Land vehicles – Wheeled – Stable vehicles – handle-propelled
Patent
1996-09-03
1999-06-22
Swann, J. J.
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Stable vehicles, handle-propelled
2804163, 280498, B62B 302
Patent
active
059135280
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a cleaning trolley suitable for accommodating and transporting containers and utensils for the institutional cleaning and disinfection of floors and other surfaces.
2. Discussion of Related Art
In the moist, wet or dry cleaning of large floor areas, a so-called cleaning, transport or equipment trolley is often used to carry buckets for the cleaning liquid and the dirty water and also floor mops, rubbish sacks and other utensils. In other known embodiments, cleaning trolleys of the type with which the present invention is concerned are used as disinfection or waste-disposal trolleys or as useful-material collectors. These trolleys are also encompassed by the invention.
Since cleaning trolleys are intended to be as small as possible for stowing when not in use while offering a large useful surface in use, it is known that trailers can be coupled to them. The main trolley and the trailer can be uncoupled after use and stowed compactly in a cleaning cupboard.
Known trailers are coupled to the main trolley by a knob which keeps the uprights in close contact.
Several trailers coupled to the front and/or rear of the main trolley in the direction of travel or several trailers coupled to one another are also possible. In the interests of simplicity, the present specification is only concerned with a trailer coupled to the rear of the main trolley in the direction of travel although the invention is by no means limited to this embodiment.
Unfortunately, the use of trailers involves several problems. When traveling around corners, the wheels of the main trolley and trailer impede one another. On uneven floors, the wheels of the trailer are lifted off the floor surface on account of the relative rigidity of the coupling in the vertical direction.
3. Summary of the Invention
Accordingly, the problem addressed by the present invention is to develop a cleaning trolley and trailer hvaing wheels which do impede one another around corners and which remain safely in contact with the floor even where it is uneven. Also, the trailer must be easy to steer from the main trolley without entering into any unwanted movements. In addition, the design of the invention must be simple and inexpensive.
According to the invention, the coupling is located between the consists of at least one coupling hook and corresponding coupling eyes in which the coupling hook is designed to engage. The shape of the coupling hook(s) and coupling eyes is such that the coupling allows the trailer to make a turning movement about the line connecting the coupling eyes of the main trolley and/or a vertical movement relative to the main trolley, but does not allow the trailer to move in the plane of travel relative to the main trolley. The subject coupling prevents the trailer from swinging out sideways in the plane of travel and uneven floors no longer lead to the problems mentioned above, and provides for precision steering of the trailer.
In a preferred embodiment, the trailer has at least two casters arranged adjacent one another in the direction of travel and at a distance from one another. The wheels of the trailer are casters for permitting the trailer to be pushed or pulled along and steered without difficulty by pushing or pulling the main trolley. However, it is also possible in accordance with the invention for the trailer to be supported by only one roller which need not be a caster.
One coupling eye and one corresponding accurately fitting coupling hook are provides one embodiment of the invention. However, two coupling eyes in each of which a coupling hook is able to engage are preferred. The trailer is unable to swing out sideways even if the combinations of coupling eyes and hooks do not fit exactly.
Horizontal movement of the trailer relative to the main trolley transversely or longitudinally of the direction of travel can be prevented by various designs of the coupling. In one particularly simple embodiment of the invention, the cross-section of that end of the
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patent: 3208768 (1965-09-01), Hulbert
patent: 4986555 (1991-01-01), Andreen
Fernschild Hans-Leo
Kresse Franz
Osberghaus Rainer
Schunter Roland
Henkel-Ecolab GmbH & Co. OHG
Jaeschke Wayne C.
Swann J. J.
Szoke Ernest G.
Vanaman Frank
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