WO2003093093A1

WO2003093093A1 - Shopping trolley and personal transport vehicle in combination

Info

Publication number: WO2003093093A1
Application number: PCT/SE2003/000692
Authority: WO
Inventors: Lars Eric Dahl
Original assignee: Lars Eric Dahl
Priority date: 2002-04-29
Filing date: 2003-04-28
Publication date: 2003-11-13
Also published as: SE0201282D0; AU2003235365A1

Abstract

The invention relates to an arrangement used as a shopping trolley in the folded position and for personal transport and baggage transport in the unfolded position. It is equipped with a load carrier capable of being fitted with various load surfaces and load volumes. Without supplementary drive arrangement, it is used the unfolded position. A control in the the platform releases locks in the joints, in with which the vehicle adopts a rest position a as a scooter in form of a lever on conjunction halfway between the folded and unfolded positions. Transformation between the two forms of use takes place as a single operation. The vehicle is used for short personal transport and goods transport journeys in city centres. When folded, it can be stored in the home and transported on a train/bus or in the luggage compartment of a motor car.

Description

SHOPPING TROLLEY AND PERSONAL TRANSPORT VEHICLE IN COMBINATION

Distance and purpose are a couple of factors which determine the mode of transport selected by people in towns and cities. If their decision is based only on the distance, most people prefer to walk if the distance is less than half a kilometre. Cycles, cars or buses are used if the journey exceeds a couple of kilometres.

At intervals in between (0.5 - 2 kilometres), walking can be perceived as tiring and time-consuming. Cycling may be an alternative, although because a cycle is kept locked out of doors or in a cycle store and cannot be left unlocked in the city, its use is beset by a series of inconvenient operations. For personal transport in a city environment, the need is accordingly considered to exist for a supplementary means of transport, which does not suffer from the disadvantages of the cycle. A folding, lightweight scooter could satisfy that need.

If the purpose of the journey is to transport some form of goods, for instance when you purchase items at your local convenience store, the need for an aid may arise even over very short distances. Many people use a shopping trolley to facilitate these purchases.

It would be ideal if the shopping trolley with its load- carrying ability could also be used as a means of personal transport by being transformed into a scooter in a simple fashion. In order for a combined scooter and shopping trolley to be appreciated for its two functions, it should be executed so that it can be stored in the home like a shopping trolley; so that it can be unfolded easily on the pavement to form a scooter and ridden to the store; so that it can be folded together to form a shopping trolley and kept on the store's trolley in the store; so that it can be packed with the purchased goods; so that it can be unfolded outside the store to form a scooter for transporting the person and his/her shopping back to the home.

In order .to function in this way, certain conditions must be met by the product: it shall be of robust construction in order to withstand outdoor use; it shall have sufficiently large wheels to provide comfortable transport; it shall be light in weight and shall have small dimensions in the folded position; it shall be provided with a load carrier; it shall be designed to appeal to the intended target group; it shall be adapted for industrial production at an acceptable price; it shall be capable of being transformed between a scooter and a shopping trolley with a single operation.

These thoughts form the background to the invention, the purpose of which is to solve this transport problem and to find constructions which meet the requirements set out above . Schedule of Figures

Fig. 1 shows the product from the side as a scooter, a shopping trolley and in an intermediate transformation position;

Fig . 2 shows the scooter viewed at an angle from the front;

Fig . 3 shows the product provided with a variant of a load carrier; F Fiigg.. 4 4 shows the shopping trolley viewed at an angle from the front;

Fig . 5 shows the product provided with different types of supporting points;

Fig . 6 shows the product with a varied quantity of supporting points;

Fig . 7 shows how the product is used as a shopping trolley;

Fig . 8 shows how the product is used as a loaded shopping trolley; F Fiigg.. 9 9 shows an exploded view of the joint between the frame and the cradle;

Fig . 9. shows an exploded view of the joint between the frame and the cradle with an example of a simplified alternative execution; Fig. 10 shows a section through the cradle;

Fig. 10A shows a section through the cradle with an example of a simplified alternative execution; Fig. 11 shows a section through the frame, cradle and platform; Fig. 11A shows a section through the frame, cradle and platform with an example of a simplified alternative execution; Fig. 12 shows the adjustment of the locking mechanism positioned in the joint between the cradle and the platform; Fig. 12A shows the adjustment of the locking mechanism positioned in the joint between the cradle and the platform with an example of a simplified alternative execution;

The application thus relates to a vehicle capable of being transformed between two different functional forms, which are illustrated in Figs. 1-12.

