STACKING TROLLEY AND TABLE INTENDED FOR SUCH A TROLLEY

Abstract: A stacking trolley particularly used to load plants and cut flowers at the growers and to transport the loaded trolley by lorry to the auction comprises a mobile sub-frame 1 with a number of trays fitted thereon above one another at a mutual spacing. Each tray constitutes part of a table 2 with legs 3 and each table is provided with means for the stable support of a corresponding table stacked thereon. The tables can easily be removed from the trolleys and placed on the floor. The plants and flowers do not have to be removed from the trays in the shop and be displayed to the public on the tables.

Description: The invention relates in the first instance to a stacking trolley comprising a mobile subframe with a number of tables fitted thereon above one another, said tables each having a tray forming a table top, and legs. Such a stacking trolley is disclosed in FR-A-2386715. Each table of this known trolley consists of two opposite H-shaped tubular sections and a tray resting on these sections. The tables can easily be removed from the trolley. The object of the invention is to enable the tables to be stacked on one another at mutually different intervals. According to the invention the stacking trolley is therefore characterized by a vertical support rod in the vicinity of each leg, of each set consisting of one leg and one support rod one projects both above and below the tray with the various portions projecting above and below the tray having different vertical lengths, such that different intervals between the trays can be obtained by different combinations of portion(s) projecting below a tray with the portion(s) above the tray of a subjacent table. The possibility for multiple interval adjustment of the tables is further increased if each table is provided in the vicinity of each leg and support rod, with a tube-shaped receiving element for receiving the upper end of a portion projecting above the tray of a table stacked under it or for receiving the lower end of a portion projecting below the tray of a table stacked above it. The subframe is preferably provided with vertical support rods to support a lowermost table. The invention also relates to a stackable table, comprising a tray forming a table top, and legs. According to the invention this table is characterized by a vertical support rod in the vicinity of each leg, of each set consisting of one leg and one support rod one projects both above and below the tray with the various portions projecting above and below the tray having different vertical lengths. Preferably each table is polygonal and at each corner is provided with two recesses, in one of which a table leg is secured and in the other of which a support rod is secured. In addition, at said corners the table also has a tube-shaped receiving element. Preferably the recesses at the corners are provided in a corner piece of which projecting end sections are each incorporated in a rectangular tube profile, said tube profiles forming upright side edges of the table. To support a tray the tube profiles have an inwardly directed flange. The table top must rest on said flange in a watertight manner, for example by providing the flange with a sealing profile. Leakage can also be prevented by a substantially V-shaped sealing strip that grips a peripheral edge of the tray, which sealing strip has a fixing lip which rests on the flange underneath said peripheral edge strip. To enable the legs and support rods to be fitted easily, they may be secured in the recesses of a corner piece by clamping pieces which are fixed with the aid of bolts. By providing the legs and the support rods with at least two openings spaced apart lengthwise, the length over which the legs and support rods project with respect to the table top can be chosen. EP-A-024280 discloses a set of stackable tables each table having a tray forming a table top and legs. The tables can easily be removed and placed on the floor. However the tables cannot be stacked on one another at mutually different intervals. The invention will now be explained in more detail with the aid of the figures, in which a few illustrative embodiments are shown. Figure 1 shows a stacking trolley with a first stack of a number of tables. Figure 2 shows a stacking trolley with a second stack of the said tables. Figure 3 shows a stacking trolley with a third stack of the said tables. Figure 4 shows a number of tables which are connected to one another and positioned alongside one another such that the table tops assume different heights. Figure 5 shows a top view of a first embodiment of a table frame. Figure 6 shows a perspective view of a part of the first embodiment of the table in the disassembled state. Figure 7 shows a perspective view of the table according to Figure 6 in the assembled state. Figures 8 and 9 show perspective views of a corner section of a table according to a second embodiment, in the disassembled and the assembled state respectively. Figure 10 shows a perspective view of a section of a table with an alternative seal of the table top with respect to the raised edge. The stacking trolley according to the invention is made up of a mobile sub-frame 1 and a number of tables 2 stacked thereon. The tables are rectangular and are provided at each corner point with a table leg 3, a support rod 4 and a pipe-piece-shaped receiving element 5. Each support rod 4 projects a relatively large distance above and a relatively small distance below the table top 6 of the particular table and is provided at the upper end with a conical stacking stud 7, which can be pushed into the lower end of a table leg 3, the lower end of a support rod 4 and a receiving element 5. The lower end of each leg 4 is provided with a cap 8. At each corner point, the rectangular sub-frame 1 has a support rod 9 which projects above the supporting tray of the sub-frame over a distance which corresponds to the distance over which the support rods 4 of a table project above the table top 6. Figures 1 to 3 show various stable stacking possibilities for the tables 2 on an sub-frame 1. Figure 1 indicates that the support legs are resting on one another, the conical stacking stud 7 on the upper end of a support rod pushing into the lower end of a subsequent support rod. The legs 3 and the receiving elements 5 have no function with this stacking arrangement. Figure 2 shows that the conical stacking stud 7 at the upper end of the support rods is pushed into a receiving element 5 of a table. The legs 3 have no function with this stacking arrangement. Figure 3 indicates that each leg 3 is resting on the upper end of a support rod 4, the conical stacking stud 7 pushing into the lower end of the leg 3. It will be clear that the mutual distance between the table tops is different in the three cases shown. Of course, each of the three stacking arrangements can occur on one and the same stacking trolley, as a result of which the distance between the table tops varies. The distance over which the support rods 4 project below a table top is less than the length of the legs 3. The distance over which the support rods 4 project above a table top is greater than the length of the legs 3. Moreover, an alternative construction is possible with which the legs of the tables are extended to above the table top and the support rods project only above the table top, the leg section projecting above the table top being shorter than the support rod length, which, in turn, is shorter than the leg length. This alternative construction can be envisaged by turning upside down a table according to the embodiment shown. Figure 4 shows how the tables 2 and also the sub-frame 1 can be arranged alongside one another on the floor, with which arrangement the height of the table top can vary. Consequently, the flowers and plants can be presented to the public in an attractive manner without it being necessary to transfer or move the flowers and plants. After the tables, with the flowers and plants supported thereon, have been removed from the stacking trolley and positioned on the floor, they can be sprayed without being shifted, which is a not inappreciable advantage in practice. Figures 5 to 10 show possible construction details. Each table has a frame consisting of four rectangular tube profiles 11 and four corner pieces 12. The corner pieces possess projecting sections 13 which are pushed into a tube profile 11 and welded thereto. Each tube profile 11 has an inwardly projecting flange 14. The table top 6 lies on the flanges 14 of the four tube profiles 11. To seal the table top with respect to the frame consisting of the tube profiles 11 and corner pieces 12, the flanges 14 in the embodiment according to Figures 5 to 7 are provided with a sealing strip 16 of elastomer material or cement. In the embodiment according to Figure 10, a V-shaped rubber flap 17 seals the gap between the table top 6 and the tube profile 11. The flap 17 has a section 17' which is clamped between the flange 14 and the table top 6. The flap 17 is also held in place by a boss 18 of the tube profile gripping on an edge of the rubber flap. The corner pieces 12 comprise the receiving element 5, which is designed as a pipe piece, and two semi-cylindrical recesses 19, 20, which are intended to receive a leg 3 and a support rod 4 respectively. The legs 3, support rods 4 and semi-cylindrical parts 19, 20 are provided with an opening, so that each leg and each support rod can be secured in the desired position by means of a bolt 23, which projects through a clamping piece 21 and 22 respectively. The clamping pieces 21, 22 are in the form of semi-cylindrical dishes in the embodiment according to Figures 5-7 and in the form of semi-circular solid parts in the embodiment according to Figures 8 and 9. The corner pieces 12 can also be hook-shaped and project around each edge of the table. By providing the legs 3 and/or the support rods 4 with two or more openings sited above one another, the height of said legs and/or rods can be made adjustable. Of course, the legs 3, the support rods 4 and the receiving elements 5 of a table can also be secured in another manner, for example directly to the frame or to the table top, for example by welding. They must be positioned in a straight line in each unit, but can be fitted in a right-angle pattern. The essential feature of the inventive concept is that a number of tables provided with legs can be stacked in a stable manner on the mobile sub-frame 1 of a trolley. These tables can be placed, with the goods (flowers and plants) standing thereon, on the floor in a shop. The distance between the individual table tops is variable with the aid of support rods and receiving elements. The tables can also be triangular, pentagonal or hexagonal or with more sides, and can even be circular or ellipsical.

