GB2266280A - Hand trolley. - Google Patents

Abstract

A trolley for the movement of a beer container 8 comprises an elongate frame 2 having ground-engaging wheels 6 at one end and handles 3 at the other end, the frame carrying hooks 5A, 5B for engaging the rim of the container 8 in use, whereby the container is lifted clear of the ground and is supported by the frame when the frame is maintained at an acute angle with respect to the ground. The provision of two hooks enables accommodation of containers of different dimensions, and the hooks may be adjustable in height. <IMAGE>

Description

HAND TROLLEY This invention relates to a hand trolley adapted to the movement of beer kegs and casks or of other containers having an upstanding rim, hereinafter referred to as beer containers irrespective of whether the contents comprise beer, lager or any other beverage or, indeed, any other fluid.

Draught beer containers are usually either cylindrical in shape or are traditionally barrel-shaped and in both cases have upper and lower rims which provide stable support for the container for standing on the ground or on pallets and protect the upper surface of the container, which generally has an access aperture formed therein for connection to a beer line.

Generally, the upper edge of the rim is reinforced with an inner-facing flange or lip. Except for the largest containers, which are usually moved by being rolled along on their sides, movement of the containers, especially when full, is either by manhandling them to an angle at which they are approximately balanced, supported by the rim, and causing them to revolve so that they move along, wheel-like, maintained at the angle, or by a traditional sack truck. However, the operator has to be both strong and skilful to move full containers on a sack truck with any degree of safety or speed. Both known methods suffer drawbacks in terms of awkwardness, risk of injury to the operator, and difficulty in placing the container with precision at the desired location.

According to the invention, a hand trolley for the movement of a beer container comprises an elongate frame having ground-engaging wheel means at one end and handle means at the other end, the frame carrying at an intermediate location a hook member for engaging the rim of the container in use, whereby the container is lifted clear of the ground and is supported by the frame when the frame is maintained at an acute angle with respect to the ground.

In a trolley according to the invention, the frame should be capable of supporting a side portion of the container when the trolley is being manoeuvred with the frame at an acute angle, preferably such that the frame is slightly above the balance position so that the centre of gravity is in front of the wheel means. The hook member is preferably positioned along the frame such that, when engaging the container with the frame substantially upright, the trolley is effectively suspended from the container with the wheel means clear of the ground. On subsequent tilting of the trolley, the container will initially topple so that its weight is taken by the frame, further tilting serving to lift the container off the ground.

Preferably, the trolley is adapted to carry containers of different sizes and/or shapes, for example on respective sides of the frame. For this purpose, the wheel means may be disposed in or on either side of the plane of the frame, that is, where one axle is employed, with the axle in the plane of the frame or, where two axles are employed, with the axles disposed on either side of the frame, and a hook member is provided on each side of the frame. The hook members may have a different reach away from the frame on respective sides thereof, for example to accommodate a cylindrical container on one side or a barrel-shaped container on the other, or the hook members may have an optimum reach whereby either a cylindrical or a barrel-shaped container may be accommodated. The hook member or members may be adjustable longitudinally of the frame, to accommodate containers of different height.Conveniently, a dual hook member is provided with respective hook portions extending on each side of the frame.

Preferably, the wheel means comprises wheels rotatably-mounted and spaced apart on a single axis at the lower end of the frame. Optionally, the trolley may include brakes or other restraint means to prevent the trolley from spontaneously running away for example when parked with its handles resting against a wall, and/or stabilizer members whereby the trolley may be parked in free-standing mode with the handles upright.

Conveniently, however, the trolley is parked merely by being hooked over, and therefore suspended from, a convenient container.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a trolley; Figure 2 is a fragmentary view showing the trolley hook with a beer container engaged thereon; and Figure 3 is a side elevation showing the trolley in use.

Referring to Figure 1, the trolley is constituted essentially by a welded steel frame with a wheeled axle 1, uprights 2 and handles with hand grips 3. The uprights 2 are spaced apart to form a cradle to support the container 8 shown in Figures 2 and 3 as a traditional barrel-shaped keg, and to keep the load clear of the wheels 6. A double hook 5 on which the container is suspended is welded to the crosspiece 4 between the uprights 2.