One form (Fig. 2 and (1) in Fig. 1) is intended for personal transport or for personal transport in combination with the transport of baggage ( (1) in Fig. 3) . In its other form (Figs. 1 and 3 (3) and Fig. 4), the vehicle can be used solely for the transport of baggage.

It can also be appreciated from Fig. 1 that the vehicle consists of a chassis (4) with at least two supporting points (5, 6) that are capable of moving in relation to the base, which supporting points can consist of wheels, runners or tracks (Fig. 5) . One of the supporting points is pivotable by means of a steering control (7, Fig. 1). The construction requires the chassis to be of folding execution in such a way that the supporting points can approach one another and can constitute the base of an acute-angled triangle (8 in Fig. 1 and Fig. 3) . The material can consist of 1) aluminium, which is either cast or extruded, 2) high-tensile bent sheet steel or 3) a plastic/composite material. The construction also requires that the transformation between the two functional forms shall be capable of being executed by the user with the help of a single-handed control which actuates a semi-automatic folding mechanism (9 in Fig. 1 and Fig. 3) .

Although flexibility and performance are considered to be best served by the choice of two supporting points in the form of wheels, the possibility also exists of manufacturing the vehicle with three or four wheels/supporting points (Fig. 6) . One or both pairs of wheels would then serve as transport wheels in the shopping trolley position and as a support. From the point of view of comfort, a larger wheel/pair of wheels is required at the front (5, Fig. 1) . Smaller rear wheels can be used to reduce the dimensi'ons and weight (6, Fig. 1) . In the shopping trolley function, the wheels will not be positioned side by side, which is otherwise customary. The rear wheel is instead drawn forwards in the direction of the front wheel, at the same time as the platform is angled upwards and forms a triangle together with the steering column and with the two wheels positioned at the base angles of the triangle (Fig. 7) . The shopping trolley can now be steered with a single hand on the steering control and turned in the desired direction with the help of the front wheel. Even with a full load (Fig. 8), the construction exhibits good balance and stability and takes up so little space that it can be manoeuvred even in tight spaces and can accompany the user everywhere, both indoors and outdoors. The chassis is provided with joints to facilitate folding. One of these joints contains a spring (Fig. 9), which, when the joint lock is released, causes the two arms connected to the joint to deflect to a position halfway between the two outermost positions (Fig. 1 (2) ) . This makes it easier for the user to find a good grip when folding up and unfolding the vehicle. The joint locks are controlled by a lever (control arm 4:3:1 in Figs. 10-12) attached to the platform, which releases the locking of the joints when it is raised in the unfolded position by applying pressure with the front part of the foot, and is pressed backwards in the folded position with the hand. This is illustrated in Figures 10, 11 and 12. Fig. 10 shows a section through the cradle 4:2. Fig. 11 shows a section through the frame, cradle and platform. Fig. 12 shows how the control arm 4:3:1 actuates the steel axle 4:2:1.

The vehicle is equipped with a fixed load carrier, to which it is possible to adapt varying types of load surfaces or load volumes (Fig. 3, Fig. 4 and Fig. 8) . Fig. 3 shows a load carrier with two storage cylinders (b) , from which shopping bags can be unfolded and attached to a hook on the steering column (Fig. 3 (2)). This load carrier also has a folding flap (a) , which permits the transport of heavier items (Fig. 8) . The vehicle is capable in the unfolded position of being propelled by pushing with the feet or by mechanical actuation of a driving wheel.

Examples of simplified alternative embodiments

The chassis is provided with joints to facilitate folding. One of these joints contains a spring (Fig. 9), which, when the joint lock is released, causes the two arms connected to the joint to deflect to a position halfway between the two outermost positions. See 2, Fig. 1. This makes it easier for the user to find a good grip when folding up and unfolding the vehicle.

Fig. 9A shows a simplified alternative embodiment of the steel axle 4:2:1, where the axle is pressed forwards by a spring (4:2:5) located on the rear part of the axle, locked to the front part of the spring. A plastic bracket 4:2:2 is used as an abutment against the spring.

The joint locks are controlled by a lever (control arm 4:3:1) attached to the platform, which releases the locking of the joints when it is raised in the unfolded position by applying pressure with the front part of the foot and is pressed backwards in the folded position with the hand. This is illustrated in Figures 10, 11 and 12. Fig. 10A shows a section through the cradle 4:2 and a simplified alternative embodiment of the locking mechanism between the platform and the cradle 4:3:1:1-4. The mechanism is illustrated more clearly in Fig. 12A. Fig. 11A shows a section through the frame, cradle and platform, with the simplified alternative embodiment of the locking mechanism between the platform and the cradle 4:3:1:1-4. Because this simplification has enabled the locking plates 4:3:2:1-2 situated on the underside of the platform to be removed, the platform is fixed in position naturally with the help of a spacer block (4:3:3) when the product is folded up. This spacer block is accommodated between the two cradles (4:2) in the unfolded position and in the folded position arrests the freedom of movement of the platform by exerting pressure against the steering column .

