Dolly

According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a dolly featuring at least one wheel, an auto-engaging brake, and a release mechanism for selectively manipulating the auto-engaging brake from an applied state to a released state. The dolly further includes a tow bar which is connected to the release mechanism for operating the auto-engaging brake between the applied and released state.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to logistics equipment, in particular to wheeled load carriers. More specifically, the disclosure relates to a dolly with a braking mechanism.

BACKGROUND

Dollies for distributing products from one location to another are common in warehouses and other commercial facilities. A dolly is also referred to as a “platform truck”, “platform cart”, “push dolly”, “push cart”, or “push cart dolly”. Dollies may have braking mechanisms to allow for convenient user control while transporting.

Some varieties of dollies are towed by a driving vehicle where multiple dollies can be hitched together at the front and back ends. These dollies capable of being hitched and towed, are often unhitched from one another for several reasons, such as less cargo required in the group of towed dollies and maintenance. When these dollies do not require towing they are unhitched and consequently able to move freely if pushed. The ability for the dolly to move once unhitched can cause the dolly to solely move on a sloped surface or be moved when bumped into. In other words, these dollies can lead to unsafe working environments since they can cause injury and also damage surrounding items. Additionally, if dollies are unexpectedly moved, there is a risk that the loaded item can be damaged by a sudden crash or by falling.

Braking mechanisms have been developed to address this issue. Conventional braking mechanism are operated with foot levers for selectively applying and releasing the brake.

However, there is a need to improve the usability of the braking mechanisms of towable dollies.

SUMMARY

A novel dolly is therefore herein proposed. The dolly features a tow bar that automatically releases a braking mechanism when the dolly is unhitched, i.e. when the dolly is not towed. The dolly is defined by the hereto appended independent claim.

According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a dolly featuring at least one wheel, an auto-engaging brake, and a release mechanism for selectively manipulating the auto-engaging brake from an applied state to a released state. The dolly further includes a tow bar which is connected to the release mechanism for operating the auto-engaging brake between the applied and released state.

One or more embodiments may include one or several features from the following itemized list:the tow bar is pivotably provided to the dolly to be turned between a generally vertical storage orientation and a generally horizontal towing orientation;the auto-engaging brake is configured to default into the braking state;the tow bar is connected to the release mechanism such that the release mechanism manipulates the auto-engaging brake to the released state, when the tow bar is in the towing orientation;the tow bar is connected to the release mechanism such that the release mechanism allows the auto-engaging brake to return to the applied state, when the tow bar is in the storage orientation;the dolly comprises biasing means configured to urge the tow bar towards the storage orientation;the dolly comprises a handle which is connected to the release mechanism to be toggled between an inactive state, in which the handle does not impact the release mechanism, and an active state, in which the handle impacts the release mechanism so as to manipulate the auto-engaging brake to the released state;the auto-engaging brake comprises an external impactor;the external impactor is configured to selectively operate the brake between the applied and released state upon manipulation of the impactor;the release mechanism comprises a transmission line connecting the two bar to the impactor;the release mechanism is configured to transmit and convert rotation movement of the tow bar into manipulation of the impactor;the tow bar is connected to the dolly through an axle which is configured to transmit rotational movement of the axle as translation of the transmission line;the dolly comprises a plurality of wheels and auto-engaging brakes associated with the plurality of wheels;the release mechanism comprises a respective plurality of branches for the wheels auto-engaging brakes;the release mechanism comprises a second transmission line connecting the handle to the impactor;the dolly comprises a frame;the tow bar comprises a first hitch counterpart;the dolly comprises a second hitch counterpart provided at an end of the frame opposing the tow bar;the counterparts are configured to selectively engage each other for connecting several such dollies in series;the counterparts are configured to allow for rotation between the tow bar of one such dolly and the frame of another such dolly about a vertical rotation axis,the first counterpart is female, the second counterpart is male

