CA2049617A1

CA2049617A1 - Display trolley

Info

Publication number: CA2049617A1
Application number: CA002049617A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Ugo Orlandelli
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1990-08-30
Filing date: 1991-08-21
Publication date: 1992-03-01
Also published as: DE69109402D1; EP0473037A1; DE69109402T2; IT9084988A1; ATE121915T1; EP0473037B1; IT9084988A0; IT1245329B; HUT58638A; HU912813D0

Abstract

DISPLAY TROLLEY

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE

Display trolley particularly for carrying and displaying products and goods for sale, such as flowers, plants, fruit and vegetable products, footwear and others.
The display trolley has a wheeled base frame from which two sides extend upwardly. An upper folding frame having the shape of a parallelogram is articulated to the sides of the base frame. A plurality of mutually spaced shelves articulated to the upper frame, and a supporting structure which is fixed upwardly to one of the shelves and is provided, below, with two telescopic legs.

Description

2 2 ~ 7 The present invention relates to a display trolley, and in particular to a multiple shelf display trolley for carrying and displaying products and goods on sale.
In the di~tribution and retail of a lar~e number of 5 products, such as flowers and plants, citrus fruits, vegetables, footwear and many others, there are serious problems of waste of time and labor in the operations for preparing, shipping and displayin~ for sale. It is in fact imperative to ensure that the products arrive intact at lo their destination on the market and can be rapidly unloaded and displayed to the puhlic for sale with a minimum number of handlings and other operations.

The aim of the present invention is to provide a multiple shelf display trolley which can act both as 15 containment and transport means and as means for displaying products in sales points, such as open-air markets, supermarkets, shops and the like, and is capable o~ solving the above described problems.
An object of the presellt invention is to pro~ide a 20 display trolley which has a modular configuration and dimensions for cu~tom-size loading on closed trucks.
Another objsct of the present invention-is to provide a display trolley which can be provided with accessory extension andJor covering elements to increase its support-2~ display capacity and to protect the products on display frombad weather.
A further object of khe present invention is to provide a multiple shelf display trolley which is easy to manoeuvre, can be stacked and can be manufactured at competitive costs.
This aim, these objects and others which will become apparent hereinafter are achieved, according to the invention, by a multiple-shelf display trolley, compri~ing a 5 base frame moun~ed on at least three wheels and provided wi~h at least two side members which extend upwardly therefrom, an upper frame including at least two pairs of lateral rods, each articulated to a respective side member and to a plurality of shelf means arranged at different lo levels, and a supporting structure fixed upwardly to one of said shelf means and provided with at lsast one telescopic leg, whereby the upper frame can be erected in an uPright position against the supporting structure above and within the base area of the base frame and extended in an inclined 15 display positi~n with the sh~lf me~n~-in a s-ub~tantially horizontal but mutually offset arrangement, by moving the supporting structure away from the base frame.
Advantageously, each of said sides can be constituted by two spaced upxights which rise from the base frame.
The supporting structure can furthermore advanta~eously have two or more telescopic supporting legs.

Further aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of some preferred but not exclusive e~b~diments thereof, ~5 illustrated only by way of non-limitative example with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherei~ -figure 1 is a schematic p0rspective view o~ a display trolley in an inclined position in which it -c~n-act as a display;

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4 ~ r~

figure 2 i5 a lateral elevation view of the display trolley of figure 1 in upright position;
figure 3 i~ a partial enlarged-scale sectional view of a leg for resting the supporting structure on the ground;
5figure 4 is a view of an accessory, i.e. of a ledge which is removably associable with the sides of the shelves;
figure 5 is a partial enlarged-scale perspective view of a shelf and of a respective coupling pin;
figure 6 is a perspective sectional view of a lateral lo rod to which the shelf of figure 5 can be articulated;
figure 7 is a side view of a shelf which can be extracted or extended in a drawer-like ~anner;
fi~ure 8 is a partially sectional enlarged-scale front view of the shelf of figure 7;
15figure 9 is a view of two display trolleys according t~
a variated embodiment, stacked on top of one another;
figure lQ is a partial perspective view of a display trolley in inclined position, with its own wheeled supporting ~tructure;
20fi~ure 11 i~ an enlarged-scale partial side view of the di~play trolley of figure 10 in upright position;
figure 1~ i~ a side view of the upper part of a display trolley according to a constructive variation, provided with ~ an awning;
25figure 13 is a partial front elevation view of a display trolley provided with two lateral inclined and removable ledges;
figure 14 is a partial perspective view of a ~ide of a shelf according to a variated embodiment;
30figure 15 ifi a partial 3ide view of the shelf of figu~e 2 ~ P~

1~ mounted so as to be inclined forward on a display trolley; and figure 16 i~ a view of a display trolley with an additional set of shelves at the top and with underlying 5 shelves which can be inclined forward.

