GB2189198A

GB2189198A - Convertible trolley

Info

Publication number: GB2189198A
Application number: GB08708184A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Marchand Alain Le; Raymond Gillot
Original assignee: Ateliers Reunis Caddie SA
Current assignee: Ateliers Reunis Caddie SA
Priority date: 1986-04-08
Filing date: 1987-04-06
Publication date: 1987-10-21
Also published as: FR2596717A1; GB2189198B; DE8704682U1; GB8708184D0; FR2596717B1

Abstract

A main trolley (1) may be coupled removably to at least one complementary trolley (2) against one of its ends, by coupling means 14, 13 provided in the upper part of both of these two trolleys. Bearing means 17 are provided in the lower part of the complementary trolley. The arrangement is such that these two trolleys, after being coupled, form a single unit which can be manoeuvred easily. This transport trolley can thus be reduced in length by separating the main trolley from the complementary trolley. It is also possible to modify the arrangement of the assembly as a whole, by replacing the complementary trolley with another trolley. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Convertible trolley The present invention relates to a convertible trolley, more particularly to a trolley intended to be used by the staff of certain establishments for transporting servicing or replenishment products from place to place.

Such trolleys are used, for example, in hotels by chambermaids for transporting articles to be distributed to each bedroom, such as towels, sponges, bars of soap, toilet paper, etc. For this purpose, these trolleys have various shelves or storage compartments containing the different products to be distributed.

However, they are usually also equipped, at their ends, with supports intended to receive collecting bags for rubbish or soiled articles retrieved from each bedroom.

Because of this, trolleys of this type are of relatively long length. Now this is a serious obstacle in some cases, particularly when such trolleys are placed inside a lift in order to be moved from one floor to another.

To make it possible to reduce the length of such trolleys when they are stored in the waiting position, it has already been proposed to make it possible to retract the supports provided at the ends to receive collecting bags for rubbish or other articles. However, this solution does not make it possible to reduce the length of such a trolley when the collecting bags are already filled, albeit only partially. Consequently, the problem mentioned above cannot be solved in this way.

Moreover, as regards the particular use stated above and under many other circumstances, it would be useful to have a trolley of which the equipment and/or arrangement could be modified easily.

For entirely different uses, it has already been proposed to provide assemblies consisting of two trolleys of different types, which can be coupled together at certain times. Such an assembly is described in GB-A-2,044,186.

However, the coupling means provided in this assembly do not make it possible to ensure that the two trolleys are fixed perfectly to one another, so that they can be manoeuvred easily as a single unit. Consequently, a solution of this type cannot be used for the problem on which the present invention is based, that is to say when it is expedient to have two complementary trolleys capable of being manoeuvred easily as a single unit when they are coupled to one another.

According to the present invention there is provided a convertible trolley comprising a combination of a main trolley and at least one complementary trolley having an end coupled removably to an end of the main trolley by complementary coupling means, and bearing means provided on one end of one of the trolleys, wherein the bearing means are arranged horizontally at two of the corners of the trolley on which they are provided and are mounted so as to rotate about two vertical axis, and are adapted to bear against the corresponding end of the other trolley when the two trolleys are coupled, and wherein the arrangement is such that the two trolleys, when coupled, form a single unit which can be manoeuvred easily.

Preferably the coupling means is provided in the upper part of the main trolley and the complementary trolley and the bearing means is provided in the lower part of the end of one of the trolleys. Preferably also the bearing means is provided at the lower corners of the trolley on which they are provided. Desirably the bearing means comprises two castors.

However, these two trolleys can also be separated in order to reduce the total length of the assembly. But it is also possible to modify the arrangements of the assembly by replacing the complementary trolley with another similar trolley equipped in a different way.

In an advantageous embodiment of the convertible trolley according to the invention, the means of coupling the two complementary trolleys consist of the combination of hooks carried by one of these trolleys and open towards the top, and of a movable retention element provided on the other trolley and consisting of a horizontal bar mounted so as to be vertically movable between a lower position of engagement in these hooks and an upper position of release from these.

However, other special features and advantages of the trolley according to the invention will emerge from the following description.

This is given with reference to the drawing which is attached simply as an indication and in which: Figure 1 is a side elevation view of a trolley according to the invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the two complementary elements forming this trolley, before these have been coupled; Figure 3 is a perspective view of the lower part of these two elements, after they have been coupled; Figure 4 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the coupling means provided in the upper part of the two corresponding trolleys, before the latter have been joined together; Figure 5 is a similar view showing these same coupling means, after these two trolleys have been joined together; Figures 6 and 7 are diagrammatic plan views from the top, illustrating the assembly of two other trolleys according to the invention;; Figure 8 is a similar view illustrating the special assembly of another trolley according the invention; and Figure 9 is a partial elevation view showing an alternative embodiment of the coupling means intended for fixing two complementary trolleys to one another.

