Abstract:
The tool wagon according to the invention comprises spaces for stowing tools and/or spaces for storing accessories. It further presents:  
     a chassis supported on the ground by a plurality of wheels, of which at least one is driving,  
     a platform adapted to receive a user, and  
     means for elevating said platform above said chassis.  
     A space for receiving the platform is provided between two assemblies in which the stowing and/or storage spaces are formed.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to a mobile tool wagon adapted to be used for work at a high level. Such a tool wagon constitutes a rapid intervention station for this type of work.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    Tool chests or wagons comprising a certain number of housings for stowing tools and storing accessories such as systems of fixation or connection, small electric tools, etc. are known. It is usual to create tool chests or wagons which are as compact as possible in order to reduce their space requirement and to render them as light as possible.  
           [0003]    When work is to be carried out at a high level, a user often climbs up on his work chest or wagon which, if it is not provided for that purpose, may prove unstable. There is therefore a risk of the user falling and being injured.  
           [0004]    With known tool chests or wagons, and when work is to be carried out at a level higher than 2 metres, it is necessary to use a ladder or step-ladder which must be transported onto the worksite, such a ladder or step-ladder proving in practice to be cumbersome and sometimes difficult to transport.  
           [0005]    It is a more particular object of the present invention to overcome these drawbacks by providing a tool wagon allowing work to be done at a high level without risk of injury to the user.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    To that end, the invention relates to a tool wagon comprising spaces for stowing tools and/or spaces for storing accessories, which further presents:  
           [0007]    a chassis supported on the ground by a plurality of wheels, of which at least one is driving,  
           [0008]    a platform adapted to receive a user, and  
           [0009]    means for elevating this platform above this chassis.  
           [0010]    The tool wagon according to the invention efficiently performs the function of stowage of tools and storage of accessories, thanks to its spaces intended for that purpose, and allows a user to work at a high level by elevating the platform above the chassis. The platform being provided for that purpose, the risks of the user falling or of the structure tipping are minimum while the user has to move, stow and lock only one object, namely his work wagon, instead of a known work wagon and ladder.  
           [0011]    According to advantageous but non-compulsory aspects of the invention, the wagon incorporates one or more of the following characteristics:  
           [0012]    The stowing and/or storage spaces are formed in two assemblies together defining between themselves a space for receiving the platform. The tool wagon is thus compact when the platform is in lowered configuration. In that case, the elevation means advantageously comprise at least one jack of which the base element abuts on the chassis in the afore-mentioned receiving space. In addition, the jack may be provided, in at least certain positions of the platform with respect to the chassis, to traverse the floor of this platform.  
           [0013]    The platform is provided with partitions or railings extending, when the platform is in low position, to above the receiving and/or storing spaces. These partitions or railings prevent the user from accidentally falling.  
           [0014]    The platform is equipped with at least one bin for the temporary deposit of tools and/or accessories, this bin being accessible to a user standing on the platform. The or each bin allows a user to work at a high level, the different materials which he needs being readily available. These bins are advantageously provided in the upper part of the afore-mentioned partitions or railings. In addition, at least one of these bins may be provided to pivot between a position of use, where it extends substantially along a plane parallel to the surface of the ground on which the wagon is resting, and a retracted position, where it does not project outside the platform with respect to the partition or railing to which it is adjacent. In position of use, the bin may be disposed above the stowing and/or storage spaces, while, in retracted position, it does not extend above these spaces.  
           [0015]    The platform is provided with at least one access door adapted to pivot in one direction, about a substantially vertical axis, from its closed position. This aspect of the invention allows the user to enter the platform by pushing the door towards the interior of the platform, there being no risk of the door opening outwardly should the user inadvertently lean on it during use. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0016]    The invention will be more readily understood on reading the following description of an embodiment of a tool wagon in accordance with its principle, given solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a tool wagon according to the invention.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 2 is a side view of the wagon in the position of FIG. 1.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2, on a smaller scale, with the platform of the wagon in upper position.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 4 is a front view of the wagon in the position of FIG. 3.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 5 is a rear view of the wagon in the position of FIG. 3.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 2 in another configuration of use of the wagon. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0023]    Referring now to the drawings, the tool wagon  1  shown in the Figures comprises a chassis  2  resting on the surface S of the ground via four wheels  3 , via two front driving wheels  3   a  and two rear steering wheels  3   b . The chassis  2  comprises a base  21  and two assemblies  22  and  23  extending from the base  21  respectively above the pair of front wheels  3   a  and above the pair of rear wheels  3   b .  
