BRAKING MECHANISM

Abstract: A braking mechanism for a trolley (10) includes a brake disc (29) that overlies castor wheel (19) whereby the brake disc (29) is able to engage the wheel (19) irrespective of the disposition of the wheel (19). The brake disc (29) is biased into its on position by spring (32) and the brake release lever (24) is moved from the recess (33) to ramp (34) of latch (25) to release the brake.

Description: BRAKING MECHANISM .FIELD OP INVENTION This invention relates to trolleys such as shopping and luggage trolleys as well as to wheeled carts and the like. 5 For the sake of brevity the invention will be described in relation to shopping trolleys but it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto. Hitherto, shopping trolleys have had free wheels which although acceptable in level areas such as in supermarket 10 stores, can cause problems for the user on ramps and sloping car park areas. It is, therefore, an object of the invention to provide a braking system for a trolley or other wheeled carts so that the user may exert control over movement of the trolley 15 wheels. DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION According to the invention there is provided a trolley or cart comprising:- (i) a main frame having wheels, 20 (ii) a brake adapted to engage one of the wheels, (iii) biasing means normally biasing the brake into engagement with the said one wheel, and, έ* (iv) brake release means operable by the user to overcome the biasing means whereby the brake 25 may be moved from its normal engaged position to a position in which it is free of the wheel. Preferably the brake mechanism includes a brake disc on each of the rear wheels of the trolley and the brake release means is arranged to release both brakes simultaneously. DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In order that the invention may be more readily understood and put into practical effect reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings in which:- Fig.l is a side elevational view of a trolley according to one embodiment of the invention, Fig.2 is an end elevation of the trolley shown in Fig.l Fig.3 is an enlargd partly broken away perspective view of the trolley shown in Figs 1 & 2 with the brake mechanism in the "on" position, and, Fig.4 is a view similar to Fig.3 with the brake mechanism in the "off" position. In the embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings one embodiment of the invention in which the trolley 10 has a main frame 11 having a generally upright rear frame 12 in the form of an inverted "U". The upper part 13 of the rear frame 12 is curved rearwardly from the remainder of the rear frame and the cross arm 14 constitutes a handle bar. Extending forwardly from the lower end of each leg of the frame 11 is a bottom frame 15 which is in the form of a horizontally disposed "U". The cross arm 16 of the bottom frame 15 is at the front of the trolley 10 and the side arms 17 of the bottom frame 15 each support a front wheel 18 of the trolley 10. The rear wheels 19 of the trolley 10 are located at the bottom of of the rear frame 12. The lower portion of each leg 20 of the rear frame 12 is vertical and above the lower portion, each leg 20 is inclined forwardly and then rearwardly. A basket support frame 21 is attached to the rear frame 12 just above the forwardly inclined portion and to the bottom frame 15 by the brace 22. The brake mechanism includes an inverted "U" shape member 23, the cross arm 24 of which constitutes a brake release lever and which is located below the handle bar 14 and retained by latch members 25 on the top portion of the rear frame 12. The ends 26 of each leg 27 of the brake member 23 are supported by brackets 28 on the lower portion of the rear frame 12 at their extremeties have brake blocks 29 which are positioned above the rear wheels 19. Each brake block 29 is in the form of a disc through which the mounting 30 of the rear wheels 19 pass. A washer 31 is mounted on each brake member leg 27 above the lower bracket 28. Between the washer 31 and the top bracket 28 there is a spring 32 which acts to bias each brake disc 29 into engagement with its respective rear wheel 19. A turnbuckle 36 is provided on each leg 27 to permit adjustment of the mechanism. When the user of the trolley wishes to release the brake, the brake release lever 24 is drawn towards the handle bar 14 to move the brake discs 29 away from the rear wheels 19 against the action of the springs 32. The cross arm 24 is moved forward from the locking recess 33 of the latches 25 which usually retains the brake release lever 24 in the "brake-on"position (see Fig 3). The forward portion 34 of each latch 25 is inclined downwardly to hold the brake in the "off" position (see Fig. 4). Various modifications may be made in details of design and construction without departing from the scope and ambit of the invention. OMPI

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A trolley or cart comprising:- (i) a main frame supported by wheels, (ii) a brake adapted to engae one of the wheels, (iii) biasing means normally biasing the brake into engagement with the said one wheel, and, (iv) brake release means operable by the user to overcome the biasing means whereby the brake may be moved from -its normal engaged position to a position in which it is free of the wheel. 2. A trolley according to claim 1 wherein the brake includes a disc that overlies one wheel of the trolley. 3. A trolley according to claim 2 wherein the brake release means includes a bar that engages a latch on the main frame. 4. A trolley according to claim 3 wherein the latch has a recess in which the bar is held when the brake is in the "on" position. 5. A trolley according to claim 4 wherein the latch is inclined downwardly from the recessed portion to hold the brake in the "off" position. 6. A trolley according to claim 1 wherein the brake release means includes an inverted "U" shaped bar the ends of which each support a brake disc that overlie a respective wheel of the trolley so that each disc may engage its wheel irrespective of the disposition of the wheel.

Inventors: DEMERY DAVID JAMES, DEMERY, DAVID, JAMES
Applicants: DEMERY DAVID JAMES, DEMERY, DAVID, JAMES
Application year: 1984
Main classification: B62B5
IPC codes: B62B5