Product trolley

Abstract

Product trolleys include a base, a sling assembly, and a roller assembly. The base includes a first sidewall, a second sidewall opposing the first sidewall, and an endwall extending between the first and second sidewalls. The base defines an inner surface, a first open end, a second open end opposite the first open end, and a top opening opposite the endwall. The base includes a spring action between the first sidewall and the second sidewall, such that the base is configured to be flexed to receive and releasably secure the product between the first and the second sidewalls. The sling assembly is secured to the base and includes a substantially flexible body formed of sheet material. The roller assembly is secured to the base proximate the endwall.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the invention will be described with respect to the figures, in which like reference numerals denote like elements, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a back, perspective view of a product transport system, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of a base of the product transport system of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a front view of the base of FIG. 2, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the base of FIG. 2, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a front view of a sling assembly of the product transport system of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a front view of a grip of the product transport system of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a side, cross-sectional view of the grip of FIG. 6, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a back, perspective view of a portion of the product transport system of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a wheel of the product transport system of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a side view of the product transport system of FIG. 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a back view of the product transport system of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a front, perspective view of the product transport system of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a product trolley in a collapsed state, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Claims

1. A product trolley comprising: a base including a first sidewall, a second sidewall opposing the first sidewall, and an endwall extending between the first and second sidewalls, the base defining an inner surface, a first open end, a second open end opposite the first open end, and a top opening opposite the endwall;a sling assembly secured to the base, the sling assembly including a body adapted to extend along a back of a product; anda roller assembly secured to the base proximate the endwall;wherein the base includes a spring action between the first sidewall and the second sidewall, such that the base is configured to be flexed to receive and releasably secure the product between the first and the second sidewalls.

2. The product trolley of claim 1, wherein the body of the sling assembly is substantially continuously formed as a single piece and is foldable into the base of the product trolley to transition the product trolley to a compact state.

3. The product trolley of claim 1, wherein the first sidewall extends to a terminal end, the first sidewall extending toward the second sidewall at the terminal end.

4. The product trolley of claim 1, wherein the second sidewall forms a grip projection extending from the inner surface of the base toward the first sidewall, the grip projection formed widthwise along the second sidewall.

5. The product trolley of claim 4, wherein the first sidewall extends to a terminal end, and further wherein the terminal end of the first sidewall and the grip projection of the second sidewall are positioned such that the terminal end is laterally opposed to the grip projection.

6. The product trolley of claim 1, wherein the endwall forms a toe portion proximate the first sidewall and a heel portion proximate the second sidewall, wherein the toe portion protrudes distally opposite the top opening more than the heel portion projects distally opposite the top opening.

7. The product trolley of claim 1, wherein the body of the sling assembly defines an upper portion and a lower portion, wherein the upper portion has an opening adapted to receive a hand, wherein the lower portion of the body is secured to the base.

8. The product trolley of claim 7, wherein the body of the sling assembly defines a first side and a second side, the first side opposing the second side, and further wherein the sling assembly further comprises: a first strap connected to the first side of the body and a second strap connected to the second side of the body, each of the first and second straps being substantially flexible and adapted to be wrapped about the product;wherein at least one of the first and second straps includes a connector for securing the first strap to the second strap.

9. The product trolley of claim 1, wherein the roller assembly comprises: an axle guide having an inner lumen extending through the axle guide, the axle guide projecting from the base;an axle coaxially received in the axle guide, the axle defining a first end and a second end;a first wheel secured to the first end of the axle; anda second wheel secured to the second end of the axle.

10. The product trolley of claim 9, wherein the first sidewall, the second sidewall, the endwall, and the axle guide are substantially continuously formed as a single piece.

11. The product trolley of claim 1, wherein the endwall of the base defines a thickness, wherein the endwall has a handle opening sized to receive a hand, and further wherein the handle opening is formed through the thickness of the endwall.

12. A packaged good transport system comprising: a packaged good defining a top portion, a bottom portion, a front, and a back, the packaged good having a weight; anda package transport comprising: a tray defining a substantially U-shaped side profile and adapted to support the bottom portion of the packaged good;a back support assembly secured to the tray, the back support assembly comprising: a back support member formed of flexible sheet material, the back support member defining an upper portion and a lower portion, the lower portion secured to the tray with the back support member extending away from the tray along the back of the packaged good and flexibly conforming to the back of the packaged good; anda wheel assembly secured to the tray, the wheel assembly for rolling the package transport and packaged good across a surface;wherein the back support assembly and the tray are adapted to support the weight of the packaged good upon grasping the upper portion of the back support member and tipping the packaged good and package transport backward onto the wheel assembly.

13. The packaged good transport system of claim 13, wherein the back support assembly further comprises: a first wing connected to the back support member and formed of flexible sheet material, the first wing extending about, and flexibly conforming to, the packaged good; anda second wing connected to the back support member opposite the first wing, the second wing formed of flexible sheet material, the second wing extending about, and flexibly conforming to, the packaged good, and the second wing including means for releasably fastening the first wing to the second wing.

14. The packaged good transport system of claim 12, wherein the packaged good includes a sack containing dog food.

15. The packaged good transport system of claim 12, wherein the packaged good weighs from about 10 lbs to about 50 lbs.

16. The packaged good transport system of claim 12, wherein the upper portion of the back support member has a first hole adapted to receive a hand and a second hole adapted to receive a hand, the second hole closer to the lower portion than the first hole.

17. A method of displaying a retail article and an article dolly, the method comprising: introducing a retail article to an observer in a retail environment, the retail article comprising an upper portion, a lower portion, a front and a back; andpresenting an article dolly to the observer proximate the retail article, the article dolly comprising: an article receptacle defining a substantially U-shaped side profile such that the article receptacle forms a mouth adapted to releasably receive the lower portion of the retail article;a sling assembly secured to the article receptacle, the sling assembly including a body, the body being substantially compliant; anda wheel assembly secured to the article receptacle opposite the mouth;wherein the body of the sling assembly follows a contour of the back of the retail article when the article dolly is in an assembled state with the retail article and further wherein the body of the sling assembly is configured to be folded and collapsed into the article receptacle when the article dolly is in a disassembled state with the retail article.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising: securing the retail article to the article dolly by expanding the mouth of the article receptacle and inserting the lower portion of the retail article into the mouth of the article receptacle.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the sling assembly includes first and second arms extending from the body and further wherein, the article dolly is displayed in a collapsed state with the first and second arms of the back support assembly folded onto the body and the body folded into the article receptacle.

20. A method of displaying a product and a product trolley, the method comprising: introducing a product to an observer in a retail environment, the product comprising an upper portion, a lower portion, a front and a back; andpresenting a product trolley to the observer with the product trolley attached, but separable and separately usable from the product, the product trolley comprising: a base adapted to releasably receive the lower portion of the product;a back support assembly secured to the base, the back support assembly configured to extend along the back of the product; anda plurality of wheels secured to the base opposite the back support assembly.