GB2124160A - Shopping trolley - Google Patents

Abstract

To prevent a vandal from damaging the trolley by turning the rear gate 2 back over the handle 3 and applying a downward leverage, stop means 7, 8 for the gate are provided on an upper portion of the basket 1. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improved shopping trolley This invention relates to shopping trolley baskets.

An ever increasing problem for supermarket operators is damage to trolleys resulting from vandalism.

The initial cost of a trolley and maintenance thereof is a significant factor in the running expenses of a supermarket. The majority of damage inflicted by vandals is to the baby seat or the gate.

The gate is a flap at the rear of the trolley which can be raised to facilitate nesting of the trolleys or lowered to prevent goods falling out of the trolleys in the normal use. This gate usually incorporates a fold away baby seat.

Damage to the trolleys can be caused by raising the gate beyond the level of the top of the basket, turning it back over the handle of the trolley and applying a downward leverage to the gate, thereby buckling the gate and damaging the handle. This damage usually renders the trolley useless.

An object of the present invention is to obviate or mitigate the aforesaid problem.

According to the present invention there is provided a shopping trolley which has a basket provided with a rear gate to enable nesting of a plurality of such trolleys wherein the trolley is provided with stop means on an upper portion thereof whereby raising of the gate beyond a pre-determined height is prevented by contact with the said stop means.

Preferably the stop means comprises a member extending from a side portion of the handle of the trolley.

Advantageously a pair of members are provided, wherein each member extends from opposite sides of the trolley.

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which; Figure 1 shows a basket for a shopping trolley fitted with anti-vandalism stop means; and Figure 2 shows an alternative embodiment wherein the stops are formed from part of the basket frame.

A wire shopping trolley basket 1 has a gate 2, mounted at the rear on a bar 9, a handle 3 comprising a cross-bar 4 between side portions 5 and 6 which are so formed as to provide stop means 7 and 8.

The gate 2 is shown in its maximum raised position, the stop means 7 and 8 preventing the gate 2 being turned back over the handle 3.

Although in this embodiment the stop means 7 and 8 are provided adjacent the mounting bar 9 by the formation of U-shaped members extending laterally from the side portions 5 and 6, other means are possible. For example modifications could be made to the mounting bar 9 itself to restrict the movement of the gate.

An equally preferable embodiment shown in Figure 2 has stop means 7, 8 provided by deformation of the members forming the upper edge of the basket 1 to provide curved portions protruding into the path of the gate and thereby prevent raising of the gate 2 above a certain height.

1. A shopping trolley having a basket provided with a rear gate to enable nesting of a plurality of such trolleys wherein the trolley is provided with stop means on an upper portion thereof whereby raising of the gate beyond a predetermined height is prevented by contact with the said stop means, 2. A shopping trolley according to claim 1 wherein the stop means comprises a member extending from a side portion of the handle of the trolley.

3. A shopping trolley according to claim 1 wherein the stop means comprises curved formations extending from an upper edge of the basket.

4. A shopping trolley substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figure 1 or Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (4)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Improved shopping trolley This invention relates to shopping trolley baskets. An ever increasing problem for supermarket operators is damage to trolleys resulting from vandalism. The initial cost of a trolley and maintenance thereof is a significant factor in the running expenses of a supermarket. The majority of damage inflicted by vandals is to the baby seat or the gate. The gate is a flap at the rear of the trolley which can be raised to facilitate nesting of the trolleys or lowered to prevent goods falling out of the trolleys in the normal use. This gate usually incorporates a fold away baby seat. Damage to the trolleys can be caused by raising the gate beyond the level of the top of the basket, turning it back over the handle of the trolley and applying a downward leverage to the gate, thereby buckling the gate and damaging the handle. This damage usually renders the trolley useless. An object of the present invention is to obviate or mitigate the aforesaid problem. According to the present invention there is provided a shopping trolley which has a basket provided with a rear gate to enable nesting of a plurality of such trolleys wherein the trolley is provided with stop means on an upper portion thereof whereby raising of the gate beyond a pre-determined height is prevented by contact with the said stop means. Preferably the stop means comprises a member extending from a side portion of the handle of the trolley. Advantageously a pair of members are provided, wherein each member extends from opposite sides of the trolley. The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which; Figure 1 shows a basket for a shopping trolley fitted with anti-vandalism stop means; and Figure 2 shows an alternative embodiment wherein the stops are formed from part of the basket frame. A wire shopping trolley basket 1 has a gate 2, mounted at the rear on a bar 9, a handle 3 comprising a cross-bar 4 between side portions 5 and 6 which are so formed as to provide stop means 7 and 8. The gate 2 is shown in its maximum raised position, the stop means 7 and 8 preventing the gate 2 being turned back over the handle 3. Although in this embodiment the stop means 7 and 8 are provided adjacent the mounting bar 9 by the formation of U-shaped members extending laterally from the side portions 5 and 6, other means are possible. For example modifications could be made to the mounting bar 9 itself to restrict the movement of the gate. An equally preferable embodiment shown in Figure 2 has stop means 7, 8 provided by deformation of the members forming the upper edge of the basket 1 to provide curved portions protruding into the path of the gate and thereby prevent raising of the gate 2 above a certain height. CLAIMS

1. A shopping trolley having a basket provided with a rear gate to enable nesting of a plurality of such trolleys wherein the trolley is provided with stop means on an upper portion thereof whereby raising of the gate beyond a predetermined height is prevented by contact with the said stop means,

2. A shopping trolley according to claim 1 wherein the stop means comprises a member extending from a side portion of the handle of the trolley.

3. A shopping trolley according to claim 1 wherein the stop means comprises curved formations extending from an upper edge of the basket.

4. A shopping trolley substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figure 1 or Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings.