Abstract:
The invention recites a child carrier comprising a seat portion including a seat, a backrest, and a floor. The child carrier further includes a substantially rigid body, at least partially surrounding and supporting the seat portion. The rigid body also includes substantially solid side surfaces and at least partially defines a panel. In addition, the child carrier provides a plurality of wheels supporting the body, and an electronic device supported by the body.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION DATA  
       [0001]    This is a continuation-in-part patent application of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/113,310 filed on Mar. 29, 2002, which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND  
         [0002]    The present invention relates to child carriers, and particularly to formed or molded child carriers having seats for children. More particularly, the present invention relates to formed or molded child carriers that provide entertainment for children.  
           [0003]    Child carriers include strollers, shopping carts, attachments to shopping carts, and molded carts commonly used at super markets, home center stores, retail stores, theme parks and zoos. Each year thousands of children are injured in shopping cart, as well as other retail stroller, accidents. Generally, the child becomes bored with the shopping experience and tries to get out of the child carrier. A fall out of a carrier can cause severe injury. In addition, injuries occur when the child pinches his or her fingers in the moving mechanism of a typical seat or when the child reaches out of the carrier to grab something.  
           [0004]    Many child carriers are simply wire or plastic mesh constructions that function as containers to carry consumer goods through a store and secondarily provide a seat for a child. Many of these carriers provide seats that are both uncomfortable and easy to escape. If a child becomes bored or uncomfortable, the chances for injury increase. In addition, many of the seats fold or utilize moving pieces that can easily pinch a small child&#39;s fingers.  
           [0005]    Many child carriers also employ a seat that attaches to a pre-existing cart making the cart/carrier combination larger and heavier than typical child carriers, thus requiring more effort to push and maneuver the cart/carrier combination. Some of these carriers provide rearward looking seats that in many cases make it difficult for the child to observe where the carrier is going.  
           [0006]    Other child carriers provide a more comfortable seat but still provide nothing to entertain the child. The child therefore has the tendency to become restless, potentially injuring himself or herself or misbehaving, making shopping more difficult. For example, child carriers used in commercial settings such as shopping malls and in entertainment settings such as zoos and theme parks are often shaped to pique the child&#39;s interest but once inside the child quickly becomes bored making the shopping or entertainment experience less enjoyable for the adult.  
         SUMMARY  
         [0007]    According to the present invention a child carrier provides a seat portion including a seat, a backrest, and a floor. The child carrier further includes a substantially rigid body at least partially surrounding and supporting the seat portion. The rigid body also includes substantially solid side surfaces and at least partially defines a panel. In addition, the child carrier provides a plurality of wheels supporting the body, and an electronic device supported by the body.  
           [0008]    In another embodiment of the present invention, a child carrier provides a substantially rigid basket including a front wall, a rear wall, two side walls, and a base. The child carrier further includes a body defining a basket portion, a seat portion, and a push portion, the basket disposed substantially within the basket portion. In addition, the child carrier provides a plurality of wheels supporting the body and the basket, and an electronic device coupled to the body.  
           [0009]    In preferred embodiments, the child carrier includes one or more headphone jacks that receive a signal from the electronic device. In addition, the electronic device is radio, a video display device, a computer, or video game player, or the like. Further, the electronic device in many preferred embodiments is interactive allowing the child to play and interact with the device.  
           [0010]    In other preferred embodiments, the seat portion is disposed between the basket portion and the push portion such that the seat is above the base of the basket. In addition, in preferred embodiments, a first side wall, a second side wall, a rear wall, the panel and the rear wall of the basket substantially surround the seat and the floor.  
           [0011]    Additional features and advantages will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of preferred embodiments exemplifying the best mode of carrying out the invention as presently perceived. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]    The detailed description particularly refers to the accompanying figures in which:  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cart in accordance with the invention having an electronic device;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 2 is a rear view of the cart of FIG. 1, showing another location for the electronic device;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the seat portion of the cart of FIG. 1, showing another location for the electronic device;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the cart of FIG. 1;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the cart of FIG. 1 having an open rear portion;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 6 is a section view of two nested carts in accordance with the present invention; and  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 7 is a perspective view of another child carrier in accordance with the invention, having an electronic device.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0020]    [0020]FIGS. 1 and 4 illustrate a shopping cart  5  in accordance with the invention, the cart  5  includes a plurality of wheels  10 , a basket  15 , a body  20 , and a push bar  25 . The wheels  10 , or castors, engage the body  20  and support the cart  5  on the ground. The push bar  25  engages a rear portion  30  of the body  20  providing a convenient surface to push and steer the cart  5 . The basket  15  is supported and partially surrounded by the body  20 .  
         [0021]    The embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 4 uses four wheels  10  located near the extreme corners of the body  20  to support the cart  5 . The wheels  10  are fairly standard in the industry, and therefore not critical to the invention. The wheels  10  are placed apart from one another to ensure that the cart  5  remains stable even when loaded with merchandise and children. The embodiment of FIG. 1 employs four wheels  10 , other embodiments use only three, while still others use five, six our even more wheels  10 . Generally, the rear wheels  10  are aligned and fixed so that they rotate about a common axis. The front wheels  10  on the other hand are generally free to pivot allowing a front portion  35  of the cart  5  to easily maneuver through the narrow aisles commonly found in grocery stores and the like. Other embodiments use wheel arrangements in which all of the wheels  10  are pivotable allowing for a more maneuverable cart  5 .  
         [0022]    The basket  15  illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 4 has a base  40 , a front wall  45 , a rear wall  50 , and two sidewalls  55 . A plurality of lateral and transverse wires  57  cross one another to define each wall  45 ,  50 ,  55  and the base  40 . The wires  57  firmly connect to one another using known attachment processes (e.g., welding, soldering, brazing, adhesives, mechanical fasteners, and the like). The wires  57  are preferably, steel or aluminum, but, other embodiments can use other materials (e.g., magnesium, titanium or other metals, composites, or plastics). Generally, the wires  57  are painted or coated with a material to prevent injury and to protect the wires  57  from damage. In one embodiment, the four walls  45 ,  50 ,  55 , and base  40  are made together as a single component. A plurality of U-shaped wires  58  are arranged laterally and transversely to completely define the base  40  and to define the vertical wires of the walls  45 ,  50 ,  55 . A plurality of ring-shaped wires  59  intertwine with the U-shaped wires  58  to complete the basket  15 . The wires  58 ,  59  are attached to one another or to a basket frame to complete the one-piece basket  15 . Other embodiments employ multiple pieces to complete a basket  15 . For example, an embodiment that requires a pivotable rear wall  50  would require the rear wall  50  be made separately from the remainder of the basket  15 . It is thus contemplated that the basket  15  can be assembled from any number of individual components. It should also be noted that while a wire mesh basket  15  is shown and discussed herein, the invention will function equally well with a solid basket or a basket  15  formed from sheets of plastic rather than wires  57 . For example, multiple sheets of plastic formed in any common manner can be attached to one another at adjacent edges to define a basket  15 . In this example each wall  45 ,  50 ,  55  along with the base  40  would be separate components attached to one another to complete the basket  15 .  
         [0023]    The basket  15  fits within an opening  60  defined by the body  20 . The front portion  35  of the body  20  is shaped to accept the basket  15  therein while providing support to the basket  15 . The body defines side walls that at least partially cover the side walls of the basket. In preferred constructions, the side walls cover at least about 10 percent of the surface area of each of the basket sides. In more preferred constructions, the side walls of the body cover at least about 40 percent of the surface area of the basket sides. Once installed, the basket  15  is fixedly attached to the body  20 . FIG. 4 illustrates one possible attachment mechanism. In FIG. 4 a brace  65  extends across the bottom of the body  20  to partially support the front wheels  10 . A hook-shaped bolt  70  engages the wires  57  of the base  40  of the basket  15  and extends through a hole in the brace  65 . A nut (not shown) threads onto the end of the hook-shaped bolt  70  fixedly attaching the basket  15  to the body  20 . In another embodiment (not shown), bolts and washers extend through the wires  57  of the base  40  of the basket  15 . The washers engage the basket  15  while the bolts engage the body  20  firmly clamping the basket  15  to the body  20 . In still another embodiment, the basket  15  simply sits in the basket opening  60  provided by the body  20 . In this embodiment, the basket  15  can be removed easily to facilitate storage, nesting of the carts, or delivery of groceries or other products to a vehicle or home.  
         [0024]    The body  20  defines the front portion  35 , a seat portion  75 , and the rear portion  30 . The front portion  35  defines the basket opening  60  in which the basket  15  sits when the components are assembled. The seat region  75 , illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3, is disposed above and behind the front portion  35  and further includes a seat  80 , a back wall  85 , a floor  90 , and two sidewalls  95  that are arranged such that the seat portion  75  faces toward the front of the cart, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3- 7 . In addition, a rear kick panel  100  extends from the floor  90  to the seat  80 . The seat  80  is sized to support two small children in the seated position. The seat  80 , along with the back wall  85 , supports the children while the sidewalls  95  obstruct their exit from the cart  5 . The children&#39;s legs extend into a chamber  105  defined by the two side walls  95 , the rear wall  50  of the basket  15 , and the rear kick panel  100 . The chamber  105  thus completely surrounds the child&#39;s legs further enhancing the safety of the cart  5 .  
         [0025]    Referring to FIG. 3, the seat portion  75  further includes a panel  110  attached to the basket  15  or in some embodiments to the body  20 . To further contain the child and to provide for entertainment, the panel  110  is disposed such that it would be immediately in front of a child seated in the seat  80 . Electronic devices  115 , which will be discussed in more detail below, can be attached to or disposed in the front panel  110  to entertain the child. In addition, some embodiments employ seat belts (not shown) that allow the shopper to strap the child to the seat  80  if desired. In some constructions, the panel  110  can be removably attached to the cart. The removability would allow the cart owner to remove and securely store the panels  110  if they contain an electronic device. In addition, the removability would allow for easier maintenance and changes to the electronic device.  
         [0026]    Many processes and materials are available to manufacture the body  20 , but the preferred technique involves the use of a rotomolded plastic. Rotomolding allows the body  20  to be manufactured as a substantially rigid single piece rather than multiple pieces, eliminating weaknesses and reducing cost. Other embodiments use processes such as injection molding and hot forming. In addition, while it is important to manufacture a lightweight body, other embodiments use materials other than plastic. For example, fiberglass or other composites are light and provide sufficient strength and durability and therefore would be suitable material substitutes. While it is preferable that the body  20  be made in a single operation, other embodiments employ several sections manufactured separately and then assembled to one another to complete the body  20 .  
         [0027]    As illustrated herein, the body is generally formed to resemble an object (e.g., race car, rocket, air craft, boat, dinasour, and the like) that may be familiar to a child. The body generally includes a paint scheme, decals, or other accoutrements that further enhance the desired theme. These bodies that are formed to resemble a theme generally enhance the child&#39;s experience and make the shopping experience more enjoyable for the shopper.  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 1 illustrates an assembled shopping cart  5  in accordance with the invention. The body  20  covers a portion of the sides  55  of the basket  15  but leaves the front  45  and the top  117  open. In another embodiment, the body  20  extends around the basket  15  substantially covering all the walls  45 ,  50 ,  55  leaving only the top  117  fully exposed.  
         [0029]    To further entertain children seated in the seat portion  75  of the cart  5 , some embodiments of the invention provide one or more steering wheels  120  attached to the panel  110  to allow the child to play during the shopping experience. In addition, other embodiments include one or more electronic devices  115  specially suited to the child&#39;s needs. For example, one embodiment provides two headphone jacks within the cart  5 . The jacks connect to a radio receiver tuned to the frequency of the store&#39;s internal broadcast or to any desired frequency. The child can thus listen to music, stories, or other entertainment provided by the store through the headphones without the sound disturbing other patrons. As one having ordinary skill in the art will realize, headphones can be used for the audio output of any device described herein. In yet another embodiment, a video display is provided in addition to the audio device previously described. The video display receives a broadcast from within the store, over the airwaves, or is coupled to a video cassette recorder, digital videodisk (DVD) player, or the like to allow the display of any entertainment desired. In still another embodiment, a computer or video game is coupled to the cart  5  in a position that allows a seated child to interact. A joystick or other interactive device can be coupled to the body  20  of the cart  5  to allow the child to interact. In addition, the steering wheels  120 , described above can be interconnected with the game to provide input if desired. A person skilled in the art will realize that many commercially available technologies (e.g., flat screens, plasma screens, closed-circuit television, MP3 players, computers, and the like) can be adapted to the cart  5  or child carrier of the present invention to provide entertainment for children. Small rechargeable batteries  122  hidden within the cart  5  can power many, if not all, of these technologies.  
         [0030]    In addition to the above-described devices, another embodiment of the cart  5 , shown in FIG. 2, employs a small computer (e.g., PDA, calculator, micro-computer, etc.) powered by a rechargeable battery  122 . The computer is supported by the cart  5  in a position that allows the shopper to easily view the display. The computer can be used as a calculator to aid the shopper, or can be programmed with locations of various products within the store, or shopping center, to aid the shopper in locating desired products. In another embodiment (not shown), the computer is coupled to a portable bar code reader allowing the shopper to scan products as they are placed in the cart  5 . This greatly aids the shopper in maintaining a budget, and allows a shopper to review items placed in the cart  5  on the computer screen rather than having to search through the various products within the basket  15 .  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 7 shows another embodiment of the invention in which an electronic device  115  is provided in a child carrier  125  suitable for carrying children in a retail or other shopping environment. The child carrier  125  does not have a basket like the carts  5  of the previous embodiments but rather performs the function of carrying and entertaining the child. The child carrier  125  has a seat region  130  having a push bar  135 , a seat  140 , and a steering wheel  145 , surrounded by the body  150 . The body  150  is supported by a plurality of wheels  155 . The electronic device  115  is disposed within the body  150  and supported such that children seated within the child carrier  125  can easily access and interact with the electronic device  115 . For example, the device  115  could be a television monitor that receives a signal from within the store. The monitor could display cartoons, stories, or educational programs that are of interest to young children. Other embodiments of the child carrier  125  include a basket (not shown) to aid the shopper. The basket could be hung from the push bar  135  or supported in some other convenient manner.  
         [0032]    In another embodiment (not shown), the body is shaped to resemble an animal and the child carrier is used in a zoo or carnival setting. The electronic device  115  could be a radio receiver able to pick up a broadcast emanating from within the zoo. Further, the radio receiver could receive a different signal based on its location allowing, the audio to describe the particular animals in the area.  
         [0033]    As a person having ordinary skill in the art will realize, many electronic devices can be adapted to operate within a child carrier  125  or cart  5  as described herein. In addition, a person having ordinary skill in the art will realize that an electronic device as described herein can be adapted to fit within any molded body commonly used in child carriers. In addition, child carriers that use tubular frames may employ electronic devices disposed within a formed panel or piece that attaches to the child carrier. Thus, the present invention should not be limited to only those embodiments described herein.  
         [0034]    Although the invention has been described in detail with reference to certain preferred embodiments, variations and modifications exist within the scope and spirit of the invention as described and defined in the following claims.