Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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1 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
3 The present invention relates to a wheeled mechanism
4 which can be used as a trol]ey for conveying loads
or which may be adapted as a support frame for assist-
6 ance with walking for the disabled.
8 One known prior art trolley is the so-called sack-
9 barrow, which comprises a rigid generally L-shape
frame with a pair of wheels pivoted at the inter-
11 section of two approxima-tely orthogonal arms of the
12 frame. The lower arm is generally horizontal and
13 very much shorter than the vertical arm and this latter
14 has a pair of handles at the upper end.
16 Sackbarrows have the disadvantage -tha-t loading and
17 unloading involves tippiny the load to a substantial
1~ degree in order to introduce the platform constituted
19 by the horizon-tal arm of the L-shape frame. Further,
the weight of the load is to a large extent effecti-
21 vely carried by the operator through -the handle, parti-
22 cularly if -the frame is inclined at a substantial angle
23 to the vertical in opera-tion, and -there is a risk that
24 the load will tip and fall off if the load-bearing
platform is placed on the ground, for example, to allow
26 the operator to rest~ Other known prior art trollies
27 include a trolley having four wheels, two o~ which are
23 steerable, and which provides a load bearing platform
29 on a frame spanning the wheels. Such a -trolley is
complex, expensive and difficult -to manoeuvre whilst,
31 although a sack-barrow is of simple cons-truction 9 it
32 is dif~icul-t to opera-te and requires great strength
I ~ 33 o~ the user. Fur-ther i-t is necessary to lift a load
i 34 from the ground up on -to the load-bearing platform of
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a four wheel trolley, which particularly in the case
2 of the elderly or infirm, or if a rather hea~y load
3 is involved, can be a very serious disadvantage.
OBJECTS OF I`HE INVENTION
7 The primary obj ec-t of the present invention is to
8 provide a wheeled mechanism which can be used as a
9 load bearing -trolley or barrow and which will not
suffer from the disadvantages of the known sack-barrow
11 and at the same time will be simpler and more economi-
12 cal to manufac-ture than known four-wheeled trolleys,.
13
14 Another object of the invention is -to provide a wheeled
mechanism usable as a trolley, in which the load can
16 if required be kept upright, without tilting, at all
17 times.
18
19 A further obj ect of the invention is -to provide a
trolley which has a load platform ~vhich can be raised
21 or lowered by manipulation of the operating handle.
22
23 S-till another obiect of the inven-tion is to provide a
24 trolley in which the operator can safely lower the load
if fatigued, and may also rest his or her weight on
26 the handle without risk of ~he trolley rolling away.
27
28 Yet a further objec-t of the invention is to provide a
29 trolley sui table for the elderly or infirm, which can
be manipulated easily without requiring great strength
31 even when handling quite heavy loads such as, for
32 example, a 50kg sack o~ coal or the like.
33
34 S till a further object of the invention is to provide
a trolley which can be used with only ond hand, lea~ing
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1 the other hand free for a stick, and for manipulation
2 of doors, gates, etc.
4 A general object o the invention is to provide a
trolley by which a user can move a load from place
to place without the load having to be lifted or
7 carried by the user at any time.
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1 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
2 ,
3 According to the present invention there is pro-
vided a wheeled mechanism for transporting a
load or for other purposes; said mechanism com-
6 prising a main frame, at least two ground wheels
7 mounted on said ~rame so as to be turnable about
8 a common axis, an operating handle on said frame,
9 substantially rigid leg frame means, pivotal con-
nection means pivotally connecting said rigid leg
11 frame means at or adjacent one end -thereof on said
12 main frame so as to be turnable about a second
13 pivot axis substantially parallel to said common
14 axis, the length of said leg frame means being
slightly less -than the distance from said pivotal con-
16 nection means to the ground contacting points of said
17 wheels such that the end of said rigid leg frame
18 means remote from said second pivot axis is engage-
19 able on the ground in a first relative orientation
of said leg frame means and said main frame and is
21 raised from the ground upon relative turning movement
22 of said leg frame means and said main frame about:said
23 second axis to a second relative orientation thereof.
