GB2095186A - Trolley device - Google Patents

Abstract

A trolley device suitable for transporting heavy objects, in particular large metal bottles containing gases, which device comprises a platform 1, having at least one wheel 5 attached to opposite ends thereof, means 3,7,8 for engaging the object to be transported and means 9,10 for retaining the object on the platform, the wheels being arranged on the ends of the platform so that when the device is attached to the object and the combination pivoted about the wheels, the combination can be moved without impedance. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Trolley device This invention relates to a trolley device suitable for transporting heavy objects. In particular it relates to a trolley device for transporting large, cylindrical, metal bottles containing combustible gases, such as methane or propane, which are used for heating or cooking.

The bottles of combustible gas normally used in the home, in caravans or for camping are large and heavy, weighing in the region of 1 5 kg net.

weight. Each bottle is usually provided at the top thereof with a hand-hold formed in the valve guard and may be lifted by this means, but as the bottles are not only heavy but also cumbersome it is by no means easy to manoeuvre them.

One way to move these heavy gas bottles is to use a standard L-shaped trolley which has wheels attached to the apex of the L and with the long edge of the trolley forming a handle. The bottle is lifted onto the platform and then the trolley tilted and wheeled to where ever the gas bottle is required. The disadvantage of this type of trolley is that it takes up considerable storage space and is an expensive piece of equipment for the camper or house-holder to buy merely for transporting gas bottles.

It has now been found that a compact and inexpensive trolley device can be provided using a platform, having at least one wheel attached to the opposite ends thereof, means for engaging the object to be transported and means for retaining the object on the platform.

According to the present invention there is provided a trolley device for transporting heavy objects comprising a platform, having at least one wheel attached to opposite ends thereof, means for engaging the object to be transported and means for retaining the object on the platform, the wheels being arranged on the ends of the platform so that when the device is attached to the object and the combination pivoted about the wheels, the combination can be moved without impedance.

The platform of the device may be formed from any material suitable for supporting heavy, cumbersome objects, for example it may be made from moulded plastic of high tensile strength, but preferably it is made from a metal plate.

Wheels suitable for the trolley device can be made by injection moulding of hard tough plastic to produce a solid wheel, or alternatively they may comprise a metal hub with a rubber tyre.

They can be attached to opposite edges of the platform by affixing them, by standard means such as capped ratchet plates, to two short axles.

These in turn may be permanently attached to the platform by for example spot welds. Alternatively the platform may be so shaped as to accomodate a wheel at opposite ends thereof. It is essential that the wheels are sited at a point on the ends such that, when the device is fitted to the object to be transported and the combination tilted onto the wheels, the platform in no way contacts the ground thereby impeding movement.

The means provided on the trolley device for engaging the object preferably comprises a double return formed along the edge of the platform furthest from the wheels, resulting in the production of a channel. Alternatively the engaging means may comprise at least one hook attached to edge of the platform furthest from the wheels.

When the trolley device is fitted to the object to be transported, the object is prevented from falling off the device by retaining means. This can take the form of an approximately right angle return formed along the edge of the platform opposite the engaging means, i.e. formed along the edge of the platform lying between and nearest to the wheels. The return need not necessarily be formed along the entire length of the platform edge.

In addition to the engaging means and retaining means the trolley device may also be provided with a locking means for locking the device removably to the object. This locking means may comprise a bar or strut which is movably mounted on the platform. For example the strut may be mounted on the lower surface of the platform using a precision shouldered rivet and spring washer assembly. The free end of the locking bar or strut is preferably shaped so as to contact the base of the object, for example the free end may simply be bent at a right angle to the rest of the strut.

One alternative locking means is a cranked locking bar, which is mounted on the platform in such a manner that it can swivel about its mounting so that the portion of the locking bar that projects above the device can engage the bottom of the object to be transported.

Further details and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following more detailed description of one embodiment of the invention, which will be made with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a trolley device in accordance with the invention showing the means for attaching the wheels in broken lines; Figure 2 is an end elevational view of a gas bottle with a trolley device secured in position; Figure 3 is a cross-section along the line I-I in Figure 2; Figure 4 is an enlarged fragment of the end elevational view of Figure 2 showing the base of the gas bottle in broken lines; Figure 5 is a perspective view of a trolley device attached to the bottom of a gas bottle; Figure 6 is a side elevational view of the device attached to a gas bottle.

Referring particularly to Figure 1, the trolley device is constituted by a shaped rectangular metal plate 1 having a platform 2, the upper surface of which is brought into contact with a gas bottle to be transported. One long edge of the plate 1 is bent at approximately a right angle to the platform 2 so as to form a return 3, which prevents the gas bottle falling off the trolley. Axles 4 are permanently fixed to plate 1 at the base of return 3 by means of spot welds. Wheels 5 are rotatably mounted on the axles 4 and retained thereon by capped ratchet plates 6.

The other long edge of the plate 1, i.e. that which is parallel and opposite to return 3, is bent at approximately a right angle to give a return 7 parallel to return 3. The edge of return 7 is then bent at a right angle again to produce a lip 8 which is pointing towards return 3 and the wheels 5, and thereby forms a channel.

A locking strut 9, having an upturned end 10 for contacting a gas bottle, is movably mounted on the lower face of the platform 2 by means of a precision shouldered rivet and spring washer assembly 11.

Referring now to Figures 2 to 6, before affixing the trolley device to a gas bottle 12 the locking strut 9 is swivelled about the rivet 11 so that it is positioned at an angle of less than 900 to the platform 2, as shown by the position indicated in Figure 5 by broken lines. The gas bottle 12 is then tilted on one edge, as shown in Figure 5, and the upper surface of the platform 2 is then offered up under base 13 of the bottle 12 and positioned so that ends 14 of lip 8 engage over inside lip 15 of the base 13. The upper surface of platform 2 is thereby brought into contact with lower face 16 of the base 13.

The locking strut 9 is then swivelled about rivet 11 until the upturned end 10 is in contact with the base 13 of gas bottle 12, thus locking the trolley device removably to the bottle. In this position the locking strut 9 is positioned approximately at right angles to the long edge of the platform 2.

With the trolley device now attached to the gas bottle 12, the latter is tilted again so that its weight is supported on the wheels 5. The gas bottle is now ready to be wheeled to the desired position, using hand-hold 17 provided in valve guard 18 of the gas bottle 12.

To remove the trolley device from the gas bottle 1 2 the procedure is reversed, i.e. the bottle 12 is tilted onto a point on its base opposite the trolley device. The locking strut 9 is swivelled away from contacting the base 13 of the gas bottle 12 and the ends 14 of lip 8 are disengaged from the inside lip 1 5 of base 13.

Claims (7)

Claims

1. A trolley device for transporting heavy objects comprising a platform, having at least one wheel attached to opposite ends thereof, means for engaging the object to be transported and means for retaining the object on the platform, the wheels being arranged on the ends of the platform so that when the device is attached to the object and the combination pivoted about the wheels, the combination can be moved without impedance.

2. A trolley device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the means for engaging the object comprises a double return formed along the edge of the platform furthest from the wheels.

3. A trolley device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the means for engaging the object comprises at least one hook attached to the edge of the platform furthest from the wheels.

4. A trolley device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the means for retaining the object to be transported on the platform comprises a return formed along the edge of the platform opposite the engaging means.

5. A trolley device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the platform is provided with locking means for locking the device removably to the object.

6. A trolley device as claimed in claim 5 wherein the locking means comprises a bar or strut movable mounted on the platform, the free end of the strut being shaped so as to contact the base of the object.

7. A trolley device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one of the accompanying drawings.