GB2438386A

GB2438386A - Shopping trolley

Info

Publication number: GB2438386A
Application number: GB0610180A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Claire Marie Chadwick
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-05-23
Filing date: 2006-05-23
Publication date: 2007-11-28
Anticipated expiration: 2026-05-23
Also published as: GB0610180D0; GB2438386B

Abstract

A mobile shopping trolley includes a collapsible and adjustable frame and a handle bar (e). The body of the trolley comprises crates (f). The trolley may may include a cool and or a warm crate. The trolley also includes a cover (i) to protect products stored in the crates, and may include a holder to store personal articles (feature (l)) and attachments to secure baby and or child seats (feature (j)). The trolley may be stored in the boot of vehicles.

Description

1 2438386

DESCRIPTION

MOBILE SHOPPING TROLLEY

This invention relates to a shopping trolley of the type which includes a collapsible mechanism which may be conveniently stored in the boot of shoppers' vehicles or anywhere in shoppers' own homes.

Conventional shopping trolleys, suffer from the disadvantage that they are difficult to manoeuvre around stores, there is often a shortage of trolleys at supermarkets and they are often stolen from supermarket premises. When they are loaded with products they become heavier to push and often become overloaded. They are the property of the store and must remain on site.

One of the objectives of this invention is to provide shoppers with their own personal mobile shopping trolleys, which are collapsible and can be stored in the boot of shoppers' vehicles or taken on public transport, thereby making shopping trips easier, quicker and more convenient.

FIGURE 1: shows a side view of the whole trolley including an illustration of the protective cover, which may be made from plastic or gortex material; FIGURE 2: this shows that the trolley may be customised for shoppers who have young children and that one or more compartmentalised plastic holders can be attached to the trolley.

As shown in Figure 1, the trolley comprises a frame (feature (a)). The frame will be made of metal or plastic materials (or a combination of both) and will include four vertical collapsible legs (feature (b)) with rubber swivel wheels (feature (c)).

Brakes would be fitted to the trolley and located within the rear wheels (feature (d)) stop the trolley from moving when brought to a stationery position. The trolley would be pushed using the handle bar (feature (e)).

The main body of the trolley will be in the form of crates that are made of metal or plastic materials (or a combination of both) (feature (f)). Figure 1 shows that the frame would support crates. The crates would have handles at each end and on each side to them to be lifted safely from the frame of the trolley. The crates would be secured by clips that fold down (feature (g)).

Each crate can be used to store different types of products. In particular, one or more of the crates will be a "cool crate" (akin to a cool bag) which can be used to store fridge and freezer products. Similarly, one of the crates may keep certain food products warm by insulating heat. Each crate may be customised i.e. colour coded or cosmetically designed to meet the shoppers' individual taste.

The legs of the trolley may be adjusted by turning rubber or plastic or metal screws on the side of the legs (Feature (h)). This function would allow the trolley to be level with a checkout and the products could be easily placed on a conveyor belt. While shoppers' products are on a conveyor belt, the trolley could be positioned at the end of a checkout and filled with products by shoppers.

Feature (i) is a protective cover situated within the frame of the trolley which can be pulled forward over the shopping at the front end of the trolley and secured in place by being clipped down. The cover may be unclipped and upon release will roll automatically back into the frame of the trolley. The cover will protect the products from different weather conditions and keep goods in place during transportation.

The trolley could be pushed to shoppers' vehicles and brought to a stationery position by using the trolley's brakes. Again if necessary, the height of the trolley can be adjusted to be level with the boot of the vehicle.

The plastic crates could be lifted from the trolley's frame and into the boot of a vehicle. Due to the collapsible nature of the trolley it can then be collapsed and conveniently stored in the boot of shoppers' vehicles. The mobile shopping trolley would diminish the need for shopping bags.

Figure 2 illustrates that that the trolley may be customised for shoppers who have young children. Baby or child car seats may be fixed to the frame of the trolley by using metal or plastic or rubber attachments to secure the car seat in place (features (j) and (k)). This means that babies and toddlers do not need to be moved from their car seats while shopping.

As shown in Figure 2 one or more compartmentalised plastic holders (feature (I)) may be attached to the frame of the trolley and articles such as umbrellas, handbags and babies bottles may be stored in the holders during the shopping trip.

Claims

CLAIMS

1. A mobile shopping trolley including a collapsible frame, which supports four of more crates to hold products and a cover to protect products.

2. A trolley including crates as claimed in Claim 1 which may be customised to serve different functions. One of the crates may be a "cool crate" to store fridge and or freezer products, such a crate would include a digital temperature display.

3. A trolley as claimed in Claim 1 where the frame allows a holder to be attached for articles such as umbrellas, handbags or babies bottles.

4. A trolley including a cover as claimed in Claim 1, the function of the cover is to protect products placed in the crates.

5. A trolley as claimed in any proceeding claim which may include attachments to secure a baby or child car seat.

6. A trolley as claimed in any proceeding claim which is made from metal, plastic, rubber or gortex material,or from a combination of these materials.

7. A trolley as claimed in any proceeding claim which may be stored in the boot of vehicles and secured to a customised bracket.

8. A mobile shopping trolley substantially as herein described above and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.