2~
With the leg frame or member raised from the ground
26 the wheels of the mechanism can be rolled in a con-
27 ventional manner to allow the mechanism to be moved
28 freely and easily from place to place. If the mech-
29 anism is adapted as a load-bearing trolley, the
leg frame or member may be provided with a support
31 platform or container and it is a particular
32 feature of the present invention that the leg frame
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1 or member is movable between a first and a second
2 position with respect to 1he main support frame and
3 in the second position the support surface oP the
4 platform or container is generally parallel with
the ground so that any load requiring it can be
6 maint-ained in a strictly upright orientation. Known
7 trolleys of -the sack-barrow type have inevitably
8 -til-ted the load in order to make it possible for
9 -the load to be raised from the ground.
11 It i5 further envisaged that the operating handle
12 may be linked to the main support frame by a cranked
13 portion thereof so that the operating handle is po-
14 sitioned spaced from a vertical plane including
the axis thereof in a direction away from the sup-
16 port platform or container so that the leverage which
17 can be applied by the handle is sufficiently great
13 to be able to control even subs-tan-tial loads on
19 the platform or container without re~1uiring the
application of a very great force at the handle.
21
22 I-t is a fur-ther fea-ture of the present invention
23 that relative movement between the main support
24 frame and the leg frame or member is limited by
abutment stop means to determine the said firs-t
26 relative position. In this first relative po-
27 sition the ground engaging end o the leg frame or
28 member is in contact with the ground and movement of
; 29 the handle in the same direction as displacement be-
tween the second position and ~he Pirst position is
31 prevented by such abutment stop means, forces e~ertedon
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1 -the handle being transferred to the ground through the
2 ground-engaging means. When the operator wishes,
3 therefore, it is possible simply to lower the container
~ or platform onto the ground and to allow the weight of
the user's body to rest on the handle without risk that
6 the mechanism will roll on the wheels. For the elderly
7 or infirm, therefore, who may require frequent rest
8 periods, this is a considerable advantage since the
9 mechanism can be used as a support to lean on at
intervals during a passage between one place and another
11 transporting a load.
12
13 This aspect of the invention also enables it to be used
14 as a replacement for conventional ambulant assistance
support frames for the infirm. People having injured
1~ legs or spines, can particularly benefit from this
17 arrangement. In such an embodiment the ground-engaging
18 member, instead of being formed as a platform or
19 container, is formed as a foot having frictional
properties in order to increase the frictional
21 resistance between the foot and the ground. Such
22 properties may be provided, for example, by suitably
23 covering the ground-engaging surface of the foot with
24 rubber or plastics material having an appropriate
coefficient of friction.
26
27 Likewise, in such an embodiment, the operating handle
28 may be provided as a U-shape partially encircling the
29 body of the user. Then, by rocking the support handle
towards the user the ground-engaging foot can be
31 released from the ground allowing the wheels to roll so
32 that the invalid can walk par-tly supported by the
33 rolling wheels: in such circumstances it i5 envisaged
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1 that the ground-engaging foot will still be slightly in
2 contact with the ground so that a degee of frictional
3 resistance which can be controlled by the operator
4 acting on the handle, can be maintained for control
purposes. When required it is only necessary then to
6 push the handle slightly away from the body of the
7 operator in order to re-engage the ground-engaging foot
8 on the ground so that the whole weight of the operator
9 can be allowed to rest on the support frame which,
conveniently, is located just below elbow height.
11 Alternatively, an additional ground-engaging foot may be
12 provided on the other side of the axis of the wheels of
13 the main frame. The wheels may then only roll when a
14 balance position between two terminal positions is
achieved and tilting of the operating handle to either
16 side of this balance position, beyond a certain angle,
17 will result in one or other of the two ground-engaging
18 feet coming into contact with the ground and preventing
19 further rolling movement of the wheels whilst at the
same time providing support on which an operator may
21 lean.
22
23 Embodiments of the present invention may also be made
24 for special purposes, for example, a trolley may be
formed for carrying and supporting gas bottles such as
26 propane or oxygen and acetylene bottles such as are used
27 for welding. In such an embodiment the leg frame or
28 member is formed as a frame with a support platform for
29 the gas bottles and restraining means at the top and
bottom to ensure that they are held to this frame. In
31 such an embodiment it may be convenient to form the
32 pivotal connection between the frame of the wheeled
33 mechanism and the leg member in such a way that the two
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1 can be separated at will. Such a releasable pivo~al
2 connection may be made, for example, by suitable hook
3 shape engagement members on the frame, which can be
4 released upon displacement of the leg frame from the
first to the second position in which the leg member
6 engages the ground; in this position the wheels of the
7 frame may be spaced from the ground thereby leaving
8 available movement in a vertical direction.
