Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
BO 35394 1 2~4~32i
srief title:Stacking tr~lley and table intended for such a trolley
The invention relates in the irst instance to a ~tacking
trolley comprising a mobile sub-frame with a number o trays fitted
thereon above one another at a mutual spacing.
A stackins trolley of this type is known ~rom DE-A-
2800575-02.
With this known trolley, bushes are fitted at the corner
points of the rectangular sub-frame, the lower end of a tube-shaped
upright being pushed into each bush. The uprights are provided with
a number of openings sited above one another at a mutual spacing
and push-in elements of the trays are hooked into these openings in
such a way that the vertical spacing between the trays is
adjustable. Trolleys of this type can be used to load plants and
cut flowers at the growers and to transport the loaded trolleys by
lorry to the auction. The loaded trolleys can be transported, with
or without transfer of plants and flowers, to the wholesaler and
from there to the retailer, while the plants and flowers are
removed from the trays. The trolleys return to the wholesaler,
auction or grower.
The object of the invention is to provide an improvement to
this system such that the plants and flowers do not have to be
removed from the trays in the shop and can be displayed to the
public in a suitable manner.
According to the invention each tray, for this purpose,
constitutes part of a table with legs and each table is provided
with means for the stable support of a corresponding table stacked
thereon. Of course, the stacking trolley is also suitable for
3Q products other than plants and flowers.
The tables can easily be removed from the trolleys and placed
on the floor. The flowers and plants are displayed to the public on
the tables, without transfer.
he said means for the stable supporting of tables stacked on
one another comprise push-in elements and~ receiving elements
(male/femalel.
A conical stacking stud is preferably used as the push-in
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element.
To enable the tables to be stacked on one another at mutually
different intervals, each table is provided in the vicinity of each
leg with a vertical support rod projecting above the table top.
With this construction, each said support rod can project to
below the table top over a distance which is less than the length
of the leg section projecting below the table top. In this case the
tables can be arranged either with their support rods on one
another or with their legs on the support rods.
A similar multiple interval adjustment of the tables can also
be achieved if each leg projects to above the table top over a
distance which is less than the length of the support rod section
projecting above the table top.
The possibility for multiple interval adjustment of the
tables is further increased if each table is provided, in the
vicinity of each leg and support rod, with a receiving element for
receiving a push-in element at the upper end of a support rod of a
table located below or for receiving the lower end ~f a leg of a
table located above.
The sub-frame is preferably provided with vertical support
rods to support a first table.
The distance over which these support rods project above the
supporting tray of the sub-frame corresponds to the distance over
which the support rods of the tables project above the table top.
The invention also relates to a table intended for the
stacking trolley. If the table is rectangular, it will be provided
at each corner point with two recesses, in one of which a table leg
is secured and in the other of which a support rod is secured.
In addition, the table can be provided at each corner point
with a tube-shaped receiving element into which fits the upper
section of a support rod of a corresponding table located below,
said upper section being provided withia push-in element.
At each corner point, the recesses can be made in a corner
piece, of which projecting end sections are each incorporated in a
~ 35 rectangular tube profile, said tube profiles forming upright side`~ edges of the table.
The tube profiles possess an inwardly directed flange to
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support a table top.
The table top must res~ on the said flange in a watertight
manner, for example by providing the flange with a sealing profile.
This leakage can also be prevented by fitting an essentially V-
shaped sealing strip on the peripheral edge strip of the table top,
said sealing strip being provided with a fixing lip which rests on
the flange underneath said peripheral edge stri~.
To enable the legs and support rods to be fitted easily, they
are secured in the recesses of a corner piece by clamping pieces
which are fixed with the aid of bolts.
By providing the legs and support rods with at least two
openings, the length over which the legs and support rods project
with respect to the table top can be chosen.
The invention will now be explained in more detail with the
aid of the figures, in which a few illustrative embodiments are
shown.
Figure 1 shows a stacking trolley with a first stack of a
numoer of tables.
Figure ~ shows a stacking trolley with a second stack of the
said tables.
Figure 3 shows a stacking trolley with a third stack of the
said tables.
Figure 4 shows a number of tables which are connected to one
another and positioned alongside one another such that the table
tops assume different heights.
Figure 5 shows a top view of a first embodiment of a table
frame.
Figure 6 shows a perspective view of a part of the first
embodiment of the table in the disassembled state.
Figure 7 shows a perspective view of the table according to
Figure 6 in the assembled state.
Figures 8 and 9 show perspective views of a corner section of
a table according to a second embodiment, in the disassembled and
the assembled state respectively.
Figure 10 shows a perspective view of a section of a table
with an alternative seal of the table top with respect to the
raised edge.
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The stacking trolley according to the invention is made up of
a mobile sub-frame 1 and a number of tables 2 stacked thereon. The
tables are rectangular and are provided at each corner point with a
table leg 3, a support rod 4 and a pipe-piece-shaped receiving
element 5.
