GB2498354A

GB2498354A - Collapsible trolley for transferring heavy loads across rough terrain

Info

Publication number: GB2498354A
Application number: GB1200378.6A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Graham Jordan
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2012-01-11
Filing date: 2012-01-11
Publication date: 2013-07-17
Also published as: GB2498415B; GB2498415A; GB2498404A; GB201211959D0; GB201200378D0; GB201201033D0

Abstract

An easily assembled collapsible, tubular framed trolley, in which the main frame is spanned by a fabric cover (J, figure 9) held in tension by hinged cross brace "spreaders" D providing it with rigidity, and comprising a single, centrally located, large diameter wheel A. An under-slung carry pocket (K) may be attached to the underside of the fabric cover, thus allowing balanced loading of heavy items such as multiple cans of drink, cans of food, tents etc. The wheel may be attached by means of a four legged, triangulated support structure which transfers further tension into the fabric top cover of the trolley making it more rigid the heavier it is loaded. The wheel support legs C may be hinge mounted to the two parallel side rails such that they can be folded away under the device allowing the trolley to be used as a camp bed when the wheel is not fitted. The trolley frame can be dismantled, folded up, and stored in a bag for transport in a car or the storage hold of any form of public transport.

Description

tM:;: INTELLECTUAL

PROPERTY OFFICE

Application No. 0B1200378.6 RTM Date:26 April 2012 The following terms are registered trademarks and should be read as such wherever they occur in this document: Velcro Intellectual Properly Office is an operaling name of Ihe Patent Office www.ipo.gov.uk Page 1 TITLE: COLLAPSIBLE TROLLEY FOR TRANSFERING HEAVY LOADS ACROSS ROUGH TERRAIN WHICH

CAN ALSO BE USED AS A CAMP BED

BACKGROUND:

This invention relates to the creation of light weight, collapsible trolley for transferring heavy loads across rough terrain at events such as music festivals. Once the load has been successfully transferred from a person's vehicle to their chosen camping location, then the trolley can be simply converted into a comfortable camp bed. After the event, the bed is again converted into a trolley and used to transfer ones belongings back to your vehicle.

Many people attend outdoor events such as music festivals, the biggest of which can last up to 5 days. The car parks of such events are often several miles from the eventual camp sites at which the person will stay. In order to get all their camping equipment, clothing, food and drinks from the car park to the camp site without making multiple laborious trips a trolley is often utilised. Due to the rough terrain that has to be crossed a very robust trolley is required and other examples of such are typically too large to fit in the boot of a normal car or the storage hold of a coach or bus. Also, such existing trolley designs are large and must be stored in the user's tent or else transferred back to their vehicle until required for the return journey. This invention is a robust trolley on which heavy loads can be easily carried over significant distances across rutted fields which are often muddy. The trolley collapses to a size that easily fits in the boot of any normal car and also converts into a comfortable camp bed on which the owner can sleep until it is time to return their belongings back to their vehicle.

STATEMENT OF INVENTION:

To overcome the aforementioned problems, the present invention proposes the production of a collapsible trolley frame spanned by a tensioned fabric cover which sits on a single, centrally located, large diameter wheel. The support legs for the wheel are secured to the frame by hinged mounts which allow them to be laid parallel and secured to the frame when not in use meaning that the trolley can be also utilised as a camp bed when the wheel is not fitted.

Secured to and hanging below the (in tension) fabric cover is a carry pocket in which heavy items can be located such as cans of drink, a tent, canned food items etc. all of which maintaining a low centre of gravity for stability. By carefully loading the carry pocket plus strapping the bulkier but lighter items (such as clothes, sleeping bags etc.) onto the top of the trolley the trolley can be balanced such that minimal effort is required to lift the carry handles. Tie down loops are located at regular intervals along both sides of the trolley for use with straps, bungees or elastic cargo nets to secure items to the top of the trolley. The large diameter, single central wheel makes the trolley extremely manoeuvrable and easy to move over quite challenging terrain, carrying significant loads. The diagonally opposed forces generated by the 4 legs supporting the wheel mean that the trolley becomes more rigid and stable the more weight is loaded onto it.