The present invention also comprehends a wheeled
11 mechanism as defined above formed as a trolley with
12 means for receiving an enlarged platform removably
13 attachable to the leg frame or member. Such enlarged
14 platform may be suitable, for example, for retaining a
dustbin or like dimensioned article, and has the
16 advantage that, with the platform flat on the ground it
17 can be moved under the dustbin by slidi.ng, and
18 subsequently raised without tilting the dustbin simply
19 by displacing the frame from the second to the first
position. In the first position the platform is held by
21 the frame spaced a short distane from the ground and in
22 a horizontal plane. Of course, like a sack-barrow, the
23 platform can be tilted to move the centre of gra~ity of
24 the article supported thereby more closely towards the
axis of the ground wheels. However, because the
26 operating handle is spaced from the vertical plane
27 including the axis of the ground wheels when the
28 mechanism is in the said first position, additional
29 leverage for manipulating such weight
31
32
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1 is readily available without requiring the operator
2 to exert a large force.
4 ~or convenience, the load-bearing platform may be
removable or may be pivotally connected to the leg
6 member or frame constitu-ting -the leg member to allow
7 it to be folded flat against the frame~
9 Likewise, for convenience in storage, -the operating
handle may be formed such that it can be folded flat
11 or telescoped within a par~ of the frarne.
12
13 It is envisaged that embodiments of the present in-
14 vention may also be made wi-th a seat fixed to or att-
achable to the leg member or frame cons-ti-tuting the
16 leg member for use as a baby carriage for supporting
17 and transporting infants. Such an arrangement has
18 the advantage of being self-braking in the sense that
19 when the operating h-andle is released, the mechanism as
a whole will turn about the ground-engaging wheels un-
21 til the leg frame comes into contact with -the ground
22 whereupon the frictional engagement of this with the
23 ground will prevent any movement or further movement.
24
Other features and advantages of the invention will
26 become apparen-t from a consideration of the following
27 description, in which reference will be made to the
2~ accompanying drawings, and which is provided purely
29 by way of non-li.mitative example~
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
2 --_
3 Figure 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment
4 of the invention constructed as a load-bearing
trolley;
6 Figure 2 is a side view of the embodimen-t of
7 Figure 1 in a firs-t position;
8 Figure 3 is a side view of the embodiment of
9 the invention in a second position;
Figure ~ is a side view of the embodiment in a
11 third operating position;
12 Figure 5 is a perspective view of an alternative
13 embodiment;
14 Figure 6 is a rear view of a second alternative
embodiment; and
16 Figure 7 is a side view of the embodiment of
17 Figure 6.
18
19 DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERI~ED EMBODIMENTS
21 Referring now to the drawings, the -trolley illus~
22 trated is generally indicated with the reference num-
23 eral 11 and comprises a generally U_shape main frame
24 12 having arms 13,14 joined at their free ends by
an axle 15 carrying two wheels 16,17, one at each
26 end.
27
28 From the bight portion of the U-shape frame 12 extends
29 an upright column 18 within which telescopically
slides a handle extension 19 having, at its free
31 upper end, a transverse operating handle 20.
32
33 The telescopic handle extension 19 has a plurali-ty
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1 of holes 21 and the column 18 has a spring loaded
2 plunger 22 engaged selectively in one of the holes
3 21 to determine the effective length of the handle
4 extension 19 by selection of its projection distance
from the column 18. The height of the -transverse
6 handle 20 above -the ground can thus be easily adjusted.
7 Alternative adjustmen-t systems are also possible,
8 however.
