A WHEELED SUPPORT

Abstract: A wheeled support is described having a frame comprising four hollow arms (1) moulded from plastics material, arranged in the form of a cross. Each arm (1) carries an extension (2) slidably located in the hollow arm in a radial direction to adjust the length of the arm. Each arm (1) has a longitudinal slot (3) and carries a stop (4) at its outer free end with grooves (5) on its inner face to grip a container placed on the support. Located in a drilled hole (6) in the stop is a castor (7) having a rod (8) which locks in the hole by a spring circlip (9). A ratchet means (12) is provided between the extensions (2) and the arms (1) to incrementally adjust the extension means relative to the arms. The adjusted extensions (2) may be optionally locked relative to the arms (1) by screw-bolts (10) and wing-nuts (11).

Description: A WHEELED SUPPORT This invention relates to a wheeled support and mor particularly to a wheeled support for containers. In medical or other clinical establishments wher materials have to be disposed of in a container it ha hitherto been the practice to walk to and from th container from the work location or to move the containe to the position at which the work is carried out. Howeve if the person is constantly moving from one work locatio to another the container has to be repeatedly moved t avoid unnecessary journeys to and from the container Another disadvantage arises where the person is require to wear sterile gloves and has to handle the container t move it from one work location to another. Th alternative was to slide it across the floor with th person's foot. There is also a requirement for use o such wheeled supports in domestic or industria applications. An aim of the present invention is to overcom the above problem and disadvantages and provide a wheele support to carry existing containers having a wide variet of outside shapes and sizes and to make them readil transportable. According to the present invention there i provided a wheeled support comprising a frame having a least three radial arms with a wheel at or near the end o each arm wherein the arms are radially adjustable b ratchet means to receive and support the base of container. Preferably, the frame has four radial arms each arm having an extension slideable relative to th arm and locked thereto, the free end of the extensio carrying a wheel or caster. Conveniently, the wheeled support frame is mad of a rigid plastics material. The extensions are preferably adjustabl connected to the radial arms by ratchet means on the radial arms which engage ratchet pawls formed in the extensions to increment the movement of the extensions relative to the radial arms. The extensions are preferably locked relative to the radial arms by a screw-threaded wing-nut and a bolt passing through a slot in the radial arm and/or extension. In one preferred construction the frame is made from two members connected at their mid-points by a wing- nut and bolt. An embodiment of the wheeled support according to the invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a wheeled support, and Figure 2 is a fragmentary detail of a support arm and extension, and Figure 3 is a modified construction of the wheeled support. The wheeled support comprises four hollow arms 1 which are arranged in the form of a cross and are moulded from a rigid plastics material. Each arm 1 carries an extension 2 located in the hollow arm and slideable in radial direction to adjust the length of the arm. The ar has a longitudinal slot 3 and carries a stop 4 at it outer free end with grooves 5 on its inner face to gri a container placed on the wheeled support. Located in drilled hole 6 in the stop is a caster 7 which has a rod which locks in the hole 6 by a spring circlip 9. Each arm is formed with ratchet means 1 internally of the hollow arm 1 (only one arm, is shown i fragmentary cross-section) which engage correspondin ratchet pawls 13 formed in the free end of the extensio 2. The end of the slot 3 in the extension 2 ha bifurcated resilient arms urging the ratchet pawls 13 int engagement with the ratchet means 12 internally formed i the arm 1. The four extensions can be incrementall adjusted by sliding them into or out of the arms 1. Thi will enable each of the four arms 1 to be adjusted to th same length depending upon the number of clicks indicate by the ratchet means. In a modified construction shown in Figures and 3, like parts have the same reference numerals as i Figure 1, The extensions 2 may be locked in thei adjusted position by a screw-threaded bolt 10 which passe through a hole in each arm respectively and the slot 3 be secured by a wing-nut 11. Although the support frame has been describe as having four arms it may have only three arms. The arms be adjustable in length to accommodate containers having different outside shapes and sizes such as circular, oval shape, rectangular, square or triangular. In use the extensions are pulled out and the container placed with its centre directly over the point at which the arms join. The extensions are then pushed inwards under control of the ratchet means until the grooved faces of the stops 4 engage the side walls at the base of the container gripping it firmly, the arms are then locked in position. The container can thus be pushed across a floor or other surface smoothly on its wheels casters. In an alternative construction the arms 1 can made from two members connected at their mid-points b wing-nut and bolt to form a cross. This facilitates dismantling and packing of the wheeled support removing the wheeled casters and unscrewing the wing- and bolt connecting the two members and placing t members side by side. It will be appreciated that the wheeled supp is light weight and is made of a washable plasti material which can be readily washed and sterilized as m be required when used in * sterile environments such hospitals or other medical establishments. The wheeled support is of robust construction a is strong enough to support containers having relative heavy contents such as sand used in fire safety equipmen The container and sand may be wheeled across the flo instead of having to carry it over a long distance. The wheeled support has a wide variety domestic and industrial uses, for example, with gard tubs, tool chests, buckets or other containers. It particularly useful by the elderly or infirm who have b backs and find it difficult to bend and left t container.

Claims: CLAIMS: 1. A wheeled support comprising a frame having a least three radial arms with a wheel at or near the end o each arm, wherein the arms are radially adjustable b ratchet means to receive and support the base of container. 2. A wheeled support as claimed in Claim 1, wherei the frame has four radial arms,' each arm having a extension slideable relative to the arm and locke thereto, the free end of the extension carrying a whee or caster. 3. A wheeled support as claimed in Claim 1 or 2 wherein the frame is made of a rigid plastics material. 4. A wheeled support as claimed in any precedin claim, wherein the extensions are adjustable relative t the radial arms by ratchet means on the radial arms whic engage ratchet pawls formed in the extensions to incremen the movement of the extensions relative to the radia arms. 5. A wheeled support as claimed in any precedin claim, wherein the extensions are locked relative to th radial arms by a screw-threaded wing-nut and a bol passing through a slot in the radial arm and/or extension. 6. A wheeled support as claimed in any precedin claim, wherein the frame is made from two member connected at their mid-point by a wing-nut and bolt.

Inventors: HINDLE JENNIFER, HINDLE MICHAEL PHILIP, HINDLE, JENNIFER, HINDLE, MICHAEL, PHILIP
Applicants: HINDLE JENNIFER, HINDLE MICHAEL PHILIP, HINDLE, JENNIFER, HINDLE, MICHAEL, PHILIP
Application year: 1992
Main classification: B62B3
IPC codes: B62B5, F16B7, F16M11