Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60B—VEHICLE WHEELS; CASTORS; AXLES FOR WHEELS OR CASTORS; INCREASING WHEEL ADHESION
  • B60B33/00—Castors in general; Anti-clogging castors
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60B—VEHICLE WHEELS; CASTORS; AXLES FOR WHEELS OR CASTORS; INCREASING WHEEL ADHESION
  • B60B33/00—Castors in general; Anti-clogging castors
  • B60B33/0078—Castors in general; Anti-clogging castors characterised by details of the wheel braking mechanism
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60B—VEHICLE WHEELS; CASTORS; AXLES FOR WHEELS OR CASTORS; INCREASING WHEEL ADHESION
  • B60B33/00—Castors in general; Anti-clogging castors
  • B60B33/0002—Castors in general; Anti-clogging castors assembling to the object, e.g. furniture
  • B60B33/0015—Castors in general; Anti-clogging castors assembling to the object, e.g. furniture characterised by adaptations made to castor
  • B60B33/0023—Castors in general; Anti-clogging castors assembling to the object, e.g. furniture characterised by adaptations made to castor in the form of specific adaptations to the form of the object
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60B—VEHICLE WHEELS; CASTORS; AXLES FOR WHEELS OR CASTORS; INCREASING WHEEL ADHESION
  • B60B33/00—Castors in general; Anti-clogging castors
  • B60B33/0078—Castors in general; Anti-clogging castors characterised by details of the wheel braking mechanism
  • B60B33/0081—Castors in general; Anti-clogging castors characterised by details of the wheel braking mechanism acting on tire tread
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60B—VEHICLE WHEELS; CASTORS; AXLES FOR WHEELS OR CASTORS; INCREASING WHEEL ADHESION
  • B60B33/00—Castors in general; Anti-clogging castors
  • B60B33/02—Castors in general; Anti-clogging castors with disengageable swivel action, i.e. comprising a swivel locking mechanism
  • B60B33/021—Castors in general; Anti-clogging castors with disengageable swivel action, i.e. comprising a swivel locking mechanism combined with braking of castor wheel
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
  • B62B—HAND-PROPELLED VEHICLES, e.g. HAND CARTS OR PERAMBULATORS; SLEDGES
  • B62B3/00—Hand carts having more than one axis carrying transport wheels; Steering devices therefor; Equipment therefor
  • B62B3/14—Hand carts having more than one axis carrying transport wheels; Steering devices therefor; Equipment therefor characterised by provisions for nesting or stacking, e.g. shopping trolleys
  • B62B3/16—Hand carts having more than one axis carrying transport wheels; Steering devices therefor; Equipment therefor characterised by provisions for nesting or stacking, e.g. shopping trolleys vertically stackable
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
  • B62B—HAND-PROPELLED VEHICLES, e.g. HAND CARTS OR PERAMBULATORS; SLEDGES
  • B62B5/00—Accessories or details specially adapted for hand carts
  • B62B5/0083—Wheeled supports connected to the transported object
  • B62B5/0093—Flat dollys without hand moving equipment
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
  • B62B—HAND-PROPELLED VEHICLES, e.g. HAND CARTS OR PERAMBULATORS; SLEDGES
  • B62B5/00—Accessories or details specially adapted for hand carts
  • B62B5/04—Braking mechanisms; Locking devices against movement
  • B62B5/0433—Braking mechanisms; Locking devices against movement foot operated
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
  • B62B—HAND-PROPELLED VEHICLES, e.g. HAND CARTS OR PERAMBULATORS; SLEDGES
  • B62B5/00—Accessories or details specially adapted for hand carts
  • B62B5/04—Braking mechanisms; Locking devices against movement
  • B62B5/0485—Braking mechanisms; Locking devices against movement by braking on the running surface, e.g. the tyre
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
  • B62D—MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS
  • B62D5/00—Power-assisted or power-driven steering
  • B62D5/04—Power-assisted or power-driven steering electrical, e.g. using an electric servo-motor connected to, or forming part of, the steering gear
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60B—VEHICLE WHEELS; CASTORS; AXLES FOR WHEELS OR CASTORS; INCREASING WHEEL ADHESION
  • B60B2200/00—Type of product being used or applied
  • B60B2200/40—Articles of daily use
  • B60B2200/43—Carts
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60B—VEHICLE WHEELS; CASTORS; AXLES FOR WHEELS OR CASTORS; INCREASING WHEEL ADHESION
  • B60B33/00—Castors in general; Anti-clogging castors
  • B60B33/02—Castors in general; Anti-clogging castors with disengageable swivel action, i.e. comprising a swivel locking mechanism
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
  • B62B—HAND-PROPELLED VEHICLES, e.g. HAND CARTS OR PERAMBULATORS; SLEDGES
  • B62B2301/00—Wheel arrangements; Steering; Stability; Wheel suspension
  • B62B2301/04—Wheel arrangements; Steering; Stability; Wheel suspension comprising a wheel pivotable about a substantially vertical axis, e.g. swivelling castors
  • B62B2301/046—Wheel arrangements; Steering; Stability; Wheel suspension comprising a wheel pivotable about a substantially vertical axis, e.g. swivelling castors with means restricting the rotation about that axis
  • B62B2301/0465—Wheel arrangements; Steering; Stability; Wheel suspension comprising a wheel pivotable about a substantially vertical axis, e.g. swivelling castors with means restricting the rotation about that axis by urging the wheel into a position, e.g. into a straight forward position

