FR2781746A1 - Supermarket transport trolley, is assembled from two parts, each part having shaft, platform support and platform - Google Patents

Abstract

Each part of the trolley comprises a shaft (10), a platform support and a platform (20). The shaft is constituted from two uprights (11) connected at one of their ends by a bar (15) and carrying at the other end an axle for a wheel (13). The platform support is composed of two arms mounted in their upper part on a shaft upright. The two half trolleys are assembled head to toe by removable retainers (50).

Description

"Transport cart in two assembled parts" The present invention

  relates to a transport cart in two assemblable parts. More specifically, the invention relates to a trolley which can be used for the transport of heavy objects or of purchases made at the market or in large stores, or large areas, contained in shopping bags made of plastic or canvas , as well as crates or boxes

  plastics, or any other more or less bulky containers.

  The object of the present invention is to propose a trolley which is simple to manufacture, consisting of few parts, light, and easy to use, while being able to present several configurations making it possible to adapt it to the volume of the objects to be transported, included a space-saving configuration for transporting the trolley itself, for example in the

trunk of a car.

  The transport trolley according to the invention is in two assemblable parts, each part called half-trolley comprising a stretcher, a platform support and a platform, said stretcher being made up of two uprights connected to one of their end by a bar and carrying, at their other end, a wheel axle on which the wheels are rotatably mounted, said platform support consisting of two arms mounted, by

  their upper part, each on an upright of the stretcher, the two half

  carriages being assembled head to tail, removable holding means being provided for holding the two half-carriages assembled according to

various configurations.

  These various configurations are obtained by more or less superimposing the two half-carriages so that carriages are obtained.

different lengths.

  These configurations are more varied when the platform of each half-carriage is, on one side, hinged mounted on the two arms in the vicinity of their lower part and, on the other side, sliding mounted along the stretcher uprights , the mounting of the two arms of the platform support on each upright being articulated, so that the platform can occupy at least two positions, a so-called deployed position in which the sliding part of the platform is close to the wheels being supported on a stop integral with the uprights with which the platform forms a large angle, and a so-called folded position in which the sliding part of the platform is distant from the wheels, the lower ends of the

  uprights and those of the arms being brought together.

  Thus, the trolley according to the invention can for example be used horizontally, the four wheels resting on the ground, or vertically: in this case, the upper platform being in its folded position, it is used in the manner of a Devil; in its horizontal position, the two platforms being folded, it is possible to transport very long objects. According to one embodiment, the holding means consist of two assembled half-shells each having two grooves adapted to receive the uprights, placed in line with one another, of the stretchers of the two half-carriages; preferably, the two half-shells are made of plastic and assembled by clipping thanks to at least one clipping pin carried by one of the half-shells and which cooperates with a

  housing provided in the other half-shell.

  Holding means of this kind, assembling the uprights, of the two half-carriages, which are at the right of each other allow, for example, a configuration in which the platforms of the two half-carriages are in their deployed position, and the bar of a half-carriage is in line with the

wheels of the other half-carriage.

  As a variant, in another configuration, the platforms of the two half-carriages are in their deployed position, and the bar of a demichariot is in line with a spacer, provided for locking the platform in the folded position , on the other half-carriage; thus, such a carriage is longer

than the previous one.

  According to yet another configuration, the platform of a half-carriage is in its deployed position and the platform of the other half-carriage is in its folded position, the bar of a half-carriage being at right a spacer, provided for locking in the folded position of the platform, of the other half-carriage; here the trolley can be used vertically at the

devil's way.

  According to yet another configuration, the platforms of the two half

  trolleys are in their folded position, and the bar of a half-carriage is in line with a spacer, provided for locking in the folded position of the platform, of the other half-carriage; here, the cart can be used to transport objects longer than the cart; taking into account the small size and thickness of this configuration, it can be upgraded

  profit for the transport of the trolley itself.

  The trolley according to the invention can also be in a configuration in which the platforms of the two half-trolleys are in their deployed position, the bar of a half-trolley being in line with a transverse rod connecting the two uprights of each half-carriage and receiving the end of its arms in rotation; alternatively, a single platform is deployed and the cart can be used like a large hand truck

height.

