Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
2 2 ~ 7
The present invention relates to a display trolley, and
in particular to a multiple shelf display trolley for
carrying and displaying products and goods on sale.
In the di~tribution and retail of a lar~e number of
5 products, such as flowers and plants, citrus fruits,
vegetables, footwear and many others, there are serious
problems of waste of time and labor in the operations for
preparing, shipping and displayin~ for sale. It is in fact
imperative to ensure that the products arrive intact at
lo their destination on the market and can be rapidly unloaded
and displayed to the puhlic for sale with a minimum number
of handlings and other operations.
The aim of the present invention is to provide a
multiple shelf display trolley which can act both as
15 containment and transport means and as means for displaying
products in sales points, such as open-air markets,
supermarkets, shops and the like, and is capable o~ solving
the above described problems.
An object of the presellt invention is to pro~ide a
20 display trolley which has a modular configuration and
dimensions for cu~tom-size loading on closed trucks.
Another objsct of the present invention-is to provide a
display trolley which can be provided with accessory
extension andJor covering elements to increase its support-
2~ display capacity and to protect the products on display frombad weather.
A further object of khe present invention is to provide
a multiple shelf display trolley which is easy to manoeuvre,
can be stacked and can be manufactured at competitive costs.
This aim, these objects and others which will become
apparent hereinafter are achieved, according to the
invention, by a multiple-shelf display trolley, compri~ing a
5 base frame moun~ed on at least three wheels and provided
wi~h at least two side members which extend upwardly
therefrom, an upper frame including at least two pairs of
lateral rods, each articulated to a respective side member
and to a plurality of shelf means arranged at different
lo levels, and a supporting structure fixed upwardly to one of
said shelf means and provided with at lsast one telescopic
leg, whereby the upper frame can be erected in an uPright
position against the supporting structure above and within
the base area of the base frame and extended in an inclined
15 display positi~n with the sh~lf me~n~-in a s-ub~tantially
horizontal but mutually offset arrangement, by moving the
supporting structure away from the base frame.
Advantageously, each of said sides can be constituted
by two spaced upxights which rise from the base frame.
The supporting structure can furthermore advanta~eously
have two or more telescopic supporting legs.
Further aspects and advantages of the present invention
will become apparent from the following detailed description
of some preferred but not exclusive e~b~diments thereof,
~5 illustrated only by way of non-limitative example with
reference to the accompanying drawings, wherei~ -
figure 1 is a schematic p0rspective view o~ a display
trolley in an inclined position in which it -c~n-act as a
display;
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4 ~ r~
figure 2 i5 a lateral elevation view of the display
trolley of figure 1 in upright position;
figure 3 i~ a partial enlarged-scale sectional view of
a leg for resting the supporting structure on the ground;
5figure 4 is a view of an accessory, i.e. of a ledge
which is removably associable with the sides of the shelves;
figure 5 is a partial enlarged-scale perspective view
of a shelf and of a respective coupling pin;
figure 6 is a perspective sectional view of a lateral
lo rod to which the shelf of figure 5 can be articulated;
figure 7 is a side view of a shelf which can be
extracted or extended in a drawer-like ~anner;
fi~ure 8 is a partially sectional enlarged-scale front
view of the shelf of figure 7;
15figure 9 is a view of two display trolleys according t~
a variated embodiment, stacked on top of one another;
figure lQ is a partial perspective view of a display
trolley in inclined position, with its own wheeled
supporting ~tructure;
20fi~ure 11 i~ an enlarged-scale partial side view of the
di~play trolley of figure 10 in upright position;
figure 1~ i~ a side view of the upper part of a display
trolley according to a constructive variation, provided with
~ an awning;
25figure 13 is a partial front elevation view of a
display trolley provided with two lateral inclined and
removable ledges;
figure 14 is a partial perspective view of a ~ide of a
shelf according to a variated embodiment;
30figure 15 ifi a partial 3ide view of the shelf of figu~e
2 ~ P~
1~ mounted so as to be inclined forward on a display
trolley; and
figure 16 i~ a view of a display trolley with an
additional set of shelves at the top and with underlying
5 shelves which can be inclined forward.
In the various figures, identical or similar parts or
components ha~e been indicated by the same reference
numerals.
Initially with reference to figures 1 to 6, the
lo reference numeral 1 generally indicates a first embodiment
of a display trolley according to the invention, which is
composed of a base frame 2, an upper frame 3 with shelves 4
and a supporting structure 5.
The base frame 2 can be formed hy two side members 2a
15 and by two cross-members 2b which are butt-welded to the
side members. Both ~he side members and the cros~-members
can be constituted by portions of an angular ~-shaped
profiled element,
Two flat strips 2c are provided between the two cross-
20 members 2b, and the coupling flan.ges of a pair oforientatable wheels or castors 6 are fixed from below to
each of said ~trips. If required, it is possible to apply to
~ one of the strips 2c a single castor arranged on the
centerline of ~aid strip, in which case the trolley rests on
25 the ground on three wheels 6 instead of four. At laast one,
but preferably two, of the wheels 6 is provided with a brake
which can be operated by means of a pedal lnot illustrated)
to lock the trolley in position.
Two sides rise from the cross-members 2b and are
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advantageously constltuted by two uprights 7a, 7b and 8a, 8b
which are for example welded to the respective cross-member
or bolted thereto for facilitating assembly.
The uprights 7b and 8b are each arranged proximate to
5 one end of the cross-members 2b but at a short distance from
a Aa~e side member 2a so as to delimit a ~eat 9 ~etwesn the
upright and the side member for a purpose which will be
explained hereinafter.
The upper ~rame 3 is constituted by two pairs of rods
lO lOa, lOb and lla, llb which are pivoted at 13 and 1~ between
the two sides along two common horizontal axes respectively
at the end of the suppor~ing uprights 7a, 8a and 7b, ~b. The
two pairs of rods qupport a plurality of supporting shelves
or cross-members 4 for shelves which are spaced at dlfferent
15 levels and are constituted for example by a rectangular
border frame which is formed for example by portions-of an
~-shaped angular profiled element which are welded 50 as to
act as suppor~ for a panel 4a, made of wood or another
lightweight material, or for a tray 15 made of plastic
20 material. The horder frame g can sup~ort one or more
intermediate cross-members 16 which are possibly arranged
according to a grid-like structure ~o as to delimit
compartments for accommodatin~ a plurality of tra~s or pots
or other similar containers.
Each bordex frame 4 advantageously has, along its short
sides, two ~abs 17, each of which has a recess or a hole 18
through which i~ is possible to in~ert, with the possible
interposi~ion of a washer 20, frvm the inside of the frame,
a pivot, constituted by a~ Allen screw 21, a bolt with a
30 ~in~ nut or the like, which can be a~c~mmodated in a
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corresponding hole defined in a rod 10 and 11. Said rod can
be constituted, ~ee figure 6, by a box-like tubular profiled
element which is open due to the presence of a longitudinal
slot 22 in which a parallelepipedal block 23 for each shelf
5 to be supported is inserted. Each block 23 has a transverse
threaded hole 24 which is kept coaxial to a hole 25 defined
in the tubular element, so that the Allen screw 21 can enter
the holes 18, 24 and 25 and protrude from the rod.
If required, the protruding end of the Allen screw can
10 have a transverse hole 26 through which a retention means
can pass to prevent free extraction and thus the
unauthori~ed removal of the shelf.
The Allen screw 21 can naturally also be inserted from
the side of the rod 10 or 11, i.e. from outside the shelE 4.
The supporting structure 5 is formed by two lateral
uprights 5a and 5b which are fixed, ~or example welded, at
the top to a side of the upper shelf and have, below, a
respective telescopic leg 5c and 5d. The uprights 5a and 5b
are connected by one or more sti~fening cross-members 5e.
When the trolley l .is in extended po5ition (figure 1) r
the structure 5 is spaced from the ~ase frame 2 and the
telescopic legs are extended an~ locked b~ acting on the
knobs 5d, whereas iD the upri~ht position they are in~erted
in the s~at 9.
If required, the legs 5c can be loaded elastically by a
spring 5e (figure 3) whicA is insertsd for example within
each leg 5c and abuts against a transverse stop element 5f
defined in the overlying upright 5a.
Engagement means can be provided between the upper
30 frame 3 and the supporting ~tructure 5; said means are for
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2 ~
example constituted hy a hook 27 which i9 pivoted to the
rods lOh and llb and by a pin ~8 which is rigidly associated
with, and protrudes from, the uprights 5a, so that in
upright position the supporting structure can be firmly
s anchored to the upper frame 3.
Figures 7 and 8 illustrate a shelf 4 which is
configured like a pull-out drawer and comprises two
supporting planes: a fixed one 30 and a mo~able one 31.
Constructively, the two supporting planes can be supported
lo by two ~-shaped profiled elements 32 to which supporting
tabs 17 are externally fixed.
Each profiled element 32 has tw~ parallel fins 33 and
34 which are directed inward.
The fin 33 acts as support for the plane 30 and
15 delimits, together with the fin 34, a sliding track for
rollers 35 which support an angular element 36, adapted for
supporting the plane 31, so that said plane 31 can slide and
be pulled out with respect to the plane 30.
