Shopping Trolley The subject invention concerns an improved shopping trolley. Various devices are available to facilitate handling and transport of goods and articles, such as shopping trolleys and ruck- sacks and, for attachment on bicycles and mopeds, packing bags which may be mounted on the luggage carrier of the bicycle on either side of the rear wheel. Pedal bicycles and mopeds may also be equipped with a baby-carrier seat. Furthermore are known push-chairs on which may be mounted a bag or a carrier for transport of goods or articles. In addition are known various harnesses by means of which small children may be carried on a person's back. However, hitherto there has not existed any possibility of combining all these functions in a single device.

The purpose of the subject invention is to provide a device whi.ch, when equipped with various implements mounted on said device and combinations thereof, is able to transport and carry various articles and goods as indicated above. This is achieved in accordance with the invention therein that the shopping trolley consists of one, upper section and one lower section which are removably interconnected by means of a locking member, each one of said sections being provided with load-carrying equipment.

The invention will be described in closer detail in the following with reference to one embodiment thereof shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 shows a shopping trolly in accordance with the invention resting on its support wheels and equipped with means for carrying goods,

Fig. 2 shows the trolley together with equipment des gned to carry goods and a small child, Fig. 3 illustrates the trolley mounted by means of a harness on a person's back,

Fig. 4 shows the two sections of the trolley mounted on a bicycle by means of a holder bracket and equipped with a seat for carrying a small child as well as being provided with packing bags for carrying goods, and

Fig. 5 shows the sections of the trol ley- when mounted on either side of the rear wheel of a bicycle by means of the hol der bracket.

The shopping trol ley consists of one upper and one lower section 1 and 2, respectively, of which the lower section 2 is provided with support wheel s 3. Both sections are in the form of a tubular frame 4 and 5, the tubul ar frame 5 of the lower section being provided at its lower part with an angular member 6 projecting essential ly horizontal ly away from the l ower section 2. The angul ar member 6 and the vertical legs of the tubular frame 5 are provided with fastener apertures 7 in which may be secured a wi re frame 8 desi gned to support a baby seat 9 ( see Fig. 2) as well as wire yokes 10 for attachment of carrier straps 11 ( see Fi g. 4) . The upper section 1 is provided with attachment members 12 by means of which a packing bag 13 be secured to the upper trol ley section 1. A lower horizontal ly extending U-beam 14 is mounted in the tubular frame 4 of the upper section, said U-beam opening downwards so as to al low press-fit insertion therei n from underneath of the upper hori zontal portion of the tubul ar frame 5 of the lower section 2. A resil ient locking plate 15 is mounted at the lower edge of the U-beam 14 and part of sai d plate projects into an opening (not shown) in said beam, said plate part arranged to allow insertion of sai d upper portion of the lower section 2 into the U-beam 14 and to fasten it therein against separation from the upper section . By actuating a tongue- shaped member 16 on the locking pl ate 15 the fastening effect of the l atter may be released and the two sections be separated from each other.

In their assembled condition as ill ustrated in e.g. Figs. 1 and 3 , the shopping trolley has a hei ght which allows it to be. comfortably pul led or pushed with the person handl ing the trol ley simply gripping the upper hori zontal arm of the tubular frame 4. As ill ustrated in Fi g. 1 the lower section 2, may be equipped with suppert arms 17 to support a box or crate , e.g. a beer crate 18 or the l ike, or, as ill ustrated in Fig. 2 it may be equipped with a ^' baby seat 9 or al ternatively with a further packing bag 13.

As shown in Fig. 3 the two secti ons 1 and 2, when assembl ed, may be carried with the aid of harness or straps on a person' s 19 back.

In thi s case the wheel s 3 attached to the lower section 2 need

not be dismantled, since the wire yokes 10 and the strap 11 ensure that the wheels 3 will not touch the body of the person carrying the device on his back.

In order to allow the shopping trolley 1, 2 to be mounted on a pedal bicycle 20 a holder bracket 21 is used, which is provided with attachment means 22, 23 and with a locking member 24 so as to retain the sections 1 and 2 securely, either suspended on either side of the rear wheels of the bicycle 20 or the lower section supported in an up¬ right position on the holder bracket 21. It is likewise possible to attach the support arms 17 on top of the holder bracket 21. In the em¬ bodiment shown the latter is in the form of a plate 5-. which is attach¬ ed by means of lugs and screws (not shown in the drawing figures) to the luggage carrier of the bicycle 20. The attachment means 22 serve as suspension hooks from which the sections 1 and 2 may be suspended and locked in position by means of the locking member 24. The attachment means 23 are formed on the upper face of the holder bracket 21 and are in the form of hooks into which the lower section 2 or the support arms 17 may be inserted and blocked by means of the locking member 24. In order to prevent the sections 1 and 2, when suspended in the attachment means 2, from swinging inwards so as to interfere with the rear wheel of the bicycle or outwards therefrom the holder bracket 21 additionally is provided with support elements 25 (see Fig. 4) gripping the inner and the outer faces of the tubular frames 4, 5.

The device in accordance with the invention allows a number of possible combinations which together cover the majority of the need that a family may have as regards carrying and transporting children, goods and other equipment, for instance for leisure, camping, outdoor activities and games. The device is very useful as a luggage carrier ^* when travelling by public transport, as the entire device including its attachments and implements may be carried by hand or wheeled on its support wheels. The shopping trolley may be conveniently stored in the lugage compartment of a car where it does not occupy unduly much space in its dismounted condition.

The invention is not limited to the embodiment described in the aforegoing but a variety of modifications are possible within the scope of the appended claims. The two sections 1 and 2 may, for example, have a different shape and Other equipment than that illustrated may be used to serve particular needs.