WO2010125509A1

WO2010125509A1 - A trolley

Info

Publication number: WO2010125509A1
Application number: PCT/IB2010/051788
Authority: WO
Inventors: Christoff Erasmus Jooste
Original assignee: Christoff Erasmus Jooste
Priority date: 2009-04-28
Filing date: 2010-04-23
Publication date: 2010-11-04

Abstract

A collapsible trolley (10) includes support means (12) for supporting a holder (14) for shopping articles thereon, handle means for manoeuvring the trolley and a collapsible wheeled frame assembly (16) defining front (18) and rear (20) ends. The frame assembly is displaceable between a raised expanded and a lowered collapsed condition and is adapted to support the support means in hinged relation thereto and wherein the frame assembly comprises a pair of spaced apart side cross-strut assemblies. Each cross-strut assembly comprises front (22) and rear (24) leg members which are pivotally connected to each other at a pivot connection (26) intermediate their lengths and wherein a part of the front leg member extending between a lower end thereof and the pivot connection is relatively longer than the part of the rear leg member extend between a lower end thereof and the pivot connection in the raised condition of the frame member.

Description

A TROLLEY

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a trolley. In particular, the invention relates to a collapsible trolley of the type used as a shopping trolley, but not necessarily so.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Shopping trolleys, generally of the type having one or more baskets for holding articles and having a wheeled undercarriage are known.

There are, however, a number of difficulties associated with these conventional trolleys. A known difficulty is that conventional trolleys are generally bulky and require a substantial amount of storage space.

Although collapsible trolleys are known, they are known they are often difficult to manoeuvre as a result of the centre of gravity of the trolley being generally disposed towards the front of the trolley in a fully expanded condition thereof. A further difficulty associated with known collapsible trolleys concerns lack of stability. The ability to fold in order to compact often results in a structurally weakened trolley.

A still further problem has particular reference to trolleys of the type having two load bearing surfaces or baskets arranged generally one above the other in a stacking arrangement. The difficulty with known trolley configurations of this type is that, as a result of the load bearing surfaces or baskets being arranged so that they are generally aligned, access to the bottom basket is relatively restricted compared with the upper basket.

It is an object of the invention to ameliorate the difficulties associated with known collapsible trolleys.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with one aspect of the invention the invention, there is provided a collapsible trolley, the trolley comprising:

support means for supporting a holder for shopping articles thereon;

handle means which can be held by a person for manoeuvring the trolley;

a collapsible wheeled frame member defining front and rear ends which is displaceable between a raised expanded and a lowered collapsed condition and which is adapted to support the support means in hinged relation thereto, the frame member comprising a pair of spaced apart side cross-strut assemblies, each cross-strut assembly comprising operatively front and rear leg members pivotally connected to each other at a pivot connection intermediate their lengths; and in which a part of the front leg member extending between an operatively lower end thereof and the pivot connection is relatively longer than the part of the rear leg member extending between an operatively lower end thereof and the pivot connection in the raised expanded condition of the frame member.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, at least the front leg members of each side cross-strut assembly comprises operatively upper and lower parts pivotally connected at a second pivot connection which is disposed generally rearwardly of the pivot connection in the expanded condition of the frame member.

The handle means may be defined by extending the front leg members at operatively upper ends thereof in a generally upwards direction thereby to define two spaced apart extensions and wherein the extensions are interconnected by an elongate formation to define a yoke-like handle.

The pivot connection may be displaceable along the length of one of the two pivotally interconnected leg members, in order to facilitate displacement of the leg members relative to one another while operating the trolley between a collapsed and an expanded condition.

The collapsible trolley may include locking means for releasably locking the trolley in the expanded condition.

The holder comprises a collapsible shopping basket having a pair of collapsible opposed side walls and a pair of foldable end walls respectively.

The support means may include retaining means for operatively retaining the holder in position.

There are preferably four wheel formations disposed towards the lower ends of the leg members. At least two of the wheel formations, preferably those disposed towards the lower ends of the front leg members, may be swivelable.

