Abstract:
The present invention features a shopping cart support apparatus to a shopping cart with a cart handle and wheels for enhanced assistance for those slightly disabled or partially disabled persons. The support apparatus has a base support bar snugly and pivotably attached to the shopping cart handle. The support bar can be securely locked via at least one wing nut. Two sleeves are fixedly disposed on the support bar so that a user can rest his/her arms on for additional body support. A stopper component is disposed on the distal end of each sleeve to provide a secure means to hold the users arm in position.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a shopping cart attachment, and more particularly to shopping cart attachments with adjustable sleeves to be used by people with certain disabilities. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Shopping carts are widely used in various grocery or department stores. Most stores provide powered shopping carts for elderly, disabled or partially disabled persons. However, those power carts are expensive and very limited in numbers to meet customer needs. There are a large number of slightly disabled or partially disabled persons only need mild assistance for shopping. Hence, there is a need for a convenient and economic shopping cart accessory for stores to be adopted in a relatively large quantity to accommodate the needs for those slightly disabled or partially disabled persons. 
     Any feature or combination of features described herein are included within the scope of the present invention provided that the features included in any such combination are not mutually inconsistent as will be apparent from the context, this specification, and the knowledge of one of ordinary skill in the art. Additional advantages and aspects of the present invention are apparent in the following detailed description and claims. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention features a shopping cart support apparatus attached to a shopping cart with a cart handle and wheels for enhanced assistance for those slightly disabled or partially disabled persons. The support apparatus has a base support bar snugly and pivotably attached to the shopping cart handle. The support bar can be securely locked via at least one wing nut. Two sleeves are fixedly disposed on the support bar so that a user can rest his/her arms on for additional body support. A stopper component is disposed on the distal end of each sleeve to provide a secure means to hold the user&#39;s arm in position. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows an isometric view of the shopping cart support apparatus. 
         FIG. 2  shows a back view of the shopping cart support apparatus. 
         FIG. 3  shows a top view of the shopping cart support apparatus. 
         FIG. 4  shows a side view of the shopping cart support apparatus. 
         FIG. 5  shows an in-use view of the shopping cart support apparatus. 
         FIG. 6  shows an isometric view of an alternative shopping cart support apparatus. 
         FIG. 7  shows a back view of the alternative shopping cart support apparatus. 
         FIG. 8  shows an in-use view of the alternative shopping cart support apparatus. 
         FIG. 9  shows an isometric view of an alternative shopping cart support apparatus. 
         FIG. 10  shows an isometric view of another alternative shopping cart support apparatus. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1-10 , the present invention features a shopping cart support apparatus ( 100 ) attached to a shopping cart ( 200 ) with a cart handle ( 210 ), wheels ( 220 ) and a shopping basket ( 230 ) for enhanced assistance for those slightly disabled or partially disabled persons. 
     The support apparatus ( 100 ) comprises a base support bar ( 110 ) snugly and pivotably attached to the shopping cart handle ( 210 ), wherein the support bar ( 110 ) has a first bar end ( 112 ) and a second bar end ( 114 ), wherein the base support bar ( 110 ) is lockable to the shopping cart handle ( 210 ) via a lock means. In some embodiments, the lock means is a screw means, wherein the base support bar ( 110 ) is locked to the shopping cart handle ( 210 ) via a first screw ( 116 ) disposed near the first bar end ( 112 ) of the base support bar ( 110 ) and a second screw ( 118 ) disposed near the second bar end ( 114 ) of the base support bar ( 110 ). 
     In some embodiments, the base support bar ( 110 ) is made of hard plastics. In some embodiments, the base support bar ( 110 ) has a slot ( 115 ) disposed along the length direction such that the base support bar ( 110 ) can be removed from the shopping cart handle ( 210 ) by slightly bent the slot for the purpose of cleaning, parts replacement, etc. 
     The support apparatus ( 100 ) comprises a first sleeve ( 120 ) and a second sleeve ( 130 ). The first sleeve is disposed on the base support bar ( 110 ) near the first bar end ( 112 ); wherein the first sleeve ( 120 ) has a first sleeve end ( 122 ) and a second sleeve end ( 124 ). The second sleeve ( 130 ) disposed on the base support bar ( 110 ) near the second bar end ( 114 ), wherein the second sleeve ( 130 ) has a first sleeve end ( 132 ) and a second sleeve end ( 134 ); 
     In some embodiments, a first stopper component ( 140 ) is disposed on the second sleeve end ( 124 ) of the first sleeve ( 120 ) and a second stopper component ( 150 ) is disposed on the second sleeve end ( 134 ) of the second sleeve ( 130 ). 
     The stopper components ( 140  and  150 ) are functioned to provide a secure means to hold the user&#39;s arm in position by preventing the arms sliding away from the sleeves. 
     In some embodiment, the stopper components ( 140  and  150 ) are column handles disposed on the center of the second sleeve end of the first and second sleeves, as shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 5 . The first handle ( 140 ) is disposed on the center of the second sleeve end of the first sleeve. The second handle ( 150 ) is disposed on the center of the second sleeve end of the second sleeve. In some embodiment, the stopper components ( 140  and  150 ) are arc shaped components ( 240  and  250 ), as shown in  FIG. 6  and  FIG. 8 . 
     In some embodiments, the first sleeve ( 120 ) further comprises a first soft layer ( 126 ) disposed on the first sleeve ( 120 ). In some embodiments, the second sleeve ( 130 ) further comprises a second soft layer ( 136 ) disposed on the second sleeve ( 130 ). 
     In some embodiments, the soft layer ( 126 ,  136 ) is a foam coating to enhance comfort level when a user rests his/her arms on the sleeves. In some embodiments, the soft layer ( 126 ,  136 ) is water resistant such that the soft layer ( 126 ,  136 ) won&#39;t be soaked with water during shaped component raining days. 
     In some embodiments, the sleeves are flat. In some embodiments, the sleeves are concave to provide better and more comfortable arm support. In some embodiments, the sleeve has a top surface that is flat. In some embodiments, the sleeve has a top surface that is curved into a half-pipe structure. In some embodiments, the sleeve is a flat elongated structure. In some embodiments, the sleeve is an elongated half-pipe structure. 
     In some embodiments, the first sleeve ( 120 ) is disposed to the support bar ( 110 ) via a first column ( 128 ), wherein the first column ( 128 ) is securely attached to the support bar ( 110 ) near the first bar end ( 112 ) and the first sleeve ( 120 ) is attached to the first column ( 128 ). In some embodiments, the second sleeve ( 130 ) is disposed to the support bar ( 110 ) via a second column ( 138 ), wherein the second column ( 138 ) is securely attached to the support bar ( 110 ) near the second bar end ( 114 ) and the second sleeve ( 130 ) is attached to the second column ( 138 ). In some embodiments, the first column ( 128 ) and the second column ( 128 ) are height adjustable through a telescope means or a screw means to accommodate people with preference for different height. 
     In some embodiments, the sleeves have a length such that the sleeves do not protrude into the shopping basket ( 230 ). In some embodiments, the sleeves have a length smaller than 1 foot. In some embodiments, the sleeves have a length of 1 foot. In some embodiments, the sleeves have a length between 1 foot and 2 feet. 
     As used herein, the term “about” refers to plus or minus 10% of the referenced number. For example, a 2 feet length sleeve refers to a sleeve with a length between 1.8 feet and 2.2 feet. 
     The disclosures of the following U.S. Patents are incorporated in their entirety by reference herein: U.S. Patent Document: U.S. Pat. No. 6,848,751, U.S. Pat. No. 5,176,392, U.S. Pat. No. 4,706,975, U.S. Pat. No. 4,583,753, U.S. Pat. No. D368,556, U.S. Pat. No. D616,669, US patent application publication 2005/0212234, and US patent application publication 2007/0273113. 
     Various modifications of the invention, in addition to those described herein, will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing description. Such modifications are also intended to fall within the scope of the appended claims. Each reference cited in the present application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     Although there has been shown and described the preferred embodiment of the present invention, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications may be made thereto which do not exceed the scope of the appended claims. Therefore, the scope of the invention is only to be limited by the following claims. 
     The reference numbers recited in the below claims are solely for ease of examination of this patent application, and are exemplary, and are not intended in any way to limit the scope of the claims to the particular features having the corresponding reference numbers in the drawings.