GB2436435A

GB2436435A - Vending cart or kiosk roof awning

Info

Publication number: GB2436435A
Application number: GB0606066A
Authority: GB
Inventors: George Wannop
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-03-25
Filing date: 2006-03-25
Publication date: 2007-09-26
Also published as: GB0606066D0

Abstract

A vending cart or kiosk has side door flaps 1, 2 which fold down over the sides of the kiosk for storage and transport and fold up to form awnings when in use. Adjacent side door flaps 1, 2 have flexible corner awnings 3 connected between them. The side door flaps 1, 2 are held up in their open position by gas struts. The flexible corner awnings 3 have rod stiffeners and may be made from flexible shower proof materials such as fabrics or plastics. The side door flaps 1, 2 may be made from a rigid material to match the cart, such as steel, wood or glass reinforced plastics (GRP).

Description

Page 1 Cart Roof Awning Configuration This is a ready made market stall

type cart (trailer) with a built in awning shelter which can be opened and closed in a short space of time enabling the vendor (seller) to be one step ahead of the weather.

Vendors would traditionally rely on separate parasol type umbrellas or tarpaulins to provide shelter to themselves and customers in prevailing conditions. These can be time consuming to put up and down, especially when the weather changes quickly and can also take up valuable space. They may also not complement the image which the vendor is trying to portray.

The object of this cart is to enable the vendor to set up the stall quickly using the varying awning and door flap combinations to suit the weather conditions of the day. If the conditions change, the awnings can be adjusted quickly and efficiently. It can also be used to complement any image that the vendor is portraying to sell his/her goods.

The vendor's shelter is provided by lift up side door flaps on the cart which are supported by hydro pneumatic gas struts. Attached to the door flaps are corner awnings which are formed by a shower proof nylon material flishioned into the shape of a quarter circle with built in rod stiflèners. The awnings are thstened to the door flaps via a sewn in rope bead and an aluminium extrusion.

When the door flaps are fully open the combination of the doors and awnings provide necessary shelter which can be adjusted by opening or closing the relevant doors. When the door flaps are in the closed position the awnings are rolled to form a gathered edge and secured with an elastic hoop and toggle system.

Page 2 A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which-Figure 1 shows the cart doors in the closed (stored position).

Figure la demonstrates the toggle fastener which secures the awning when in the closed position.

Figure 2 shows the direction which the side flaps are extended out to form the roof shelter.

Figure 3 shows one of the end door flaps extended and the corner awning starting to form.

Figure 4 shows one side door flap and one end door flap extended out fully and the adjoining corner awning is folded out forming a shelter around two sides of the cart.

Figure 5 both end flaps and one side flap is extended out fully and two corner awnings are folded out forming a shelter around three sides of the cart.

Figure 6 shows all four door flaps and corner awnings extended out into the fully open position forming a shelter around the complete cart.

Figure 7 details the corner awning and gas struts attached to the door flaps.

Figure 8 shows a corner awning folded out.

Figure 8a demonstrates how the corner awning is attached to the door flaps.

Figure 9 shows the door flaps and the corner awnings along with the lower compartments on the cart fully open.

Figure 10 is a comparative drawing of the cart shown against a person, demonstrating its size and compactness.

Page 3 Cart Roo fAwning J)escriytion As shown in Figure 1, the side door flaps (1) and end door flaps (2) are in the closed position and the corner awnings (3) are gathered in for storage. Figure la demonstrates the corner awning (3) in the stored position and shows the elastic loop and toggle fastener system (4) which prevents the corner awning from flapping when the cart is being towed.

Figure 2 demonstrates the opening direction of the side door flaps (1) and the end door flaps (2).

One end door flap (2) is lifted to its fully open position and the adjoining awnings (3) are folded out, as shown in Figure 3, this could be used as protection from side winds.

Figure 4 demonstrates one of the end door flaps (2) and one of the side door flaps (1) open with the central awning (3) forming the corner of the shelter. The adjoining end awnings (3) are folded out to provide protection from side winds.

In Figure 5 both of the end door flaps (2) and one side door flap (1) are lifted to their open position along with two corner awnings (3) providing shelter around three sides of the cart.

The remaining side door flap (1) which is unseen in the drawing as it is in the closed position, as well as the adjoining awnings (3) will open out in a similar way to figure 4.

Figure 6 shows the side door flaps (1) with the end door flaps (2) and corner awnings (3) in their opened out positions. When used in this configuration, this provides shelter to the vendor and purchaser around the complete perimeter of the cart.

Figure 7 details the corner awning (3) along with one of the gas struts (5) which holds the side door flaps (1) and the end door flaps (2) securely open.

Figure 8 shows the corner awning (3) constructed from a light shower proof nylon material, which is supported by stiff rods sewn into pockets (6). The awnings inner corners are secured to the cart by a Velcro strip (7).

Figure 8a demonstrates the corner awnings (3) are attached to the side door flaps (1) and end door flaps (2) via a sewn in rope beading (8) and an alloy extrusion (9).

Figure 9 shows the lower compartment door flaps (10) which provide access to the storage areas within the base (11). These door flaps can double up as counter tops when held up with locking stays (12) into the open position.

Figure 10 demonstrates the relative neatness of the cart when all the door flaps are closed.

Due to its compact size, the cart can be manoeuvred manually into or through restricted openings, for example, doorways into shopping arcades or exhibition centres.

Claims

Page 4 Claims 1-The cart roof awning system consists of a series of

hinged door flaps and corner awnings on a cart or box type trailer to provide variable shelter.

The corner awnings have rod stiffeners and a flexible edge beading sewn into them to provide a suitable rigidity.

The beading is threaded into an aluminium extrusion carrier which is thstened to the door flap side edges.

The door flaps are supported in the open position via gas struts which are attached to the inner face of the door flaps and the adjacent frame.

When the door flaps are in the open position the corner awnings automatically fold out and become part of the overhead or side shelter depending on the open or closed arrangement of the side or end door flaps.

2-The corner awnings as in claim 1 can be manufactured from any flexible shower proof material, for example-fbric, plastic, PVC.

3-The side and end door flaps are manuflctured from an appropriate rigid material in keeping with the cart or trailer, for example-steel, wood, GRP.

4-The cart roof awning substantially as herein described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.