         [0024]    The assembly  22  incorporates shelves  24  shown only in FIG. 4, for receiving tools such as spanners, screwdrivers or portable electric or pneumatic tools. The interior space of assembly  22  is isolated from the outside by two doors  25  articulated about substantially vertical axes when the wagon  1  is resting on a horizontal surface S.  
         [0025]    Beneath the assembly  22  is defined a housing  26  adapted to accommodate a motor (not shown) for driving the wheels  3   a , as well as one or more batteries for supplying this motor (likewise not shown).  
         [0026]    The assembly  23  comprises four drawers  27  in which material and/or accessories such as plugs, collars, connections, etc . . . can be stored. The assembly  23  also comprises shelves  24 ′, shown only in FIG. 5, isolated from the outside by a door  25 ′. The shelves  24 ′ enable tools to be stowed and/or accessories to be stored.  
         [0027]    Above the assembly  23  is provided a space  28  for relatively large objects which cannot be housed in assemblies  22  and  23 .  
         [0028]    Beneath the assembly  23  and inside a housing  29  is located the system for steering the wheels  3   b.    
         [0029]    A space E is defined between the assemblies  22  and  23  and above the base  21 , this space being of sufficient dimensions to receive a platform  5  on which a user can stand.  
         [0030]    This platform is accessible via two doors  51  and  52  articulated about substantially vertical hinges when the wagon is resting on a horizontal surface S and capable of pivoting only towards the interior of the platform  5 , as represented by arrows F 1  in FIG. 1. In this way, for a user to be able to leave the platform  5 , he must pull on the doors  51  and  52 . The risks of his falling through the doors  51  and  52  are therefore rendered minimal.  
         [0031]    The platform  5  also comprises two partitions  53  and  54  extending, from the floor  55  of the platform  5 , over a height h 1  preventing a user from tipping over. The height h 1  is, for example, included between 90 cm and 1.20 cm, preferably of the order of 1.10 cm. A partition  56  joins partitions  53  and  54  and presents substantially the same height.  
         [0032]    A jack  6  is disposed between the platform  5  and the base  21  of the chassis  2 .  
         [0033]    The base element  61  of the jack  6  is fixed on the chassis I inside the space E. The upper or end element  62  of the jack  6  traverses the floor  55  in the configuration of FIGS. 1 and 2 and extends above the doors and partitions. In practice, element  62  presents a height h 2  of the order of 2 meters.  
         [0034]    When it is envisaged to work at a high level, it suffices for a user to take the tools and accessories which he needs from one of the assemblies  22  and  23 , and to enter the platform  5  before actuating the jack  6  in order to raise this platform to the desired height and to work under satisfactory conditions of accessibility and safety.  
         [0035]    A module for controlling operation of the wagon  1  is provided inside the platform  5 , which enables a user to control the height of the platform  5  and the displacement of the chassis  2 , from his work position.  
         [0036]    The platform  5  is equipped with two bins  57  and  58  extending in the upper part of the partitions  53  and  54  and over the whole of their width. A user can deposit in these bins those tools and accessories which he knows he will need. These bins  57  and  58  are accessible from outside the platform, in particular when the user opens the doors  25  or  25 ′ or the drawers  27 . After having selected the materials that he needs, the user simply places them in one of the bins  57  or  58 . These bins are also accessible from inside the platform  5 , which renders the materials readily available to the user when he is working at a high level.  
         [0037]    As is more particularly visible in FIG. 6, the bin  58  is articulated about a hinge  59  of substantially horizontal axis when the wagon  1  is resting on a horizontal surface S. The bin  58  is thus mobile between the position of FIG. 2 and that of FIG. 6. In the position of FIG. 2, the bin  58  may be used for receiving material. In that case it extends above the assembly  23 , in the same way as bin  57  extends above assembly  22 .  
         [0038]    When cumbersome equipment M is to be placed on the space  28 , the bin  58  is taken into the position of FIG. 6 where it does not hinder accessibility to the space which can accommodate equipment M of relatively large height. The tipping movement of the bin  58  between the position of FIG. 2 and that of FIG. 6 is represented by arrow F 2  in this Figure.  
         [0039]    The jack  6  used may be of any known type. In particular, it may be a hydraulic or pneumatic jack.  
         [0040]    As the jack  6  traverses the floor in the configuration of FIGS.  1  to  4  and  6 , the dimensions of the wagon  1  are limited, the height h 3  with respect to the ground being essentially of the order of 1.10 m to 1.20 m, while the height h′ 2  of jack  6  with respect to the ground only concerns the centre of the wagon  1 , this height h′ 2  being of the same order of magnitude as height h 2 .  
         [0041]    The fact that, when the platform  5  is in low position, the partitions  53  and  54  extend above the assemblies  22  and  23 , allows a particularly suitable positioning of the bins  57  and  58 .