In the example illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5, the trolley according to the invention consists of the combination of a main trolley 1 and of a complementary trolley 2 coupled removably to the latter against one of its two ends.

Moreover, in this example, the assembly formed in this way is designed to serve as a transport trolley capable of being used in a hotel to transport both replenishment products to the bedrooms and soiled articles retrieved from them. For this purpose, the main trolley 1 has one or more shelves 3 and a series of storage compartments 4. As regards the complementary trolley 2, this is designed to receive a bag 5 intended for collecting dirty laundry. For this, a chassis of this trolley carries, in its upper part, two horizontal arms 6 capable of receiving such a bag, and it has a lower platform 7 mounted on two wheel sets 8.

The main trolley 1 is itself also mounted on two wheel sets 9. Moreover, at its end opposite that coupled to the complementary trolley 2, it is designed to receive a "dustbin" bag 10 intended for receiving the rubbish or other discarded articles collected in the bedrooms of a hotel. For this purpose, the corresponding end of the trolley 2 carries a frame 11 capable of supporting such a bag 10, and its lower part has a platform 12 arranged underneath the latter. Preferably, this frame and this platform can be mounted in an articulated manner, so that they can be turned down respectively into the positions 11 a and 1 2a represented by dot-and-dash lines in Fig. 1, when the trolley is not in use.

To ensure that the complementary trolley 2 is fixed perfectly to the main trolley 1, there are, on the one hand, complementary coupling means located in the upper part of each of these two trolleys and, on the other hand, bearing means arranged in the lower part of the complementary trolley.

In the example illustrated, the means of coupling these two trolleys consist of the combination of fixed hooks 13 open towards the top and carried by the upper part of the trol ley 2, and of a movable coupling element which is located in the upper part of the corresponding end of the trolley 1 and which is capable of being engaged inside these hooks.

This movable element consists of a horizontal bar 14 which is arranged transversely and the ends of which are engaged in oblong slots 15 made in flanges 16 carried by the corresponding corners of the chassis of the trolley 1.

Since these oblong slots extend vertically, the bar 14 can be shifted vertically between a lower position, in which it can be engaged in the hooks 13 if the trolley 2 is placed up against the trolley 1, and an upper position, in which this same bar is completely released from these hooks.

Thus, ir) order to couple the two trolleys, it is sufficient to bring the trolley 2 up against the corresponding end of the trolley 1, whilst at the same time keeping the bar 14 lifted in its upper position. After this, it is merely necessary to let this bar fall again under the effect of its own weight, so that it engages into the hooks 13, thus ensuring that the two trolleys are fixed to one another.

During this operation, the bearing means located in the lower part of the complementary trolley 2 automatically come up against the corresponding end of the trolley 1. The effect of this is to keep these two trolleys in the respective intended positions, so that they then form a single unit which can be manoeuvred easily. In fact, because of the very nature of the coupling and bearing means provided on these trolleys, the latter are fixed perfectly to one another after they have been coupled without the possibility of any play between them.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the bearing elements thus provided in the lower part of the trolley 2 consist of two castors 17 arranged horizontally at each of the two corresponding lower corners of the trolley 2. These castors are mounted so as to rotate about two vertical axles 18 carried by the chassis of this trolley. Thus, these castors come up against the outer face of the corresponding end of the main trolley 1 during the coupling of the two trolleys (see Fig. 3).

The two trolleys can be separated as easily as they are coupled. In fact, it is sufficient to lift the transverse bar 14, whilst at the same time moving the complementary trolley 2 away from the main trolley.

If appropriate, there can be blocking means making it possible to immobilise the transverse bar 14 in its lower position of interaction with the hooks 13. These blocking means can consist, for example, of knobs screwed to both ends of the bar 14. However, these means can also consist of bolts or hooks which can be turned down so as to prevent the two ends of this bar from being raised. For the same purpose, the slots 15 made in the flanges 16 can also have a special profile, to ensure that the bar 14 is immobilised in its lower position. Moreover, many other suitable means could be provided to achieve the same effect.

The main advantage of constructing the present trolley from two complementary parts is that it makes it possible to reduce the overall length of the assembly, when this is necessary or even merely expedient, for example for putting this trolley in a lift in order to move it between two floors of a building.

However, the advantage of the possibility of separating the two trolleys 1 and 2 is also that the complementary trolley 2 can be used separately for transporting to a particular collecting point the dirty laundry contained in the bag 5 carried by this trolley. This thus avoids the need to move both trolleys 1 and 2 together for such transport or to remove the bag 5 in order subsequently to carry it at arm's length.

