Trolleys for use in shops and supermarkets comprise a basket, usually consisting of a wire framework, mounted on a set of wheels. There are generally four wheels, and each wheel is usually independently rotatable about a vertical axis, to allow the trolley to be steered and directed around corners.

Trolleys are generally available near the entrance to a store. The trolleys are loaded with shopping and subsequently wheeled to a customer's car located in the car park, often a significant distance from the store. Designated areas in the car park are available in which customers may leave trolleys for subsequent collection and return to the store entrance. The trolleys engage one another to form a line of trolleys interlocked from front to back.

Collection of trolleys is conventionally carried out by supermarket staff who collect and push the trolleys in a line from the car park to the store entrance. This is difficult as the trolleys do not necessarily move in the desired direction, particularly since the four wheels on each trolley are independently rotatable. Significant force and skill is required to move a long line of trolleys.

Various proposals have been made to overcome this problem. It is known to mount the trolleys on a platform to move them. This avoids the problem caused by the independent rotation of the wheels. However, moving the trolleys onto and off the platform can be awkward and time consuming.

According to the invention there is provided apparatus for guiding trolleys, the apparatus including: a support frame; roller means for mounting the support frame on the ground; and restraining means mounted on the support frame and moveable into and out of a restraining position in which a line of trolleys may be restrained by the apparatus.

Preferably the restraining means is able to restrain movement of a line of trolleys in each of two mutually perpendicular directions. The apparatus may include means for substantially surrounding a line of trolleys, when the restraining means is in its restraining position. Preferably the restraining means is substantially inflexible. The restraining means may include a bar extending substantially in a longitudinal direction of a line of trolleys in use and moveable into and out of a position in which the line of trolleys is restrained.

When the restraining means is in its restraining position the line of trolleys may be located between the moveable bar and a fixed bar.

The moveable bar may be mounted on the fixed bar via support means.

The support means may be pivotable about the fixed bar to move the moveable bar into and out of the position in which the line of trolleys is restrained. The support means may comprise one or more bars which also act to restrain the line of trolleys. The support means may comprise laterally oriented bars mounted towards the ends of the fixed bar. At least one of the laterally oriented bars may be curved or angled.

Two moveable bars may be mounted on the fixed bar. Preferably the moveable bars are independently moveable. Preferably the moveable bars are located on opposite sides of the fixed bar when positioned to restrain a line of trolleys.

The roller means may comprise one or more castors or wheels.

Preferably the roller means are mounted on a base frame which forms a part of the support frame. Such base frame may comprise a longitudinal bar located substantially beneath the fixed bar in use. The base frame may further comprise a lateral bar, located substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal bar and at or near one of its ends. A wheel or castor rotatable about a vertical axis may be mounted towards each end of the lateral bar. Each wheel or castor may include breaking means. At an opposite end of the longitudinal bar, a castor or wheel may be mounted. Preferably, this castor or wheel is unable to rotate about a vertical axis.

The base frame may mount two upright bars, one located towards each end of the longitudinal bar. The upright bars may mount the fixed bar. The fixed bar may be mounted from a mid portion of each upright bar. A chain may extend between an upper portion of one of the upright bars and an end portion of one of the laterally oriented bars of the support means.

The lateral bar of the base frame may also mount an end frame including upright bars and a cross bar. An upright bar may be mounted towards each end of the lateral bar and a cross bar may extend between distal ends of the upright bars. Upper ends in use of the upright bars may form means for receiving ends of the moveable bars.

Preferably the apparatus comprises a coupling for attaching the apparatus to a propulsion means. The coupling may include a member having a recess for co-operating with a portion of a coupling on the propulsion means.

The member is preferably pivotable about a horizontal axis. Preferably the horizontal axis is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the apparatus.

An embodiment of the invention will be described for the purpose of illustration only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a trolley guide according to the invention, positioned such that it could restrain a line of trolleys; and Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the trolley guide of Fig. 1, in a position where a line of trolleys may be inserted or released.

Referring to the figures, a trolley guide 10 includes a lower frame 12 consisting of a longitudinal bar 14, which is approximately 3.5m to 4m long, and a lateral bar 16 perpendicular thereto. The lower frame may be and a lateral bar 16 perpendicular thereto. The lower frame may be manufactured from galvanised mild steel.

Mounted on the longitudinal bar 14 remote from the lateral bar 16 is a castor 20. The castor 20 is rotatable about a horizontal axis perpendicular to the longitudinal bar 14 so as to function as a wheel allowing longitudinal movement of the bar 14. However, the castor 20 is not able to swivel about a vertical axis. Thus, the castor does not allow lateral movement of the end 18 of the longitudinal bar 14.

Mounted at each end of the lateral bar 16 is a castor 22. Each castor 22 is able to rotate about a horizontal axis and is also able to swivel about a vertical axis. Thus the castors 22 allow movement of the lateral bar in any direction, dependent upon the orientation of the castors. The castors 22 are provided with manually operable breaking means (not illustrated).

