Description Field of the art

The present invention refers to the field of nautical logistics elements. More in detail the present invention refers to a new trolley type for transporting goods from the ground to a boat, or vice versa, such as a sailboat or motor boat moored at a wharf, in order to assist the crew during transport and loading of goods, typically provisions, inside a boat and to be able to place and preserve the trolley inside the same boat without creating obstacles or obstructions for the crew due to the presence of said trolley.

State of the art

It is widely known, to those skilled in the nautical field or to those who have approached nautical science, that the field of accessories that can be found on boats is quite extensive, such accessories specially designed and obtained for their intended use. There is, in particular, in addition to the series of essential navigation equipment, an entire pack of various accessories, tools and instruments adapted to provide comfort, or to contribute to the enhancement thereof, in order to improve the conditions of the crew in completing all common activities performed on a boat, both sailboat and motor boats. Undoubtedly, many of the accessories and specific components for boats are to be sought in the: category of components for ship furnishing, such as chairs, small tables and other furnishing equipment; or in the category of hygienic sanitary apparatuses, in which the most classic installations are those most similar to those found on land; or in the category of electronic components, such as antennas or parabolas that allow capturing signals coming from any direction and which are usually enclosed in fairly large hemispherical containers, specially provided for preventing damage to the internal antennas, due to the movement of the boat; or in the category of household appliances for use in a nautical setting, which being a setting similar to the home, requires the care of a constant maintenance and for such reason often requires the use of a vacuum cleaner, dishwasher and washing machines, as in the case of the largest boats, which are specially designed for use at sea. The list of equipment mentioned up to now represents only a small part of the components that can be found on boats. Much more equipment, suitably arranged for navigation, are indeed sought for in the category of electrical equipment, in the category of propellers and propulsors, or in the category of air conditioning/heating plants, or in the category of structural components that includes, by way of a non-limiting example, windows, portholes, soundproofing panels that prevent the crew from being disturbed by the noise of the motors, automatic pilots, skylights, gangways, small bridges and many other components specially studied, designed and obtained in order to provide maximum comfort to the crew. Nevertheless, for many, even if the boats have a great many accessories, they are still restricted environments, "uncomfortable/inconvenient" from some standpoints, and they still oblige for certain aspects the completion of operations that are not very practical if compared with the analogous actions undertaken at land; consequently, such boats can involve problems to be resolved for those who regularly frequent them. In particular, one activity that for many is considered difficult and inconvenient is represented by the transport and loading of provisions inside boats. The latter, when moored to the wharfs, are almost always hard to reach by automobiles or in any case are far from stores such as supermarkets and the like. This nearly always means that the members of the crew involved in the transport of goods, from the store to the boat, must carry out relatively long travel journeys, supporting loads that can be fairly heavy. One solution to said problem is intuitively represented by the use of common trolleys, which can offer assistance during the transport of products to be brought into the boat. Nevertheless, considering that the boats - independent of their size and available spaces - are in any case places where it is preferable that all the on-board accessories are such not to create obstacles and obstructions for all the crew members, even a simple shopping trolley could still represent an accessory that is hard to place inside a boat, and hence is undesired. For such purpose, the present industrial invention patent application, described in detail hereinbelow, proposes as a solution to the aforesaid problem a new and innovative type of trolleys, for transporting and loading goods from land to a boat, both sailboats and motor boats, specially designed and obtained in order to be placed inside the peak of said boat types. Description of the invention

