SUPPORT DEVICE

Abstract: A support device for use with an open-topped trolley to provide a platform across the open top of the trolley for transporting heavy and/or bulky articles. The platform has members for engaging the top of the trolley and securing it thereto. The members are shaped so that they interfit with corresponding members of another support device. In this way the support devices can be stacked in a neat arrangement when not in use.

Description: " Support Device" This invention relates to a support device for use with an open-topped trolley. Open-topped trolleys such as those provided in supermarkets for the use of customers allow many articles to be collected and transported to an unloading point. However, customers are often discouraged from buying bulky and/or heavy items as these can take up too much room in the trolley, and/or crush soft or fragile items that are already in the trolley. According to the present invention there is provided a support device for use with an open-topped trolley, comprising a support member for extending across the open top of the trolley to provide a platform for receiving articles to be transported, the support member being connectable to the trolley by engagement members on the support member and engageable with an upper portion of the trolley, the engagement members being shaped and dimensioned so as to interfit with corresponding engagement members on adjacent support devices in a stacking manner when not in use . Generally, the support device is of a plastics material, for example polypropylene. Other suitable materials may also be used. Preferably the engagement members are hollow so that the engagement members of an adjacent corresponding support device can fit inside them. Most preferably the engagement members are tapered. The support member may have means for receiving a bar or rail of a storage rack so that the support device can be parked on the storage rack when not in use; said means may be for example a recess or a through hole. The engagement members are preferably disposed on the support member in positions such that in use the support device is held on the trolley against substantial translational and rotational movement relative thereto. For example, the engagement members may be in the form of fins depending from the support member adjacent one end and arranged so as to receive between them an upper edge portion of a wall of the trolley. Preferably, at least three such fins are provided, with one being disposed between, and offset from, the other two, the extent of the offset being equal to, or slightly lesser than, the thickness of the upper portion of the trolley wall. The engagement members may be shaped to grip the upper portion of the trolley wall to resist accidental disengagement, and may be resilient. A stacking unit may be provided for use with said support device, the stacking unit comprising a support frame, and a base having complimentary recesses for receiving the engagement members of the first support device placed on the stacking unit . Further support devices are stacked on the unit so that the engagement members of one support device nest within the corresponding engagement members of the support device beneath. An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a support device in this invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the device of Fig. 1 on a shopping trolley; Fig. 3 is a side view of the support device of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a side view of fins of a number of the devices nested together; and Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a mobile stacking unit holding the device of Fig. 1. Referring to the drawings and initially to Fig. 1, the support device of this embodiment of the invention indicated generally by the reference numeral 1 has a base 2 of rigid plastics material, side portions 4 which extend upwardly from the base 2 at an inclined angle and a front wall 6 which extends upwardly from the base 2 at a steeper angle. The base 2 has a rear edge portion 7 and a through hole 8 adjacent the rear edge portion 7 and intermediate the side edge portions 4. The support device 1 has a strengthening strip 9 on the undersurface of the base 2, running the length of and adjacent to the rear edge portion 7. Three laterally-directed fins 10, 12 and 14 depend from the base 2, with one of the fins 10 being offset along the base 2 from the other fins 12 and 14 by a distance approximately equal to the thickness of a top rail 16 of a front wall 18 of a shopping trolley 20 (see Fig. 2) . The inner surfaces of the fins 10, 12 and 14 are ridged to allow them to grip different gauges of trolley rail 16. This feature combined with the spatial arrangement of the fins allow the support device to fit trolleys of different sizes and constructions. Each fin 10, 12 and 14 tapers inwardly away from the base 2, and each fin is hollow, so that the fins of one support device can nest within the corresponding fins of an adjacent support device as shown in Fig. 4. Here the support devices are stored out of use on a mobile stacking unit, indicated generally in Fig. 5 by the reference numeral 22. The mobile stacking unit 22 has a support frame 24, and a base 26 having complimentary panels for receiving the fins of the first support device placed on the stacking unit 22. Further support devices are stacked on the unit 22 so that the fins of one support device nest within the corresponding fins of the support device beneath. The support frame 24 may also have panels 25 for displaying advertising. Wheels or casters 29 allow for transport of the mobile stacking unit 22. Alternatively, the support devices can be stored on a U- shaped bar (not shown) . Preferably, the U-shaped bar is in a horizontal or vertical position and the base of the U is the free end. The U-shaped bar passes through the hole 8, and the fins 10, 12 and 14 interfit to allow the devices to be stacked; the inclined angles of the side edge portions 4 of the base 2, and of the front wall 6, allow the devices to be stored neatly and closely against one another in a space-saving manner. The support device when not in use may also be stored by passing a hook (not shown), located beneath the handle of the trolley 20, through the hole 8. Alternatively, the base 2 can have a pair of through holes (not shown) adjacent the rear edge portion 7 for engagement with a pair of hooks (not shown) located beneath the handle of the trolley 20. This gives extra stability to the support device when stored on the shopping trolley 20 preventing possible rotation of the support device about a single hook. The hole 8 can also be used as a handle to carry the support device by hand. The bottom wall of each of the fins 10, 12 and 14 can have a drainage hole through it to allow rain water to escape. The support device can have one or more recesses for advertising. A recess can be provided on any part of the device, although, it is more appropriate to provide it on an upper surface of the device where it will have better exposure. In use, the support device is removed from the mobile stacking unit 22 by a shopper and placed on the upper rail of the open trolley 20 such that the base 2 lies at the same angle to the horizontal as the upper edges of the trolley side walls. This prevents articles sliding back into the trolley, while the front wall 6 provides abutment to prevent the forward movement of articles. The base 2 is wide enough to extend across the open top of the trolley 20, but of a length that is less than that of the trolley top so that it does not block off access to the basket portion 28 of the trolley 20 even if the child seat (not shown) on the trolley is occupied. The fins 10 fit outside the basket portion 28 while the fins 12 and 14 fit within it, thus snugly trapping between them the upper portion of the front wall 18 of the trolley basket 28. This connection of the device to the trolley 20 prevents forward, rearward, sideways, rotational and tilting movement of the device relative to the trolley. If a shopper has placed soft or fragile articles in the basket 28 of the trolley 20 and then wishes to add one or more larger heavy items (for example a package of nappies, bottles or cans) which may damage them, the heavy items can be placed on the support device where their weight is transferred to the trolley side walls without affecting the items in the basket. The strengthening strip 9, which can be made of a suitably strong material such as toughened plastic or metal, acts like a support wall similar to a wall of the trolley 20 and allows extra weight to be placed on the support device. When the trolley is taken to the checkout, the heavy and/or bulky items can be easily transferred from the base 2, avoiding the need for the shopper to reach into the basket 28 and lift them over the side wall of the trolley, as would otherwise be necessary. The support device can then either be left on the trolley 20, placed on the hook of the trolley 20 or returned to the mobile stacking unit 22.