  In the above configuration, the holding means may consist of at least one hook mounted to pivot around the transverse rod of a half-carriage and adapted to cooperate with the bar of the other half-carriage. Advantageously, the wheel axles of each half-carriage are formed by the ends of an axis rod connecting said other ends of the uprights, said axis rod constituting the stop with which the platform cooperates in the deployed position; a locking member carried by each platform and cooperating with the axis rod makes it possible to lock

  the platform in the deployed position.

  Preferably, each platform is mounted articulated around an axis called a platform connecting the two arms in the vicinity of their lower part. Advantageously, each stretcher is made from a U-folded tube open at the bottom, whose wings constitute the uprights and whose core constitutes the bar; each stretcher has a curved set shape by defining

  a surface whose concavity faces outwards.

  Advantageously, the two arms of each half-carriage are the two wings of a U-folded tube open upwards; the two wings of the U define a curved regulated surface whose concavity is directed towards the outside; The core of the U is curved and can constitute a foot in certain configurations of the carriage; The curved core and / or the bar carries a sleeve; The arched soul of the U

  is in a plane forming an angle backwards with the arms.

  Advantageously, each platform is a grid.

  To better understand the object of the invention, we will now describe, by way of example, purely illustrative and not limiting, a mode

  of embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings.

  In these drawings: - Figure 1 is a perspective view of a demichariot according to the invention in the condition where its platform is deployed; - Figure 2 is a perspective view of a half-carriage according to the invention in the condition where its platform is folded; - Figure 3 is a plan view of the platform of the half-carriages according to Figures 1 and 2, the elements with which the platform cooperates, in its deployed position, being partially shown there; - Figure 4 is a side view with respect to Figure 3

  - Figure 5 is a perspective view showing the two half

  trolleys assembled to form a trolley according to a certain configuration - Figure 6 shows in perspective the holding means used to maintain the two half-trolleys according to the configuration of Figure 5; - Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 5, the two half-carriages being assembled in another configuration; - Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 5, the two half-carriages being assembled in yet another configuration; - Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 5, the two half-carriages being assembled in yet another configuration; - Figure 10 is a partial plan view showing other holding means usable in certain configurations;

  - Figure 1 1 is a sectional view along XI-XI of Figure 10.

  Referring to Figures 1 to 4, we see that a half-cart according to the invention is similar to the folding stroller as described in the French patent application filed on April 15, 1997 under number 97 04 622 and includes a stretcher 10 produced here from a U-folded tube open at the bottom, the wings of which constitute two uprights 11 connected to their

  upper part by a curved core constituting a bar 15.

  At their end opposite to the bar 15, the uprights 1 1 are connected by a rod of axes 1 2 extending transversely beyond the uprights 1 1, on either side thereof, the parts of the rod axes 12 which extend beyond the uprights 11 constituting axes for wheels 13 which are there

rotatably mounted.

  The axis rod 12 is here secured to the uprights 1 1 by welding and

  extends, relative to the uprights 1 1, on the inner side of the half-carriage.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the stretcher 10 has a curved shape: it defines a curved adjusted surface having its concavity turned outward relative to the half-carriage, the uprights 11 extending

  parallel to each other.

  The half-carriage also comprises a platform support 30 produced here also from a U-folded tube open upwards, the

wings constitute two arms 31.

  The two arms 31 are mounted articulated, by their upper part, with respect to the figures as shown therein the half-carriage, each on an upright 11 of the stretcher 10. More precisely, slightly above their mid-height, the two uprights 11 are connected by a transverse rod 14,

  secured here by welding to the uprights 11 on the inside of the half

  trolley; the transverse rod 14 projects on each side of the uprights 1 1 and each projecting part receives in rotation the upper end of each

  arm 31 of the platform support 30.

  The two arms 31 are connected to their lower part by a pin 33 called

  platform, here secured by welding on the inner side with respect to the half

  cart. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the two arms 31 extend parallel to each other and define a curved adjusted surface having its

  concavity facing outwards.

  The core 32 of the U constituting the platform support 30 is curved and can constitute a foot as shown. Here, said curved core 32 is plane and its plane forms an angle with the arms 31 so that said plane

  practically extends in a vertical plane.

  The half-carriage comprises a platform 20 here consisting of a grid. The grid 20 here comprises four longitudinal members 29, two lateral longitudinal members and two central longitudinal members, assembled by means of two cross members, one front 23, the other rear 24; advantageously, the crosspieces 23 and 24 are joined to the longitudinal members 29 by welding, to the lower part of the

  longitudinal members 29, that is to say under them.