Should an assistant not be available to support the trolley during loading, optional props can be installed at the far end of the trolley which allow the trolley to stand unsupported with a slight downward slope away from the carry handle end. Once loaded, the props can be removed and Page 2 stored for transport and then, if required, the trolley can be tipped forward for rest periods during transfer of belongings to required location.

ADVANTAGES: This Trolley is extremely robust but light weight and collapsible such that it can fit into the boot of any normal car.

The single, central, large diameter wheel means that if loaded correctly heavy loads can be transported easily over long distances on challenging terrain.

The wheel spindle for the trolley maybe supplied with a quick release mechanism which requires no tools The trolley has a dual function and can also be used as a very comfortable camp bed.

The under-slung carry pocket allows the transport of very heavy items such as large quantities of canned drinks at the lowest possible height making the trolley very stable.

When not in use the trolley can be folded up and stored in minimal space.

The trolley can be used alternatively as a very comfortable camp bed if the trolley function is not required.

An example of the invention will now be described by referring to the accompanying drawings: Figure la shows the trolley fully assembled, Figure lb shows the trolley in bed mode with the wheel removed and the 4 off hinged legs folded away and secured under the bed, and Figure ic shows the trolley fully collapsed and ready to be retained in a fabric transport / storage bag.

Figure 2 shows the trolley frame / structure fully assembled but with the fabric cover and integral under-slung carry pocket removed for clarity, with the single, large diameter, centrally located wheel (A), the 2 off centrally located, lockable, double hinge joints (B), the 4 off hinged legs (C), the 2 off hinged cross brace "spreaders" (D), the 2 off carry handles at one end only (E), the 4 off combined bed raiser and mounting support for the "spreaders (F), and finally the 2 off removable loading props (G). Note -the fabric cover and integral carry pocket do not need to be removed to collapse the trolley for storage) Figure 3 shows the trolley structure in bed mode with the wheel (A) removed, the 4 off hinged legs (C) folded away and secured under the bed. The double hinge joints (B) are now locked straight and the bed raisers (F) keep the bed up off the floor for maximum comfort for the user.

Figure 4 shows the first stage of the collapse of the trolley for storage! transport. The Spreaders (D) are released to remove the tension from the fabric top cover and then fully folded allowing the parallel side poles brought completely together. The double hinged joints (B) must now be unlocked to allow the frame to be folded in half as shown in figures.

Page 3 Figure 5 shows the trolley frame fully collapsed with the double hinge joints released and the parallel side poles folded in half making the unit as small as possible. The assembly is retained closed by an integral strap (secured to the fabric cover) of elastic or alternatively a fabric band closed by Velcro or similar means (I) allowing the whole frame to be held closed before retention in a fabric transport / storage bag.

Figure 6 shows an end view of the trolley with the fabric cover (J) installed and held in tension by the spreaders (D) at each end of the trolley. The partially open end of the under-slung, carry pocket (K) is also shown (the opposite end is completely closed to retain the heavy items during load transfer).

The single wheel spindle (L) secures the wheel (A) in between the 4 off hinged legs (C) with each pair of legs overlapping on each side of the wheel. Also shown are the tie down loops (M) which are located at regular intervals down both sides of the trolley and allow straps, bungees or elastic cargo nets to be used to safely secure items to the top of the trolley.

Figure 7 shows the side view of the trolley showing the centrally positioned, extended length of the under-slung carry pocket (K) for maximum heavy load capacity and designed such that it remains clear of the wheel even when fully loaded.

Figure 8 shows a plan view of the trolley frame (again, the fabric cover complete with under-slung carry pocket are not shown for clarity of the drawing) showing the 2 off locked out spreaders (D) and the overlapping of the pairs of hinged legs (C) Figure 9 shows the fabric cover (J) and under-slung carry pocket (K) removed from the frame. The tie down loops (M) are shown located along both sides of the cover as well as the 10 off reinforced "scollops" (N) which clear the various items secured to the main side rails -(the lockable double hinge joints (B), the hinge mounts for the legs (C), and the combined bed raiser and mounting support for the "spreaders (F) ). Finally, 4 off elasticated loops (0) are shown which are used to retain the legs (C) when folded away under the trolley.

