TRANSPORT CART WITH TELESCOPIC AND FOLDABLE SIDES

Abstract

TRANSPORT CART WITH TELESCOPIC AND FOLDABLE SIDES The invention relates to a cart (100) comprising a rectangular base (102), at each corner of the base (102), a mast (106) made up of several sub-masts (106a-c) mounted telescopically one inside the other, wherein the masts (106) are associated in pairs along an edge (102a-b) of the base (102), wherein each lowest-ranking sub-mast (106c) is mounted to rotate freely on the base (102), and for each set of two sub-masts (106a-c) of the same rank in a pair of masts (106), a barrier (110a-c) fixed between said two sub-masts (106a-c) of the set, wherein for each barrier (110a-b) associated with sub-masts (106a-b) of the upper tier, each lower tier sub-mast (106b-c) has a slot in which the barriers (110a-b) of the upper tier sub-masts (106a-b) slide. Fig. 1

Description

Title of the invention: TRANSPORT CART WITH TELESCOPIC AND FOLDABLE SIDES technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to a transport trolley comprising a base mounted on casters and two parallel walls which are telescopic and articulated on the base. PREVIOUS STATE OF THE ART

[0002] A "rolls" trolley is a trolley comprising a base mounted on casters and having two parallel walls fixed to the base. Such a rolls trolley allows, among other things, the transport of foodstuffs which are piled between the walls and on the base.

[0003] While such roll carts are useful for transporting bulky items, they are relatively cumbersome when not in use and are then parked next to each other. Description of the invention

[0004] An object of the present invention is to provide a trolley, in particular of the trolley rolls type, which has a reduced footprint when not in use.

[0005] For this purpose, a trolley is proposed comprising:

[0006] - a rectangular base,

[0007] - at each corner of the base, a mast consisting of several sub-masts mounted in such a way telescopic one inside the other, where the masts are paired along one edge of the base, where each lowest-ranking sub-mast has a proximal end mounted movably in rotation on the base about an axis of rotation parallel to the corresponding edge, and

[0008] - for each set of two sub-masts of the same rank in a pair of masts, a barrier fixed between the two sub-masts of the assembly,

[0009] where for each barrier associated with higher-rank sub-masts, each lower-rank sub-mast has a slot in which the barriers of the higher-rank sub-masts slide.

[0010] With such an arrangement, when not in use, the trolley can be compacted by retracting the walls and then folding the retracted walls onto the base.

[0011] Advantageously, the length of each mast in the retracted position is less than the distance between the masts of two different pairs.

[0012] Advantageously, the rotation around the axis of rotation ensures the passage of each mast from a vertical position where the mast is perpendicular to the base to a horizontal position where the mast is lying on the base. Brief description of the drawings

[0013] The features of the invention mentioned above, as well as others, will become clearer upon reading the following description of an exemplary embodiment, said description being made in relation to the accompanying drawings, among which:

[0014] [Fig-1] is a perspective view of a cart according to the invention, and

[0015] [Fig.2] is a top view of a mast of the trolley of [Fig.1].

[0016] DETAILED STATEMENT OF IMPROVEMENTS

[0017] Fig. 1 shows a trolley 100, in particular a roll cart which allows, among other things, the transport of foodstuffs. The trolley 100 has a rectangular base 102 with four edges 102a-d which are parallel in pairs, where the four edges 102a-d define four corners.

[0018] In the embodiment of the invention presented here, the base 102 is mounted on casters 104 to allow the movement of the trolley 100.

[0019] At each corner of the base 102, the trolley 100 has a mast 106. In the embodiment of the invention presented here, each mast 106 is right at the level of a corner of the base 102 for an optimization of the surface area available for loading on the base 102, but in another embodiment, each mast 106 can be placed slightly on the inside of the base 102. Generally speaking, a mast 106 is said to be placed at the corner of the base 102 when it is in the vicinity of that corner.

[0020] Each mast 106 consists of several sub-masts 106a-c, here three in number. There is thus, a sub-mast 106c of the highest rank which is at the top of the mast 106, a sub-mast 106a of the lowest rank which is at the base of the mast 106 and sub-masts 106b (here only one) of intermediate rank between the sub-mast 106c of the highest rank and the sub-mast 106a of the lowest rank.

[0021] As shown in [Fig.2], which is a top view of a mast 106, the sub-masts 106a-c are mounted telescopically inside one another, with the lowest-rank sub-mast 106a forming the outer part, the highest-rank sub-mast 106c forming the inner part, and the intermediate-rank sub-masts 106b being mounted slidingly in the lowest-rank sub-mast 106a and in which the highest-rank sub-mast 106c is mounted slidingly.

[0022] Each sub-mast 106a-c is thus mounted to move in translation parallel to a vertical direction Z between a deployed position ([Fig. 1]) and a retracted position. Each sub-mast 106-c has a proximal end which forms its end lower and a distal end that forms its upper end. In the deployed position, the sub-mast 106a-c is extended upwards (Z+) so that the distal end of the sub-mast 106a-c is as far as possible from the distal end of the sub-mast 106a-c of the next rank below. In the retracted position, the sub-mast 106a-c is pulled downwards (Z-) so that the distal end of the sub-mast 106a-c is as close as possible to the distal end of the sub-mast 106a-c of the next rank below.

