FIELD

[0001] The present disclosure relates to logistics equipment. In particular, the invention relates to wheeled platforms, i.e. dollies, on which parceled goods are

transported and stored temporarily.

BACKGROUND

[0002] There is known a vast variety of different devices used for transporting parceled goods. Typically pieces or stacks thereof are loaded onto a wheeled platform, on which they are conveyed to shop floor or storage. These wheeled platforms are called dollies. It is the continuous aim of the industry to pursue a dolly that is easy to use. One aspect of the dolly that is seen as contributing to an efficient user experience is the ability to lock the wheel of the dolly so as to keep the load stationary when needed. Accordingly, various different foot-operated wheel brakes are known for this purpose. There is, however, demand for a developed dolly that is not only easy to use, safe, and volumetrically efficient.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] A novel dolly is proposed with a deck that has a generally prismatic shape formed by a top, a bottom opposing the top, and a flank bordering the deck between the top and the bottom. A caster is mounted to the bottom of the deck. A pedal brake is attached to the caster. The deck has a recessed edge which transitioning the flank to the bottom. The recessed edge is located adjacent to the mounting point of the caster for creating an operating space for the pedal of the pedal brake. The swivel caster has an alignment mechanism for orienting the swivel caster about the swivel axis of the swivel caster into a predetermined angular orientation, in which the pedal brake is below the recessed edge of the deck. The pedal stays within the periphery of the deck when the pedal points towards the relieved edge.

[0004] Considerable benefits are gained with aid of the present proposition. With the compact design of the dolly, i.e. the slanted bottom edge and a“short” pedal brake, the function of the brake is achieved without the pedal protruding outside the footprint of the deck. The novel design thus caters for not only volumetric efficiency but also safety as the operator cannot accidentally sustain injuries to the foot or leg from the protruding brake pedal. On the other hand, the slanted edge provides for operational space for releasing the brake by a kicking motion while maintaining visibility to the state, i.e. orientation, of the brake pedal for providing clear visible cue about whether or not the dolly is ready to be moved. More advantages are described in connection with detailed description of the particular embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0005] In the following certain exemplary embodiments are described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 illustrates a perspective view of a dolly according to some embodiments with a pedal brake engaged;

FIGURE 2 illustrates a side elevation view of the dolly of FIGURE 1; FIGURE 3 illustrates a bottom perspective view of the swivel caster of the dolly of

FIGURE 1; FIGURE 4 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the swivel caster of FIGURE 3 with the pedal brake released;

FIGURE 5 illustrates a side elevation view a dolly according to other embodiments with a pedal brake released, and

FIGURE 6 illustrates a perspective explosion view of the swivel caster of FIGURE 3.

EMBODIMENTS

[0006] The embodiments herein described make us of a relieved bottom edge of a deck of a dolly for providing operating space so as to operate a pedal brake of a caster. In the present context the term dolly refers to a hand-propelled logistics load-bearer, e.g. for the transport of parcelled goods. The operational space further serves the purpose of enabling the use of a pedal brake that does not extend past the footprint of the dolly, which improves occupational safety. The relieved edge is provided by recessing the otherwise prismatic shape of the deck. In the present context, the expression“recessed edge” refers to an edge shape which is bevelled compared to a right angle comer. The recessed edge may be chamfered, rounded, sloped, or otherwise transitioned as a non-straight comer. [0007] FIGURE 1 shows a first exemplary embodiment in perspective view. The illustrated dolly 100 has s universally typical structure in the sense that it features a generally prismatic deck 110 and four casters 120, 130 mounted to the bottom 113 of the deck 110. To be precise the generally prismatic shape of the deck 110 is formed in the horizontal dimension by a top 111, which is a load carrying surface, and the bottom 113, which may be a planar or non-planar surface that is approximately parallel to the top 111. The top 111 is connected to the bottom 113 by a flank 112, which is made up by four successive sides which extend orthogonally from the top 111. The flank 112 defines the deck 110 in the vertical dimension. The sides are generally planar notwithstanding attachment features such as slots. According to a preferred embodiment, two of the four casters are rigid, i.e. non-turning, and the other two are swivel casters, i.e. turning. For the sake of brevity, the end of the dolly 100 featuring swivel casters 120 is referred to as the front end and the end of the dolly 100 featuring rigid casters 130 is referred to as the rear end.

[000S] FIGURES 1, 2, and 5 reveal a peculiarity in the design of the deck 110. The flank 112 features a recessed edge 114. This means that the transition from the flank 112, i.e. side surface, to the bottom (surface) 113 is bevelled so as to be in a non-right angle. The recessed edge 114 transitions the flank 112 to the bottom 113 near the casters, more particularly near the mounting point of the caster. In the shown example there is a plurality of recessed edges 114, namely two recessed edges 114, provided to the front end of the deck 110 so as to create an operating space for the pedal brake 123 of the caster 120. While the illustrated embodiments feature only one brake 123 provided to a swivel caster 120, several brakes could be provided to respective several casters or only one brake could be provided to a rigid caster. Similarly, only the brake caster could be provided with an operating space by virtue of the recessed edge or several casters may be given such a recessed edge 114. The recessed edge 114 is a relieved transition which is a contrast to a right angled edge which is seen as the transition between the flank 112 and the bottom 113 outside the recessed portion of the flank 112. In the example of the FIGURES, the bottom side comer between the front and rear ends of the dolly is not recessed in the present meaning.

[0009] According to the embodiment of FIGURES 1 and 2, the recession is provided in the form of a slanted or chamfered shape. This means that the comer, which would otherwise be a right angle, is relieved with a planar cutout or void. The recessed edge 114 may extend through the entire thickness of the deck or, as depicted in FIGURES 1, 2, and 5, the recession may be partial, wherein the recession reaches from a point on the vertical extension of the flank 112, i.e. side surface, to the bottom 113 of the deck. According to the embodiment of FIGURE 5, however, the profile of the recessed edge 114 is non-planar. FIGURE 5 shows the profile of the recessed edge 114 as a fillet which is convex when viewed below. Alternatively, the recessed edge could be concave when viewed below. In the illustrated examples (see FIGURES 2 and 5), the recessed edge 114 is shaped such to include a horizontal portion between the bevelled, i.e. chamfered or rounded, portion for providing even more space for operating the brake 123 by foot.

[0010] The rigid casters 130 may be conventional and attached from the fork to the bottom of the deck 113. The swivel casters 120 may have a somewhat generic construction in that they comprise a fork 121 which is rotatably connected to a mount 125 which, in turn, is fixed to the bottom 113 of the deck 110. The fork 121 is configured to rotate in respect to the mount 125 about a swivel axis A _s shown in FIGURE 4. The wheel 112 is rotatably connected to the fork 121 so as to be rotated about a rotation axis A _r . The swivel axis A _s is vertical and the rotation axis A _r horizontal.

[0011] Equally conventionally, the swivel caster 120 features a pedal brake 123. In the shown example, the pedal brake 123 is a tech lock brake meaning that it has a spring loaded pad 123D for making contact with the wheel 122 and a pedal 123 A for manipulating the pad 123D. The pad 123D and pedal 123 A are attached to the fork 121 via a bracket 124. In the illustrated example, the pad 123D is integral to the bracket 124. They may, for example, be stamped or pressed from a single piece of sheet metal. Such an approach is beneficial because the pad 123D becomes inherently elastic thus allowing bending in respect to the rest of the bracket 124. The pedal 123 A is shaped so as to provide a cam for releasably pressing the pad 123D against the wheel 122. To facilitate the camming action, the pedal is pivotably connected to the bracket 124 through an axle 123C so as to be turned about a pivot axis A _p formed by the axle 123C. The pivot axis A _p is horizontal. To keep the swivel wheel 120 as short as possible the pivot axis A _p is located between the rotation axis A _r of the wheel 122 and the outermost edge of the wheel 122 in the horizontal dimension . The pedal 123 A also has a lever 123B which extends in an angle which is less than a straight angle, preferably a right angle. The purpose of this shape is to accommodate release of the pedal brake 123 by kicking on the lever 123B so as to introduce a force component which lifts the pedal 123A off the pad 123D. As shown in FIGURE 4, the pedal 123 A and lever 123B may be constructed as an integral piece.

[0012] The deck 100 includes conventional wheel recesses 115 provided to the top 111 for receiving the wheels of another dolly superposed thereon. The shown exemplary deck 110 has the dimensions of 400 x 600 x 40 mm but of course the dimensions are freely variable. The wheel recesses 115 have an elongated quadrangular shape which is aligned with that of the deck 110, wherein the longest sides of the wheel recesses 115 and the deck 110 are parallel. Accordingly, the wheels of a superposed dolly are aligned in a particular orientation shown in FIGURE 1.

[0013] Turning now to FIGURES 3 and 4 which display the construction of the swivel caster 120 in greater detail. The mount 125 has a planar flange for connection to the bottom 113 of the deck 110 with fasteners. The mount 125 has a collar portion acting as a bearing case. The fork 121 is rotatably connected to the collar portion of the mount 125 with a bearing formed there between to form the swivel axis A _s . To accommodate the mount, the bottom 113 of the deck 110 is preferably recessed so as to enable flush installation, wherein the bottom surface of the mount 125 is flush with the bottom 113 of the deck 110. At the lower end of the fork 121 there is a traditional bearing providing the horizontal rotation axis A _r for the wheel 122. The bracket 124 is attached or integral to the top of the fork 121, wherein the pedal brake 123 is indirectly attached to the fork 121, or formed as an integral piece, wherein the pedal brake 123 is directly attached to the fork

121. The bracket 124 is designed to locate the pedal brake 123 at the circumference of the wheel 122. It is preferable to locate the pedal brake 123 near the swivel axis A _s so as to keep the total length of the caster 120 as short as possible for avoiding the pedal 123 A from protruding outside the footprint of the deck 110. In the shown embodiment, the pedal 123A of the pedal brake 123 is located over the wheel 122 at the upper half of the wheel

122. In the equilibrium state of the swivel axis 120 as shown in the FIGURES, the swivel axis 120 points forward, i.e. towards to the front end of the dolly 100 where the deck 110 comprises the recessed edge 114. As may be- seen from FIGURES 2 and 5, the pedal 123A stays within the periphery of the deck 110 when the pedal 123 A points towards the relieved edge 114. This means that pedal brake 123 does not extend past the footprint of the deck 110. The footprint is the vertical projection of the deck 110 on the surface supporting the dolly 100. The“shortness” of the swivel wheel 120 including the pedal brake 123 applies in both states of the pedal brake 123, i.e. in the applied state of FIGURE 2 and in the released state of FIGURE 5. The“shortness” is achieved, i.a., with the relatively short bracket 124 and the angular shape of the pedal 123 A.

[0014] FIGURES 3 to 5 also show the details of the alignment mechanism which orients the swivel caster 120 towards an orientation in which the pedal brake 123 is below the slanted edge 114 of the deck 110. This orientation is shown in FIGURES 1, 2, and, 5. This orientation the wheel 122 is aligned with the longest dimension of the deck 110. To facilitate the alignment mechanism, the fork 121 has been provided with at least one opening which is located at the side of the fork 121 facing the rear of the dolly 110. It should be noted that FIGURES 1 to 4 show one version of the swivel caster 120, whereas FIGURES 5 and 6 show another version. In the version of FIGURES 1 to 4 the, the opening is located at the rearmost point of the fork 121, when the swivel caster 120 is in the equilibrium state. In the version of FIGURES 5 and 6 there are two openings located at the side of the fork 121 facing the rear of the dolly 110. The two openings are spaced apart on the periphery of the fork 121 by 45 degrees when observed from a bottom elevation view (not shown in the FIGURES). The double opening option enables the use of several biasing elements for reinforced alignment action. Using several springs would strengthen the realignment force in the alignment action. The opening is designed to receive one end of a biasing element 126. In the shown example the biasing element 126 takes the form of a coil spring but naturally other resilient elements could be used, such as leaf springs, rubber strings, etc. In the shown example the alignment mechanism features only one biasing element 126 but several, such as two, are foreseen. Should several biasing elements be used, it would be preferable to arrange the elements on the rear side of the swivel caster 120, i.e. on the side opposing the pedal brake 123.

[0015] The biasing element 126 connects the fork 121 resilient ly to a contact point 127 of the swivel caster 120. The biasing element 126 extends in a horizontal dimension. The contact point 127 may take the form of a post or similar construction which is configured to stay stationary in respect to the fork 121 during turning motion thereof about the swivel axis A _s . In the shown example, the contact point 127 is a vertical post extending from a plug 128. The biasing element 126 is fitted to urge the swivel caster 120 to the equilibrium state shown in the FIGURES. When the swivel caster 120 is turned about the swivel axis A _s , the biasing element 126 is loaded, wherein the spring back factor of the biasing element 126 will work towards returning the swivel caster 120 to the equilibrium state. In other words, the biasing element 126 extends in a dimension that is orthogonal in respect to the swivel axis A _s of the swivel caster 120 and is configured to elastically deform in said dimension.

[0016] As shown in FIGURES 4 and 6, the contact point 127 is a post that extends vertically from a plug 128. The plug 128 a component that is rotationally fixed to the deck 110. The plug 128 provides for a contact point 127 for the biasing element 126. The contact point 127 is located such to be offset from the swivel axis A _s in a dimension that is orthogonal in respect to the swivel axis A _s (FIGURE 4). The offset provides for a balancing force component for returning the swivel caster into the equilibrium state. In the illustrated embodiment, that dimension is horizontal. The plug 128 is fixed to the deck 110 by pressing it into the receptive opening in the hub of the top bearing of the swivel caster 120, i.e. into the opening in the mount 125. The opening may be a through hole that enables insertion from below with the mount 125 attached to the bottom 113. Alternatively as shown in FIGURE 6 the opening enables insertion from above when the mount 125 is detached from the bottom 113. The plug 128 has a corresponding flange assuming correct depth against the edge of the opening on the mount 125. The top shape of the plug 128 is designed to slot into place in respect to a corresponding rib on the bottom 113 of the deck 110. In the shown example, the top shape includes a rotationally non-symmetrical protrusion 129 that fits into a corresponding rotationally non-symmetrical, such as quadrilateral, opening on the bottom 113 of the deck (FIGURE 6). The protrusion acts as a rotation lock. Alternatively, the male rotation preventing counterpart could be provided to the bottom of the deck and the female rotation preventing counterpart could be provided to the plug (not shown in the FIGURES). The rotation preventing interface between the plug 128 and the deck 110 prevents the plug 128 from turning thus locking the orientation of the contact point 127 in respect to the deck 110. Otherwise the biasing element 126 might not have sufficient support from the contact point 127. The construction of the plug 128 also enables retrofitting an existing swivel caster with an alignment mechanism. Accordingly, a caster of a dolly may retroactively be converted from a freely turning swivel caster to a self-aligned swivel caster by adding a plug 128 and at least one biasing element 126.

[0017] It is to be understood that the embodiments of the invention disclosed are not limited to the particular structures, process steps, or materials disclosed herein, but are extended to equivalents thereof as would be recognized by those ordinarily skilled in the relevant arts. It should also be understood that terminology employed herein is used for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. [0018] Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases“in one embodiment” or“in an embodiment” in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment.

[0019] As used herein, a plurality of items, structural elements, compositional elements, and/or materials may be presented in a common list for convenience. However, these lists should be construed as though each member of the list is individually identified as a separate and unique member. Thus, no individual member of such list should be construed as a de facto equivalent of any other member of the same list solely based on their presentation in a common group without indications to the contrary. In addition, various embodiments and example of the present invention may be referred to herein along with alternatives for the various components thereof. It is understood that such embodiments, examples, and alternatives are not to be construed as de facto equivalents of one another, but are to be considered as separate and autonomous representations of the present invention.

[0020] Furthermore, the described features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. In the following description, numerous specific details are provided, such as examples of lengths, widths, shapes, etc., to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the invention. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that the invention can be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, etc. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of the invention.

[0021] While the forgoing examples are illustrative of the principles of the present invention in one or more particular applications, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that numerous modifications in form, usage and details of implementation can be made without the exercise of inventive faculty, and without departing from the principles and concepts of the invention. Accordingly, it is not intended that the invention be limited, except as by the claims set forth below.

[0022] The verbs“to comprise” and“to include” are used in this document as open limitations that neither exclude nor require the existence of also un-recited features. The features recited in depending claims are mutually freely combinable unless otherwise explicitly stated. Furthermore, it is to be understood that the use of "a" or "an", i.e. a singular form, throughout this document does not exclude a plurality.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST