GB2316368A

GB2316368A - Mounting means on a mobile load carrier

Info

Publication number: GB2316368A
Application number: GB9617215A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Abdul Majid Basharat
Original assignee: Clares Merchandise Handling Equipment Ltd
Current assignee: Clares Merchandise Handling Equipment Ltd
Priority date: 1996-08-16
Filing date: 1996-08-16
Publication date: 1998-02-25
Also published as: DE29714613U1; FR2752405A1; GB9617215D0

Abstract

A chassis 10 for a mobile load carrier is provided with a plurality of mounting means 12', 12'' whereby one or more load bearing means, such as a basket 110 or baskets 116, 118, may be mounted on the chassis. The load bearing means may be releasably mounted on the chassis and the mounting means may also be releasably mounted on the chassis. The mounting means may allow a variety of configurations of load bearing means to be mounted on the same design of chassis. The load bearing means may be cantilevered from the chassis. The mounting means may comprise two recesses for receiving members of a basket, one horizontal member and one vertical member. A supplementary load carrier (60 figure 1) may be provided on the chassis carried by two guide means permitting sliding movement of the load carrier.

Description

MOBILE LOAD CARRIER The invention relates to mobile load carriers and particularly, but not exclusively, to shopping trolleys for use in, for example, supermarkets.

Known shopping trolleys used in supermarkets typically comprise a chassis having wheels fixed at the corner regions thereof, a basket which is fixed to the chassis by means of welding and a push handle fixed to the upper rear end of the basket.

The designs of such known shopping trolleys are relatively inflexible and cannot be readily modified to suit particular demands of purchasers of trolleys and once purchased cannot be modified to take account of changing requirements of the purchaser.

Consequently, manufacturers of trolleys such as shopping trolleys typically offer purchasers a range of trolley options each having an individual chassis and basket configuration.

In order to improve the load carrying capacity of shopping trolleys it is known to provide a supplementary load carrier comprising a shelf-like structure and a supporting structure for the shelf.

Typically, the shelf and its support structure are arranged to allow the shelf to be drawn outwardly of the trolley to allow goods such as crates of beer to be carried thereon. The support structure is often relatively complex and can only be fitted to the trolley for which it was specifically designed.

Furthermore, the complexity of the known support structures is such that retrofitting to existing trolleys is not possible or uneconomic. Examples of known supplementary load carriers are disclosed in US2890058, US2903269, DE2742958 and DE3448335. It will be appreciated that it would be advantageous to provide a supplementary load carrier which: has a support structure which is simple and cheap to manufacture; is capable of being easily fitted to a wide range of trolley designs; and can readily be retrofitted to existing trolleys.

It is an object of the invention to at least partially overcome the above-described disadvantages associated with known mobile load carriers.

Accordingly, the invention provides a chassis for a mobile load carrier provided with a plurality of mounting means at spaced apart locations thereon whereby one or more load bearing means can be selectively mounted to the chassis such that, in use, a load to be carried can be placed in or on such a load bearing means.

The invention includes a mobile load carrier comprising a chassis, a plurality of mounting means for mounting load bearing means to said chassis, said mounting means being disposed one above the other in spaced apart relationship such that a plurality of load bearing means can be mounted to said chassis by said mounting means, and at least one load bearing means mounted to said chassis by at least one of said mounting means such that, in use, a load to be carried can be placed in or on the or a said load bearing means.

The invention also includes a chassis for a mobile load carrier provided with a plurality of mounting means for releasably mounting respective load bearing containers to the chassis.

In another aspect the invention provides a mobile load carrier provided with a supplementary load carrier, said supplementary load carrier comprising two guide means which are connected with said mobile load carrier and define respective guide channels, which channels are disposed in parallel spaced apart relationship, and a load carrying means having respective side portions received in said guide channels such that said load carrying means is carried by and guided for sliding movement relative to said mobile load carrier only by said guide means.

In order that the invention may be well understood, some embodiments thereof, which are given by way of example only, will now be described with reference to the drawings in which: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a mobile load carrier; Figure 2 is a top plan view of the mobile load carrier with the baskets removed; Figure 3 is a perspective view of a lower portion of the mobile load carrier looking in the direction A indicated in Figure 2 and with the baskets removed; Figure 4 is a perspective view of an upper portion of the mobile load carrier looking in the direction A indicated in Figure 2 and with the basket removed; Figure 5 is a perspective view showing a supplementary load carrier of the mobile load carrier; Figure 6 is a side view of another mobile load carrier; and Figure 7 is a view of the mobile load carrier of Figure 6 showing a different basket configuration mounted to the chassis.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, a mobile load carrier (hereinafter referred to as a shopping trolley) 5 comprises a chassis 10 provided with an upper mounting means 12' and a lower mounting means 12'' by means of which one or more load bearing means 14, 16 can be selectively mounted to the chassis such that, in use, a load to be carried can be placed in or on such a load bearing means 14, 16. The chassis 10 is shown with two such load bearing means in the form of baskets 14, 16 mounted to the chassis by the mounting means 12', 12''.

