NL2009500C2 - DOLLY FOR THE TRANSPORT OR PRESENTATION OF GOODS. - Google Patents

Description

Dolly for transporting or presenting goods

The present invention relates to a dolly for transporting or presenting goods.

5

The US patent publication US 2008/0315537 A1 describes a dolly suitable for transporting products from a distribution center to a supermarket or other store. The dolly has a chassis under which wheels are fitted. Below the chassis a central support part in the form of a support leg is mounted which can be lowered and retracted to bring the dolly from a braked to an unrestrained state respectively.

A disadvantage of this dolly, however, is that the extendable, central support part takes up much space in the vertical direction, because in the retracted position it protrudes above the chassis, which is at the expense of the loading capacity of the dolly. Another drawback is that in practice it appears to be relatively difficult to operate such a support part quickly and efficiently.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a dolly with an extendable or collapsible support part, wherein said extendable or collapsible support part occupies relatively little space. It is a further object of the invention to provide a dolly with an improved operating system for operating the support member.

To this end, the dolly according to the invention is provided with: - a bottom part extending substantially horizontally during use, which during use can be provided on an upper side thereof with a structure for enclosing the goods to be transported or displayed, - one or more wheels which are arranged on a underside of the bottom part, such that during use a stable support of the bottom part can be achieved by the wheels on a surface, - wherein the dolly from an unrestrained condition, before moving the dolly, to a braked condition for parking the dolly can be brought, for which a brake body is arranged below the bottom part, which brake body is located almost entirely below the bottom part, the braked state being achieved by lowering the brake body away from the bottom part and the unrestrained state can be achieved by raising the brake body in the direction of the bottom part, - wherein the brake body is adapted to engage on the running surface of the wheels or on the ground in the braked state, - wherein the brake body is provided with a first operating means to achieve the unrestrained state, and a second operating means with which a 10 a user in the unrestrained state can cause the brake body to engage to achieve the braked state, the first operating member canceling the operation of that second operating member upon moving the braked state to the unrestrained state.

Because the brake body is located almost entirely below the bottom part, the brake body takes up relatively little space above this bottom part. In addition, the first and second operating members provide improved operating options for raising or lowering the brake body, in that the first operating member is assigned the pull-up function and the second operating member is assigned the lowering function, wherein these operating members also operate in the same manner when moving the braked to the unrestrained state and vice versa.

An embodiment relates to a dolly, wherein the first and second operating members comprise foot pedals which can be pivoted relative to the brake body and which are arranged on a peripheral side of the brake body. Such foot pedals can be easily reached and operated by the user in all kinds of circumstances.

A further embodiment relates to a dolly, wherein the first and second hinged foot pedals are located next to each other. This ensures a further increased accessibility of the foot pedals.

3

A preferred embodiment relates to a dolly, wherein the first pivotal foot pedal is pivotable relative to the brake body about a first pivot axis and the second foot pedal pivotable relative to the first foot pedal about a second pivot axis located substantially parallel thereto, near the first pivot axis, extending, the second foot pedal comprising a pedal portion located on one side of the second pivot axis and an opposite portion located on the other side of the second pivot axis, the opposite portion comprising a first connecting portion having one side of a knee joint is connected, wherein a second connecting part is arranged between another side of the knee joint and the bottom part, such that in the unrestrained state the first connecting part and the second connecting part are substantially aligned and the second foot pedal is tilted up and the first foot pedal is tilted downwards and in the braked state the first connecting part and the second connecting part are rotated relative to each other and the second foot pedal is tilted downwards and the first foot pedal is tilted upwards. Thus it is achieved that the foot pedals advantageously cancel each other's functions, while the individual foot pedals are allowed to perform their individual raising or lowering function.

An advantageous embodiment relates to a dolly, wherein the brake body is hinged to the bottom portion by means of a pivot member. In this way a more reliable and reliable movement of the brake body is achieved.