Definitions

• the present disclosure relates to logistics equipment.
• the invention relates to wheeled platforms, i.e. dollies, on which divided goods are
• a novel dolly is proposed with a deck that has a generally prismatic shape formed by a top, a bottom opposing the top, and a flank bordering the deck between the top and the bottom.
• a caster is mounted to the bottom of the deck.
• a pedal brake is attached to the caster.
• the deck has a recessed edge which transitioning the flank to the bottom. The recessed edge is located adjacent to the mounting point of the caster for creating an operating space for the pedal of the pedal brake.
• the swivel caster has an alignment mechanism for orienting the swivel caster about the swivel axis of the swivel caster into a predetermined angular orientation, in which the pedal brake is below the recessed edge of the deck. The pedal stays within the periphery of the deck when the pedal points towards the relieved edge.
• FIGURE 1 illustrates a perspective view of a dolly according to some embodiments with a pedal brake engaged
• FIGURE 2 illustrates a side elevation view of the dolly of FIGURE 1;
• FIGURE 3 illustrates a bottom perspective view of the swivel caster of the dolly of
• FIGURE 1 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the swivel caster of FIGURE 3 with the pedal brake released;
• FIGURE 5 illustrates a side elevation view a dolly according to other embodiments with a pedal brake released
• FIGURE 6 illustrates a perspective explosion view of the swivel caster of FIGURE 3.
• the embodiments herein described make us of a relieved bottom edge of a deck of a dolly for providing operating space so as to operate a pedal brake of a caster.
• dolly refers to a hand-propelled logistics load-bearer, e.g. for the transport of parcelled goods.
• the operational space further serves the purpose of enabling the use of a pedal brake that does not extend past the footprint of the dolly, which improves occupational safety.
• the relieved edge is provided by recessing the otherwise prismatic shape of the deck.
• the expression“recessed edge” refers to an edge shape which is bevelled compared to a right angle comer.
• FIGURE 1 shows a first exemplary embodiment in perspective view.
• the illustrated dolly 100 has s universally typical structure in the sense that it features a generally prismatic deck 110 and four casters 120, 130 mounted to the bottom 113 of the deck 110.
• the generally prismatic shape of the deck 110 is formed in the horizontal dimension by a top 111, which is a load carrying surface, and the bottom 113, which may be a planar or non-planar surface that is approximately parallel to the top 111.
• the top 111 is connected to the bottom 113 by a flank 112, which is made up by four successive sides which extend orthogonally from the top 111.
• the flank 112 defines the deck 110 in the vertical dimension.
• the sides are generally planar notwithstanding attachment features such as slots.
• two of the four casters are rigid, i.e. non-turning, and the other two are swivel casters, i.e. turning.
• the end of the dolly 100 featuring swivel casters 120 is referred to as the front end and the end of the dolly 100 featuring rigid casters 130 is referred to as the rear end.
• FIGURES 1, 2, and 5 reveal a peculiarity in the design of the deck 110.
• the flank 112 features a recessed edge 114. This means that the transition from the flank 112, i.e. side surface, to the bottom (surface) 113 is bevelled so as to be in a non-right angle.
• the recessed edge 114 transitions the flank 112 to the bottom 113 near the casters, more particularly near the mounting point of the caster.
• there is a plurality of recessed edges 114 namely two recessed edges 114, provided to the front end of the deck 110 so as to create an operating space for the pedal brake 123 of the caster 120.
• the recessed edge 114 is a relieved transition which is a contrast to a right angled edge which is seen as the transition between the flank 112 and the bottom 113 outside the recessed portion of the flank 112.
• the bottom side comer between the front and rear ends of the dolly is not recessed in the present meaning.
• the recession is provided in the form of a slanted or chamfered shape. This means that the comer, which would otherwise be a right angle, is relieved with a planar cutout or void.
• the recessed edge 114 may extend through the entire thickness of the deck or, as depicted in FIGURES 1, 2, and 5, the recession may be partial, wherein the recession reaches from a point on the vertical extension of the flank 112, i.e. side surface, to the bottom 113 of the deck.
• the profile of the recessed edge 114 is non-planar.
• FIGURE 5 shows the profile of the recessed edge 114 as a fillet which is convex when viewed below.
• the recessed edge could be concave when viewed below.
• the recessed edge 114 is shaped such to include a horizontal portion between the bevelled, i.e. chamfered or rounded, portion for providing even more space for operating the brake 123 by foot.
