WO2021113928A1

WO2021113928A1 - A carrier means removably attachable to a transport means

Info

Publication number: WO2021113928A1
Application number: PCT/AU2020/051367
Authority: WO
Inventors: Elias Hajjar
Original assignee: Trolleyon Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2019-12-14
Filing date: 2020-12-14
Publication date: 2021-06-17

Abstract

A mobile trolley including a basket that is removably attachable to a wheeled assembly. The wheeled assembly includes a post at the top of which is a plate that slidingly engages the basket and can be locked to the basket when in use. The sliding plate can be unlocked from the basket allowing the basket to be effectively slid from the wheeled assembly without it having to be lifted. To assist in this the wheel assembly includes a post whose height can be adjusted to fit the height of the surface where the basket is to be slid to or from.

Description

A carrier means removably attachable to a transport means

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a carrier means, such as a shopping basket, that is removable attachable to a transport means, such as wheels.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

[0002] There is a plethora of shopping baskets that include a basket permanently attached to a frame and having wheels that allow the shopping basket to be moved. Such baskets, known as trolleys, are typical in consumer goods stores. When a user has selected an item that they wish to purchase, they are placed into the basket. Finally, the consumer proceeds to a checkout where they pay for the items and then use the trolley to transport them typically to a car where the items must be unloaded whether individually or in bags. Once the items reach their destination then they must be carried, for example, into the kitchen when the items purchased are foods.

[0003] Not only does this require multiple handling of the items but it is difficult for the infirm and disabled.

[0004] The object of this invention is to overcome at least some of the abovementioned problems or provide the public with a useful alternative.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] In a first aspect the invention comprises a mobile trolley including a supporting surface attachable to a wheel assembly and adapted to be releasingly locked therein. The attachment may be by virtue of a slidable, positional or pivotal arrangement.

[0006] In preference the supporting surface is a basket.

[0007] In preference the wheel assembly includes at least one supporting arm/post, the bottom part of which supports a plurality of wheels, the top part including a joining plate to slidably/positionally/pivotingly engage the basket. [0008] In preference the joining plate includes a first set of wheels and appropriately shaped extrusion with adapted to engage the bottom of the basket and a second set of wheels or extrusions adapted to be engaged by the basket to bear part of its weight and help compensate for the clearance required for the wheels/extrusions to move the mechanism into position

[0009] In preference the basket includes appropriately shaped extrusions with low enough coefficient of friction.

[0010] In preference the basket includes a channel that is engaged by the joining plate with the first set of wheels or extrusions engaging the channel and the second set of wheels engaging guide rails attached to the basket.

[0011] It should be noted that any one of the aspects mentioned above may include any of the features of any of the other aspects mentioned above and may include any of the features of any of the embodiments described below as appropriate.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] Preferred features, embodiments and variations of the invention may be discerned from the following Detailed Description which provides sufficient information for those skilled in the art to perform the invention. The Detailed Description is not to be regarded as limiting the scope of the preceding Summary of the Invention in any way. The Detailed Description will refer to a number of drawings as follows.

[0013] Figure 1 is a perspective front view of an apparatus embodying the invention;

[0014] Figure 2 is a perspective underside view of Figure 1;

[0015] Figure 3 is a partial perspective view of the wheel assembly;

[0016] Figure 4 is the view of the joining plate;

[0017] Figure 5 is the underside view of the joining plate; [0018] Figure 6 ids a perspective underside view of the basket;

[0019] Figure 7 is a side perspective view of the underside of the basket;

[0020] Figure 8 illustrates the joining plate engaging and being supported by guide rails;

[0021] Figure 9 is an alternate cross-sectional view of the slit adapted to be engaged by the joining plate;

[0022] Figure 10 is a detailed view illustrating the connection of the joining plate to the basket;

[0023] Figure 11 is a partial exploded view illustrating the locking mechanism between the joining plate and the basket;

[0024] Figure 12 is a partial view of the wheel assembly illustrating the release mechanism;

[0025] Figure 13 is a partial view of the bottom of the wheel assembly; and

[0026] Figure 14 is a view of an alternate release mechanism.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0027] The following detailed description of the invention refers to the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings and the following description to refer to the same and like parts. Dimensions of certain parts shown in the drawings may have been modified and/or exaggerated for the purposes of clarity or illustration.

[0028] Whilst reference below is made to a basket, it is to be understood that it can be used to support flat surfaces with various methods of supporting and locking the basket to wheels supporting the basket at a selectable height. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0029] The following is a description of the Figures in detail. In Figure 1 there is illustrated a trolley 10 including a basket 12 being of a typical size and configuration supported by wheeled assembly 14, the wheel assembly including a post 16 supported by a plurality of wheels 18 attached to the post 16 by arms 20.

[0030] The wheeled assembly 14 is illustrated in more detail in Figure 3. At the top of post 16 is a joining plate 22, the joining plate illustrated in more detail in Figures 4 and 5. The joining plate 22 engages the bottom of the basket, in particular channel 24 which accommodates the joining plate 22. The basket includes two guiding rails 26 which are engaged by the joining plate 22 when in the orientation shown in Figure 4. The joining plate includes a set of guide wheels 28 connected by an axle 30 and supporting wheels 32.

[0031] The engagement can be seen in more details in Figure 8, wherein the guide wheels 28 engage the guide rails 26 whereas the supporting wheels 32 effectively support the weight of the basket. To achieve this the supporting wheels 32 are slightly higher towards the basket than the guide wheels 28.