In the various figures, identical or similar parts or components ha~e been indicated by the same reference numerals.
Initially with reference to figures 1 to 6, the lo reference numeral 1 generally indicates a first embodiment of a display trolley according to the invention, which is composed of a base frame 2, an upper frame 3 with shelves 4 and a supporting structure 5.
The base frame 2 can be formed hy two side members 2a 15 and by two cross-members 2b which are butt-welded to the side members. Both ~he side members and the cros~-members can be constituted by portions of an angular ~-shaped profiled element, Two flat strips 2c are provided between the two cross-20 members 2b, and the coupling flan.ges of a pair oforientatable wheels or castors 6 are fixed from below to each of said ~trips. If required, it is possible to apply to ~ one of the strips 2c a single castor arranged on the centerline of ~aid strip, in which case the trolley rests on 25 the ground on three wheels 6 instead of four. At laast one, but preferably two, of the wheels 6 is provided with a brake which can be operated by means of a pedal lnot illustrated) to lock the trolley in position.
Two sides rise from the cross-members 2b and are 6 2949~7 advantageously constltuted by two uprights 7a, 7b and 8a, 8b which are for example welded to the respective cross-member or bolted thereto for facilitating assembly.
The uprights 7b and 8b are each arranged proximate to 5 one end of the cross-members 2b but at a short distance from a Aa~e side member 2a so as to delimit a ~eat 9 ~etwesn the upright and the side member for a purpose which will be explained hereinafter.
The upper ~rame 3 is constituted by two pairs of rods lO lOa, lOb and lla, llb which are pivoted at 13 and 1~ between the two sides along two common horizontal axes respectively at the end of the suppor~ing uprights 7a, 8a and 7b, ~b. The two pairs of rods qupport a plurality of supporting shelves or cross-members 4 for shelves which are spaced at dlfferent 15 levels and are constituted for example by a rectangular border frame which is formed for example by portions-of an ~-shaped angular profiled element which are welded 50 as to act as suppor~ for a panel 4a, made of wood or another lightweight material, or for a tray 15 made of plastic 20 material. The horder frame g can sup~ort one or more intermediate cross-members 16 which are possibly arranged according to a grid-like structure ~o as to delimit compartments for accommodatin~ a plurality of tra~s or pots or other similar containers.
Each bordex frame 4 advantageously has, along its short sides, two ~abs 17, each of which has a recess or a hole 18 through which i~ is possible to in~ert, with the possible interposi~ion of a washer 20, frvm the inside of the frame, a pivot, constituted by a~ Allen screw 21, a bolt with a 30 ~in~ nut or the like, which can be a~c~mmodated in a 7 2 ~ 1 7 corresponding hole defined in a rod 10 and 11. Said rod can be constituted, ~ee figure 6, by a box-like tubular profiled element which is open due to the presence of a longitudinal slot 22 in which a parallelepipedal block 23 for each shelf 5 to be supported is inserted. Each block 23 has a transverse threaded hole 24 which is kept coaxial to a hole 25 defined in the tubular element, so that the Allen screw 21 can enter the holes 18, 24 and 25 and protrude from the rod.
If required, the protruding end of the Allen screw can 10 have a transverse hole 26 through which a retention means can pass to prevent free extraction and thus the unauthori~ed removal of the shelf.
The Allen screw 21 can naturally also be inserted from the side of the rod 10 or 11, i.e. from outside the shelE 4.
The supporting structure 5 is formed by two lateral uprights 5a and 5b which are fixed, ~or example welded, at the top to a side of the upper shelf and have, below, a respective telescopic leg 5c and 5d. The uprights 5a and 5b are connected by one or more sti~fening cross-members 5e.
When the trolley l .is in extended po5ition (figure 1) r the structure 5 is spaced from the ~ase frame 2 and the telescopic legs are extended an~ locked b~ acting on the knobs 5d, whereas iD the upri~ht position they are in~erted in the s~at 9.
If required, the legs 5c can be loaded elastically by a spring 5e (figure 3) whicA is insertsd for example within each leg 5c and abuts against a transverse stop element 5f defined in the overlying upright 5a.
Engagement means can be provided between the upper 30 frame 3 and the supporting ~tructure 5; said means are for .

2 ~

example constituted hy a hook 27 which i9 pivoted to the rods lOh and llb and by a pin ~8 which is rigidly associated with, and protrudes from, the uprights 5a, so that in upright position the supporting structure can be firmly s anchored to the upper frame 3.
Figures 7 and 8 illustrate a shelf 4 which is configured like a pull-out drawer and comprises two supporting planes: a fixed one 30 and a mo~able one 31.
Constructively, the two supporting planes can be supported lo by two ~-shaped profiled elements 32 to which supporting tabs 17 are externally fixed.
Each profiled element 32 has tw~ parallel fins 33 and 34 which are directed inward.
The fin 33 acts as support for the plane 30 and 15 delimits, together with the fin 34, a sliding track for rollers 35 which support an angular element 36, adapted for supporting the plane 31, so that said plane 31 can slide and be pulled out with respect to the plane 30.
Figure 9 illustrates two trolleys like the one of 20 figures 1 and 2 which are stacked on top of one another and are constructed according to another embodiment. The lateral tubular rods lOa, lOb and lla, llb in fact ~xt~nd upward beyond the level of the upper ~helf and end with a slight ~ expansion or flaring, schematically indicated ~y ~0, whereas 25 two tapered portions 41 extend below from the base frame 2;
said tapered portions are for example-welded to the frame 2 and are shorter than the height of the wheels 6 for removable insertion in a corresponding expansion 40 of an underlying trolley.
The display trolley of figures 10 and 11 has telescopic , . . . . . . .

9 2 ~ 7 leg~ which rest on a castor 5f which can possibly be locked in position by means of a pedal brake 5h. In figure 11, the leg 5c is shown located in the seat 9.
Figure 12 illustrates a variated embodiment with a 5 roof-like covering structure 50. The upper shelf 4 has, on each short side, a pair of tabs or inser~ion seats 51 in which four uprights 52 can be inserted; if required, each of said uprights 52 can be constituted by a portion of tubular rod 10 or 11.
Said uprights 52 support lateral stringers 53 by means of box~like joints 5g in which an end of two further stringers 55, 56 is pivoted; said ~urther ~tringers can in turn support, at their other end, a joint to which a further stringer 57 can be pivoted. An awning ~not illustrated in 15 the drawings), made of an appropriate materi~l, is stretch-ed between the pairs of stringers 53, 55, 56 and 57 and can be folded over the central stringers 53~
If the uprights 52 extend bsyond the ioints 59, guy wires 58, which ensure greater stabilit~ to the supporting 20 structure of the awning, can be provided.
Figure 13 is a view of a trvlley 1 in extended position, and provided, on its sides, with r~mova~le ledges 60, such as the one illustrated in figure 3, which are ~ inclined with respect to the hori20ntal. Each ledge 60 is 25 provided with a pair of coupling hooks 61 for engaging the edge of an L-shaped angular border element of a shelf 4.
Figure 1~ is a YieW of a ~hort side of a ~helf g, whi~h has three tabs 70, 71 and 72 which are directed downward.
The tab 70 h~s a notch defining a hori%ontal portion 73 30 and a rounded vertical portion 74 which constitutes the , lo 2 ~

accommodation seat for an articulation pivot or Allen screw 21 inserted into, and protruding from, a rod lOb, llb.
The tabs 71 and 72 delimit an intermediate straight portion 75 which is intended to rest and slide on a pivot or 5 Allen screw 21 which protrudes from a rod lOa, lla. If the pivot or Allen screw 21 on which the portion 75 slidingly rests is at a lower level than the corresponding pivot or Allen screw 21 on the rods lOb, llb engaged by the recess 74, the shelf ~ is arranged inclined with respect to a 10 hoxizontal plane, as illustrated in figure 15.
Fi~ure 16 is a view of a further embodiment, according to which a set of shelves is rigidly support~d above the upper shelf 4 and has four lateral uprights 80, for example with pins for supporting, at various levels, ~upportlng 15 planes (not illustrated), an~ a top shelf 81, for example identical to a shelf 4. Advantageously, the uprights ~0 can be inserted in the tabs 51 which can alter~atively be u~ed to support an awning. Said awning, if required, can be supported hy the shelf 81 if it i~ provided with tabs 51.
20As can be seen, the trolley according to the variated embodiment of figures 14-16 can assume an upright position, in which all the she-ves 4 are superimposed and the ~upporting structure 5 is adjacent to the upper frame 3, all ~ within the maximum base area of the base frame 2, as well as an extended position, as in figure 1, but with the shelves tilted forward for a better display of the products.
Advantageously, the dimensions of thè ba~e fr~me and the total height of the above described display trolley is equal to a submultiple of the width, length and height 3(~ dimensions of a closed truck, so that a preset number of 3 ~ ~ ~