The present industrial invention patent application describes a new trolley type set for transporting goods or provisions to the interior of boats, both sailboats and motor boats, in order to facilitate the crew in transporting and loading the goods from land to sea and vice versa. In addition, said trolleys are such that they are not an obstacle once placed in the boat. More in detail, the present description refers to a trolley type that has been specially studied, designed and obtained for the aforesaid object and for being easily placed in the interior of the peak of boats, i.e. within the space, generally shaped like a pit, obtained for the stowage of useful nautical components. Still more in detail, the present invention describes a trolley type that is not very heavy and easy to handle. All of the above due to the use of relatively light materials, and due to the structural characteristics that make the trolley itself configurable like a suitcase. It is indeed this latter characteristic that allows placing the trolley within the peak of a boat with intuitive simplicity and occupying a relatively small volume of space. The present trolley is substantially composed of two main parts: a box-like support base, preferably made of aluminum or in any case in any one other material, e.g. plastic, which is rigid and sufficiently light so that it can be transported and lifted without carrying out excessive exertion; and at least one crate that can be reversibly integrated with said support base, it too made of a material analogous or similar to that constituting said support base. The trolley can also contain multiple crates, given that the latter are arranged for being stacked on each other. The present trolley can be associated with two main configurations which, for the sake of simplicity, in the course of the present description will be indicated as closed configuration and open configuration. More in detail, the present trolley has, in its open configuration, the common essential characteristics of a trolley manually transportable like a trolley: the trolley therefore has a framework, wheels, preferably at least three wheels assembled below the framework within the support base; the crate, adapted to contain the goods, and extended above said support base; and a common telescopic handle, with single or double rod, variously tiltable with respect to the plane where the framework and the base lie, and adapted to be grasped by the subject user of the trolley during the transport thereof. In its closed configuration, the trolley instead presents itself as a common suitcase with box-like profile, easily liftable and placeable in a compartment adapted to receive it, such as the trunk of a car, or as in the case described in the present invention, the peak of a boat. The passage from the open configuration to the closed configuration is obtained by folding the crate on itself with a superimposable wing mechanism, and lowering the telescopic transport handle in a manner so as to arrange it and lock it on the surface of the support base and more in detail on the folded walls of the crate. The possibility to vary the configuration of the trolley, and in particular to shape it like a common suitcase, is given by the telescopic and tiltable nature of the handle as well as by the foldable nature of the wings that compose the crate, by the possibility to retract the wheels placed below the framework. This particular feature represents the aspect characterizing the present invention. More in detail, as will be clearer in the course of the following description, also due to the observation of the enclosed drawings, the retraction of the wheels occurs with a simple mechanism specially designed and selected for the object itself of the invention. More in detail, the wheels of the trolley are assembled to the framework mainly due to components such as: pins, hooks, springs and levers which, when suitably assembled, allow retracting and extracting the wheels of the trolley. For each single wheel, the retraction occurs by manually lifting, with a rotary movement, a suitable small lever. Said operation involves the lifting of the wheel by means of the extension of a spring, indirectly connected thereto, which will remain in taut configuration due to a hook with which said spring is engaged. The wheel will remain retracted due to the insertion of a pin, also part of the gear system for the retraction/extraction of the wheels, which will be inserted and locked in a suitable hole present on the surface of the framework of the trolley. The extraction of the wheels occurs more simply, i.e. by pressing on a suitable knob, it too included in the retraction/extraction mechanism of the wheels, which when pressed causes the disengagement of the pin from the hole, as well as the lowering of the wheels, which will spontaneously complete a movement opposite that characterizing their lifting, given that the extraction of the wheels is accompanied by the spontaneous relaxation of the aforesaid initially extended spring.

As already anticipated, said operation mechanism will be clearer to the man skilled in the art from the observation of the enclosed drawings and from the analysis of the embodiments of the invention described hereinbelow. Once the crate is "folded", the telescopic transport handle lowered and locked on the surface of the trolley, and the wheels retracted, the suitcase is thus ready to be placed and preserved within the peak. The lifting of said suitcase occurs due to a suitable handle present on any one of the lateral surfaces of the closed trolley, similar to how the lifting occurs of common suitcases. In the various embodiments thereof, the present trolley comprises structural elements and characteristics which enhance its operation. For example, in some of these, the trolley has a modular structure and can thus be assembled to analogous trolleys due to the presence of suitable integrated hook systems. In other embodiments, the present trolley is particularly light due to the use of preformed materials, in a manner such to minimize the overall weight of the trolley as a whole.

Brief description of the drawings

FIGURE 1 shows a perspective view of the trolley 1, obj ect of the present industrial invention patent application. The figure shows the trolley 1 in open configuration, i.e. when it is arranged for the loading and transport of goods on a boat. More in detail, the figure in question shows that the trolley 1 comprises the support base 2 having the upper surface 2' on which the crate 4 is reversibly assembled, and the lateral walls 2" having circular holes 13 from which it is possible to access the small levers 7, adapted to retract and extract the wheels 5 of the trolley in passing from its open configuration to the closed configuration. The figure also shows the presence of the telescopic handle 6 adapted to transport the trolley, and the handle 30 adapted to lift said trolley when "closed". FIGURE 2 shows a perspective view of the trolley 1 in closed configuration. More in detail, the figure in question shows that said configuration is obtained by lowering the telescopic handle 6 in a manner so as to place and lock it on the surface 2' of the trolley, by folding the walls 4' of the crate 4 on each other and retracting wheels 5, by operating on the small levers 7. The locking of the telescopic handle 6 occurs due to a common snap-locking system 26, which allows maintaining said handle 6 lowered, thus also keeping the crate 4 locked when the trolley is in suitcase form. Said snap-locking system 26 is present at the "head" 40 of the telescopic handle 6, adapted to represent the grip of the handle 6. More in detail the snap- locking system 26 comprises a pin 27 adapted to be inserted, with a snap, within a corresponding hole 28 present on the support base 2 of the trolley 1. The operation mechanism of said locking is known and widely used, and is very similar to that present in all the doors and windows when they are closed. The figure also marks the presence of the element "29", i.e. of a common hooking system 29, preferably arranged on the wall 2" ' of the support base 2, and adapted to make said trolley 1 couplable to an analogous trolley 1.

FIGURE 3 shows a perspective view of the framework 3 inside the base 2 of the trolley 1. More in detail the figure intends to underline the presence of a plurality of perforations 11 present on all the walls of the framework and adapted to confer the latter the least weight possible, contributing to make the trolley 1 lighter overall. In particular, in the figure under examination, four perforations 11 are observable on the longer lateral walls 3 "; four perforations on the wall 3"' opposite the wall 3" " which is connected to the handle 6 (not shown in the figure); at least two perforations 11 on said wall 3 " "; and at least two perforations 11 on the lower wall 3 ' of said framework 3.

FIGURE 4 shows a perspective view of the framework 3 of the trolley 1. More in detail the figure in question intends to underline the components and the mechanism that allow retracting and extracting the wheels 5 of the trolley 1, in passing from its open configuration to the closed configuration. More specifically, said retraction and extraction of the wheels occur due to a small lever 7 (present for each wheel 5) which, when manually lifted with a rotary movement, allows lifting and retracting the wheels 5.

FIGURE 5 shows a detailed view of the gear system, of the trolley 1, adapted to allow the retraction/extraction of the wheels 5 in passing from the open configuration to the closed configuration and vice versa. More in detail the figure in question shows that said system comprises the rotatable plate 9 on the lateral wall 3 " of the framework 3, such plate rotatable with respect to the fulcrum 12. Connected to the plates 9, by means of thrust spring 14, is the small lever 7 adapted to actuate the retraction and extraction of the wheels 5. More in detail said small lever 7 has: at its "head", the knob 10 adapted, when pressed, to compress the spring 14; and, on the lower part, the bracket 15 movable and oscillating with respect to the fixed bracket 16 connected to said plate 9. The bracket 15 has the end 15' connected, by means of a common pin, to the small lever 7, and the end 15" shaped as a pin 17. The latter is adapted to be inserted and reversibly locked within holes 22 and 23 present on the wall 3" of the framework, respectively when the wheel is retracted and when the wheel is extracted (as in the case of the figure in question). Figure 5 also shows that, on the lateral wall 3" of the framework 3, the hook 20 is present which is welded on said wall 3 ", and adapted to couple one end of a further spring: the spring 18. The latter has the other end coupled with a further hook 21 present on the surface of the plate 9. Said spring 18 "accompanies" the rotation of the plate during the retraction and extraction of the wheels, being respectively extended and relaxed.

FIGURE 6 is similar to figure 5, and shows more in detail a detailed view of the gear system described in the preceding figure, when the wheel/wheels 5 is/are retracted.

Description of the preferred embodiments

In all embodiments thereof, the trolley 1, object of the present industrial invention patent application, comprises: the support base 2; the framework 3, inside said support base 2; at least one crate 4, adapted to contain the goods to be transported and loaded from land to the boat and/or vice versa. More in detail, the crate 4 is reversibly integrated with said base 2 and has a box-like profile, with four lateral walls 4' foldable on each other. The trolley can also have multiple crates 4 stacked on each other. Said trolley 1 is also provided with at least three wheels 5 connected below the framework 3; and with at least one telescopic handle 6, with single or double rod, adapted to facilitate the user in transporting the trolley.

As already mentioned, the trolley, object of the present invention, substantially assumes two configurations: an open configuration, in which said trolley is arranged for receiving and transporting the goods from one position to another; and a closed configuration which prepares the trolley for being placed inside a compartment, typically in the peak of a sailboat or motor boat, occupying a relatively small volume of space.

It is suitable to underline that the present trolley is adapted to be used not only at sea, but also in campgrounds, shopping centers and in all places where there is the need to facilitate the transportation of goods from one position to another. In the closed configuration, the trolley 1 has the shape of a suitcase, possibly provided with handle. The aspect characterizing the present trolley 1 lies in the possibility to pass from the "open" configuration to the "closed" configuration in a practical and fast manner: in particular said passage occurs by folding the lateral walls 4' of the crate 4 on each other, in a manner so as to arrange them parallel on the upper surface 2' of the support base 2, and by lowering telescopic handle 6, tiltable with respect to said base 2, in a manner so as to arrange it parallel to said base 2 as well. The transformation of the trolley 2 into a suitcase occurs in a particular way following the retraction of the wheels 5 within the framework 3. For such purpose, said wheels 5 are connected to said framework 3 with means and components that, once suitably assembled, allow generating the extractable and retractable wheels by simple manual intervention. Said possibility to retract and extract the wheels, as well as the mechanism with which the passage occurs from the open configuration to the closed configuration of the trolley, more in detail represents the element characterizing the present invention. More specifically, the passage from the open configuration of the trolley to the closed configuration, and in particular the retraction of the wheels 5, occurs due to a small lever 7, present for each of the wheels 5, and accessible to the user of the trolley. Said small levers 7 are connected to the respective wheels 5, are an integral part of a particular gear mechanism, and are accessible to said user of the trolley, from circular holes 13 obtained on the lateral walls 2" of the support base 2, in proximity to said wheels 5.

The gear system, which allows the retraction/extraction of the wheels, was specially studied and obtained for reaching the object of the invention, therefore representing the component characterizing the object of the present industrial invention patent application.

More in detail - considering, for descriptive purposes, one of the wheels 5 assembled to the lateral wall 3 " of the framework 3 - said gear system comprises a plate 9 rotatable, with respect to a fulcrum 12 thereof, on the longer lateral wall 3 " of the framework 3. Still more in detail, said plate 9 comprises the small lever 7 connected to said plate 9 by means of a thrust spring 14. Said small lever 7 is provided, on the lower part, with a bracket 15 movable and oscillating with respect to a fixed bracket 16. Said movable bracket 15 has two ends: the end 15', connected, by means of a common pin, with the small lever 7, and the end 15" shaped as a pin 17 traversing the plate 9 by means of a corresponding hole. The plate 9 is also connected to the lateral surface of the framework 3, by means of the fulcrum 12 as well as due to a suitable spring 18 having one end coupled with the framework 3 by means of a hook 20 welded on said framework 3, and the other end coupled with the plate 9 by means of a hook 21 welded on said plate 9. The wall 3 " of the framework 3 also has, in proximity to said plate 9, at least two holes 22 and 23 set for inserting and locking the pin 17 respectively in the closed and open configuration of the trolley 1. On the wall in question of the framework 3, at least two locking systems are present, and in particular the locking system 24 and the locking system 25 respectively adapted to stop the "travel" of the plate 9 during its rotation with respect to the fulcrum 12, in the passage from the open configuration to the closed configuration of the trolley 1. The operation mechanism of the gear system thus described provides that in passing from the open configuration, i.e. when the wheels are extracted, to the closed configuration, i.e. when the wheels are retracted, the small lever 7 is pressed at the knob 10 which represents "the head" of said small lever 7, inducing first the compression and then the thrust of the spring 14, with consequent oscillating movement of the movable bracket 15 and disengagement of the pin 17 from the hole 23. By rotating the small lever 7 in counter-clockwise sense, thus inducing the retraction of the wheels, the pin 17 will encounter the hole 22 in which said pin 17 will be inserted, locking the rotation of the plate 9. In support of said locking, also the locking system 25 will intervene which will stop the "travel" of said plate 9. The aforesaid rotation and locking of the trolley 1 in closed configuration are accompanied by the extension of the spring 18 which will remain taut until the user of the trolley 1 once again presses the knob 10, inducing the disengagement of the pin 17 from the hole 22. The extraction of the wheel 5 from the trolley 1 will be facilitated in the latter case, with respect to the retraction step, and spontaneous, since the rotation of the plate 9 in clockwise sense will be induced by the return force of the spring 18. Said rotation will cause the insertion of the pin 17 inside the hole 23 and the locking of the rotation of the plate 9, also due to the locking system 24.

