Patent ID: 6880652
Filing Date: 2005-04-19
Classification: B62B,B62D

Abstract:
1. A motorized vehicle for pulling a string of nested shopping carts comprising, in combination: (a) a motor-driven base having at least three wheels; (b) a frame supported on said base; (c) first and second reel assemblies mounted on separate shafts, said shafts being journaled for rotation on said frame; (d) an elongated, flexible tether having one end thereof affixed to the first reel assembly and a second end affixed to the second reel assembly, the tether adapted to be wrapped onto and drawn from the first and second reel assemblies and having a coupling disposed along the length of the tether and adapted to engage a last shopping cart in the string of nested shopping carts; and (e) first and second helical springs mounted in vertical and parallel relationship to one another and being operatively coupled individually to the separate shafts to store energy when the tether is pulled off the reel's assembly and to release energy for rewinding the tether on said reel assemblies.