Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a device to be attached to trolleys such as supermarket shopping trolleys. In particular, it relates to a device to be attached to the handle of shopping trolleys used in supermarkets.

Background to the Invention

Shopping trolleys generally include a fold out seat adjacent the handle of the trolley that can be used to seat small children while the trolley is being used in the supermarket. While such an arrangement is useful, keeping a child occupied while shopping, at the same time as minding other possessions and keeping track of what purchases are required can be a difficult task. The present invention aims to provide a device that can be taken to the supermarket, attached easily to a shopping trolley and which provides features aimed at assisting the abovementioned tasks.

Summary of the Invention

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a trolley attachment comprising: a body having one or more activity devices on an upper surface thereof accessible in use by a child seated in a seat of a trolley; one or more support members extending from the body, each support member having a groove for receiving a rod of the trolley adjacent a handle of the trolley; and a strap extending from the body; wherein the rod of the trolley is received in the grooves of the support members, a lower side of the body rests on the handle and the strap is securable around the handle to retain the body in engagement with the rod and the handle. Preferably a first end of the strap is secured to a lower side of the body on the opposite side of the handle of the trolley to the support members and is connectable to a connection point located on the opposite side of the handle to the support members such that passing the strap around the handle and pulling the strap towards the connection point pulls the rod into the grooves. The first end of the strap is preferably secured to the lower side of the body between the support members and the connection point.

In a preferred embodiment there is provided a pair of support members extending outwardly from a lower side of the body. Each of the support members preferably includes a pair of slotted members each having a groove adjacent the distal end thereof extending generally away from the upper surface and away from the first end of the strap.

In one embodiment the connection of the second end of the strap to the connection point comprises hook and loop fastening.

The body preferably comprises the upper surface and an edge surface extending downwardly from around the periphery of the upper surface such that the edge surface defines a recessed lower side of the body. Preferably the sides of the edge surface extending from a first end to a second end each include a bend in the lower edge thereof such that the bend receives in use the handle of the trolley.

A handle may be provided extending outwardly from the edge surface on a second side thereof, the second side of the body being furthest from the trolley in use.

In a preferred embodiment, the upper surface is provided with a document holder for receiving a document such that the document is viewable by a person pushing the trolley by the handle. Preferably the document holder comprises a pair of plates each pivotally mounted along an edge thereof wherein at least the uppermost plate is transparent so a document placed between the plates can be viewed through the uppermost plate.

Preferably the pair of plates are each pivotally mounted along a first edge thereof, the first edge being secured adjacent a first edge of a recess in an upper surface of the body such that the plates can be moved between a first closed position in which the plates seal across the recess and a second open position in which documents can be placed between the plates. The first edge may be located on an opposite side of the recess from the second side of the body and raised such that, in the closed position, the plates are angled towards a person pushing the trolley by the handle

In one embodiment the connection point is located on an underside of the recess. The underside of the recess preferably extends below the edge surfaces such that the strap extends downwardly from the handle to the connection point.

Preferably the activity devices are located adjacent a first side of the body being adjacent the seat of the trolley. The activity devices may include a receptacle recess for receiving removable receptacles having closable lids. The activity devices may also include a number of turnable pages or a pretend steering wheel and dashboard.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the following drawings in which:

Figure 1 is an upper perspective view of a trolley attachment in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a lower perspective view of the trolley attachment of Figure 1 connected to a trolley;

Figure 3a is a side view of the trolley attachment of Figure 1 prior to engagement with a shopping trolley handle; Figure 3b is a side view of the trolley attachment of Figure 1 partially engaged with the shopping trolley handle;

Figure 3c is a side view of the trolley attachment of Figure 1 engaged with the shopping trolley handle;

Figure 4 is an upper perspective view of the trolley attachment of Figure 1 engaged with the shopping trolley handle;

Figure 5 is a view of the trolley attachment of Figure 1 being carried;

Figure 6 is an upper perspective view of the trolley attachment of Figure 1 showing insertion of a document into the document holder;

Figure 7 is an upper perspective view of the trolley attachment of Figure 1 showing a user writing on the document holder cover;

Figures 8a and 8b are upper perspective views of the trolley attachment of

Figure 1 showing insertion of removable receptacles; and

Figures 9a and 9b are upper perspective views of the trolley attachment of

Figure 1 showing insertion of a removable activity device.

Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments

Referring to the Figures there is shown a trolley attachment 10. The trolley attachment 10 comprises a body 12 having one or more activity devices 14 provided to entertain a child. The body 12 is provided with a securing means to connect the body 12 to a handle 16 of a trolley 18, in particular a shopping trolley.

The body 12 includes a first side 20 arranged in use adjacent a seat in the trolley 18. The activity devices 14 are located primarily adjacent the first side 20 of the body 12 so that they can be accessed by a child seated in the seat of the trolley 18. The activity devices 14 may comprise any devices suitable to entertain a child and/or to retain articles for the child, including food or drink.

In the embodiment shown, the activity devices 14 include a number of turnable pages 22, a pretend steering wheel and dashboard 24 and a cup holder recess 26. Also included may be a receptacle recess 28 for receiving removable receptacles 30 having closable lids 32 (as can be seen in Figure 8). These receptacles 30 may be used for food items or other play items such as toys or pencils.