Another embodiment relates to a dolly, wherein one end of a rod system extending along the top of the brake body is hingedly connected to the first foot pedal in the second pivot axis and another end of the rod system is pivotally connected to the brake body in a further pivot axis extending parallel to it from the second pivot axis.

The rod system ensures a better distribution of the forces exerted on the foot pedals over the brake body.

4

In another embodiment the brake body comprises a blocking member which is adapted to engage on the running surface of one or more of the wheels. In addition to engaging the brake body on a surface, braking action can also be obtained in this way.

5

Recesses may be provided in the brake body near the wheels, which recesses have an inner diameter larger than the outer diameter of the wheel in question, such that the brake body can be moved up and down along the wheels to engage on a surface. In this way the brake body does not interfere with the function of the wheels.

Another aspect of the invention relates to a dolly for transporting or presenting goods, comprising: - a bottom part which extends substantially horizontally during use, which during use can be provided on an upper side thereof with a structure for comprising the goods to be transported or goods to be displayed, - one or more wheels arranged at the bottom of the bottom part, - such that during use a stable support of the bottom part can be achieved by the wheels on a surface, - the dolly of an unrestrained condition, for moving the dolly, to a braked state, for parking the dolly can be brought, for which purpose a brake body is arranged below the bottom part, which brake body is located almost entirely below the bottom part, whereby the braked state can be achieved by vertically lowering the brake body away from the bottom portion and the unrestrained condition during use and can be achieved by vertically raising the brake body in the direction of the bottom part, - wherein the brake body is adapted to engage the ground in the braked state, - wherein the brake body is provided with an operating member with which a user 30 the unrestrained state can cause the brake body to engage to achieve the braked state and to cancel the action of the brake body in the braked state to achieve the unrestrained state. A simple operating system is thus realized for vertically raising and lowering the brake body.

5

A preferred embodiment relates to a dolly, wherein the operating member is hingedly connected at one point to the brake body and also to an end of a first hinge element and an end of a second hinge element, the first hinge element being hingedly connected to another end with a fastening element rigidly connected to the bottom part, and the second hinge element with a different end is hingedly connected to a telescoping element that is vertically movable during use and rigidly connected to the brake body, the telescoping element being arranged to be substantially vertically extendable.

10

A further embodiment concerns a dolly, wherein the brake body, when it is adapted to engage on a surface, is arranged such that the dolly in the braked state can be stably placed on another dolly. Thus, stacking of multiple dollys, for example in a distribution center, supermarket, or otherwise, can be achieved. It is thereby advantageous that the brake body has one or more substantially flat undersides.

An advantageous embodiment relates to a dolly, wherein the top side of the bottom part is provided with one or more handles during use. This makes that the dolly can be picked up relatively easily, for example during the stacking of dolly's on top of each other.

The one or more handles may herein comprise one or more slots which are arranged in the top side of the bottom part during use. The advantage of using slots is that they do not protrude above the top of the bottom portion, which facilitates the aforementioned stacking of dollys.

Furthermore, it is advantageous if one or more peripheral sides of the bottom portion or the brake body have a rounded shape. This facilitates in particular the movement of the dolly over an uneven surface. In addition, injuries or damage are prevented in the event of a collision of the dolly with a person or other object.

6

Figure 1 shows a schematic view of a dolly according to the present invention;

Figure 2a shows a side view of a chassis according to the invention, wherein the brake plate is in the raised position; Figure 2b shows the chassis of Figure 2a, wherein the brake plate is in the lowered state;

Figure 3 shows a schematic perspective view of a first exemplary embodiment of a chassis according to the invention;

Figure 4 shows the underside of the chassis according to the first exemplary embodiment of Figure 3;

Figure 5 shows the underside of a second exemplary embodiment of the chassis according to the invention; and

Figure 6 shows the chassis according to a third exemplary embodiment.