display trolleys can b0 loaded without wasting space on said truck. If required, stacked trolleys such as in figure 9, in turn pre-loa~ed with products to be displayed for sale, can be loaded on the truck. Once carried to a sales point, the 5 display trolleys described above can be easily and rapidly extended, spacing the supporting structure 5 from the upper frame 3, so that they then act as a display, possibly with tilting shelves.
~ he materials employed, as well as the dimensions, may lO be various according to the requirements.
The surface finish of the components of the display trolleys can be various, ~or example galvanization, enameling or simple coloring or spraying of the metallic parts .

Claims

1. Multiple-shelf display trolley, comprising a base frame mounted on at least three wheels and provided with at least two side members which extend upwardly therefrom, an upper frame including at least two pairs of lateral rods, each articulated to a respective side member and to a plurality of shelf means arranged at different levels, and a supporting structure fixed upwardly to one of said shelf means and provided with at least one telescopic leg, whereby the upper frame can be erected in an upright position against the supporting structure above and within the base area of the base frame and extended in an inclined display position with the shelf means in a substantially horizontal but mutually offset arrangement, by moving the supporting structure away from the base frame.

2. Display trolley according to claim 1, wherein each of said side members comprises two uprights spaced from the base frame.

3. Display trolley according to claim 1, wherein each rod is constituted by a substantially tubular profiled element and has, inserted therein, an abutment block for each shelf to be supported, each block being provided with an accommodation hole for an articulation pivot of a shelf.

4. Display trolley according to claim 1, wherein each rod is constituted by a profiled element to which a plurality of pivots or pins for supporting and engaging the shelves is fixed.

5. Display trolley according to claim 1, wherein each of said shelf means comprises a quadrangular rigid border frame, with two short sides which can be inserted between the two pairs of lateral rods, two holes or recesses on each side arranged at a distance equal to the distance between the pairs of rods, and four articulation pivots or bolts, each of which can be inserted in a respective hole of the shelf and in a corresponding engagement and retention seat in one of the rods.

6. Display trolley according to claim 5, wherein said holes or recesses on each side are defined in respective tabs on the sides of the shelves.

7. Display trolley according to claim 1, wherein said shelf means comprise at least one shelf having a quadrangular rigid border frame with two short sides which can be inserted between the two pairs of lateral rods, and a shaped recess and a sliding portion which is delimited by two stop elements and is spaced from the recess defined at each side, so that said at least one shelf can be articulated to a supporting pin or pivot of two rods of the upper frame and can slide on a pivot of the other two rods, whereby said at least one shelf is arrangeable inclined with respect to a horizontal plane.

8. Display trolley according to claim 1, wherein said shelf means comprise at least one shelf provided with at least one supporting tray.

9. Display trolley according to claim 1, wherein said shelf means comprise at least one shelf which can be pulled out and extended in a drawer-like manner.

10. Display trolley according to claim 1, wherein at least one leg of said supporting structure is telescopically extendable and provided with clamp means for fixing it in position at a required length.

11. Display trolley according to claim 10, wherein said at least one telescopically extendable leg is spring-loaded.

12. Display trolley according to claim 10, wherein said at least one telescopically extendable leg rests on a self-orientating castor.

13. Display trolley according to claim 1, further comprising coupling and support means provided on a top shelf carried by the upper frame, four uprights which are insertable in said coupling and supporting means and a superstructure carried by said uprights.

14. Display trolley according to claim 13, wherein said superstructure comprises a plurality of mutually sequentially articulated stringers, at least two of which are supported by the uprights, and a plurality of pieces of fabric stretched between pairs of stringers so as to form an awning with folding wings.

15. Display trolley according to claim 13, wherein said superstructure comprises at least one shelf supported by said four uprights.

16. Display trolley according to claim 1, further comprising engagement and stop means for keeping the upper frame anchored to the supporting structure in upright position.