Electric-assisted trolley

Abstract

The present invention relates to an electrically assisted shopping trolley for everyday purchases in local shops. Trolleys currently available on the market do not have electrical assistance and present a problem with their weight. Some companies offer electrically assisted solutions, but these are often complex to implement, have poor user ergonomics, and a rather limited payload capacity. To address these issues, we propose an electrically assisted shopping trolley with a minimum payload capacity of 30 kg, an ergonomic user interface, and an efficient design to make this trolley accessible to the general public. The electrically assisted shopping trolley consists of an electric motor (23) that transmits its power to the wheel (11) via a toothed belt (25) and the teeth on the wheel (11).The wheels (10) and (11) rest on the axle of the trolley chassis via bearings. The user interface includes the ON / OFF push handle (45) and the power control knob (46). The trolley's electrical management is controlled by the electrical control box (26) according to the user's commands. The position of the push handle (45) ensures optimal ergonomics for the user; it is positioned within the traction range of a conventional non-motorized trolley. Pressing this handle (45) activates the electric assist; releasing the handle (45) deactivates the electric assist. The power delivered to the electric motor (23) is controlled by the power control knob (46), which does not require constant pressure. The electrically assisted shopping trolley according to the invention is particularly suited for mass production and marketing to the general public.Figure for the abridged version: [Fig 12].

Description

Title of the invention: Electrically assisted trolley

[0001] The present invention relates to an electrically assisted shopping trolley for carrying out everyday purchases in local shops.

[0002] The trolleys currently available on the market do not have electric assistance and pose a problem with regard to weight. Indeed, since pulling the trolley requires a significant amount of effort, users limit their purchases or are forced to apply considerable effort when using these trolleys. This is all the more true when there is a difference in level on the road and / or depending on the user's health.

[0003] By analyzing the state of the art, an Italian company filed a patent, currently lapsed in France, which addresses this problem but which uses complex technology. Indeed, their system includes a tilt sensor which, once an initial pulling or pushing movement has been made, starts or stops an electric motor depending on the inclination of the trolley. This electric motor is managed by an electronic card which takes into account the inclination of the trolley, variations in the road surface and the weight factor in order to propose a speed adapted to the user. However, no product is currently present on the market using this technology.

[0004] On the other hand, a variant has been put on the market by a French company, with electric assistance that is triggered by a button and whose power is adjusted by a thumb-controlled variator but which requires continuous pressure via the thumb to benefit from the assistance of the electric motor. The user can adjust the speed of his trolley but he must keep his thumb on this variator continuously, which is not very convenient over a certain distance. In addition, the payload specified on their documentation is 20kg, with a sale price that is difficult for the general public to access.

[0005] Our solution therefore aims to offer a robust electrically assisted shopping trolley, capable of going beyond 20kg of payload (2 packs of water already reaching 18kg of load), with an efficient design and a maximum of standardized elements for optimized manufacturability, maintenance and cost allowing access to this trolley to the general public. Particular attention has been paid to the ergonomics of use of this trolley via a different proposal at the level of handling of the trolley by the user.

[0006] The trolley is composed of an insulated shopping bag attachable to a chassis composed of tubular elements connected by interface parts riveted to these tubes, wheels which rest on an axle via bearings, an electric motor transmitting its power to one of the wheels via a toothed belt and notches on one of the wheels. This motor is powered by one or more rechargeable batteries from the home's electrical mains. A box includes these batteries, a charging port to connect the charger connected to the home mains, an ON / OFF switch to activate or deactivate the motorization, an LED bulb serving as a visual ON / OFF indicator, a circuit breaker (manually reset fuse) and a mini electronic card to which a relay and a capacitor are connected. All of these elements are standard parts available on the market.

[0007] The power of the motor and the capacity of the battery(ies) are sized according to a payload greater than 30kg to limit the user as little as possible on a daily basis, hence a robust design proposal with a rigid frame, wheels mounted on bearings and power transmission via a belt.

[0008] A spring-mounted handle at the grip area of ​​the trolley has the function of activating or deactivating the motorization. Thus, this handle acting as an ON / OFF push button at the grip area of ​​the trolley will have the most effective ergonomic contribution on a daily basis. On non-motorized trolleys currently on the market, people pull on this area to pull the trolley. Naturally, by pressing this handle, the motorization is activated and will provide the most optimized comfort. By releasing the handle, the motorization is deactivated.

[0009] A rotary dimmer button connected to a potentiometer is also present within reach of the user's fingertips to be able to manually adjust the power to be delivered according to the weight of the purchases or the unevenness present on the road. However, this button does not require constant pressure.

[0010] From these user interfaces, the electronic card manages the starting or stopping of the electric motor and the power delivered by the motor.

[0011] The attached drawings illustrate the invention: Figure [Fig.l] represents the trolley as a whole. Figure [Fig.2] shows the trolley chassis with the wheels and the electrical box and motor supports. Figures [Fig.3] and [Fig.4] show the mounting of the wheels via the bearings on the chassis axle. Figures [Fig.5] and [Fig.6] show the assembly of the motor, the transmission belt and the electrical box. Figure [Fig.7] shows an overview of the trolley with the user interface on top of the trolley and the electrical wiring. Figures [Fig.8] and [Fig.9] show the rear and front views of the user interface formed by two plastic half-shells screwed together and housing the ON / OFF support handle, the power dimmer button and the electrical wiring. Figures [Fig. 10] and [Fig. 11] show the support handle in the OFF and ON positions, the positioning of the handle, the associated handle spring and the potentiometer connected to the power dimmer button. Figure [Fig. 12] is a summary of the main components of this trolley. Figure [Fig. 13] represents an electrical / electronic diagram of the assembly.

