Trolley

Abstract

Trolley (1), prepared for use in a passenger transport vehicle, the trolley (1) comprising a subpage (26), at least two side walls (24, 24a), a top side (22), an interior (20) at least one recycling container (21) that can be arranged in the interior (20), at least one opening (12), and at least one flap (10), prepared to close the opening (12), characterized by the fact that the flap (10) is further arranged so that a flap extension can be reduced and / or the trolley (1) further comprises at least one return element (2) for returning a flap section (11) to a basic position on the flap (10).

Description

Field of invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a trolley with at least one opening and at least one flap. Background and general description of the invention

[0002] Trolleys for use in passenger transport vehicles are generally known to have a slot or opening for disposing of waste, for example, into a waste collection device. For example, DE 102022119747 B4 from the applicant's company is incorporated here in its entirety as a reference.

[0003] Typically, passageways, storage spaces, and doors in passenger transport vehicles, such as airplanes, are very narrow, while at the same time the trolley volume needs to be as large as possible, meaning the trolleys can only be positioned with minimal clearance to the side walls and / or to each other. This is therefore a unique environment where both space and weight play a crucial role.

[0004] It can happen that staff forget to close the doors or covers on the trolleys, or that these cannot be closed, for example due to overfilling of the trolley or mechanical failure of the closing mechanism.

[0005] Open and / or protruding elements on trolleys in passenger transport vehicles can cause these elements to collide with other parts of the same or other trolleys or elements of the passenger transport vehicle, thus obstructing passage through the often narrow aisles. Therefore, common covers usually open inwards into the trolley. However, this can cause the flap to jam, for example, if the trolley is overfilled with recyclables and the flap can no longer be closed.

[0006] In passenger transport vehicles, especially in aviation, it may also be stipulated that the recycling compartments of trolleys should be hermetically sealed in order to contain odors and / or to be able to smother a fire in the event that a fire breaks out inside the trolley.

[0007] Against this background, the inventors of the present application have described numerous feasible approaches in the present description of how a trolley can be prepared in such a way that it can be securely closed, even under the aforementioned difficulties.

[0008] Furthermore, the invention has set itself the objective in one aspect of ensuring that it can still be operated even when the flap can no longer be closed, and in particular that opening and closing of the trolley, especially the trolley door, remains possible.

[0009] The problem is solved by the invention defined in the independent claims. Dependent claims describe further developments and preferred embodiments of the invention.

[0010] A trolley, designed for use in a means of passenger transport, comprises a bottom, at least two side walls, a top, an interior and at least one recycling container that can be arranged in the interior.

[0011] Typically, the trolley also includes at least one front door that is the same height as, or similar to, the side walls. In other words, the trolley usually has a full-width door, ensuring complete access to the interior, for example, to later remove the filled recycling container. The trolley can also be equipped with a door on both sides, i.e., the front and back. The preferred configuration has one door and, consequently, three side walls.

[0012] The recycling container is thus at least partially enclosed by the side walls of the trolley and can be designed as a waste collection container and / or solids collection container with one or more compartments. In other words, waste and / or solids can be placed in the recycling container and stored there for later processing or disposal.

[0013] The trolley also includes at least one opening through which, for example, waste can be thrown into the recycling container, and at least one flap designed to close the opening. In other words, the flap can be positioned in front of or inside the opening and / or be movable in front of the opening so that it covers the opening and prevents materials from being thrown into it, as well as preventing materials from escaping from the interior of the trolley.

[0014] The trolley is characterized by the fact that the flap is further designed so that its extension can be reduced. In other words, the projection of the flap into the (interior) space can be reduced, so that the flap protrudes less far into the (interior) space, at least in certain sections or areas. For example, the flap includes a fold-down flap section for this purpose.

[0015] Alternatively, or in addition, the trolley can be characterized by the fact that it includes at least one return element for returning a flap section to its home position. The trolley can therefore include a return element that pushes a flap section, which is in a position other than its home position, back into that position. For example, if the flap, together with the flap section, is in its home position in the closed state, the return element ensures that the flap is returned to the closed position after being opened.

[0016] The flap's extent can be reduced by folding in at least one flap section. In other words, at least one flap section can be folded in or over to reduce the flap's surface area and its extension into the (interior) space. This flap section can, in particular, include at least one corner of the flap and / or at least one edge section of the flap.

[0017] The trolley's opening and / or flap can be located on at least one side of the trolley, particularly in the door. Positioning the flap in the door has the advantage that all moving parts are contained within a removable component, allowing the entire door to be removed for maintenance and a replacement door with a flap to be quickly and easily installed. Alternatively, the flap can be mounted within the trolley and the opening in the door, so that when the door is closed, the door's opening comes into contact with the flap.

[0018] The flap, located on one side wall of the trolley – especially the door – preferably swings vertically, i.e., upwards or downwards.