Figure 1 shows a dolly 1 with a chassis 2 provided with four wheels 6, 7 in order to be able to position and move the dolly 1 stably. These wheels 6, 7 can comprise both non-swiveling and swiveling wheels. During use, a superstructure 3 can be provided on the chassis 2, in which the goods are stored, for transporting those goods, for example in a truck, or for presenting those goods, for example in a supermarket. These goods may include, for example, foodstuffs, cleaning products, household products, electronics and the like. Alternatively, a so-called "display" can be provided on the chassis 2. Such a dolly 1 is provided with a braking system to prevent undesired movement of the dolly 1. The dimensions in the length L, width B and height H of the dolly 1 with superstructure 3 as shown are approximately 0.5 m, 1 m and 1.80 m respectively.

Figure 2a shows the chassis 2 of the dolly 1 according to the invention in side view. The chassis 2 is provided with a bottom part 4 on which the superstructure 3 can be mounted on the top side. A brake body in the form of a brake plate 5, 5 "is arranged on the underside of the bottom part 4. A first operating member in the form of a foot pedal 9 is arranged on a peripheral side of the brake plate 5, 5 'to move the brake plate 5, 5' from a lowered, braked state to a 7 raised, unrestrained state. In the raised state, the brake plate 5, 5 'is located near the underside of the bottom part 4. When a user depresses the foot pedal 9, the brake plate 5, 5' is moved upwards about the raised state, as shown in Fig. 2b, reach. The second operating member in the form of a foot pedal 10, which is also arranged on the brake plate 5, 5 ", is placed next to the foot pedal 9 to attain the lowered, braked state when the brake plate 5, 5 'is depressed, while makes the wheels 6, 7 or the substrate so that rotation of the wheels 6, 7 and running of the chassis 2 is prevented.

10

As mentioned, the brake plate 5, 5 "offers the possibility of supporting the chassis 2 and the dolly 1 on a surface. This substrate can, for example, relate to the floor of a supermarket or a similar floor, but also for example the top of another dolly, whereby the dolly's can be stacked. In particular in a distribution center for supplying the relevant supermarket, or in the supermarket itself, this offers great advantages because so much space is saved.

Figure 3 shows a detailed view of a first exemplary embodiment of the chassis 2. The bottom part 4 has a shielding edge to protect the brake plate 5 underneath against damage. The brake plate 5 itself is designed as an almost solid plate. Near a peripheral side of the bottom part 4, top left in figure 3, two swivel wheels 6 are provided to enable easy steering of the chassis 2. On the opposite circumferential side, at the bottom right in Figure 3, two non-swiveling wheels 7 are arranged under the bottom part 4. Recesses are provided around the wheels 6, 7, in the form of round holes 22 at the swivel wheels 6 and rectangular slots 23 at the non-swiveling wheels 7, so that the brake plate 5 can move up and down along those wheels 6, 7. The size of those holes 22 and slots 23 can be chosen such that they either move against the running surface of the wheels 6, 7 to obtain braking action, or move along this so that the brake plate 5 can engage on the ground. On the peripheral side of the brake plate 5 at the top left in figure 3, two foot pedals 9, 10 are provided. The foot pedal 9 serves to be able to move the brake plate 5 up to the raised position. The foot pedal 10 serves to be able to move the brake plate 5 downwards to the lowered, braked state. The foot pedal 9 is hingedly connected to the brake plate 5 by means of hinge elements 18 and 20 fixedly connected to said foot pedal 9. These hinge elements 18, 20 create a first hinge axis S1 around which the foot pedal 9 can rotate relative to the brake plate 5. The foot pedal 10 is hingedly attached to the foot pedal 9 by means of the aforementioned hinge element 20 which is adapted to cause the foot pedal 10 to pivot about a second hinge axis S2 located at a distance from said first hinge axis S1, parallel thereto.

The hinge elements 18, 20 are each connected by means of an activation rod 11 running substantially parallel to the underside of the bottom part 4 in the hinge axis S2 to two spaced-apart hinges 15 which are arranged on said brake plate 5 near an opposite peripheral side of the brake plate 5. The brake plate 5 is furthermore pivotally suspended by means of a pivot rod 12 from a fixing point 13 on the underside of the bottom part 4. Preferably, this pivot rod 12 is located near the center of gravity of the brake plate 5.