0 Extending transversely across the U-shape frame 12
11 is a cross beam 23 pivoted abou-t an axis X-X at each
12 end to a respective arm 13,14 and haviny two down-
13 wardly divergent support legs 24,25 to -the lower end
14 of which is secured a platform generally indicated
26 in the form of a shallow tray having a fla-t bot-
16 tom 27 and left and right sides 28,29 and an upright
17 back 30. The interconnection between -the legs 24,25
18 and the platform 26 is made by welding or bolting the
19 lower ends of the legs 24,25 to the side walls 28,29
respectively in such a way tha-t a rigid interconnection
21 at a predetermined fixed angle be-tween the plane of -the
22 platform bottom 27 and the plane defined by the two
23 legs 24,25 is obtained. As shown in the drawings,
24 the side walls 28,29 are each formed as a very small
lip over most of the length of the side,with an en-
26 larged rear panel for attachment to the associated
27 leg 24 or 25. This allows a large object to be
28 placed across the platform 26 resting on the upper
29 edges of the side walls 28,2g. In an alternative em-
bodiment (not shown) the platform is pivotally
31 mounted to the legs 24~25 such as by pivot pins, in
32 such a way that it can be folded flat for s-torage.
33
34 ~inally, the two arms 13,~ of the U-shape main
_ 12 -
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1 frame 12 are spanned by a curved strap 31 which
2 serves as an abutment to :Limit the pivotal move-
3 ment of the legs 2~,25 about the cross member 23.
4 Movement of these legs 24,25 in the opposite dir-
ection is limited by abutment of the platform tray
6 or the legs themselves against the axle 15. The
7 effect of the limited art:iculation of the sub frame
8 constituted by the legs 2~,25 and the cross member
9 23 with respect to the U-shape main frame 12 will be
described hereinbelow with reference to Figures 2,3
11 and 4.
12
13 In an alternative embodiment (not illustrated) the
14 legs 24,25 are replaced by a single leg extending
from the cross members 23 to the platform 26.
16
17 Referring now to Figure 2, the trolley is shown in a
18 first position with the platform 26 flat on the
19 ground. In this position the main frame 12 has
been turned about the cross member 23, in a clock-
21 wise direction as viewed in Figure 2, to its max-
22 imum extent; the arms 13, 1~ o~ the main frame 12
23 have turned about the pivot constituted by the cross
24 piece 23 until, with the wheels 16,17 still on the
ground, the pan 26 now rests flat on the ground.
26 With further clockwise movement of the main frame 12
27 the strap 31 will be brought into contact with the
28 legs 24,25 of the sub-frame, therefore preventing
29 any further movement of the handle 20 and locking
the mechanism with the upright column 18 and handle
31 extension 19 at their highest position almost par-
32 allel with the legs 24,25 of t~e sub-frame~
33
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The position illustrated in Figure 3 is achieved
2 by pUl1ing the handle 20 downwardly and to the left
3 as viewed in Figure 3 without displacing the plat-
4 form 26 from the ground. This has the efect of turn-
ing the main frame 12 about the pivot 23 which is
6 held fixed due to the contact of the platform 26 with
7 the ground and the rigid interconnection of the legs
8 24 ,25 with the platform 26- This movement is continued
9 until the axle 15 is brought into contact with the
rear wall 30. Because the distance from -the ground
11 contacting point of the periphery of the wheels to
12 the pivot axis X-X of the cross member 23 is slightly
13 greater than the distance from the pivot 23 to the
14 back of the platform 26 where it joins the legs 24,
25 the back of the platform 26 is raised slightly
16 rrOm the ground as the axle 15 is brought into con-
17 tact with the rear wall 30. At this point the front
13 edge of the bottom wall 27, of the platform 26 is
19 still in contact with the ground.
21 Finally, by further turning the handle 20 in an anti-
22 clockwise direc-tion as viewed in Figure 4 the whole
23 mechanism is rocked about the wheels 16,l7 with the
24 main frame 12 and sub-frame constituted by the cross
member 23 and legs 24 ,25 being locked together by
26 engagement of the axle 15 with the back wall 30 of
27 the platform 26 until this latter is horizontal, or
28 more precisely, parallel with the ground and raised
29 above it by the height h as shown in Figure 4.
31 Because the column 18 is at a substantial angle with
32 the plane de~ined by the main frame 12, the handle
33 20 is horizontally displaced, in this third posi~ion,
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1 by a distance D from the vertical cen-tre line through
2 the wheels 16,17 which is greater -than the distance
3 d of the assumed centre of gravi-ty at the centre of
4 the platform 26 of any load carried thereby. This
leverage D/d gives the operator a considerable
6 mechanical advantage in handling the trolley, even
7 with a substantial load on the platform 26.
