GB2552938A

GB2552938A - Apparatus for transporting a load over an uneven surface

Info

Publication number: GB2552938A
Application number: GB1613563.4A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Frederick Baylis Keith
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2016-08-08
Filing date: 2016-08-08
Publication date: 2018-02-21

Abstract

Apparatus for transporting a load over an uneven surface, the apparatus comprising a trolley comprising three in line rotatable wheels 21 for movement over the surface, the wheels being in a triangular formation, means for supporting the load and a handle 27 for gripping and moving the trolley, the load supporting means 28 extending between the wheels and the handle, there being a fourth rotatable wheel 25 located in the same plane as the other wheels and located at the centre of the three wheels. The apparatus also comprising optional features such as a foldable support mechanism and a load engaging front part (28b, Fig 8) that can be movable from being flush against the main part (28a, Fig 8) of the support to 90 degrees from it. The apparatus possibly featuring securing means for the load and an electric motor (38, Fig 6) powered by a battery being rechargeable by the motion of the trolley.

Description

(54) Title of the Invention: Apparatus for transporting a load over an uneven surface Abstract Title: A Spider wheeled trolley featuring 4 in-line wheels (57) Apparatus for transporting a load over an uneven surface, the apparatus comprising a trolley comprising three in line rotatable wheels 21 for movement over the surface, the wheels being in a triangular formation, means for supporting the load and a handle 27 for gripping and moving the trolley, the load supporting means 28 extending between the wheels and the handle, there being a fourth rotatable wheel 25 located in the same plane as the other wheels and located at the centre of the three wheels. The apparatus also comprising optional features such as a foldable support mechanism and a load engaging front part (28b, Fig 8) that can be movable from being flush against the main part (28a, Fig 8) of the support to 90 degrees from it. The apparatus possibly featuring securing means for the load and an electric motor (38, Fig 6) powered by a battery being rechargeable by the motion of the trolley.

3/7

CM

FIG. 7A

FIG. 12 ο

XfCO

CM

Title: Apparatus for Transporting a Load over an Uneven Surface

The present invention relates to apparatus for transporting a load over an uneven surface.

By the term uneven surface we mean stairs or steps up or down which the load is transported or rough terrain which may be undulating and/or strewn with rocks and/or stones and over which the load is transported.

Loads can be more easily transported up and down stairs by means of a stair climbing trolley in the form of a sack truck or luggage carrier. The trolley consist of two pairs of three in-line rotating wheels in an equilateral triangular configuration that rotate at each step, the payload transition between the steps or treads of the stairs being achieved more smoothly when compared to a conventional twin wheeled single axle lifter such as a sand truck where just two wheels rotate about a central shaft.

The diameter of the wheels of the stair climber trolley substantially match the rise of the step.

Stair climbers of the type described have limitations when they are not employed to transport payloads on conventional stairs or steps. On the uneven surface or ground defined above or where the trolley is used to transport the load up or down stairs or steps and the rise of the stair or step is significantly different from the diameter of the wheel, the wheel can become jammed or can move from side to side as the pairs of wheels seek their own level or alternatively they can resist both forward and backward motion.

According to the present invention we provide apparatus for transporting a load over an uneven surface, the apparatus comprising a trolley comprising three in line rotatable wheels for movement over the surface, the wheels being a triangular formation, means for supporting the load and a handle for gripping and moving the trolley, the load supporting means located between the wheels and the handle, there being a fourth rotatable wheel located in the same plane as the other wheels and located at the centre of the three wheels.

Preferably the means for supporting the load is a platform located between the handle and the wheels, the platform being mounted on platform supporting means.

Suitably the platform extends between the handle and the wheels.

Conveniently the platform supporting means is a tube.

Preferably the handle is a pair of handle bars.

Suitably a brake cable extends along the length of the tube, the cable being connected to a manually movable brake lever on the handle at one end and a braking device at the other end for causing the wheels to be locked stationary when the lever is actuated.

Conveniently means are provided for releasably attaching the load to the platform.

Preferably the means is a releasable strap for strapping the load to the platform.

Suitably means is provided to enable the trolley to be moved hands free.

Conveniently the means is a strap connected to the handle and arranged to loop over the shoulder.

Preferably a mudguard is provided to protect the wheels.

Suitably an electric motor is provided to drive the wheels.

Conveniently a battery is provided to operate the motor, the battery being rechargeable by the motion of the trolley.

Preferably the platform is in two parts which are hinged to each other, there being a load bearing main part on which, in use, the load rests and a load engaging front part which is movable from a first position where it is at 90 degrees to the main part to engage the load and to a second position where without the load it lies flat against the main part.

Suitably the main part of the platform is supported on platform supporting means.

Conveniently the front part of the platform has exterior ground engaging feet.

Preferably the means for supporting the main part of the platform is a tube.

Suitably the tube is in two hingeably connected parts, the main part of the platform being supported by a front part of the tube connected to the wheels and a rear part of the tube connected to the handle.

Conveniently the tube parts are foldable so that without the load one part lies adjacent to and engaging the other part.

Preferably the handle is a pair of handle bars.

Suitably means is provided to enable the trolley to be moved hands free.

The invention will now be particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which

Figure 1A is a perspective view from the side of a conventional existing load transporting trolley for stairs,

Figure IB is a side view of a conventional wheel barrow,

Figure 2 to 7 comprise a first embodiment of the invention, Figure 2 being a view from the side,

Figure 3 is an underneath view of the embodiment shown in Figure 3,

Figure 4 is a side view similar to Figure 2 showing a load strapped to the platform, the trolley being shown at rest,

Figure 5 is a side view of the trolley and load with the user shown in outline pushing the trolley and load,

Figure 6 is a side view of the trolley and load, there being a shoulder strap attached to the handle and looped over the user's shoulder to enable the user to move the trolley hands free,

Figure 7A is a side view of the wheels in stair climbing action,

Figure 7B is a side view of the leading wheel surmounting the tread of a step,

Figure 7C is a view similar to Figure 7B showing the leading wheel now on the tread of the step,

Figure 7D is a view similar to Figure 7C showing the wheels in position to surmount the next step,

Figures 8 to 14 show a second embodiment of the invention with Figure 8 showing a view similar to Figure 2 except the platform is in two hingeably connected parts,

Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 3 showing the two part platform,

Figure 10 is a view similar to Figure 4 showing the two part platform,

Figure 11 is a view of the tube in a vertical position with the forward part of the platform resting on the ground,

Figure 12 is a view similar to that shown in Figure 11 with the load removed,

Figure 13 is a view of the tube folded in two and

Figure 14 is a view of the tube folded in two for easy transportation.

Referring to Figure 1A a conventional stair climbing trolley 1 is shown with two pairs of spaced rotatable in line wheels 2, there being three wheels 2 in each pair in an isosceles triangle formation. The trolley 1 is provided with means for supporting a load in the form of four spaced rigid tubes on which the load, in use, rests, the two central tubes 2a terminating in bars 3 and 4 at the ends of the tubes 2. Two outermost tubes 5 terminate in a handle 6 for moving the trolley 1 at one end of the tubes 5 and in the lowermost bar 3 at the other end of the tubes 5. A cradle 7 in the form of three further tubes 8 projects from the tubes 2 and 5 to provide lower support for the load (not shown). In use with the load in place, the trolley 1 is lifted up the stairs 9 by means of the two pairs of wheels 2 but with the disadvantages previously described.

Referring to Figure IB a conventional wheelbarrow 10 is shown for comparative purposes. The wheelbarrow 10 has a single load bearing wheel 11 at the forward end of arms 12 on which the wheel 11 is rotatably mounted for forward motion, there being a receptacle 13 to store implements or place waste such as garden waste. With only one wheel 11 it is obviously difficult to move the wheelbarrow 10 over uneven ground which is perhaps strewn with rocks or stones.

Referring to Figures 2 and 3 the trolley 20 shown comprises three in line wheels 21 for movement over the surface, the wheels 21 being mounted to rotate on shafts 22 located between the fingers 23 of a pair of mounting plates 24. The wheels 21 are arranged in the form of an isosceles triangle and at the centre of the triangle is mounted a fourth wheel 25 in the same plane to rotate on a shaft 26 disposed between the centre of the mounting plates 24.

Extending between the wheels 21, 25 and a handle TI in the form of bicycle handle bars is means for supporting the load which comprises a flat platform 28 in the form of a plywood base. The platform is secured to a platform supporting means 29 in the form of a rigid steel tube by means of fixing clips 30 arranged along the length of the platform 28.

The tube 29 is secured at one end to one of the mounting plates 24 by means of a hinged mounting 30a to enable the tube 29 to move up and down radially with respect to the wheels and the tube 29 is connected at the other end to the centre 31 of the handle bars 27. A brake cable 32 extends from a brake lever 33 on the handle bars TI along the tube 29 to a brake mechanism (not shown) adjacent to the wheels 21, 25 to lock them from movement when the brake lever 33 is suitably actuated.

Referring to Figure 4 the tube 29 is lowered to the rest position so that the platform 28 is more or less horizontal. Then the load 34 to be carried by the trolley 20 is placed on the platform 28 as shown in Figure 4 and is strapped to the platform by three spaced releasable straps or belts 35. Then as shown in Figure 5 the user 36 grips the handle bars 27 and raises the platform 28 before moving the trolley 20 by way of the wheels 21, usually two of which are in contact with the ground at any one time.

Figure 6 shows an arrangement where the trolley 20 can be moved hands free. This involves attaching a releasable strap 37 to the handle bars 27, the strap 37 forming a loop which goes over the user's shoulder 36 and enables the user 34 to pull the trolley 20 backwards over the terrain.

Located on one of mounting plates 24 is an electric motor 38 arranged to drive the wheels 21. The motor 36 is provided with a battery (not shown) to operate the motor 38. The battery can be charged up by the motion of the trolley 20 when the motor 38 is not in use. The battery can be used to charge up a mobile phone.

A mudguard 39 may be provided to protect the wheels.

Figure 7A shows the wheels 21, 25 encountering stairs 40 to be climbed by moving the trolley 20 forwards in the direction of the arrow.