The foot pedal 10 is also pivotally suspended on a pivot point 17, which defines a pivot axis S4 parallel to the pivot axes S1 and S2, on the underside of the bottom part 4 via a rod system 27. This rod system 27 comprises a rod 27a and a rod 27b mutually hingedly connected via a knee joint 19 defining a joint axis S3 parallel to the joint axes S1, S2, S4, the rod 27a extending between the joint axis S2 of the joint element 20 and the knee joint 19 and the rod 27b extending between the knee hinge 19 and the hinge point 17. By means of the knee hinge 19, the rods 29a, 29b can buckle with respect to each other.

When the user wants to lower the brake plate 5 to engage the wheels 6, 7 to brake it or to have the brake plate 5 supported on the ground, this user kicks the foot pedal 10 down. As a result, the rods 27a 30 and 27b buckle relative to each other and the brake plate 5 is lowered. The foot pedal 9 is also tilted upwards as a result of the foot pedal 10 being depressed. The activation rods 11 are also moved towards the wheels 7. The pivot rod 12 also makes a pivotal movement in which the brake plate 5 is moved downwards, wherein the pivot rod 12 will ultimately be in the lowered position of the brake plate 5 in a substantially vertical position. In order to subsequently return to the unrestrained, raised condition of the brake plate 5, the foot pedal 9 is depressed, the foot pedal 10 again tilting upwards and the rods 29a and 29b 5 thereby coming into line with each other. The rods 29a and 29b are not, or hardly, bent in relation to each other. The latter prevents unintended movement of the brake plate 5.

Figure 4 shows the underside of the chassis 2, in particular the brake plate 5, 10 according to the preceding, first exemplary embodiment. In this representation it can be seen that the underside of the brake plate 5 is provided with a number of slots 24, 25, 26 to accommodate the hinge 15, the swivel rod 12, and the hinges 18, 20, respectively.

Figure 5 shows the chassis 2 "according to a second exemplary embodiment. The brake plate 5 'is now no longer a solid plate, but has been replaced by a smaller plate which is arranged around the wheels 6, and has been replaced near the wheels 7 by a brake body 8 which, when the brake plate 5' is lowered on the treads of the wheels 7. The two activation rods 11 have also been replaced by a single activation rod 11. In addition, the foot pedal is rotatably mounted around a shaft 21 mounted in a frame 14 attached to the bottom part 4.

Figure 6 shows the chassis 2 "according to the third exemplary embodiment. In this exemplary embodiment, the brake plate 5 "is replaced by a frame 5", which is essentially moved vertically up and down, braking action being obtained by engaging a frame 5 "on the ground. The chassis 2 "is provided with a single foot pedal 9" which is hingedly connected at an articulation point S to an end of a first articulated element 29a and an end of a second articulated element 29b. The hinge element 29a is hingedly connected at an opposite end to a fastening element 28 which is fixedly connected to a downward projecting part 31 of the bottom part 4. The second hinge element 29b is hingedly connected at an opposite end to an extendable element 30 which is vertically along the fastening element 28 10 can retract and retract. This extension element 30 is arranged near one of the wheels. When this extend element 30 is retracted and extended, the frame 5 "is moved up and down. In addition, in the pivot point S, an activation rod 11 "is hingedly arranged to transfer the movement of the foot pedal 9" to hinge elements near the other wheels in order to slide in and out of a slide-out element and thereby effect the frame 5 "there.