9 The distance D is also shown in Figure 3 to illustrate
the small dis-tance S moved by the handle 20 in con-
11 verting from -the position illustrated in Figure 3
12 to -that illustrated in F`igure 4, that is for raising
13 the front edge of the platform 26 to the horizontal
14 position from the inclined position of Figure 3.
16 The position of the handle 20 when the mechanism
17 is in the position illustrated in Figure 4 is shown
18 in broken outline in Figure 2 identified with the
19 reference numeral 20'~ The movemen-t of the handle
between the two posi-tions can be seen -to be small
21 and easily accomplished so -that an opera-tor can
22 lower the load onto the ground and even allow his
23 or her own weight to rest on the handle 20 if
24 desired~ Because the platform 26 rests flat on the
ground in the position illustrated in Figure 2 it
26 can easily be loaded by sliding the load onto the
27 bottom wall 27 of the platform 26 or by pushing the
28 trolley to i.ntroduce the bottom wall 27 under the
29 load. Should it be necessary to maintain the load
vertical, for example, if this were a bucket of water
31 or the like, this can readily be achieved by holding
32 the trolley in the position of Figure 4 as it is
33 moved along.
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Alternatively, if desired/ the handle can be moved
2 further in an anti-clockwise direction in order to
3 tilt the platform 26 so that a part o~ the load,
4 for ex~mple if this were a sack or other heavier
5 load, can be borne by the main frame 12 and balanced
6 by the inclination of this with respect to the
7 vertical.
9 The platform 26 may be pivotally mounted to the sup-
10 port arms 2~ ,25 in order to allow i t to be folded
11 or storage~ Suitable abut.ment means ~not shown)
12 would be provided -to locate the platform 26 in the
13 working posi tion illustrated in Fiyure 1, and -the p
14 pivotal connection would allow it to be turned until
15 the platform 26 is approximately parallel with the
16 legs 24, 25 so that the front to back dimension of
17 the trolley is reduced substantiallyD
18
19 It will be appreciated from Figures 2 and 4 how the
20 present invention may be adapted as an aid to walking
21 for invalids or the infirm. The platform 26 would be
22 replaced by a ground-engaging foot having a suitable
23 groun d -engaging area and of a ma-teri al having a
24 high coefficient of fric tion on the lower face, and
25 the handle 20 could be replaced wi th a generally
26 1~ shape frame having horizontal arms which would pass
27 to either side of the body of a person standing imm
28 ediately behind the handle 20 so that suppor-t in
2g three directions is available.
31 Then, by leaniny forward or slightly sideways, the
32 user is completely supported with the frame in the
33 position illustra-ted in Figure 2 and the ground-
34 engaging foot on the end of the legs 24 ,25 firmly
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1 in contact with the ground and the wheels 16, 17
2 spaced from the ground. When it is desired to move
3 forward, the handle 20 is rocked backwardly until the
4 wheels 16, 17 roll forward to the position as illu-
5 s~rated in Figure 3, the ground-engaging foot is raised
6 partially so that the ~rictional resistance is reduced
7 to an extent sufficient to allow it to be moved by
8 sliding over the surface. If the user is su~ficiently
9 strong to walk almost unaided, the frame can be moved
by depressing the handle 20 until the mechanism is
11 in the position illustrated in Figure 4 where the
12 user can then walk rolling the frame before him until
13 such time as a further period of rest is needed when
14 simply by moving the handle upwards and forwardly the
15 locked ground-engaging position is achieved~ There
16 is a possibility that the trolley could roll only
17 from an elderly or infirm user whose reactions are not
18 very fastO To avoid this happening the embodiment
19 formed as a walking frame may be fur-ther modified by
20 the provision of secondary or subsidiary legs near
21 the lower ends of the legs 24, 25 which legs project
22 over the axle 15 and are attached to a second ground-
23 engaging foot which contacts the ground on the other
24 side of the line of contact between the wheels 16, 17
25 and the ground from the ground-engaging foot a-ttached
26 to the legs 24, 25. Thus, in such an embodiment,
27 the wheels 16, 17 will roll only when the handle 20
28 is loca~ed in an intermediate position where the two
29 ground-engaging feet are spaced from the ground and
30 movement in either direction away from this central
31 position will cause the mechanism to become grounded
32 and rigid. ~Iovement can then only take place when
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1 the operator is balanced and in control and should