[0019] A trolley can also include at least one flap connecting element for connecting the flap to the trolley. Alternatively, or in addition, the trolley can include a section connecting element for connecting at least one flap section to the flap. In other words, the trolley can include connecting pieces that movably connect the flap to the trolley or a flap section to the flap. The connecting elements can also be designed so that the flap can be easily removed from the trolley or the flap section from the flap and reattached. Furthermore, the trolley can include a return element for returning the flap to its home position on the trolley. In other words, the trolley can include a spring element that pushes the flap back into its closed position, thus acting redundantly to the force of gravity and ensuring that the flap closes.

[0020] The return element of a flap section or flap can be a spring element, particularly a steel spring. For example, a compression spring can be attached to the connecting element of the flap section so that it is compressed when the flap section is folded and returns the flap section to its resting position through its restoring force. Alternatively, the return element can also be a component made of a shape-memory material. For example, the return element can be a rectangular plate made of an elastic shape-memory material, which is bent when the flap section is folded and returns the flap section to its unfolded position by automatically reverting to its original shape.

[0021] Furthermore, at least one connecting element of the flap and / or flap section can include a locking mechanism that defines at least one second position in addition to the rest position. In other words, at least one connecting element can have a component that holds the flap or flap section in a defined intermediate position and / or the rest position, so that the return element is unable to force the flap or flap section out of position.

[0022] Furthermore, at least one connecting element can be a hinge, a track, a joint, and / or a connecting plate. For example, the connecting element can be a pivot hinge, which is attached to the flap on one side and to the flap section on the other, so that the hinge acts as a joint around which the flap section rotates.

[0023] A trolley according to the present invention can further comprise at least one actuating element for opening or closing the flap. In other words, an actuating element can be attached to the trolley, by actuating which the flap can be opened or closed without additional contact, in particular without touching the flap itself. Furthermore, the trolley can comprise at least one actuating element for opening and closing the flap, i.e., an actuating element by activating which the flap can be both opened and closed.

[0024] At least one of the actuating elements can be a button, i.e., a component that is pressed for activation. Simultaneously or instead, at least one of the actuating elements can also be a lever, i.e., a component that is flipped and / or pulled out for activation.

[0025] The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to exemplary embodiments and the figures, whereby identical and similar elements are partially provided with the same reference numerals and the features of the different exemplary embodiments can be combined with one another. Brief description of the characters

[0026] They show: Fig. 1 An opening and a flap on a side wall of a trolley in isometric view Fig. 2 Trolleys with opening and flap in side section view Fig. 3 trolleys with open flaps, top view Fig. 4 further examples of a trolley with the flap open, viewed from above Detailed description of the invention

[0027] Referring to Fig. Figure 1 shows a single side wall 24 – for example, designed as an openable door element – ​​of a trolley 1, which includes an opening 12 and a flap 10 attached to the side wall 24 by a connecting element 4. The flap 10 is in the open position, so that access to the opening 12 is free and recyclables or solids can be thrown through it. The flap 10 is in the Fig. In the embodiment shown, four connecting elements 4, which are designed as hinges, are connected to the side wall 24 or door of the trolley 1. The connecting elements 4 allow the flap 10 to be swung open and closed.

[0028] For example, the flap 10 for inserting solids can be pushed through the opening of the trolley 1 towards the interior. Furthermore, at the level of the connecting elements 4, there is also the return element 2, which returns the flap 10 to its rest position (provided it is not blocked inside the trolley 20), so that the flap 10 covers the opening 12 again.

[0029] The flap 10 is designed in two parts, with the flap 10 having a flap section 11, in this case a triangular (or approximately triangular) corner piece of the flap 10, which is movable on the flap 10. The flap section 11 is, in the example of the Fig. 1 is connected to the flap 10 by a further connecting element 4a and can be folded in such a way that the projection of the flap 10 at this corner, or by the area of ​​this corner piece, can be reduced. Furthermore, a return element 2a is located on the connecting element 4a of the flap section 11, which ensures that the corner piece 11 of the closure plate 10 is automatically returned to its rest position. The connecting element 4a of the flap section 11 has a locking mechanism 6, by means of which the flap section 11 remains in the folded position after being folded.

[0030] Fig. Figure 2 shows a trolley 1 prepared for use in a means of passenger transport, comprising a top 22, four side walls 24 – one of which is designed as an openable door, hinged laterally to the adjacent side wall 24 – which completely enclose the recycling container 21 on all four sides, and a bottom 26. Four wheels 29 are located on the bottom, one of which is in Fig. Only two are visible. On one of the side walls 24 – namely in the door – there is an opening 12 through which the waste (or recyclables) can be transported into the waste disposal container 21 (or recycling container). The opening 12 is covered by a flap 10, which serves the purpose of containing unpleasant odors from the recycling container 21 and, above all, of extinguishing a fire that breaks out in the recycling container 21 by completely cutting off the oxygen supply to the recycling container 21. For this purpose, the flap 10 is positioned on the side wall 24 of the trolley 1 in such a way that it is returned to its rest position by its own weight and / or the return element 2. The return element 2 is attached to the flap 10 as a redundancy measure, which automatically returns the flap 10 to its rest position after it has been opened and, if necessary,It can be designed so that the flap 10 is pressed against the edge of the opening in the rest position (closed position) to ensure an airtight or airtight seal.