The engagement of the frame 5 "on the ground is achieved by tilting the foot pedal 9 'up as shown in Fig. 6, the hinge elements 29a, 29b making a scissor movement relative to each other to eventually come in line with each other to lay down. Because the second hinge element 29b and thus the extension element 30 moves downwards, the frame 5 'there is also moved downwards in order to finally engage and support on the substrate. The activation rod 1Γ then moves to the right to transfer the action of the foot pedal 9 "to further hinge elements near the other wheels and to cause the frame 5 'to extend vertically there. After the frame 5 "is extended downwards, the wheels are completely inside the frame 5". Instead of using a single foot pedal 9 ', as described above, a system with two foot pedals can also be used, as discussed with respect to the first and second exemplary embodiment.

In all embodiments shown, handles (not shown) can advantageously be provided at the top of the bottom portion 4, for example in the form of slots, for manually lifting the dolly. It is also advantageous if one of the peripheral sides of the brake plate 5, 5 'or frame 5 ”has a rounded shape so that moving the dolly over an uneven surface is facilitated and no damage or injury occurs in the event of a collision with a person or object . It is also advantageous if the various parts of the dolly are made from biodegradable plastic.

It is to be understood that the above description is intended to illustrate the operation of preferred embodiments of the invention, and not to limit the scope of the invention. Starting from the above explanation, many skilled in the art will appreciate many variations that are within the inventive concept and scope of the present invention.

12

List of reference characters 1. Dolly 2, 2 ", 2". Chassis 5 3. Structure 4. Bottom part 5.5 ". Brake plate 5 ". Frame 6. Swivel wheel 10 7. Wheel 8. Brake body 9. Foot pedal 10. Foot pedal 11. Activation rod 15 12. Swivel rod 13. Fastening point 14. Fastening frame 15. Carriage (brake plate) 16. Hinge (fastening point) 20 17. Suspension point 18. Hinge (foot pedal) 19. Knee hinge 20. Hinge (between both foot pedals) 21. Rotational axis 25 22. Cut-out for swivel wheel 23. Cut-out for wheel 24. Slot for brake plate hinge 25. Slot for swivel bar hinge 26. Slot for foot pedal hinge 30 27. Rod system knee joint 27a. Rod connected to knee joint 27b. Rod connected to knee joint 28. Fastening element 29a. First hinge element 13 29b. Second hinge element 30. Extending element 5

Claims (15)