Considerable benefits are gained with the aid of the novel dolly. The auto-engaging brake ensures that the dolly is stationary when not in use or not towed. On the other hand, the brake is automatically released, when the tow bar is lowered into towing configuration. This process is achieved without the user conducting an extra step to manipulate the brake into an applied state. In other words, when the user detaches, or unhitches, the tow bar from a hitch counterpart of another dolly, there is no extra step to apply the brake. The tow bar, therefore, ensures that the dolly does not unexpectedly move on a surface, particularly a sloped surface. Achieving a stationary dolly ensures safety in the environment surrounding the dolly. Workers who handle the dollies are not susceptible to an injury caused by a dolly unexpectedly moving on a sloped surface. Additionally, the dolly is likely not to damage surrounding items due to a sloped surface, therefore, repairs and costs can be avoided.

According to some embodiments the tow bar may automatically retreat to a storing configuration immediately after detachment, and the brake is automatically applied.

EMBODIMENTS

In the present context, a dolly refers to a vehicle suitable for transporting goods. Such dollies may be linked to one another to create a train of dollies for transporting a larger number of goods. On a general level, the proposed construction is based on the idea of providing a means to automatically apply a brake immediately after a dolly is no longer hitched.

FIG.1illustrates a general view of a dolly100according to an exemplary embodiment. The dolly has a frame110having a front side, a back side, a right side, a left side, and an upper section. According to this exemplary embodiment, the frame110is made of welded steel. The dolly100has a tow bar112which has a first end pivotally connected to the front side of the frame110.FIG.1illustrates two orientations of the tow bar112, namely a generally vertical storage orientation and a generally horizontal or non-vertical towing orientation. The storage orientation is illustrated in solid lines, while the towing orientation is illustrated in dashed lines. The tow bar112has a second end opposing the first end, where the second end comprises of a first hitch counterpart133. The first hitch counterpart133is configured to connect to a second hitch counterpart134of another dolly. The first hitch counterpart133is shown as a female, and the second hitch counterpart134is shown as a male. The counterparts133,134are designed to allow for rotation about a vertical rotation axis.

The dolly has at least one wheel111. In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the frame has six wheels, two wheels which are fixed and do not swivel, and four wheels which swivel.

According to the illustrated embodiment, the dolly100has a handle113connected to an upright section extending from the frame110. According to the illustrated embodiment, the dolly100has a release mechanism121which is mounted to the frame110and connected to the tow bar112and, optionally, to the handle113. The tow bar112acts as a primary input device for the release mechanism121, whereas the handle113is an optional secondary input device.

According to the illustrated embodiment the release mechanism121acts on two different wheels111. The release mechanism121is therefore divided into two branches127,128, namely a first branch127located on the right and a second branch128the left side of the frame110. Each branch127,128connects to a wheel111.

FIG.2illustrates detail view A ofFIG.1. According to the illustrated embodiment, the tow bar112is connected to a biasing mechanism123. The tow bar112is connected to an axle124which shares an axis of rotation with the tow bar112. A biasing mechanism123is connected to tow bar112and axle124to apply force on the tow bar112to rotate the tow bar112towards the vertical orientation. The axle124has a first end connected to the first branch127and a second end connected to the second branch128. The first end of the axle124is opposite of the second end of the axle124.

A motion converter125is connected to the end of the axle124, where the motion converter125is able to rotate at the same angular velocity as the axle124. A second end of a transmission line126for the tow bar is connected to the motion converter125, where the transmission line126is able to translate linearly.

FIG.3illustrates detail view B ofFIG.1. According to the illustrated embodiment, a handle113is connected to a first end of a handle axle130, where the handle113and handle axle130share an axis of rotation. A motion converter131is attached to a second end of the handle axle130, which transmits rotation of the handle113to the motion converter131. A second end of a transmission line132for the handle113is connected to the motion converter131.

FIG.4illustrates detail view C ofFIG.1. According to the exemplary embodiment, the release mechanism121is divided into two branches127,128, each branch comprising a transmission line running from the input device, i.e. tow bar or handle, to an auto-engaging brake122.FIG.4illustrates the branch128mounted on the left side of the frame110. A first end of the transmission lines126,132are connected to an impactor129. The auto-engaging brake122comprises the impactor129, in which the auto-engaging brake122comes in contact and releases contact with the wheel111.FIG.4reveals the impactor129in the applied state illustrated in solid lines, and reveals the impactor129in the released state illustrated in dashed lines. According to the illustrated embodiment the impactor129is constructed as a rotatable lever which includes a mounting point for the transmission lines126,132. As illustrated, the transmission line126,132may take the form of a cable. Accordingly, the brake end of the cable may be affixed to the free end of the brake lever.

According to one embodiment, the auto-engaging brake122is integrated into the wheel111. Such brake mechanisms are commercially available and known per se. One commercially available option is the “Dead man's brake” castor by Blickle. Such auto-engaging brakes are concealed under a cover of the brake so as to keep the brake mechanism protected from the elements. Such auto-engaging brakes are known to default into a braking state with aid of biasing devices incorporated into the mechanism. Accordingly, the brake must be separately released with aid of a brake lever, such as the illustrated impactor, for example.

The following paragraphs describe the usage of components of the dolly100.

When the first hitch counterpart133and the second hitch counterpart134of another dolly are connected, the counterparts are configured to allow for rotation between the tow bar112of one such dolly and the frame110of another such dolly about a vertical rotation axis. The first hitch counterpart133and the second hitch counterpart134of another dolly are connected when the tow bar112is in a horizontal orientation, which is a towing orientation. According to the exemplary embodiment, the tow bar112is configured to move from the storage orientation to the towing orientation. This process may be done by the user unhitching the hitch counterparts133,134.

The release mechanism121can selectively manipulate the auto-engaging brake122to toggle between an applied state and a released state. When the tow bar112is in the towing orientation (see dashed lines inFIG.1), the release mechanism121manipulates the auto-engaging brake122into the released state, i.e. the auto-engaging brake122does not prevent the wheel111from turning. When the tow bar112is in the storage orientation (see solid lines inFIG.1), the release mechanism121manipulates the auto-engaging brake122into the applied state, i.e. the auto-engaging brake122prevents the wheel111from turning.

The biasing mechanism123seen inFIG.2applies force on the tow bar112to automatically rotate the tow bar112from the towing orientation to the storage orientation when the first hitch counterpart133is no longer engaged to the second counterpart134of such dolly in series, i.e. when the first and second counterparts133,134are unhitched. The function of the biasing mechanism is to automatically manipulate the auto-engaging brake121into the applied state immediately after a user disconnects the first and second counterparts133,134. This is convenient since the user does not take an extra step to apply the auto-engaging brakes121to the wheels111.

The motion converter125transmits rotational movement of the axle124to translation of the transmission line126. In other words, when the tow bar112rotates from storage orientation to towing orientation and from towing to storage orientation, the axle124and motion converter125rotate, which causes the transmission line126to translate in a linear direction. The transmission line126then manipulates the impactor129to be in the applied state or the released state.

The motion converter131seen inFIG.3is configured to transmit rotational movement of the handle axel130to translation of a transmission line132. In other words, when the handle113is rotated, the transmission line132manipulates the impactor129and toggles the auto-engaging brake121between the applied and the released state.

FIG.4illustrates the branch128comprising of transmission lines126,127. The impactor129causes the auto-engaging brake122to impact or not impact the wheel111. When the impactor129and auto-engaging brake122are in the applied state, the auto-engaging brake122is applied to the wheel111, i.e. the brake pad (not shown) auto-engaging brake122comes into contact with the wheel111. The applied state is configured to prevent the wheel111from rotating, and therefore, prevent the dolly100from moving while in storage. The applied state of the impactor129is illustrated in solid lines inFIG.4. When the impactor129and the auto-engaging brake122are in the released state, the auto-engaging brake122is released. The released state is configured to allow the wheel111to rotate, and therefore, allow the dolly100to move while being towed. The released state of the impactor129is illustrated in dashed lines inFIG.4. According to the illustrated embodiment, the impactor129turns between two positions which correspond to the released and applied states.