[0012] With reference to these drawings, the trolley comprises an insulated bag (1) attachable to the chassis of the trolley. The chassis is composed of tubular elements (2) (3) (4) (5) connected by interface pieces (6) (7) (8) riveted to these tubes. A protective element (9) is fixed to the lower tube of the trolley to protect it when it is placed on the ground. The outer rings of the bearings (12), being rotatable relative to the direction of the load, are mounted tightly in the bores of the wheels (10) and (11). The inner rings of these bearings (12) are mounted with radial clearance on the axle (13). Axially, the inner rings of the bearings (12) are placed and held in position by means of the supports between the shoulder of the axle (13), the spacers (14) and (15), the shoulders of the connecting pieces of the tubes (7), the tube (16) coming to bear on the pieces (7), the spacers (17) and (18); this whole assembly being fixed by the nut (19) screwed onto the threaded portion at the end of the axle (13). The adjustments and radial clearances are to be taken into account between the axle (13) and the previously mentioned parts. Additional spacers may be considered between the inner rings of the bearings (12) and the shoulders of the tube connecting parts (7) if necessary.

[0014] The motor support (21) is mounted via four screw / nut assemblies (22) on an interface part (20) riveted to the chassis of the trolley. The electric motor (23) is then inserted from the front and positioned on its support (21). The radial positioning of the motor (23) is carried out at the rear of the support (21) via its rear cylindrical portion. The axial positioning of the motor (23) is dependent on the tension of the belt (25), which is why the motor (23) is held on its support (21) via the three screw / washer assemblies (24) through axial oblong holes present on the motor support (21). Thus, once the belt (25) is placed on the notches of the wheel (11) and on the notches of the output shaft of the motor (23), the belt (25) is tensioned and the three screw / washer assemblies (24) are screwed onto the threads present on the motor (23).

[0015] The electrical box (26) rests on its support (27) made by welding different metal rods. The support (27) is also welded to the chassis of the trolley. The housing (26) includes the batteries, a charging port (30) for connecting the charger connected to the home mains, an ON / OFF switch (28) for activating or deactivating the motorization, an LED bulb (29) serving as a visual ON / OFF indicator, a circuit breaker (manually reset relay fuse) (31) and a mini electronic card on which a relay and a capacitor are connected. Two electrical cables (32) connect the electric motor (23) to the electrical box (26). The rubber elements (33) and (34) ensure the sealing of the electrical box (26). An electrical sheath (35) fixed on the chassis via the clamps (36) and (41) ensures the electrical connection between the electrical box (26) and the user interface present at the top of the trolley.

[0016] A cover (37) for protecting the toothed belt (25) and the electric motor (23) from possible impacts, is fixed to the motor support (21) via the use of two screw / washer assemblies (38), two spacers (39) and two nut / washer assemblies (40).

[0017] The user interface is composed of two half-shells (42) and (43) mounted on either side of the trolley frame, and fixed together by the four screws (44). This interface includes the ON / OFF support handle (45) and the power variator button (46). The ON / OFF support handle (45) is positioned axially via the shoulders present on the two half-shells (42) and (43). It is mounted on a spring (48) housed in a bore made in the handle. In the OFF position, the spring (48) pushes the support handle (45) which comes to bear on the ON / OFF push button (47) which cuts the electrical circuit. When the user presses the handle (45), the push button (47) is released, which closes the electrical circuit and starts the electric assistance. This push button (47) is connected to two electric cables contained in the sheath (35).The dimmer button (46) is connected to a potentiometer (49) which is connected to three electrical cables contained in the electrical sheath (35) in order to transmit to the electronic card the power setting desired by the user.

[0018] The electrical / electronic diagram in figure [Fig. 13] represents the overall operation of the electric assistance.

[0019] In summary, at the user level, once the switch (28) is in the ON position, the visual indicator (29) indicates that the electric assistance of the trolley is switched on. The user, by pressing the handle (45) and adjusting it via the dimmer button (46), can use the electric assistance of the trolley. When the user releases the handle (45), the electric assistance is switched off. Once the use of the trolley is finished, it is sufficient to switch off the power supply via the switch (28). And finally, to recharge the batteries, the user can use the charging port (30) in his home via a charger supplied with the trolley.

[0020] The electrically assisted shopping trolley according to the invention is particularly intended for mass production and marketing to the general public.

Claims

Claims

1. Device for facilitating the transport of daily local purchases characterized in that electrical assistance is provided to a shopping trolley with a payload of a minimum of 30 kg by means of an electric motor (23) transmitting its power to a wheel (11) via a toothed belt (25), and the electrical management of which is carried out by the user via an electrical box (26).

2. Device according to claim 1 characterized in that the electric assistance is managed by the user via an ergonomic interface at the top of the trolley by means of an ON / OFF handle (45) activating or deactivating the motorization depending on the pressure of the latter and a power variator button (46) delivering the power desired by the user.

3. Device according to claim 1 characterized in that the electrical assistance is managed via the electrical box (26), controlled by a push button (47) connected to the ON / OFF handle (45), by a potentiometer (49) connected to the power variator button (46) and which includes standard batteries, a charging port (30) connectable to the home mains, an ON / OFF switch (28), a visual indicator LED (29), a circuit breaker (31) and an electronic card to which a relay and a capacitor are connected.

4. Device according to claim 1 characterized in that the mounting of the wheels (10) and (11) on a main axis of the chassis (13) is carried out via bearings (12).

5. Device according to claim 1 characterized by the installation of a cover (37) making it possible to protect the belt (25) and the electric motor (23) from possible impacts.

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