GB2478162A

GB2478162A - Trundler device for a container such as a soft-sided bag for shopping

Info

Publication number: GB2478162A
Application number: GB1003345A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Donald Milne Downie
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-02-27
Filing date: 2010-02-27
Publication date: 2011-08-31
Also published as: GB201003345D0

Abstract

The trundler device 50, comprises a planar base member 51 of flat rigid material or a tubular or rod frame, a planar hinged member 52 of flat rigid material or a tubular or rod frame and which is hinged to one edge of the base member, two side members 59, 60 each rotatably attached to respective side edges of the base member, a support member 67, 68 attached to or integral with each side member and swivelable between a first position in which it lies in a plane parallel to the plane of the base member and a second position in which it is perpendicular to the plane of the base member. Each support member 67, 68 has a wheel 73, 74 at its extremity. There is also a respective clip 76, 77 which can be used to retain each support member 67, 68 in both the first position and the second position in which latter position it retains the support member fixed relative to a respective side of the hinged member 52 and retains the hinged member and the support member perpendicular to the plane of the base member 51. Each swivelable support member 67, 68 has a hook 63, 64 at its free end for attachment to a respective side loop or tag of a container which is supported on and transported by the trundle device. The loops or tags are provided on the base of the container adjacent one bottom edge. In use, the centre of gravity of the container is approximately above the wheels 73, 74, thus facilitating manual pulling of the container and trundler device along a surface.

Description

Trundler Device for a Container The present invention relates to a trundler device, and more particularly, to a trundler device which facilitates movement over a surface of a container, e.g. a non-rigid container such as a bag or sack made from paper, fibres or plastics material. The invention also relates to such a container in combination with a trundler device.

Non-rigid bags are widely used for merchandise such as items purchased from retail shops and stores. Some shops often provide such bags for customers at low cost or free of charge.

A problem arises with such bags when customers have to manually move the filled bags significant distances, especially in areas where there are no convenient car parks or where travel by public transport is involved. Trundler or trolley devices for bags have been suggested to address this and other problems, but they have not proved completely satisfactory.

WO 2006/131310 discloses a trolley device which comprises a platform mounted on wheels which can be folded flat against the underside of the platform. The platform is received in a recess in the bottom of a container (e.g., a carton, sack or bag), the container being mounted on the upper side of the platform. The platform has legs underneath so that it can stand stably on the floor or other surface. A drawback of this device is that it is relatively bulky and relatively heavy. Another drawback is that when the bag is being filled, the bottom of the bag is only partially supported by the platform and the bag tends to collapse and close during filling.

GB 2444596A discloses a trolley device comprising a plate having a first part for receipt in the bottom of the bag and a second part which is for location outside the bag and which is offset vertically downwards relative to the first part by a distance (approximately) equal to the thickness of the bottom of the bag. The second part is provided with resilient "claws" for retaining the axles of wheels while permitting rotation thereof. A drawback of this device is that the wheels are offset from the centreline or centre of gravity of the bag. A consequence is that the bag tilts and drags on the ground when pulled along, requiring effort by the user to counteract the drag and to avoid damage from friction with the ground.

US 4596397 discloses a shopping trundler comprising a base plate having a flat central platform and trough-shaped members at the forward and rear sides of the central platform. Wheels are located at the lateral sides of the central platform. A bag rests on the base plate and is attached to the front and rear of the trundler by fastenings of the press-stud type. A drawback of this trundler is that the bag tends to close under the influence of the trough-shaped members while the bag is being loaded with merchandise. This is highly inconvenient for the customer filling the bag.

CH 630790 discloses a shopping trolley comprising a spring-opened carrier bag and a supporting mechanism generally beneath the bag. The supporting mechanism comprises foldable wheels which can be locked in one position folded beneath the bag and another position in which the wheels support the bag so that the trolley can be wheeled. A drawback of this shopping trolley is that the bag and supporting mechanism are not separable. As a result, the trolley is bulky and heavy to carry when not in use for transporting merchandise.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved trundle or trolley.

The present invention provides a trundle device as defined in claim 1 of the set of claims following this description. Optional and/or preferred features of the invention are the subjects of other claims in the said set of claims.

The invention is further described by way of non-limitative embodiments thereof, given by way of examples only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-Figure 1 is a perspective view of one form of trundler in its operative configuration for supporting a container, such as a bag for containing domestic shopping; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the trundler of Fig. un its folded, inoperative configuration; Figure 3 is a perspective view of another form of trundler in its operative configuration; and Figure 4 is a perspective view of the trundler of Figure 3 in its folded, operative configuration.

