Abstract:
A method of immobilizing a shopping cart has the steps: a) providing a shopping cart braking system mountable to a forward frame member of a shopping cart, the braking system having a bracket, an axle within the bracket, an arm pivotally affixed to the axle and having a distal end pivotable about the axle between a horizontal position and a vertical braking position, with a resilient brakepad affixed to the distal end of the arm; b) mounting the braking system to a forward frame member of a shopping cart; and c) pivoting the arm from the horizontal to the braking position with the resilient brakepad acting as a brake preventing movement of the shopping cart.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to brake systems and, more specifically, to a brake for a shopping cart comprising a clamp mountable to the forward frame of a shopping cart having an angularly extendible arm terminating in a base so that when extended the base forms a brake to prevent the shopping cart from rolling. The brake is affixed to the forward bottom portion of the frame with the brake base moveable, such as by the flick of a foot, from a disengaged position to a ground engaging position and where tangential force upon the shopping cart frame releases the ground engaging position. The brake base has an elastomeric or polymeric footing serving as the frictional element for the shopping cart brake. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     There are other shopping cart brake devices designed for similar purposes. Typical of these is U.S. Pat. No. 3,044,577 issued to Lotz on Jul. 17, 1962. 
     Another patent was issued to Watkins on Nov. 16, 1965 as U.S. Pat. No. 3,217,839. Yet another U.S. Pat. No. 3,763,966 was issued to Close on Oct. 9, 1973 and still yet another was issued on Jul. 4, 1989 to Sedlack as U.S. Pat. No. 4,844,209. 
     Another patent was issued to Pasillas on May 20, 1997 as U.S. Pat. No. 5,630,600. Yet another U.S. Pat. No. 6,834,869 was issued to Adams on Dec. 28, 2004. Another was issued to Liu on Mar. 21, 2006 as U.S. Pat. No. 7,014,203 and still yet another was issued on Jan. 14, 1939 to Palm as Germany Patent No. DE669781. 
     Another patent was issued to Kalpin on Mar. 22, 1966 as Canada Patent No. CA730591. Yet another UK Patent No. GB 2,256,685 was issued to Kao on Dec. 16, 1992. Another was issued to Takahashi on Jan. 5, 2006 as Japan Patent No. JP2006001328. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,044,577 
     Inventor: Martin Lotz 
     Issued: Jul. 17, 1962 
     A shopping cart having a generally horizontal support member proximate the cart wheel, a brake stand comprising a rocker arm pivotally mounted to said support member for rotation in a vertical plane, said arm defining first and second elongate sections with the pivot point of said rocker arm being in first section and with said second section extending longitudinally away from one end of said first elongate section, the length of said second section being greater than the perpendicular distance from a plane tangent to the lowermost surface of said cart wheels to the lower surface of said support member adjacent said pivot point. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,217,839 
     Inventor: Norman Watkins et al. 
     Issued: Nov. 16, 1965 
     A brake system for a wheel supported in a substantially vertical plane for rotation about a horizontal axle. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,763,966 
     Inventor: James Close 
     Issued: Oct. 9, 1973 
     A manually operable ground engaging brake for use on wheeled vehicles such as merchandise carts, baby carriages, wheel chairs, or the like, which can be selectively engaged by the operator to park or anchor the cart as desired to hold the cart in place on an inclined surface or in a strong wind or the like. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,844,209 
     Inventor: Mark Sedlack 
     Issued: Jul. 4, 1989 
     A safety brake for a child&#39;s walker is constructed of a braking bar pivotally mounted to the base of the walker for rotation between a nonbraking position above the wheels and a braking position whereby a straight section of the bar extends below the wheels to lift the wheels out of contact with the floor. A releasable catch on the walker base retains the braking bar in the nonbraking position, and a spring urges the bar into the braking position upon release thereof from the catch. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,630,600 
     Inventor: Norbert Pasillas 
     Issued: May 20, 1997 
     A restraining device for preventing undesirable motion of a manually propelled cart, or a shopping cart brake, in accordance with the present invention generally includes a frame, a brake foot mounted thereto, and a counterweight for balancing the brake foot in a disengaged position. The device is preferably mounted to a front crossbar of a conventional shopping cart, and upon a manual jerking motion of the cart, the brake foot swings into engagement with a ground surface thus lifting the front wheels off the ground and immobilizing the cart. No levers or complex mechanics are required to engage the brake. The device may also include a hinged door for insertion of product promotions or advertisements on a highly visible portion of the device frame. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,834,869 
     Inventor: Mary Adams 
     Issued: Dec. 28, 2004 
     A shopping cart braking device, for use in conjunction with an existing shopping cart, for selectively immobilizing the shopping cart upon a support surface. The braking device comprises a substantially U-shaped tube having a first end, a second end, and a horizontal centrally located connecting portion extending concentrically through a brake pad. The first and second ends of the braking device are hingeably attached to the front crossbar of the shopping cart, in proximity to the front wheels of the shopping cart. When the braking device is in the unbraked position, the braking device has been raised by a foot of the user, and the movement of the shopping cart is unimpeded. When the braking device is in the braked position, the braking device has been lowered by the foot of the user, the brake pad is wedged under the front wheels of the shopping cart, and the shopping cart is immobilized. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 7,014,203 
     Inventor: Dong Shuei Liu 
     Issued: Mar. 21, 2006 
     A kick stand assembly for a baby stroller includes a first link and a second link respectively connected to a rear post of the baby stroller and a kick stand has one end pivotably connected to the first link and the second link is pivotably connected to a mediate portion of the kick stand. When the stroller is folded, the kick stand is stretched outward by pivoting the first and second links, and the other end of the kick stand contacts the ground. The folded stroller is then supported on the kick stand. 