Claims: Stacking trolley comprising a mobile subframe with a number of tables fitted thereon above one another, said tables each having a tray (6) forming a table top, and legs (3), characterized by a vertical support rod (4) in the vicinity of each leg (3), of each set consisting of one leg and one support rod one projects both above and below the tray with the various portions projecting above and below the tray having different vertical lengths, such that different intervals between the trays can be obtained by different combinations of portion(s) projecting below a tray with the portion(s) above the tray of a subjacent table. Stacking trolley according to claim 1, characterized in that each table is provided in the vicinity of each leg (3) and support rod (4) with a tube-shaped receiving element (5) for receiving the upper end of a portion projecting above the tray of a table stacked under it or for receiving the lower end of a portion projecting below the tray of a table stacked above it. Stacking trolley according to claim 1 or 2 characterized in that the sub-frame has vertical support rods (9) to support a lowermost table (2). A stackable table, comprising a tray (6) forming a table top, and legs (3), characterized by a vertical support rod (4) in the vicinity of each leg (3), of each set consisting of one leg and one support rod one projects both above and below the tray with the various portions projecting above and below the tray having different vertical lengths. Table according to claim 4, characterized in that in the vicinity of each leg (3) and support rod (4) the table is provided with a tube-shaped receiving element (5). Table according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that it polygonal and each corner is provided with two recesses (19, 20) in one of which a leg (3) and in the other of which a support rod (4) is secured. Table according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the recesses (19, 20) at the corners are provided in a corner piece of which projecting end sections (13) are each incorporated in a rectangular tube profile (11), said tube profiles forming upright side edges of the table. Table according to claim 7, characterized in that the tube profiles (11) have an inwardly directed flange (14) to support the tray. Table according to claim 8, characterized in that the flange has a sealing profile (16). Table according to claim 7, characterized by a substantially V-shaped sealing strip (17) that grips a peripheral edge of the tray (15), which sealing strip has a fixing lip (17') which rests on the flange (14) underneath said peripheral edge strip. Table according to claims 5-10, characterized in that a leg (3) and a support rod (4) are secured in the recesses (19, 20) of each corner piece by clamping pieces (21, 22) which are fixed with the aid of fasteners (23). Table according to claim 11, characterized in that the legs (3) and the support rods (4) have at least two openings spaced apart lengthwise thereof in order selectively to receive said fasteners (23).

Inventors: VAN AGGELEN, JOHANNES
Applicants: FERALKON B.V.
Application year: 1989
Main classification: B62B3
IPC codes: B62B3, A47B7, A47B87