GB2111917A - Trolley - Google Patents

Abstract

A shopping trolley has a collapsible back 1 and a bag 5 supporting base 2 each formed of articulated linkages and pivotally connected to one another. Collapsing of the back 1 causes retraction of the base 2. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Trolley This invention relates to troileys, particularly to a hand propelled wheeled trolley having an upstanding back and a relatively shallow base. A typical example of such a trolley is a shopping trolley, wherein the base and back together support a flexible container or bag slightly smaller than the back.

According to the present invention a trolley of the kind set out above is characterised by the base and the back being collapsible and so linked together that opening of the back to the functional position also opens the base to a corresponding functional position.

Thus in an embodiment the back is a lazy-tongs type system of articulated linkages with the lower linkages pivotally connected to parts slidable along an axle carrying the trolley wheels. Pivotally connected to the sliding parts is a base support structure again of articulated linkages.

The arrangement is such that longitudinal contraction of the lazy-tongs system with consequential lateral expansion causes the sliding parts to move laterally outwardly thereby retracting the base structure towards the axle. When the lazy-tongs structure is longitudinally expanded, for example by pulling a handle at the upper part thereof, there is a corresponding lateral contraction and a lateral inward movement of the sliding parts. In an embodiment the axle is of telescopic construction with wheel carrying sleeves sliding on a central axle rod. This lateral inward movement of the sliding parts causes the base structure to expand to the supporting position.

A particular embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a rear view of a shopping trolley in accordance with the invention; Figure2 is a detail view showing the interconnection between the back frame and the bag support; Figure 3 is a back view showing the trolley in a partially collapsed condition, and Figure 4 is an underneath view showing the bag support in a partially extended condition.

Referring initially to Figure 1 of the drawings the shopping trolley in accordance with the invention shown therein comprises a back in the form of a collapsible lazy-tongs type frame 1 and a base in the form of a shallow retractable frame 2 (see particularly Figure 4). An axle assembly 3 carrying the trolley wheels 4 extends across the lower end of the back frame 1 and the rear end of the base frame and a waterproof bag 5 is supported by the back and base frames 1 and 2 and optionally secured thereto. The axle assembly 3 is telescopic and comprises wheelcarrying sleeves 3' slidably received on an axle rod 3".

The back frame 1 is made up of pivotally connected linkages so as to provide upper parallelograms 6 and 7 and lower open pairs of linkages 8 pivotally connected to blocks 9 fixed to sleeves 3' and hence slidable on the axle rod 3". Linkages 8 are supplemented, at the other sides of blocks 9 by similar supplementary linkages 8' (see Figures 2 and 4). A square handle member 10 is connected to the upper corner of upper parallelogram 6. The arrangement is such that when the handle 10 is pushed downwardly the parailelograms expand laterally and contract vertically to the configuration shown in Figure 3; the lower linkages 8 correspondingiy move the blocks 9 to elongate axle 3 by laterally outward sliding movement of sleeves 3'.

Referring particularly now to Figures 2 and 4 each block 9 has pivotally connected to it about a vertical axis channel sectioned support struts 11 of the base frame. Centrally disposed locations of the struts are pivotally connected about a vertical axis to a cross member 12 of the base frame 2. A support member orfoot 13 to maintain the trolley in an upright standing position fqr loading depends from the front end part of each strut. A thin piece 15 of stiff plastics fixed by studs 16 to struts 11 provides basal support for bag 5.

Figures 1 and 2 show the trolley in the functional fully expanded position with a safety toggle linkage 14 bracing the top parallelogram 6 of the back frame 1. The inner ends of wheel-ca rrying sleeves 3' abut one another and the telescopic axle assembly 3" in its shortest condition. To collapse the trolley the toggle linkage is pivoted out of its bracing condition and the handle 10 depressed to collapse to the condition shown in Figure 3. With this collapse linkages 8 diverge and blocks 9 move laterally outwardly extending axle 3 as explained above the thereby causing linkages 11 to pivot inwardly to retract themseleves and the front support member 12; the trolley thus contracts to a narrow generally cylindrical member about the axle 3 where it can readily be transported.

1. A hand propeiled wheeled trolley having a back which is upstanding in use and a base to support a flexible container, characterised in that the base and the back are collapsible and so linked together that opening the back to the upright condition also opens the base to the supporting condition.

2. A trolley as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the back is a lazy-tongs system of articulated linkages with the lower linkage pivotally connected to parts slidable along an axle carrying the trolley wheels and wherein the base also formed of articulated linkages is pivotally connected to said slidable parts.