Dolly (1) for transporting or presenting goods, comprising: 5. a bottom part (4) which extends substantially horizontally during use and which, during use, can be provided with a superstructure (3) for comprising the goods to be transported or shown, - one or more wheels (6, 7) arranged on a bottom side of the bottom part (4), such that during use a stable support of the bottom part (4) by the wheels (6) , 7) can be reached on a surface, - whereby the dolly (1) can be moved from an unrestrained state for moving the dolly (1) to a braked state for parking the dolly (1) for which purpose a brake body (5, 5 ') is arranged below the bottom part (4), which brake body is located almost entirely below the bottom part (4), the braked state being achieved by lowering the brake body (5, 5) ') away from the bottom part (4) and the unrestrained t The position can be achieved by raising the brake body (5, 5 ') in the direction of the bottom part (4), wherein the brake body (5, 5') is arranged to be in the braked state on the running surface 20 of the wheels (6, 7) or to engage on the ground, - wherein the brake body (5, 5 ') is provided with a first operating member (9) to achieve the unrestrained condition, and a second operating member (10) with which a user in the unrestrained state can cause the brake body (5, 5 ') to engage to achieve the braked state, the first control member (9) canceling the operation of that second control member (10) when moving the braked state to the unrestrained state . 2. Dolly (1) according to claim 1, wherein the first and second operating members (9, 10) comprise foot pedals (9, 10) which are pivotable relative to the brake body (5, 5 ') and which are on a peripheral side of the brake body (5). 5 '). The dolly (1) according to claim 2, wherein the first and second hinged foot pedals (9, 10) are adjacent to each other. The dolly (1) according to claim 3, wherein the first hinged foot pedal (9) is pivotable relative to the brake body (5, 5 ') about a first pivot axis (51) and the second foot pedal pivotable relative to the first foot pedal (9) around a second pivot axis (S2) extending near the first pivot axis (S1), substantially parallel thereto, the second foot pedal (10) comprising a pedal portion located on one side of the second pivot axis (S2) and an opposite portion located on the other side of the second hinge pin (52), the opposite portion comprising a first connecting member (27b) connected to one side of a knee joint (19), a second connecting member (27a) ) is arranged between another side of the knee joint (19) and the bottom part (4), such that in the unrestrained state the first connecting part (27b) and the second connecting part (27a) are almost are aligned and the second foot pedal (10) is tilted up and the first foot pedal (9) is tilted down and in the braked state the first connecting part 15 (27b) and the second connecting part (27a) are rotated relative to each other and the second foot pedal (10) is tilted downwards and the first foot pedal (9) is tilted upwards. Dolly (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the brake body (5, 5 ') is pivotally suspended on the bottom part (4) by means of a pivot member (12). 6. Dolly (1) according to claim 4 or 5, wherein one end of a rod system (11) extending along the top of the brake body (5, 5 ') is hingedly connected to the first foot pedal (9) in the second pivot axis (S2) and another end of the rod assembly (11) is pivotally connected to the brake body (5, 5 ') in a further pivot axis (S5) which extends parallel to the second pivot axis (S2). Dolly (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the brake body comprises a blocking member (8) which is adapted to engage on the running surface of one or more of the wheels (6, 7). Dolly (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein recesses (22, 23) are arranged near the wheels (6, 7), which recesses (22, 23) have an inner diameter that is larger than the outer diameter of the respective wheel (6, 7) such that the brake body (5, 5 ') can be moved up and down along the wheels to engage on a surface. 9. Dolly (1) for transporting or presenting goods, comprising: - a bottom part (4) which extends substantially horizontally during use, which during use can be provided on a top thereof with a superstructure (3) for comprising the goods to be transported or shown, - one or more wheels (6, 7) arranged on a bottom side of the bottom part (4), - such that during use a stable support of the bottom part (4) by the wheels (6) , 7) can be reached on a surface, - whereby the dolly (1) can be moved from an unrestrained state for moving the dolly (1) to a braked state for parking the dolly (1) for which purpose a brake body (5 ") is arranged below the bottom part (4), which brake body is located almost entirely below the bottom part (4), the braked state 20 being achieved by vertically lowering the brake body (5" during use) ) away from the soil e (4) and the unrestrained state can be achieved by vertically raising the brake body (5 ") in the direction of the bottom part (4), wherein the brake body (5") is arranged to be on the ground in the braked state 25, wherein the brake body (5 ") is provided with an operating member (9 ') with which a user can engage the brake body (5") in the unrestrained state to achieve the braked state and to operate the to release the brake body (5 ”) in the braked state to achieve the unrestrained state. 30 The dolly (1) according to claim 10, wherein the operating member (9 ') is hingedly connected at one point (S) to the brake body (5 ”) and also to an end of a first hinge element (29a) and a end of a second hinge element (29b), wherein the first hinge element (29a) is pivotally connected at a different end to a fastening element (28) rigidly connected to the bottom portion (4), and the second hinge element (29b) is pivotable to another end is connected to a telescoping element (30) which is vertically movable during use and rigidly connected to the brake body (5 ”), the telescoping element (30) being adapted to be substantially vertically extendable. 11. Dolly (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the brake body (5, 5 ', 5 ”), when it is arranged to engage on a surface, is arranged such that the dolly in the braked state can be stably placed on another dolly (1). Dolly (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the brake body (5, 5 ", 5") has one or more substantially flat undersides. 15 Dolly (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the top side of the bottom portion (4) is provided with one or more handles during use. 14. Dolly (1) according to claim 13, wherein the one or more handles comprise one or more slots which are arranged in the top side of the bottom part (4) during use. 15. Dolly (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein one or more peripheral sides of the bottom part (4) or the brake body (5, 5 ", 5") have a rounded shape.