In accordance with a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a collapsible trolley comprising:

support means for supporting a holder for shopping articles thereon;

handle means for manoeuvring the trolley;

a collapsible wheeled frame member defining front and rear ends which is displaceable between a raised expanded and a lowered collapsed condition and which is adapted to support the support means in hinged relation thereto, the frame member comprising a pair of spaced apart side cross-strut assemblies, each cross-strut assembly comprising operatively front and rear leg members pivotally connected to each other at a pivot point intermediate their lengths;

in which the support means is operatively disposed between the two side cross- strut assemblies and is generally aligned with the pivot connection such that a load carried by the holder operatively supported thereon is distributed generally above the pivot connection, thereby improving stability of the trolley, in use.

In accordance with a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a collapsible trolley comprising:

a collapsible frame member;

a first and second support means, wherein the first and second support means are respectively adapted to support first and second holders for shopping articles thereon; in which the frame member is adapted to support the second support means in a position operatively disposed beneath the first support means in a generally non- aligned vertical arrangement such that a first holder supported by the first support means is recessed rearwardly relative to the second holder which is operatively supported by the second support means in the expanded condition of the frame member.

The second support means may include generally downwardly extending projections for attachment of wheel formations.

The second holder may comprise a collapsible shopping basket.

The second support means may be hingeably attachable to the operatively lower ends of the leg members.

The second support means may include stowage means on an operatively underside thereof for stowage of a collapsed holder.

The stowage means may comprise a pair of elongate support structures disposed at respective ends of the underside of the second support means.

The invention extends to a trolley in accordance with the first, second and third aspects thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further features of the invention are described hereinafter by way of a non-limiting example of the invention, with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying diagrammatic drawings. In the drawings:- Figure 1 is an isometric view of the trolley of the invention in the raised, expanded condition thereof;

Figure 2 is a side view illustration of the trolley of Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 is a perspective view illustration of the frame member of the trolley of the invention shown in an expanded condition;

Figure 4 shows a side view of the trolley operating from an expanded to a collapsed condition thereof;

Figure 5 shows a side view illustration of one embodiment of a collapsible holder of the invention in an expanded condition;

Figure 6A is a side view illustration of the holder of Figure 5 in the process of collapsing;

Figure 6B is a side view illustration showing the holder of Figure 5 in the collapsed condition thereof; and

Figure 7 shows the trolley of Figure 1 in a fully collapsed condition.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION WITH REFERENCE TO THE DRAWINGS

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, a collapsible trolley, generally indicated by numeral 10, is provided. The trolley is primarily intended as a shopping trolley which can be collapsed and stowed in the stowage compartment of a motor vehicle between shopping trips. Preferably, the trolley comprises a support means 12 for supporting a holder 14 for holding articles of shopping above a collapsible wheeled frame member 16 which is operable between a collapsed condition and an expanded condition, as illustrated in Figure 4 of the drawings.

The collapsible frame member, having front 18 and rear 20 ends respectively, generally comprises two spaced apart side cross-strut assemblies, each of which comprises pivotally connected front 22 and rear 24 leg members. The front and rear leg members are displaceable relative to each other in a scissor-like fashion allowing the frame to operatively move from a lowered collapsed to a fully expanded condition.

The leg members are pivotally connected at a pivot connection 26 intermediate their respective lengths. In particular, a part of the front leg member 22a extending between an operatively lower end thereof and the pivot connection 26 is relatively longer that the part of the rear leg member 24a extending between its operatively lower end and the pivot connection when the frame member is in a fully expanded condition. As a result of the front leg members being slightly longer that the rear leg members, the pivot connection, and therefore the gravitational centre of the trolley, is generally recessed towards the rear end of the frame member in the fully expanded condition.