3. A trolley as claimed in Claim 3 wherein the axle is telescopic the slidable parts being wheel carrying-sleeves.

4. A trolley substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (4)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Trolley This invention relates to troileys, particularly to a hand propelled wheeled trolley having an upstanding back and a relatively shallow base. A typical example of such a trolley is a shopping trolley, wherein the base and back together support a flexible container or bag slightly smaller than the back. According to the present invention a trolley of the kind set out above is characterised by the base and the back being collapsible and so linked together that opening of the back to the functional position also opens the base to a corresponding functional position. Thus in an embodiment the back is a lazy-tongs type system of articulated linkages with the lower linkages pivotally connected to parts slidable along an axle carrying the trolley wheels. Pivotally connected to the sliding parts is a base support structure again of articulated linkages. The arrangement is such that longitudinal contraction of the lazy-tongs system with consequential lateral expansion causes the sliding parts to move laterally outwardly thereby retracting the base structure towards the axle. When the lazy-tongs structure is longitudinally expanded, for example by pulling a handle at the upper part thereof, there is a corresponding lateral contraction and a lateral inward movement of the sliding parts. In an embodiment the axle is of telescopic construction with wheel carrying sleeves sliding on a central axle rod. This lateral inward movement of the sliding parts causes the base structure to expand to the supporting position. A particular embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a rear view of a shopping trolley in accordance with the invention; Figure2 is a detail view showing the interconnection between the back frame and the bag support; Figure 3 is a back view showing the trolley in a partially collapsed condition, and Figure 4 is an underneath view showing the bag support in a partially extended condition. Referring initially to Figure 1 of the drawings the shopping trolley in accordance with the invention shown therein comprises a back in the form of a collapsible lazy-tongs type frame 1 and a base in the form of a shallow retractable frame 2 (see particularly Figure 4). An axle assembly 3 carrying the trolley wheels 4 extends across the lower end of the back frame 1 and the rear end of the base frame and a waterproof bag 5 is supported by the back and base frames 1 and 2 and optionally secured thereto. The axle assembly 3 is telescopic and comprises wheelcarrying sleeves 3' slidably received on an axle rod 3". The back frame 1 is made up of pivotally connected linkages so as to provide upper parallelograms 6 and 7 and lower open pairs of linkages 8 pivotally connected to blocks 9 fixed to sleeves 3' and hence slidable on the axle rod 3". Linkages 8 are supplemented, at the other sides of blocks 9 by similar supplementary linkages 8' (see Figures 2 and 4). A square handle member 10 is connected to the upper corner of upper parallelogram 6. The arrangement is such that when the handle 10 is pushed downwardly the parailelograms expand laterally and contract vertically to the configuration shown in Figure 3; the lower linkages 8 correspondingiy move the blocks 9 to elongate axle 3 by laterally outward sliding movement of sleeves 3'. Referring particularly now to Figures 2 and 4 each block 9 has pivotally connected to it about a vertical axis channel sectioned support struts 11 of the base frame. Centrally disposed locations of the struts are pivotally connected about a vertical axis to a cross member 12 of the base frame 2. A support member orfoot 13 to maintain the trolley in an upright standing position fqr loading depends from the front end part of each strut. A thin piece 15 of stiff plastics fixed by studs 16 to struts 11 provides basal support for bag 5. Figures 1 and 2 show the trolley in the functional fully expanded position with a safety toggle linkage 14 bracing the top parallelogram 6 of the back frame 1. The inner ends of wheel-ca rrying sleeves 3' abut one another and the telescopic axle assembly 3" in its shortest condition. To collapse the trolley the toggle linkage is pivoted out of its bracing condition and the handle 10 depressed to collapse to the condition shown in Figure 3. With this collapse linkages 8 diverge and blocks 9 move laterally outwardly extending axle 3 as explained above the thereby causing linkages 11 to pivot inwardly to retract themseleves and the front support member 12; the trolley thus contracts to a narrow generally cylindrical member about the axle 3 where it can readily be transported. CLAIMS

1. A hand propeiled wheeled trolley having a back which is upstanding in use and a base to support a flexible container, characterised in that the base and the back are collapsible and so linked together that opening the back to the upright condition also opens the base to the supporting condition.

2. A trolley as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the back is a lazy-tongs system of articulated linkages with the lower linkage pivotally connected to parts slidable along an axle carrying the trolley wheels and wherein the base also formed of articulated linkages is pivotally connected to said slidable parts.

3. A trolley as claimed in Claim 3 wherein the axle is telescopic the slidable parts being wheel carrying-sleeves.

4. A trolley substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.