Fig. 12A shows how the control arm 4:3:1 actuates the steel axle 4:2:1 through the control 4:2:2, which also serves as an axle in the joint between the cradle and the platform. Link rolls 4:2:2:1 (2 units arranged diametrically), located in milled groves in the control 4:2:2 and pressed out towards the periphery by spring steel, engage with the hook which is present on the rear part of the axle 4:2:1 when the control arm 4:3:1 is caused to move. The control 4:2:2 is spring-loaded in relation to the superjacent platform in such a way that the control arm 4:3:1 is forced downwards towards the front part of the platform. Fig. 12A also shows a simplified alternative means of locking the platform to the cradle. The locking heel 4:3:1:3 is located in a groove in part 4:3:1:1 of the control arm and is retained by a pin in 4:3:1:2, which consists of two tongues secured to 4:3:1:1. The locking heel is spring- loaded so that the longer arm is pressed against 4:3:1:1. If the part of the locking heel arm 4:3:1:3 projecting beyond the left-hand part of the platform is pressed upwards with the foot, the heel is released from its locked engagement with the hole in the wall of the cradle (4:2), at the same time as the axle 4:2:1 is caused to move backwards and unlocks the joint between the frame and the cradle, in conjunction with which the released cradle is deflected upwards. The lever 4:3:1:4, which is located by means of a pin in a hole in the locking heel arm 4:3:1:3, enables the locking heel to be released from the right-hand side of the platform.

Claims

Patent Claims

1. Arrangement of the vehicle type with two areas of use, one intended for personal transport, Fig. 1 (1), or for personal transport in combination with the transport of baggage, Fig. 3 (1), and the other intended for the transport of baggage, Fig. 1 (3) and Fig. 3 (3) , in the form of a chassis (4 in Fig. 1) with at least two supporting points (5 and 6 in Fig. 1) that are capable of moving in relation to the base, one of which is pivotable by means of a steering control (7 in Fig. 1) , characterized by a user-initiated transformation of the chassis between the two forms of use, and in that this transformation is effected by means of a single control . 2. Arrangement in accordance with Patent Claim 1, characterized in that the moving supporting points consist of wheels (5 in Fig. 5), runners (5a in Fig. 5), or tracks (5b in Fig. 5).

3. Arrangement in accordance with one or other of the preceding Patent Claims, characterized in that the supporting points may be two, three or four in number, positioned as follows; only a) two, b) three, with one at the front and two at the rear, or with two at the front and one at the rear, c) four, with two at the front and two at the rear. Fig. 6.

4. Arrangement in accordance with one or other of the preceding Patent Claims, characterized in that, in the case that the supporting points consist of wheels, the one or more front wheels exceed a minimum critical diameter in order to permit comfortable transport, while the one or more rear wheels may be made smaller for reasons of space.

5. Arrangement in accordance with one or other of the preceding Patent Claims, characterised by a chassis with joints, of which the front joint (between the frame, Fig. 10, 4:1, and the cradle, Fig. 10, 4:2) is spring-loaded so that, in the unloaded position, it endeavours to cause the cradle to deflect to an intermediate rest position.

6. Arrangement in accordance with one or other of the preceding Patent Claims, characterized by a lever control (4:3:1, Figs. 12 and 12A) attached to the platform (4:3, Fig. 10), which releases the locking of the joints when it is raised in the unfolded position by the application of pressure with the front part of the foot and, in the folded position, releases the locking by being rotated with the hand. . Arrangement in accordance with one or other of the preceding Patent Claims, characterized in that the supporting points in the folded position approach one another and form the base of an acute-angled triangle, and in that the arrangement in this form, too, is also capable of being displaced and steered and permits the simple and stable transport of baggage including in tight spaces. Fig. 1 (3) and Fig. 3 (3) .

8. Arrangement in accordance with one or other of the preceding Patent Claims, characterized by the presence of a fixed load carrier, to which it is possible to adapt varying types of load surfaces or load volumes. Arrangement in accordance with one or other of the preceding Patent Claims, characterized in that the vehicle is capable in the unfolded position of being propelled by pushing with the feet or by mechanical actuation of a driving wheel .