Further according to the invention, at least one of the leg members, generally the front leg member, in each of the cross-strut assemblies comprises at least two parts which are pivotally connected at a second pivot connection 28. The second pivot connection 28 is operatively disposed generally rearwardly of and above the pivot connection 26. It is envisaged by the applicant that the inclusion of a second pivot connection increases the stability of the frame member, particularly in relation to the support means supported thereby. It is further envisaged by the applicant that the recession of the weight bearing pivot connection towards the rear end of the trolley when the trolley is in a fully expanded and raised condition increases the stability and manoeuvrability of the trolley in use. In the embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings, the pivot connection 26 is a floating pivot which is slidably displaceable up and down grooves 30 defined in the front leg members about midway along their respective lengths in order to facilitate displacement of the leg members relative to one another during expanding and collapsing of the trolley respectively.

Preferably, the operatively upper ends of the front leg members above the second pivot connection are extended in a generally upwards direction and the two extensions are interconnected by an elongate crossbar structure 32 to define a yoke-like handle for pushing and manoeuvring in use. The handle is rotatable about the second pivot connection in a direction generally towards the front end of the frame member in a collapsing motion of the trolley.

The support means 12 which is hingeably connected to the frame member is generally in the form of a rectangular frame comprising a front member 12a, a rear member 12b and two side members 12c. The holder support means is disposed between the two side strut assemblies and is hingeably attached thereto at its respective end members 12c, preferably at the corners thereof. Accordingly, the holder 14 which is supported by the support means is positioned generally above the pivot connection 26 in the expanded condition of the frame member.

Whilst many different holders may be used without departing from the scope of the invention, the preferred holder comprises a collapsible shopping basket 14. The shopping basket has approximately the same dimensions as a conventional shopping basket of the type that is usually carried in the hand of a shopper and includes opposed collapsible side walls 14a and a pair of foldable end walls 14b respectively. As illustrated in Figures 6A and 6B of the drawings, the basket is movable from a collapsed to an expanded condition as required and includes means for retaining the basket in the expanded condition. In use, the basket is positioned upon the supporting means such that the weight of the basket and its contents is disposed generally above the pivot connection of the frame member and, therefore, towards the rear end of the frame member. It is envisaged by the applicant that the distribution of weight towards the rear end of the frame member and, accordingly, the trolley, will facilitate steering and control of the trolley in use.

Furthermore, the trolley is adapted to include for provision for a second holder 34 or basket. Accordingly, a second support means 36 is positioned beneath the first support means 12 in a non-aligned, vertical stacking arrangement. The second support means resembles the support means in that it comprises a rectangular frame having front, rear and side members. The second support means is locatable between the two side strut assemblies and is hingeably attachable by means of its respective side members to the leg members towards the lower ends thereof. The rectangular frame has raised edges 38 which serve as a retaining means for retaining the second basket 34 in position. The basket located on the support means is recessed slightly rearwardly of the second basket located on the second support means which facilitates better access to the second basket, particularly for the purpose of packing and unpacking the baskets.

The second support means 36 preferably includes stowage means in the form of elongate support structures 40 or rods extending across the width of the underside thereof. The applicant envisages that there will be two such support structures. In use, one of the baskets is collapsed and stowed under the second support means where it is held in position by the support rods, as is illustrated in Figure 4 of the drawings. The other basket is similarly collapsed and is retaining in position on the second support means. The frame member is collapsed on top of the collapsed basket for storage of the trolley, as shown in Figure 7.

The trolley further includes locking means for releasably holding the trolley in the expanded condition for use thereof. In is envisaged that the locking means will comprise a conventional clipping mechanism for releasably engaging the second pivot connection, such as a clip of the type commonly referred to as a "u-clip". With regard to the wheel formations, there are preferably four wheels 42 attachable at respective corners of the trolley. The wheels, which may be covered with an electromeric elastomer substance, may be attachable directly to the second support means at its respective corners. In the embodiment illustrated in the drawings, the wheels are attached to projections 44 extending downwardly from the corners of the second support means. The projections provide more clearance between the wheels and the support means thereby ensuring sufficient stowage space for the collapsed basket. The wheels are preferably non- detachable and at least the two front wheels are swivelable castor wheels in order to facilitate steering of the trolley.

It will be understood that the invention provides for a collapsible trolley that has wide application potential depending on requirements. Also, numerous variations may be made to the embodiment of the invention described above without departing from the scope hereof.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A collapsible trolley, the trolley comprising:

support means for supporting a holder for shopping articles thereon;

handle means which can be held by a person for manoeuvring the trolley;

a collapsible wheeled frame member defining front and rear ends which is displaceable between a raised expanded and a lowered collapsed condition and which is adapted to support the support means in hinged relation thereto, the frame member comprising a pair of spaced apart side cross- strut assemblies, each cross-strut assembly comprising operatively front and rear leg members pivotally connected to each other at a pivot connection intermediate their lengths;

and in which a part of the front leg member extending between an operatively lower end thereof and the pivot connection is relatively longer than the part of the rear leg member extending between an operatively lower end thereof and the pivot connection in the raised expanded condition of the frame member.

2. A collapsible trolley as claimed in claim 1 , wherein at least the front leg members of each side cross-strut assembly comprises operatively upper and lower parts pivotally connected at a second pivot connection which is disposed generally rearwardly of the pivot connection in the expanded condition of frame member.

3. A collapsible trolley as claimed in any of claims 1 and 2, wherein the handle means is defined by extending the front leg members at operatively upper ends thereof in a generally upwards direction thereby defining two spaced apart extensions and wherein the extensions are interconnected by an elongate formation to define a yoke-like handle.

4. A collapsible trolley as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the pivot connection is displaceable along the length of one of the two pivotally interconnected leg members, in order to facilitate displacement of the leg members relative to one another while operating the trolley between a collapsed and an expanded condition.

5. A collapsible trolley as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the collapsible trolley includes locking means for releasably locking the trolley in the expanded condition.

6. A collapsible trolley as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the holder comprises a collapsible shopping basket having a pair of collapsible opposed side walls and a pair of foldable end walls respectively.

7. A collapsible trolley as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the support means includes means for operatively retaining the holder in position.

8. A collapsible trolley as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein there are four wheel formations disposed towards the lower ends of the leg members.

9. A collapsible trolley as claimed in claim 8, wherein the wheels formations disposed towards the lower ends of the front leg members are swivelable.

10. A collapsible trolley, the trolley comprising:

support means for supporting a holder for shopping thereon; handle means for manoeuvring the trolley;

a collapsible wheeled frame member defining front and rear ends which is displaceable between a raised expanded and a lowered collapsed condition and which is adapted to support the support means in hinged relation thereto, the frame comprising a pair of spaced apart side cross-strut assemblies, each cross-strut assembly comprising operatively front and rear leg members pivotally connected to each other at a pivot point intermediate their lengths;

in which the support means is operatively disposed between the two side cross-strut assemblies and is generally aligned with the pivot connection such that a load carried by the holder operatively supported thereon is distributed generally above the pivot connection, thereby improving stability of the trolley, in use. 1. A collapsible trolley, the trolley comprising:

a collapsible frame member;

a first and second support means, wherein the first and second support means are respectively adapted to support first and second holders for shopping articles thereon;

in which the frame member is adapted to support the second support means in a position operatively disposed beneath the first support means in a generally non-aligned vertical arrangement such that the first holder supported by the first support means is recessed rearwardly relative to the second holder which is operatively supported by the second support means in the expanded condition of the frame member.

12. A collapsible trolley, as claimed in claim 1 1 , wherein the second support means includes generally downwardly extending projections for attachment of wheel formations.

13. A collapsible trolley as claimed in any one of claims 1 1 and 12, wherein the second holder comprise a collapsible shopping basket.

14. A collapsible trolley as claimed in any one of claims 1 1 , 12 and 13, wherein the second support means is hingeably attachable to the operatively lower ends of the leg members.

15. A collapsible trolley as claimed in any of claims 1 1 to 14, wherein the second support means includes stowage means on an operatively underside thereof for stowage of a collapsed holder.

16. A collapsible trolley as claimed in claim 15, wherein the stowage means comprises a pair of elongate support structures disposed at respective ends of the underside of the second support means.