• the rigid casters 130 may be conventional and attached from the fork to the bottom of the deck 113.
• the swivel casters 120 may have a somewhat generic construction in that they comprise a fork 121 which is rotatably connected to a mount 125 which, in turn, is fixed to the bottom 113 of the deck 110.
• the fork 121 is configured to rotate in respect to the mount 125 about a swivel axis A s shown in FIGURE 4.
• the wheel 112 is rotatably connected to the fork 121 so as to be rotated about a rotation axis A r .
• the swivel axis A s is vertical and the rotation axis A r horizontal.
• the swivel caster 120 features a pedal brake 123.
• the pedal brake 123 is a tech lock brake meaning that it has a spring loaded pad 123D for making contact with the wheel 122 and a pedal 123 A for manipulating the pad 123D.
• the pad 123D and pedal 123 A are attached to the fork 121 via a bracket 124.
• the pad 123D is integral to the bracket 124. They may, for example, be stamped or pressed from a single piece of sheet metal. Such an approach is beneficial because the pad 123D becomes inherently elastic thus allowing bending in respect to the rest of the bracket 124.
• the pedal 123 A is shaped so as to provide a cam for releasably pressing the pad 123D against the wheel 122.
• the pedal is pivotably connected to the bracket 124 through an axle 123C so as to be turned about a pivot axis A p formed by the axle 123C.
• the pivot axis A p is horizontal.
• the pivot axis A p is located between the rotation axis A r of the wheel 122 and the outermost edge of the wheel 122 in the horizontal dimension .
• the pedal 123 A also has a lever 123B which extends in an angle which is less than a straight angle, preferably a right angle.
• the purpose of this shape is to accommodate release of the pedal brake 123 by kicking on the lever 123B so as to introduce a force component which lifts the pedal 123A off the pad 123D.
• the pedal 123 A and lever 123B may be constructed as an integral piece.
• the deck 100 includes conventional wheel recesses 115 provided to the top 111 for receiving the wheels of another dolly superposed thereon.
• the shown exemplary deck 110 has the dimensions of 400 x 600 x 40 mm but of course the dimensions are freely variable.
• the wheel recesses 115 have an elongated quadrangular shape which is aligned with that of the deck 110, wherein the longest sides of the wheel recesses 115 and the deck 110 are parallel. Accordingly, the wheels of a superposed dolly are aligned in a particular orientation shown in FIGURE 1.
• the mount 125 has a planar flange for connection to the bottom 113 of the deck 110 with fasteners.
• the mount 125 has a collar portion acting as a bearing case.
• the fork 121 is rotatably connected to the collar portion of the mount 125 with a bearing formed there between to form the swivel axis A s .
• the bottom 113 of the deck 110 is preferably recessed so as to enable flush installation, wherein the bottom surface of the mount 125 is flush with the bottom 113 of the deck 110.
• the bracket 124 is attached or integral to the top of the fork 121, wherein the pedal brake 123 is indirectly attached to the fork 121, or formed as an integral piece, wherein the pedal brake 123 is directly attached to the fork
• the bracket 124 is designed to locate the pedal brake 123 at the circumference of the wheel 122. It is preferable to locate the pedal brake 123 near the swivel axis A s so as to keep the total length of the caster 120 as short as possible for avoiding the pedal 123 A from protruding outside the footprint of the deck 110.
• the pedal 123A of the pedal brake 123 is located over the wheel 122 at the upper half of the wheel
• the swivel axis 120 points forward, i.e. towards to the front end of the dolly 100 where the deck 110 comprises the recessed edge 114.
• the pedal 123A stays within the periphery of the deck 110 when the pedal 123 A points towards the relieved edge 114. This means that pedal brake 123 does not extend past the footprint of the deck 110.
• the footprint is the vertical projection of the deck 110 on the surface supporting the dolly 100.
• The“shortness” of the swivel wheel 120 including the pedal brake 123 applies in both states of the pedal brake 123, i.e. in the applied state of FIGURE 2 and in the released state of FIGURE 5.
• The“shortness” is achieved, i.a., with the relatively short bracket 124 and the angular shape of the pedal 123 A.
• FIGURES 3 to 5 also show the details of the alignment mechanism which orients the swivel caster 120 towards an orientation in which the pedal brake 123 is below the slanted edge 114 of the deck 110. This orientation is shown in FIGURES 1, 2, and, 5. This orientation the wheel 122 is aligned with the longest dimension of the deck 110.
• the fork 121 has been provided with at least one opening which is located at the side of the fork 121 facing the rear of the dolly 110.