  The rear cross member 24 is placed to the right of the rear ends of the side members 29 while the front cross member 23 is placed at a distance from the front ends of the side members 29; said front ends of the side members

  29 are wound around the platform axis 33 of the platform support

  form 30, this effecting the rotational mounting of the grid 20 around said axis

  platform 33, as best seen in Figure 4.

  On the side opposite to that by which the grid 20 is hinged, the latter is slidably mounted along the uprights 11 of the stretcher 10. For this sliding assembly, the rear cross member 24 of the grid 20 has a sufficient length so that its ends may constitute rear abutment means 21, for the grid 20, adapted to cooperate in abutment with the rear face of the uprights 11 of the stretcher 10. The grid 20 is also equipped with front abutment means 22 adapted to cooperate in abutment the front face of the uprights 11; here, these front stop means 22 are constituted by the advantageously semi-circular end of U-shaped pins 25; The ends of the branches of each pin 25 are joined by welding to the central left side member 29 for the pin

  on the left, and on the central spar 29 on the right for the right pin.

  The rear stop means 21 and front 22 are at a distance from each other, measured longitudinally, greater than the longitudinal thickness, here the diameter, of the uprights 1, thus defining a longitudinal clearance facilitating the sliding operation of the grid 20 along the uprights 11 while it rotates around

platform axis 33.

  Of course, the length of the rear stop means 21 and front 22 depend on their transverse positioning, therefore that of the grid 20; here, the transverse positioning is ensured by the lateral longitudinal members 29 which are at a transverse distance from one another equal to that which separates the uprights 11 and / or the arms 31, with the clearance close to operation and assembly. As can be seen in FIG. 4, here the rear stop means 21 are constituted by the ends folded in half-loop of the rear cross-member 24; each half-loop is flat and its plane makes an angle such, with the plane of the side members 29, that in the deployed position of the grid 20, FIG. 4, this plane extends along the uprights 11, this ensuring good contact of

  stop of said rear stop means 21 with said uprights 11.

  It follows from the above description that each half-carriage can

have two conformations.

  In its condition where the grid 20 is deployed, shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, the foot 32 is moved away from the wheels 13 after pivoting of the arms 31 around the transverse rod 14, the grid 20 having its rear part slid, sliding along the uprights 11 from its folded position shown in Figure 2 where it extends vertically; in its deployed position, the grid 20 rests, by the rear end of the side members 29, on the axis rod 12 on which it is supported. More precisely, by holding the half-carriage by the bar 15, in the position where it is represented in FIG. 2, the grid falls by gravity towards its position in FIG. 1 and, in its sliding movement, rotates the arms 31 around of the transverse rod 14 in

  moving the foot 32 away from the axis rod 12.

  It is possible, as shown in the figures, to lock the grid 20 in its two extreme positions; to do this, a locking member 40, here in the form of a hook articulated around the rear cross-member 24 of the grid 20, is adapted to cooperate in locking either with the axis rod 12 in the deployed position of the grid 20, Figures 1 and 3, either with a threaded spacer 1 6, transversely connecting the two uprights 11 of the

  stretcher 10, in its folded position, Figure 2.

  The use of a locking member such as 40 has the advantage of making it possible to make up for the play, in the deployed position of the grid 20, existing between the uprights 11 and the rear stop means 21 and front 22, and to tighten in a way the uprights 11 between the axis rod 12 and the rear stop means 21, as visible in FIG. 3: this thus avoids

any noise in use.

  Of course, variations are possible.

  Thus, the rear stop means can be independent of the

rear cross member.

  Similarly, the front stop means can be located on the side rails, or even be a simple conformation by deformation thereof; the rear stop means could also be only one

  simple conformation of the side rails.

  Here, the stretcher and the platform support of each half-carriage

  are curved: one and / or the other could be flat.