The chassis 10 comprises two side members 18 which extend in the lengthwise direction of the trolley 5. The side members 18 are arranged in spaced apart relationship and are interconnected by a first cross-member 22 disposed at the leading end of the trolley and a second cross-member 24 disposed towards the rear end of the trolley 5. Additionally, the chassis 10 comprises two curved end members 26 and two web plates 30.

The end members 26 are arranged so as to be generally upright and are joined by means of welding to a respective side member 18. A web plate 30 interconnects each side member 18 and end member 26 in the region at which those members are joined to each other and serves to strengthen the joint between the two members. The web plates 30 are joined to their respective side and end members by means of welding.

A castor 32 is fixed to the leading end of each side member 18 and the lowermost end of each end member 26.

A handle support bracket 34 is fitted to the uppermost end of each curved end member 26 and a pushhandle 36 which extends transversely of the trolley extends between the support brackets 34.

The upper mounting means comprises two mounting members 12' and the lower mounting means comprises two mounting members 12''. Referring to Figure 3, the lower mounting members 12'' are each formed of a metal plate 40 which is bent at one end to define a generally semi-circular section groove 42. A notch 44 disposed approximately midway along the length of the groove 42 is provided in the plate 40. Two throughholes are provided in the plate 40 such that the lower mounting member 12'' can be secured to a web plate 30 by means of bolts 46 and captive nuts 48.

Referring to Figure 4, the upper mounting members 12' are each formed of a metal plate 50 which is likewise bent at one end to define a generally semicircular section groove 52. A notch 54 disposed approximately midway along the length of the groove 52 is provided in the plate 50. At the end opposite the groove 52, the plate 50 is shaped to define two legs 56 which are bent in the opposite sense to the portion which defines the groove 52 such that the metal plate 50 can wrap around an end member 26. The plate 50 is provided with through-holes which allow it to be releasably secured to an end member 26 by means of screws 58.

The bolts and screws used for securing the mounting members 12', 12'' to the chassis are preferably of a type which can only be released with the aid of special tools. So-called security bolts/screws are well known to those skilled in the art and will not therefore be described in any detail herein.

Referring to Figures 1, 2 and 5, the trolley 5 is provided with a supplementary load carrier 60 which can, for example, be used for carrying crates of beer or the like. The carrier 60 can be moved between a non-use position (shown in Figure 2) and a position in which objects may be carried thereon (shown in Figure 1).

The supplementary load carrier 60 comprises two guide means each comprising an elongate member 62 and a bearing element 64. The elongate members 62 depend from the cross-member 24 to which they are each fixed by a single welded joint. Each member 62 has a generally V-shaped transverse section and is joined to the cross-member in the region of the distal end of one limb of the V such that the apex 66 of the V faces outwardly of the chassis and a generally V-shaped groove defined by the member 62 is disposed in parallel spaced apart relationship with the groove of the other member 62.

The bearing elements 64 are preferably plastics mouldings made, for example, of nylon. The elements 64 have a generally V-shaped section corresponding substantially to the section of the elongate members 62. Each element 64 defines a generally V-shaped guide channel 68. The elements 64 are each provided with a recess in the surfaces thereof which are opposite to the surfaces which define the guide channel 68. The recesses have a length which corresponds substantially to the length of an elongate member 62 and define a projection 70 (indicated in Figure 2) at either end of the bearing element 64.

The configuration of the elongate members 62 and bearing elements 64 is such that a bearing element can be pressed into and against the V-shaped groove of a member 62 with the member 62 fitting snugly into the recess of the bearing element, the arrangement being such that the projections 70 prevent movement of the bearing element in the lengthwise direction of the elongate member 62. When so fitted, the bearing elements 64 define guide channels 68 which are disposed in opposed parallel spaced apart relationship and extend in the lengthwise direction of the trolley.

The supplementary load carrier further comprises a load carrying means (hereinafter referred to as a shelf) which is carried by the bearing elements 64 in such a way that it can slide relative to those elements between its use and non-use positions.

The load carrying shelf comprises a generally rectangular metal frame 72 made of a metal rod. The frame has side portions 72' which are received in the guide channels 68. The load carrying shelf additionally comprises cross-members 78, 80, 82, 84 which extend between the side portions 72' of the frame. The cross-members which are welded to the frame 72 provide strength and allow loads of varying sizes to be supported by the shelf.