Figure 7B shows the fourth wheel 25 climbing over the first step 41 without jamming.

Figure 7C shows the forward wheel in position on the first stair tread 42 and

Figure 7D shows the arrangement in position to climb the next step and so on.

Referring to Figures 8 to 14 where similar parts to Figures 2 to 7 bear similar reference numerals, the platform 28 is in two parts, 28a and 28b, there being a main load bearing part 28a to which, in use, the load 34 is attached and a minor load bearing part 28b at the front end of the trolley which is hingeably connected to the main part 28a and is movable to a position shown in Figure 12 where it is releasably locked into a position where it is at 90 degrees to the main part 28a, the minor part 28b then providing forward support for the load 34. The minor part 28b is provided with a pair of spaced ground engaging feet 40 for purposes to be described.

In addition in Figures 8 to 14 the tube 29 is in two hingeably connected parts 29a and 29b which are movable from a position where they are aligned as shown in Figures 8 to 12 to a position in Figures 13 and 14 where they are folded. In the aligned position the tube parts 29a and 29b are releasably locked together to maintain alignment.

The main platform part 28a is attached to the tube part 29b by means of fixing clips 29c. As shown in Figures 8,10 and 11 the load 34 is attached to the platform part 28a by straps 35 in the same way as previously described for Figures 4 to 6.

The provision of the minor platform part 28b not only provides forward support for the load 34 but also provides support for the trolley via the pair of ground engaging feet 40 when at rest.

When the load 34 has been removed the minor platform part 28b can be unlocked from the part 28a and folded flat into engagement with the platform part 28a as shown in Figures 12 and 13 so that the trolley can be easily transported.

In addition the tube 29 can be folded as shown in Figures 13 and 14 by releasing the tube parts 29a and 29b from their locking relationship. As shown in Figure 14 the tube parts 29a and 29b can be folded to lie adjacent each other to further compress the size of the trolley for transportation purposes.

Otherwise the arrangements shown and described with reference to Figures 5 and 6 can be applied to the trolley shown and described with reference to Figures 8 to 14.

Likewise the wheel arrangements and movement on stair treads shown and described in Figure 7 also apply to the trolley shown and described with reference to Figures 8 to 14.

Claims

1. Apparatus for transporting a load over an uneven surface, the apparatus comprising a trolley comprising three in line rotatable wheels for movement over the surface, the wheels being a triangular formation, means for supporting the load and a handle for gripping and moving the trolley, the load supporting means located between the wheels and the handle, there being a fourth rotatable wheel located in the same plane as the other wheels and located at the centre of the three wheels.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the means for supporting the load is a platform located between the handle and the wheels, the platform being mounted on platform supporting means.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 in which the platform extends between the handle and the wheels.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3 in which the platform supporting means is a tube.

5. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4 in which the handle is a pair of handle bars.

6. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 5 in which a brake cable extends along the length of the tube, the cable being connected to a manually movable brake lever on the handle at one end and a braking device at the other end for causing the wheels to be locked stationary when the lever is actuated.

7. Apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims in which means are provided for releasably attaching the load to the platform.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 in which the means is a releasable strap for strapping the load to the platform.

9. Apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims in which means is provided to enable the trolley to be moved hands free.

10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 9 in which the means is a strap connected to the handle and arranged to loop over the shoulder.

11. Apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims in which a mudguard is provided to protect the wheels.

12. Apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims in which an electric motor is provided to drive the wheels.

13. Apparatus as claimed in claim 12 in which a battery is provided to operate the motor, the battery being rechargeable by the motion of the trolley.

14. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 in which the platform is in two parts which are hinged to each other, there being a load bearing main part on which, in use, the load rests and a load engaging front part which is movable from a first position where it is at 90 degrees to the main part to engage the load and to a second position where without the load it lies flat against the main part.

15. Apparatus as claimed in claim 14 in which the main part of the platform is supported on platform supporting means.

16. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 14 or 15 in which the front part of the platform has exterior ground engaging feet.

17. Apparatus as claimed claim 15 or claim 16 in which the means for supporting the main part of the platform is a tube.

18. Apparatus as claimed in claim 17 in which the tube is in two hingeably connected parts, the main part of the platform being supported by a front part of the tube connected to the wheels and a rear part of the tube connected to the handle.

19. Apparatus as claimed in claim 18 in which the tube parts are foldable so that without the load one part lies adjacent to and engaging the other part.

20. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 14 to 19 in which the handle is a pair of handle bars.

21. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 13 to 20 in which a brake cable extends along the length of the tube, the cable being connected to a manually movable brake lever on the handle at one end and a braking device at the other end for causing the wheels to be locked stationary when the lever is actuated.

22. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 13 to 21 in which means are provided for releasably attaching the load to the platform.

23. Apparatus as claimed in claim 22 in which the means is a releasable strap for strapping the load to the platform.

24. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 13 to 23 in which means is provided to enable the trolley to be moved hands free.

25. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 13 to 24 in which the means is a strap connected to the handle and arranged to loop over the shoulder.

26. Apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 2 to 7D and Figures 8 to 14.

Intellectual

Property

Office

Application No: Claims searched:

GB1613563.4

1-26