• FIGURES 1 to 4 show one version of the swivel caster 120
• FIGURES 5 and 6 show another version.
• the opening is located at the rearmost point of the fork 121, when the swivel caster 120 is in the equilibrium state.
• FIGURES 5 and 6 there are two openings located at the side of the fork 121 facing the rear of the dolly 110. The two openings are spaced apart on the periphery of the fork 121 by 45 degrees when observed from a bottom elevation view (not shown in the FIGURES).
• the double opening option enables the use of several biasing elements for reinforced alignment action. Using several springs would strengthen the realignment force in the alignment action.
• the opening is designed to receive one end of a biasing element 126.
• the biasing element 126 takes the form of a coil spring but naturally other resilient elements could be used, such as leaf springs, rubber strings, etc.
• the alignment mechanism features only one biasing element 126 but several, such as two, are foreseen. Should several biasing elements be used, it would be preferable to arrange the elements on the rear side of the swivel caster 120, i.e. on the side opposing the pedal brake 123.
• the biasing element 126 connects the fork 121 resilient ly to a contact point 127 of the swivel caster 120.
• the biasing element 126 extends in a horizontal dimension.
• the contact point 127 may take the form of a post or similar construction which is configured to stay stationary in respect to the fork 121 during turning motion thereof about the swivel axis A s .
• the contact point 127 is a vertical post extending from a plug 128.
• the biasing element 126 is fitted to urge the swivel caster 120 to the equilibrium state shown in the FIGURES.
• the biasing element 126 When the swivel caster 120 is turned about the swivel axis A s , the biasing element 126 is loaded, wherein the spring back factor of the biasing element 126 will work towards returning the swivel caster 120 to the equilibrium state.
• the biasing element 126 extends in a dimension that is orthogonal in respect to the swivel axis A s of the swivel caster 120 and is configured to elastically deform in said dimension.
• the contact point 127 is a post that extends vertically from a plug 128.
• the plug 128 a component that is rotationally fixed to the deck 110.
• the plug 128 provides for a contact point 127 for the biasing element 126.
• the contact point 127 is located such to be offset from the swivel axis A s in a dimension that is orthogonal in respect to the swivel axis A s (FIGURE 4).
• the offset provides for a balancing force component for returning the swivel caster into the equilibrium state. In the illustrated embodiment, that dimension is horizontal.
• the plug 128 is fixed to the deck 110 by pressing it into the receptive opening in the hub of the top bearing of the swivel caster 120, i.e. into the opening in the mount 125.
• the opening may be a through hole that enables insertion from below with the mount 125 attached to the bottom 113. Alternatively as shown in FIGURE 6 the opening enables insertion from above when the mount 125 is detached from the bottom 113.
• the plug 128 has a corresponding flange assuming correct depth against the edge of the opening on the mount 125.
• the top shape of the plug 128 is designed to slot into place in respect to a corresponding rib on the bottom 113 of the deck 110.
• the top shape includes a rotationally non-symmetrical protrusion 129 that fits into a corresponding rotationally non-symmetrical, such as quadrilateral, opening on the bottom 113 of the deck (FIGURE 6).
• the protrusion acts as a rotation lock.
• the male rotation preventing counterpart could be provided to the bottom of the deck and the female rotation preventing counterpart could be provided to the plug (not shown in the FIGURES).
• the rotation preventing interface between the plug 128 and the deck 110 prevents the plug 128 from turning thus locking the orientation of the contact point 127 in respect to the deck 110. Otherwise the biasing element 126 might not have sufficient support from the contact point 127.
• the construction of the plug 128 also enables retrofitting an existing swivel caster with an alignment mechanism. Accordingly, a caster of a dolly may retroactively be converted from a freely turning swivel caster to a self-aligned swivel caster by adding a plug 128 and at least one biasing element 126.

Priority Applications (1)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=67805198

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (3)

Cited By (3)

Citations (6)

Family Cites Families (3)

• 2018
  • 2018-03-01 FI FI20185193A patent/FI128610B/sv active IP Right Grant
• 2019
  • 2019-02-22 EP EP19761161.9A patent/EP3759006A4/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 2019-02-22 WO PCT/FI2019/050145 patent/WO2019166693A1/en active Application Filing

Patent Citations (6)

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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