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A coupling device for a handling trolley comprises a drawbar (22) arranged at the front of the trolley and designed to co-operate with the hook (24) provided at the back of a tractor, in particular a trolley preceding a line of trolleys. The drawbar (22) comprises a longitudinal slot (36) wherein th

A coupling device for a handling trolley comprises a drawbar (22) arranged at the front of the trolley and designed to co-operate with the hook (24) provided at the back of a tractor, in particular a trolley preceding a line of trolleys. The drawbar (22) comprises a longitudinal slot (36) wherein the hook (24) is designed to slide such that the hook can slide in the longitudinal slot between a position spaced apart wherein the trolley (10) is at a maximum distance from the tractor while it is being towed and a closer position wherein the trolley is at a minimum distance from the tractor to reduce the space requirement when it is stopped.

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The invention claimed is: 1. Coupling device for a handling trolley, comprising a drawbar (22) provided at the front of the trolley and designed to cooperate with a hook (24) provided at the rear of a towing unit, in particular a trolley in front in a line of trolleys, characterised in that the dra

The invention claimed is: 1. Coupling device for a handling trolley, comprising a drawbar (22) provided at the front of the trolley and designed to cooperate with a hook (24) provided at the rear of a towing unit, in particular a trolley in front in a line of trolleys, characterised in that the drawbar (22) has a longitudinal slot (36) in which the hook (24) is able to slide so that the said hook can slide in the said longitudinal slot between a spaced-apart position, in which the trolley (10) is at a maximum distance from the towing unit during towing, and a close-together position, in which the trolley is at a minimum distance from the towing unit so as to reduce the space requirement when stationary. 2. Coupling device according to claim 1, characterised in that the drawbar (22) extends substantially horizontally in the positions in which the drawbar (22) cooperates with the hook (24). 3. Coupling device according to claim 1, characterised in that the drawbar (22) is connected to the front of the trolley by articulation means (30, 32) defining an articulation axis (XX) in such a way as to pivot between a coupling position, in which the drawbar extends substantially horizontally in order to cooperate with the hook, and a lifted position, in which the drawbar is in a raised position and is disengaged from the hook. 4. Coupling device according to claim 3, characterised in that the drawbar (22) forms an acute angle (α) relative to the vertical in the raised position. 5. Coupling device according to claim 4, characterised in that the acute angle (α) is about 10��. 6. Coupling device according to claim 3, characterised in that the drawbar (22) is likewise able to pivot beyond the raised position towards an upright position, in which the drawbar (22) extends substantially vertically under the action of the towing unit, being disengaged from the hook. 7. Coupling device according to claim 3, characterised in that the articulation means comprise an articulation (30, 32) extending along a substantially horizontal transverse axis (XX). 8. Coupling device according to claim 3, characterised in that the articulation means furthermore comprises elastic return means (40) able to urge the drawbar (22) towards the lifted position, and in that the hook (24) extends downwards from a support (48) provided under the towing unit in such a way that the drawbar is brought back elastically to bear on the support in order to ensure automatically that the drawbar (22) and the hook (24) cooperate. 9. Coupling device according to claim 8, characterised in that the elastic return means (40) are placed between the chassis (12) of the trolley and the drawbar (22). 10. Coupling device according to claim 9, characterised in that the elastic return means (40) operate in tension and are interposed between a first anchoring point (42) of the chassis of the trolley and a second anchoring point (38) situated opposite the drawbar in relation to its articulation axis (XX). 11. Coupling device according to claim 10, characterised in that the second anchoring point (38) is situated on an angled extension (34) provided opposite the drawbar (22) in relation to the articulation axis (XX) and is arranged in such a way that, in the lifted position of the drawbar, the articulation axis (XX) of the drawbar (22), the second anchoring point (38) and the first anchoring point (42) are in the same plane. 12. Coupling device according to claim 1, characterised in that the hook (24) has a transverse space requirement (d) which is less than the width (l) of the slot (36) in the drawbar (22). 13. Coupling device according to claim 12, characterized in that the hook (24) comprises a generally cylindrical stud (46) having a diameter (d) less than the width (l) of the slot in the drawbar and a washer (50) surrounding the stud and having a diameter (D) greater than the width (l) of the slot in the drawbar. 14. Coupling device according to claim 1, characterised in that the drawbar (22) is formed from an angled rod which defines two substantially parallel arms (26) joined together by a U-shaped bend (28). 15. A trolley apparatus comprising; a first handling trolley having a front and a rear with a first drawbar (22) disposed at the front of the first handling trolley, a second handling trolley having a front and a rear with a second hook (24) disposed at the rear of the second handling trolley, characterised in that the first drawbar (22) has a longitudinal slot (36) and the first drawbar (22) articulates between a coupled position with the second hook (24) sliding in the longitudinal slot between a spaced-apart position, in which the first handling trolley is at a maximum distance from the second handling trolley, and a close-together position, in which the first handling trolley is at a minimum distance from the second handling trolley, and an uncoupled position with the second hook (24) removed from the longitudinal slot and spaced from the first drawbar (22). 16. A trolley apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the first handling trolley includes a first hook (24) disposed at the rear of the first handling trolley and the second handling trolley includes a second drawbar (22) disposed at the front of the second handling trolley. 17. A trolley apparatus according to claim 15, further including an articulation device supporting the first drawbar on the first handling trolley and defining an articulation axis (XX) for pivoting the first drawbar between the coupled position and the uncoupled position. 18. A trolley apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the articulation device further includes an elastic return mechanism (40) mounted between the first drawbar and the first handling trolley for urging the first drawbar towards the uncoupled position to elastically bear on the second hook to ensure that the first drawbar (22) and the second hook (24) remain engaged. 19. A handling trolley comprising; a chassis (12) having a front and a rear, a drawbar (22) disposed at the front of the chassis with the drawbar (22) having a longitudinal slot (36), a hook (24) disposed at the rear of the chassis, and an articulation device mounted to the chassis and supporting the drawbar (22) on the front of the chassis with the articulation device defining an articulation axis (XX) for pivoting the drawbar between a coupled position substantially parallel with the chassis and an uncoupled position angled relative to the chassis. 20. A handling trolley according to claim 19, wherein the articulation device includes a crossbar (30) and an elastic return mechanism (40) mounted between the crossbar and the chassis for continuously urging the drawbar towards the uncoupled position.