Mobile load carrier with reversible function as a two-wheel trailer and shopping trolley

Abstract

Mobile load carrier 1 for manual operation as a pulling and / or pushing vehicle, here a shopping trolley 28 as a bag integrated between a metal frame 6 / 6' / 6'' with 2 laterally arranged wheels 7 / 7' and additional use as a two-wheel trailer, characterized in that at least 2 further additional wheels 8 / 8' are rotatably mounted on a continuous wheel axle 11 or wheel axle parts and the wheel axle fastening 10 has at least 1 force-locking connection with parts of the frame construction 6 / 6' / 6'' of the trolley 28 and a further device 20 on the trolley for coupling to a two-wheeler 19.

Description

[0001] The invention is based on combining a load carrier for hand use, such as a shopping trolley, with that of a bicycle trailer. As a bicycle trailer, it can transport considerably more and larger loads than a standard shopping trolley. The existing frame construction of the trolley is reinforced with additional components to utilize different load concepts. These are attached in such a way that a normal trolley is used at the front with the additional function of a two-wheel trailer. When rotated 180 degrees around its longitudinal axis, a reinforced trailer function for a two-wheeler is provided, in conjunction with a trailer coupling rod, also rotatably mounted, called a drawbar here, which can be extended telescopically. At the same time, the shopping function of the trolley with its bag load is retained.By rotating the trolley 180 degrees around its longitudinal axis, there's now more space on the trailer's surface for additional bulky goods or boxes. Once the trailer's maximum load is reached, it can be coupled for bicycle transport. In addition to bicycles, e-bikes, pedelecs, or e-scooters are also suitable for this purpose.

[0002] The novelty of the invention creates solutions that have not existed before thanks to a variety of application advantages. The invention can be integrated and installed in the factory during production of a shopping trolley or attached as a mobile retrofit kit to a standard shopping trolley. This design on the front means that a normal trolley can be used with the option of using it as a multiple bicycle trailer on the back. This means that, for example, bulky loads that would not fit in the trolley bag can be used on the back with the trailer function. Once you have finished shopping, the trolley can be folded up to save space and can therefore also be transported in a car. This saves material resources during production thanks to more versatile applications than with load carriers with limited uses. State of the art:

[0003] For years, cycling has been on the rise, with even car-free streets being converted into cycle paths, thus contributing to traffic calming. In order to address transport problems such as loads of any kind using cycling, bicycles are generally only suitable to a limited extent as load carriers. The solutions that have been on the market for years are therefore bicycle trailers for various applications, e.g. for the transport of people, animals, general cargo, etc. The list already shows that there are various systems for managing load transport. This leads to extensive manufacturing capacities and storage of the cargo trailers, as their use is limited to the respective application. In addition, energy and materials are wasted in production, and climate neutrality and a reduction in CO2 emissions as well as sustainable products with multiple uses are lacking. This is evident, for example, in the purchasing process. Here, so-calledShopping trolleys, i.e., shopping bags on wheels, embedded in a metal frame, have found their way into supermarkets and homes, something that bicycle trailers cannot. There are also now approaches to equipping these shopping trolleys with a trailer function for bicycle transport, as shown in DE 20 2023 107 436 U1. However, due to their intended use, the load capacity of these shopping trolleys as two-wheel trailers is comparatively low compared to that of a reinforced two-wheel trailer and is therefore limited, which also affects the handling and speed. The structural design of the trolley trailer is described in the individual claims.

[0004] An embodiment of the invention is described with reference to Fig. 1 to 6 using exemplary drawings Fig. 1 Here you can see the load carrier 1 in perspective view with front 2 and back 3 with the frame-like construction 6 / 6' / 6" and the wheel pairs 1 7 / 7' and 2 8 / 8' as well as transport bag 25 and folding box 24 and their transport lock 30. In this position the load carrier can be pulled by hand or attached to the two-wheeler using the trailer coupling 19. Fig. 2 Here, the load carrier 1 is in a position where the pair of wheels 2 8 / 8' can be attached as a two-wheel trailer via the trailer coupling 19. The pair of wheels 1 7 / 7' is not in contact with the ground. Fig. 3 Here you can see the load carrier from a wider perspective. The functions are different by rotating it around the longitudinal axis 4. The front 2 shows the use as a trolley with a manually operated towing function or as a two-wheel trailer. A 180-degree rotation 5 around the longitudinal axis 4 changes the function. Now the rear 3 is at the top and can be loaded, for example, with a folding box 24. By rotating the drawbar 20 within the rod 13 also by 180 degrees, the load carrier functions as a two-wheel trailer and can be towed using the pair of 2 8 / 8' wheels. Fig. 4 Here you can see the foldable load carrier, which can be folded 28 using joints 22 / 22' and other joint functions Fig. 5 Here you can see a detail of the fastening 16 of the wheel axle 11 to the frame-like construction of the trolley 6 / 6' / 6", where both clamp parts are connected with a threaded rod 34 in a force-locking manner. The length of the threaded rod is adjustable using threaded sleeves 31 / 31', so that depending on the length, a certain amount of suspension of the cargo trailer is possible. Fig. 6 Here, the drawbar of the load carrier 1 is shown in detail. It can also be pivoted 26 to enable the trailer function. Furthermore, the drawbar 20 is connected to the rod 13, creating a force-locking connection. The drawbar 20 is telescopically extendable 33 and can be fixed at various points 27 / 33. The trailer function can be selected using a handle 29 or trailer coupling 19. Reference symbol list: 1 load carrier 2 Front 3 Back 4 Longitudinal axis overall construction 5 180 degree rotation option 6 / 6' / 6'' frame-like construction 7 / 7' wheel pair 1 8 / 8' wheel pair 2 9 Axle wheel pair 1 10 axle wheel pair 2 11 Wheel axle 12 / 12' hand bracket 13 rods 14 Force-locking connection between rod and wheel axle 15 / 15' Force-locking connection wheel axle to frame parts 16 Double clamp with threaded rod extendable 17 / 17' thru axle 18 / 18' 3-wheel bike 19 Trailer coupling 20 drawbar 21 Drawbar extension 22 / 22' joint 23 / 23' hinge 24 folding boxes 25 carrying bag 26 Drawbar rotatably fixed 27 Fixing drawbar extension 28 Trolley foldable via joints 29 Handle 30 / 30' transport lock 31 / 31' threaded sleeve 32 telescopic pole 33 Rotation fixation / clamping 34 threaded rod 35 increased trailer operation QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] DE 20 2023 107 436 U1