Figures 5, 6 and 7 show schematically successive stages during the use of an embodiment of a trundler of the invention during use supporting and transporting a container.

Reference is first made to Figs. 1 and 2.

The trundler is indicated generally by reference 10, and comprises a planar base member 11 and a planar hinged member 12. The base member 11 and the hinged member 12 may be of rigid plastics material (such as polypropylene) or steel. One edge of the member 12 is attached by a hinge 13 (not shown) to one edge of the base member 11 so that it can be swung between the positions shown in Figs. 1 and 2. In the position shown in Fig. 1, the plane of the hinged member 12 is at an angle to the plane of the base member 11 (e.g., substantially perpendicular as shown), and in the position shown in Fig. 2, the plane of the hinged member 12 is substantially parallel to the plane of the base member 11.

The sides 14, 15 of the base member 11 are curved over to form channels in which are received respective swivel members 16, 17. The swivel members are preferably formed of rigid rod material such as steel rod and are substantially straight within the channels and beyond, but at their end regions 20, 21 have a hook-like form resembling the Greek capital letter delta, (i.e., substantially triangular) but with one open corner, in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the base member 11. The hook-like form is open at one apex 22, 23 to provide an opening for a tag or loop (not shown) of a container (not shown) such as a shopping container, which is to be mounted upon the trundle for transport thereon. The loop serves to retain the container on the trundler 10. As is apparent from Figs. 1 and 2, the swivel members 16, 17 are each doubled back on themselves to respective positions 24, 25 just clear of the hinge 13. There are provided support members 26, 27 formed at an angle to the swivel members 16, l7and attached or integral with the support members 16, 17 at the positions 24, 25. The preferred angle between the swivel members and the support members is 90°. Preferably, the support members 26, 27 are formed from the same rods as swivel * 3 members 16, 17. The end regions 28, 29 of the support members 26,27 are provided with axles 30,31 on which are rotatably mounted wheels (or rollers) 32,33. At the sides of the hinged member 12 are provided springy clips 35, 36. The springy clips may be of plastics material (such as polypropylene) or steel, preferably the same material as the base member 11 and hinged member 12. When the hinged member 12 is disposed perpendicularly to the base member 11 (as shown in Fig. 1), the swivel members 16, 17 are rotated about their long axes until the support members 26, 27 are parallel to, and adjacent, the sides of the hinged member 12 and the springy clips 35,36 located thereon. The support members 26, 27 and the clips 35, 36 are pressed together so that the support members are removably received in, and retained by, the clips 35, 36. The engagement of the springy clips 35, 36 with the support members 26,27 maintains the hinged member 12 and the support members 26,27 fast with each other with the wheels 30, 31 beneath the swivel members 16,17 and the base member 11. In this configuration, shown in Fig. 1, a container can be mounted on the base member 11 and transported along a surface on which the wheels 30, 31 can roll. Such a surface could be a pedestrian walkway of any type. Preferably, the container has loops which are passed via the openings 22, 23 into the triangular hook-like form of the end regions 20, 21 of the swivel members 16, 17 to provide more positive engagement between the trundler 10 and the container (in addition to engagement due to the weight of the loaded container) so that both are pulled along the surface together. Preferably, the trundler 10 and container are pulled in a direction away from the base member and towards the hook-like end regions 20, 21.

When the trundler 10 is not required for supporting a container, it can be folded into the configuration shown in Fig. 2. This is effected by separating and removing the support members 26, 27 from the springy clips 35, 36. The hinged member 12 may then be swivelled on the hinge 13 until it lies against the base member 11 as shown in Fig. 2, with the planes of the two members 11, 12 substantially parallel to each other. The support members 25, 26 (and the wheels 32, 33 mounted thereon) may then be swivelled so as to be folded beneath the hinged member 12 as shown in Fig. 2.

During the "folding" of the support members 26, 27, the swivel members 16, 17 swivel with the support members 26, 27. The springy clips 35, 36 are then re-applied to the support members 26, 27, thereby restraining the support members 26, 27 relative to the hinged member 12 and thereby maintaining the trundler 10 in its folded configuration.

Reference is now made to the embodiment of Figures 3 and 4. The embodiment of Figs. 3 and 4 is similar to the embodiment of Figs. 1 and 2 except that the planar base member 11 and the planar hinged member 12 are replaced by tubular frame members having the same functions and some other features are modified.

The trundler of Figs. 3 and 4 is indicated generally by reference 50, and comprises a base member 51 and a hinged member 52. The base member 51 is planar and formed of rigid tubing or rigid rod or wire in the form of a "U" with inwardly projecting parts 53, 54 between the uprights of the "U". The hinged member 52 is also planar and formed of rigid tubing, rigid rod or rigid wire in the form of a "U" with inwardly projecting parts 55, 56 between the uprights of the "U". The members 51, 52 are hingedly connected by collars 57, 58 around adjacent parts 55, 56 such that the hinged part can swivel relative to the base part 51. At each side of the base member are provided respective swivel members 59, 60. A collar 61, 62 secures the adjacent parts of the respective sides of the base member 51 and the swivel members 59, 60 but permits rotation of the thus secured parts and the swivel members 59, 60 so that the swivel members can swivel from the positions shown in Fig. 3 to the positions shown in Fig. 4. The swivel members 59, 60 each have a hook 63, 64 at one free end region at which a loop or a tag of a container (not shown) can be engaged with the trundler 50 for transport over and along a surface (not shown). The swivel members 59, 60 are each doubled back on themselves at their respective end regions 65, 66 opposite the end regions bearing the hooks 63, 64to provide parallel members 67, 68 between the end regions 65,66 and the opposite end regions 69, 70 of the parallel members. Support members 71, 72 extend away from the end regions 69, 70 substantially perpendicularly (or at any other suitable angle) and rotatably support respective wheels (or rollers) 73, 74. The support members 71, 72 are retained in the position shown in Fig. 3 by resilient clips 75, 76 of springy plastics material or springy metal. The clips 75, 76 engage around the support members 71, 72 to retain them in place. The clips 75, 76 extend from respective collars 77, 78 around the side parts 79, 80 of the hinged member 52. Thus the clips and collars restrain the support members 71, 72 relative to the hinged member 52, and thus constrain the trundler 51 to maintain the configuration shown in Fig. 3. In the configuration depicted in Fig. 3, the trundler SO can be used to support and transport merchandise or a container containing merchandise such as domestic shopping or luggage or other goods (not shown).

When the trundler 50 is not required for supporting and transporting, it can be folded to the configuration depicted in Fig. 4. The folding is effected by removing or separating the support members 71, 72 from the resilient clips 75, 76 (which releases the support members 71, 72 and the hinged member 52), and then swivelling the hinged member 52 about the projecting parts 55, 56 in the collars 57, 58 until the hinged member 52 lies against the base member 51. The support members and their attached wheels 73, 74 are then free to swivel or pivot in collars 61, 62 until the planes of the wheels 73, 74 lie substantially parallel to the planes of the base member 51 and the hinged member 52. The resilient clips 75, 76 are then applied around the support members 71, 72 thereby retaining the support members 71, 72 in position relative to the side parts of the hinged member 52. The thus folded trundler 50 can then be disposed in a suitable bag or in a pocket or handbag (not shown) until required for use in supporting and transporting a load.

In some embodiments, the folded trundler 10 or 50 may be sufficiently small and light in weight to be carried in a pocket or handbag, and available to be deployed to support a container containing shopping when required. When folded, the width of the "pocketable" trundler may be from 10 to cm., and its length may be from 4 to 12 cm. Trundlers of larger dimensions are within the scope of the invention.

Reference is now made to Figs. 5, 6 and 7 wherein the container is a bag for containing domestic shopping, but it should be understood that it could be any other suitable container including, e.g. suitable luggage. In these Figures, one side view is shown, and it should be understood that what is shown and described for one side applies equally to the other, unseen side.

In Fig. 5, the trundler shown by way of example is a trundler 10 as described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2, although it could be any other trundler according to the invention. The trundler 10 is supported on a surface 70, such as a pedestrian walkway or a car-park. The trundler 10 is upside down compared to the trundler 10 as shown in Fig. 1, and has its base member 11 and swivel members 17 on the surface 70, and its hinged member 12 and support members 26 extending upwards from the surface 70, the wheels 32 being at the top regions of the support members 26.

The hinged member 12 and the support members 26 are maintained relative to each other by a clip (not shown in Figs. 5 -7). The open hooks 20, 21 at the end regions of the swivel members 17 are adjacent the surface 70. A paper bag 71 containing a load (eg., of shopping merchandise) having handles 72 at its top rim 73 is lowered onto the trundler 10 so that the bag rests on parts of the trundler to the left (as shown) of the wheels 32. The bag 71 has loops 74 (or suitable tags, not shown) at its base adjacent to the right-hand (as shown) bottom corner which engage with, and attach to, the hooks 20, 21, whereby the trundler is detachably attached by the hooks 20 and loops 74 to the bag 71.