The cross-member 82 has its ends disposed on the upper surface of the frame 72. These ends are arranged to act as stops for limiting movement of the shelf in the forward direction of the trolley, ie for limiting insertion of the shelf into the trolley.

A stop plate 88 is secured to the leading end of the shelf and is arranged for limiting movement of the shelf in the rearward direction of the trolley; ie for limiting withdrawal of the shelf from the trolley.

A push-bar 89 is provided at the leading end of the supplementary load carrier. The push-bar 89 is made from a metal rod which is bent so as to be generally U-shaped in plan and generally L-shaped in side elevation. The free ends of the push-bar are joined to the front transverse portion of the frame 72, the arrangement teing such that a central portion 89' of the push-bar is disposed below the plane of the frame 72.

The shelf is provided at its rear end with a handle 90. The handle 90 is formed from a rod which is bent into a U-shape and formed with hooked-portions 90' at each end which hook-portions engage with the frame 72 such that the handle can pivot about the frame. A substantially C-shaped cross-bar 92 is fixed to the handle 90. A limit-bar 94 is fixed to the cross-bar 92. The limit-bar 94 is made from a metal rod which is bent to define a U-shaped central portion with a leg 94' at each end which leg extends at right angles to the central portion. The legs 94' of the push-bar are connected to the cross-bar such that the U-shaped central portion of the limit-bar is in a plane generally perpendicular to the plane of the handle 90 and cross-bar 92.

The push-bar 89, handle 90, cross-bar 92 and limit-bar 94 are arranged such that the shelf will automatically be pushed into the trolley when a second trolley 5 is pushed into the back of a first trolley 5 to allow nesting of the trolleys as will be described in more detail hereinbelow.

The supplementary load carrier 60 is mounted to the trolley 5 by first welding the elongate members 62 to the cross-member 24. The bearing elements 64 are then pressed against the respective elongate members 62 such that the members are partially received in the recesses provided therefor in the backs of the bearing elements. The frame 72 with the stop plate 88 removed is then inserted from the rear of the trolley such that the side portions 72' are received in the guide channels 68. At this stage the bearing elements are securely held in place against the elongate members 62. Since the side portions 72' engage in the V of each of the bearing elements and extend lengthwise within the channels, the frame 72 prevents the bearing elements from falling out of the grooves defined by the elongate members and the projections 70 prevent movement of the bearing elements in the lengthwise direction of the elongate members 62.

In order to complete the installation, the stop plate 88 is secured to the frame 72. The frame 72 can then be slid backwards and forwards in the lengthwise direction of the trolley guided and supported only by engagement of the side portions 72' with the surfaces of the bearing elements which define the guide channels 68. The range of that movement is limited at one extreme by engagement between the stop plate 88 and the leading ends of the bearing elements and at the other extreme by engagement between the crossmember 82 and the- trailing ends of the bearing elements.

The basket 16 is mounted to the chassis 10 by bringing the mounting members 12'' into interengaging relationship with a rear end portion of the basket.

In more detail and referring to Figures 1 and 3, the mounting members are fitted against opposite corner portions of the rear of the basket such that a generally upright corner rod 100 and a lengthwise extending rod 102 of the basket are received in the groove 42 and notch 44 respectively. The basket 16 and mounting members 12'' are then inserted between the web plates 30 and the mounting members 12'' are secured to the web plates by means of the bolts 46 and nuts 48.

The basket 14 is secured to the chassis in a similar fashion. However, in this case the mounting members 12' are screwed directly to the upright end members 26 of the chassis by means of the screws 58.

For the purposes of fitting the basket 14 to the chassis, it may be preferable to first place the mounting members 12' against the respective end members 26 and then insert the basket therebetween and press the mounting members against the corners of the basket so that the required basket rods are received in the grooves 52 and notches 54.

The baskets 14, 16 each have a pivotable rear gate and a bottom which is arranged to be inclined to the horizontal to allow the baskets of successive trolleys to be received one inside the other so that the trolley 5 is nestable. The construction of baskets which allow such nesting is well known to those skilled in the art and will not be discussed in any further detail herein.

As indicated hereinabove, the handle 90, crossbar 92 and push-bar 94 are arranged so that the shelf can be automatically pushed to the non-use position illustrated in Figure 2 to allow nesting of the trolley 5. Referring to Figure 5, the handle is shown in a first position in which it is substantially perpendicular to the plane of the frame 72. In this raised condition the handle can be used for pulling the shelf outwardly of the rear of the trolley to the use position shown in Figure 1. It will be understood that the engagement of the central portion of the push-bar 94 with the underside of the cross-member 84 limits the pivoting movement of the handle away from the plane of the frame so that it can remain in the raised condition and thereby serve as an end stop for preventing rearward movement of goods placed on the shelf.