The body 12 may be constructed of any suitable material but is expected to be formed from a suitable moulded plastic. The body 12 may comprise an upper surface 34, on which are provided the activity devices 14 and an edge surface 36 extending downwardly from around the periphery of the upper surface 34. The edge surface 36 thereby defines a recessed lower side 38 of the body 12, as can be seen in Figure 2. Also provided on the edge surface 36 is a handle 37. The handle 37 extends outwardly from the edge surface 36 on a second side 21 of the body 12, being opposite the first side 20. The handle 37 may be used to carry the device in a vertical orientation when not connected to the trolley 18 (as shown in Figure 5).

A rail 39 may also be provided on the edge surface 36 adjacent the first side 20 of the trolley attachment 10. The rail 39 is preferably provided with ornamentation and is expected to be used to secure further activity devices, for example small soft toys, with which a child can play.

The means to secure the body 12 to the handle 16 of the trolley 14 comprises one or more support members 40 and a securing strap 42. As can be seen in Figure 2, a pair of support members 40 is provided extending outwardly from within the recessed lower side 38. Each of the support members 40 comprise a pair of slotted members 41 Each slotted member 41 includes a groove 44 adjacent the distal end thereof. The grooves 44 are arranged to receive a wire rod 46 of a standard wire frame constructed shopping trolley. The grooves 44 may also be modified to receive features of different shapes of alternatively constructed trolleys 18.

The strap 42 is secured at a first end thereof to the body 12 within the recessed lower side 38. A second end of the strap 42 is securable by a suitable means to a connection point 47 on the body 12. The connection point 47 is located between the first end of the strap 42 and the second side 21 of the trolley attachment 10. In the embodiment shown, the second end of the strap 42 is provided with a portion of loop material and the connection point 47 comprises a portion of hook material such that the means to secure the second end of the strap 42 to the connection point 47 comprises a hook and loop fastener.

The strap 42 is secured to the body 12 such that when the rod 46 of the trolley 18 is received in the grooves 44, the first end of the strap 42 is located on the opposite side of the handle 16 to the support members 40. The grooves 44 extend generally downwardly away from the upper surface 34 and slightly away from the first end of the strap 42. The connection point 47 is also located on the opposite side of the handle 16 to the support members 40 such that the strap 42 can be placed around the handle 16 and pulled tight to pull the body 12 such that the rod 46 is secured in the grooves 44 and the body 12 pulled downwardly to rest on the handle 16 of the trolley 18. The process of securing the body 12 to the trolley 18 is shown in Figures 3a to 3c.

The upper surface 34 and the sides of the edge surface 36 extending from the first end 20 to the second end 21 each include a first portion 35 adjacent the first side 20 and a second portion 37 adjacent the second side 21. The first and second portions 35 and 37 are generally linear and angled relative to each other such that the sides of the edge surface 36 extending from the first end 20 to the second end 21 include a bend 39 in the lower edge thereof. The bend 39 in the lower edge of the sides of the edge surface 36 is located between the support members 40 and the first end of the strap 42 and receives in use the handle 16 of the trolley 18 (as can be seen in Figure 3).

Once secured as shown, the first side 20 of the body 12 is facing the seat of the trolley 18 such that a child sitting in the seat can access the activity devices 14 on the body 12 of the trolley attachment 10.

The trolley attachment 10 is also provided with a document holder 48. The document holder 48 comprises a pair of pivotally mounted plates 50. The plates 50 are each mounted for pivotal movement around a first edge 52 thereof. The first edges 52 of the plates are pivotally mounted along a first edge 53 of a recess 54 in the upper surface of the body 12 such that the plates 50 can pivot between a closed position (as shown in Figure 7) in which the plates 50 seal across the recess 54 and an open position (as shown in Figure 6) in which the recess 54 can be accessed. The recess 54 and plates 50 thereby form a container with a lid which can be used to stores items such as keys or other items expected to be taken shopping. The connection point 47 is provided on an underside of the recess 52. The underside of the recess 52 extends below the edge surfaces 36 such that the strap 42 extends slightly downwardly from the handle 16 to the connection point 47.

At least the uppermost of the plates 50 is constructed of transparent material, such as a clear plastic. A document, such as a shopping list 56 can therefore be placed between the pair of plates 50 when in the open position and viewed when in the closed position. Preferably the first edge 53 of the recess 54 is located on a side of the recess 54 away from the second side 21 of the body 12 and is arranged higher than an opposite edge such that, when in the closed position, the plates 52 are angled towards the person pushing the trolley 18 for easy reading of the document.

A marker pen 58 is preferably provided, which can be used for marking off items on a shopping list by marking the upper surface of the uppermost plate 50. The use of whiteboard type marker pen will allow the markings to be erased as required. The pen 58 and an associated eraser may be stored in the recess 54.

It is also expected that one or more of the activity devices 14 provided on the trolley attachment 10 may be removable. As can be seen in Figure 9, the activity device 14 comprising turnable pages 22 is provided with a clip 60 which is receivable in a hole 61 provided in the upper surface 34 of the body 12. The activity device 14 may therefore be removed and replaced with alternate activity devices 14. A wider range of activity devices 14 can therefore be provided to aid entertaining a child seated in the seat of the trolley 18. It will be readily apparent to persons skilled in the relevant arts that various modifications and improvements may be made to the foregoing embodiments, in addition to those already described, without departing from the basic inventive concepts of the present invention.