Kegs or casks 8 are manufactured from aluminium or steel and have a lip 7 formed around the inner edge of the rim or skirt 9; it is this lip 7 that either of the hooks 5A or 5B engages underneath.

British beer containers fall into three distinct height groups, the 9-li gallon sizes forming the short group, the 18-22 gallon sizes the middle group, and the 36 gallon size the tall group. The 36 gallon size is usually rolled along as it is too bulky and heavy to be moved on the traditional sack truck.

The trolley according to the invention will handle two of these three groups, the double hook 5 being positioned to suit two group heights, usually the short and middle groups or the middle and tall groups.

The shapes and heights of containers used in other countries may differ from those used in Britain; the shape, height and position of the double hook 5 may therefore be altered appropriately.

In some cases it may be practical to use two separate fixed hooks rather than the double hook shown, or to equip the trolley with one or more adjustable hooks or combinations of both. The trolley could be manufactured with hooks to suit other types of container or items of equipment.

In use (Fig. 3), the trolley is lifted clear of the ground and the hook portion 5A or 5B more suitable for the particular container 8 to be moved is placed over the rim 9, so that the trolley is suspended from the container with the wheels clear of the ground.

As shown, the hook portion 5A is used in this example.

The hook portion 5B would be suitable for the next smaller container size, irrespective of whether it was cylinder or barrel-shaped. The handles 3 of the trolley are then pulled towards the operator, so that the hook 5A engages the inside of the rim 9 and the side of the container comes into contact with the frame uprights 2. The resulting lever action causes the container to topple on the edge of its base.

Further pulling on the handles 3 in the direction of the arrow brings the hook 5A into contact with the under-side of the lip 7 and the trolley wheels 6 into firm contact with the ground. It is at this point that the operator applies downward pressure to the handles 3 to lift the container clear of the ground.

The downward pressure is maintained on the handles 3 by the operator as the trolley is wheeled around. When the container has been positioned at its intended location, the frame is returned to the upright position so that the container rests stably on the ground and the trolley is disengaged from the container by being lifted and moved away.

By turning the trolley around, the other hook portion can be used for a container in the other height group.

The height of the hooks is important for ease of use.

If the hooks were mounted too high on the uprights, extra effort would be required to move the container as it would have to be initially lifted to engage the hook and the loaded trolley would initially be unstable.

Too low a mounting would result in insufficient clearance between the container and the ground in the movement position and in the extreme case the container may topple over completely on tilting of the trolley, before the wheels were in contact with the ground.

The distance between the hooks 5A and 5B and the uprights 2 and the distance between the two uprights themselves is also important. The midriff of the container should rest against the uprights 2 and the centre of gravity of the container should always stay ahead (away from the operator) of the point where the container rests against the uprights. If the uprights are too far apart and/or the hook protrudes too far from the uprights, the container would rest against the axle; in this state the centre of gravity of the container may move behind (towards the operator) the point where the container rests against the axle and may cause the container to slip from the hook.

Claims (11)

1. A hand trolley for the movement of a beer container, the trolley comprising an elongate frame having ground-engaging wheel means at one end and handle means at the other end, the frame carrying at an intermediate location a hook member for engaging the rim of the container in use, whereby the container is lifted clear of the ground and is supported by the frame when the frame is maintained at an acute angle with respect to the ground.

2. A hand trolley according to Claim 1, in which the wheel means are disposed in the plane of the frame.

3. A hand trolley according to Claim 1, in which the wheel means are disposed on either side of the plane of the frame.

4. A hand trolley according to any preceding claim, in which a hook member is provided on each side of the frame.

5. A hand trolley according to Claim 4, in which the hook members have a different respective reach away from the frame.

6. A hand trolley according to Claim 4 or Claim 5, in which the hook members are provided as respective portions of a dual hook member extending on each side of the frame.

7. A hand trolley according to any preceding claim, in which the hook member or members is or are adjustable longitudinally of the frame.

8. A hand trolley according to any preceding claim, further including restraint means.

9. A hand trolley according to any preceding claim, further including stabilizer members.

10. A trolley adapted to handle a beer container from either side of the trolley, the trolley comprising a two wheeled framework, two hooks extending respectively on each side of the framework for selective engagement under the lip of a container, and handles for pulling.

11. A hand trolley substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.