Each support rod 4 projects a relatively large distance above
and a relatively small distance ~elow the table top 6 of the
particular table and is provided at the upper end with a conical
stacking stud 7, which can be pushed into the lower end of a table
leg 3, the lower end of a support rod 4 and a receiving element 5.
The lower end of each leg 4 is provided with a cap 8.
At each corner point, the rectangular sub-frame 1 has a
support rod 9 which projects above the supporting tray of the sub-
frame over a distance which corresponds to the distance over which
the support rods 4 of a table project above the table top 6.
Figures 1 to 3 show various stable stacking possibilities for
the tables 2 on an sub-frame 1. Figure 1 indicates that the support
legs are resting on one another, the conical stacking stud 7 on the
upper end of a support rod pushing into the lower end of a
subsequent support rod. The legs 3 and the receiving elements 5
have no function with this stacking arrangement.
Figure 2 shows that the conical stac~ing stud 7 at the upper
end of the support rods is pushed into a receiving element 5 of a
table. The legs 3 have no function with this stacking arrangement.
2~ ~igure 3 indicates that each leg 3 is resting on the upper
end o~ a support rod 4, the conical stacking stud ~ pushing into
the lower end of the leg 3.
It will be clear that the mutual distance between the table
tops is different in the three cases shown. Of course, each of the
three stacking arrangements can occur on one and the sa~e stacking
trolley, as a result of which the distance between the table tops
varies.
The distance over which the support rods 4 project below a
table top is less than the length of the legs 3. The distance over
which the support rods 4 project abcve a table top is greater than
the length of the legs 3.
Moreover, an alternative construction is possible with which
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the legs of the tables are extended to above the table top and the
support rods project only above the table top, the leg section
projecting above the table top being shorter than the support rod
length, which, in turn, is shorter than the leg length. This
alternative construction can be envisaged by turning upside down a
table according to the embodiment shown.
Figure 4 shows how the tables 2 and also the sub-frame 1 can
be arranged alongside one another on the floor, with which
arrangement the height of the table top can vary. Consequently, the
flowe~s and plants can be presented to the public in an attractive
manner without it being necessary to transfer or move the flowers
and plants. After the tables, with the flowers and plants
supported thereon, have been removed from the stacking trolley and
positioned on the floor, they can be sprayed without being shifted,
which is a not inappreciable advantage in practice.
~ igures 5 to 10 show possible construction details. Each
table has a frame consisting of four rectangular tube profiles 11
and four corner pieces 12. The corner pieces possess projecting
sections 13 which are pushed into a tube profile 11 and welded
thereto. Each tube profile 11 has an inwardly projecting flange
14. The table top 6 lies on the flanges 14 of the four tube
profiles 11. To seal the table top with respect to the frame
consisting of the tuhe profiles 11 and corner pieces 12, the
flanges 14 in the embodiment according to Figures S to 7 are
provided with a sealing strip 16 of elastomer material or cement.
In the embodiment according to Fiyure 10, a V-shaped rubber flap 17
seals the gap between the table top 6 and the tube profile 11. The
flap 17 has a section 17' which is clamped between the flange 14
and the table top 6. The ~lap 17 is also held in place by a boss 18
30 oP the tube profile gripping on an edge of the rubber flap.
The corner pieces 12 comprise the receiving element 5, which
is designed as a pipe piece, and two semi-cylindrical recesses 19,
20, which are intended to receive a leg 3 and a support rod 4
respectively. The legs 3, support rods 4 and semi-cylindrical parts
19, 20 are provided with an opening, so that each leg and each
support rod can be secured in the desired position by means of a
bolt 23, which projects through a clamping piece 21 and 22
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respectively. The clamping pieces 21, 22 are in the Porm or semi-
cylindrical dishes in the embodiment according to Figures 5-7 and
in the form of semi-circular solid parts in the embodiment
according to Figures 8 and 9. The corner pieces 12 can also be
hook-shaped and project around each edge of the table.
~ y providing the legs 3 and/or the support rods 4 with two or
more openings sited above one another, the height of said legs
and/or rods can be made adjustable.
Of course, the legs 3, the support rods 4 and the receiving
elements 5 of a table can also be secured in another manner, for
example directly to the frame or to the table top, for example by
welding. They must be positioned in a straight line in each unit,
but can be fitted in a right-angle pattern.
The essential feature of the inventive concept is that a
number of tables provided with legs can be stacked in a stable
manner on the mobile sub~frame 1 of a trolley. These tables can be
placed, with the goods (flowers and plants) standing thereon, on
the floor in a shop. The distance between the indiv dual table tops
is variable with the aid of support rods and receiving elements.
The tables can also be triangular, pentagonal or hexagonal or with
more sides, and can even be circular or ellipsical.