[0023] The deployed position is maintained by any suitable locking means. For example, for each sub-mast 106b-c other than the lowest-ranking sub-mast 106a, a spring-loaded rod can be installed at the proximal end of said sub-mast 106b-c, where the rod enters a bore provided for this purpose at the distal end in a wall of the sub-mast 106b-c of the next rank below. Alternatively, a shaft can be installed passing through the proximal end of a sub-mast 106b-c and the distal end of the sub-mast 106b-c of the next rank below in bores provided for this purpose.

[0024] The masts 106 are associated in pairs along an edge 102a-b of the base 102. Here, the associated masts 106 are along the longer edges 102a-b.

[0025] Each lowest-ranking sub-mast 106c has its proximal end 108 which is mounted to rotate freely on the base 102 about an axis of rotation 112 parallel to the corresponding edge 102a-b. The two associated masts 106 are thus rotatable about the same axis of rotation 112 parallel to the edge 102a-b along which said masts 106 are mounted.

[0026] Each arrow R shows the rotation of a mast 106 around its axis of rotation 112.

[0027] Rotation around the axis of rotation 112 ensures the passage of each mast 106 from a vertical position, i.e., parallel to the vertical axis Z, where the mast 106 is perpendicular to the base 102, to a horizontal position, i.e., generally perpendicular to the vertical axis Z, where the mast 106 is lying on the base 102. Maintaining each mast 106 in a vertical position is ensured by appropriate retaining means. These retaining means may, for example, take the same form as the locking means described above. Namely, a sliding tube at the proximal end 108 that engages between an element fixed to the base 102 and the proximal end 108. Alternatively, it may be a shaft passing through an element fixed to the base 102 and the proximal end 108.

[0028] To secure the load to the base 102, for each set of two sub-masts 106a-c of the same row in a pair of masts 106, the trolley 100 includes a barrier HOa-c fixed between said two sub-masts 106a-c of the set. Thus, for the two associated masts 106, a barrier 110a is fixed between the sub-masts 106a of the same row at the highest, a barrier 110c is fixed between the lowest rank 106c sub-masts, and a barrier 110b is fixed between the 106b sub-masts of the same intermediate rank.

[0029] Thus, there are three barriers 1 lOa-c per pair of associated masts 106. Each barrier 1 lOa-c is inscribed in a vertical plane and can take different forms. It can be a wire mesh, a canvas, a plastic sheet, ...

[0030] As shown in [Fig.2], for each barrier 1 lOa-b associated with higher-rank sub-masts 106a-b (i.e., outside the lowest-rank sub-masts 106c), each lower-rank sub-mast 106b-c (i.e., outside the highest-rank sub-masts 106a) has a slot 202a-b in which the barriers 1 lOa-b of the higher-rank sub-masts 106a-b slide.

[0031] Here, the intermediate rank sub-masts 106b have a slot 202a for the passage of the barrier 110a associated with the sub-mast 106a of the next higher rank (here the highest rank).

[0032] Thus, when each mast 106 is in the retracted position, the barriers 1 lOa-c are side by side, and when each mast 106 is in the horizontal position, the trolley 100 has a reduced footprint and they can optionally be stacked on top of each other for maximum space saving. Each rotation is carried out so that the masts 106 and the barriers 1 lOa-c are positioned above the base 102.

[0033] To prevent the masts 106 from being hindered in their rotation towards the horizontal position, the length of each mast 106 in the retracted position is less than the distance between the masts 106 of two different pairs. In other words, the length of each mast 106 in the retracted position is less than the distance parallel to the edges 102c-d that separates the masts 106 of two different pairs.

Claims

Demands

1. A trolley (100) comprising: - a rectangular base (102), - at each corner of the base (102), a mast (106) consisting of several sub-masts (106a-c) mounted telescopically one inside the other, wherein the masts (106) are paired along an edge (102a-b) of the base (102), wherein each lowest-ranking sub-mast (106c) has a proximal end (108) mounted for rotation on the base (102) about an axis of rotation (112) parallel to the corresponding edge (102a-b), and - for each set of two sub-masts (106a-c) of the same rank in a pair of masts (106), a barrier (110a-c) fixed between said two sub-masts (106a-c) of the set, where for each barrier (1 lOa-b) associated with higher-rank sub-masts (106a-b), each lower-rank sub-mast (106b-c) has a slot (202a-b) in which the barriers (HOa-b) of the higher-rank sub-masts (106a-b) slide.

2. Trolley (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that the length of each mast (106) in retracted position is less than the distance between the masts (106) of two different pairs.

3. Trolley (100) according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the rotation around the axis of rotation (112) ensures the passage of each mast (106) from a vertical position, where the mast (106) is perpendicular to the base (102), to a horizontal position where the mast (106) is lying on the base (102).