[0031] According to a further development of the invention, an actuating element 28 is attached to the side wall 24 of the trolley 1 to automatically open the flap 10, which, when actuated, moves the flap 10 into the open position and, if necessary, can also return it to the rest position by being actuated again.

[0032] Fig. Figure 3 shows another embodiment of a trolley 1 in a top view with a flap 10, which is in the open position and therefore projects into the interior of the trolley 20. At the same time, the side wall 24 of the trolley 1, to which the flap 10 is attached by connecting elements 4, is open. In other words, the side wall 24 with flap 10 is a full-size door. Opening the trolley's side wall 24 – or even a door located in the side wall 24 (smaller than full size) – may be necessary, for example, to remove and / or replace the solid waste collection container 21 from the trolley 1.

[0033] The aim is to Fig. Figure 3 illustrates what happens when the flap 10 is blocked in the open position, for example, due to an overfilled recycling container, preventing the flap 10 from being closed. In that case, at least one corner section of the flap 10 would collide with another adjacent side wall 24 of the trolley 1. The inventive design of the flap 10 allows the affected corner 11 to be positioned as shown in Figure 3. Fig. 3 can be seen as flap section 11 can be folded in. After or when the side wall 24 is opened, the flap section 11 therefore initially moves away from the adjacent side wall 24a, for example by folding in. Subsequently, the return element 2, which is in Fig. When flap 10 is covered by flap 3, flap section 11 is returned to its original position. The projection surface of flap 10 then corresponds to its original size again. This ensures that opening 12 is completely closed once more.

[0034] In Fig.Figure 4 shows another embodiment of a trolley 1, in which both the flap 10 and the side wall 24 – designed as a full-size door – are in the open position. During the opening movement of the side wall 24, the flap section 11 moves away from the adjacent side wall 24a. This causes the flap section 11 to fold inwards to allow the flap 10 to pass the side wall 24a. The folding of the flap section 11 can occur automatically, particularly when the side wall 24 is opened, due to the collision of the flap section 11 with the side wall 24a and / or protruding contents of the recycling container 21. Upon contact, the side wall 24a and / or the protruding contents displace the flap section 11, thus forcing it into its folded position. When the flap 10 leaves the collision area with the side wall 24a, the return element 2 causes the flap section 12 to be returned to its rest position.

[0035] It is evident to those skilled in the art that the embodiments described above are to be understood as examples and that the invention is not limited to them, but can be varied in many ways without departing from the scope of the claims. Furthermore, it is evident that the features, regardless of whether they are disclosed in the description, the claims, the figures, or otherwise, also individually define essential components of the invention, even if they are described together with other features. In all figures, the same reference numerals represent the same objects, so that descriptions of objects that may only be mentioned in one figure, or at least not with respect to all figures, can also be applied to those figures with respect to which the object is not explicitly described in the description. Reference symbol list: 1 trolley 2 Return element flap 2a Return element flap section 4 Connecting element flap 4a Connecting element flap section 6. Locking mechanism 10 flap 11 flap section 12 Opening 20 trolleys interior 21 recycling containers 22 Trolley Top 24 Trolley side panel 24a further trolley side panel 26 Trolley underside 28 Actuating element 29-inch wheel QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

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

[0000] DE 102022119747 B4

[0002]

Claims

Trolley (1), designed for use in a means of transport for persons, the trolley (1) comprising a bottom (26), at least two side walls (24, 24a), a top (22), an interior (20), at least one recycling container (21) that can be arranged in the interior (20), at least one opening (12), and at least one flap (10) designed to close the opening (12), characterized in that the flap (10) is further designed so that a flap extension can be reduced and / or the trolley (1) further comprises at least one return element (2) for returning a flap section (11) to a basic position on the flap (10). Trolley (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the flap extension can be reduced by folding in at least one flap section (11). Trolley (11) according to the preceding claims, wherein the at least one opening (12) and / or flap (10) is arranged on at least one side wall of the trolley (24), and / or wherein the at least one opening (12) and / or flap (10) is arranged on the top of the trolley (22). Trolley (1) according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising at least a connecting element (4, 4a) for connecting the flap (10) to the trolley (1) and / or at least one flap section (11) to the flap (10), and / or further comprising a return element (2, 2a) for returning the flap (10) to a basic position on the trolley (1). Trolley (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the return element (2, 2a) may be a spring element, in particular a steel spring, and / or wherein the return element (2, 2a) may be a component made of a shape memory material. Trolley (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one connecting element (4, 4a) of the flap (10) and / or the flap section (11) comprises a locking mechanism (6) which defines at least a second position in addition to the rest position. Trolley (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one connecting element (4, 4a) may be a hinge, and / or wherein the at least one connecting element (4, 4a) may be a running rail, and / or wherein the at least one connecting element (4, 4a) may be a joint, and / or wherein the at least one connecting element (4, 4a) may be a connecting plate. Trolley (1) according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising at least one actuating element (28) for opening the flap (10), and / or further comprising at least one actuating element (28) for closing the flap (10), and / or further comprising at least one actuating element (28) for opening and closing the flap (10). Trolley (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the at least one actuating element (28) may be a button, and / or wherein the at least one actuating element (28) may be a lever.

Images