Figure 10 shows the trolley in its tipped position for resting whilst transferring a well secured load.

Figure 11 shows an alternative embodiment of the trolley in which a channelled extrusion (P) is used for the side rails and the innermost of the twin channels of the extrusion is used to locate the fabric cover and carry pocket. In this embodiment, rather than hinge in the middle the trolley is split into 2 halves which can be quickly reassembled and locked together by means of spring clips or other similar techniques, then the fabric cover slid into the channel in the side rails before the cross brace spreaders are locked out to achieve the required tension on the fabric. The outermost channel of the extrusion can be used to affix tie down 1oops (M) which can slide along the channel and be positioned wherever required.

Figure 12 shows an alternative embodiment of the trolley in which the loading props (G) are hinged off the main frame and can be clipped up out of the way by spring clips (03 when the trolley is being moved.

Page 4 Figure 13 shows an alternative embodiment of the trolley in which an access flap (R) is installed into the in tension, fabric cover (J) giving easier, top access to the under-slung carry pocket. This flap must be safely secured closed by Velcro, zips, poppers or other similar means when the trolley is being used as a camp bed.

Figure 14 shows an alternative embodiment of the trolley in which an additional articulation is added at the end opposite the carry handles utilising 2 off ratcheted hinges (S) allowing the end section of the trolley to be folded and locked up or down. This more sophisticated design shortens the trolley making it less cumbersome and the upturned end section can be used as an end stop for items secured to the top of the trolley. It would also be possible to add telescopic extensions (T) to the end section which extend making props to support the trolley during loading as shown in Figure 14b. This embodiment of the trolley can also be tipped forward for resting whilst transferring a well secured load as shown in Figure 14c. Finally a further 2 ratcheted hinges and telescopic extensions could be added to the carry handle end, allowing the trolley to be fully stabilised on 4 legs for loading as shown in Figure 14d.

Figure 15 shows an alternative embodiment of the trolley in which the additional articulation as described in figure 14 above is by means of a simple pull out disengagement (U) allowing the end section of the trolley to be folded back on itself and laid on top of the trolley as shown in Figure 15b.

This simpler design still shortens the trolley making it less cumbersome but will require additional removable loading props (G) to be installed if required for single handed loading.

Claims

<claim-text>Page 5 CLAIMS: 1) A collapsible trolley which utilises a fabric top cover held in tension between 2 parallel side rails by hinged cross brace "spreaders" which give the structure rigidity, and a single centrally located, large diameter wheel which, with careful balanced loading, creates a very manoeuvrable device capable of transferring heavy loads over long distances on rough terrain with minimal effort.</claim-text> <claim-text>2) A collapsible trolley according to claim 1 in which the diagonally opposed loading forces generated by the 4 legs supporting the frame onto the wheel impart greater tension into the top fabric cover which mean that the trolley becomes more rigid and stable the more weight is loaded onto it up to its designed maximum working limit.</claim-text> <claim-text>3) A collapsible trolley according to claim 1 which can be very simply converted into a camp bed when the single, centrally positioned wheel is removed and the 4 off hinged support legs folded away and secured under the frame.</claim-text> <claim-text>4) A collapsible trolley according to claim 1 which folds down to a small enough size such that it can be put into a fabric storage bag and easily transported to a venue in the boot of a conventional car or in the baggage hold of any form of public transport.</claim-text> <claim-text>5) A collapsible trolley according to claim 1 which includes an under-slung carry pocket which retains heavy items at low level creating a very stable trolley with a low centre of gravity.</claim-text> <claim-text>6) A collapsible trolley according to claim 1 which includes tie down attachments for straps, elastic bungees or elastic cargo nets to be used to secure less heavy but bulkier items to the top of the trolley.</claim-text> <claim-text>7) A collapsible trolley according to claim 1 which utilises a quick release spindle for the wheel axel such that no tools are required to assemble or dismantle the unit for transport or storage.</claim-text>