[0003]

Claims

[1] Mobile load carrier 1 for manual operation as a pulling and / or pushing vehicle, here shopping trolley 28 as a bag between a metal frame 6 / 6' / 6'' integrated with 2 laterally arranged wheels 7 / 7' and additional use as a two-wheel trailer, characterized by that at least 2 additional wheels 8 / 8' are rotatably mounted on a continuous wheel axle 11 or wheel axle parts and the wheel axle fastening 10 has at least 1 force-locking connection with parts of the frame construction 6 / 6' / 6'' of the trolley 28 as well as a further device 20 on the trolley for coupling to a two-wheeler 19. [2] Load carrier according to claim 1, characterized by that the attachment to the wheel axle 16 is height adjustable and / or is connected via the attachment to parts of the frame construction 6 / 6' / 6'' of the trolley, even if the wheel axle 11 is divided into two wheel axle parts. [3] Load carrier according to claim 1, characterized bythat the force-locking connection of the wheel axle 11 is provided by at least 1 double pipe clamp-like construction 16 with threaded connection 34, so that a variable length with threaded rod 34 in the threaded sleeves 31 / 31' results in a spring effect of the overall construction which compensates for vibrations. [4] Load carrier according to claim 1, characterized by that the device for two-wheel connection 13 is mounted 26 and / or fixed as a rod in a guide 20 so as to be rotatable 180 degrees in the longitudinal direction, so that in addition to the transport possibility as a reinforced two-wheel trailer 3, the trolley also functions as a two-wheel trailer 2. [5] Load carrier according to claim 3, characterized by that the rod 13 / 20 for the two-wheel connection can be extended telescopically 32 in its bearing 21 and the length of the rod 27 is variably fixed alternatively by force-locking rotary fixing 33. [6] Load carrier according to claim 3, characterized bythat the trolley, by means of a 180 degree rotation around its longitudinal axis 4, receives a reinforced construction by means of rods 13 as a two-wheel trailer 35 in conjunction with an attachment to parts of the trolley 6 / 6' / 6''. [7] Load carrier according to claim 5, characterized by that the reinforced construction is achieved by at least 1 force-locking connecting element 14 between the wheel axle 11 and the rod 13. [8] Load carrier according to claim 5, characterized by that the reinforced two-wheel trailer 35 in trailer function has a 30 / 30' transport lock on both sides for various transport objects. [9] Load carrier according to claims 1 to 7, characterized by that on both sides of use 1 / 2 of the trolley there are identical transport containers and fixings 30 / 30', which are connected by force-locking connections to the supporting frame of the trolley 6 / 6' / 6''. [10] Load carrier according to claims 1 to 8, characterized bythat the two-wheeler is a bicycle or e-bike or pedelac or e-scooter. [11] Load carrier according to claims 1 to 9, characterized by that the necessary safety precautions in accordance with the road traffic regulations are present on the load carrier when towing a trailer, e.g. reflectors. [12] Load carrier according to claims 1 to 10, characterized by that the additional wheels 8 / 8' for the reinforced two-wheel trailer operation 35 on the front 2 are pneumatic tires 8 / 8' and by means of ball bearings or similar the wheels enable driving over 25kmh and or the wheels for the trolley function 7 / 7' on the back 3 as well. [13] Load carrier according to claims 1 to 11, characterized by that the length of the wheel axle 11 of the additional wheels 8 / 8' is chosen so large that the clear wheel distance is at least equal to or greater than the clear distance of the trolley wheels 7 / 7'. [14] Load carrier according to claim 11, characterized bythat the additional wheels 8 / 8' for the reinforced trailer operation 35 are mounted on quick-release axles and are interchangeable with those of the trolley 7 / 7'. [15] Load carrier according to claim 1, characterized by that the frame-like construction 6 / 6' / 6'' is foldable by means of joints 22 / 22' and built-in hinges 23 / 23' and the usable height of the hand bar 12 / 12' is adjusted when the trolley is in use. [16] Load carrier according to claims 1 to 8, characterized by that in the reinforced trailer operation 35 on the rear 3 a child seat is mounted in a road-safe manner instead of a folding box 24. [17] Load carrier according to claims 1 to 8, characterized by that the frame-like construction 6 / 6' / 6'' of the trolley is made of light metal and the hinges 23 / 23' of the joints 22 / 22' are made of plastic composites. [18] Load carrier according to claims 1 to 7, characterized bythat the parts for the reinforced trailer operation 35 are subsequently attached to the load carrier 1 as accessories using a conversion kit

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