  The trolley according to the invention is obtained by the assembly of two half

  carriages as described above, the two half-carriages being arranged head to tail. According to a configuration shown in Figure 5, the two half-carriages are assembled so that the bar 15 of a half-carriage is in line with the wheels 13 of the other half-carriage, more precisely in line with its rod d 'axes i12, the platforms 20 of each half-carriage being in their deployed position. Maintaining the two half-carriages in this configuration is ensured

  by holding means 50; these here consist of two half

  shells 51, visible in FIG. 6, assembled for example by clipping thanks to clipping pins 54 carried by one of the half shells 51 and which cooperate with suitable housings 55 provided in the other half-shell

51.

  Each half-shell 51 has two grooves 53 adapted to receive the uprights 11, placed in line with one another stretchers 10

of the two half-carts.

  The distribution of the clipping pins 54 and the housings 55 can be such that, as shown, the two half-shells 51 are identical, this

  which is favorable in terms of cost price.

  Here, two holding means 50 are provided on each side of the carriage.

  Thus, the carriage is four-wheeled 1 3.

  Here also, it will be noted that the curved part 32 of the U-folded tube of each half-carriage is provided with a sleeve 34, for example of overmolded plastic; such a sleeve 34 serves as an operating handle for the carriage which, thus, has two operating handles 34, one at each end. The bar 15 of each half-carriage is also provided with such a sleeve 34 which can serve as a foot in certain configurations, such as

some described below.

  The holding means 50, allowing the assembly of the half

  trolleys by their uprights 11, leave the possibility of putting one of the platforms 20, see the two platforms 20, in the folded position; this leads to carriage configurations which may be useful in some cases.

  These holding means 50 can be moved along the uprights.

  According to the configuration shown in Figure 7, the two half-carriages are assembled so that, the platforms 20 of the two half-carriages being in their deployed position, the bar 15 of a half-carriages is at right

  of the spacer 16, provided for locking in the folded position of the platform

form 20, of the other half-carriage.

  As in the previous version, the four-wheeled cart is assembled by two pairs of holding means 50 and comprises two sleeves 34 for maneuvering; of course, it is longer than the previous one. According to a variant not shown, the carriage is in a configuration similar to that of FIG. 7 but the two platforms 20

are in their folded position.

  According to the configuration of FIG. 8, similar to that of FIG. 7, only one platform 20 is in its folded position: thus, the carriage can be used in the manner of a hand truck, the sleeve 34 of the half-carriage whose

  platform 20 is deployed constituting a foot.

  According to the configuration shown in FIG. 9, the platforms 20 of the two half-carriages are in their deployed position; the bar 15 of a half-carriage is in line with the transverse rod 14 which connects the two uprights of the other half-carriage and which receives the end of its

  arm 31. Such a carriage is very long.

  Here, the two half-carriages are assembled by holding means

  such as the holding means 60 shown in Figures 10 and 1 1.

  These holding means 60 consist of hooks mounted pivoting around the transverse rod 14 of a half-carriage and adapted to

  cooperate with the bar 15 of the other half-carriage.

  Advantageously, on each transverse rod 14 are mounted two hooks 60 placed so as to be able to cooperate with the corresponding bar 15 on either side of the sleeve 34 which it carries, in the vicinity thereof. Bosses 61, obtained for example by local crushing of the transverse rod 14, laterally hold the hooks 60 in their

adequate position.

  Such bosses 61 can also be provided on the bar 15, at least on the outer side relative to the hooks 60 as shown, this

  ensuring lateral stability of the assembly.

  As can be seen, thanks to the various possible configurations, the trolley according to the invention can be used for transporting various objects of all sizes. For small objects in large quantities, it is possible to add a bottom, openwork or not, of metal or plastic, such as a bottom grid for example, matching the curved shape of the bottom wall

in wire of the carriage.

  It will be noted that the possible configurations are numerous by associating each of the three lengths mentioned above with each of the possible positions for the grid of each half-carriage: deployed or folded.

