Abstract:
An improved trolley handle comprising a panel and generally tubular handle members. The handle members have internal ribs to provide strength. The handle is attached to a trolley by a device comprising a collar having splines for engagement with the ribs on the internal surface of the handle members, thereby allowing the handle to be mounted at a desired angle or orientation to the trolley. The handle may also comprise a panel with a hinged cover to allow visual material to be displayed. The cover is kept shut using a snap fit catch. The catch is tamper proof and released by a key.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates to a handle for a trolley, particularly, but not exclusively, a handle for a shopping trolley or cart.  
           [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art  
           [0004]    For many years, handles for trolleys have taken the form of a plastic coated metal tube which is fastened at each end to a respective side frame of the trolley by means of a resilient plastic fitting, known as an “end cap”. This fitting is designed to receive and retain a tubular handle of a particular radius but can be used to fit handles of different lengths to accommodate trolleys of different widths.  
           [0005]    In recent years, alternative shapes for handles have been proposed. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,836,051 of the present inventor, a trolley handle unit is disclosed in which a panel is provided for displaying information, advertisements and the like, to the trolley user. The handle unit disclosed in this document is formed from moulded plastics and is fitted over a conventional tubular metal handle, in order to maintain strength and to fit in conventional end caps for attachment to the trolley.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    The present invention is concerned with improvements in a trolley handle, which has a panel for the display of information, such as advertisements, and in a fitting or “end cap” that attaches a handle to a trolley.  
           [0007]    According to a first aspect, the present invention provides a trolley handle having a panel and generally tubular handle members to either side of the panel, in which the internal surfaces of the handle members include ribs along a substantial portion of the length thereof.  
           [0008]    The internal ribs of the handle members provide improved strength so that the handle can be used without a conventional tubular metal handle.  
           [0009]    The handle may be formed from moulded plastics and preferably comprises a display panel body having a hinged cover.  
           [0010]    According to a second aspect, the present invention provides a device for fitting a handle having tubular ends to a trolley, the device including a collar having splines for engagement with corresponding ribs on an internal surface of an end of the handle.  
           [0011]    The device is thus adapted to engage with the ribs of the handle of the first aspect of the present invention. In particular, the ribs of the handle resiliently engage with the splines and prevent rotation of the handle on the trolley, whilst permitting the handle to be mounted at a desired angle or orientation to the trolley.  
           [0012]    According to a third aspect, the present invention provides a trolley handle comprising a display panel body having a hinged cover.  
           [0013]    Preferably the cover has at least one resiliently deformable projection adapted to be received in a corresponding recess in first side of the panel body, for snap-fit engagement therewith, to secure the cover in a closed position on the panel. An aperture is conveniently provided in an opposite side of the panel to the recess, the aperture providing access to the at least one resiliently deformable projection to enable it to be released from engagement with the panel, to allow the cover to be opened.  
           [0014]    The use of a hinged cover permits printed matter displayed on the panel to be readily replaced, whilst the release mechanism is vandal resistant.  
           [0015]    Other preferred features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and accompanying claims.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0016]    Embodiments of the present invention will be described below, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 1 is a perspective view to the front and one side of a trolley handle, with the cover in a partially open position, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 2 is a perspective side view of a portion of the handle of FIG. 1 with the cover detached;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a device for fitting a handle to a trolley, and an end portion of a handle for cooperation with the device, in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention; and  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 4A is a rear view of a part of the trolley handle of FIG. 1, and FIG. 4B is a cross section along the line A-A of FIG. 4A. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0021]    [0021]FIG. 1 shows a handle unit  3  according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The handle unit  3  comprises a pair of handle members  10  separated by and integrated with a display panel  11 . Fittings  12  known as “end caps” adapted to securely attach the handle unit  3  to a trolley (not shown) are connected to the ends of the handle members  10  furthest from the display panel  11 .  
         [0022]    The display panel  11  is adapted to receive a printed sheet (not shown) having printed information for display to the user of the trolley. The printed sheet may be in the form of paper, card or plastic sheet material and may be manually updated as the supermarket or other trolley provider requires. However, it is possible that the display panel may display information in other ways, for example on an electronic display or a revolving advertisement display as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,836,051 referred to above.  
         [0023]    A hinged transparent cover  23  with a snap-fit catch  26  is provided to protect the printed sheet and to secure it to the display panel  11 . The cover  23  allows the printed sheet, held in the display panel, to be simply and quickly substituted for another sheet bearing new or updated information as required. When the cover  23  is closed, it forms a seal with the front of the panel body sufficient to prevent the printed sheet carrying the displayed information from being damaged when the trolley is left exposed, for example to rain.  
         [0024]    Although a substantially rectangular display panel  11  is shown, it will be obvious that other shapes such as circles or ovals may be used according to design tastes. Variations to the described means for securing the printed sheet or other display means will be apparent to one skilled in the art.  
         [0025]    The handle members  10  are tubular and of substantially circular cross section although they may feature ergonomic contours in order to provide a comfortable area for gripping the handle when the trolley is being used.  
