Abstract:
An improved shopping cart having retractable legs is provided that allows the cart to be loaded into a vehicle while contents remain in the shopping cart basket.

Description:
INDEX TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/853,356,filed Oct. 20, 2006,the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Conventional shopping carts are limited for use within the compounds of a shopping establishment. Shoppers have to manually transfer their goods from the cart into their vehicles. Then they have to manually carry the goods, usually in several trips, from the vehicle to their homes. This is difficult for people with infants or small children, especially for those who dwell in tall buildings. These people at times have to park their vehicles from a distance to their building entrances. They have to carry their goods into the building, into the elevator, through the hallways, then finally into their dwelling units. These difficulties are further enhanced in inclement weather conditions. 
     There are inventions of folding or collapsing carts, such as U.S. Pat. No. 4,765,644 , issued Aug. 23, 1988 ,and U.S. Pat. No. 5,700,021 , issued Dec. 23, 1997 , where the user has to empty and transfer the cart&#39;s contents into the vehicle, then it is folded, picked up and loaded into the vehicle. These current inventions do not allow the users to effortlessly load the cart without taking out its contents directly into the vehicle. 
     An invention by Cortes U.S. Pat. No. 5,906,383 , issued May 25, 1999 , for a “Home Shopping Cart” consists of a low profile cart with handles attached to the top edge of the basket. The user has to manually lift the entire cart from the ground and load it into a vehicle&#39;s trunk. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 7,080,844 some of the problems unsolved by the above-mentioned patents allow the user to conveniently load and unload the transportable shopping cart with its contents in and out of their vehicles without manually transferring their goods nor lifting the entire cart. The invention in the &#39;844 patent is complex and requires shocks, and other complicated mechanics, that make operation impractical. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one embodiment, the shopping cart of the present invention may eliminate the amount of work needed to transfer the shopping bags from the shopping center into the home. The present invention gives a user the ability to make only one trip from the trunk of a car to the inside of their home with all of user purchases. It allows transport in one trip without physical exertion on the part of the consumer. This shopping cart can remain fully loaded from the time the bagger puts the shopping bags full of merchandise into the cart, until it arrives home. Upon arriving at a destination the shopping cart full of bags will be taken right out of the trunk and wheeled to its destination without having to lift and carry the bags or basket. At the present time, a consumer who has a trunk full of shopping bags must make several trips from their car, into their home to bring in all their purchases. Some of these bags may be very heavy and be difficult for the consumer to manage. 
     People living in apartment buildings or the elderly have an even more difficult time getting their shopping bags from their trunk into their homes. 
     This shopping cart will eliminate the need for numerous trips in order to empty a trunk full of shopping bags. 
     In one preferred use, the invention comprises a system and method whereby a person before they go shopping takes their own basket from their trunk and goes shopping. The person opens the trunk of their car, and lifts the empty basket about 3-4 inches in the back enough to clear the bumper and remove, angling it at about 45 degrees, shifting the weight to the front of the cart. Then the person pulls it away from the car, the wheel in front allows for it to easily slide forward. It will slide over the bumper until it is resting on the bumper, and parallel to ground. Then the user slides the tracks out standing on either side of the basket, the legs will slide out, and open as it slides out. Then the user will lock the F looking brackets. Once the wheels and base are parallel to the ground, the user will know when to stop pushing the tracks back in because it wont be able to go on anymore and the F brackets will be able to fit into place. Then the user pulls the basket out of the trunk and goes shopping. 
     Once done, the user will open the trunk and push the basket into the trunk. The height of the legs are measured so that the basket can slide right into the trunk with out having to lift the basket. In one embodiment, depending on the model of the car, an optional snap on cargo net might be needed to keep the groceries in the basket when putting in the trunk. When the basket is sliding in the trunk, it can be raised to about a 45 degree angle, which might cause some of the items to fall out of the basket, if a net was not on it to stop it. Once the front half of the basket is inside the trunk, the user will pull each of the F brackets simultaneously towards the middle of the basket, allowing them to unlock and allowing the tracks to slide. The user then slides the tracks out as needed, until there is enough room for the base to clear the bumper or undercarriage. Once the base is cleared, the user lifts the base. This causes the legs to rotate away from the car until the base is substantially parallel to the tracks. Once it is all the way up, the user will then proceed to slide the tracks and base into the vehicle. Once the tracks are all the way in, the user will push the basket further into the vehicle. Depending on the size of the trunk, a user may have to lift the back an inch or two while pushing in, to allow the cart to slide in. Once fully in, the user closes the trunk and drives home. The use then repeats first section on taking it out of the trunk. 
     Later designs might include folding walls, with 90-degree angular brackets with locking mechanisms at the top corner of each wall to lock the basket open. 
     Basket 
     In one embodiment the basket may have 4 metal mesh walls making it see through. 
     Also the walls may have pins at the bottom allowing them to pivot inwards, and allowing it to fold. 
     If the cart uses the pins, there will be a locking mechanism at the top of each corner to latch onto the adjacent wall. 
     The inside of the basket has different levels. The outside levels are higher to allow for the tracks to slide in underneath the basket. 
     The back of the bottom of the basket is also raised to allow for the legs to be placed underneath the basket, and to minimize on space. 
     The back wall may have a standard child seat in it. 
     The front bottom of the basket may have two wheels on the sides to allow for the basket to slide in easily to the trunk. 
     Legs 
     In a preferred embodiment, there may be two sets of parallel legs connected in the back of the cart with two perpendicular bars. 
     Each Leg will have two sets of bars, each on pivots at the top and bottom, connecting the legs to the tracks. 
     Each set of bars will have a support bar attached to the other. 
     Locking 
     In a preferred embodiment, the legs may be locked by two sliding F shaped locks. When extended fully they will lock to prevent the legs from sliding and pivoting at undesired times. 
     Disengaging the locks allows for the tracks to move and the legs to pivot. 
     Another locking design might lock both legs on each side rather then one. Depending on how much weight the basket is intended to hold. 
     Also a lock that is shaped with a tight fit when the lock is out, but as it goes inwards it opens up allowing it to easily find the legs and get set into position. 
     Tracks 
     In a preferred embodiment, there will be two sets of tracks underneath the basket. The outer track will have bearings on top and bottom to allow the track to slide smoothly. On the inner side of the track will be another inner track to allow the bar, which connects to the legs, to slide on. The inner track will be able to slide to the front end of the basket, and exit half way out of the back of basket. The outer track allows inner track to slide the legs to from the back of the basket to the front of the basket, enough to allow the legs to fold up substantially parallel to the tracks. While it is resting on the bumper or half inside the trunk, with the basket half inside the trunk the locks are disengaged and the legs can be pulled away from the trunk if the legs need extra room to clear the trunk once the legs are clear, the legs are pulled up and slide inwards. This can be done in three different ways. First manually, second with springs to assist, thirdly motorized. 
     The Inner track will allow the legs to slide from the back of the cart to the front of the cart once the legs are folded up. Then it will slide in stopping when it hits the front of the basket, and can&#39;t slide anymore, or when the operator wants to start angling it. 
     Another design for a track allows the track to slide in automatically. This will be an optional addition that can be added to the car, which will help the car cart slide in. It will pull the basket into the trunk, and also rotate the basket so that it will angle and be able to fit in. This device will use the power from the car. It will also help with lifting the basket out of the trunk, and slide it out. So it will help it go in the trunk, and out of the trunk. The basket will have a track for this optional device to work with. It will have teeth molded into the track so a gear attached to the motor will fit into. When the gear rotates it will fit in the teeth causing it to push or pull the cart. There will be a lever arm attached to another motor, to rotate the basket up or down to help with the angling of the basket needed to put the cart in or take it out. 
     Wheels 
     In a preferred embodiment there may be two locked wheels in the back, with a set of casters in the front. 
