Automatic child restraint for shopping carts

A safety device that engages automatically when a child is placed in a shopping cart. It does not require the aid of a parent. A torsion spring retains a shopping cart seat at an inclined angle, while retaining the safety device to the rear of the shopping cart, free for the child to enter. As the child is placed in the cart, his/her weight descends the seat to normal. A lever is under the seat rotating downward as the seat descends. The lever is welded at the center of a shaft, and is rotating the shaft as the lever moves. A right arm and a left arm welded to the shaft are traversing forward to a securing position. Connected near the top end of the two arms is a safety bar securing the child when seated. A latch locks the arms in the securing position. The entire safety device is mounted to the shopping cart with a clamp. There are four clamps used. When two clamps are connected together they form one clamp with three horizontal holes. The top and bottom holes connect to a horizontal top bar, and a horizontal bottom bar that is part of the cart. The middle holes, having a larger diameter, is a sleeve for the shaft to rotate in, while mounting the safety device to the shopping cart.

BACKGROUND FIELD OF INVENTION 
This invention relates to an automatic child safety device, specifically 
for shopping carts. 
BACKGROUND-DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART 
Most shopping carts have a seat for children. Injuries from children 
falling out of shopping carts happen everyday. Most of the injuries are 
head injuries when the child falls on a concrete floor. Stores realize the 
seriousness of the problem, and have been installing seat belts and 
restraining straps on their own carts. Prior art U.S. Pat. No. 3,306,661 
(1967) to D. L. Allen, on a safety retaining belt, and U.S. Pat. No. 
4,674,758, (1987), to Charles and Patricia Valley, on a child support 
device, accomplishes the same thing. The problem with the prior art, and 
with the above methods is that parents do not take the time to install the 
safety device on their children. A safety device is only good if the 
parents use them. Parents must believe the child is safe in the shopping 
cart as long as they are present. However, once the parents are shopping, 
and not watching their child, it only takes the child 3 to 5 seconds to 
climb out of the cart and fall. 
The main object of my invention is to prevent serious injuries to children 
by taking the responsibility of using the safety device away from the 
parent. This is accomplished with a safety device that engages 
automatically when the child is placed in the cart. 
OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES 
Accordingly, several objects and advantages of the present invention are: 
(a) It prevents a child from climbing out, and falling from a shopping 
cart. 
(b) It is an automatic device that does not rely on the parent to use it. 
It is unfeasible to use the seat without engaging the safety device. 
(c) It is permanently attached to the cart. 
(d) It does not interfere with the operation of the shopping cart. The seat 
section can be folded, and the carts can be stacked, or pushed together 
for compact storage. 
(e) It is inexpensive to manufacture. It could be installed on new carts as 
they were manufactured, or adapter kits could be made for existing carts. 
The big disadvantage of the prior art is the parents do not use them. 
Because of this serious injuries are occurring.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIRST EMBODIMENT, (SHOWN IN FIG. 1, 6, AND 7). 
A steel plate 10, to add stability, is glued or riveted to the bottom of a 
plastic seat 9. The plastic seat is part of a shopping cart 2, and not 
part of the invention. An alternative method is to replace the plastic 
seat 9 with a ridged seat 11, made of a ridged material. A wedge 30 is 
welded to the bottom of steel plate 10, or molded into ridged seat 11. The 
wedge tapers from 0 to 5/16" of an inch. A cam, or lever 26 is welded to a 
shaft 28 at the center of shaft 28. The lever 26 is vertical at shaft 28, 
and is bent midway up towards the front of the cart. When the seat is 
against the top of lever 26, the seat is at an inclined angle, not 
exceeding a 45 degree angle. Seat nor steel plate 10 is attached to lever 
26. At the second end of lever 26 is a 3.32" of an inch groove. In the 
groove is a ridged wheel 52, and is rotating on a roll pin, or axle 20. An 
alternative to using the wheel 52 is a ball bearing 53, shown in FIG. 10. 
The end of a right arm 32R, and one end of a left arm 32L are welded to 
shaft 28 three quarters of an inch in at each end of shaft 28. Lever 26, 
shaft 28, and right and left arms, 32R and 32L, are made from 5/16" inch 
steel rod. The second end of the two arms 32R and 32L are shaped to have a 
safety bar 34, or a restraining element 34 connected. The shape of the arm 
ends depend on what safety bar is used. The preferred method is to bend 
the arms at their top in a U shape as shown in FIG. 7. Shown in FIG. 7 
also is the preferred safety bar, the T bar 70, or T element 70. The T bar 
is made of any material that will restrain children. The T bar is made as 
one piece, or as several pieces attached together. A vertical upright 72 
is a stiff material to support a horizontal part 74 from sagging and 
blocking the leg hole openings. The preferred T bar is a one piece 
material, a thin flexible plastic, parts 72 and 74. The bottom of the 
vertical upright 72 is pivotally attached to the seat 11 with forward and 
backward movement. An elastic material 76 is attached at each end of 
horizontal part 74, and the second end of the elastic material 76 is 
attached to the inside portion of the U shaped arms 32R and 32L. On the 
right side of shaft 28 is a torsion spring 36 connecting the right arm 
32R, to a vertical bar, or member 3 that is part of the shopping cart 2. 
The torsion spring 36 slides on shaft 28 and has enough tension to retain 
the seat at an inclined angle, while retaining the arms with the safety 
bar attached, fully back in a rear position. An alternative is to use two 
torsion springs 36 of lesser tension on each end of shaft 28. The shaft 28 
is connected to the cart 2, with a clamp 38. There are four clamps, two on 
the right side front to back, and two on the left side front to back, 
forming two clamps with three (3) horizontal holes. The clamps 38 are 
connected together with a nut and bolt, or rivet 40. The shaft 28 is in 
the middle holes of each clamp 38. The middle holes are slightly larger in 
diameter to allow the shaft to rotate freely. The top and bottom holes in 
clamps 38 connect to a horizontal top bar 7, and a horizontal bottom bar 8 
that is part of the cart. A center support 54 is in between shaft 28, and 
horizontal bar 8. Center support 54 is a 1/4" inch thick, and is connected 
to a center vertical bar 5, and a center vertical bar 6, with a clamp 38A. 
Clamp 38A is connected to center support 54, with a rivet 40. An 
alternative method is to insert a roll pin into a hole, directly under the 
shaft, in either center vertical bar 5, or 6. A portion of the roll pin is 
extended outward under the shaft for support. 
A latch assembly, (shown in FIG. 4), and a pin 42, shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 
4, 5, and 6, includes the pin 42 with 1/8" of an inch shaft threaded 
halfway. The threaded portion is threaded into right arm 32R. The 
remainder of pin 42 extends into a groove in a latch 44. At the top end of 
latch 44 is a hole where a rivet 40, connects it pivotally mounted to 
vertical bar, or vertical member 3. The groove in the latch is 3/16" of an 
inch. Welded to the latch 44 is a spring steel 46, which moves upward and 
downward. A island 48 is welded at the middle to one side of a C bracket 
50. The second side of C bracket is welded to the bottom of latch 44. This 
forms a 3/16" groove all around island 48, and the upper groove has the 
spring steel 46. Latch 44, island 48, and C bracket 50 are made of 1/16" 
of an inch steel. 
A latch assembly (shown in FIGS. 5 & 6), a variation of the latch shown in 
FIG. 4, operates in the same manner as the latch in FIG. 4, except the 
spring steel 46 is not used. A upward slot, in a top groove allows the 
latch to drop down on pin 42, forestalling the arms from moving backward. 
DESCRIPTION OF A SECOND EMBODIMENT, shown in FIG. 2, is a variation of the 
first embodiment. The difference between the first and second embodiments 
is a shaft 28 is bent at both ends to form a right arm 32R, and a left arm 
32L. A torsion spring 36 is slid onto the shaft 28 before it is bent. The 
mounting means shown in FIG. 2 is a ring 58. Two rings are used and go 
around the shaft 28 and horizontal top bar 7, allowing the shaft to rotate 
freely. The rings are split and squeezed together, or are welded closed. 
