Patent ID: 6834869
Filing Date: 2004-12-28
Classification: B62B

Abstract:
A shopping cart braking device for use with an existing shopping cart, by a user having at least one foot, for selectively immobilizing the shopping cart upon a support surface, said shopping cart having a handle for maneuvering the cart, a basket for holding various items, a chassis having an internally oriented surface, an externally oriented surface, a first lateral side, a second lateral side, and a front crossbar extending between the first lateral side and the second lateral side, said chassis further having an underside having at least two front wheel assemblies and at least two rear wheel assemblies attached thereunto, said wheel assemblies each having a selectively rotatable wheel, said braking device comprising a tube having a first end and a second end, each of said ends of the tube having a hinge upon which the braking device selectively swivels upon the chassis, said tube selectively hingeably attached, in proximity to its first end and its second end, to the first lateral side and the second lateral side of the chassis of the shopping cart, in proximity to the front crossbar and the front wheel assemblies of the cart, said tube having two substantially parallel portions separated by a central connecting portion, said braking device having a brake pad for selectively preventing the front wheels from rotating, said connecting portion extending concentrically through the brake pad, said braking device having an unbraked position wherein the connecting portion of the tube has been elevated with respect to the support surface with the at least one foot of the user, in order that the brake pad does not impede the rotation of the front wheels of the shopping cart, said braking device also having a braked position wherein the connecting portion of the tube has been lowered with respect to the support surface with the foot of the user, in order to selectively wedge the brake pad between the front wheels and the support surface, thereby preventing the front wheels of the shopping cart from rotating, and thereby immobilizing the shopping cart.