[0032] The top of the post 16 engages a collar 34 as show in Figures 4 and 8 and is always mounted in there. This can be simply held in place by suitable mechanical means such as welding or the use of fasteners.

[0033] An alternative support for the joining plate 22 is illustrated in Figure 9 where instead of guide rails, the bottom of the basket includes a channel 36 including opposing lips 38 that engage the guide wheels 28.

[0034] Until the guide wheels 28 are locked in place (discussed below), the basket can swivel with respect to the joining plate 22. This aids in slidably and pivotingly moving the basket away or to the post and/or line it up with the height of the platform

[0035] Located at the front of the plate 22 is a cavity 40 surrounded by a rear wall 42 and side walls 44. The top of the side walls includes a first surface 46 and a groove 48, followed by an upstanding end 50. The groove 48 is adapted to accommodate a locking wire 52, as can be seen in Figure 4. Typically, wire 52 is biased by mechanical means such as a spring (not shown). Extending from the chamber 40 at its bottom surface is a protruding arm 54.

[0036] The detail of attaching the adjoining plate to the bottom of the basket can be seen in Figures 10 and 11. The wire 52 is of a configuration wherein part of it engages grooves 46 whilst a bottom part of it engages the arm 54. The end of the wire 58 includes a rectangular shape which enables a person to engage the wire and rotate it clockwise, which provides two functions. Firstly, the wire disengages the joining plate whilst the bottom of the wire 60 engages the arm 54 to push the joining plate backwards. The wire is kept in place by one end engaging an aperture in the bottom of the basket (not shown). The other end of the wire is held in place by a retaining plate 64.

[0037] The wheel assembly can also be designed to be collapsible as illustrated in Figures 12 - 14. Figures 12 and 13 illustrate one method of unlocking the wheels to be able to be folded, whilst Figure 14 illustrates another mechanical variation. In Figures 12 and 13 there extends a lever that pivotally extends into collar 66 which also accommodates the post 16. The bottom of the lever includes an extension of 68 which by pivoting the lever 64 disengages the arms 20 supporting the wheels.

[0038] In contrast, as illustrated in Figure 14, instead of having a lever 64 there is shown a handle 70 that performs the same function, that is, it engages a tab 72 that is acted upon by the handle. Therefore, in the case of a lever the collar is prevented from sliding upwards and the arms collapse. As the top end of the lever is pushed in it pivots around a screw in the middle and unlocks the collar so that it can slide up the post and allow the arms to collapse. The alternative in the case of a handle is that one of the arms is prevented from collapsing, therefore locking all the arms in the collar in place.

LIST OF COMPONENTS

[0039] The drawings include the following integers.

10 trolley

12 basket

14 wheeled assembly post wheels arms joining plate channel guiding rails guide wheels axle supporting wheels collar channel opposing lips cavity rear wall side walls first surface groove end locking wire arm end of wire bottom of wire retaining plate lever collar extension handle [0040] The reader will now appreciate the present invention.

[0041] It relates to an apparatus that enables conveying objects from one place to another using a means of transportation without having to off-load nor upload said objects. Typically, it is a trolley.

[0042] The trolley holds objects at a certain height on a retractable wheeled assembly to assist the basket of the trolley to slide off/detach from the wheeled assembly. For example, it can be slid into and from a car avoiding the need for it to be lifted.

[0043] The wheeled assembly can be collapsed for easier storage when the basket has been removed. The height of the wheeled assembly can be adjusted and locked into a position.

[0044] The wheeled assembly enables the basket to overhang a vehicle platform whilst it is being supported. The wheeled assembly includes wheels supported by arms through a hub enables rotational and translational movements of at least one of the wheels. The hub can be locked.

[0045] The joining plate does not necessarily need to be slidable, if necessary it can pivot to accomodate the diffrence in the heights between the platform and that of the basket.

[0046] The arms is yet anothe important feature which help reduce the wieght and cost of the assembly further. This feature achieves this by having the set of arms to lock firmly on the post as the load is applied and/or increased.

[0047] The arms as defined in the present application help to reduce the weight and cost of the assembly. This is achieved by having the set of arms to lock firmly on the post (without additional arms/legs) as the load is applied and/or increased. [0048] Finally, it is important to note the ability of the basket pivoting to line up with the height of the platform it is to be placed on or taken off.

[0049] Further advantages and improvements may very well be made to the present invention without deviating from its scope. Although the invention has been shown and described in what is conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention, which is not to be limited to the details disclosed herein but is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent devices and apparatus. Any discussion of the prior art throughout the specification should in no way be considered as an admission that such prior art is widely known or forms part of the common general knowledge in this field.

[0050] In the present specification and claims (if any), the word "comprising" and its derivatives including "comprises" and "comprise" include each of the stated integers but does not exclude the inclusion of one or more further integers.

Claims

1. A mobile trolley comprising: a supporting surface attachable to a wheel assembly and adapted to be releasingly locked therein.

2. The mobile trolley as in claiml where the supporting surface is a basket.

S. The mobile trolley as in claim 2 wherein the wheel assembly includes at least one support, the bottom part of which supports a plurality of wheels, the top part including a joining plate to slidably engage the basket.

4. The mobile trolley as in claim S wherein the joining plate includes a first set of wheels and/or extrusions adapted to engage the bottom of the basket and a second set of wheels and/or extrusions adapted to be engaged by the basket to bear its weight.

5. The mobile trolley as in claim 4 wherein the basket includes a channel that is engaged by the joining plate with the first set of wheels engaging the channel and the second set of wheels engaging guide rails attached to the basket.