2 any unbalance or lack of control occur then the mecha-
3 nism will automatically adopt a safety position where
4 it will support the weight of a user resting on the
handle~
7 Referring now to Figure 5, the embodiment illus-trated
8 has features in common with the embodimen-ts of Figures
9 1 _ 4 and corresponding or identical parts will be
identified with the same reference numerals raised by
11 100, This embcdiment differs from the embodiment
12 previously described in that the legs 124, 125 connect-
13 ed to the cross member 123 are not joined at their
14 bottom end by a platform or tray, but by a lower
cross member 140, on which are pivotally mounted two
16 T-section supports 141, 142 having cranked end sections
17 143, 144 respectively at the pivoted end. A stop bar
18 145 also spans the legs 124, 125 just above the cross
19 member 140 and limits the pivotal movement of the
members 141, 142 by engagement of -the cranlced end
21 sections 143, 144. The two support members 141, 142
22 can be used to carry any odd shaped article, or may
23 themselves support a platform or one of a range of
24 different platforms of different sizes specifically
adapted for mounting thereon. The particular value
26 of the two linear support members 141, 142, however,
27 is for enabling the trolley to be used to carry a
28 conventional pallett on which any range of goods may
29 be stacked. In use, the trolley 111, operates in the
same way as described for the embodiment of F`igures
31 1 _ 4 w:ith the linear support members 141, 142 lower-
32 ed on the ground and the handle 120 raised, these
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1 members can be introduced into the space beneath the
2 load-bearing platform of a pallett. Subsequently, by
3 depressing the handle 120 to cause the trolley to turn
4 about the axis 115, the sub-frame constituted by the
legs 124, 125 and the cross member 123 is raised from
6 the ground, elevating the platform supports 141, 142
7 and enabling a pallett supported thereby to be trans-
8 ported in a substantially horizontal orientation to
9 any convenient location.
11 It is envisaged that interchangeable special purpose
12 platforms or supports may also be provided ~or the
13 embodiments of Figures 1 - 4, for example, to adapt
14 this embodiment for carrying a dus-tbin which may be
too large to fit on the platform 26 illus-trated in
16 Figure 1. Such an adaptor may simple interengage on
17 the legs 24, 25 and rest on the platform 26. Like-
18 wise, it is envisaged that the platform 26 may be
19 pivotally connected to the legs 24, 25 instead of
being fixedly connected as shown, so that the plat-
21 form bottom 27 may be tipped to a position lying
22 generally parallel to the plane defined by the legs
23 24, 25.
24
Referring now to the embodiment illustrated in Figures
26 6 and 7, there is shown a trolley adapted to carry gas
27 bottles such as are used for oxy-acetylene welding
28 equipment. Again, those components which are similar
29 in function or identical to the components in the
ernbodiments 1 - 4 have been identified with the sarne
31 reference numerals raised by 200. Thus, a main frame
32 212 is shown carried on ground-engaging wheels 216,
33 217 and pivotally connected to a sub-frame incorpora
34 ting legs 224, 225. In this embodiment, however, the
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legs 224, 225 are j Oined at the top by a cross member
2 246 and an encircling strap 241, and at the bottom by
3 a shallow tray-like container 242 which together act
4 -to retain two gas bottles 243, 244 in position on the
sub-frame. The main frame 212 has a handle 220 which
6 is formed as a loop handle spanning the legs 213, 214
7 which have upwarcl extensions 213a, 214a pivotally
8 connected to the legs 224, 225 by pivots 260, 261.
9 This pivotal interconnection between the main frame
212 and the sub-frame comprising the legs 224,225
11 is a releasable connection, however, so that the main
12 frame 212 can be released and removed leaving the gas
13 bottles 243, 244 standing on the tray 242 in an up-
14 right orientation. This embodiment has particular
advantages since it allows the rnain frame with its
16 wheels to be removed away from the working environ-
17 ment where the welding is to take place so that it
18 does not constitute an encumbrance, and, indeed, this
19 may be used for transporting other articles in combina-
tion with a suitably shaped sub-frame connectable
21 thereto. Further, owing to the great weight of the
22 gas bottles when fully charged, the -trolley of the
23 invention has particular advantages in providing
24 additional leverage for control and in not requiring
the bottles to be tilted to a steep angle before a
26 balance position is reached.
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