Supermarket cage protection device
In order to temporarily close off the open end or ends of a supermarket cage to reduce risk of products falling out, a supermarket cage protection device is proposed which comprises a roller ( 16 ) mounted between respective brackets ( 30 ) which are adapted to be fitted removably to opposing upper regions of opposing side frames ( 22 ) of a supermarket cage ( 20 ). A sheet of flexible material ( 12 ) is mounted upon and extensible from the roller ( 16 ) so as to cover, in use, an open end of the supermarket cage. Means for releasably securing the sheet ( 12 ) when so extended may comprise a channel element ( 14 ) providing a hook to engage a bottom cage element and optionally a grip portion ( 45 ) to facilitate its release. In its simplest form such a device is, in effect, a roller blind adapted for fitting to a delivery cage.
1. A supermarket cage assembly comprising a cage and a protection device adapted for fitting thereto, the cage comprising a wheeled base and opposing side frames mounted onto the base and extending upwards from the base leaving, between said side frames, at least one open end to the cage, and the protection device comprising at least one roller mounted between respective brackets, which are adapted to be fitted removably to opposing upper regions of the opposing side frames of the cage, and a sheet of flexible material mounted upon and extensible from the or each roller, so that when extended from the roller the sheet is able to cover the open end of the cage from the upper regions of the side frames to the wheeled base, said sheet also having means for its releasable securement at or adjacent the wheeled base of the cage, wherein each bracket of the protection device comprises an end cap assembly provided with an opening for insertion of a region of the cage side frame and a lever operated shot bolt which is extensible and retractable behind said side frame region.
2. The assembly according to claim 1 wherein the protection device includes a ratchet mechanism associated with at least one of the brackets to control or limit rotation of the or at least one of the rollers.
3. The assembly according to claim 1 wherein the protection device includes a spring mechanism associated with the or at least one of the rollers to enable automatic rewinding of the flexible sheet subsequent to its extension.
4. The assembly according claim 1 wherein the means for releasable securement of the flexible sheet when extended from the roller comprises a hook formation provided at the outer edge of the flexible sheet.
5. The assembly according to claim 4 wherein the hook formation comprises a profiled strip mounted along the outer edge of the flexible sheet.
6. The assembly according to claim 1 wherein the means for releasable securement of the flexible sheet includes a portion which can be gripped in order to effect securement and/or release of the said sheet.
7. The assembly according to claim 1 wherein the protection device comprises a single roller mounted between the respective brackets which are adapted to be fitted removably at opposing upper corner regions of the side frames at the open end of the supermarket cage.
8. The assembly according to claim 1 wherein the protection device comprises two rollers mounted in substantially parallel disposition between the respective brackets, the rollers each having a flexible sheet of material wound thereon and being so arranged that the respective sheets are initially extensible in generally opposing directions from the respective rollers.
9. The assembly according to claim 7 wherein the protection device further includes at least one top extension connected to the brackets and adapted for extending partially across an upper region of the space defined between the side frames of the cage.
10. The assembly according to claim 9 wherein the at least one top extension is hingedly connected to the brackets.
11. The assembly according to claim 9 wherein the at least one top extension provides support means for wheels of a further supermarket cage which may be stacked thereabove.
12. A supermarket cage protection device adapted for fitting to a supermarket cage comprising a wheeled base and opposing side frames mounted onto the base and extending upwards from the base leaving, between said side frames, at least one open end to the cage; said protection device comprising at least one roller mounted between respective brackets, which are adapted to be fitted removably to opposing upper regions of the opposing side frames of the cage, and a sheet of flexible material mounted upon and extensible from the or each roller, so that when extended from the roller the sheet is able to cover the open end of the cage from the upper regions of the side frames to the wheeled base, said sheet also having means for its releasable securement at or adjacent the wheeled base of the cage, wherein each bracket of the protection device comprises an end cap assembly provided with an opening for insertion of a region of the cage side frame and a lever operated shot bolt which is extensible and retractable behind said side frame region.
13. The device according to claim 12 further including a ratchet mechanism associated with at least one of the brackets to control or limit rotation of the or at least one of the rollers.
14. The device according to claim 12 further including a spring mechanism associated with the or at least one of the rollers to enable automatic rewinding of the flexible sheet subsequent to its extension.
15. The device according to claim 12 wherein the means for releasable securement of the flexible sheet when extended from the roller comprises a hook formation provided at the outer edge of the flexible sheet.
16. The device according to claim 15 wherein the hook formation comprises a profiled strip mounted along the outer edge of the flexible sheet.
17. The device according to claim 12 wherein the means for releasable securement of the flexible sheet includes a portion which can be gripped in order to effect securement and/or release of the said sheet.