         [0026]    The end caps  12  comprise an outer cylindrical collar  41  for receiving the handle members  10  and conventional fixings  14 , well known in the art, for attachment to the wire frame of the trolley. Additional features of the end caps  14  are described below.  
         [0027]    As shown more clearly in FIG. 2, the handle unit  3  is constructed from two pieces of moulded plastic, a front section  22  and a rear section  21  that may be welded together to form an integral handle. It will be appreciated that in other embodiments, the handle unit  3  may be constructed from any number of parts according to design choice and this feature is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. The sections  21  and  22  may be additionally held together by any suitable fixing means, for example, screws, snap-fit connectors or glue.  
         [0028]    The handle unit  3  is preferably moulded from polypropylene, and may be coloured in accordance with the trolley provider&#39;s corporate identity. It will be appreciated that the handle unit may be moulded from other suitable synthetic materials such as epoxy resin, Bacolite and its modem equivalents and structured foam.  
         [0029]    Importantly, each of the sections  21  and  22  are moulded with ribs  24  extending along the inner surface of the handle members  10  of the handle unit  3 . These ribs  24  run along at least a substantial portion of the handle members  10 . The ribs  24  provide additional strength to the handle members  10 , thus avoiding the need to incorporate a conventional tubular metal rod in the handle unit  3 . This reduces the cost and weight of the handle unit  3 . In the preferred embodiment, each rib  24  has a generally triangular cross section but other profiles could also be used effectively.  
         [0030]    A further important aspect of the preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 3. An end cap  12  comprises an outer cylindrical retaining member  41  adapted to receive an end of the handle member  10  of the handle unit  3 . In addition, an inner cylindrical collar  42  with splines on its outer periphery is adapted to fit inside the end of the handle member  10  so that the ribs  24  securely engage with the splines on the cylindrical collar  42  so that the orientation of the handle unit  3  with respect to the end caps  12  is fixed. The cross sections of the ribs and splines must be such that when the handle member  10  is inserted into the end cap  12 , the ribs and splines engage resiliently so as to prevent rotational movement between the handle unit  3  and the end cap  12 . Withdrawing the handle element  10  from the end cap  12 , rotating it and re-inserting it may determine a different orientation of the handle unit with respect to the end cap  12 . As a result, the angle of the display element with respect to the trolley may be determined and adjusted in order to angle the display so as to be easily read by trolley users.  
         [0031]    An advantage of the illustrated embodiment is that the handle members  10  can be cut to the length necessitated by the dimensions of the trolley to which the handle unit is to be attached. Since the ribs  24  have a uniform cross section and run along much of the length of the handle members  10 , they will be present to engage with the ribs in the end cap  12  wherever the handle elements  10  are cut.  
         [0032]    The ribs  24  provide both strengthening to the handle members  10  and a means to fix the orientation of the display element  11  relative to the trolley.  
         [0033]    Whilst end caps, as illustrated in FIG. 3, are designed for use with the trolley handle unit of the present invention, it will be appreciated that they may be used to fit to a trolley a simple tubular handle with corresponding ribs on the internal surface thereof.  
         [0034]    A further important aspect of the handle unit of the preferred embodiment of the present invention relates to the cover, as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B. The cover  23  includes a pair of resiliently deformable snap-fit projections  26  extending from its internal face at each end thereof. Each projection  26  incorporates a fastener comprising a flange extending perpendicularly from a point near the end of the projection  26  with a bevelled surface extending from the edge of the flange to the end of the projection  26 . The projections  26  are adapted to be received in corresponding recesses in the front section of the panel body. As the cover  23  is closed, each projection  26  is inserted into the corresponding recess and is resiliently deformed within the recess so as to slide over a locking member  33 , adapted to cooperate with the projection  26 , inside the front section  22  of the handle unit  3 . When the cover  23  reaches the fully closed position, as shown in FIG. 4B, the projection  26  springs back to its original shape and the flange hooks over the end of the locking member  33  so as to lock the cover  23  in the closed position.  
         [0035]    A key device  31  proportioned so as to simultaneously fit into the pair of apertures  32  in the rear panel section  21  is adapted so that when inserted into the aperture  32 , it pushes against the bevelled surface of each snap-fit projection  26 . This deforms the projection so that the flange may move past the resilient member  33 , allowing the cover  23  to be opened.  
         [0036]    Thus, the opening mechanism requires the key device  31  in order to allow the cover  23  to be opened and is therefore largely vandal and tamper resistant. A person who does not possess an appropriate key device  31  cannot change the material displayed in the display panel  11  but the display can be easily updated by a person with the correct key device  31 .  
         [0037]    In the embodiment described, there is a snap-fit mechanism on both sides of the cover  23 . However it will be appreciated by the skilled person that any number of such mechanisms may be used.  
         [0038]    Although the preferred embodiment described has the transparent cover opening at the front of the display panel  11 , it will be appreciated that other configurations are possible. For example, front section  22  may include a transparent window and a hinged cover may be provided in rear section  21  in order to allow access to the display area.  
         [0039]    The skilled person will appreciate that various modifications may be made to the described embodiments. It is intended to include all such modifications and equivalents which fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention.