EP1201217A2

EP1201217A2 - Improved hand-driven cart to transport coffins

Info

Publication number: EP1201217A2
Application number: EP01500238A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Luis Manuel Garcia Alvarez
Original assignee: Funeraria Gijonesa Sa
Current assignee: Funeraria Gijonesa Sa
Priority date: 2000-10-19
Filing date: 2001-09-26
Publication date: 2002-05-02
Anticipated expiration: 2021-09-26
Also published as: ES1047341U; EP1201217B1; EP1201217A3; ES1047341Y; PT1201217E

Abstract

Consisting of a metal structure (2) with a pair of mobile wheels (3) and a pair of fixed wheels (3') on the bottom, and two sets of mobile metal strips (5) (5') (6) (6') on the top, joined together by transversal parts (7) (7') and two pairs of metal strips (23) (23') coupled to hydraulic pumps (10) (10') which can be activated by pedals (11) (11'); so that the coffin can be raised and lowered supported by a platform (13) on the underside of which there are two pairs of parts (8) (8') (9) (9') joined to the mobile metal strips (5) (5') (6) (6').

Description

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

This specification refers to a Utility Model application, relating to an improved hand-driven cart to transport coffins, the purpose of which is evidently to transport a coffin with a body inside. The surface that supports the cart can be adjusted to a variety of heights in order to simplify the operations involved in transporting the coffin with its contents on the cart itself, such as from the funeral parlour to the hearse and vice versa. By making use of the independently activated hydraulic pumps, the support surface can be adjusted to a diagonal position. The operations of elevating and lowering the surface are carried out by means of pedals, which directly act upon the pumps involved, together with the relevant support mechanism.
The height of the invention, thanks to its lifting and lowering mechanism, can be lowered in order to reduce its total volume for storage or transport purposes.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention is applicable in the industry dedicated to the manufacture of carts, lift-trucks and similar articles.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The applicant is aware of the existence of a large number of hand-driven carts designed to transport coffins, the common denominator of which are the wheels that move the cart and a rectangular surface on which the coffin is positioned, with a gripping area to guide it when being moved and having the whole of it a closure around the perimeter, either flexible or not.
However, during the many operations involved in the moving and transport of coffins, it can be seen that the transport vehicles that operate as hearses, pathology vans and others, have different heights, in which case the persons in charge of the transport have to be aided by other employees to move the coffins containing bodies, if the carts used for this transport are not of the same height as the vehicle.
The evident solution to this problem would consist of using an improved hand-driven cart on which the upper surface is capable of being positioned at different heights. This height adjustment needs to be a simple operation, aligning the cart with the surface of the vehicle in which the coffin containing the body is to be taken to the cemetery or to the funeral parlour, or even when the body is to be autopsied and therefore has to be placed at the disposal of a pathologist before the burial.
However, the applicant is unaware of the existence of an invention equipped with these suitable characteristics.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The improved hand-driven cart to transport coffins proposed in this invention is an element designed to transport coffins which, in addition to being lowered and raised in height, can also be positioned on a diagonal plane by raising either the front or the rear of its surface.
More concretely, the improved hand-driven cart to transport coffins which is the subject matter of this invention is based on a metal structure or framework which constitutes its rigid structure, and is sufficiently resistant for the purpose for which it is intended.
On the top of the invention there is a rectangular surface made of stainless steel plate, whereas on the bottom, and fastened by one of its ends to the structure of framework, there are two independent hydraulic pumps activated by a couple of pedals that are positioned beneath one of the short sides, at the centre and on the bottom, on the same side where there is a grip handle.
This grip handle consists of a chrome plated iron bar which is used to steer the cart, which is fitted with two pairs of rubber wheels with bearings. The front wheels are fixed, whereas the rear wheels turn 360° and are equipped with a hand brake.
On the top of the invention, and over the support surface, there is a stainless steel tray that slides along the surface thanks to the lower bearings with which it is fitted, receiving or ejecting one end of the coffin with the least possible effort.
On the end of the invention that is opposite the end with the grip handle, there is a retractable bracket that prevents the coffin from moving once it is positioned, consisting of a metal bar with holes that can be adjusted to handle any size of coffin.
The invention has two drapes at the sides to hide all the interior mechanism, so that the hand-driven cart has a suitable appearance.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To complete this description, and in order to provide a better understanding of the characteristics of the invention, this specification contains two sheets of drawings, to illustrate the invention, but which do not limit it in any way, showing the following:
Figure number 1 represents a perspective view of the object of the invention, relating to an improved hand-driven cart to transport coffins, in which the coffin support surface is raised and therefore affords a view of the interior mechanism.
Figure number 2 represents a side view of the object represented in figure number 1.
Figure number 3 represents an aerial view of the object shown in the previous figures.
Figure number 4 represents a view of the object shown in the previous figures from one of the short sides.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

These figures show how the improved hand-driven cart (1) to transport coffins is based on a metal structure or frame (2), which has two pairs of wheels on the bottom, one of which pairs of wheels (3) is mobile and turns freely up to 360° and acts as steering wheels, and the other of which pairs of wheels (3') is fixed.
The invention has two drapes (4) on the sides in order to keep the internal mechanism out of sight.
Inside, there are two pairs of parts positioned diagonally (5) and (5') and also (6) and (6'), joined by transversal parts (7) and (7'), in the centre of which there are two pairs of metal strips (23) and (23'), which are fastened to the upper ends of two pumps (10) and (10'), which are independent hydraulic pumps that are activated independently by two pedals, each of which activates each of the hydraulic pumps (10) and (10'), allowing for pumping and purging the hydraulic oil that will generate the raising and lowering movement of the coffin supported by the upper surface of the support platform (13).
The two pairs of metal strips identified above as (5), (5'), (6) and (6') are in turn fastened to two pairs of diagonal parts (8) and (8') and (9) and (9'), one of the ends of which is joined to the structure (2) and the opposite end of which is joined to the lower ends of the support surface (13), constituting said parts the surface (13) support, raising and lowering mechanism, and the diagonally positioned parts (8), (8'), (9) and (9') attached to the structure or chassis (2) move about inside by means of two pairs of guides (12) and (12') positioned one in front of the other coinciding with the area where these parts are fitted, so that, depending on the rising and lowering movements generated by the pumps (10) and (10'), these parts make the surface (13) move likewise.
Obviously, the pedals (11) and (11') are connected to the pumps by means of hoses (21) and (21'), as can be seen on figure number 2.
Continuing with figure number 1, on the top there is a tray (14) that slides along the surface (13) by means of bearings, in order to receive the coffin, for which two stops (15) and (15') are fitted, which, when they slide from one end to the other when a coffin is in place, act as stops when the bearings beneath the mobile tray (14) are forced to stop when they reach the area that coincides with the grip handle (17), which is telescopic, and therefore increases the support surface (13) and the mechanism consisting of the tubular part (20) in which a part (16) with its corresponding clamping member (18) is inserted forming a 90° angle to immobilise this sliding part (16) when the coffin has been placed on the surface (13).
The end of the surface (13) that is opposite the end with the grip handle (17) is equipped with a sliding cylinder (19) that collaborates with the movement of the coffin.
The invention works by aligning the surface (13) on the same plane on which the coffin to be transported is positioned, and applying the brake mechanism (22) to the rear wheels (3).
One of the ends of the coffin (neither represented nor referenced) is placed on the upper tray (14) resting on the stops (15) and (15') and the coffin is then slid until the tray (14) reaches the stop located near the grip handle (17).
The safety brake consisting of the bracket (16) is now applied, and the surface is raised and retains the coffin at the end opposite the end first positioned on the platform (13) in collaboration with the tray (14).
The brakes (22) are then removed from the rear wheels (3) and the coffin is transported to the desired place, where operations proceed in reverse and, if necessary, by using the brakes (11) and (11'), at the optimal inclination generated by the pedals on the hydraulic pumps (10) and (10') independently.

Claims

Improved hand-driven cart to transport coffins, characterised in that it consists of a metal structure (2) equipped with a pair of freely turning wheels (3) at the rear, implemented with a brake (22), whereas at the front there is a pair of fixed wheels (3'), having the top of the inside of the structure (2) two sets of mobile metal strips configured as two pairs (5) and (5') at the rear and (6) and (6') at the front, joined together by a transversal part (7) and (7') respectively at the rear and the front, at the centre of which there are two parallel pronunciations (23) and (23') on each of the parts (7) and (7'), inside which the upper end of the pumps (10) and (10') is attached, whereas the lower end is fastened to the central part of the inside of the structure, being the two pairs (5) and (5') at the rear and (6) and (6') at the front joined to two pairs of parts (8) and (8') at the rear and (9) and (9') at the front, which in turn are joined by one of their ends to the central part of the inside of the structure (2), with sliding guides (12) and (12') respectively on each of the inner faces of the structure (2), whereas on the opposite end there is a lower border that coincides with the vertices of the rectangular area that constitutes the support structure (13) for the coffins.
Improved hand-driven cart to transport coffins, according to claim 1, characterised in that the hydraulic pumps (10) and (10') are activated independently by pedals (11) and (11'), to which they are connected by means of conduits (21) and (21').
Improved hand-driven cart to transport coffins, according to the precedent claims, characterised in that coinciding with one of the short sides of the steel surface (13), there is a telescopic grip handle (17), whereas on the opposite side there is a roller (19) in a transversal position coinciding with the surface (13).
Improved hand-driven cart to transport coffins, according to the precedent claims, characterised in that beneath the surface (13) and coinciding with the side with the roller (19) there is a part (20) placed longitudinally and fitted with a brake (18) inside which a part (16) slides that adopts the form of a 90° angle, capable of being moved vertically, constituting a holding brake.
Improved hand-driven cart to transport coffins, according to the precedent claims, characterised in that on the top of the surface (13) there is a rectangular tray (14) equipped with bearings beneath it, and fitted at points close to two of its vertices with two stops that act as brakes (15) and (15').