When a second trolley 5 is inserted into the rear of a first trolley 5; the leading end of the basket 16 of the second trolley contacts the handle 90 and cross-bar 92 causing them to pivot towards the leading end of the first trolley until the handle and legs 94' of the limit-bar 94 rest against the cross-member 84.

In this position the handle 90 is disposed substantially in the plane of the frame 72 and the central portion of the limit-bar 94 extends downwardly of the frame at an angle approaching the perpendicular. As insertion of the second trolley is continued, the cross-member 22 of the second trolley passes below the limit-bar 94 and eventually engages the central portion 89' of the push-bar 89 such that continued insertion of the second trolley into the first trolley causes the shelf to be pushed towards the leading end of the first trolley to allow nesting to occur.

It will be appreciated that the chassis 10 provided with the mounting members 12', 12'' can readily have alternative arrangements of baskets mounted thereon. This allows the same chassis to be used to provide different configurations of trolley as selected by the manufacturer or purchaser. Moreover, since the mounting members are releasable, different baskets can easily be retrofitted on site to meet changing requirements of the purchaser or to replace a basket which is damaged.

An example of an alternative basket arrangement provided on the chassis 10 will now be described with reference to Figure 6. In this case the chassis has a deep basket 110 mounted thereto by the mounting members 12', 12''. The use of both sets of mounting members 12', 12'' to mount the basket 110 to the chassis provides secure mounting of the basket to cope with the heavier loads which may be carried therein.

The chassis 10 is shown in Figure 6 with a different push-handle arrangement. The push-handle 112 is a U-shaped member which is mounted to the upright chassis members 26 by respective support sleeves 114. A trolley lock 115 is shown mounted to the upper end of one upright member 26.

A further example of an alternative basket arrangement provided on the chassis 10 is shown in Figure 7. In this case a short basket 116 is mounted to the chassis by the upper mounting members 12' and a longer basket 118 is mounted to the chassis by the lower mounting members 12''.

It will also be appreciated that it is not essential that the trolley is provided with a supplementary load carrier. Furthermore, the supplementary load carrier may be in the form of a fixed shelf rather than the retractible arrangement of the embodiment.

It will be appreciated that the supplementary load carrier 60 is of simple construction and therefore economic to manufacture. Furthermore, since the load carrying shelf is carried by and guided only by the bearing elements 64 which in turn are carried only by the elongate members 62 which are each fitted to the trolley 5 by means of a single welded joint, the supplementary load carrier 60 can readily be fitted to many trolley designs and not only to the chassis 10. Furthermore, it will be understood that the supplementary load carrier 60 can be easily retrofitted to trolleys on site.

It will also be appreciated that since the movement of the shelf of the supplementary load carrier 60 is planar and the carrier can be mounted substantially horizontal, it can fit into a relatively restricted spaced beneath the baskets.

Additionally, it will be appreciated that the arrangement of the bearing elements 64 and the frame 72 ensures that the sliding movement of the shelf is smooth and controlled. The side portions 72' of the frame 72 are directly engaged from two directions by their respective bearing elements along the whole length of the bearing elements 64 preventing rocking and twisting of the shelf as it slides between the use and non-use position. The smooth planar movement of the shelf should reduce the problem of sticking which can occur if the shelf is able to rock or twist as it moves.