DESCRIPTION OF A THIRD EMBODIMENT, shown in FIG. 3, is another variation of 
the first embodiment. A right arm 32R, and a left arm 32L are bent around 
an existing horizontal bar 7, on a cart 2, so the arms are pivotally 
mounted. Each arm 32R & 32L correspondingly connects to a right vertical 
3, and a left vertical 4, with an extension spring 62. One end of the 
extension spring 62, is fitted in a small hole in each arm 32R & 32L, and 
the second end is fitted in a hole on corresponding vertical bars 3 & 4. 
An alternative method is to use a stretch rubber, or a torsion spring in 
place of the extension springs. A extended ridged seat 11, replaces a cart 
seat 9, and is as wide as the distance between the two arms 32R & 32L. An 
alternative method is to use the cart seat 9, (shown in FIG. 3), with a 
steel plate 10. The steel plate 10 extends passed each end of the seat to 
a distance equal to the two arms. A connector 60, joins each arm 32R, and 
32L, to the back of extended ridged seat 11, or extended steel plate 10. 
When the connectors 60 are fully extended, and the arms 32R & 32L are 
fully back in a rear position, seat 11 is at an inclined angle. The 
connectors 60 are made of a flexible material. The preferred method of 
installation is to put a hole near the top of each arm 32R & 32L, and two 
holes in the back of ridged seat 11, or steel plate 10. The connectors 60, 
steel cable material, is pushed in the holes and welded at their ends to 
prevent connectors 60 from pulling out. The connectors 60 are made of any 
flexible material including, but not limited to; rope, leather, plastic, 
rubber, wire. The top portion of the two arms are shaped to have a safety 
bar 34 connected. The shape of the arm ends depend on what safety bar is 
used. The safety bar 34 is connected to right arm 32R, and left arm 32L. 
The safety bar is comprised of any material that will restrain children, 
including but not limited to; leather, seat belt, elastic, wood, metal, 
plastic, spring, and rubber. 
Shown in FIG. 7 is a manual closing device. This device is the same as the 
first embodiment shown in FIG. 1, with the difference being the lever 26 
is omitted. With the lever 26 omitted, the seat 9 is not involved in the 
closing of the device. Shown in FIG. 7 also, is the improved T bar 70, and 
arms 32R and 32L bent in a U shape as explained in the description of the 
first embodiment. 
Shown in FIG. 8 is a manual latch 90. Latch 90 is a flat piece of steel 
with a groove in the center. The groove is slightly larger then a pin 42, 
allowing the pin 42 to move freely. The pin 42 is threaded into arm 32R 
with a portion remaining out that moves in the groove. There is a hole 93 
allowing latch 90 to be pivotally mounted to vertical member 3 that is 
part of the shopping cart 2. 
Shown in FIG. 9 is a manual closing device, a variation of the second 
embodiment shown in FIG. 2, and the manual closing device shown in FIG. 7. 
A shaft 28, arms 32R and 32L, and the top portion of the arms are all one 
piece. A safety bar 34 is made of a stretch elastic. One torsion spring 36 
is all that is needed. There are various mounting means including the flat 
clamp 66 that is shown. The flat clamp 66 is one piece that bends in half 
forming two cylinders. The top cylinder fits snugly around an existing 
horizontal bar 7 on the cart, and loosely around shaft 28. When bent in 
half the flat clamp 66 snaps together. 
OPERATION FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9. 
THE FIRST AND SECOND EMBODIMENTS operates in the following manner. Refer to 
FIGS. 1, 4, 5, and 6. A torsion spring 36 retains a left arm 32L, a right 
arm 32R, and a safety bar 34 back in a rear position of a shopping cart 2, 
free for a child to enter. A lever 26 underneath a seat 9, uplifted the 
seat to an inclined angle. As a parent places the child in the cart 2, 
his/her weight descends the seat to normal. As the seat descends, the 
downward movement is rotating lever 26. As lever 26 rotates, a wheel 52, 
or ball bearing 53, attached at the end of lever 26 is rolling outward on 
a wedge 30. The lever 26 welded to a shaft 28 is rotating the shaft. As 
the shaft 28 rotates, right and left arms 32R and 32L connected to the 
shaft, are traversing forward towards the child in a securing position. 
When in the securing position, the T safety bar 70 is encircling the child 
with the vertical upright 72 in-between the child's legs. The T safety bar 
70 is a universal fit for the average child. The stretch elastic 76 at 
both ends has enough stretch for an over size child. When the arms are 
traversing forward, a pin 42 threaded in arms 32R, is moving a latch 44 
with it. The pin is moving in a top groove in latch 44. When the child is 
seated, and the arms are in the securing position at the backrest, the pin 
is just past a spring steel lock 46. The spring steel 46 prevents the pin 
42 and arms 32R and 32L from reversing in the top groove, or locking the 
arms and safety bar forward in the securing position. As the parent 
removes the child from the cart the entire process reverses. The parent 
uses two hands. The parent's left hand pushes the right arm 32R further 
forward so the pin 42 is at the end of latch 44. The parent's right hand 
lifts the latch up while releasing right arm 32R. The pin 42 is now in a 
lower groove free to move. The latch is unlocked. With the latch unlocked, 
the parent lifts the child up off of the seat. As the weight is removed 
from the seat, the torsion spring 36 returns the safety bar 34 back to the 
rear position, and the seat uplifts to an inclined angle for the next 
child. 
THE THIRD EMBODIMENT operates in the following manner. Refer to FIGS. 3, 4, 
and 5. The extension springs 62, retain a right arm 32R, and a left arm 
32L, with a safety bar 34 attached, back in a rear position. Attached to 
each arm 32R and 32L is a connector 60, that joins the arms to a seat 11. 
When arms 32R & 32L are back in the rear position, the connectors 60 are 
uplifting the seat to an inclined angle. As a parent places a child in a 
cart 2, the weight of the child descends the seat to normal. As the seat 
descends, it is traversing arms 32R & 32L towards the child in a securing 
position. With the arms 32R & 32L forward in the securing position, the 
safety bar 34 connected to the arms is encircling the child. As the parent 
removes the child from the cart, the entire process reverses. 
THE MANUAL OPERATED devices shown in FIGS. 7 and 9 operates in the 
following manner. When the child is seated, the parent pushes the arms 
forward towards the child, until either the T bar 70, or stretch elastic 
bar 34, is encircling the child. A latch is needed to secure the arms and 
safety bar in this forward position, or the torsion spring 36 will return 
the arms and safety bar back to the open position. There are several types 
of latches that can be used, including the one shown in FIG. 8. A manual 
latch 90 shown in FIG. 8 operates in the following manner. A pin 42 that 
is threaded into arm 32R is in the groove in latch 90. As the parent 
pushes the arms forward, the latch pivots at point 93 from vertical to 
horizontal as the pin 42 moves forward in the groove. When the arms and 
safety bar are in the securing position, the pin is at the furthest point 
forward where the top and bottom grooves connect. The parent releases the 
arm, and the pin and arm move backward in the top groove to the stop. To 
release the latch, the parent pushes forward on the arm, lifts up on the 
latch while releasing the arm in the lower groove. 
SUMMARY, RAMIFICATIONS, AND SCOPE 
Thus the reader will see that the automatic child restraint will prevent 
countless thousands of serious injuries to children from shopping cart 
related accidents. Parents do not realize the dangers, nor how fast an 
accident can happen. The automatic restraint does the job of securing 
their child for them. Furthermore, the automatic restraint has the 
additional advantages in that: 
It is inexpensive to manufacture, and therefore stores have no reason not 
to use it. 
It is permanently attached to the cart. 
It does not interfere with the carts operations. Carts are stacked and 
pushed together as before, and the seat compartment folds up. 
Although the description above contains many specificities, these should 
not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but as merely 
providing illustrations of some of the presently preferred embodiments of 
this invention. Many other variations are possible. For example: 
A shaft 28 is molded into, or permanently attached to a plastic seat 9. 
This allows the shaft to rotate when the seat is raised or lowered. 
Another variation is a lever 26 extending horizontally from a shaft 28 and 
curving upward towards the seat. 
There are also several ways to latch or lock the arms forward in the 
securing position, both manually and automatically. 
Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be determined not by the 
embodiments illustrated, but by the appended claims and their legal 
equivalents.