Claims: Claims 1. A support device for use with an open-topped trolley, comprising a support member for extending across the open top of the trolley to provide a platform for receiving articles to be transported, the support member being connectable to the trolley by engagement members extending from the support member and engageable with an upper portion of the trolley, the engagement members being shaped and dimensioned so as to interfit with adjacent corresponding support devices in a stacking manner when not in use. 2. A support device as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the engagement members are hollow. 3. A support device as claimed in Claim 1 and 2 wherein the engagement members are tapered. 4. A support device as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 3 wherein the engagement members taper inwardly away from the support member. 5. A support device as claimed in any preceding Claim wherein the engagement members are disposed on the support member in positions such that in use the support device is held on the trolley against substantial translational and rotational movement relative thereto. 6. A support device as claimed in any preceding Claim wherein the engagement members are in the form of fins depending from the support member adjacent one end thereof and arranged so as to receive between them an upper portion of the wall of the trolley. 7. A support device as claimed in Claim 6 wherein the engagement members comprise at least three fins, one of said fins being disposed between and off-set from the other two, the extent of the off-set corresponding to the thickness of the upper portion of the trolley wall. 8. A support device as claimed in Claim 7 wherein the fins are shaped to grip the upper portion of the trolley wall. 9. A support device as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 8 wherein the engagement members have an aperture at one end remote from the support member. 10. A support device as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 9 having means for receiving a projection extending from a storage rack. 11. A support device as claimed in Claim 10 wherein said means is a recess or a through hole in the support member. 12. A stacking unit for use with the support device in any of Claims 1 to 12, the stacking unit comprising a support frame, and a base having complimentary recesses for receiving the engagement members. 13. A stacking unit as claimed in Claim 12 having means for transporting said unit. 14. A stacking unit as claimed in Claim 13 wherein said means are wheels. 15. A stacking unit as claimed in any of Claims 12 to 14 wherein the support frame has one or more panels for displaying advertising.

Inventors: BOLAND NICOLA, BOLAND, NICOLA
Applicants: BOLAND NICOLA, BOLAND, NICOLA
Application year: 2000
Main classification: B62B3
IPC codes: B62B3