An upright bar 24 is mounted near an end 18 of the longitudinal bar 14, remote from the lateral bar 16. The upright bar 24 extends vertically when the apparatus rests on horizontal ground, and is approximately 1.5m in length. A similar upright bar 26 extends vertically from a point 28 approximately where the lateral and longitudinal bars meet. Each upright bar may be made from galvanised mild steel. Mounted on and extending between the upright bars 24 and 26 is a centre bar 30 which may also be of galvanised mild steel. The centre bar 30 is mounted approximately above the lateral bar 14 and is mounted about half way up the upright bars 24 and 26.

At one end of the centre bar 30 are mounted two support bars 32A and 32B. The support bars are mounted such that they are perpendicular to the centre bar 30 and are able to rotate about the centre bar 30. The cross bars are so positioned to prevent them from fouling against stacked trolleys when they rotate into the restraining position as described in more detail hereinafter. The movement of the two support bars 32A and 32B is mutually independent.

Similar support bars 34A and 34B are independently rotatably mounted on the centre bar 30 at its other end. The support bars 34A and 34B are angled such that they fold neatly away from the trolleys in the Fig. 2 position.

The support bars 32A and 34A mount a side bar 36A which extends between their distal ends, parallel to the centre bar 30 and the lateral bar 14.

The side bar is preferably of stainless steel. By rotating the cross bars 32A and 34A about the centre bar 30, the side bar may be moved between the position shown in Fig. 1 and that shown in Fig. 2. Gas springs 38A extend between the centre bar 30 and side bar 36A in proximity to the cross bar 32A. The gas springs ensure a smooth movement between the Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 positions. The gas springs 38A also resist initial rotation of the support bars so that the side bar 36A may be held securely in either the Fig. 1 or Fig. 2 position.

The support bars 32B and 34B mount a corresponding side bar 36B which functions in an analogous manner to the side bar 36A. Gas springs 38B perform an equivalent function to the gas springs 38A.

An end frame 40 is mounted on the lateral bar 16 and the upright bar 26.

Trolleys are able to abut against this end frame as described in more detail below. The end frame 40 consists of substantially vertical bars 42 and horizontal bars 44, which may both be made of galvanised mild steel. In the Fig. 1 position the side bars 36A and 36B rest on stirrups 46 provided by the tops of the vertical bars 42. Rubber pads are provided on the stirrups 46.

At the opposite end of the trolley guide, the side bars 36A and 36B are supported when in the Fig. 1 position by flexible chains 48, shrouded in plastic covers.

A coupling 50 is mounted on the trolley guide 10 near the point 28 where the longitudinal and lateral bars of the lower frame 12 meet. The coupling 50 includes a member 52 which includes an opening 54 for engaging a coupling of, for example, an electrically operated tug. A suitable device is described in U. K.

Patent GB227934. Such devices are ranged to bear a proportion of the weight of the load to be conveyed, thus increasing the friction with the ground and the maximum propulsive force which the device is able to apply. To ensure that such a device is always in contact with the ground when conveying the trolley guide 10, the coupling 50 is able to pivot about a horizontal axis as shown by the arrow in Fig. 2. This prevents the tug from losing engagement with the ground as it moves onto a downhill slope.

The trolley guide may be used as follows. The side bars 36A and 36B are lifted into the Fig. 2 position, by pivoting the support bars 32A and 34B and 34A and 34B about the centre bar 30. The brakes on the castors 22 should be on. A line of stacked trolleys is pushed sideways, forwards or backwards into the apparatus such that it abuts against the centre bar 30 and the end frame 40.

A similar line of trolleys is moved into engagement with the other side of the trolley guide. The side bars 36A and 36B are pulled manually into the Fig. 1 position. In the Fig. 1 position each line of trolleys is surrounded on each side by the centre bar 30, side bars 36A and 36B and support bars 32A, 32B, 34A and 34B.

A propulsion device, such as a tug, is then engaged with the coupling 50.

The brakes are then taken off the castors 22 and the trolley guide pulled or pushed to a desired position. Once the trolleys are in or close to the desired position, the side bars 36A and 36B may be lifted to the Fig. 2 position, thus freeing the trolleys. The trolley guide may then be towed away from the line of trolleys, leaving them in a line in the desired position.

There is thus provided a trolley guide for easily moving a line of trolleys from one place to another. During transportation of the trolleys, they are maintained in a straight line and are unable to snake out of control. They may be accurately and easily moved. No significant manual labour is involved in moving the trolleys.

Various modifications may be made to the above described embodiment without departing from the invention. For example, the dimensions of the trolley guide may be varied; the trolley guide may be made from different materials; and any means of conveying the trolley guide may be used. It is preferable that the coupling 50 and the end frame 40 are located at the same end of the trolley guide. This enables the trolley guide to be towed away from a line of trolleys, leaving them in place, without the need to move the line of trolleys out laterally away from the guide. However, it is possible for the coupling and the end frame to be located at opposite ends of the trolley guide.

The coupling may include a standard tow ball and tow pin bracket instead of the member 52.

Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.