Figure 9 illustrates two trolleys like the one of
20 figures 1 and 2 which are stacked on top of one another and
are constructed according to another embodiment. The lateral
tubular rods lOa, lOb and lla, llb in fact ~xt~nd upward
beyond the level of the upper ~helf and end with a slight
~ expansion or flaring, schematically indicated ~y ~0, whereas
25 two tapered portions 41 extend below from the base frame 2;
said tapered portions are for example-welded to the frame 2
and are shorter than the height of the wheels 6 for
removable insertion in a corresponding expansion 40 of an
underlying trolley.
The display trolley of figures 10 and 11 has telescopic
, . . . . . . .
9 2 ~ 7
leg~ which rest on a castor 5f which can possibly be locked
in position by means of a pedal brake 5h. In figure 11, the
leg 5c is shown located in the seat 9.
Figure 12 illustrates a variated embodiment with a
5 roof-like covering structure 50. The upper shelf 4 has, on
each short side, a pair of tabs or inser~ion seats 51 in
which four uprights 52 can be inserted; if required, each of
said uprights 52 can be constituted by a portion of tubular
rod 10 or 11.
Said uprights 52 support lateral stringers 53 by means
of box~like joints 5g in which an end of two further
stringers 55, 56 is pivoted; said ~urther ~tringers can in
turn support, at their other end, a joint to which a further
stringer 57 can be pivoted. An awning ~not illustrated in
15 the drawings), made of an appropriate materi~l, is stretch-ed
between the pairs of stringers 53, 55, 56 and 57 and can be
folded over the central stringers 53~
If the uprights 52 extend bsyond the ioints 59, guy
wires 58, which ensure greater stabilit~ to the supporting
20 structure of the awning, can be provided.
Figure 13 is a view of a trvlley 1 in extended
position, and provided, on its sides, with r~mova~le ledges
60, such as the one illustrated in figure 3, which are
~ inclined with respect to the hori20ntal. Each ledge 60 is
25 provided with a pair of coupling hooks 61 for engaging the
edge of an L-shaped angular border element of a shelf 4.
Figure 1~ is a YieW of a ~hort side of a ~helf g, whi~h
has three tabs 70, 71 and 72 which are directed downward.
The tab 70 h~s a notch defining a hori%ontal portion 73
30 and a rounded vertical portion 74 which constitutes the
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accommodation seat for an articulation pivot or Allen screw
21 inserted into, and protruding from, a rod lOb, llb.
The tabs 71 and 72 delimit an intermediate straight
portion 75 which is intended to rest and slide on a pivot or
5 Allen screw 21 which protrudes from a rod lOa, lla. If the
pivot or Allen screw 21 on which the portion 75 slidingly
rests is at a lower level than the corresponding pivot or
Allen screw 21 on the rods lOb, llb engaged by the recess
74, the shelf ~ is arranged inclined with respect to a
10 hoxizontal plane, as illustrated in figure 15.
Fi~ure 16 is a view of a further embodiment, according
to which a set of shelves is rigidly support~d above the
upper shelf 4 and has four lateral uprights 80, for example
with pins for supporting, at various levels, ~upportlng
15 planes (not illustrated), an~ a top shelf 81, for example
identical to a shelf 4. Advantageously, the uprights ~0 can
be inserted in the tabs 51 which can alter~atively be u~ed
to support an awning. Said awning, if required, can be
supported hy the shelf 81 if it i~ provided with tabs 51.
20As can be seen, the trolley according to the variated
embodiment of figures 14-16 can assume an upright position,
in which all the she-ves 4 are superimposed and the
~upporting structure 5 is adjacent to the upper frame 3, all
~ within the maximum base area of the base frame 2, as well
as an extended position, as in figure 1, but with the
shelves tilted forward for a better display of the products.
Advantageously, the dimensions of thè ba~e fr~me and
the total height of the above described display trolley is
equal to a submultiple of the width, length and height
3(~ dimensions of a closed truck, so that a preset number of
3 ~ ~ ~
display trolleys can b0 loaded without wasting space on said
truck. If required, stacked trolleys such as in figure 9, in
turn pre-loa~ed with products to be displayed for sale, can
be loaded on the truck. Once carried to a sales point, the
5 display trolleys described above can be easily and rapidly
extended, spacing the supporting structure 5 from the upper
frame 3, so that they then act as a display, possibly with
tilting shelves.
~ he materials employed, as well as the dimensions, may
lO be various according to the requirements.
The surface finish of the components of the display
trolleys can be various, ~or example galvanization,
enameling or simple coloring or spraying of the metallic
parts .