However, constructing the present trolley in the form of a main part and a complementary part also makes it possible to modify the arrangement or equipment of the assembly, by fitting to the main trolley 1 a complementary trolley 2 of a different type from that initially provided. Moreover, it is possible to provide several different types of complementary trolleys 2, any of which can be joined to the corresponding end of the main trolley 1.

Furthermore, the main trolley 1, instead of being designed to receive a single complementary trolley 2, can be arranged so as to receive two complementary trolleys fastened removably to both of its ends respectively.

Fig. 6 illustrates such an embodiment which comprises a main trolley la and two complementary trolleys 2a. At its two ends, the main trolley is equipped with a movable coupling bar 14 intended to be engaged inside hooks 13 carried by the adjacent end of both complementary trolleys. Of course, these also have, in their lower part, means of bearing on the corresponding end of the main trolley.

Fig. 7 shows a similar embodiment which is designed to make it possible to couple any number of trolleys to one another in succession. In this embodiment, the main trolley 1b has a coupling bar 14 at one of its ends and receiving hooks at its opposite end. The same is true of the two corresponding complementary trolleys 2b to which other complementary trolleys designed in the same way can be added.

Fig. 8 illustrates another embodiment, in which there are several trolleys equipped with coupling means on their various sides, so that they can be assembled together in the form of a block comprising two rows of trolleys, or more if appropriate. Thus, there are two main trolleys 1 C and 1 d equipped with two coupling bars on two sides arranged at right angles and with receiving hooks on the other two sides. The same is true of the complementary trolleys 2c and 2d. This makes it possible to assemble a block of six trolleys or more, as indicated by the various arrows drawn in Fig.

8.

Fig. 9 shows an alternative embodiment of the coupling means described previously. In this alternative form, the hooks 13a are preceded by a ramp 20 intended for ensuring that the coupling bar 14 of the corresponding trolley is lifted automatically when the two trolleys are brought up against one another.

Thus, these can be coupled automatically, without the coupling bar 14 needed to be lifted.

Moreover, it goes without saying that the coupling means described above can be replaced by any other suitable coupling means likewise arranged in the upper part of the trolleys to be assembled together. As regards the bearing means provided in the lower part of the complementary trolley, these can likewise be replaced by bearing means other than the castors 17.

Moreover, the use of the trolley according to the invention is not limited to trolleys intended to be employed in a hotel for transporting replenishment products or collecting articles to be removed from the bedrooms. In fact, in many other uses, it is useful to have a trolley composed of two or more parts, either simply to make it possible to reduce the overal length of the assembly or to modify the arrangement of this assembly by fitting one or more complementary trolleys of a different type to the main trolley of this assembly.

Thus, the present trolley can be designed for transporting drinks and food in the aisles of an aircraft or a railway carriage. Depending on circumstances, this trolley can then be used in the form of a complete unit comprising the main trolley and the complementary trolley or complementary trolleys. Such a unit can also be designed to form a movable independent assembly station comprising a supply trolley, a main trolley forming a work station and a trolley allowing the redistribution of bundles for stocking purposes. The assembly station produced in this way greatly improves the working conditions downstream of a production line.

However, it is also possible to provide a unit for sorting dirty laundry, by combining, with a main trolley for receiving and transporting the dirty laundry to be sorted, two, three or four trolleys, each intended for receiving laundry having a specific degree of soiling. In this case, each of the trolleys can be used separately or jointly, depending on the particular use and the service in which it is used.

But the uses mentioned above are only examples, because there is a great number of possible uses of the convertible trolley according to the invention.

In all these uses, it is also possible, in some case, to use the main carriage only or to fit complementary trolleys of different design to it.

Claims

1. A convertible trolley comprising a combination of a main trolley and at least one complementary trolley having an end coupled removably to an end of the main trolley by complementary coupling means provided in the upper part of the main trolley and the complementary trolley, and bearing elements in the form of two castors in the lower part of the end of one of the trolleys, wherein the castors are arranged horizbntally at each of the lower corners of the trolley on which they are provided and are mounted so as to rotate about two vertical axles, and are adapted to bear against the corresponding end of the other trolley when the two trolleys are coupled, and wherein the arrangement is such that the two trolleys, when coupled, form a single unit which can be manoeuvred easily.

2. A convertible trolley according to Claim 1, wherein coupling means comprises the combination of at least one hook carried by one of the trolleys and open towards the top, and of a movable retention element provided on the other trolley and consisting of a horizontal bar mounted so as to be vertically movable between a lower position in which the bar can engage in the hooks and an upper position in which the bar is released from the hooks.

3. A convertible trolley according to Claim 2, wherein blocking means is provided, said blocking means serving to immobilise the movable retention element in its position of engagement in the hooks.

4. A convertible trolley according to Claim 2 or 3, wherein a ramp is provided which is adapted to lift the retention element when the trolleys are brought up against one another.

5. A convertible trolley substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.