To summarize the usage, the end result of moving the tow bar112into either the storage or the towing orientation is to apply the auto-engaging brake122onto the wheel111or release the auto-engaging brake122from the wheel111.

A person skilled in the art may foresee several variants of the above described embodiment. For example, another embodiment comprises the frame110, which may be configured to support a platform on top of itself. The frame110may be made of aluminum and may be assembled by fasteners. The frame110may have one wheel or a plurality of wheels. The frame110may have all fixed wheels, all swiveling wheels, or a combination of both types. The auto-engaging brake may be attached to swiveling and non-swiveling wheels. The frame110may exclude an upper section. The frame110may have two sides or more than two sides. The tow bar112may be connected to the frame110at the right side, the left side, the front side, the back side, a top side or a bottom side.

According to another embodiment, the release mechanism121may be mounted only on one section or sides of the frame110or on many sections or sides of the frame110. The release mechanism121may be connected to only the tow bar112, may be connected to the tow bar112and the handle113, or may be connected to many components of the dolly100.

According to another embodiment, the dolly100has a first and a second hitch counterparts133,134, wherein the first hitch counterpart133may be a female or a male connection and the second hitch counterpart134may be a female or a male connection. The female connection may be a hole and the male connection may be a common male hitch connection as known in the art.

According to another embodiment, the tow bar112may be moved from the vertical storage orientation to the horizontal orientation by hand of the user, or some manual action by the user. Alternatively, the tow bar112may be moved from the vertical storage orientation to the horizontal orientation by automation. According to another embodiment the storage orientation, where the auto-engaging brake122is in the applied state, may be at an angle to a vertical plane, i.e. the storage orientation may be slightly non-vertical. According to another embodiment the towing orientation, where the auto-engaging brake122is in the released state, may be at an angle to a horizontal plane, i.e. the towing orientation may be slightly non-horizontal.

The biasing mechanism guides the tow bar112from the horizontal towing orientation to the vertical storage orientation soon after the tow bar112is disconnected from another dolly, specifically, when the first hitch counterpart133detaches from the second hitch counterpart134of another dolly. According to an embodiment, the biasing mechanism may be a spring or a type of damper, such as a spring, pneumatic or hydraulic damper.

According to another embodiment, the dolly100may comprise more than two branches. Additionally, the branch may have more than one wheel. Each branch may comprise only one transmission line or may comprise a plurality of transmission lines. The release mechanism may combine a plurality of transmission lines into one transmission line. Each branch may comprise one impactor or may comprise a plurality of impactors. Each branch may comprise of one auto-engaging brake or a plurality of auto-engaging brakes, wherein the auto-engaging brake is applied to at least one wheel.

According to another embodiment, the transmission line126may be connected directly to the tow bar112or axle, where the tow bar112or axle may directly cause the transmission line126to translate.

Additionally or alternatively, the transmission line132may be connected directly to the handle113or handle axle130, wherein the handle113or handle axle130may directly cause the transmission line132to translate. The transmission lines126,132may be directly connected to the auto-engaging brake122. The motion converter125,131may be a cam-shaped object which connects the axle124or handle axle130through the object's center and has an offset surface in order transfer the rotational movement of the axle124or handle axle130into translation. The motion converter125,131may be additional cable or winding length which is wound on the axle124or handle axle130and is able to wind and unwind to translate the transmission line. The motion converter125may be connected to the first end, second end, middle, or a position in between the middle and either end of the axle124. The motion converter125may rotate at the same or different angular velocity as the axle124. The axle124may rotate at the same or different angular velocity as the tow bar112.

According to another embodiment, the transmission lines126,132may be a cable, chain, rod, belt, electric command line to an actuator at the impactor, or a shaft.

According to another embodiment, the handle may manipulate the transmission line to translate by means of rotating the handle, squeezing the handle, pressing a button, or translating the handle to a different position, such as vertical translation.

According to another embodiment, the impactor129and the auto-engaging brake122may be in the applied and the released states by electric command, and therefore the impactor129and the auto-engaging brake122may be stationary while transitioning between the applied and the released states.