GB2227211A

GB2227211A - Lifting and conveying device

Info

Publication number: GB2227211A
Application number: GB8827229A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Raymond Charles Barbrook
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1988-11-22
Filing date: 1988-11-22
Publication date: 1990-07-25
Also published as: GB8827229D0

Abstract

Figure 1 shows two such devices for use in moving supermarket display units etc, comprising a lifting element 6 mounted to the lower end of a handle element 2 and normally supported by first and second ground-engaging wheel or roller arrangements 9,9 and 11 or 21. In use, the handle can be pivoted about wheels 9,9 to tilt the lifting plate 6 downwardly so that it can be inserted under the unit to be lifted, then the handle is pivoted about wheels 9,9 to lift and support that unit and also bring its wheel 11 or 21 into engagement with the ground. The unit can then be moved over the ground by means of the wheels 9,9 and 11 or 21 running on the ground. Four of the devices may be used in combination, as in Figs 3, to move a large item, two devices LD1, LD3 being of the type 20 shown in Figure 1 and the other two LD2, LD4 being of the type 10 in Figure 1. <IMAGE>

Description

LIFTING DEVICE This invention relates to a device for use for example in lifting and moving display units in a supermarket or other retail outlets.

It is often desired to move display units or socalled gondolas in supermarkets or other retail outlets.

However, these units are heavy and cumbersome to move.

Generally ropes are looped around the legs of the units close to the ground and the units are dragged by means of these ropes into the desired new positions. Such a technique is however not easy to carry out.

I have now devised a device for use in lifting and moving display units in a supermarket or other retail outlet, which device is easy to use and enables the display unit to be moved quickly from one position to another.

Thus, in accordance with this invention there is proposed a lifting device which comprises a lifting element mounted to the lower end of a handle element and normally supported on the ground by a first wheel or roller arrangement and a second wheel or roller arrangement mounted to the lower end of the handle element, arranged so that the handle element can be pivoted about one wheel or roller arrangement to raise the lifting element and support a unit to be lifted, which can then be moved over the ground by means of the wheel or roller arrangements of the device running on the ground.

In preferred embodiments, the lifting element is in the form of a generally flat plate projecting forwardly from the lower end of the handle element. The first wheel or roller arrangement has its rotary axis aligned generally with the rear of the lifting element. The second wheel or roller arrangement is positioned to the rear of the first arrangement. Thus when the handle is pivoted or levered rearwardly, this causes the lifting element to rise and engage the underside of the display unit and lift it off the ground.

The lifting devices are used manually and preferably four such devices are positioned by four people at the four corners of a display unit. The devices are then operated in unison firstly to raise the display unit and then move it from one position to another, the wheel or roller arrangements of the four lifting devices running over the ground.

Embodiments of this invention will now be described by way of examples only and with reference to the acompanying drawings, in which: FIGURE 1 is a view of two different forms of lifting device in accordance with this invention; FIGURE 2 is a schematic view of a lifting device showing two positions of the device relative to a display unit which it is to lift, one position being when the lifting device is first offered up to the display unit and the other position being when the handle element of the lifting device has been levered back to raise the display unit; and FIGURE 3 is a schematic plan view of a display unit being lifted and moved using four lifting devices in accordance with the invention.

Referring to Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings, there are shown two different forms or embodiments of lifting device 10, 20 in accordance with the invention. Each lifting device comprises a handle element formed of tubular metal having a short lower upright section 1, a rearwardly inclined straight section 2 and a cross-piece 3 at the top provided at its ends with grips 4, 5. A lifting element 6 in the form of a flat rectangular plate is mounted to the lower end of the section 1 of the handle and is normally horizontal.

The front edge of the element 6 is formed with a number e.g. three cut-aways 7 for a purpose which will be described. The rear edge of the element 6 is aligned with the handle section 1 and is formed along its length to receive an axle 8 which mounts a wheel 9 at each of its ends.

Each lifting device 10, 20 is provided with another wheel 11, 21 to the rear of the axle 8 of the wheels 9. In the device 10, this wheel 11 is mounted on an axle 12 which extends through the opposite arms of a Ushape bracket 13 fixed to the handle section 1. In the device 20, the wheel 21 is mounted in a castor 22 which is in turn mounted to a triangular bracket 23 fixed to the handle section 1: wheel 21 can therefore swivel about the vertical axis of the castor.

It will be appreciated that the wheel arrangement 9,9 and the wheel arrangement 11 or 21 of each lifting device may be varied from those shown. For example, the wheel arrangement 9,9 may be replaced by a roller. Also for example, the wheel 11 or 21 may be replaced by a pair of wheels or by a roller.

Referring to Figure 2, a display unit 30 stands on the ground by way of short lengths of a number of legs 31. As shown in Figure 3, a generally rectangular display unit can be raised and lifted using four lifting devices LD1 - LD4, one at each corner of the display unit.

Preferably the two lifting devices LD1, LD3 (at the "front" of the unit if it is to be moved in the direction of the arrow) are of the form 20 shown in Figure 1, i.e. having a swivel-mounted wheel 21, whilst the lifting devices LD2, LD4 are of the form 10 shown in Figure 1.

In order to lift and move the display unit, each device is wheeled by its user up to the appropriate corner of the units and the device is tilted into the position 1 shown in Figure 2. In this position, the device is supported on its wheel 9,9 and the lifting element 6 is inclined forwardly and downwardly. The lifting device is wheeled forwards to insert the lifting element 6 below the display unit: if desired one of the cut-aways 7 in the front edge of the lifting element 6 is used to receive the adjacent leg 31 of the display unit. Then the handles of the lifting devices are levered or pivoted rearwardly and downwardly to bring the rear wheel 11 (or 21) down onto the ground. This has the effect of pivoting the lifting element 6 up against the bottom of the display unit and then raising the display unit off the ground. The display unit is now moved by moving the four lifting devices in unison over the ground on their wheels. It will be appreciated that because the 1front" lifting devices LD 1, 3 (Figure 3) have castors on their rear wheels, some degree of steering is possible in moving the display unit from one position to another.

Claims

1) A lifting device which comprises a lifting element mounted to the lower end of a handle element and normally supported by first and second ground-engaging wheel or roller arrangements mounted to the lower end of the handle element, the device being arranged so that the handle element can be pivoted aboout one said wheel or roller arrangement to raise the lifting element and support thereon a unit to be lifted and also to bring the other said wheel or roller arrangement into engagement with the ground, so that said unit can be moved over the ground by means of the wheel or roller arrangements of the device running on the ground.

2) A lifting device as claimed in claim 1, in which the lifting element comprises a generally flat plate projecting forwardly from the lower end of the handle element.

3) A lifting device as claimed in claim 2, in which said plate is formed with a number of cut-aways in its front edge to receive a leg of the unit to be lifted.

4) A lifting device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the first wheel or roller arrangement has its rotary axis aligned generally with the rear of the lifting element and the second wheel or roller arrangement is positioned with its rotary axis to the rear of the first wheel or roller arrangement.

5) A lifting device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the second wheel or roller arrangement is mounted for swivelling relative to the device.

6) A lifting device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the handle element comprises an upright lower section, a rearwardly inclined straight section and a cross-piece at the top of the rearwardly inclined section.

7) A lifting device substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.