In Fig. 6, the bag 71 and attached trundler are raised relative to the surface 70 by a lifting of the handles 72. The trundler 10 swings or pivots under its own weight clockwise (as depicted) from the position shown in Fig. 5 to the position shown in Fig. 6, the hooks 20,21 and the loops 74 supporting the trundler relative to the bag 70 and acting as pivots or hinges. In the position shown in Fig. 6, the base member 11 hangs downwards beneath the bottom of the bag 71.

In Fig. 7, the bag and trundler have been lowered until the wheels 32 support the weight of the trundler and bag on the surface 70. In the position of Fig. 7, the trundler supports the bag on both sides of the bag's centre of gravity, with the centre of gravity being preferably over the wheels 32.

This arrangement of the centre of gravity provides physical stability of the combination of the bag and the trundler on which it rests. The bag 71 is pulled along in the direction indicated by the arrow 76 by pulling with at least a horizontal component of traction on the handles 72 in the direction of the arrow 76. The pulling acts via the loops 74 and hooks 20, 21 to move the trundler 10 and bag 71 in the direction of the arrow.

When the transport of the bag on the trundler 10 along and over the surface 70 is completed, the sequence of steps shown in Figs. 5 to 7 is reversed, terminating with the releasing of the loops 74 from the hooks 20, 21 so that the bag 71 is released from the trundler 10, e.g., for disposal in a vehicle or for unloading.

The use of the trundler to support and transport a container over a surface is seen to be relatively easy. At all stages, the bag and trundler are in stable dispositions and do not necessitate extensive bending, balancing or extensive manipulation by the user.

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. A trundler device comprising: (a) a planar base member having edges and sides; (b) a planar hinged member having edges and sides and which has one edge hingedly attached to one edge of the base member so as to be hingeable between a first position in which the base member and the hinged member are mutually adjacent and the plane of the hinged member is substantially parallel to the plane of the base member, and a second position in which the plane of the hinged member is at a selected angle to the plane of the base member; (c) two side members each rotatably attached to respective sides of the base member; (d) a support member attached to each side member and extending substantially at the said selected angle to the respective side member, each support member being swivellable between a first position in which it lies In a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the base member and a second position in which it lies at an angle to the plane of the base member; and (e) retaining means operative to retain each support member in the said first position and operational for retaining the support member in the second position fixed relative to a respective side of the hinged member in the latter's second position.
2. The trundler of claim 1 wherein the base member is comprised of flat rigid material selected from one or more of: plastics, cardboard, wood, particle board, metal.
3. The trundler of claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the hinged member is comprised of flat rigid material selected from one or more of plastics, cardboard, wood, particle board, metal.
4. The trundler of claim 2 or claim 3 wherein the retaining means comprises a clip formed or attached at one or both sides of the hinged member for retaining the support member in either their first positions or their second positions.
5. The trundler of claim 1 wherein the base member is comprised of rod and/or tube forming the said sides and edges.
6. The trundler of claims 1 or 5 wherein the hinged member is comprised of rod and/or tube forming the sides and edges.
7. The trundler of any of claims 1, 5 or6 wherein the side members are comprised of rod and/or tube.
8. The trundler of any of claims 1, 5 to 7 wherein the support members are comprised of rod and/or tube.
9. The trundler of claim 8 wherein each support member and the respective side member comprises a unitary structure.
10. The trundler of any of claims 1 to 9 wherein the said selected angle of the hinged member is substantially 900.
11. The trundler of any of claims 1 to 10 wherein the said angle between the support member(s) in the second position and the base member is substantially 90°.
12. The trundler of any of claims 1 to 11 comprising a wheel or roller rotatably mounted on each support member at their end regions distal from the respective side members.
13. The trundler of any of claims 1 to 12 wherein the side members each comprise engagement means for engagement with, and /or retention of, a container resting upon the trundler.
14. The trundler of claim 13 wherein the engagement means comprises a hook or loop.
15. A trundler substantially as described.
16. A combination comprising a trundler device as in any of claims 1 to 15 and a container resting upon the trundler and engaged by the side members.
17. The combination of claim 16 wherein the container is a bag for domestic merchandise.
18. The combination of claims 16 or claim 17 wherein the container has loops or tags at the side region of its base region for engagement with the side members.
19. The combination substantially as described.