     The front casters will be connected to the two parallel bars that are perpendicular to the legs as shown in W. 1   
     Another design might have all four wheels as casters, to allow for maximum movement. 
     The examples described in the accompanying figures are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the inventive aspects of the invention. 
     The present invention encompasses the need to account for a vehicle bumper in configuration. The present invention improves upon previous attempts in that there is no need for shock absorbing mechanisms and other complicated mechanics. Thus, the present invention does not require a user to exert a great deal of strength and effort when loading and unloading. 
     The present invention further has a tack system underneath the basket allowing it to be wider and taller then the current design. 
     Optionally, the present invention may comprise a safety feature of having a receiving rail mounted to the car that has a hinge that can fold open when the truck is open. The hinge will engage the cart so that the cart will not fall back towards the user when it is sliding into the trunk. Also the bracket can rotate into the trunk, but not out of the trunk, so that as the basket is going into the trunk it will rotate to allow it to slide in smoothly, and controllably. 
     Optionally, a standard child seat can be included in the design but since the inventor did not make any new child seat it is not included in these drawings but it is understood that a standard child seat might be included in the end design. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a side perspective view of the shopping cart frame. 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of the shopping cart. 
         FIG. 3  is a detailed view showing the underside of the shopping carts basket. 
         FIG. 4  is a rearview of the shopping cart. 
         FIG. 5  is an expanded view showing these slidable relationships between a stationary female track and a corresponding slidable male track. 
         FIG. 6  demonstrates the relationship from  FIG. 5  whereby the male track is moved along the interior of the female track. 
         FIG. 7  demonstrates relationship in  FIG. 5  whereby the male track is moved along the interior distance of the female track. 
         FIGS. 8-20  demonstrates progressive sequential views of the shopping cart frame being retracted with the locks unlocked. 
         FIG. 8  is a side perspective view of the cart with the frame in an extended position. 
         FIG. 9  is a side perspective view of the cart with the beginning of retraction of the frame. 
         FIG. 10  is a side perspective view of the cart with the beginning of retraction of the frame. 
         FIG. 11  is a side perspective view from underneath the cart demonstrating the frame placed in a horizontal orientation relative to the shopping cart basket. 
         FIG. 12  is a partial side perspective view from above demonstrating the frame placed in a horizontal orientation relative to the shopping cart basket. 
         FIG. 13  is a partial side perspective view from above demonstrating the frame placed in a horizontal orientation relative to the shopping cart basket with legs sliding into the basket. 
         FIG. 14  is a partial side perspective view demonstrating the frame being moved into position underneath the basket of the shopping cart. 
         FIG. 15  is a partial spot side perspective view demonstrating the frame in retracted position underneath the basket of the shopping cart. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The shopping cart  200  of the present invention includes collapsible frame  100 . Frame includes a base portion configured rectangularly with three portions of a rectangular configuration having left frame portion formed by left frame base members  101  and  102  a right frame portion formed by a right based members  103  and  104  that are secured into the desired configuration through traverse the base members  105  and  106 . Left frame base members  101  and  102  have an attached back left fixed wheel  17  and front left caster  20 . Right based members  103  and  104  have an attached back right fixed wheel  18  and front left caster  19 . Frame  100  also includes front left leg  12 , back left leg  11 , front right leg  9 , and back right leg  10 . Each leg  9 ,  10 ,  11 ,  12 , include incorporated pivots mechanisms for extension and retraction of legs as desired. 
     Front left leg  12  has and front bottom pivot  16 , and front top pivot  24 . Leg  12  also has top leg brace  1 , and bottom leg brace  4 . Front left leg  12  attaches to frame  100  in between left frame base members  101  and  102 . Back left leg  11  has bottom pivot  15 , top pivot  23 , top leg brace  2 , and lower leg brace  3 . Back left leg  11  attaches to frame  100  in between left frame base members  101  and  102 . 
     Front right leg  9  has bottom pivot  14 , top pivot  22 , bottom brace  7 , and top brace  6 . Back right leg  10  has bottom pivot  13 , top pivot  12 , bottom brace  8 , and top brace  5 . 
     Shopping cart  200  has basket  70  that is attached to frame  100  at each of the pivots  21 ,  22 ,  23 , and  24 . Basket  70  has a front wall  123 , a right side wall  120 , back wall  121 , a left side wall  122  and a bottom  124  that collectively form a basket cavity  125 . 
     Basket  70  additionally has hinges  36 ,  37 ,  38 , and  39  along back wall  121  for hingedly opening back wall  121  to load and unload articles from basket cavity  125 . 
     Basket  70  has a female configured left outer track  47  and a corresponding right female inner track  48 , a female configured right outer track  43  and a corresponding female configured right inner track  41  that are each connected to and positioned along the underside length of basket  70 . Front left leg  12  and back left leg  11  each attach to male inner track  45  and left our track  46  at pivots  23  and  24 . Front right leg  9  and back right leg  10  each attach to male inner track  40  and male outer track  42  at pivots  22  and  21  respectively. 
     Shopping cart  200  incorporates a locking mechanism to prevent unwanted retraction of legs  9 ,  10 ,  11 , and  12 . 
     Left locking bar  49  includes first front left locking bar  73  and second front left locking bar  74  and first back left locking bar  72  and second back left locking bar  71 . The locking mechanism is actuated by spring  62  connected to a left inner spring support  60  and left outer spring support  61 , whereby spring  62  urges bar  49  outward from a center plane A-A. When in a locked position, locking bars  73  and  74  are moved into position in front of and behind leg  12 . When in a locked position, locking bars  71  and  72  are moved into position in front of and behind leg  11 . 
     Right locking bar  50  includes first front right locking bar  75  and second front right locking bar  76  and first back right locking bar  77  and second back right locking bar  78 . The locking mechanism is actuated by spring  66  connected to a right inner spring support  63  and right outer spring support  64 , whereby spring  65  urges bar  50  outward from a center plane A-A. When in a locked position, locking bars  75  and  76  are moved into position in front of and behind leg  9 . When in a locked position, locking bars  77  and  78  are moved into position in front of and behind leg  10 . 
     Frame  100  retracts went each of the left locking bar  49  and write locking bar  50  are moved toward one another inward along plane A-A.  FIGS. 8 through 15  sequentially demonstrate the retraction of frame  100 . After locking bars  49  and  50  are moved inward, each of legs  9 ,  10 ,  11 , and  12 , rotate about their respective upper and lower pivots. As demonstrated in  FIGS. 11 through 15 , frame  100  reach racks to a substantially planer orientation respective to the bottom of basket  70 . Frame  100  is then configured to slide into a position under basket  70 . The sliding is effectuated by male inner tracks  46 ,  45 ,  40 , and  42 , moving along the interior of each of their corresponding female tracks  47 ,  48 ,  41 , and  43 , the relationship of which are shown in  FIG. 3 . 
     Female tracks  47 ,  48 ,  41 , and  43  are stationary and corresponding male inner tracks  46 ,  45 ,  40 , and  42  move along the interior of each of the female tracks. 
       FIGS. 5-7  demonstrate the interrelationship of corresponding male and female tracks and the movement of male track  46  along the interior of female track  47 . 
     In use, shopping cart  200  will be positioned outside a vehicle trunk or loading area of a vehicle. 
     Locking bars  49  and  50  will be moved inward a long plane A-A, and frame  100  will retract as described. Handle  35  will be used to move shopping cart  200  into a vehicle. Basket  70  has wheels  34  and  36  on the front underside portion of basket  70 . When shopping cart  200  has frame  100  retracted, handle  35  may be used to raise the back region of basket  70  and to engage wheels  34  and  36  with an interior vehicle surface to easily roll shopping cart  200  into a desired position in a vehicle. 
     While the invention has been described in its preferred form or embodiment with some degree of particularity, it is understood that this description has been given only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction, fabrication, and use, including the combination and arrangement of parts, may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.