 11 may be slidable with respect the rest of the frame 2. To unload the trolley 1 , the support members 11 with the bags 16 suspended thereon, may slide out from the frame 2 and be unloaded from outside of the internal space 20 of the trolley. In this case an additional wheel 3 may be added to the frame at the front 9 of the trolley 10 and connected to the support members 11 to support their weight as they are slid out from the frame 2. Another embodiment of the invention is illustrated in Figures 7 to 9, in which a plate 22 is pivotally attached to the support 12'" at the front end 9 of the trolley. A number of rollers 23 are arranged in rows in the plate 22, as shown in Figures 8 and 9. The rollers 23 are around 25mm in diameter.

In a preferred embodiment, the plate 22 extends inside the internal space 20 as far as the support 12'" and front vertical support 24. In this embodiment the plate 22 is around 370mm wide and 440mm in width. The plate 22 is held diagonally in the trolley by a protrusion (not shown) on which is located at a position on a vertical support 24 higher than the support 12'". In another embodiment, the plate 22 may be longer and may extend further into the internal space 20 of the trolley. The angle at which the plate 22 is held may also be varied.

In use, bags 16 in the trolley are unloaded from the trolley onto the plate 22 and slid along the rollers 23, which rotate to facilitate sliding of the bag 16 down the plate 22 and unloading of the bags 16 through the front end 9 of the trolley. In this way the plate 22 and rollers 23 form a conveyor for supporting a lower surface of the bags 16 and assisting in unloading bags 16 from the trolley.

The plate 22 is also pivo table about the support 12'", such that when a trolley is nested with another, the plate 22 is pushed and pivoted upwards by the front end 9 of another trolley nesting with it.

Alternative embodiments of the conveyor system of the trolley are envisaged and may, for example, include a belt type conveyor.

Claims

1. A trolley comprising a front end, a rear end and a frame defining an interior trolley space, wherein an upper surface of the frame is configured to suspend at least one receptacle in the interior trolley space and the at least one receptacle is removable from the interior trolley space through an open front end of the frame on a conveyor arranged to support a lower surface of the at least one receptacle.

2. A trolley as claimed in Claim 1, wherein at least part of the at least one receptacle is removable from the interior trolley space with at least part of the receptacle below the upper surface of the frame.

3. A trolley as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein the upper surface comprises at least one support member.

4. A trolley as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the at least one support member comprises at least one receiving member adapted to receive a suspension member.

5. A trolley as claimed in Claim 4, wherein the at least one receiving member comprises an indent.

6. A trolley as claimed in Claim 4 or 5, wherein an end of the suspension member protrudes past the support member.

7. A trolley as claimed in Claim 6, wherein the suspension member is slidable along the at least one support member.

8. A trolley as claimed in any of claims 4 to 7, wherein the suspension member is a rod.

9. A trolley as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising a receptacle.

10. A trolley as claimed in Claim 9, wherein the receptacle is adapted to receive a suspension member.

11. A trolley as claimed in Claim 10, wherein the suspension member is slidable in the receptacle.

12. A trolley as claimed in Claim 11, wherein the suspension member further comprises guide members.

13. A trolley as claimed in Claim 12, wherein the guide members are washers.

14. A trolley as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the receptacle is a bag.

15. A trolley as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the frame comprises an open rear end.

16. A trolley as claimed in any of claims 3 to 15, wherein the at least one support member is slidable.

17. A trolley as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the conveyor comprises rollers.

18. A trolley as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the conveyor comprises a pivotable plate.

19. A trolley comprising a front end, a rear end and a frame defining an interior trolley space, wherein an upper surface of the frame is configured to suspend at least one receptacle in the interior trolley space and the at least one receptacle is removable from the interior trolley space through an open front end of the frame.

20. A trolley as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising a scanner.

21. A receptacle configured to co-operate with an upper surface of the trolley of Claim 1 or Claim 20.

22. A trolley or receptacle substantially as shown in and described with reference to the drawings.