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. A chassis for a mobile load carrier provided with a plurality of mounting means at spaced apart locations thereon whereby one or more load bearing means can be selectively mounted to the chassis such that, in use, a load to be carried can be placed in or on such a load bearing means.
2. A chassis as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one said mounting means is adapted for releasably mounting such a load bearing means to the chassis.
3. A chassis as claimed in claim 2, wherein at least one said mounting means is releasably securable to the chassis.
4. A chassis as claimed in claim 3, wherein at least one said mounting means comprises two mounting members securable to the chassis in opposed spaced apart relationship for mounting such a load bearing means therebetween.
5. A chassis as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, comprising two generally upright members disposed in spaced apart relationship and interconnected at one end region thereof by push handle means, wherein at least one said mounting means is adapted for releasably mounting such a load bearing container to said upright members.
6. A chassis as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one said mounting means is arranged for engaging an end region of such a load bearing means such that in use the load bearing means projects from the chassis as a cantilever.
7. A chassis as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further provided with a supplementary load carrier, said supplementary load carrier comprising two guide means connected with said chassis in opposed spaced apart relationship and a load carrying means carried by and guided for sliding movement relative to said chassis by said guide means.
8. A chassis as claimed in claim 7, wherein said guide means depend from a transverse member of said chassis.
9. A mobile load carrier comprising a chassis as claimed in any one of the preceding claims and at least one load bearing means releasably mounted to said chassis by at least one said mounting means.
10. A mobile load carrier as claimed in claim 9, wherein the or at least one said load bearing means is a basket.
11. A mobile load carrier comprising a chassis, a plurality of mounting means for mounting load bearing means to said chassis, said mounting means being disposed one above the other in spaced apart relationship such that a plurality of load bearing means can be mounted to said chassis by said mounting means, and at least one load bearing means mounted to said chassis by at least one of said mounting means such that, in use, a load to be carried can be placed in or on the or a said load bearing means.
12. A mobile load carrier as claimed in claim 11, wherein the or at least one said load bearing means is a basket.
13. A mobile load carrier as claimed in claim 12, wherein at least one said mounting means is adapted for interengaging a said basket.
14. A mobile load carrier as claimed in claim 13, wherein the or each said mounting means adapted for interengaging a basket comprises two mounting members releasably securable to said chassis at spaced apart locations and each provided with means for receiving at least one member of a said basket such that a basket can be mounted between and supported by said mounting members.
15. A mobile load carrier as claimed in claim 14, wherein said receiving means comprises a first and a second recess means arranged for receiving respective members of said basket, the first of said members extending upwardly and the second of said members extending in the lengthwise direction of the basket.
16. A chassis for a mobile load carrier provided with a plurality of mounting means for releasably mounting respective load bearing containers to the chassis.
17. A mobile load carrier provided with a supplementary load carrier, said supplementary load carrier comprising two guide means which are connected with said mobile load carrier and define respective guide channels, which channels are disposed in parallel spaced apart relationship, and a load carrying means having respective side portions received in said guide channels such that said load carrying means is carried by and guided for planar sliding movement relative to said mobile load carrier by said guide means.
18. A mobile load carrier as claimed in claim 17, wherein said guide means depend from a chassis member of the mobile load carrier.
19. A mobile load carrier as claimed in claim 17 or 18, wherein said guide means are each fixed to said chassis by a single joint.
20. A mobile load carrier as claimed in claim 17, 18 or 19, wherein said guide channels are adapted to engage the respective said side portions from two directions.
21. A mobile load carrier as claimed in claim 20, wherein in transverse section said guide channels are substantially V-shaped.
22. A mobile load carrier as claimed in any one of claims 17 to 21, wherein said guide means each comprise an elongate member which is connected to the mobile load carrier and a bearing element fitted to said elongate element, said bearing element defining said guide channel.
23. A mobile load carrier as claimed in claim 22, wherein said bearing elements each comprise recess means adapted for at least partially receiving the respective said elongate member such that, in use, movement of the bearing element in the lengthwise direction of the elongate member is substantially prevented.
24. A mobile load carrier as claimed in claim 22 or 23, wherein said bearing elements are made of a plastics material.
25. A mobile load carrier as claimed in any one of claims 17 to 24, wherein said load carrying means is provided with stop means for limiting the extent of said relative sliding movement.
26. A mobile load carrier as claimed in any one of claims 17 to 25, wherein said load carrying means is carried and guided only by said guide means.
27. A mobile load carrier as claimed in any one of claims 17 to 26, wherein said guide channels face inwardly of the mobile load carrier in opposed relationship.
28. A mobile load carrier as claimed in any one of claims 17 to 27, wherein said load carrying means comprises a generally planar frame means which defines said side portions and a pull-out handle fitted to said frame means and moveable between a use position and a non-use position in which it is disposed substantially in the plane of said frame means.
29. A mobile load carrier as claimed in claim 28, wherein said pull-out handle is provided with means arranged for engaging said frame means for limiting movement of said pull-out handle away from said nonuse position.
30. A mobile load carrier as claimed in any one of claims 17 to 29, comprising means connected with said load carrying means and arranged to be engageable by a similar such mobile load carrier whereby the load carrying means can be pushed from a use position in the direction of the leading end of the mobile load carrier for allowing nesting of such mobile load carriers.
31. A mobile load carrier as claimed in any one of claims 17 to 30, wherein said side portions engage the respective guide means along substantially the whole length of the said guide means.
32. A chassis for a mobile load carrier substantially as described herein with reference to the drawings.
33. A supplementary load carrier for a mobile load carrier substantially as described herein with reference to the drawings.