     German Patent Number DE669781 
     Inventor: Emanuel Larsson Palm 
     Issued: Jan. 14, 1939 
     A stand as shown in the drawing figures. 
     Canada Patent Number CA730591 
     Inventor: Max Kalpin 
     Issued: Mar. 22, 1966 
     Means for immobilizing a vehicle, and particularly discouraging attempts to propel supermarket shopping carts beyond circumscribing barrier or property of supermarket. 
     UK Patent Number GB 2,256,685 
     Inventor: Ming Hsien Kao 
     Issued: Dec. 16, 1992 
     A braking mechanism in a wheeled structure which is collapsible along an axis and is provided with at least two spaced wheels, each having a brake and being mounted on that axis, incorporates a brake operating member which is movable between two stable positions in which the brakes are applied and are released respectively, and the operating member comprises an extendible bar having at least two members slidable relative to one another by means of cooperating surfaces along said axis operatively to connect the bar to the brakes in all states of collapse of the structure. Where the wheels have limited swiveling action, the bar is appropriately connected to each brake. 
     Japan Patent Number JP20060011328 
     Inventor: Haruhito Takahashi 
     Issued: Jan. 5, 2006 
     To provide a vehicle in which a stopper abutted on a bottom side of a supporting part of a main stand formed on a bottom side of a unit swing type engine is arranged on an upper end of the main stand at the position opposite to the spring arrangement position, reducing of the holding moment when using the main stand caused by a wear of a pivotably-supporting part on the spring arrangement side is prevented, and the stopped vehicle when using the main stand is stabilized. 
     Solution 
     In a scooter, a stopper is formed at the position opposite to the arrangement position of a coil spring so as to be abutted on the left half of a supporting part, and a point-contact position with respect to the supporting part formed on the bottom side of the unit swing type engine forms a center of the bottom side of the supporting part according to the forming position. As a result, the distance L to the coil spring at the point-contact position of the stopper is less different from the distance L from the coil spring in case of the line contact in a regular state, and the holding power to stop the turn of the main stand is increased. 
     While these brake systems may be suitable for the purposes for which they were designed, they would not be as suitable for the purposes of the present invention, as hereinafter described. The present invention provides a brake for a shopping cart comprising a clamp mountable to the forward frame of a shopping cart having an angularly extendible arm terminating in a base so that when extended the base forms a brake to prevent the shopping cart from rolling. The brake is affixed to the forward bottom frame with the brake base moveable through foot pressure from a disengaged position to a ground engaging position and where tangential force upon the shopping cart frame releases the ground engaging position. The brake base has an elastomeric or polymeric footing serving as a frictional element for the shopping cart brake. 
     SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     A primary object of the present invention is to provide a brake for a shopping cart comprising a clamp mountable to the forward frame of a shopping cart. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a clamp mountable to the forward frame of a shopping cart having an angularly extendible arm terminating in a base so that when extended the base forms a brake to prevent the shopping cart from rolling. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a brake for a shopping cart where the brake is affixed to the forward bottom frame with the brake base moveable through foot pressure from a disengaged position to a ground engaging position and where tangential force upon the shopping cart frame releases the ground engaging position. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a brake base having an elastomeric or polymeric footing serving as a frictional element for the shopping cart break. 
     Additional objects of the present invention will appear as the description proceeds. 
     The present invention overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art by providing a braking system for a shopping cart comprising a clamp mountable to the forward frame member of a shopping cart and a pivotally affixed arm having a distal end which, when pivoted downward to a vertical position, acts as a brake to prevent the shopping cart from rolling. The brake is affixed to the forward bottom frame member of the shopping cart with the arm moveable, for example, through pressing with a foot, from a disengaged, horizontal (up) position to a ground engaging, vertical position and where a tangential, or sideways, force upon the front of the shopping cart frame releases the brake. The distal end of the arm has an elastomeric or polymeric brakepad affixed thereto serving as a frictional element for the shopping cart braking system of the invention. 
     The foregoing and other objects and advantages will appear from the description to follow. In the description reference is made to the accompanying drawing figures, which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments will be described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. In the accompanying drawings, like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views. 
     The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is best defined by the appended claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
       In order that the invention may be more fully understood, it will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: 
         FIG. 1  is an illustrative view of prior art. 
         FIG. 2  is an illustrative view of the present invention in use. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the present invention in use. 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a sectional view of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a sectional view of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a rear view of the present invention. Shown is a rear view the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  is an illustrative parts breakdown of the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  is a partially exploded view of the present invention. 
         FIG. 10  is a partially exploded view of the present invention. 
         FIG. 11  is an assembled view of the present invention with the brake in a down position. 
         FIG. 12  is an assembled view of the present invention with the cart brake in an up or disengaged position. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE REFERENCED NUMERALS 
     Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views, the figures illustrate the shopping cart braking system of the present invention. With regard to the reference numerals used, the following numbering is used throughout the various drawing figures.
           10  shopping cart braking system     11  prior art     12  shopping cart     14  user     16  vehicle     18  user&#39;s foot     20  forward frame member of shopping cart     22  attachment means     24  arm     26  distal end of arm     28  up position     30  engaged position     32  brakepad     34  top clamp half     36  bottom clamp half     38  threaded aperture in top clamp half     40  threaded aperture in bottom clamp half     42  bolt     44  bracket     46  axle     48  pivotally affixed end of arm     50  eyebolt shape at pivotally affixed end of arm     52  open front side of bracket     54  closed back side of bracket     56  nub     58  elastomeric material     60  polymeric material     62  bolt aperture of  20         

     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The following discussion describes in detail one embodiment of the invention (and several variations of that embodiment). This discussion should not be construed, however, as limiting the invention to those particular embodiments, practitioners skilled in the art will recognize numerous other embodiments as well. For definition of the complete scope of the invention, the reader is directed to appended claims. 
       FIG. 1  is an illustrative view of prior art  11 . Wheeled shopping carts  12  tend to move in an uncontrolled manner, rolling down inclines and blowing across level surface during windy days, causing damage to property such as vehicles  16  and injury to individuals. The present invention overcomes this problem by providing a braking system designed to attach to a shopping cart  12  and which is manually operable by the cart user&#39;s  14  foot to engage and disengage the ground as a brake. 
       FIG. 2  is an illustrative view of the present invention in use. The present invention is a shopping cart braking system  10  comprising attachment means  22  mountable to the forward frame member  20  of a shopping cart  12  and a pivotally affixed arm  24  having a distal end  26  which, when pivoted downward from a horizontal, up position  28  to a vertical, engaged position  30 , acts as a brake to prevent the shopping cart  12  from rolling. The braking system  10  is affixed to the forward bottom frame member  20  of the shopping cart  12  with the arm  24  moveable, by the user  14  pressing the arm  24  with a foot  18 , from a disengaged, horizontal (up) position  28  to a vertical, ground engaging position  30  and where a tangential, or sideways, force upon the front of the shopping cart  12  frame releases the brake. The distal end  26  of the arm  24  has an elastomeric or polymeric brakepad  32  affixed thereto serving as a frictional element for the shopping cart braking system of the invention. 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the present invention in use. The present invention is a shopping cart braking system  10  comprising attachment means  22  mountable to the forward frame member  20  of a shopping cart  12  and a pivotally affixed arm  24  having a distal end  26  which, when pivoted downward from a horizontal, up position to a vertical, engaged position, acts as a brake to prevent the shopping cart  12  from rolling. The braking system  10  is affixed to the forward bottom frame member  20  of the shopping cart  12  with the arm  24  moveable, by the user pressing the arm  24  with a foot, from a disengaged, horizontal (up) position to a vertical, ground engaging position and where a tangential, or sideways, force upon the front of the shopping cart  12  frame releases the brake. 
       FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view of the present invention. Shown is an illustrative parts breakdown of the shopping cart braking system  10  of the present invention. The present invention is a shopping cart braking system  10  comprising attachment means  22  mountable to the forward frame member of a shopping cart and a pivotally affixed arm  24  having a distal end  26  which, when pivoted downward from a horizontal, up position to a vertical, engaged position, acts as a brake to prevent the shopping cart from rolling. The distal end  26  of the arm  24  has an elastomeric or polymeric brakepad  32  affixed thereto serving as a frictional element for the shopping cart braking system  10  of the invention. The attachment means  22  is shown as a clamp having a top clamp half  34  and a bottom clamp half  36  adapted to matingly engage a shopping cart frame member. An aperture  38  in the top clamp half  34  and a similarly sized threaded aperture  40  in the bottom clamp half  36  are sized to matingly engage with a bolt  42 . The bottom clamp half  36  has a bracket  44  attached thereto with an axle  46  positioned within. A pivotally affixed end  48  of the arm  24  is pivotally affixed to the axle  46 . Shown is the pivotally affixed end  48  comprising an eyebolt shape  50  which rotates about the axle  46 . The front side  52  of the bracket  44  is open to allow the arm  24  to pivot to its extended position and the back side  54  of the bracket  44  is closed to act as an arm stop for when the arm  24  is in the extended position. When the arm  24  is returned to its horizontal (up) position a nub  56  on the bracket  44  acts as a kick lock to frictionally retain the arm  24  in a horizontal position to prevent casual displacement of the arm  24  during shopping cart use. 
       FIG. 5  is a sectional view of the present invention. Shown is a the shopping cart braking system  10  having an arm  24  having a pivotally affixed end  48  that rotates selectively around an axle  46  in the bracket  44  between a substantially vertical locked position and a substantially horizontal (up) position. The arm  24  is secured to the frame  20  of a shopping cart with an attachment means  22  comprising a top clamp half  34  and bottom clamp half  36  joined together with a bolt  42 . The distal end  26  of the arm  24  has a brakepad  32  fabricated of an elastomeric  58  or polymeric  60  material. The nub  56  on the bracket  44  acts as a kick lock to frictionally retain the arm  24  in a horizontal position to prevent casual displacement of the arm  24  during shopping cart use. 
       FIG. 6  is a sectional view of the present invention. Shown is the shopping cart brake system  10  with the arm  24  pivoted into the up position  28  and retained by the frictional engagement with the kick lock nub  56 . The brakepad  32  has an elastomeric  58  or polymeric  60  footing serving as a frictional element for the shopping cart brake when in the engaged position  30 . 
       FIG. 7  is a rear view of the present invention. Shown is a rear view the shopping cart braking system  10  with the arm  24  in the down, engaged position  30 . Also shown is the closed back side  54  of the bracket  44  that restricts further rotation of the arm  24  once the brakepad  32  is engaged. 
       FIG. 8  is an illustrative parts breakdown of the present invention. Shown is the shopping cart braking system  10  having component parts disassembled and ready for the attachment means  22  to be affixed to the forward bottom forward frame member  20  of a shopping cart  12 . The bolt  42  is inserted through top clamp half  34  aperture  38  and the forward frame member  20  aperture  62  and threaded into the bottom clamp half  36  threaded aperture  40 . Once mounted to the shopping cart  12 , the brake base is moveable through foot pressure from a disengaged position to a ground engaging position whereby tangential force upon the shopping cart brake releases the ground engaging position. 
       FIG. 9  is a partially exploded view of the present invention. Shown is the shopping cart braking system  10  having the attachment means  22  partially affixed to the forward bottom forward frame member  20  of a shopping cart  12 . The bolt  42  is inserted through top clamp half  34  aperture  38  and the forward frame member  20  aperture  62  and threaded into the bottom clamp half  36  threaded aperture. 
       FIG. 10  is a partially exploded view of the present invention. Shown is the shopping cart braking system  10  having the attachment means  22  partially affixed to the forward bottom forward frame member  20  of a shopping cart  12 . The bolt  42  is inserted through top clamp half  34  aperture  38  and the forward frame member  20  aperture and threaded into the bottom clamp half  36  threaded aperture. 
       FIG. 11  is an assembled view of the present invention with the arm  24  in a down position. Shown is the shopping cart braking system  10  with the bolt  42  securing the top clamp half  34  and the bottom clamp half  36  to the forward frame member  20  of the shopping cart  12 . 
       FIG. 12  is an assembled view of the present invention with the arm  24  in an up or disengaged position and retained therein by the kick lock nub  56 . The attachment means  22  is secured to the forward frame member  20  of the shopping cart  12  and ready for deployment when needed.