Collapsible cart

A collapsible cart for transporting a plurality of handled shopping bags and the like. The cart has an elongated frame having upper and lower sections which are pivotally coupled together. The frame is adjustable between a deployed position where the upper and lower frame sections are substantially aligned longitudinally and a collapsed position where the upper and lower frame sections are folded together. A pair of wheels are pivotally coupled to the lower section of the frame which fold together when the frame is collapsed. A support arm for suspending a load is pivotally coupled to the frame upper section and is moveable between a horizontal, load-supporting position and a folded position extending alongside the frame. The shopping bags are suspended from a plurality of hooks mounted on the support arm.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
This application relates to a collapsible cart for transporting a plurality 
of handled shopping bags and the like. The shopping bags are suspended 
from a folding support arm which extends laterally from the cart frame in 
a load-supporting position. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
One problem with conventional carts and buggies for transporting shopping 
items is that the load is supported from below. Most conventional carts 
incorporate a small basket or similar receptacle into which the shopping 
items are placed. However, stacking of shopping items one upon another may 
result in damage to the products or product packaging. 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,830,385, which issued to Wallick et al. on 16 May, 1989, 
relates to a shopping cart having a laterally extending support bar for 
suspending a plurality of grocery bags. Suspending the bags from above in 
this manner expands the cart's carrying capacity and avoids the need to 
stack a plurality of bags on top of one another. The Wallick cart may be 
dismantled for storage or transport purposes, but it is not readily 
collapsible for optimum consumer convenience. 
Various collapsible golf carts and mail bag carts are known in the prior 
art. However, such carts are not specifically designed for carrying a 
plurality of grocery bags and the like and often employ complicated 
linkage mechanisms which significantly increase manufacturing costs. The 
need has therefore arisen for a lightweight cart specifically designed for 
suspending a plurality of grocery bags which may be quickly and easily 
folded to a very compact size for transport or storage purposes. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
In accordance with the invention a collapsible cart is disclosed comprising 
an elongated frame having a first section and second section pivotally 
coupled to the first section. The frame is adjustable between a deployed 
position wherein the second section extends above the first section for 
steering the cart, and a collapsed position wherein the first and second 
sections are folded alongside one another. At least one wheel is rotatably 
coupled to the first section. A support arm is pivotally coupled to one of 
the first and second sections and is adjustable between a load supporting 
system extending laterally from the frame and a folded position alongside 
the frame and extending parallel thereto. Retention means are provided on 
the support arm for retaining a load to be suspended. 
Preferably the first and second frame sections are substantially 
longitudinally aligned in the deployed position. The cart may further 
include locking means on the frame for restraining pivotal motion of the 
first and second sections in the deployed position. The locking means may 
consist of a sleeve slidably coupled to the second section, the sleeve 
having a socket for snugly receiving an upper end of the first section in 
the deployed position. 
Preferably the retention means consists of a plurality of spaced-apart 
hooks mounted on the support arm. The hooks may be formed on at least one 
continuous hook rod secured to a side surface of the support arm. 
Preferably the support arm is pivotally coupled to the frame second 
section. A lower end of the frame first section may consist of a 
ground-engaging stand for supporting the cart in the deployed position. 
A pair of wheels are advantageously provided for supporting the cart in the 
deployed position. A pair of support legs pivotally couple the wheels to 
the first section. Linkage means extend between each of the support legs 
and the second section for actuating pivoting movement of the support legs 
when the frame is moved between the collapsed and deployed positions. The 
wheels and the support arm are preferably disposed on opposite sides of 
the frame in the deployed position. 
The upper end of the second section may consist of a steering handle. A 
carrying handle is preferably provided on the first section for carrying 
the cart in the collapsed position. 
The support arm preferably extends horizontally in the load-supporting 
position. The longitudinal axis of the frame extends at an angle of 
approximately 30 degrees relative to a vertical axis in the deployed 
position. When the frame is in the deployed position, the cart is 
free-standing. The support arm counterbalances the weight of the second 
section in the load-supporting position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
With reference to FIG. 1, this application relates to a collapsible cart 10 
for carrying a plurality of handled shopping bags 12. As described further 
below, cart 10 is readily collapsible from the fully deployed, 
loading-supporting configuration shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 to a compact, 
fully collapsed position shown in FIG. 3. 
As shown best in FIG. 2, cart 10 includes an elongated lower frame 14 and 
upper frame 16 which are pivotally coupled together. Lower and upper 
frames 14, 16, are preferably lengths of hollow metal tubing which are 
coupled together by means of a U-shaped bracket 18 secured near the upper 
end of lower frame 14. Upper frame 16 is secured to bracket 18 by means of 
a screw fastener 20 which serves as the pivot axis. 
A stop 21 is formed at the upper end of lower frame 14 adjacent bracket 18 
as shown best in FIG. 3. Stop 21 contacts upper frame 16 when the frame is 
moved to the deployed position (FIGS. 1, 2 and 5). 
As shown best in FIGS. 2 and 4, a locking sleeve 22 is slidably coupled to 
the lower end of upper frame 16. Locking sleeve 22 includes a socket 24 
for receiving the upper end of lower frame 14 in the deployed 
configuration (FIG. 4). Locking sleeve 22 thus restrains pivoting movement 
of upper frame 16 relative to lower frame 14 in the deployed 
configuration. 
Cart 10 is supported on the ground by means of a stand 26 formed on the 
lowermost end of lower frame 14 and by means of a wheel assembly 28. Wheel 
assembly 28 includes a bracket 30 secured to lower frame 14 above stand 26 
and a pair of wheel support legs 32 which diverge outwardly from lower 
frame 14. The upper ends of support legs 32 are pivotally coupled to 
bracket 30 by means of suitable screw fasteners 33. Ground-engaging wheels 
34 are fitted on short axels (not shown) located at the lower end of 
support legs 32. 
Wheel assembly 28 also includes a linkage 38 for coupling support legs 32 
to a lower end of upper frame 16. Linkage 38 preferably comprises a 
U-shaped rod which extends through an aperture formed in upper frame 16 
and which has threaded lower ends securable to support legs 32. 
As shown best in FIGS. 1 and 2, cart 10 also includes a support arm 40 
which is pivotally coupled to upper frame 16 by means of a fastener 41. 
Like lower and upper frames 14, 16, support arm 40 is preferably 
constructed from a length of hollow metal tubing. As discussed in further 
detail below, support arm 40 may be adjusted between a folded position 
extending alongside upper frame 16 and a horizontal, load-supporting 
position extending laterally from upper frame 16. 
A plurality of spaced-apart hooks 42 are secured to side surfaces of 
support arm 40 for suspending grocery bags 12 and the like (FIG. 1). Hooks 
42 are preferably loops formed on continuous hook rods 44 secured to the 
side surfaces of support arm 40. The hook rods 44 are mounted so that 
hooks 42 on opposite sides of support arm 40 are staggered for balanced 
load distribution. 
A steering handle 46 having a pair of hand grips is provided at the 
uppermost end of upper frame 16 for steering cart 10 in the deployed 
position. A carrying handle 50 is preferably secured to lower frame 14 
between ground-engaging stand 26 and wheel assembly bracket 30. Carrying 
handle 50 is provided for carrying cart 10 in the fully collapsed position 
(FIG. 3). 
A strap 52 is also preferably secured to lower frame 14 for binding the 
various sections of cart 10 together in the fully collapsed position (FIG. 
3). 
FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate the series of steps required to adjust cart 10 
between the fully collapsed and the fully deployed, load-supporting 
positions. Strap 52 is first detached and upper frame 16 is pivoted 
relative to lower frame 14 about fastener 20 (FIG. 4). As upper frame is 
pivoted upwardly, linkage 38 extending between wheel support legs 32 and 
upper frame 16 causes wheels 34 to spread outwardly as support legs 32 
pivot relative to bracket 30. 
Upper frame is pivoted until it contacts stop 21 formed near the upper end 
of lower frame 14. Locking sleeve 22 is then slid downwardly until the 
upper end of lower frame 14 is securely seated within sleeve socket 24 
(FIG. 4). In this deployed position lower and upper frames 14, 16 are in 
approximate longitudinal alignment. 
As shown in FIG. 5, the final deployment step is to pivot support arm 40 
downwardly to its load-supporting position extending laterally from upper 
frame 16. 
As shown best in FIGS. 1 and 2, cart 10 is free-standing in the fully 
deployed, load-supporting position. Stand 26 and wheels 34 provide stable, 
three-point ground contact. Support arm 40 acts as a counter-balance 
(counterbalancing the weight of upper frame 16 and steering handle 46). 
In use, the handles of grocery bags 12 are suspended from hooks 42 formed 
on support arm 40. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, support arm 40 
has a maximum capacity of eight bags or roughly sixty-five pounds of load. 
Bags 12 are preferably suspended on alternating sides of support arm 40 
for optimum stability while loading. 
Once cart 10 is fully loaded, steering handle 46 is tipped forwardly which 
raises stand 26 above the ground surface. As cart 10 is tipped forwardly, 
the load suspended from support arm 40 is balanced directly above wheel 
assembly 28. This allows the user to push or pull cart 10 to the desired 
location with minimal effort. Unlike many prior art designs, very little 
of the load is transmitted to steering handle 46 during use. It is 
expected cart 10 will be primarily used to transport grocery bags 12 or 
the like from a retail outlet to the user's car or residence. 
Once bags 12 are removed, cart 10 may be readily adjusted to the fully 
collapsed position shown in FIG. 3 by reversing the adjustment steps 
described above. Carrying grip 50 ensures that cart 10 may be easily 
carried in the fully collapsed position. 
As should be apparent to someone skilled in the art, optional accessories 
could be coupled to cart 10 as required. For example, a dolly adaptor (not 
shown) could be removably coupled to the lower end of lower frame 14. 
Similarly, a holster bag or pannier could be coupled to support arm 40 for 
carrying brief cases, books, tools or the like. 
As will be apparent to those skilled in the art in the light of the 
foregoing disclosure, many alterations and modifications are possible in 
the practice of this invention without departing from the spirit or scope 
thereof. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is to be construed in 
accordance with the substance defined by the following claims.