The trolley is therefore easily used in the following manner:

a) The trolley 1, initially in open configuration, is moved for transporting goods, or provisions, in proximity to the boat;

b) The crate 4, adapted to receive the goods, is moved away from the support base 2 of the trolley 1, given that it is reversibly assembled thereto with mechanisms of known type, then the contents thereof are removed.

c) The crate 4, once emptied, is placed back on the support base 2 and folded on itself, superimposing its walls 4' on each other.

d) The telescopic handle 6 is retracted and lowered in a manner so as to arrange and lock it on the surface 2' of the support base 2;

e) The wheels 5 are retracted by acting on the suitable and specific small levers 7; f) The trolley 1, in closed configuration, is lifted as if it was a common suitcase, by grasping a suitable handle 30 present on any one of the lateral walls 2" of the support base 2;

g) The trolley 1 is placed back inside the peak of the boat.

In all embodiments thereof, the trolley 1 is characterized by its lightness, due not only to the use of relatively light materials such as aluminum and/or similar metal materials and/or plastic materials and/or composite materials, but also to the fact that it comprises a framework 3 which is suitably preformed with a high number of perforations, preferably at least sixteen perforations 11 present, overall, on the lateral walls of said framework 3. More in detail, the framework 3 has at least two perforations 11 on the lower wall 3 ', at least four perforations 11 on the longer lateral walls 3", at least four perforations 11 on the wall 3 "' of lesser length and opposite the telescopic handle 6, and at least two perforations 11 on the wall 3" " to which said handle 6 is assembled.

As already mentioned, the present trolley 1 has at least three wheels 5, of which at least two of said wheels 5 are assembled to the lateral walls 3" of the framework 3, and at least one wheel 5 to the lateral wall 3 " " to which the telescopic handle 6 is assembled. The latter is also provided, in proximity to its "head" 40, adapted to constitute the grip of the trolley, with a common snap-locking system 26, which allows maintaining said handle 6 lowered when the trolley is in suitcase form. Said snap-locking system 26 more in detail comprises a pin 27 adapted to be inserted, with a snap, within a corresponding hole 28 present on the support base 2 of the trolley 1. The operation mechanism of said locking is known and widely used and is very similar to that present in all doors and windows when they are closed.

In some embodiments, the trolley 1, object of the present description, has a modular structure. More in detail said trolley 1 is provided with hooking components and systems 29, of known type, which allow assembling one trolley 1 to another trolley 1 in a manner so as to offer the user the possibility to transport and load a fairly large quantity of goods. Preferably said hooking systems 29 is situated on the wall 2" ' of the support base 2, parallel to the wall 3 ' " of the framework. The trolley transformable into a suitcase according to the present invention can be made of any natural or synthetic polymer material that renders said trolley 1 buoyant. The buoyancy can also be ensured due to suitable airtight areas obtained in or around the framework 3. In this particular embodiment, the suitcase 1 would therefore be provided with an autonomous buoyancy adapted to prevent sinking if it should inadvertently fall into water. At any rate, in all embodiments thereof, the trolley 1 is provided with common systems for locking the wheels 5, adapted to prevent the undesired movement of the trolley and to facilitate its stopping in a specific position.

The buoyancy of the trolley in this particular embodiment can be used as a means of auxiliary support and floating in any condition, also in emergencies.

A further embodiment of the present trolley 1 provides that each gear system, as described above, set for the extraction and retraction of the wheels 5, is provided with a common dynamo adapted to power supply at least one LED lamp adapted to make the trolley visible during its movement at night, if requested, or in any case when there is poor light.

In still another embodiment, the trolley 1 is provided with an electric motor for the movement of the trolley itself.