Claims (21)

  1. Transport trolley in two assembled parts, each so-called half-trolley part comprising a stretcher (10), a platform support (30) and a platform (20), said stretcher (10) consisting of two uprights (11) connected at one end by a bar (15) and carrying, at their other end, a wheel axle on which a wheel (1 3) is rotatably mounted, said platform support ( 30) consisting of two arms (31) mounted articulated (14), by their upper part, each on an upright (11) of the stretcher (10), the two half-carriages being head-to-tail, detachable holding means (50.60) being provided for the maintenance of the two   half-carts assembled in various configurations.   2. Trolley according to claim 1, characterized in that the platform   form (20) is, on one side, hinged mounted on the two arms (31) in the vicinity of their lower part and, on the other side, slidably mounted along the uprights (11) of the stretcher (10), so that the platform (20) can occupy at least two positions, a so-called deployed position in which the sliding part of the platform (20) is close to the wheels (13) while being supported on a stop (12) integral with the uprights (11) with which the platform (20) forms a significant angle, and a so-called folded position in which the sliding part of the platform (20) is distant from the wheels (13), the lower ends of the uprights (11) and those of the arms (31) being brought together   3. Trolley according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that   that the holding means (50) consist of two assembled half-shells (51) each having two grooves (53) adapted to receive the uprights (11), placed in line with one another, stretchers (10 ) of the two half-carriages. 4. Trolley according to claim 3, characterized in that the two half-shells (51) are made of plastic and assembled by clipping thanks to at least one clipping pin (54) that carries one of the half-shells ( 51) and which cooperates with a housing (55) provided in the other half-shell (51).   5. Trolley according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that   that the two uprights (11) of each half-carriage are connected by a transverse rod (14) receiving the end of the arms (31) in rotation and the holding means (60) consist of at least one hook pivotally mounted around the transverse rod (14) of a half-carriage and adapted to cooperate   with the bar (15) of the other half-carriage.   6. Trolley according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that   that, in one configuration, the platforms (20) of the two demichariots being in their deployed position, the bar (15) of a demichariot is at right   wheels (13) of the other half-carriage.   7. Trolley according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that   that, in one configuration, the platforms (20) of the two demichariots being in their deployed position, the bar (15) of a demichariot is in line with a spacer (16), provided for locking in the folded position of the   platform (20), on the other half-carriage.   8. Trolley according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that   that, in one configuration, the platform (20) of one half-carriage is in its deployed position and the platform (20) of the other half-carriage is in its folded position, the bar (15) of a half-carriage being at the right of a   spacer (16), provided for locking in the folded position of the platform   form (20), of the other half-carriage.   9. Trolley according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that   that, in one configuration, the platforms (20) of the two demichariots are in their folded position, and the bar (15) of a demichariot is in line with a spacer (16), provided for locking in the folded position of the   platform (20), on the other half-carriage.   10. Trolley according to claim 5 attached to claim 2, characterized in that, in one configuration, the platforms (20) of   ...... ............. CLMF: two half-carriages being in their deployed position, the bar (15) of a   half-carriage is in line with said transverse rod (14).   11. Trolley according to one of claims 2 to 10, characterized by the   fact that the wheel axles of each half-carriage consist of the ends of an axis rod (12) connecting said other ends of the uprights (11), said axis rod (12) constituting the stop with which   cooperates the platform (20) in the deployed position.   12. Trolley according to claim 11, characterized in that a locking member (40) carried by each platform (20) and cooperating with the pin rod (12) allows to lock the platform (20 ) in the deployed position.   13. Trolley according to any one of claims 2 to 12,   characterized in that each platform (20) is mounted articulated around an axis (33) called a platform connecting the two arms (31) to the   near their lower part.   14. Trolley according to any one of claims 1 to 12,   characterized by the fact that each stretcher (10) is produced from a U-shaped tube bent open downwards, the wings of which constitute the uprights (11) and   whose core constitutes the bar (15).   15. Trolley according to claim 14, characterized in that each stretcher (10) has a curved adjusted shape by defining a surface   whose concavity is turned outwards.   16. Trolley according to any one of claims 1 to 15,   characterized in that the two arms (31) of each half-carriage are the   two wings of a bent U-shaped tube open upwards.   17. Trolley according to claim 16, characterized in that the two wings of the U define a curved adjusted surface whose concavity is directed outwards.   18. Trolley according to any one of claims 16 or 17,   characterized by the fact that the core of the U is curved and can constitute a foot   (32) in certain configurations of the carriage.   19. Trolley according to claim 18, characterized in that the curved core (32) and / or the bar (15) of each half-carriage carries a sleeve (34).   20. Trolley according to any one of claims 18 or 19,   characterized in that the curved web (32) of the U is in a plane forming   a rearward angle with the arms (31).   21. Trolley according to any one of claims 1 to 20,   characterized in that each platform (20) is a grid.